Business confidence eases

A new survey of Irish small and medium sized businesses, which make up 97% of Irish enterprises, reveals an easing in confidence levels compared to two years ago.

The annual O2 Business Survey finds that 29% of firms are more confident about the coming year than they were last year, compared to 43% two years ago and 33% last year. The number of firms which are less confident has risen from 10% two years ago to 17% this year.