John FitzGerald: Energy price rises set to topple economies into recession Building new liquefied natural gas terminals will take three to five years even without planning delays.Fri Sept 09 2022 - 05:40
John FitzGerald: Has our economy been growing at an unsustainable rate?The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we workFri Sept 02 2022 - 05:00
John FitzGerald: We are paying the price for failure to invest in power generation Necessary short-term solutions must not be allowed to seriously damage the all-island electricity market in the medium termFri Aug 26 2022 - 05:00
John FitzGerald: Food processing has been good for Irish farmersAdded value has improved returns for farmers, especially in dairy, but meat sector and climate change remain challengesFri Aug 19 2022 - 05:00
On climate change, the best may be the enemy of the good Instead of continuing to fight the battle over agricultural emissions, it’s time to take real action to realise the targeted reduction.Fri Aug 12 2022 - 05:00
Surging energy costs will take the wind out of Ireland Inc’s sailsCost to economy of additional energy bill this year is like wiping out all the revenue we earn from food exportsFri Jul 22 2022 - 05:20
This time is different as euro zone battles slumpBlame game by more frugal states, which poisoned the atmosphere in the late 2000s, is not likely this time aroundFri Jul 15 2022 - 05:30
John FitzGerald: Census reveals much more than population numbersLabour shortages rather than unemployment are main concern todayFri Jul 08 2022 - 05:00
Threat to Irish gas supplies from Britain a cause for alarmIf Ireland were to lose the 70% of gas coming via Britain, the consequences would be awfulFri Jul 01 2022 - 05:30
ECB should heed lessons from 1970s in deciding interest rate risesBank of England let inflation rip in the 1970s while Germany quickly raised rates, with both approaches scarring their economiesFri Jun 24 2022 - 05:30
Ireland is going backwards when it comes to our climate goalsState has made a slow start in meeting target of reducing greenhouse gas emissionsFri Jun 17 2022 - 05:00
Government should put some of the corporate tax windfall into a rainy day fundIf this tax revenue suddenly dries up, the fund would provide a cushion for the State’s financesFri Jun 10 2022 - 05:30
John FitzGerald: Economic challenge of managing successGovernment has to get its head around a surging economy and address the challenges it bringsFri Jun 03 2022 - 05:00
Devolving income tax powers to Stormont pointless amid political dysfunctionMore fiscal autonomy will only bring benefits if it’s built on a foundation of good government.Fri May 27 2022 - 05:00
How we can protect the vulnerable in inflationary timesJohn FitzGerald: The latest shock to the economy requires different remediesFri May 20 2022 - 05:32
No easy answers to threat of European gas shortageIt might be in our interests to rent gas storage in Germany to hedge against price risesFri May 13 2022 - 05:00
John FitzGerald: Extent of UK economy’s damage from Brexit has been maskedWar and Covid disguise many self-inflicted trade blows sustained in exiting EUFri May 06 2022 - 06:00
John FitzGerald: Russian move ensures EU gas problem in pipelineMember states must co-operate to cut usage and help Germany replenish its stockpilesFri Apr 29 2022 - 05:49
John FitzGerald: Pandemic savings have not yet hit house pricesState needs simpler, speedier planning for good quality housing without inflating costsFri Apr 22 2022 - 05:47
Ukrainian refugee crisis could spur radical ideas on housingIncreased supply is only answer to housing crisis as rent controls create problemsFri Apr 15 2022 - 05:15
Congestion charges in Dublin may be preferable to traffic restrictionsCharges reduce traffic levels, speed up bus journeys and make a city more liveableFri Apr 08 2022 - 05:22
Up to ECB to take measures to slow demand and halt inflationary spiralWar in Ukraine adds to inflationary pressure as economies recover from pandemicFri Apr 01 2022 - 05:37
John FitzGerald: Energy supply disruption promotes case for renewablesEU policy needs to ensure setback caused by current crisis does not become permanentFri Mar 25 2022 - 05:41
John FitzGerald: Ukraine shock waves to be felt for some timeRole of government not to try stop inevitable, but to protect vulnerable against high pricesFri Mar 18 2022 - 05:30
