Housing starts, a tale of two Brexits, and how Ireland rates on taxing workers

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

Housing starts are back at Celtic Tiger levels, according to estate agent Sherry FitzGerald. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Housing starts are back at Celtic Tiger levels, according to estate agent Sherry FitzGerald. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

Housing starts are now back at Celtic Tiger levels, with Dublin and the mid-east region seeing the biggest pick-up in activity, but we are still not keeping up with demand, according to a new report by leading estate agent Sherry FitzGerald. Eoin Burke-Kennedy has the details.

CRH subsidiary Irish Cement must pay a €225,000 fine after pleading guilty to several breaches of health and safety law. Barry O'Halloran reports.

Mayo County Council was forced to pay back more than €1.2 million in government funding after an internal audit found miscoded invoices and money drawn down before any work had taken place. Ken Foxe has the details.

It's been a tale of two Brexits for two of Ireland's biggest ports, with Rosslare Europort experiencing a surge in freight volumes to the continent while Dublin has seen volumes decline from Britain as traders bypass checks there, writes Cantillon.

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Is Ireland a high tax country for workers? Fiona Reddan has the answer in our weekly personal finance feature.

In Q&A, a reader is planning to sell a rental property and wonders about the tax implications of the move. Dominic Coyle offers some guidance.

In her Media & Marketing column, Laura Slattery looks at the similarities and contrasts in funding between public services broadcasters RTÉ and BBC.

In Me & My Money, Cat Butler, co-founder of wellness drinks maker Naked Collective explains why clothes bought online often disappoint her.

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Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times