AGP Executive Report

Citizenship Overhaul: Irish rights groups warn proposed changes could lock migrants out of Irish life by raising the residence requirement to eight years and adding language, civics and income tests. Consumer Protection: The CCPC has launched legal action against Ticketmaster over alleged misleading practices in Oasis ticket sales, including “platinum” tickets with no extra benefits. Pay Transparency Readiness: Mason Hayes & Curran finds only 21% of Irish employers have made substantive progress preparing for incoming EU pay transparency rules. AI in Business: Newcode has launched Ireland’s first AI enablement programme for legal professionals, with 475 participants across 30 law firms, while CRIF rolled out an AI anti-fraud tool for financial providers tackling document tampering during onboarding. Water Supply Disruption: Uisce Éireann is carrying out critical overnight pipeline repairs in Drogheda affecting 45,000 people, with possible supply interruptions. Energy & Policy: Minister O’Brien welcomed plans for a Dublin seismic survey to assess deep geothermal potential, and Jacobs was selected for UK consenting work on the MESH energy storage project. Economy & Poverty: An ESRI report shows child poverty rising to 200,000 in 2024; Taoiseach Martin challenged the methodology used. Travel & Trade: Ryanair attacked the EU’s Entry/Exit System as a “shambles” and wants a derogation extended to ease border congestion.

Child Poverty Shock: ESRI finds the number of Irish children living below the poverty line has jumped by almost 30,000 to 200,000 in 2024, with housing costs pushing the figure to 260,000 and leaving the Government “very far” from its 2030 target. Health Insurance Pressure: The Health Insurance Authority reports a first quarter-on-quarter fall in insured people since 2020, as average premiums remain higher despite a small dip. Housing Affordability Crunch: New reporting highlights how first-time buyers are struggling as prices run ahead of incomes and mortgage costs rise, with ESRI estimating homes are about 17% over fundamentals. Digital Payments Watch: IDA Ireland says Ireland is studying India’s UPI growth for lessons on digital payments and potential EU relevance. Crypto Crime Tactics: Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau says gangs are renting private vaults to hide crypto keys and seed phrases, alongside cash and valuables, ahead of tighter EU rules. MetroLink Cost Update: A €43m swimming pool has been approved to replace a leisure centre for Dublin’s MetroLink, as wider rail costs remain under review. Prison Smuggling Crackdown: Gardaí have arrested two people in an investigation into drugs and contraband smuggling into prisons, seizing miniature phones and cash.

Payment Fraud Surge: The Central Bank reports fraudulent payments rose 27.2% to €179.04m in 2025, with authorised push-payment scams now 45% of fraud by value (€74.86m). Citizenship Overhaul: The Taoiseach says new Irish citizenship rules will raise residency from five to eight years and add a language test, aiming to align with other EU states. Irish Economy Data: Eurostat revised eurozone growth higher for Q2 2026, with Ireland’s GDP up 10.2% quarter-on-quarter driving the jump. Housing & Social Delivery: Carlow’s council deal means all 48 homes at Foran’s Way in Tullow will be allocated to council tenants by late November, reversing earlier private sales. Business & Finance: Davy opens a new dedicated Limerick wealth office as demand and assets under management surge in the Mid-West. Transport & Trade: An Irish livestock ferry dispute is taken directly to Brittany Ferries as campaigners push for a return to a competitive two-vessel service. Consumer/Competition: Ticketmaster faces CCPC charges over alleged misleading practice in Oasis “Platinum” ticket sales for Croke Park shows. Local Growth & Jobs: Galway City Council begins the €19m redevelopment of Galway City Museum with Fáilte Ireland funding.

Online Child Safety Push: Smartphone Free Childhood Ireland is calling for a minimum age of 16 before kids use social media, arguing parents can’t control algorithms or commercial pressures and urging Government leadership during Ireland’s EU presidency. Household Finances & Support: A reminder that the Additional Needs Payment can help low-income households cover essential costs they can’t meet from weekly income, with applications based on income, expenses and specific needs. Pensions & Longer Lives: Irish Life research finds only 1 in 5 adults expect to fully retire, with many planning phased work and estimating they’ll need far larger pension pots than they currently have. Housing & Dereliction: Councils’ use of compulsory purchase orders to tackle derelict buildings is highlighted as a key lever in bringing vacant properties back into use. Local Business Closures: Dublin’s long-running Brenfer Bullseye on Capel Street is set to shut after nearly 60 years, reflecting pressure on independents. Donegal Crematorium Demand: Donegal’s first crematorium is drawing huge public interest ahead of opening, with bookings already strong. EU Presidency & Big Tech Regulation: Ireland’s EU presidency is framed as a chance to tighten oversight of Big Tech, amid attention on online safety and Meta’s US settlement.

