Ireland’s record tax take makes light of Trump tariffs fear

Plus, the motoring trends hitting our roads in 2026

Listen | 49:42
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris speaking at a press conference on the publication of the End 2025 Exchequer Statement. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris speaking at a press conference on the publication of the End 2025 Exchequer Statement. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

2025 has proved to be a record year for tax receipt figures, with the total hitting €106bn.

This was despite extensive warnings about the State’s precarious position due to Donald Trump’s series of tariffs, and the number of big multinationals that use Ireland as an export base.

It was another bumper year for corporation tax receipts as they exceeded expectations, but perhaps the non-corporation tax take offers the clearest insight into how Ireland’s economic growth will progress as we start 2026.

For analysis of the numbers, host Cliff Taylor is joined in studio by chief economist at Davy, Kevin Timoney.

Also on this week’s Inside Business, we look at how new EV sales increased last year to overtake diesel, a massive turnaround from 2023 and 2024, which saw EV sales plummet.

Will this trend continue? Can charging infrastructure start to meet demand? And what’s being done to increase road safety?

Irish Times Motoring Editor Michael McAleer gives his take on the trends hitting Irish roads in 2026.

Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.

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