Top Stories

Revealed: How €430m in Ipas payments broke procurement rules since 2020

Concerns with State oversight of contracts with private providers were also raised by the C&AG this month, issues which will need to be ironed out as the Government puts another €1.8bn aside for 2026.

In the face of Trump sanctions threat, Ireland will back new climate shipping rules

Ireland will hold firm on backing the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework despite the threat of retaliation by the US against countries that vote in favour.

West Cork Distillers wins legal case over plans for key storage warehouses

An Coimisiún Pleanála had refused planning permission for the maturation warehouses which the indigenous whiskey firm says are vital to expand its storage capacity as its business continues to grow.

Belfry: A podcast series that investigates one of AIB’s darkest chapters

The Belfry funds were sold as a “no-brainer” investment, but it became one of Ireland’s biggest financial scandals. In a two-part podcast investigation, we trace the rise and fall of AIB’s ill-fated property funds.

Medals, mindsets and metrics: Bernard Brogan on building a culture that performs

Multiple All-Star Bernard Brogan has taken the principles of elite sport into the business world. With Legacy Communications and the fast-growing tech firm PepTalk, he’s helping companies boost culture, performance—and purpose.

“Strategically important”: Why S&P upgraded ESB’s credit rating to A

Despite the inclusion of higher-risk offshore-wind joint ventures in the semi-state’s debt profile, promised support from a strong Exchequer makes ESB bonds a safer bet, according to Standard & Poor’s.

Balancing two worlds: Brendan Murphy on what Budget 2026 means for business

Baker Tilly tax partner Brendan Murphy has long argued that Ireland’s entrepreneurs deserve the same attention as the multinationals that dominate the exchequer. In the aftermath of Budget 2026, he reflects on a package that reassures foreign investors but leaves many home-grown businesses feeling less loved.

David Widger: “You can’t control circumstances, only how you respond”

In a rare interview, David Widger, managing partner of A&L Goodbody, talks about the corporate deals that helped shape his career, working through boom and bust, and why he would like a second term as the firm's managing partner.

Top Voices

Hidden risk: Opacity over key risks facing State bodies a dangerous game

Risk registers and internal governance audits are rarely, if ever, released to the public, with no oversight of the key real-world risks facing public bodies until they become reality – and headline news.

Fences, fear and finance: Rewinding the week that was

Behind the barricades of Leinster House lies a broader story: of a country thriving economically yet grappling with the quiet anxieties that shape politics and public life.

Dion Fanning: Maybe they’re right when they say sport and politics don’t mix

Should Jim Gavin have been held up to more scrutiny when he was managing Dublin? The difference between sport and politics is a story of power and control.

Prophets in exile: Why some of Ireland’s brightest coaches are coaching outside of Ireland

Our player development system is the envy of world rugby. It happened through investment, clear pathways, and unwavering belief in Irish talent. Now it's time to do the same for our coaches.

Dan O’Brien: The outlook is not as benign as the budget would have you believe

Ireland is in a bubble, not one related to credit, but to complacency and a misunderstanding of the world as it now is.

Dan Fox

Legal eagles fly higher and faster with Augmented Intelligence

Law firms talk about innovation — but corporate legal teams are doing it. Augmented Intelligence is changing how lawyers work, and Johnson Hana with Eudia are leading the way.

Stuart Fitzgerald: From growth to legacy – exit and tax strategies for business owners 

In the third part of this series, fictional entrepreneurs Sarah and Jack Harbour structure their business and assets to attract buyers and maximise their net proceeds from a sale.

Ian Kehoe on Budget 2026: Fiscal reality in a land accustomed to no hard choices

Budget 2026 swaps short-term giveaways for long-term investment. The challenge now is whether fiscal restraint can hold in a system used to overspending.