Business News

A federal jury has determined that Alphabet’s Google must pay $425m for invading users’ privacy by continuing to collect data for millions of users who had switched off a tracking feature in their Google account. The verdict comes after a trial in the federal court in San Francisco over allegations that Google over an eight-year…

US President Donald Trump has said the US might have to “unwind” trade deals it reached with the European Union, Japan and South Korea, among others, if it loses a Supreme Court tariffs case, and warned that a loss would cause the US “to suffer so greatly”. Mr Trump, speaking to reporters at the White…

Taxes collected by the State so far this year are 7.3% up on 2024, leaving the Government in a strong position ahead of next month’s Budget. When one-off payments of back taxes from iPhone-maker Apple are excluded, revenue rose 4.4%. The latest set of Exchequer Returns for the month of August show income tax collected…

The European Commission is to adopt a proposal to ratify the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. The trade deal was signed in December but has yet to be ratified by European Union member states and the European Parliament. The Government remains opposed to the agreement in its current form and said it will not support it…

The Climate Change Advisory Council has recommended that the Government improve grant supports for retrofitting, heat pumps and solar installation. An annual Review for 2025 on the Built Environment, Industry, and Waste sectors has highlighted the ”urgent need” for emissions reductions and sustainable practices across these areas. “The Built Environment is the only sector that…

There was a continued slow down in growth in the services sector last month, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index from AIB. The index dropped to 50.6 from 50.9 in July, marking the slowest pace of growth since January 2024. The fall was driven by marginal gains in output and new business, and a…

The banking industry is calling for regulatory requirements in the sector to be simplified to address issues of competitiveness and investment. Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) said the current system of regulation is confusing and costly for financial institutions. BPFI has warned that Ireland is at risk of losing out on investments as a…

We have all heard whispers of a new financial device arriving soon. Like any big change, Ireland’s move to auto-enrolment will likely spark debate. Before it lands in our pay slips and pub conversations, let’s break down what My Future Fund is, why it matters, and who stands to gain or struggle in the short…

Gold prices scaled the $3,500 per ounce level to hit a record high today, as mounting expectations for a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut this month lifted demand for the precious metal. Spot gold was steady at $3,475.33 per ounce this morning, after hitting a record high of $3,508.50 earlier in the session. Bullion…

The Central Bank’s controversial authorisation of documentation issued to investors in Israeli bonds expires today. The bank has been under intense pressure from campaigners and opposition to refuse to rubber stamp prospectuses issued by Israel. However, the bank says it is legally obliged to approve the documentation if it meets requirements. The bank last night…