Latest news with #Ireland2025
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
New route announced at Shannon Airport as bank holiday surge expected
In an exciting addition to the summer 2026 schedule, Discover Airlines, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, is set to introduce a direct, twice-weekly service from Shannon Airport to Frankfurt, Germany, starting on April 4. The route will operate on Saturdays running from April 4 to October 24, 2026, and on Thursdays from May 14 to September 24, offering passengers a quick two hour journey on board an Airbus A320-200. The new Frankfurt route will add more than 16,700 seats to Shannon's summer schedule. Welcoming the announcement Mary Considine, CEO, The Shannon Airport Group said: 'This is more fantastic news for Shannon Airport and the Mid-West business community. 'Having direct access to Frankfurt, one of Europe's key airport hubs and a leading financial centre, opens up incredible opportunities for both connectivity and growth. 'It's a win not just for business travel, but also for regional tourism. 'Germany is a hugely important market for us, and with this new direct route, inbound visitors have an easier path to the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way and all that the West of Ireland has to offer.' As part of the Lufthansa Group, Discover Airlines will connect to the vast Lufthansa Group network through their Frankfurt hub. This offers convenient and regular onward connections to destinations across Germany, Europe and beyond. The news comes as Shannon Airport is anticipating one of their busiest weekends of the year. The airport is preparing for a bustling August Bank Holiday, with almost 60,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the period - marking a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This continued growth reflects a strong performance for Shannon Airport in 2025, with over 1.04 million passengers recorded in the first half of the year – a seven per cent year-on-year increase. "We're delighted to see such strong demand this August Bank Holiday period,' Ms Considine said. 'The increase in passenger numbers is a clear sign that our investments in connectivity, infrastructure and customer experience are paying off. 'Shannon is thriving, and we're proud to be playing a key role in supporting tourism and business across the region." Passengers travelling over the Bank Holiday period are advised to arrive two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul departures. It is also strongly advised to pre-book parking via ahead of what will be an exceptionally busy weekend. Shannon Airport has also recently taken home the crown for 'Ireland's Top Airport Brand 2025', retaining its position as the country's top airport brand for the third consecutive year, according to the RED C Brand Reaction Index (BRI) Ireland 2025. The newly released index, which lists the top 176 most emotionally connected brands, shows Shannon Airport placed at number 48, up three places on last year's list, and once again making it the highest-ranking airport brand in the country. 'We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as Ireland's top airport brand for a 3rd year running,' Ms Considine said. 'An excellent customer experience is always our priority here at Shannon Airport, so this comprehensive Red C testing is really important as a measure of how we are connecting with customers and delivering on that every year. 'We're incredibly grateful to our loyal passengers - not just for choosing to fly Shannon, but for recognising what we work so hard to deliver every day: great value, accessibility, convenience and comfort. 'Our fantastic teams across Shannon Airport consistently go the extra mile to make each journey smooth and enjoyable, and this announcement is a true reflection of their passion and dedication. 'A huge thank you to them all.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Michael Flatley could face Conor Mcgregor in battle for Irish presidency
