AGP Executive Report

Canada-Ireland Deal: Prime Minister Mark Carney met Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin, backing a stronger Canada–Ireland partnership on trade, life sciences, AI and food security, and urging “middle powers” to team up rather than chase US favour ahead of the G7. EU Presidency Focus: The leaders also pointed to Ireland’s EU Council presidency from July 1 as a chance to expand Canada–EU cooperation. Sanctions Pressure on Alumina: Carney said he has “every confidence” in Ireland’s investigation into alumina exports linked to Russia, after reporting raised concerns about Limerick shipments feeding Russian arms supply chains. AI & Climate Risk: A responsible investing perspective argues AI’s growth is turning climate risk into a direct financial issue for investors, as data centres drive energy, water and permitting pressures. Local Business/Jobs: OpenText’s €105m AI investment in Cork and Galway is set to create about 400 roles, adding to Ireland’s tech hiring momentum. Housing & Costs: Reports highlight ongoing pressure on Irish households and energy bills, while policy debates continue around housing supply and affordability.

Canada-Ireland Trade Push: Canadian PM Mark Carney begins a two-day visit to Ireland, meeting the Taoiseach and focusing on ties in agri-food, digital innovation, AI, pharma and climate, with a trip to Mayo to visit his grandparents’ home area. EU Presidency Priorities: Ireland’s EU agenda is set to keep security and online safety at the top, as ministers outline plans ahead of the presidency. Housing Market Pressure: New research shows private buyers are being squeezed out of new-build supply, with only about a third of new homes now sold on the open market, weighing on homeownership. Sport Ireland Tax Fallout: Sport Ireland is pursuing workers for almost €300,000 after Revenue reclassified some contractors as employees following the Domino’s Pizza Supreme Court ruling. Agrifood Compliance Watch: EU rules on antibiotic use in Brazilian beef start in September, but traceability gaps could disrupt exports. Irish Business Growth: Dublin sustainability tech Superfy says it expects to close a €2m funding round this year, backing smart waste-bin tech to cut fuel and collection costs. Public Safety & Crime: A Swedish man died in a Limerick crash while allegedly en route to a contract killing, as gardaí hunt a second suspect.

Bord Bia Governance: A new review into Bord Bia’s chairman Larry Murrin, commissioned after Brazilian beef protests and a sit-in, says he’s viewed as giving “clear leadership,” though it flags board cohesion and confidentiality concerns. AI & Investment: Irish fleet-safety tech CameraMatics has raised €49m led by Blume Equity, with ISIF and AIB backing, to expand internationally and keep innovating its AI-driven safety platform. Transport & Jobs: Hibernia Line has launched a new year-round ferry link between Cork (Ringaskiddy) and France (Boulogne-sur-Mer), aiming to boost freight and passenger capacity and create up to 250 jobs. Household Finances: CSO data shows Irish households saved €6.6bn in Q1 2026—about €1 in every €8 of disposable income—though analysts warn saving isn’t the same as building long-term wealth. EU Funding Push: Ireland’s MEP Barry Andrews is among those backing bigger EU Overseas Countries and Territories funding, with a proposal to nearly double the budget for 2028-2034 to €999m. Tech Infrastructure Debate: A report highlights growing opposition to AI data-centre development in the US, underscoring the pressure on communities as AI power demand rises. Local Economy & Community: Monaghan County Council launches a €3m-plus national environmental action fund, adding €50,000 locally for Tidy Towns and community climate projects.

Quantum & Jobs: Horizon Quantum says it will place a second IonQ 256-qubit trapped-ion computer in Dublin, pitching the move as a boost to Ireland’s frontier quantum ecosystem and talent base. EU Asylum Overhaul: Minister Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the start of the International Protection Act 2026, introducing screening, biometric checks, faster appeals via a new tribunal body, and an accelerated border procedure for certain applicants. Rates & Cost Pressure: The ECB lifted its main deposit rate to 2.25% (from 2%), warning that inflation risks linked to the Iran war are spreading—raising the stakes for Irish mortgage holders. National Security & Industry: EU officials are pressing ahead on investigations into Aughinish Alumina’s Russian links, after the company complained about limited access to public funds for decarbonisation. Food & Farming: The FAO’s May food price snapshot shows beef prices still rising, with the beef index hitting a new monthly record. Retail & Expansion: Popeyes is accelerating in the Republic of Ireland via a new Applegreen partnership, with €6m investment and 450 jobs planned. Public Finances: An ESRI review finds immigrants have made a higher fiscal contribution than Irish-born residents over the past 20 years. Tech Skills: Accenture’s Ireland chief warns reskilling for AI adoption must speed up to deliver lasting productivity gains.

