Mark Hilliard

Ireland

News Journalist at Irish Times

Journalist

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Articles

Artificial intelligence to be used in drafting Government department documents

5 days ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is to be used in the creation of key documents at the Department of Enterprise under renewed policy guidance recently circulated to staff. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said consideration of the technology’s use has been upgraded and work is to be conducted in the coming months to consider how it can be applied. He was addressing the issue in the context of a recent move by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to employ the technology in its design of law.
Tariffs, DAA duty free reviews and cross-border love

6 days ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

In another burst of international tariff related stories, the US has struck a partial deal with the UK, while the EU outlined further measures it is willing to put in place should its hand be forced by the ongoing trade hostilities. In the US, Keith Duggan looks at the intricacies of the US deal and how it all came about – after Liberation Day, it becomes the first deal. Meanwhile, in London, Mark Paul does likewise.
Plan under way to protect telecoms network from extreme weather

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Ireland’s telecoms companies may have to submit annual network resilience reports as part of a new safeguarding plan in an era of worsening climate change and extreme weather events. Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan recently met with industry figures in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, the most damaging to services in recorded history.
Irish manufacturing output reaches highest level in three years

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Irish manufacturing output in April was at its highest since June 2022, according to AIB, which noted a “robust upturn” in activity. Production volumes and incoming new work both increased at the fastest pace for three years. The bank’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 53.0, up from 51.6 in March. Any figure greater than 50 indicates overall expansion in the sector.
Over 7,000 businesses fail to comply with Covid-era back tax

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

More than 7,000 businesses that entered the Revenue Commissioner’s Covid-19 debt warehousing scheme (DWS), representing over €100 million in unpaid taxes, have failed to engage with collectors. Publishing its annual report on Wednesday, Revenue said the vast majority (97 per cent) of participants were in compliance, leading to about €30 million in monthly collections.
Food prices continue to climb according to inflation data

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Food prices have increased by over 3 per cent over the last year, according to latest inflation data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Irish consumer prices overall are estimated to have increased by 2 per cent between April and the same month in 2024. That figure represents a slight 0.2 per cent increase in the rate of annual inflation as recorded in March, when it was 1.8 per cent year-on-year. It is up 0.4 per cent for the month.
More than €31bn in fossil fuel investments ‘based in Ireland’

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Almost €32 billion in fossil fuel investment was held by Irish-based subsidiaries of finance companies last year, a new report claims. The sheer level of money involved ranks Ireland 14th in global terms and renders the State a “key global centre for investment”. The research report, The Hidden Truth: Ireland’s Role in the Global Fossil Fuel Industry, is published by Trócaire and ActionAid Ireland on Wednesday.
European shares continue rise with improving tariff sentiment

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

European shares extended gains to a sixth session on Tuesday, with financials giving support following earnings from HSBC and Deutsche Bank, though focus was on how companies are assessing the implications of US tariffs. DublinThe Iseq All Share Index closed up 1.62 per cent to 10,377.75. Big banking shares gained with AIB up 1.97 per cent (€5.96) and Bank of Ireland by 1.47 per cent (€10.69). Permanent TSB, however, went the other way, its shares down 3.23 per cent to €1.50.
Revolut eyes slice of the Irish mortgage market

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

Did you ever consider using an app on your phone to apply for a mortgage? Well, it may not be exactly that simple but Revolut’s pending arrival in the Irish home loan business does look like injecting some of the company’s flair for simplicity. App-applications, if you will, are to be supported by staff but Joe Heneghan, chief executive of Revolut Europe, tells Joe Brennan the process can certainly “be made a lot slicker”.
Businesses appeal for change to defamation laws

2 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Mark Hilliard

The retail and hospitality sectors have urged Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to tackle “vexatious defamation litigation being entertained” in the courts, saying they do not feel legally protected. “The civil law system is actively conspiring to extort money from them in vexatious, unmeritorious litigation,” a letter to the Minister from Neil McDonnell, chief executive of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Isme) said.