David W Higgins: How the Occupied Territories Bill could risk triggering Ireland's own damaging trade war
If Ireland can remove all involvement with Israel, why wouldn't it do the same to us?
People protesting outside Leinster House in Dublin, calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill. Photo: Sam Boal /Collins
David W Higgins Today at 03:30
The Trump trade war continues. The EU has joined China with a 90-day reprieve. A burst of dealmaking is unfolding behind the scenes. Exporters are continuing to count the fallout. Everyone has more questions than answers.
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RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Warning that tourism in Ireland at 'tipping point'
The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) is calling for the lifting of the Dublin Airport passenger cap, increased Government spending, as well as the restoration of the 9% hospitality VAT rate in order to boost tourism in the country, which it said is at a "tipping point". In its Budget submission, the ITIC warns of "double-digit" declines in tourists coming to Ireland and that the country is overdependent on US visitors. "2025 has been a challenging year," said ITIC chief executive Eoghan O'Mara Walsh. "The North American market has been strong... but other markets, unfortunately, are soft - Great Britain, Continental Europe and even the domestic market are soft." In order to address this, the confederation - which represents 20,000 tourism and hospitality businesses - wants to see annual Government spending on tourism services increased by €90 million to around €340 million. This funding, it said, would support a market diversification strategy to reduce the reliance on American tourists. That would include looking to boost the number of visitors coming here from the likes of Britain and Germany. Mr O'Mara Walsh said Ireland will not be able to compete on price with the likes of Mediterranean countries, but it must work to maintain its value. "Eurostat came out with figures just last month which showed that Ireland was the second most expensive country in the EU - so that obviously finds its way through to restaurant bills, pub bills, hotel bills," he said. "What's key is that we maintain our value proposition and, thankfully, the surveys to date... says Ireland still maintains its value proposition, but it's certainly under pressure. "It's vital that we, as an industry, maintain the quality of our product," he stressed. One thing ITIC feels will help to achieve that is the reduction of the hospitality VAT rate to 9%, with that cut extended to visitor attractions and adventure operators. The Programme for Government pledged such a move but doubt has been cast on it recently, in large part due to the growing uncertainty around the direction of the global economy and the health of Ireland's exchequer finances. "If you talk to tourism businesses up and down the country, costs of business are the big recurring feedback," he said. "Whether that's utilities or energy, or labour or insurance - costs of business are really squeezing margins. "The VAT rate at 13.5% is one of the higher VAT rates for tourism services across the whole of the EU." The Department of Finance has projected that such a cut would cost almost €870m a year, while critics have pointed out that many firms that would benefit are already in a healthy trading position and do not need such support. However Mr O'Mara Walsh said a VAT cut was the easiest way to support a sector was through a VAT cut - though he also would not oppose any attempt to focus the change on specific businesses. "I have no problem if Revenue want to take the McDonald's chains out of the equation and just focus on home-grown tourism and hospitality businesses," he said. "But I think the thing to remember is that margins in this sector are really, really squeezed - we're a labour intensive business, we operate on very thin margins". "When demand is so mixed, and when the outlook is so uncertain, we need as much help as possible," he said. In relation to the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, the organisation notes that 70% of the tourist economy is dependent on international visitors. The cap limits the number of passengers travelling through the airport terminals to 32 million a year. The ITIC is calling for this limit, which is included in the Programme for Government, to be lifted and said this "should happen in tandem with supporting the regional state airports of Cork and Shannon".
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Taoiseach: Ukraine must be at centre of any peace deal to end war with Russia
The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine, the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin made these comments after attending an online leaders' meeting of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" in support of Ukraine. The meeting, hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron and British prime minister Keir Starmer, took place ahead of the US-Russia Summit in Alaska on Friday. Speaking after the meeting, the Taoiseach said European leaders remain committed to supporting Ukraine. The group also heard from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who briefed them on the situation on the ground and outlined Ukraine's needs. While the group welcomed former US president Donald Trump's efforts, they insisted Ukraine must be at the centre of any peace deal. 'The initiative of President Trump towards ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace was warmly welcomed. We agreed that unity is vital and that close transatlantic coordination will continue as part of our efforts to secure a ceasefire and a durable peace. "Any diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine and Europe's security. It was also agreed that any meaningful negotiations on a just and lasting peace should be preceded by a ceasefire. 'We committed to continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine. There was also agreement to maintain pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, including through the use of sanctions and other economic measures." Mr Martin said this is "a critical time for international security". "In the year when we mark its 80th anniversary, we must recommit ourselves to the primacy of the UN Charter. We cannot accept that international borders can be changed by force. For all our security, there must be respect for international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'I also believe that the human dimension must be a key component of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The Ukrainian children abducted by Russia must be returned to their families and communities. 'Ireland will continue to support Ukraine, both bilaterally and through the EU, on its path towards EU membership and in its efforts to achieve a just and durable peace.'
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Budget supports for life sciences firms hit by US tariffs a 'priority', says finance minister
Supports for life sciences companies hit by US tariffs will be a "priority" in the Budget, the finance minister has said. While the final shape of a trading agreement between the US and EU remains to be seen, concern has been raised about the impact on the life sciences and medical device industries in even the case of a base rate 15% tariff. Speaking in Clonmel on Wednesday, Paschal Donohoe said that he would be examining the impact that the agreement between the EU and Ireland will have on the life science sector in Europe, and "what further measures we can take at national level to support a really important pillar of the economy of Ireland". He said the 15% tariffs that are in place "at least bring certainty regarding where we are, but will still bring cost". "And what we need to do, and are doing, is working with large employers in life science and elsewhere to look now at how we can support them and the jobs and investment that they have here in Ireland," said the minister. "We have expertise that we've built up over many, many decades of supporting the life science sector. I will continue to use that expertise to do all we can to protect jobs like we have here in Tipperary." He said those kinds of investments are replicated all over the length and breadth of Ireland "and it's a really important priority for me as we form the budget". Mr Donohoe once again reiterated that there will be no cost-of-living package in October's Budget, but said the Government is "very conscious that the cost of living continues to be a challenge for so many". Ticket prices Asked if he would be attending this weekend's Oasis concerts in Dublin, the minister said he is "more of a Blur fan", but indicated that he does not want to see the surge in pricing of Oasis tickets to become the norm. "This is something that the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority has already indicated that it wants to review because these tickets are really expensive. "They're really expensive because there is a demand for them. Oasis fans are willing to pay a lot of money to go and see them play. "But I wouldn't like this to be the future of live performances. Live performances are really, really important for fans. Lots of other gigs at the moment continue to be really affordable, and I'd like to see that as being the future."
