We need Britain to get real about Brexit
Budgets in both Britain and Ireland have postponed difficult decisions in a manner that will reduce their room for manoeuvre when the next election looms
John FitzGerald
John FitzGerald columns
John FitzGerald: The North must deal with its economic and social failings before unity
While many Northern nationalists see unification as a solution to poor governance, that is a fallacy
Nama’s asset strategy was ‘broadly successful’ - report
Bad bank, which is to be wound up later this year, has been accused to paying too much for assets and not maximising profits on their sale
John FitzGerald: Curbing skilled immigration from outside the EU would be a serious mistake
Calls to reduce such immigration to ease pressures on infrastructure would only makes things worse
Coming AI revolution needs a serious Government response
Luddite approach to AI won’t serve anyone as workplace is revolutionised
Scrapping water charges was a mistake that has contributed to the housing crisis
Uisce Éireann left relying on budget funds is the wrong model
Lessons for Ireland from German unification
Any move to unity in the near future could prove serious for an unprepared Northern Ireland economy
Ireland needs to support reforms necessary to boost EU’s competitiveness
Ireland has benefited hugely from its EU membership and now needs to play a constructive role in its reform
Cutting the entire cattle herd to reduce emissions makes no economic sense
Limiting methane emissions is a good thing but agriculture is producing other, more damaging, greenhouse gases
Budget delivers for today but may hold seeds for future regret in Ireland
Very unwise to use up what may be ephemeral corporation tax receipts on long-term tax and spending commitments
Sale of Energia, and all eyes on Budget 2026
The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk
The economy is red hot. Tax cuts in the budget are the last thing it needs
We hear a lot in the media about a cost-of-living crisis. This is seriously at odds with the facts
Germany’s economic engine stutters as it relies on skills of yesterday
Traditional, more narrowly focused engineering skills are no longer as valuable as in the past
Trump’s pharma clampdown threatens ‘dramatic’ fall in Irish corporation tax receipts - ESRI
Report warns that pressure on Big Pharma to cut medicine prices in US could have bigger impact on tax take than relocation of plants
Ireland’s first minister for finance, who had a taste for fine French wine and set up the Botanic Gardens
John Foster managed the country’s finances for 34 years to 1811
Ratifying the Mercosur deal is a no-brainer
Allegation that Mercosur might adversely affect beef farmers through falling prices is a scare story without real foundation
If we want fairer wealth distribution in Ireland, we need to tax property properly
As families have become smaller and household wealth has risen, inherited wealth can drive growing inequality in our society
It costs a fortune to feed the AI monster, but is it worth it?
Educating the next generation makes more sense than relying on computer brains
Nuclear generators, hydrogen and battery storage are options we should explore to generate clean electricity
Wind and solar can’t be relied on to replace gas as a reliable source to power our electricity supply
Growth in Irish living standards is likely to disappoint over the next 20 years
Not much scope for a further increase in third-level participation and productivity growth must slow
Spending on infrastructure makes sense, cutting VAT on hospitality is madness
However, unless the planning system is reformed, I’m unlikely during my lifetime to ride the metro or drink Shannon water from my tap
What US economic madness means for the rest of the world
Tariffs and a weaker dollar spell trouble for Irish exporters
Irish economy needs to take a break
Either we increase spending to develop infrastructure substantially or we need to slow the economy so it can fit into its old clothes
There is a strong logic for US firms to continue making drugs in Ireland for non-US markets
Whatever strategy the US adopts, there are serious risks to Government revenue from the sector after 2026
Farm incomes are up but EU subsidies are likely to fall, along with beef farming
Prospect of reduced EU subsidies and climate rules cloud the future for farmers
There are several ingenious tacks we can take to help cut our emissions
We should raise the cost of fossil fuel cars through higher taxes, while timber housing would reduce emissions from concrete production
The numbers say we need private rental investment to address housing crisis
Latest Government proposals don’t deal effectively with the challenge of encouraging private investment in homes to rent
Can belated economic sanity save the US from a Liz Truss-style fiasco?
The art of the tariff deal may prove far more damaging to the US than Europe
Governments must act fast when the economic winds turn
A short, sharp shock is far more preferable than a prolonged slump
Pity the EU negotiator seeking a US trade agreement with minimal damage
Even 60 years ago, in a much simpler world with a much less global supply chain, deals took a long time to iron out
Trump’s tariffs could endanger vital drug research so EU may have to step in
Someone will have to fund research if US president follows through on stated aim of cutting drug prices
A numbers game: Why are there so few cross-Border romances?
Could relative lack of north-south relationships reflect the separate development of society in the two jurisdictions?
How to fix the Northern Ireland economy
After years of economic underperformance, the North needs drastic change
John FitzGerald: Irish unification would hit South harder than 2008 crash
Republic’s prosperity may make a united Ireland look attractive to many in the North but but the cost would be very high for southerners
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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