Central Bank blues; Lowry joins Wayflyer; and billionaires’ fortunes grow

The Central Bank has warned against salary increases across the economy to keep up with soaring consumer prices as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine war. Joe Brennan writes that the bank fears such a move may result in a longer period of "harmfully higher inflation". As it cut growth projections, the bank also raised concerns about the Government's ability to deliver on its housing policy.

Irish golf star Shane Lowry has signed a multimillion euro sponsorship deal with Ireland's latest tech unicorn, Wayflyer on the eve of the US Masters. Ciarán Hancock reports.

Plans to impose charges on people dropping family off at Dublin Airport might not happen after the DAA proposal was appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Gordon Deegan reports.

Ireland's nine billionaires increased their collective wealth by a net €10.85 billion last year, writes Laura Slattery, with six seeing their fortunes increase and three stepping back a little.

Elkstone announces €100m fund for high potential Irish start-ups

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ESB raises prices for public charging of electric vehicles sharply

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Workers sanctioned over safety breach that ‘could have led to explosion’

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Wicklow Town lands with planning for three- and four-bed houses for €2.75m

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Speaking of money, excessive spending on outside consultants, missed targets, and poor take-up rates in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan have been criticised by the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC), which has said taxpayers may not be getting value for money. Colin Gleeson was listening in.

Housebuilder Cairn Homes is about to lodge plans for 366 mostly build to rent units on a 7.9 acre site off Blackrock's Cross Avenue. The builder had permission for a much smaller development overturned in the courts back in 2019. Gordon Deegan reports.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those in the hospitality sector, face a "rocky road to recovery" due to inflation pressures and the imminent end of State pandemic supports for most, a banking industry report has found. Laura Slattery has the details.

Cliff Taylor reports that Irish bonds suffered their worst one-day setback in some time with interest rates on the benchmark 10-year debt rising to its sharpest level in more than six years and the spread with the German bund widening as markets fret about inflation and possible further sanctions on Russia.

US pharma giant Gilead Sciences has formally opened a centre of excellence in Dublin's docklands focusing on the development of medicines for children.

American football legend Tom Brady is reported to have teamed up with Declan Kelly, the top public relations adviser who quit his firm Teneo last year after sexual harassment allegations, in his comeback venture, Consello.

Karlin Lillington takes exception to two separate pieces of legislation working their way through the Oireachtas that attempt to put manners on social media. One is looking to hold social media executives criminally liable for online abuse; the other want sot unmask anonymous accounts. Neither makes sense, she argues.

In Commercial Property, Ronald Quinlan writes that Irish developer Twinlite and its joint venture partner Tristan Capital Partners have engaged Knight Frank and Hooke & MacDonald to act as joint agents for the sale of 376 rental apartments at Clongriffin in north Dublin.

And the planned regeneration of Dublin's Connolly Station as well as the proximity of the IFSC are seen as key selling points in the sale of a prime 177-bed hotel development site on Amiens Street. The asking price? €12 million.

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