Energy security is of paramount importance for the EUJohn FitzGerald: Governments may have to underwrite investment to secure gas suppliesFri Mar 11 2022 - 05:11
Why are there not more women workers in Ireland?Our female labour-force participation rates are below those elsewhere in northern EuropeFri Mar 04 2022 - 05:27
Ireland faces gas rationing as Russia invades UkraineAll EU states need to take security of gas supplies more seriously in the futureThu Feb 24 2022 - 15:27
Underdeveloped Derry is an all-island problemFor years the city has suffered from significant economic and social disabilitiesFri Feb 18 2022 - 05:04
John FitzGerald: Why a €200 electricity rebate for all makes no senseSupport to insulate our homes is a better long-term approachFri Feb 11 2022 - 05:45
Earlier action on interest rates than planned may be warrantedRates may stabilise above pre-pandemic level in coming decade as climate change challenge loomsFri Feb 04 2022 - 12:20
John FitzGerald: Open economy and education key to prosperityFollowing early economic policy missteps, solid decisions have paid off handsomelyFri Jan 28 2022 - 07:30
Fuel tax and incentives the only way to decarbonise air travelNo government wants to turn the clock back to 19th-century living standardsFri Jan 21 2022 - 05:01
Good air connectivity is vital for Irish tradeJohn FitzGerald: Ireland needs to recover air routes mothballed by Covid or risk impact on investmentFri Jan 14 2022 - 05:22
John FitzGerald: The potentially poisoned chalice of fiscal autonomy in Northern IrelandIf the North chose to halve corporation tax the immediate result would be a fall in revenueFri Jan 07 2022 - 05:37
Christmas tree market a seasonal lesson in supply and demandJohn FitzGerald: Predictions of pandemic-related supply crunch prove unfoundedSun Dec 26 2021 - 16:01
John FitzGerald: Economy may overcome Covid by late 2022Once economy reaches capacity, Government’s job will be to contain demandFri Dec 17 2021 - 05:18
John FitzGerald: Economic fallout of Anglo-Irish Treaty was not all badDespite scant attention to finance, fledgling State secured two great deals with LondonFri Dec 10 2021 - 05:42
Reforming how we pay for electricity in a renewables worldFixed-charged billing makes sense but provision needs to be made for less well offFri Dec 03 2021 - 09:49
John FitzGerald: The North is losing a third of young graduates – this needs to stopDifference between migration pattern North and South related to how both economies performFri Nov 26 2021 - 05:40
Covid will get blame instead of Brexit for sluggish UK economyTriggering article 16 over NI protocol would likely choke back UK growth even furtherFri Nov 19 2021 - 05:13
John FitzGerald: Forestry and timber houses are the way forwardState needs to look to trees and their rich capacity to offset fossil fuel emissionsFri Nov 12 2021 - 05:43
John FitzGerald: The longer rent control goes on the more difficult it will be to unwindRent control risks inhibiting housing supply over the long termFri Nov 05 2021 - 05:05
John FitzGerald: Climate change and its macroeconomic challengesKey work falls to individuals and companies but State must carry bulk of financial burdenFri Oct 29 2021 - 05:30
John FitzGerald: We need to prepare now for future natural disastersWith extreme events predicted to become more frequent we need to build up responsesFri Oct 22 2021 - 05:42
John FitzGerald: Giveaway budget puts off day of reckoningIf our economy continues on its present course, it will reach capacity next yearFri Oct 15 2021 - 05:36
Making sure the investment in the National Development Plan is worth itGetting value for money from NDP projects requires regular assessment and flexibilityFri Oct 08 2021 - 05:21
John FitzGerald: To be carbon-free by 2050 this budget must raise taxes on polluting fuelsBudget is key policy tool to drive emissions reduction across a range of sectorsThu Oct 07 2021 - 09:00
Financial engineering can be damaging to public and private sectorsCapital structure of State-owned utilities is important if they are to expand vital servicesFri Sept 24 2021 - 05:16
Students used to head abroad for summer work – Covid took that awayFrom part-time gigs to summer jobs - students’ work patterns have changedFri Sept 17 2021 - 05:30
Housing For All has a lot to commend it but fails to address key issuesJohn FitzGerald: Delivery will be the only true measure of success for new planFri Sept 10 2021 - 05:11