ECB Rate Decision: The European Central Bank has raised rates by 0.25 percentage points to 2.25% deposit rate, citing Middle East war-driven energy inflation and warning the eurozone faces a tougher growth outlook. Irish Mortgage Watch: A separate explainer notes tracker mortgage holders will feel the change quickly, with monthly repayments on a €100,000 loan rising by roughly €14. AI Governance in Ireland: Fianna Fáil TD Naoise Ó Cearúil takes over as chair of the Oireachtas AI committee after Malcolm Byrne stepped down following an arrest, with an AI Bill also in focus around digital identity misuse. Research Funding: SETU is set to help deliver a €460m national research investment via three new Rinn research centres. Property Sector: Waterford hosted the inaugural Real Estate Agency Summit, with speakers warning the post-boom market will face headwinds from higher rates and inflation. Business & Tech: Siemens’ Transform returns to Manchester in July, spotlighting industrial AI, digital twins and smart grid tech relevant to UK and Ireland infrastructure. Finance Markets: Dubai Islamic Bank priced a $1bn AT1 sukuk, drawing $2.3bn demand and listing it on Euronext Dublin and Nasdaq Dubai. Consumer/SME: ALDI’s Grow with ALDI programme adds nine Irish food and drink suppliers to stores nationwide from June 25.

Aviation & Consumer Watch: Ryanair is facing a British Competition and Markets Authority probe into its “mandatory family seat” policy, where parents of children aged 2–11 must pay to sit together, raising questions under consumer pricing rules. EU & Rates: The ECB is set to hike interest rates as Iran-war-related inflation pressures the euro zone, with markets watching the impact on growth. Research & Jobs: Ireland has announced seven new Rinn research centres in a €460m investment push, aiming to create 577 research roles and attract industry partners. Local Business & Retail: Applegreen plans to create up to 450 jobs as it rolls out Popeyes chicken restaurants across Irish roadside sites. Tech & Growth: Dublin tech entrepreneur Sean O’Reilly’s €2.6m estate has been revealed in probate papers after the GeoPal Solutions founder’s death. Health & Education: A new study finds Irish children’s reading and maths worsened after the Covid-19 pandemic, with the gap widening for disadvantaged pupils. Transport & Travel: Dublin Airport has completed a major food-and-beverage revamp, expanding to 50 outlets across terminals 1 and 2. Energy & Climate: Ireland’s coastal erosion is accelerating in parts of north Dublin, with residents reporting rapid loss of land and sea defences being installed.

EU Presidency Focus: Taoiseach Micheál Martin says Ireland’s EU Council presidency won’t pause Dáil work, with priorities including backing Ukraine, protecting children online, and pushing competitiveness, values and security—at an estimated cost of €165–€185m (excluding security). Competition & Consumer Watch: The CCPC has launched a study into Ireland’s retail pharmacy sector, looking at consumer experience, price transparency, switching, and the supply of prescription and OTC products, with recommendations expected. Merger Rules Update: The CCPC welcomed higher mandatory merger notification thresholds from 1 July 2026, lifting the €60m/€10m triggers to €100m aggregate and €15m for individual firms to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden. Data Centres & Power Strain: A new UN report warns AI data centres could consume 945TWh of electricity and 9.3trn litres of water annually by 2030, reframing the debate beyond carbon. Tech & Payments: Bluefin and PAX expanded secure patient payments across Epic’s ecosystem via Epic Wisdom and PayConex integration. FDI/Policy Pressure: Intel has raised concerns about Ireland’s appeal to multinationals.

Media Oversight: Independent radio stations are pushing for tighter scrutiny of Coimisiún na Meán’s spending and levy-setting powers ahead of an Oireachtas hearing. Tourism & Branding: A new online ranking brands parts of the Midwest as “beautiful but boring,” with Adare and Bunratty criticised for limited things to do. Transport Tech Fallout: Irish Rail will face politicians over a €50m traffic management IT project, with officials saying the contractor Indra still lacked a fit-for-deployment product after years of delays. Airport Demand: Dublin Airport reports passenger numbers up 7% for the year so far, with May traffic rising 2.7% and boosted by summer travel and World Cup fan flows. Property Fix: Probate delays look set to ease as the Courts Service launches an online probate portal, cutting processing times in some cases to around ten working days. Energy & Industry: Schaeffler and Sonatus announce a global partnership to bring Edge AI into motion control for software-defined vehicles. Research Push: The State plans €460m for seven advanced tech research centres under a new national network. Care & Cost of Living: Carers get a €2,000 support grant paid to 147,000 people, while a separate report highlights how childcare closures are forcing parents into last-minute disruption.

