AGP Executive Report

EU Sanctions Deadlock: Ireland’s EU presidency and the EEAS are pushing a compromise as France blocks a 12-month extension of Russia-linked sanctions unless Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov is removed; talks aim to keep him sanctioned while easing some restrictions like asset freezes and travel bans. Energy Tax Pressure: Germany is urging the EU Commission to propose an EU-wide windfall tax on energy firms’ profits as oil and gas prices surge, with finance ministers set to discuss options in October. EU Kids Act Talks: The European Commission’s EU Kids Act on social media access is gaining support, but capitals are split on age limits, setting up negotiations over a bloc-wide standard. ECB Leadership Watch: Christine Lagarde says she’ll leave the ECB in 2027 but won’t confirm an exact date, keeping succession speculation alive. Italy Debt Worry: Italy’s economy minister warns the cost of servicing public debt is rising “at an alarming rate” amid geopolitical tensions. Mayo Data Centre: Minister of State Alan Dillon says Mayo must stay open to investment after An Bord Pleanála refused a major data centre in Killala, calling for lessons from the decision. Local Business & Jobs: P. O’Connor & Son expands its litigation team with senior associate Amy Langan, adding expertise in personal injury and negligence claims. Sustainability in Practice: Mayo primary schools can apply for free Scots pine saplings for National Tree Day on Oct 1, backed by Glennon Brothers. UAE Expansion Pitch: RAKEZ highlighted the UAE as a growth base for Irish firms at an Irish Business Network Dubai seminar.

Dublin City Council: Planners have given the nod for a 172-room aparthotel in Blackpitts, adding to the area’s already heavy concentration of visitor beds, reigniting local concerns about short-term accommodation saturation. Housing Standards: Tenants at a council estate in Darndale say repairs are slow and conditions poor, while new social homes nearby highlight the gap between plans and day-to-day living. Active Travel Funding: The Finglas Village Improvement Scheme is delayed as officials hunt for top-up funding after costs came back higher than expected. Homelessness Infrastructure: Dublin is considering demolition of a largely vacant homeless hostel on Bolton Street, with the site’s long-running campaign history now feeding into a fresh decision. Payments & Retail Tech: Stripe will power online payments for Brown Thomas Arnotts, with the Irish-founded fintech expanding its role in Irish retail. EU Finance & Energy: EU finance ministers and Central Bank governors meet in Dublin to discuss energy instability, competitiveness and the role of AI in the economy. Labour Market: Indeed data shows job postings down year-on-year but hiring demand steadying, with AI-related roles featuring more often in Irish listings. Agriculture Land Prices: A Kenmare land auction in Co Kerry saw a 28-acre holding sell for nearly €36,000 per acre, underlining tight supply and strong demand. Business & Policy: Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf urged a genuine EU single market and a European safe asset to keep savings working inside Europe. International Trade: The US and China are preparing for a Trump-Xi summit with unusually low friction, with AI safety and trade likely on the agenda.

Funding & Expansion: Nex Playground says it has secured $150m in Series E funding as its family active-console sales top one million, with subscribers nearing that mark and plans to expand into Germany this year plus Japan and Korea in 2027. Hospitality Finance: AAB appoints Simon Bachelor as head of hotel accounting for the UK and Ireland, aiming to support hotel groups and investors with reporting, analytics and forecasting. EU Economy Watch: EU finance ministers meet in Dublin as Cyprus is flagged for tougher tax scrutiny on Greek cross-border payments, while ministers also discuss AI’s impact on competitiveness and financial innovation. Markets & Rates: A commentary on global market turmoil links higher borrowing costs to energy-price pressure and competition for investor cash—raising questions for Irish households. Tech & Media: JustWatch is launching JustWatch TV in October 2026, letting users watch or rent inside its app across the UK and Ireland. Local Business & Community: ALDI backs Barnardos with its €2 Trolley Token campaign in Mayo and nationwide, and Westmeath’s EU Presidency cultural programme “Imagining Common Grounds” launches on Culture Night. Biotech: Aerska appoints Laura Sepp-Lorenzino to its Scientific Advisory Board to support its RNA medicines pipeline for neurological disease.

