
Government bracing for 'profound uncertainty' amid recession fears
With fears of a recession and US tariffs looming, a new business support fund and major spending plans are on the table.
Advertisement
Newstalk's Daniel Pitcher said the Government is bracing for what it calls 'profound uncertainty' as fears grow over US tariffs and their impact on Irish exports.
This Tuesday, the Government will publish the Summer Economic Statement, outlining €30 billion in extra capital spending to boost infrastructure, housing, and energy - bringing the total National Development Plan to nearly €100 billion.
At the same time, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is expected to announce a new contingency fund to help firms most exposed to US trade penalties.
Up to 950 companies could benefit, with support to cover wages and daily costs.
Ministers say it's part of a wider push to avoid recession and safeguard jobs.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
21 minutes ago
- Reuters
UK hedge fund Marshall Wace posted mixed returns for July, source says
LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - British hedge fund Marshall Wace returned mixed results in two of its funds in July, a source close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. Co-founded by British financier Paul Marshall, the $76.9 billion firm returned 1.6% in July culminating in a 6.1% performance for 2025 so far in its Eureka Fund, the source said. The hedge fund's Market Neutral Tops fund returned -0.22% for July and is up 10.99% year to date the source added. Systematic stock trading hedge funds, like Marshall Wace, are up roughly 10% for 2025 so far, said Goldman Sachs on Monday.


Reuters
23 minutes ago
- Reuters
Netherlands to start NATO's new Ukraine weapons finance scheme with $578 mln payment
AMSTERDAM, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will be the first contributor to NATO's new "Priority Ukraine Requirements List" (PURL) financing mechanism for Ukraine weapons with a 500 million euros ($578 million) payment, the Dutch defence ministry said on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump said last month the U.S. would supply weapons to Ukraine, paid for by European allies, but did not provide details on how this would work. Reuters reported on Friday that NATO countries, Ukraine, and the U.S. were developing a new Ukraine weapons financing mechanism. ($1 = 0.8649 euros)


Reuters
23 minutes ago
- Reuters
Russia says it abandons moratorium on deploying short and medium-range missiles
MOSCOW, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Russia no longer considers itself bound by a moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The U.S. withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty in 2019. Russia has said since then it would not deploy such weapons provided that Washington did not do so. However, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signalled last December that Moscow would have to respond to what he called "destabilising actions" by the U.S. and NATO in the strategic sphere. "Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of U.S.-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared," the ministry said in its statement.