Midlands Palliative Care Alliance Launch: Five hospice groups across Westmeath, Longford, Offaly and Laois are joining forces for a new Midlands Palliative Care Alliance, aiming to push for more equitable, high-quality palliative care across the region. Cost of Living Watch (September): Households are bracing for September price moves including a Pinergy energy bill rise of €169 a year from September 14, plus extended fuel excise cuts. Consumer Protection on Food Imports: A Green Party bill would force prominent “Mercosur Meat” labelling on products sold in Ireland, as the EU’s Mercosur deal continues to roll out. Fraud Warning: Irish authorities are warning about hoax calls to the ambulance service, after FOI-released figures showed hundreds of prank calls in 2025. Business & Jobs: Ireland’s services sector grew in August but employment growth stalled, while new state savings scheme details are emerging for savers. Agribusiness Innovation: Vogelsang and BeTEC have formed a strategic joint venture to develop slurry applicators, targeting more precise slurry application.

Energy & Industry Appointments: Orsted has reshuffled senior roles, bringing in Enrique Arana Bachelis as head of commercial enablement and promoting Alex Louden to lead offshore wind innovation delivery, while Siemens Gamesa appointed Parisa Bardouni as SVP head of nacelle-wind turbine technology. Cost of Living & Climate Policy: The Government has told ministers carbon tax rises in next month’s Budget are “politically impossible”, opting for short-term fuel price suppression while oil prices stay volatile amid Middle East tensions. Boxing & Irish Sport: Katie Taylor closed her career with a dominant Croke Park win over Flora Pili, securing undisputed super-lightweight status for a third time in front of 80,000-plus. Household Finance: A new change to Irish mortgage protection rules will cut the cancer-free waiting period to five years (from seven) and raise the cover threshold to €650,000 from 15 October. Fraud & Payments: The Central Bank reports payment fraud jumped 27% to €179m in 2025, including 54,000 contactless payments. Public Transport: Junior transport minister Seán Canney defended upcoming public transport fare hikes, saying the money should help fix delays and cancellations.

Payments & Retail Partnerships: Payzone has teamed up with fintech Miconex to roll out Mastercard-backed town and city gift cards, including the Mullingar Gift Card, to 3,000+ Payzone locations nationwide, with “Grab and Load” options and redemption at 100+ local businesses. Energy & Geopolitics: The NB8 group (including Ireland’s partners in the region) says it will push for extra winter support for Ukraine’s energy grid, with €918m already earmarked in 2026. Renewables Deal: ESB’s Chleansaid wind farm in Scotland has secured a 20-year services agreement for German-made turbines from GE Vernova, targeting commercial operation in 2028. Local Business Support: BIM is inviting Mayo seafood firms into its Seafood Business Advisory Programme, offering tailored help on profitability, succession and mergers. Transport & Consumer Trends: Electric vehicle registrations keep climbing, with Westmeath up 7% year-on-year (Jan–July) and battery-electric cars now taking a larger share of the new-car market nationally. Housing & Finance: Limerick’s Living City Initiative is expanding, extending the scheme to end-2030 and aiming to bring vacant buildings back into use. Sports & Culture: Katie Taylor’s final Croke Park fight vs Flora Pili is set for DAZN worldwide, with the main card starting around 5:30pm Irish time.

Boxing & Tourism: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park finale is set for Saturday with 80,000+ tickets snapped up in under an hour, marking pro boxing’s return to the venue after a 54-year gap. Retail & Cost of Living: Netflix has raised Irish subscription prices, with the standard plan up to €18.99, basic to €11.99 and premium to €25.99, with existing users notified ahead of rollouts. Transport & Public Services: Dublin protestors hit out at a confirmed average 15% public transport fare rise from January, calling it a “Trumpian policy” that will “cost lives.” Local Government & Enterprise: Waterford City and County Council has been shortlisted in five categories for the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, including projects on Irish language and climate action. Finance & Business Deals: EQT is set to acquire a majority stake in McGill and Partners in a $2bn specialty re/insurance broker deal, supporting global expansion. Pharma: Lupin won U.S. FDA approval for Modafinil tablets (100mg/200mg) as a bioequivalent to Provigil.