Labour Policy: A proposed US law would gradually cut the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 for covered workers over four years, with overtime rules and pay/benefits protected. Agribusiness & CAP: Farmers are bracing for Budget 2027 and CAP funding pressure, with calls for more support as schemes face annual funding needs and a reported €26m savings hunt looms. Beef Exports: Bord Bia says relaxed UK country-of-origin display rules are driving Irish beef losses in UK food service, even as some demand shifts to other EU markets. Energy Costs: Another energy crisis is building as multiple suppliers signal gas and electricity price hikes from October amid rising gas costs and limited Ireland-specific supply buffers. Dublin Development: Thor Equities buys an 11-acre industrial site in Dublin for a planned 210,000 sq ft grade-A industrial build, targeting green building certifications. Housing & Services: New figures show vacant social housing hit a decade low, but acquisitions slowed; school absence is also rising, especially for disadvantaged pupils and those with disabilities. Citizenship Rules: Ireland’s naturalisation changes tighten qualifying residence, language and civics requirements, and self-sufficiency expectations. Agri-Advice: Ploughing-linked guidance focuses on rye planting timing and flea beetle checks, while TAMS applications face pitfalls around payment trails and eligible bank accounts.

Central Bank Appointments: The Central Bank of Ireland has named Simon Sloan as director of strategy and governance, replacing Glenn Calverley and bringing experience across asset management, consumer protection and banking & payments. Legal Aid Pressure: The Bar of Ireland says criminal legal aid solicitors’ withdrawal is still disrupting cases, warning of further bottlenecks in criminal courts after a flat-fee dispute. Housing Stability in Cork: Cork City Council is urging landlords and letting agents to join its Rental Accommodation Scheme, offering rent guarantees and vacancy cover while managing tenant placement. Renters Under Strain: Focus Ireland has launched a campaign highlighting how HAP limits are failing to keep up with rents in Limerick, warning of rising homelessness risk. Energy Safety: Gas Networks Ireland is pushing “Dial Before You Dig” after Cork recorded the highest rate of gas pipeline encroachments, including accidental hits. EU Trade Talks: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Canada’s PM Mark Carney Europe wants Canada as its first associate member, aiming to move beyond CETA. Logistics Shift: A new study finds shippers want more from 3PLs—tech, expertise and value—while many are consolidating providers and debating whether they’ve outgrown 3PLs. Retail Tech Spotlight: A new Dublin-launched filmed series, “What’s In Store,” explores how modern retailers use automation, AI and retail media to stay profitable.

Irish Economy & Housing: The Central Bank says growth is stronger than expected, revising its forecast up to 3.8% for 2026 and 3.4% for 2027, driven by multinational demand for software and data-centre equipment tied to AI—while warning Budget 2027 should not add extra stimulus. It also flags housing delivery problems: average build times for new homes are now nearly double what they were a decade ago, with 2026 completions taking 44–50 months versus 21–26 months in 2016. Infrastructure Pressure: A Munster business survey finds 75% of owners there fear slow infrastructure delivery is damaging Ireland’s long-term competitiveness, with judicial reviews also blamed for planning delays. Cost-of-Living & Policy: Government ministers are being told to “prioritise and make choices and trade offs” for Budget 2027 amid global uncertainty, as spending is set to rise by €7bn next year. Legal System: The Council of the Bar of Ireland says the criminal legal aid dispute remains unresolved, warning of disruption as the new legal year approaches. Night-Time Economy: Ireland’s licensed trade reports a continued slide in late-night openings, with 950 fewer late nights in 2025 than 2024, and calls for lower fees to halt the decline. Local Governance: Fingal councillors want more transparency, asking executives to explain budget allocations in workshops before votes in November.

