Services exports increased by €28bn in 2023 and now exceed the long-term dominance of goods exports

Ireland lost competitiveness in terms of supporting Irish businesses last year, the OECD has said in a report that targets much criticism at the Government's regulations over granting work visas.

The investment required for new electric trucks and the availability of e-fuels remain barriers to cutting emissions from the transport sector

The trade surplus with China, normally a blessing, may now be a cause for concern as the EU, with the US, ramps up rhetoric on potential security threats from over-reliance on Chinese trade

The EU aims to join the US and China in introducing legislation that will aim to ban AI systems using biometric categorisations and facial recognition databases. But will the ban be too widespread, endangering useful progess?

The lack of involvement of Irish ports and the shipping lines that use them puts Irish exporters at a disadvantage to UK and other European exporters

For many global companies, Ireland is a perfect entry point to the EU, with a strong infrastructure in place, including a workforce with IP experience 

Emissions from trucks, buses, and coaches have become a key target of the EU Council of Ministers.

Shrugging off the wide-ranging challenges of higher interest rates threatening consumer demand, political pressure to open key trade secrets, and data protection regulations, the technology sector has made a remarkable comeback so far this year.

Despite having 13 embassies across the 50 African states, Ireland does minimal trade with the continent and the difficulties are increasing