Michael Flatley and Conor McGregor are squaring up for a battle to become the next president of Ireland. In a one-on-one few would have predicted, the Lord of the Dance could challenge the MMA champion in presidential elections in October 2025. Flatley's ambitions for high office were inadvertently revealed during a High Court case about works carried out at his Castlehyde mansion in Co Cork. The man credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances' – he was moving back to Ireland to run in their presidential elections. It raises the prospect of the man who once held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second facing off against McGregor. McGregor, 37, who recently lost a civil case accusing him of rape, declared his intention to run for president in March this year at the White House, where he gained the tacit endorsement of Donald Trump. Flatley, 67, who is eligible to run as an Irish citizen, hinted at the presidential bid last week in a radio interview, saying: 'Somebody has to speak for the Irish people.' The Riverdance star said that he did not believe the Irish people 'have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that speaks their language'. The 'average person on the street' is not 'happy right now', added a man whose feet were once insured for $57.6 million. Flatley was in Ireland to perform on a flute at a July 4 celebration at the residence of Edward Walsh, the US ambassador to Ireland. Mr Walsh was recently appointed by Donald Trump, the US president. In a breathtaking innovation, Flatley introduced upper body movements to a dance style famous for its blur of leggy stamping and rigid torsos. His dance spectaculars are said to have been seen by more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1 billion. The choreographer and dancer, whose other shows include Celtic Tiger Live and Feet of Flames, has a potential rival in McGregor, who is also expected to launch a bid. McGregor has reinvented himself as an anti-immigrant populist who even suggested recently that Ireland should leave the EU rather than fight a trade war with his beloved Mr Trump. Sadly, this clash of Irish dance with Irish boxing may not happen. McGregor is expected to struggle to clear the threshold necessary to qualify for the race and it is unclear if Flatley will have sufficient support. Candidates need to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Irish parliament or at least four local authorities. A candidate must also be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. They are not the only famous faces who could throw their hat in the ring. There has been speculation that Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Féin leader, could join the race after he successfully sued the BBC in a Dublin court. Mr Adams won £84,000 after he was accused of sanctioning the murder of a British agent. The role of president is largely ceremonial but carries symbolic weight. Some have mooted former boxer Barry McGuigan, the Catholic Ulsterman with a Protestant wife who did much to unite communities in Northern Ireland, as a possible candidate. The election must take place in the 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on Nov 11. The 84-year-old Mr Higgins, a Left-wing politician and a poet, has served since 2011. Two candidates have so far secured sufficient backing to enter the race. Catherine Connolly, a Left-wing independent and former Galway mayor, has received the backing of opposition parties and independents and former farming journalist and EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is the Fine Gael nominee. Ms McGuinness was also deputy speaker of the European Parliament and an outspoken critic of Brexit. She caused headlines after she cut off Nigel Farage in his final speech as an MEP before Brexit. She told Mr Farage and his party to stop waving their Union Jack flags, which breaks European Parliament rules. 'Put your flags away, you're leaving... and take them with you... goodbye,' she said in a widely viewed video clip from the session. At the High Court on Friday, defence barristers in Flatley's case argued against the affidavit being accepted by the court, and stated that it was an attempt to 'move the goalposts'. Andrew Fitzpatrick SC said Flatley had said before in 2024 that he intended to move to Paris and then Valencia. 'That didn't happen,' he told the court. He also said that if the court was prepared to admit the affidavit, it would undermine previous assertions that the reason he is living in Monaco and cannot return to Ireland is because of the condition of the Castlehyde. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said that as Flatley's residence 'is so central to the issue of security of costs' in the case, she would allow the affidavit to be taken into account, but said she 'entirely' heard submissions about the characteristics of the affidavit and what weight it should be afforded. She said she expected the judgment in relation to the costs application to be delivered in a 'reasonably short period', and that it would be given 'shortly after' the end of the court's term.