EU-Canada Trade Push: Canadian PM Mark Carney urges the remaining EU states, including Ireland, to ratify the Canada trade deal after US talks collapsed, arguing it boosts resilience and prosperity. CAP Funding Fight: Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says Ireland will chase alternative funding to protect the CAP envelope post-2027, warning of a proposed 22% cut and stressing flexibility for Ireland’s farming model. Food Vision 2030: Heydon launches the fourth Food Vision 2030 report at Ploughing, highlighting record agri-food exports of €20.8bn in 2025 and ongoing mid-term strategy work. Veg Sector Alarm: President Catherine Connolly warns horticulture is shrinking fast, with fewer than 70 commercial vegetable growers and about 83% of fruit and veg consumed imported. Energy & Data Centres: A Scotland data-centre expansion could raise electricity prices and strain decarbonisation, experts warn, as Ireland already feels the impact of higher power costs. Fintech Compliance: Dublin-based Currenxie appoints Eoin Weigel as Head of Compliance/MLRO for Europe to support rapid growth. Business Support: Visa’s She’s Next Grant backs Limerick cookie maker SOS Cookies with a €10,000 grant and mentoring. Legal Access: The Law Society of Ireland plans a degree-free solicitor apprenticeship route starting with the first cohort from September 2027. Hospital Parking Review: The HSE will review hospital car parking charges, considering affordability caps after revenue jumped 140% since 2021.

EU Sanctions Deadlock: Ireland’s EU presidency says member states failed to agree a Russia sanctions rollover, with a likely short extension only until Sept 22 after Slovakia and France pushed to remove sanctioned tycoon Alisher Usmanov. AI Policy Clash: During his Ireland visit, Donald Trump dismissed AI “guardrails” as a “sick conspiracy,” while US and European politicians and tech leaders continue to argue for safety limits. Revolut Scam Fallout: Revolut says a “sophisticated external impersonation scam” drove a data breach affecting a limited number of Irish customers, with identity and contact details reportedly targeted. Hospital Parking Review: The HSE has ordered a review of hospital car park charges after revenue more than doubled since 2021, reaching €17.76m in 2025. Van Insurance Costs: ESRI research finds drivers underestimate the true annual cost of motoring by about €1,000, with fuel the biggest item—useful context for businesses facing rising van insurance and running costs. Whisky Trade Boost: Lancaster Spirits welcomed UK government GI status for “English Whisky,” giving statutory protection and clearer export-grade standards. Local Business Expansion: Shelbourne Motors opened a £2.25m SVRgo rental hub in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, aiming for 25% sales growth in year one. Energy Pressure: Oil markets stay tense as Red Sea and Hormuz risks flare, adding to cost pressures that feed into Irish household and business budgets.

US-Ireland Trade: Trump’s Irish Open visit turned into a business headline as he said he will eliminate the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey, a potential boost for an export industry worth hundreds of millions of euro. Energy Markets: Oil jumped after Saudi shut a key East-West pipeline following attacks, while Middle East tensions and delayed Iran-Gulf talks kept crude volatile. AI & Markets: US futures slid as investors worried about calls to slow advanced AI development, hitting tech and semis. Irish Business & Jobs: Retailers in Mayo launched a “Cut PRSI, Keep Jobs” push for Budget 2027, arguing employer PRSI cuts would protect young workers’ jobs. Finance & Cyber: Revolut warned Irish users after a global data breach where scammers used a “government agency” email to steal sensitive customer information. Renewables: Greencoat Renewables reported €11.9m after-tax profit for H1, with Ireland driving most revenues. Transport: Eurostat data showed EU rail freight fell again in 2025, with Ireland among the biggest decliners. Water Disruption: Uisce Éireann said a burst main in Arigna may disrupt supply, with an alternative water point arranged.

