EU lowers Irelands 2012 growth forecast to 0.5  The European Commission has lowered Ireland's growth forecast to 0.5% for 2012. 1 of 1 The European Commission expects Ireland to grow 1.9% next year. It expects the Irish economy to grow by 1.9% in 2013. The Commission, in its Spring Economic Forecast says that the euro zone economy will shrink by 0.3% in 2012, but recover in the second half of the year and grow by 1% in 2013. Unemployment across the euro zone is expected to remain at a high of 11% in 2012 and 2013, the Commission said ... RTE Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Mobile firms told to slash roaming costs IRISH mobile companies have been ordered by the EU to slash their roaming charges by up to 80pc this summer. As a result the cost of surfing the net overseas will be a fraction of current rates. Irish consumers will benefit hugely from the Europe-wide move, as they're now charged up to €5 for each megabyte of data used, whereas the new EU limit will be just 70c, or 85c after VAT. The new lower charges come into force from July 1, and will be followed by prices plummeting further to €0 ... Irish Independent Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Raising corporation tax will bring back Celtic Tiger The Irish economy earned itself the title ‘the Celtic Tiger’ for its spectacular growth between 1995 and 2007. The Celtic Tiger is now being widely regarded as tamed and toothless. The Tiger’s best hope now is to lean on the companies that have for so long enjoyed riding on its back ... The Irish Examiner Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Spanish bank plan expected Spain is expected to announce measures to strengthen its banking sector today. Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters. Spain is expected to announce measures to strengthen its banking sector today, just two days after seizing control of Bankia, the country's largest real estate lender ... Irish Times Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Greece edges closer to forming pro bailout coalition Leader of the Democratic Left party Fotis Kouvelis (right) meets leader of the Socialists Pasok party Evangelos Venizelos in Athens. Photograph: Yorgos Karahalis/Reuters ARTHUR BEESLEY, DAMIAN Mac CON ULADH and DEAGLÁN de BRÉADÚN The prospect of an unexpected breakthrough to salvage the EU/IMF rescue deal for Greece is emerging after the smallest party in the country’s parliament signalled it was ready to join a pro-bailout coalition ... Irish Times Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Flashmob stuns shoppers to celebrate Europe Day SHOPPERS on a busy city street were entertained by a flashmob yesterday to celebrate Europe Day. The flashmob, which saw a group of young and older people engage in a spot of apparently spontaneous dancing on Dublin's Grafton Street, surprised shoppers and passers by. This year's Europe Day celebrates the concept of active aging and solidarity between generations by turning stereotypes on their heads ... Irish Independent Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Kenny Hollande discussions focus on EU growth plan The development of an EU growth strategy was the focus of the first conversation between Taoiseach Enda Kenny (above) and French president- elect Francois Hollande. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill/Irish Times STEPHEN COLLINS, RUADHÁN Mac CORMAIC and DEREK SCALLY The development of an EU growth strategy was the focus of the first conversation between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and French president- elect François Hollande ... Irish Times Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Fiscal treaty is really about a new regime to rescue euro 'And what then?" my old religion teacher used to ask, as he would take one through one's plans for life, right up to the inevitable conclusion. "And what then?" he would grin. Would that the conclusion of the European crisis were so inevitable. At least we would know how to prepare. We do know that efforts to bring it to an end, and restore belief in the single currency, will continue and probably intensify. This makes the "what then?" question highly pertinent ... Irish Independent Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| ECB policy chiefs begin to consider a euro without Greece FROM the monetary fortress of the European Central Bank to the pro-European duchy of Luxembourg , policy makers are beginning to air their doubts that Greece can stay in the euro. Post-election tumult in Athens has put the once-taboo subject of an exit from the 17-country currency on the agenda. "If Greece decides not to stay in the eurozone, we cannot force Greece," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said at a conference in Brussels yesterday ... Irish Independent Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Spanner in works for CAP A repeat of the 2008 global food price scare is not ruled out. That could trigger global unrest, especially in poor countries Few French farmers are thought to have voted for the country’s new president-elect, François Hollande. In any case, with only 4% of the electorate, they had little say ... The Irish Examiner Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Weak