Nearly €17.5m was transferred illegally through so-called “money mule” accounts between January and June of this year, according to new figures. The flow of cash represented an increase of almost 50% on last year. A money mule is a person who receives criminal money into their bank account and them moves it on to another […]
News & Resources
Mastering the STAR Interview Technique: Your Path to Success
In today’s competitive job market, employers are looking for candidates who can effectively demonstrate their skills and experiences. One powerful method to do this is through the STAR interview technique. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it’s a structured approach to answering behavioral interview questions. In this blog post, we’ll delve into […]
Nailing Your Interview: Tips for Success
Introduction Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can increase your chances of acing them. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking for your first job or a seasoned professional aiming for a career change, this blog post will provide you with valuable insights and tips to help you have […]
Ryanair passenger numbers fly 11% higher in August
Ryanair said it flew 11% more passengers in August than in the same month last year – its latest all-time traffic record in what is typically its busiest month. Europe’s largest airline by passenger volume said it flew 18.9 million passengers in August, up from 16.9 million a year earlier and up from 14.9 million […]
Reduced 9% VAT rate to expire at midnight
The reduced 9% VAT rate for tourism, hospitality and some other services will expire at midnight and return to 13.5%. The planned increase is set to go-ahead despite last minute pleas by business organisations for its retention. The Government extended the lower rate for the final time in February. It made the decision after an […]
Why clients should be faster to offer candidates the job on offer after interview then before Covid-19
Offering candidates the job more quickly after an interview has become even more critical in the post-COVID-19 world due to several reasons: 1. Remote Work Dynamics: The pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of remote work. Candidates now have more opportunities to work for organisations worldwide. Swift offers ensure that clients can secure talent regardless […]
Ireland second most competitive economy in WCR rankings
Ireland is the second most competitive economy out of 64 analysed in this year’s IMD World Competitive Rankings (WCR). The country has risen from eleventh place last year to its new position, behind only Denmark. The overall results is made up of rankings in four areas, with Ireland coming first on economic performance, third on […]
Bank of Ireland to increase tracker mortgage rates
Bank of Ireland has confirmed that tracker mortgage rates will increase for all tracker mortgage customers by 0.25%, in line with today’s rate increases announced by the European Central Bank. The bank said the change will take effect for most customers from July 5. Bank of Ireland has advised their customers that they do not […]
SIRO network hits milestone as 500,000 premises passed
Wholesale fibre broadband provider SIRO has passed its 500,00th premises. The company says it is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026 with its network, as part of its billion-euro network rollout. SIRO was set up in 2015 as a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone and focuses on urban centres, leaving more rural […]
Risks facing banks increase as inflation weighs on global economy
The Central Bank said today that while many people here are being stretched by the cost of living, households and businesses are proving resilient to inflationary shocks so far. In its Financial Stability Review – published today – the Central Bank said that ten years of prudent lending is supporting resilience to rising interest rates. […]
Same three firms paid a third of corporation tax from 2017-2021, IFAC research finds
New research by the Irish fiscal watchdog has found the same three businesses accounted for about a third of all Ireland’s corporation tax revenue each year between 2017 and 2021. The paper by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) found this totalled €5.2 billion in 2021 and based on provisional results it expects the figure […]
Irish Dog Foods to create 150 jobs with €20m investment
150 new jobs are to be created by pet food and treat manufacturer, Irish Dog Foods. The company is to invest around €20m in the business, including in the construction of a new production facility at its Naas, Co Kildare headquarters. Owned by the Arrow Group Irish Dog Foods was established in 1985. It is […]
Consumer confidence hit 14-month high this month
Consumer confidence here hit a 14-month high this month, as concerns eased about the economic outlook. Hopes for additional Government measures to offer some respite from price pressures may also have boosted sentiment, the Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Index suggests. Confidence continues to be fragile though, with a majority of consumers still feeling that the […]
Out of this world: Interview with Astronaut Candidate Dr. Norah Patten
Dr. Norah Patten is an Aeronautical Engineer at the Global Faculty of the Space University and a Bioastronautics Researcher at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences. She is a Citizen Scientist-Astronaut Candidate and an award-winning author and STEM advocate. Her goal is to fly on a suborbital spaceflight. Dr. Patten will be speaking about space […]
Top EU court to hear commission’s Apple tax case appeal
The EU’s highest court will today hear the European Commission’s appeal against a ruling overturning the executive’s 2016 finding that Apple had underpaid €13.1 billion in tax due to Ireland. If the Commission wins, the money will be paid over to the Irish State. The case dates back to a European Commission probe which seven […]
Facebook owner Meta fined record €1.2bn by Irish regulator for violating European privacy rules
Ireland’s data regulator has imposed a record €1.2 billion fine on Facebook owner Meta for violating European privacy rules, in a move that takes total penalties against the company above €2 billion. The sanction handed down on Monday by Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon followed a long investigation into transfers by Facebook of Europeans’ personal […]
Hydrogen e-fuel production could create 10,500 jobs here – report
10,500 jobs could be created across the country by 2050 through the production of sustainable aviation fuels for use in aircraft and shipping that are derived from hydrogen, a new report finds. The analysis, by Hydrogen Mobility Ireland, also predicts that up to €230m per year could be added to the Irish economy through the […]
Calls to consumer helpline about utilities and fuel doubled last year
Eir, Bord Gáis and Harvey Norman topped the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s list for consumer complaints last year. Ryanair, Sky, Currys, Vodafone, Aer Lingus, Ticketmaster and PowerCity made up the rest of the ten most complained about businesses, the CCPC’s 2022 Contacts Report shows. The CCPC provides free and independent information on consumer rights […]
Biden’s Ireland visit to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement
President Joe Biden has confirmed that he intends to visit Northern Ireland and the Republic to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He is expected to travel to a number of locations on both sides of the border next month. No dates have yet been confirmed for the trip and the US […]
Warning issued about serious rise in investment scams
Consumers have been warned of a serious rise in highly convincing investment scams that are being carried out by fraudsters. The scams are particularly targeted at those over the age of 55, with a minimum investment of €20,000 or more. The FraudSMART awareness initiative from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) says the scams […]
76% would turn down jobs that do not meet flexible working needs – study
A new study has found that 76% of jobseekers would turn down roles that do not meet their flexible working needs. The Cpl Salary Guide 2023 shows that while salaries are rising, there is still a big focus on flexible working. According to the research, employees are seeking more than just a good wage, with […]