Energy & Trade Pressure: Trump urged Zelenskyy to stop strikes on Russian diesel refineries, blaming Ukraine for a global diesel shortage while analysts point to wider disruption from the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran war. AI Regulation Debate: US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress should not impose an AI moratorium, arguing industry must move fast to beat China, as Trump also dismissed AI risk warnings as “things that won’t happen.” Irish Business & Exports: Trump said he will remove a 10% US tariff on Irish whiskey after repeated requests during the Irish Open, a boost for distillers targeting the US market. Retirement Readiness: CCPC research finds pension ownership in Ireland up 17% since auto-enrolment, but 1 in 5 still has no retirement plan, with a gender gap in confidence and understanding. Cost of Living & Work: Trade-union leader Owen Reidy warns Budget 2027 tax cuts without proper indexation could erode the tax base and hurt workers. Property & Infrastructure: A guide to compulsory purchase orders explains how land can be taken for greenways and transport projects like Cork’s Greenway and Dublin’s DART route, with compensation rights for owners. Consumer Shifts: Canada’s “buy Canadian” push is reshaping supermarket shelves and forcing grocers to change suppliers and labelling after the US-Canada trade war. Sports & Local Economy: Shane Lowry’s record 11-shot Irish Open win at Doonbeg drew major attention to the resort’s economic pull—alongside ongoing political protests around Trump’s visit.

Middle East Energy Shock: An Iranian commercial vessel was hit near the Strait of Hormuz, killing one and injuring three, as UK maritime monitors reported a separate projectile strike—raising fresh oil-supply fears after Saudi Arabia temporarily shut a key East-West pipeline. US-Ireland Business & Politics: President Donald Trump said a US-Canada trade deal could come “fairly soon,” but warned Canada must address tariffs hitting American farmers—while his Ireland visit continues to draw major protests and security scrutiny. Transport & Cost Pressure in Ireland: The Dáil returns with Budget 2027 looming, as public transport fares are set to rise from January (including Dublin’s Leap Card from €2 to €2.30), adding to household cost pressures. Food & Farming Costs: ICMSA warns of “farmer margin massacre” after beef price drops in spring 2026, urging processors to outline winter and spring finishing plans. Animal Feed & Climate: Teagasc Grange research suggests rapeseed cake could cut enteric methane in beef cattle by up to 9% without harming growth.

US-Ireland Business Spotlight: Donald Trump’s Dublin stop put trade and investment talk front and centre, with him telling reporters a Canada deal could come “fairly soon” after complaints about tariffs on US farmers. EU Budget Tensions: Berlin and Brussels are clashing over the EU’s next long-term budget, with Germany pushing spending cuts as the Irish Council presidency prepares a compromise “negotiating box.” Settlement Trade Curbs: A group of 12 countries including Ireland signalled plans to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements, a move framed as aligning national and EU rules. Middle East Energy Risk: Trump said Iran was “probably responsible” for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, while also claiming the Houthis don’t want US involvement—signals that could keep oil and shipping volatility in focus for Ireland’s economy. Local Business Disruption: Clare is bracing for ongoing traffic and access restrictions around Doonbeg for the Amgen Irish Open and Trump’s visit, with arrests reported for link trespassing and public order offences.

EU Climate Adaptation: Portugal is pushing the EU to fund livestock grazing under the Common Agricultural Policy to cut wildfire risk, arguing farmers can help manage vegetation in drought-hit areas. US-Canada Trade: Donald Trump says a US-Canada deal could come “fairly soon” as tariffs escalate, with negotiations still unclear and consumer “Buy Canadian” shifts making any reset harder. US-Ireland Diplomacy & Business: Trump’s Dublin visit spotlights US-Ireland trade ties alongside major security and a Doonbeg golf stop, while he also repeats support for a “unified Ireland.” Online Safety: EU capitals press Brussels for faster child-safety rules online, balancing stronger protections with privacy and practical age-check questions. Energy Markets: Trump links a drone attack that shut Saudi Arabia’s key East-West pipeline to Iran, as Iraq confirms the drones came from its territory—raising renewed energy-supply jitters. Hospitality & Jobs: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary refuses to apologise for “rapists” remarks, keeping pressure on airline language and reputational risk. Packaging Sustainability: Mondelēz replaces rigid plastic cookie trays with FSC-certified paper across major European brands, cutting virgin plastic use by about 2,200 tonnes a year. Local Economy: Connaught Telegraph hits a record 45m social media views, underlining how regional media growth can translate into business reach.