euro helps food exporters A weak euro over much of the coming year is predicted to help food exporters to the UK. A euro slide has taken the currency to a 22-month low, relative to sterling, with €1 worth 81.3p so far this month. The decline reflects sovereign debt concerns in eurozone economies, and political uncertainty. In 2008, the euro appreciated to a high of 98p and has remained relatively strong since. But since 2009, its trajectory has been generally downwards ... The Irish Examiner Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Barroso pushes euro 10bn anti austerity investment plan THE European Commission (EC) has urged countries to make "targeted investments" in growth as part of a crisis-busting strategy that marks a shift away from a focus on strict budgetary austerity. EC chief Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday asked governments to approve a €10bn capital boost for the European Investment Bank and said they should pledge more cash to the EU budget to pay for transport, energy and broadband upgrades across the bloc ... Irish Independent Wed, 9 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| EU vote more important than a general election Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the referendum on the fiscal treaty is more important than a general election. IRISH TIMES REPORTERS The upcoming referendum on the fiscal treaty is more important than a general election, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said. Speaking in Dublin today, Mr Kenny said the outcome of the May 31st referendum would have an impact that would last for “a very long time” ... Irish Times Wed, 9 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Kenny Hollande has no intention of interfering in referendum The incoming French president has told the Taoiseach that he has no intention of interfering in Ireland's fiscal treaty referendum. Francois Hollande has already said he would not ratify the treaty unless a new pact on economic growth in the EU is also agreed. Europe's leaders are to hold a special summit on May 23 to discuss the growth agenda. But Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he spoke to the newly elected French President by telephone this morning ... The Irish Examiner Wed, 9 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| EU leaders to discuss growth ahead of vote By Paul O’Brien, Political Editor EU leaders will meet on May 23 to discuss ways of boosting economic growth — just eight days before Ireland votes in the fiscal treaty referendum. It comes as Europe grapples with the election results in Greece and France, which have widely been interpreted as a rejection of the EU’s austerity drive. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said yesterday he had urged EU president Herman van Rompuy to hold such a meeting in a phonecall on Sunday ... The Irish Examiner Wed, 9 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Geoghegan Quinn urges voters to back treaty ARTHUR BEESLEY, European Correspondent IRELAND’S EU commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn urged people to back the fiscal treaty, saying the looming referendum was probably the most important Irish vote on any European treaty. Saying there was no Plan B in the event of a No vote, Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said international business leaders had emphasised to her the need for stability and certainty in Ireland and in Europe ... Irish Times Tue, 8 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| More students applying for Erasmus places GENEVIEVE CARBERY THE UPTAKE of Erasmus places by Irish third level students has increased by almost a fifth, new figures released by the European Commission have shown. Ireland had the fourth highest increase in out-bound students of more than 30 participating European countries last year. This 18 per cent increase saw 2,511 Irish students taking up the 2010/2011 European student exchange programme compared with 2,128 in the previous year ... Irish Times Tue, 8 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Taoiseach Treaty referendum will not be postponed The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is reiterating the EU Treaty referendum will go ahead as planned. Mr Kenny made the comments after calls for the referendum to be deferred, following the election of Francois Hollande as the new President of France over the weekend. The French President Elect has said he wants a number of growth measures to be added to the treaty. However, speaking on his way into this morning's Cabinet meeting, the Taoiseach said this does not mean Ireland should delay the vote ... The Irish Examiner Tue, 8 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
| Angela Merkel insists fiscal treaty cant be renegotiated Germany and the EU have warned Francois Hollande, France's new socialist president, that he will not be permitted to renegotiate the eurozone austerity treaty, despite it being rejected by French voters. Mr Hollande made renegotiation of the eurozone's 'fiskalpakt' a central plank in the anti-austerity election campaign that swept him to power on Sunday night ... Irish Independent Tue, 8 May 2012 01:00:00 IST |
