AGP Executive Report

Foreign Policy & Trade: Ireland has banned far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, with the Government also signalling new legislation to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Pay & Employment: ICTU says delays to EU pay transparency rules are costing Irish women about €570m in lost wages per year, as employers push for more time. Business & Property: A Business Post report looks at how investors piled into Celtic Tiger-era bank branch property deals, and how expiring AIB and Bank of Ireland leases are now squeezing landlords. AI & Work: PwC’s Katherine Leenhouts discusses how data and AI projects succeed only when business needs and human conversation are built in from the start. Rural Development: Minister Dara Calleary visited Inishturk to see how government programmes and National Broadband Ireland are supporting island community priorities. Innovation Funding: Restore Blue, a Dublin ocean sustainability firm, is raising €500k to help offshore projects design with nature in mind.

EU Court Action: The European Commission has taken Ireland to court over alleged failures to protect carbon-rich bogs, with peat-cutting enforcement now under scrutiny. Public Services & Costs: Irish Rail’s troubled IT upgrade has hit a wall, with software delivery delays and an impairment approved as the project’s “brain of the railway network” risks failing to deliver. Tax & Big Business: New SEC filings highlight how Ireland’s public finances lean heavily on large multinationals, with major payments from Eli Lilly and others underscoring the political risk of any backlash. Health System Shift: The Rotunda faces questions as private maternity care is phased down under the Public Only Consultant Contract, raising concerns for women’s choices. Energy & Industry: Aughinish Alumina’s exports to Russia are again in the spotlight, as EU and Ukrainian pressure grows over whether sanctions should cover the plant. Scams: Bank of Ireland warns of a surge in scam texts targeting customers, urging vigilance ahead of the busy summer period. Sports Business: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park finale is back on track, with her next fight set for September 5.

Eurozone slowdown hit by Ireland: Eurostat revised eurozone Q1 growth to a 0.2% contraction, with Ireland’s GDP down 12.1% driving the surprise reversal, largely tied to multinational pharma output swings. Markets and AI jitters: European stocks were mixed as investors trimmed exposure to AI-linked shares after Broadcom’s cautious AI-chip outlook; oil slipped amid Middle East uncertainty. Meta fund-raising talk: Meta is reportedly considering a large share sale to finance AI infrastructure, following Alphabet’s oversubscribed $18bn offering. Crypto slips: Bitcoin fell below $60,000 for the first time since late 2024, after a symbolic corporate BTC selloff. Ireland policy and business impacts: Ireland opened a €100m Fuel Support Scheme for Specialist Horticulture, with applications closing 24 June. Tax reliance debate: Opposition called for investing corporation tax receipts “like communion money” after new disclosures highlighted how much comes from a small set of US multinationals. Crime and finance: A man jailed for laundering €431,000 after opening 18 Irish bank accounts. Hospitality pressure: Limerick’s Canteen Coffee Shop marks 14 years with a major guide award, but warns costs are squeezing independents. Geopolitics: Ireland barred Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich from entering over Gaza-related statements.

Central Bank Watch: Deputy governor Vasileios Madouros says the 2008 crash’s impact is still “persistent”, as Ireland digests its latest stability review and wider macro signals. GDP Reality Check: Ireland’s GDP fell sharply (down 12.1% in the quarter) but commentary points to pharma export swings driving the headline, with unemployment flagged as the key metric to watch. Sanctions & Trade Risk: Swedish investigators allege Russian oligarch control at Aughinish Alumina’s parent, while Ukraine is pressing concerns over Irish alumina exports feeding Russia’s military supply chain—raising pressure on Irish and EU action. Courtroom Business Dispute: Children’s Health Ireland’s former business manager Anita Little has resigned as part of a settlement after High Court mediation delays were finally cleared by government departments. Security & Peat Economy: Bord na Móna alleges racially abused security staff were threatened and assaulted during a bog dispute, as it seeks enforcement against alleged trespassers. Mental Health Demand: Irish families increasingly look abroad for private youth mental health care amid chronic underfunding and long waits. Scam Alert: Bank of Ireland warns of a surge in text scams targeting customers, as fraudsters ramp up during busy summer periods. Betting Deal: Evoke has agreed to be acquired by Bally’s Intralot in a £243m all-share deal, with lenders backing refinancing.