Retail Jobs Watch: Paddy Power is reviewing its UK and Ireland shop portfolio, with up to 100 closures and as many as 400 jobs at risk, citing tougher trading conditions and higher gambling taxes. Macroeconomy: Ireland’s domestic economy grew 3.1% in the first six months, but growth slowed in Q2 as modified domestic demand fell 0.8%, with weaker construction a key drag. Trade & EU ties: Indonesia and Ireland’s EU link gets a boost as IEU-CEPA moves toward entry in 2027, with most Indonesian tariff lines set for zero duties and Ireland’s 2026 EU Council presidency flagged as a key opportunity. Healthcare Investment: Alliance Medical opened a new €4.5m diagnostic imaging centre in Castlebar, adding 11 jobs and bringing MRI/CT/ultrasound/x-ray services closer to Mayo patients. Broadband Snapshot: ComReg says Ireland reached 1.13m FTTP lines in Q2 2026, now 63% of fixed broadband connections.

Housing & Tax Pressure: Dublin City Council faces a €6.3m Residential Zoned Land Tax bill over undeveloped housing-zoned sites, having paid €3.9m so far and seeking deferrals on the rest—highlighting how policy can collide with funding and delivery realities. Staff Accommodation Crunch: With the housing crisis biting, employers are pitching “staff accommodation” plans to Dublin planners, including co-living and modular options near the National Children’s Hospital—showing how firms are trying to keep workers on the ground. Commercial Property Outlook: The SCSI says Ireland’s commercial market is stabilising, with prime office rents forecast to rise 6% and capital values 4% over the next year, driven by ESG-led tenant demand. Home Affordability Warning: ESRI finds Irish property prices are 17% overvalued, mainly reflecting affordability and supply imbalances rather than a credit-fuelled bubble. Public Services & Health: Ireland’s Central Bank scrutiny over Israeli bond approvals is back in focus, while other coverage points to rising costs and pressures across public services. Business & Jobs: Ibec is pushing back on a proposed minimum wage increase, as retailers and operators warn of job risks amid cost pressures.

EU Budget Talks in Dublin: EU ministers are meeting at Dublin Castle to push negotiations on the next long-term EU budget, with Ireland’s presidency aiming for agreement before year-end as some countries—Germany among them—press for tighter spending. Housing & Rent Pressure: Galway city rents jumped 13% year-on-year, with the average two-bed now €2,336 a month, while RTB data shows eviction notices fell 42.9% after March’s rent-law reforms, even as new-tenancy rents rose 9.1% to €1,839. Fuel Costs Watch: Diesel has climbed back above €2 a litre in some forecourts, driven by higher refining and shipping costs as Middle East tensions keep oil prices near six-week highs. Cyber Risk for SMEs: Limerick SMEs are being warned that AI-enabled phishing and ransomware are costing the sector up to €3.4bn annually, with many firms lacking defences. Business & Investment: The NTMA raised €1.25bn via bond auctions despite wider market turmoil, while Ibec has appointed Mayo business leader Maureen Walsh as president for 2026-27. Health System Tension: Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill defended the Public Only Consultant Contract after consultants criticised weekend working plans over staffing and waiting-list impacts.

Housing Pressure in Galway: Daft.ie data shows Galway city rents are surging, with a two-bedroom apartment now averaging €2,336 a month (+13% year-on-year), while a mortgage purchase gap leaves fewer than one-in-five workers able to qualify. Hospitality Appointments: Noel Hussey has been named General Manager of Clayton Hotel Galway, tasked with strengthening the hotel’s operations and local ties. Water Infrastructure Upgrade: Uisce Éireann has started Lough Atalia Road mains replacement, with 1.8km of pipes being renewed and night works planned to limit disruption. Local Climate Funding: Galway City Council welcomed €400,000 under the Cities Mission Accelerator Fund to deliver retrofits and other climate measures. Community Spotlight: Portumna and Tuam are in the running for Pride of Place after judging visits highlighted local volunteering and regeneration. Personal Finance Divide: A survey finds only 21% of women in Ireland feel in control of their finances, versus 35% of men. Business & Tech: PwC forecasts AI infrastructure investment could reach $31.6tn by 2050, with data-centre spending rising sharply.

