John FitzGerald

John FitzGerald: Since 2010 wage rates have risen more slowly in the public sector than in the private sector

When it comes to big infrastructural initiatives there needs to be a decent margin of benefit over cost to make a project worthwhile

Extreme weather events will likely become more frequent and Ireland has to be ready to handle them

John FitzGerald: Our corporation tax bonanza is a bit like an oil find, bringing massive but temporary revenues

If the EU wants to subsidise key industries, any such subsidy should come from the bloc, not national governments

Republic short of workers, which means hitting pause button on lower-priority projects in public or private sectors

Move would relax the pressure on politicians in Northern Ireland to put their budgetary house in order and let London off the hook

Smart Money: Different ways of measuring financial wellbeing across different timeframes mean comparing like with like is anything but straightforward

John FitzGerald: There’s a real risk that giveaway budgets will do significant damage to the economy

The census shows the changing face of Ireland, and offers critical data for reducing our carbon emissions

Regulatory obstacles may stymie State ambition on carbon budgets

Government intervention was always seen as essential, and few economists see the pursuit of growth as the only goal

Best solution to consumers’ pain is for the Government to act to protect those on low incomes

Modern bank runs can escalate within minutes rather than weeks due to online social networks posing new challenges for central banks

Northern Secretary has blamed the £300m unplanned overspend last year on the absence of a government in Stormont

Obsessive focus on avoiding indebtedness forces countries to slam on the breaks in hard times, making the damage far worse than necessary

Lack of agreed international regulation, or taxes, means flying is likely to be the last battleground on fossil fuel use

By delaying the gratification from spending the bonanza today, the State will get much better value for money

A savings glut and low interest rates risk overheating the Irish economy and pushing house prices higher

Failure to address regulatory obstacles to climate-friendly forestry planting traps farmers in unviable and damaging beef cattle farming

John FitzGerald: State had been ne of northern Europe’s poorer countries, it is now one of the richest

European banking system appears to be better regulated and prepared for downsides but there could still be hidden problems waiting to emerge

Current mix of support mechanisms for producers is unnecessarily costly for consumers and uncertain for renewables investors

The €140m paid to lawyers by the State Claims Agency in 2021 represented approximately 15% of the profession’s income that year

John FitzGerald: Increasing the supply of rented accommodation, including social housing, is the better way to go

Taxes and welfare smooth out some of the starkest differences in incomes across various parts of the State

Government supports must focus on most vulnerable parts of society, not the wider population

We need to build more electricity generating capacity but as government noted 40 years ago scale makes nuclear power a poor fit

Higher taxes could lie ahead as possible overheating looms

Transport sector is key for Ireland to hit emissions targets

Road space is a scarce resource that can be used most efficiently by buses, so bus lanes are more valuable than cycle paths

On the economic front, Government decision to provide increased support for households and businesses proved exceptionally successful

Press releases only tell us so much - the data that can drive Government decisions should be readily available

Business Today: the best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

Upgrading creaking water infrastructure involves challenges that are outside of utility’s control

Smart meters record when households consume a lot of power, but customers can’t access that data easily

Even after its abolition in 1973, the bar continued to cast a shadow over women working in the public service for decades

John FitzGerald: The latest shock to the economy requires different remedies

Three-pronged RePowerEU plans will fast forward green transition and focus on saving energy

Eddie O’Connor-backed business focuses on energy technology