Culture News

Music Industry Benefits From Ireland’s First COVID Support Scheme for the Sector

By Ryan Harmon 21 April 2022

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced details of the successful outcomes of the Music Industry Stimulus Package (MISP) support scheme. With a fund of €1.7m, the stimulus was introduced in September 2020 to assist those working in the music industry severely impacted by the pandemic. It […]

Council Partners Health News

County Cork Remember Lives Lost to Covid-19

By Ryan Harmon 16 March 2022

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan, has led a ceremony at Guagán Barra in Cork to remember all those who have lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. The commemoration was held in advance of the National Ceremony of Remembrance and Reflection that will take place in Dublin on Sunday, March 20th.  Mayor […]

Health News

Nurses Association Slam Minister’s Omission Of General Practice Nurses As Frontline Healthcare Workers

By Ryan Harmon 25 January 2022

The Irish General Practice Nurses Educational Association (IGPNEA) has heavily criticised the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue TD, who said on ‘Prime Time’ (Thursday 20th January) that General Practice Nurses (GPNs) were not frontline healthcare workers.  Mary Jordan, IGPNEA Chairperson, said that their membership was furious with the Minister’s remarks,

News Transport

Temporary Derogation From Driving and Resting Time Rules Due to Driver Shortage

By Ryan Harmon 13 January 2022

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Department of Transport have agreed to allow a temporary and urgent derogation in respect of certain provisions of the EU driving and resting time rules. The proposed derogation will apply to all operators and drivers subject to the EU driver’s hours and tachograph rules engaged in the carriage of goods. […]

Health News

Minister for Health, Chief Medical Officer and Chair of NIAC Encourage Parents to Get Children Vaccinated

By Ryan Harmon 10 January 2022

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan and Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Council, Professor Karina Butler are jointly encouraging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated for Covid-19. Ireland’s paediatric vaccination programme is underway for children aged 5 to 11 who: have a health condition

Business Financial News

Businesses Need Legislative Certainty on Covid-19 Supports Before Dáil Christmas Recess

By Ryan Harmon 6 December 2021

Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, is concerned about the challenges businesses are experiencing due to uncertainties around Covid-19 supports. In light of the reintroduction of restrictions, it is clear that we are not in the recovery scenario that underpinned Government decision-making regarding Covid-19, and Budget 2022. However, above-profile

Education Health News

New System of Antigen Testing of Asymptomatic Close Contacts in Primary Schools

By Ryan Harmon 19 November 2021

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD have confirmed arrangements for a new system of antigen testing of asymptomatic close contacts in primary schools put in place by the HSE. The Department of Education and the HSE, working in collaboration with the Department of Health, have developed a programme […]

Business Financial News

Angel Investment Thriving in Ireland Despite Covid

By Ryan Harmon 9 November 2021

Angel investment has thrived in Ireland despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, new data has shown. The figures from the Halo Angel Business Network (HBAN) showed total angel investment is up more than 13 per cent in the first half of the year compared with the the same pandemic period in 2019. A total of €8.38 million was […]

Health News Sport

Return to Sport Guidance Note November 2021

By Ryan Harmon 5 November 2021

On October 19th Government announced Ireland’s plan for the next phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A full Return to Sport Guidance Note can be found here: It is envisioned that these measures will remain in place until approximately February 2022. Sporting Organisations should continue to implement strong protocols with regard to training, […]

Business Financial News

Hiring Rates in Irish Jobs Market Now Exceeding Pre-Pandemic Levels

By Ryan Harmon 28 October 2021

IDA Ireland, in partnership with Microsoft and LinkedIn, has published its fourth quarterly Labour Market Pulse, which provides an overview of the latest insights and trends across the Irish labour market, showing hiring rates in the Irish jobs market are now exceeding pre-pandemic levels.  This Labour Market Pulse looked at activity over a three-month period, […]

Business Council Partners Health News

Local Authorities Improved Performance While Mounting Covid-19 Response

By Ryan Harmon 1 October 2021

Local authorities improved their performance across a range of indicators during 2020, despite Covid-19 challenges and while providing additional innovations and services during the pandemic. The NOAC Local Authority Performance Indicator Report 2020 shows local authorities made advances last year, in particular in the areas of housing, business supports, and online

Housing News

Covid-19 Pandemic Led to Greater Collaboration Across Homelessness Agencies

By Ryan Harmon 28 September 2021

At the annual conference to begin Simon Week, research commissioned from Joe Finnerty of University College Cork sets out how the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis saw a mobilisation of collaboration across homelessness agencies to keep people experiencing homelessness safe. This mobilisation demonstrates that the homelessness can be tackled more effectively through a

Health News

DRCC Callers Found Trauma Worsened During Lockdown

By Ryan Harmon 8 September 2021

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) kept its vital work going even during the most difficult days of the pandemic as callers found trauma worsened during lockdown, Josepha Madigan (Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion) said this morning at the launch of its annual report and statistical supplement 2020. Madigan said the report […]

Health News

Reopening of Indoor Dining Set to be Delayed

By Ryan Harmon 29 June 2021

The reopening of indoor dining is set to be delayed by at least two weeks, following a late-night meeting of ministers last night. Younger age groups are also set to be given a choice of what vaccine they will receive. The full Cabinet is set to meet this morning to sign off on proposals agreed […]

Health News Transport

Bus Éireann begins dedicated COVID-19 vaccination shuttle service in Limerick

By Jack Mullen 26 May 2021

Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) announces a new shuttle bus service making travel easier for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, currently at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa and moving to Limerick Racecourse from 7 June 2021. The special service begins today, Monday 24 May and will run every

Business News Technology

ThinkBusiness.ie reports that 80% of businesses have failed to rollout “right to disconnect” policy

By Jack Mullen 26 April 2021

Despite awareness of the issue during Covid-19 pandemic, few firms have implemented a ‘Right to Disconnect’ policy for their staff, leaving them open to costly legal action. Only one in five Irish companies (20pc) have a ‘Right to Disconnect’ policy in place while 80pc do not. According to the 2021 Leaders Talent Report by Principal Connections – […]

Business Health News Podcasts

The impacts of Covid-19 on small business owners: A Q&A with Phillip Donnelly.

By Jack Mullen 14 April 2021

In today’s podcast we spoke to Philip Donnelly who is he owner of Phil Donnelly Personal Training (PDPT). Phil Donnelly Personal Training is a registered personal training service that offers professional and individualised coaching. PD Personal Training works in a private studio at 8 Terenure road north, Terenure, Dublin 6. Phil’s background in sport science

Business News

Construction in Ireland – Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025

By Jack Mullen 12 April 2021

Construction Network Ireland expects the Irish construction industry to expand by 10.9% in real terms in 2021 – up from a decline of 12.7% in 2020. The industry’s output was affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown measures imposed to contain the virus’s spread. This has continued to weigh on construction progress and […]

Financial News

Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC)

By Jack Mullen 8 April 2021

Applications for Phase 1 of the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) are now open. The applications should be made to your Local Authority.  The closing date for receipt of applications is 21 April 2021.  SBASC gives grants to businesses who are not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), the Fáilte Ireland Business […]

Culture News

Cathaoirleach leads call to celebrate ‘Clare Covid Heroes’

By Jack Mullen 30 March 2021

Pictured above: Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mary Howard A new initiative from the Office of the Cathaoirleach in Clare County Council will celebrate good deeds done by people in Clare during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mary Howard, is inviting people in Clare to nominate fellow citizens for recognition as ‘Clare Covid Heroes’ for the help […]