EV Charging Push: The European Investment Bank is partnering with Ireland and ZEVI to speed up a nationwide public EV charging network, aiming for a charger within reach of every community. Public Finances: Tax receipts to end-May rose to €38.7bn (+6.1%), with an Exchequer deficit of €2.3bn as spending also increased. Climate & Transport Policy: A new €10m pilot scrappage scheme offers €8,500 grants for owners trading older petrol/diesel cars for EVs, with EV registrations continuing to surge. EU Court Over Peat: The European Commission has referred Ireland to the EU’s top court over alleged failures to stop illegal peat cutting without proper environmental impact assessments, sparking claims of “vendetta” and “farce” from politicians. Digital IDs: Google expands Google Wallet with passport-based digital ID passes and age credentials, starting with Sparkasse in EU states including Ireland. IP & AI Enforcement: Dublin-based Midnight Labs secured Sony Innovation Fund backing to tackle piracy and deepfakes. Drugs Crackdown: Revenue seized nearly €3m of cannabis at Rosslare Europort, arresting a man in Wexford. Organised Crime Case: A Drogheda businessman linked to an organised crime group was jailed for a violent attack on two men.

Energy & Climate Policy: Ireland’s fossil fuel phase-out plan is still missing the practical link that would cut dependence, improve energy security and tackle cost-of-living pressures. Retail & Planning: Lidl says rivals are exploiting Ireland’s planning system with “spurious objections”, warning bottlenecks could delay its €600m store and distribution expansion. US Trade Pressure: Trump proposes new forced-labour tariffs covering 60 countries including Ireland, raising fresh uncertainty for exporters and supply chains. Agri-Business: UK beef imports from Ireland fell in Q1 as other suppliers gained share; meanwhile Irish cattle finishers warn price cuts have gone “too far and too fast”, squeezing margins. Jobs & Growth: Co Offaly’s GoSales Solutions plans 100 new jobs in Ireland and a UK office as it expands its sales and CRM services. Tech & Security: Onpipeline launches native biometric login for CRM access, aiming to reduce password reliance while keeping biometric processing on users’ devices. Housing & Property: New homes are coming to Leixlip and Kilternan, with A-rated energy designs and prices starting from the mid-€600,000s.

EV Push: Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien announces the €10m ICE2EV scheme launching 1 July, paying €5,000 to scrap qualifying 13+ year-old petrol/diesel cars and add to the existing €3,500 SEAI EV grant (total up to €8,500), with 65% of funding for rural and 35% for urban applicants. Climate Penalty Risk: O’Brien admits Ireland won’t meet the 2030 carbon target and warns EU fines could run into the billions, with “compliance payments” a possibility. Data Centres & Power Bills: The EU urges households to cut electricity use during peak hours as AI data centres strain grids, while publishing a Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package with ratings and minimum performance standards—an issue already hitting Ireland’s electricity demand. Schools & Special Needs Support: After earlier SNA cut fears, the Government confirms no school will lose more than one SNA per year under a new workforce development plan, with redeployment limits from September 2027. Fishing Fuel Relief: A new Irish Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme opens, offering help to vessel owners facing fuel cost pressure, with BIM administering the March–July support. M&A in Engineering: COWI acquires Irish consultancy PUNCH Consulting Engineers, boosting its Irish footprint and adding building and construction expertise.

EV Push & Transport Policy: The Government is set to brief Cabinet on an €8,500 EV scrappage pilot for owners of 13+ year-old petrol and diesel cars, with €5,000 scrappage plus €3,500 towards a new EV, and 65% of funds ring-fenced for rural areas. Health Costs Under Pressure: Ireland’s private health insurance market shows consumers paying more for less, with premiums up about 11% and over 70% of people on restricted orthopaedic cover, raising the risk of big out-of-pocket bills for major procedures. Renewables Jobs in Waterford: Greenvolt Next plans 50 jobs at its Waterford HQ (90 total), expanding its site and forecasting higher demand for solar and battery storage as reporting requirements ramp up. Trade & Security Scrutiny: The Ukrainian Embassy says it has “serious concern” over continued alumina exports from Ireland to Russia, pointing to rising volumes and possible military-industrial use. Business & Community: Network Ireland Mayo will host its Businesswoman of the Year awards on June 19 in Geesala, backing female leadership across multiple categories. Legal Sector Move: Kinsale healthcare lawyer Aislinn O’Shea has been promoted to partner at Mason Hayes & Curran.