EU Presidency Prep: Ministers Darragh O’Brien, Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne have been laying out Ireland’s priorities ahead of the 1 July EU Council Presidency, with focus on energy security and affordability, Ukraine and European security, and a forthcoming programme built around competitiveness, values and security. Sanctions & Travel Bans: France has joined a wider sanctions push by banning Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, while Ireland has already moved to bar Smotrich and Ben-Gvir—raising the heat on EU diplomacy around the West Bank and Gaza. Legal & Media: Elon Musk and X have launched a High Court challenge against Ireland’s media watchdog, Comisiún na Meán, arguing the regulator is targeting the wrong “provider” under the Digital Services Act. Justice System Costs: Criminal solicitors are considering action over proposed changes to criminal legal aid payments, with concerns about access to justice from 1 July. Food & Farming: Teagasc research says Ireland’s land-based systems can meet protein needs for 20m people (or 35m with digestibility), with milk highlighted as the most efficient protein source.

Construction & Housing: Irish construction firms report home-building slowed sharply again in May, with AIB’s PMI showing residential activity in contraction while commercial work keeps expanding. Energy & Industry: Data centres are set to drive electricity demand sharply higher, with a Government policy target of up to 5.8GW by 2040 and already 22% of national power use tied to the sector. EU Trade & Cost of Living: From 1 July, Ireland’s new €3 customs charge will apply to many low-value online parcels (up to €150), ending the old “de minimis” relief and raising the cost of everyday cross-border shopping. Tech & Regulation: Apple says EU regulators rejected proposals that would let Siri’s new AI features launch while protecting user privacy, leaving some iPhone users without access. Business Expansion: Apache Pizza is creating 120 jobs as it opens 12 new stores across Ireland, boosting its online sales push. Healthcare & Policy: An ESRI-linked study finds the public and experts sharply disagree on what drives obesity, with experts pointing to environmental factors while the public leans toward personal choices. Corporate & Finance: Amundi’s stake in Bank of Ireland nears €500m, adding to the focus on bank ownership and capital plans. International Trade: Ireland-Canada ties get a boost as CETA-related momentum grows amid US tariff pressure, with Irish whiskey exports to Canada rising.

Sanctions & Supply Chains: Ireland has launched an official investigation into claims that alumina exports from Aughinish Alumina in Co Limerick may have reached Russian military supply chains, with Ukraine’s foreign minister urging a swift, transparent probe and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas set to raise the issue with the Taoiseach. Food & Retail Risk: Rathwood customers who never received goods are being told they’ll only get a “nominal sum” back, while the consumer watchdog urges affected buyers to push for refunds via chargeback. Business & Tech Services: TCS has signed a multiyear AI-powered transformation and managed services deal with Canada Life to modernise European IT infrastructure, including data centres and core systems. Local Economy & Jobs: Limerick Chamber says the Mid-West is held back by underfunding and delays, calling for faster delivery on housing and transport projects. Sports Governance: The FAI is seeking UEFA approval to move the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League home game vs Israel to a neutral venue, with Budapest tipped. Insurance: Liberty Specialty Markets has launched a new retail insurance proposition for UK and Ireland mid-market retailers via hubs including Dublin. Agriculture Markets: After a run of weekly falls, Irish beef prices are showing signs of steadying, with processors holding or slightly adjusting base quotes.

World Cup 2026: Group I-L previews put football’s biggest names front and centre, with France’s Mbappé, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo among the stars to watch as the tournament gets underway. Community Funding: West Cork projects land major backing under the Immigrant Investor Programme, including €8m for Kinsale GAA, €2.8m for Bandon Athletics Track and €4m for Timoleague’s new community hall. Environment & Local Life: IBAL’s litter survey again crowns Sligo Ireland’s cleanest town, while Cork city areas post strong results; for the first time only one town is branded “littered” (Limerick City Centre). Consumer Safety: The CCPC warns parents not to buy baby sleep pillows after removing 1,100+ unsafe listings, citing suffocation/overheating risks. Small Business Pressure: A new Small Firms Association survey says costs are up sharply, with many firms facing liquidity stress and some pausing investment or hiring. Transport & Tech Risk: Irish Rail says its train-control system has just two spare units left, raising disruption risk as the Oireachtas probes delays and overruns. Corporate Moves: SK Chemicals appoints Omya as its official European distributor for SKYPEL, aiming to grow sales across Europe including Ireland. Energy & Costs: AA Ireland reports diesel prices falling again in June while petrol ticks up slightly, leaving motorists exposed to global market swings.