Public Sector Pay Showdown: Over 70,000 public sector workers backed industrial action in the biggest vote of its kind, with Fórsa reporting nearly 63,000 votes in favour and action expected across health, education, local government and State agencies. EU-Russia Sanctions Push: EU foreign ministers meeting in Wicklow discussed a tougher response after the Leipzig drone plot, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying it had hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism and work underway on further Russia-related sanctions listings. Dublin Airport Competition Ruling: Ireland’s High Court ruled daa breached competition law by blocking an off-airport car hire firm from using Dublin Airport facilities, a blow for the airport operator’s dominance claims. Jobs and Restructuring: PayPal has started cutting roles, with reports of 164 jobs at its Irish operation as part of a global efficiency drive. Housing Affordability Pressure: New research says single first-time buyers in Limerick need about €78,750 income for a typical starter home, highlighting widening gaps beyond Dublin. Transport and Mobility: Mayo outperformed nationally on new vehicle registrations, while electric car registrations rose sharply year-to-date. Local Business Updates: MentorsWork is taking SME applications in Mayo, and a new Nails store opened in Galway’s Eyre Square Shopping Centre.

Health & Data Merger: Irish health tech Cushla is pursuing a merger with clinical research platform Clirinx to give rare-disease patients one continuous record and a single research ID, aiming to stop data getting siloed between trials and providers. Road Safety Policy: Ireland will tighten e-scooter rules with mandatory helmets and high-vis from Friday, but the planned rise in the minimum age from 16 to 18 is delayed until later this year after EU approval steps. Public Transport & Driving: An ESRI study says better public transport access leads people to learn to drive later and reduces car use long-term, with a five-year delay linked to driving about 1,500km less annually. Equality Confidence: IHREC polling shows a sharp fall in public confidence that human rights are delivered fairly, with fewer people saying discrimination-fighting efforts are effective. EU Foreign Policy: Helen McEntee says Russia’s alleged Leipzig drone attack is meant to “divide” the EU over Ukraine, as ministers meet in Wicklow to discuss sanctions and winter support. Business & Charity: Carraig Donn has announced a 2026 partnership with Cancer Fund for Children to back the Daisy Lodge short-break centre opening in Feb 2027.

Housing Affordability: A new Chill Insurance analysis says a single first-time buyer in Westmeath needs about €76,500 a year to get a mortgage on a typical €340,000 home under Central Bank rules. Home Energy Value: Research suggests each step up Ireland’s BER scale can lift sale prices by about 2.7% on average, with upgrades often adding more value than they cost. Transport Policy: The NTA proposes easing rules so small pets like cats and small dogs could travel on buses, trains and Luas, with conditions to protect safety and comfort. Local Business & Jobs: Farrans has opened applications for 60 graduate, placement and apprenticeship roles for 2027 starts, backing skills in civil engineering and quantity surveying. Retail & Consumer Pressure: IKEA is investing €1.2bn across Europe to cut prices, including UK reductions of up to 25% on hundreds of products. Public Cleanliness: Mayo litter fines rise from €150 to €250, with extra funding for dog-fouling infrastructure. Finance Regulation: The Central Bank is being urged to clarify whether it has responsibility for approving Israeli state bonds after Luxembourg’s authorisation expired. Energy & Industry: Nokia opened an R&D centre in Saudi Arabia focused on AI-powered network automation, while Ireland’s electric car registrations are up 55% year-to-date.

Irish pubs in freefall: A DCU economist’s new report for DIGI says 2,205 pubs have closed since 2005—about one in four—fueling fears of up to 1,000 more closures without policy change, with excise cuts urged. Youth jobs still shaky: A NYCI/TASC report finds youth unemployment has eased since the crash, but employment never fully recovered, with low pay, insecure work and falling participation among 15–24s. EU security in Wicklow: Ireland is hosting an informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Co Wicklow, with increased Garda presence, road closures and airspace limits, and discussions expected to cover Ukraine and wider Middle East developments. AI under EU rules: The European Commission has designated ChatGPT (and also Reddit and Roblox) under the Digital Services Act’s toughest online accountability regime, triggering new risk assessments and oversight. Crypto blocked from state savings: Ireland’s new state savings and investment account is set to take ETFs and shares but shut out crypto access. Business & investment: James Hardie (HQ in Dublin) agrees to sell Fermacell’s European flooring business to Holcim for €840m, with proceeds earmarked for debt and share buybacks. Health watch: Mosquito fogging is planned in additional Louisville neighbourhoods after West Nile virus was detected.