Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 15 March 2023

  • Senior Coalition sources have told the Irish Examiner that a snap general election could be called shortly after October’s budget.

  • An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD will meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday to mark St. Patrick’s Day.

  • President Biden has confirmed he will be visiting Ireland in April with reports that he will fly into Belfast on 10 April.

  • The Irish Government may bring forward legal action against the British Government if it proceeds with the controversial Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Troubles Bill.

  • Tánaiste Micheál Martin is in New York and will hold meetings with various business stakeholders ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.

  • Irish Tech firms and the Department of Finance are continuing to assess the impact of the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank on the Irish Tech industry.

  • The Central Bank has launched a three-month consultation around the implementation of The Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2022 which set out accountability rules for the financial sector.

  • An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD has reshuffled his backbench team, with many who were dropped out of Ministries or not included in previous reshuffles being promoted.

  • Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe TD has said he is assessing all planned capital projects with signals that some projects may have to await approval until after the next budget.

  • Sinn Féin will move a motion in the Dáil to extend the eviction ban until January 2024.

  • The Government is expected to collect €700m as the reduced excuse rate on petrol and diesel ends.

  • Ahead of the Deloitte Financial Crime Symposium, the firm’s Director Caroline Costello has called for greater government and private sector co-operation to end financial crime.

  • The Public Accounts Committee has heard from head of The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Declan Meally that the predicted number of electric vehicles on the road by 2025 is 175,000.

 

Other Stories this week

  • A new report from Aircraft Leasing Ireland has said Ireland could play a leading global role in the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

  • Screen Ireland have published a report stating that a skills shortage is hindering further development of the Irish film industry.

  • A study from ManpowerGroup found that Ireland is facing the worst talent shortage in 17 years with four in five employers struggling to attract talent.

  • Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has met with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD regarding the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

  • New data from Catalyst has shown that venture capital investment is at an all-time high in Ireland.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 21 March, Engineering Summit, Sport Ireland, National Indoor Arena, Dublin.

  • 23 March, Showcasing the Dublin to Belfast FinTech Scene, Ballymascanlon House, Dundalk.

  • 25 March, International Business Forum and Fair, Salthill Hotel, Galway.

  • 30 March, IBEC Business Leaders’ Summit 2023, K Club Kildare.

  • 30 March, CIO & IT Leaders Award 2023, The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.

 

Consultations