Trump trade threat casts shadow on Budget
The overall space for tax cuts or spending increases in October's Budget will not be known until talks on a new trade deal between the EU and US are resolved. Government sources say the uncertainty around what will happen is 'complicating' the process of negotiating Budget 2026, but insist that will not affect the timeline of delivering it in October.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
29 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Wicklow councillor caught up in Egypt ordeal on Global March still committed to reaching Gaza
Social Democrats councillor Mark Barry was planning to link up with demonstrators from 80 countries who planned to march to Egypt's border with Gaza last Thursday, but Egyptian authorities detained many of the activists, while security forces in eastern Libya blocked a many more en route to meet them. The 'Global March on Gaza' was pitched as the largest demonstration of its kind in recent years, but organisers said hundreds arriving in Cairo last week had been detained and deported. While attempts to contact Cllr Barry were unsuccessful, his colleagues have been assured of his safety and in a recent social media post, he said: 'Despite our attempts to march being stalled due to legal hurdles and coordination challenges, we remain committed to our cause." There were fears for Cllr Barry when the march from Al Arish to the Egyptian border was met with resistance by authorities and he was amongst those whose passports were confiscated and were forced to turn back. Others on the march had been detained. While there were plans to regroup at a campsite outside of Cairo to prepare for a Sunday march, there was no clearance given, despite hopes the protestors wanted to 'proceed peacefully under the guidance of Egyptian authorities'. On Father's Day, Sunday, the Greystones councillor posted a touching and heartfelt message dedicated to his two sons from a rather sparse hotel room, in which he said he 'can't help thinking about the kind of world they are growing up in. A world where genocide is happening in real time – again'. 'Our parents believed they had left that horror behind in history. But here we are. We speak up because we must,' he said. 'Because dignity, freedom, and justice for the Palestinian people is non-negotiable. Because a world that allows man-made famine and genocide is not a world I want for my children. "Together, we are calling for the immediate opening of the border to allow vital aid into Gaza, so that aid workers can distribute food and water to save lives. We're demanding an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.' Cllr Barry described how the previous night 'power was cut off to Gaza. It went black. No internet, before the people were bombed while they slept in their beds." He said he was 'calling on our government and the governments across the EU and I'm asking the people of Wicklow in Ireland, contact your public representatives, contact your government, contact the Department of Foreign Affairs, get on to anybody you can, media outlets. This is not good enough. Now is the time we all have to stand up and take action.' He urged people to 'remember why 3,000 people from all over the world are here', which was, he said, 'to march peacefully in solidarity with the Palestinian people and put pressure on governments across the world to take all action needed to re open the borders with Gaza to allow humanitarian aide into the people of Gaza.' Despite the harrowing scenes that emerged over the weekend, he added that 'we are not here to protest or disrupt the Egyptian authorities', but noted that 'we are being monitored, and some delegates were detained from their hotels last night'. While previous posts seemed hopeful for the group of protesters, who had 'regrouped' and were planning 'the next steps we can take safely and peacefully', an air of resignation, or perhaps realisation, has set in and now the message from cllr Barry was for 'all delegates to return home safely' in the coming days. 'We are actively strategizing our next steps to keep and increase pressure on our governments and the EU to heed the voices of those who elected them – voices demanding justice and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. We have energy, we are mobile, we are many – and we're heading to Europe!'
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Dutch government suggests social media ban for under-15s
The Dutch government has advised parents to forbid children under 15 from using social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat, the latest country to propose curbs over mental health concerns. The advice, which is non-binding, comes after Australia and New Zealand proposed social media bans for under-16s, and several European countries have issued similar guidelines. "Intensive screen and social media use can be bad for the (mental) health and development of children," said the Dutch ministry for health, wellbeing and sport. "Think of sleeping problems, panic attacks, depressive symptoms, reduced concentration and a negative self-image," it added. The ministry distinguished between smartphone use, messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, and social media apps like TikTok. Children younger than their last year of primary school (typically 11 or 12) should not be allowed a smartphone, the Dutch government advised. From secondary school (age 12 or 13), message apps should be permitted but no social media apps before 15, according to the guidelines. More countries backing EU proposal "A step-by-step approach helps: first learn to communicate via chat, then get acquainted with social media," it said. The ministry also issued guidelines on screen time: none at all before the age of two, while children over 12 should not be in front of a screen for more than three hours. Healthy screen use is more than just time limits, the government said. "It's also about balancing screen time with other activities, using media together, and fostering positive online experiences." The advice brings the Netherlands into line with other age guidelines in Europe, it said. Backed by France and Spain, Greece has spearheaded a proposal for how the European Union should limit children's use of online platforms. France, Greece and Denmark believe there should be a ban on social media for under-15s, while Spain has suggested a ban for under-16s. 'Problematic' social media use on rise In the Netherlands, a children's advocacy group said earlier this month the "unchecked expansion" of social media platforms is driving an unprecedented global mental health crisis in kids and teens. The KidsRights report said what it termed "problematic" social media use was on the rise, with a direct link between heavy internet use and suicide attempts. However, blanket bans are not the answer, the group warned.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Irish exports to US fall by 62% in April as Trump announces tariffs
Irish goods exports to the US fell by 62 per cent in April after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on all European Union (EU) imports. The latest trade figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show export volumes to the US dropped by €16 billion in one month after Mr Trump's so-called 'liberation day' tariff announcement. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products globally fell by 54 per cent or €12.8 billion in April compared with the previous month. US tariffs have thrown global trading patterns into turmoil. The value of Irish goods exports for the first three months of the year rose by 44 per cent as multinationals here stockpiled product in the US ahead of the imposition of tariffs. READ MORE The figures for April show the value of goods exports globally fell by 43 per cent to €21.9 billion in April compared with the record €38.1 billion recorded in March. However when compared with April 2024, goods exports were still up by €2.5 billion. [ Irish economy expands by almost 10% as exporters rush to beat tariff deadlines Opens in new window ] In the first four months of 2025, exports of medical and pharmaceutical products represented 60.2 per cent (€66.9 billion) of total Irish exports. This represented a 117 per cent increase on figures from 2024. Mr Trump has threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on most goods imports coming from the EU but has put a stay on the measure until July 9th to allow for talks. Will rent reform make building apartments viable? Listen | 40:12 So far pharma, which accounts for the lion's share of Irish exports to the US, has avoided tariffs. In April, Ireland's top exporting partners were the US, the Netherlands and Britain, with Ireland exporting 44.5 per cent (€9.7 billion), 9.5 per cent (€2.1 billion) and 6.2 per cent (€1.35 billion) of total export goods respectively to these countries. Ireland imported the highest value of goods from Germany, Britain and the US with these countries representing 15 per cent (€1.6 billion), 12.4 per cent (€1.3 billion) and 11.3 per cent (€1.2 billion) of the total import trade for the month. Carol Lynch, head of customs and international trade services at BDO, said the sharp fall-off in exports in April was to be expected. 'This is largely attributable to a reduction in exports to the US as stockpiling decreased after the imposition of the Liberation Day Universal tariffs on 5th April,' she said.