Canada-Ireland Diplomacy: Canadian PM Mark Carney heads to Ireland next week for talks with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin and a visit to Co Mayo, as the first official Canadian PM trip in nearly a decade, with CETA and deeper trade links on the agenda. Housing & Investment: Kennedy Wilson and APG have launched a €2bn Irish residential JV to deliver and manage 3,400+ private rental homes across Dublin sites, boosting their Irish portfolio to about 6,900 units. Eurozone Numbers: A new analysis highlights how Ireland’s outsized multinational footprint can skew eurozone GDP readings, with Ireland’s sharp Q1 contraction dragging the bloc lower. SME Hiring: An EU report says Irish SMEs are more likely than peers to recruit non-EU staff, but many find hiring and integration difficult. EU Migration Rules: Ireland will contribute €9.26m in 2027 under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which also introduces faster border procedures and first-entry application rules. Public Health: Experts warn that tobacco-free nicotine pouches (snus) are becoming more common in Ireland and could drive further addiction. Business & Markets: A “Your Money” piece argues investing is no longer just for the wealthy, outlining basics like risk tolerance and diversification.

ECB Rates Watch: The ECB is expected to lift interest rates by 0.25% to 2.25%, a move that will feed straight into higher repayments for Ireland’s large tracker-mortgage base and push up borrowing costs more broadly. Housing Crisis & Exploitation: A new account from an international student in Dublin highlights how the lack of affordable homes leaves tenants vulnerable to coercion, including demands for sex in exchange for basic repairs. Consumer Costs: From July 1, EU-wide customs rules will add a €3 charge per item for online orders worth €150 or less from outside the EU, hitting Irish shoppers with multiple fees per parcel. Data Centres & Power Strain: A UN-linked report adds fuel to the debate over Ireland’s data-centre growth, including claims that even small changes in how AI is prompted could cut electricity use. Business & Policy: Ibec is urging the justice minister to appoint more judges to tackle an infrastructure backlog, while separate coverage flags delays and uncertainty around pay transparency rules. AI & Jobs: Irish teenagers are reportedly worried about how AI could affect their careers, as policy and industry scramble to respond.

Foreign Policy & Trade: Ireland has banned far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, with the Government also signalling new legislation to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Pay & Employment: ICTU says delays to EU pay transparency rules are costing Irish women about €570m in lost wages per year, as employers push for more time. Business & Property: A Business Post report looks at how investors piled into Celtic Tiger-era bank branch property deals, and how expiring AIB and Bank of Ireland leases are now squeezing landlords. AI & Work: PwC’s Katherine Leenhouts discusses how data and AI projects succeed only when business needs and human conversation are built in from the start. Rural Development: Minister Dara Calleary visited Inishturk to see how government programmes and National Broadband Ireland are supporting island community priorities. Innovation Funding: Restore Blue, a Dublin ocean sustainability firm, is raising €500k to help offshore projects design with nature in mind.

EU Court Action: The European Commission has taken Ireland to court over alleged failures to protect carbon-rich bogs, with peat-cutting enforcement now under scrutiny. Public Services & Costs: Irish Rail’s troubled IT upgrade has hit a wall, with software delivery delays and an impairment approved as the project’s “brain of the railway network” risks failing to deliver. Tax & Big Business: New SEC filings highlight how Ireland’s public finances lean heavily on large multinationals, with major payments from Eli Lilly and others underscoring the political risk of any backlash. Health System Shift: The Rotunda faces questions as private maternity care is phased down under the Public Only Consultant Contract, raising concerns for women’s choices. Energy & Industry: Aughinish Alumina’s exports to Russia are again in the spotlight, as EU and Ukrainian pressure grows over whether sanctions should cover the plant. Scams: Bank of Ireland warns of a surge in scam texts targeting customers, urging vigilance ahead of the busy summer period. Sports Business: Katie Taylor’s Croke Park finale is back on track, with her next fight set for September 5.