US-Ireland Security & Diplomacy: Donald Trump is set to land in Ireland amid one of the biggest Garda security operations in the state’s history, with Phoenix Park meetings in Dublin and a tightly controlled Irish Open at Doonbeg, where fans face airport-style checks and the course is expected to go into lockdown. Budget Watch: Tánaiste Simon Harris says inheritance tax changes are “certainly” on the table ahead of Budget 2027, with capital acquisitions tax and capital gains tax both flagged for possible progress. Beef & Farm Economics: ICMSA says factories are anxious for cattle as quotes become less firm and weekly prices edge up, with expectations of higher beef prices as grass growth resumes and supply tightens. Food Security & Retail: Six major grocery groups have signed up to an Irish horticulture grower-retail charter, aiming to support local producers as imported fruit and veg dependence remains high. Public Sector Tech: Government plans to use AI to take over routine administrative tasks in the public service over the next decade, targeting growth in pay and recruitment costs. EU Trade Politics: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas renews calls for an EU-wide ban on trade from Israeli settlements, drawing sharp pushback from Israel and renewed debate across member states.

Middle East Trade Sanctions: The UK says it will ban goods and services linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, targeting specific companies and individuals involved in construction, infrastructure, financing and real estate, while France has confirmed it will end settlement-linked trade alongside 11 other countries. ECB Watch: ECB policymaker Gabriel Makhlouf warns that further rate hikes could hurt growth, as a drawn-out Middle East conflict risks keeping inflation elevated. Dublin Transport Delivery: TII has appointed the Jacobs–AECOM joint venture as programme delivery partner for MetroLink, aiming to improve governance and certainty for the planned segregated metro with 16 stations. Housing Supply: Tuath Housing has opened applications for 30 cost-rental units at Cornamaddy Court in Athlone, with rents set at least 25% below market rates. Agritech Approval: Drone as a Service says it has received Irish Aviation Authority approval for drone-applied plant and soil nutrition products, including fertiliser and biostimulants. Crime & Finance: Irish authorities arrested a Nigerian real estate CEO in Dublin over an alleged $23m fraud, with extradition steps to return him to the UK. Energy Cost Politics: Fine Gael-linked reporting points to continued excise relief on diesel and hints at heating oil tax cuts ahead of Budget 2027. Local Business Strategy: Topline urges Irish independent retailers to use scale and technology without losing local ownership and community ties.

Energy & Industry: Energy minister Darragh O’Brien defended Ireland’s growing data-centre footprint, arguing it’s vital to the country’s IT “industrial base” and jobs, amid reports the regulator is considering discounted network tariffs in return for intermittent supply cuts. Cost of Living & Tax: Finance minister Simon Harris sought to reassure middle-income earners ahead of Budget 2027, pointing to cumulative gains while also flagging childcare and energy costs as key pressures. EU Trade & Procurement: The EU proposed procurement rules that could let public buyers exclude suppliers from countries outside bloc agreements, with critics calling it protectionist and discriminatory. Aviation & Corporate Governance: Ryanair shareholders rejected pay plans for CEO Michael O’Leary, with 39% voting against a deal potentially worth £130m, as the airline faces profit pressure. Agriculture & CAP: The IFA warned farmers “cannot be sacrificed” in EU budget and CAP talks, saying proposed cuts could slash payments and trigger major job losses. Youth & Jobs: New analysis argues young people still struggle to find well-paid work and build a life in Ireland, despite falling youth unemployment. Protests & Politics: Dublin City Council rejected multiple protest poster designs ahead of Trump’s visit, while separate coverage highlights planned demonstrations tied to neutrality and Gaza/Iran.