Irish Independent
20-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Young people are hot for iced coffee – even when the weather isn't that warm
Almost three-quarters (74pc) of consumers in this category buy iced drinks regularly, almost double the proportion (40pc) of over-55s. The findings emerge in the latest Spring and Summer Trends and Insights Report by UK-based coffee syrup manufacturer Beyond the Bean, which looked at stores across Ireland, the UK, US, Canada, Denmark and Poland. It highlights that iced beverage consumption has surged by 26.7pc since 2023, driven mainly by Millennials and Gen Z. 'The report shows that this generation drinks cold drinks all year around – not just during the summer,' said Sheila Dowling, Bewley's Commercial Director. 'There is speculation that younger people will eventually revert to hot coffee, but I don't think that will be the case. 'If we look at sales data on Starbucks in the US, 80pc of their coffee is now served cold.' The trend analysis found that under-30s who drink iced beverages make a purchase every week, with winter consumption six pc higher than average across all other age categories. Despite the price of coffee soaring to global highs this year, Dowling suggests coffee may be an affordable luxury for younger people. 'Where people have disposable income is in colleges and university – they are more likely to spend their income than save for the rainy day,' she said. 'This year, the industry price of coffee rose higher than we'd ever seen in the Bewley's history of coffee - it more than doubled in price compared to this time last year. 'This has implications for the retailer and the customer – the price is going to affect people's pockets. 'Anecdotally, we hear that so many things have gone up in price, but coffee is seen as an affordable luxury.' Separately, the Allegra Project Café Ireland 2025 report, published in April, shows that 18.7pc of male and female respondents order iced coffee on a weekly basis, compared with 25.2pc of males and 21.7pc of females who buy hot coffee. Those living in Dublin are more likely to go iced, with 23.5pc ordering it weekly versus 16. pc outside the county. Over a third of people (31.7pc) aged under-35 in Ireland said they buy iced coffee monthly, with just 10.2pc choosing hot coffee over the same time period. To meet the growing demand for cold brew, Bewley's has spent 18 months sourcing the best cold brew product to bring to the Irish coffee market. The Bewley's Columbian Fairtrade Cold Brew process involves coffee grounds being slowly steeped in cool water, which extracts a less acidic flavour from the bean. The chemical profile and flavour are unique from conventional brewing methods because the ground coffee beans never come into contact with heated water. 'It isn't that the hot espresso over ice option is bad, but it is like comparing pink lady and granny smith apples – they're very different,' said Dowling.
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland's competitiveness on downward trend just as major challenges move into focus
Ireland's competitiveness is on a downward trend, and there remains a 'critical need' to address key infrastructure deficits, at a time when the country's economic outlook 'firmly tilted to the downside', according the findings of a major report. The report, Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2025, was drafted by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council , which advises the Government on key issues facing the economy. While Ireland is ranked as the most competitive country in the euro area and the seventh most competitive economy in the world, it has fallen from second place just two years ago. The decline was largely due to a drop in 'business efficiency' from third place to 11th. READ MORE A key issue highlighted by the report is shortcomings in Ireland's critical infrastructure, such as access to water and electricity. 'There remains a critical need to enhance the delivery of our economic infrastructure to address growing deficits,' the report notes. [ Ireland slips two places in 2024 global competitiveness league Opens in new window ] 'Significant infrastructural demand arising from strong population growth, in combination with an insufficient supply response has resulted in growing deficits across housing, energy, water and transport.' The report says planning delays 'continue to hamper our ability to meet targets', and that the Government should consider the introduction of mandatory timelines in relation to licensing, including for environmental licenses. The council says productivity in the construction sector remains 'unacceptably low' in a period of 'critical need for increased output', and that there is a need to 'better understand' the drivers of this. How the wealthy are buying up land to avoid inheritance tax Listen | 22:03 The report also deals with personal injury claims, which it says are emerging as a 'major cost driver' for businesses in Ireland through their 'significant influence' on insurance premiums and risk assessments. Legal costs in litigation are 'disproportionately high', it says, calling for a re-examination of the methodology used to benchmark the level of awards in advance of the next review of the personal injuries awards guidelines. Indeed, the report deals extensively with the cost of doing business, which it says 'continues to present significant competitiveness challenges despite overall economic resilience'. [ Banking, housing remain challenges to Ireland's competitiveness, NCPC report says Opens in new window ] It notes that labour costs in Ireland 'have risen sharply' in recent years and are projected to continue increasing due to wage growth and public policy moves to improve working conditions. The report also refers to the new 'enhanced reporting requirements', which require employers to provide detailed reporting on expenses paid to employees or directors without the deduction of tax, as a 'new source of increased labour-related cost', and calls for them to be reviewed. 'For employers submitting relevant returns outside of standard payroll filings, this represents a new administrative burden,' it says. 