Leaving Cert Jobs Outlook: Ireland’s low-carbon shift is expected to reshape hiring by 2030, with growing demand for energy retrofitting and renewables roles across the Midlands, from electricians and plumbers to BER assessors and heat-pump installers. Transport Reliability: Irish Rail has rejected rumours that new DART carriages are too big for Bray Head tunnels, saying the trains are fully designed for the existing network and only minor overhead-line changes are needed. Insurance Reform Watch: Minister Robert Troy welcomed a Society of Actuaries in Ireland injury awards benchmarking report showing Ireland’s third-party injury claim costs still run well above UK levels, with legal fees a key driver. Crime & Courts: A post-mortem in a Blanchardstown assault case heard a man suffered “traumatic” head and neck injuries; two minors accused of serious harm and robbery were denied bail. Community & Culture: Longford’s Harp Media launches the year-long “Harp Cinema Series” bringing Irish film screenings and filmmaker Q&As to the Midlands. Health & Safety: Garda and water-safety messaging continues ahead of the June bank holiday, as public guidance ramps up for swimmers and travellers.

Corporate Governance: BP has backed Amanda Blanc to lead its search for a new chair again, after the abrupt exit of Albert Manifold and investor worries about governance and conduct. Manufacturing Pulse: AIB’s PMI shows Irish manufacturing activity hitting a four-year high in May, with output, new orders and hiring rising as firms front-load purchases amid supply-chain pressure. Consumer & Retail: DoneDeal Cars data shows EV searches up 94% year-on-year while diesel searches fall 21%, signalling a sharper shift to electric and hybrid buying. Property Watch: Two Irish home listings stand out—Bray’s modernised 1882 cottage for €445,000 and a renovated Phibsborough semidetached for €595,000—both reflecting continued demand near Dublin. Transport & Local Impact: The transport minister says Cork Luas sports clubs should be compensated with new facilities and playing fields as route plans face pushback. Tech & Jobs: Primecore says it’s accelerating growth, forecasting $50m revenue by 2028 and targeting 150 new jobs across Ireland and the US. Public Policy: A letter from nearly 2,000 academics warns Research Ireland’s €4.55bn strategy is too industry-led, sidelining arts and humanities.

Work Permits: Ireland has expanded its employment permit system with 32 changes, adding six occupations to the Critical Skills list and easing access for General Employment Permits in priority sectors like construction, healthcare, transport and agri-food. Tourism Investment: Galway City Museum wins €12m for a major redevelopment, aiming to lift visitor numbers by 820,000 over 10 years and generate €47.3m in direct spending. Corporate Accountability: Seagate agrees a $175m settlement over claims it concealed sales of hard drives to Huawei that allegedly breached US export controls, with the firm set aside $105m. Tech Growth: Tines reports revenue jumping to $39.6m for the year to Jan 2025, driven by customer traction and AI workflow demand, while headcount rises to 400+ across US and Ireland. Aviation Safety: Aer Lingus updates guidance on power banks, warning passengers to take extra care with lithium-ion devices carried on board. Local Business & Infrastructure: Dublin Boulevard traffic changes are scheduled in Colorado Springs as a road project nears completion, with access to businesses maintained. Energy & Cost Pressure: Brown-Forman pauses production at its Slane distillery in Ireland, with no clear timetable given. Global Markets: Pure DC secures $2.7bn financing for AI data centre infrastructure, including a $2.15bn facility tied to its Dublin campus.

Energy & Cost of Living: A new study says data-centre power demand is already adding about €360 to Irish household electricity bills since 2015, with costs potentially rising further as demand grows and wholesale prices stay volatile. Social Protection: Over 147,000 carers are set to receive the €2,000 Carer’s Support Grant this week, with total payments expected at €336m. Business & Investment: Tesla’s Irish arm reported 2025 sales of €113.57m and near-flat profits, as deliveries dipped slightly, while the company also secured planning permission for a new North City outlet and delivery centre. Tech & Work: Ibec warns Ireland can’t take a passive approach to AI in the workforce as brokers and businesses weigh whether AI will boost growth or cut jobs. Infrastructure & Renewables: BAM has won an ASTI framework contract to build a new 400kV SSEN Transmission substation in Scotland, supporting grid upgrades for renewables. Sports & Economy: Ireland’s padel boom continues, with more than 50 courts nationwide and new facilities planned, including a €2m Cork development.

GDPR & Big Tech: Meta’s AI training project that logs employee computer activity is raising fresh GDPR worries, with internal documents suggesting data could be captured beyond U.S. staff. Healthcare Staffing: A senior councillor says the HSE should recruit earlier by targeting teenagers in schools as vacancies remain high despite a reported €250m overspend. Public Sector Accountability: A Stormont economy civil servant accepted he and senior officials “messed up” after late data and poor communication during an energy strategy inquiry. Construction Costs: A Limerick TD warns “gouging” and oil-price volatility are driving up building material costs, hitting lower-income workers and local communities. Road Safety: An Oireachtas committee heard deer-related collisions are rising, with insurers reporting hundreds of claims since 2020. Tourism & Travel: Dublin Airport is predicting its busiest day ever with 130,000+ passengers, while an urgent appeal continues for an Irish tourist missing in Spain. Energy/Markets: Ireland’s tokenisation push gets attention as the Central Bank bets on blockchain-based finance for faster, cheaper markets. Business & Investment: RSM announces a suite of new appointments at financial advisors, while Ireland’s inflation slows in May as energy prices dip.

Offshore Wind Boost: UK planning consent has been granted for RWE’s Dogger Bank South (3GW, in two 1.5GW phases) and North Falls (up to 1GW), clearing a key hurdle after radar and wind-wake concerns. Drugs Crackdown: Gardaí seized 1kg of cocaine and €220,000 cash in Meath, arresting three men in an operation targeting organised crime. Housing & Race Tensions: Sinn Féin condemned racist attacks on Dublin council homes allocated to households headed by people born outside the State. Politics & Sport: Sinn Féin plans a Dáil motion backing a boycott of Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel, including calls for the Government to cover any FAI financial penalties. IDA & Regional Jobs: A debate is reignited over whether IDA Ireland is “actively pushing” Waterford, after 2025 FDI figures showed only one major Waterford investment. Energy & Logistics: An Post says it hit a 50% carbon cut ahead of schedule while growing parcels, with 55% of its fleet alternatively fuelled by end-2025. Road Safety: Gardaí and the RSA are ramping up June Bank Holiday enforcement with checkpoints and speed vans after a high road-fatality toll this year. EU Finance Push: The E6 group backs moving more capital-markets supervision to ESMA, with Ireland among states expressing reservations. Court Case: A Dublin construction firm owner and three staff face charges over a €5.1m cannabis haul hidden in coffee tables. GAA Scheduling: The GAA says it’s “not currently feasible” to stage minor finals before senior deciders at Croke Park.

Housing & Hate Crime: Dublin City Council has started recording racially-motivated attacks on vacant council houses after a rise in vandalism in areas including Ballymun, Coolock, Finglas and Cabra, with far-right graffiti targeting alleged allocations to ethnic-minority families. Transport Disruption: Iarnród Éireann warns of major DART closures over the June Bank Holiday weekend due to engineering works between Connolly and Bray, with limited services and bus alternatives. Energy/Industry & Sanctions: New figures show more than 80% of Irish-made alumina exported to Russia in Q1 2026, reigniting pressure on Aughinish Alumina and the Government’s stance on EU sanctions. AI & Work: Ibec warns Ireland can’t take a passive approach to AI in the workforce as employers and workers face job displacement risks. Business & Finance: BPFI mortgage data shows overall home-purchase approvals up slightly, but loans for home purchase are down in number—another sign of squeeze as prices stay high. Tech/Construction Deal: EcoModular signs a strategic framework deal with IDS (Riyadh) and Modul Consult (Riga) to scale modular building projects across the GCC. Community & Funding: A Belfast community group is seeking judicial review after Belfast City Council cut funding following a merger of funds.

Sanctions vs jobs: Taoiseach Micheál Martin says EU sanctions targeting Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina exports would be “self-defeating”, warning it could harm European industry and Limerick jobs more than Russia, after the firm warned of workforce and electricity-grid impacts. Fertiliser pressure: ICMSA president Denis Drennan criticises the EU Fertiliser Action Plan as not matching the scale of the crisis, arguing farmers face soaring costs and possible supply problems that could push up food prices. Energy costs: Electric Ireland is set to raise residential bills again, with reports pointing to further electricity and gas price hikes this summer. Agrifood squeeze: A Senate debate hears claims of “huge price-gouging” in the beef supply chain, with processors and retailers accused of taking far more than farmers receive, while Meat Industry Ireland warns of weak demand abroad. Road safety crackdown: Gardaí report speeding detections on day one of the June bank-holiday operation, including a driver 35km/h over the limit in Castleblayney and 121km/h on the N3. Local business: Suzanne McEvoy elected president of the Mullingar Municipal District Chamber of Commerce, pledging to be a stronger voice for local firms.