'There is a concern about the proportionality of requiring all employers to provide such information.' Some 11,170 company liquidations occurred last year, with the number of insolvent liquidations up threefold to 1,917. Meanwhile, the number of solvent liquidations was higher than in any of the previous 10 years. Some 320 new companies in the hospitality sector and 276 new companies in the retail sector were incorporated in the first five months of this year. Both numbers were down by almost half on last year. The council believes all of the issues outlined in the report are harming Ireland's competitiveness at a time when it is already under pressure from 'uncontrollable' geopolitical factors such as US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies. Indeed, the report notes the concentration of trade with partners in the United States 'has been jeopardised' in recent months, and calls on the Government to help Irish firms to diversify export markets and supply chains. It says the risks to Ireland's economic outlook 'remain firmly tilted to the downside', while efforts to incentivise reshoring by US multinationals and the repatriation of intellectual property out of Ireland could have 'major and lasting implications' for Ireland.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employee Benefits in Ireland 2025: Comprehensive Study Highlights Key State and Private Benefits for Irish Workers
Discover comprehensive insights into Ireland's employee benefits landscape, including state, compulsory, and private benefits. Analyze the intricate social security framework, key regulatory acts, and the role of central institutions. Enhance strategic decisions with detailed regional benefits and market insights. Dublin, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Employee Benefits in Ireland 2025" report has been added to report provides in-depth industry analysis, information, and insights of the employee benefits in Ireland, including an overview of the state and compulsory benefits in Ireland, detailed information about the private benefits in Ireland, insights on various central institutions responsible for the administration of the different branches of social security and the regulatory framework of the employee benefits in Irish social security system covers company employees, self-employed individuals, the unemployed, people with less than minimum resources, and dependent family members of deceased employees. The Irish social welfare system is divided into social insurance payments, means-tested payments, and universal payments. The payment of social insurance is mandatory; both employers and employees must contribute Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions to the Social Insurance Fund. Self-employed persons pay Class S social insurance contributions directly to the Revenue Commissioners, although these are not required to be paid after the age of 66. A range of state benefits is available for Irish residents, which are subject to several conditions other than social insurance contribution requirements. Companies across the country also provide customized private benefits to their employees as a supplement to state Highlights The Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973, the Organization of Working Time Act 1997, the Payment of Wages Act 1991, and the Maternity Protection Act 1994 are responsible for the functioning of the overall social security system. A person's national insurance contribution is determined based on their income. An insured person who is unemployed or unable to work and whose benefits have been exhausted is entitled to a credited contribution. Employers offer voluntary retirement benefits via voluntary occupational DC pension plans, which are prevalent in the country, such as Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs), Retirement Annuity Contracts (RACs), Approved Retirement Funds (ARFs), and Personal Retirement Bonds (PRBs). This report provides a detailed analysis of employee benefits in Ireland: It offers a detailed analysis of the key government-sponsored employee benefits, along with private benefits It covers an exhaustive list of employee benefits, including retirement benefits, death in service, long-term disability benefits, medical benefits, workmen's compensation insurance, maternity and paternity benefits, family benefits, unemployment benefits, long-term care benefits, minimum resource benefits, leaves and holidays, and private benefits It highlights the economic and regulatory situations relating to employee benefits in Ireland Reasons to Buy Make strategic decisions using in-depth information related to employee benefits in the country Assess employee benefits of the market, including state and compulsory benefits and private benefits Gain insights into the key employee benefit schemes offered by private employers in the country Gain insights into key organizations governing employee benefits market, and their impact on companies Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary2. Introduction3. Country Statistics4. Overview of Employee Benefits in Ireland5. Regulations6. State and Compulsory Benefits6.1 Retirement Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.2 Death in Service Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.3 Long-Term Disability Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.4 Short-Term Sickness Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.5 Medical Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.6 Workers' Compensation insurance Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.7 Maternity and Paternity Benefits Introduction Eligibility Benefits Payment options Contribution 6.8 Other Benefits Family Benefits Unemployment benefits Long-Term Care Benefits Minimum Resources Benefits Leaves and Holidays 7. Private Benefits7.1 Retirement Benefits7.2 Death Benefits7.3 Disability Benefits7.4 Medical Benefits7.5 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefits7.6 Other Benefits For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
