Explainer: How Ireland faces uphill battle to defend farm grants and protect corporate tax revenues after EU budget changes
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The Irish Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
IKEA opens largest store outside of Dublin with major change for shoppers & first of its kind experience
IKEA has opened its largest store outside of the capital - with a first of its kind experience for Irish shoppers. The Swedish company's seventh Plan and Order Point is located in 3 IKEA has opened a new store in Waterford today Credit: IKEA 3 First customer Liam Byrne from the local area received a special gift to mark the occasion from IKEA Ireland Marketing Manager Deborah Anderson Credit: IKEA 3 It's IKEA's seventh Plan and Order store Credit: IKEA This new 840m² location is designed to "offer unparalleled convenience and choice". It is over eight times larger than all other existing Plan and Order Points in Ireland, which typically range from 70-100 m². IKEA bosses said: "The store's significant size allows for a more expansive and immersive customer experience, showcasing a selection of inspirational and affordable kitchen ideas, alongside a comprehensive appliance studio. "While retaining its core focus on bespoke kitchen, wardrobe, and living room storage planning, the Waterford Plan and Order Point uniquely features 100 READ MORE IN MONEY Additionally, the store provides a convenient Click & Collect service for any IKEA item ordered online, and serves as an in-store returns location. And in a major change for shoppers, the new location operates on a cashless basis, accepting card and digital payments only. DESIGN DREAM HOMES And the new store will employ 15 new colleagues from the Waterford area who will help customers design their dream homes. Among these, five are dedicated IKEA design specialists who will provide expert home furnishing advice, guiding customers through the design, delivery, and installation of their ideal spaces. Most read in Money Customers can book an appointment at , or drop in to the store, to start their design with one of the five IKEA design specialists. Market Manager at IKEA Ireland, Jayne Owen Gauld said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to officially open our new IKEA Plan and Order Point here in Waterford. "This represents a pivotal moment in our mission to make IKEA more accessible and convenient for everyone across Ireland. "Waterford is a truly vibrant city, and we are confident that this new format, with its dedicated planning expertise, immediate product availability, and seamless Click & Collect service, will perfectly cater to the needs of this wonderful community and the entire Southeast. "We are excited to become a valuable and active member of the Waterford community." 'EXPANSIVE PLANS' The Mayor of Waterford City and County, Councillor Séamus Ryan, welcomed the new store and said it will be "well used" by locals. He said: "Today marks the beginning of IKEA's expansive plans across Ireland and we are delighted that Waterford is the location that has been chosen for the largest IKEA store outside of "As a city committed to innovation and sustainable growth, we are pleased to see IKEA bringing their global reputation for accessible and modern living solutions to Waterford. "We wish IKEA Waterford every success in the months and years ahead. "I have no doubt this new Plan and Order Point will be well used by the citizens of Waterford." And Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Health Minister, Mary Butler said: 'The fact that such a renowned and reputable multinational company such as IKEA has chosen our county to expand its Irish footprint is a huge vote of confidence in the economic robustness of Waterford City and the south-east region.'
The Irish Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Give me a break' – Watch shock moment Simon Harris & Pearse Doherty clash in fiery cost-of-living crisis spat
SIMON Harris clashed with Pearse Doherty in a fiery spat over the cost of living during the final Dail session today as TDs take a break for the summer. The Advertisement 2 Pearse Doherty questions Simon Harris over the need for cost of living supports in the next budget Credit: Dail Eireann 2 Simon Harris fires back at the deputy leader saying: "I really worry for your level of economic literacy." Credit: Dail Eireann Deputy leader Pearse Doherty told the Dail that there are more than 300,000 households behind on their He said: 'Government cannot just swan off for the summer break leaving people in the lurch with stress and uncertainty. 'I say to you that you need to introduce a cost of living package, you need to continue with energy credits and you need to tell families that you won't cancel the help they rely on to help them with these massive energy bills this autumn.' Simon Harris hit back with a list of supports that the Government are already putting in place including the expansion of the Advertisement READ MORE IN BUDGET 2026 The Tanaiste then went on the attack and blasted Pearse Doherty over a mistake he made in a recent debate where he claimed SuperValu was owned by a US multinational. SuperValu is in fact owned by the Musgrave Group in Ireland. Tanaiste Simon Harris said: 'If you genuinely believe that the economic challenge facing our country this summer is the equivalent to moments of economic challenge over the last couple of summers, I really worry for your level of economic literacy.' He added: 'You spend a lot of your political career standing up here saying 'you don't get it over here, you don't understand, you're out of touch.' Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN 'You know what I know? I know who owns SuperValu. And it's not an American multinational. I know who owns SuperValu. 'They sponsor the GAA. They sponsor the tidy towns. They are in towns around this country. 'They are a proud Irish company and you thought they were owned by an American multinational. 'You want Paschal Donohoe's job? You want Paschal Donohoe's job and you don't even know who owns SuperValu and can't even use Google. Give me a break.' Advertisement It comes as Paschal Donohoe confessed that there will be SPEND PLAN The amount of money that the Government has to spend in the upcoming budget will be set out during the Summer Economic Statements next week. Speaking ahead of this key event in the budget process, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned there will be no repeat of the one off cost of living bonuses that were a feature of recent budgets. The Advertisement The job losses and economic hit will be much worse if Minister Donohoe said Ireland's finances is in a strong position to weather this economic storm but he claims the Government must make smart choices in the budget. He said: 'We have a moment of uncertainty again. We will get through it. 'We will overcome it but in order to do that we have to make choices that are sensible and that we can afford.' Advertisement
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Tirlán turns sod on solar farm to power largest production facility
Tirlán has commenced work on a major renewable energy project at its multi-purpose integrated dairy processing facility in Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny. The 6.5ha, 8MWp ground-mounted solar farm is being delivered in partnership with ESB's Smart Energy Services and is expected to be completed in early 2026. It will reduce the site's carbon footprint and its reliance on grid electricity. The solar farm will be a 'behind-the-meter' self-generation project, meaning all energy produced will be consumed directly at the Ballyragget facility. Once operational, it will supply about 7.6GWh of clean renewable energy annually, meeting 34% of the site's imported electricity needs. That is the equivalent of powering more than 1,700 households with electricity for a year. Tirlán chairperson John Murphy said the investment marked a "key milestone" in the company's journey to further decarbonise its operations and strengthen its energy resilience at its largest processing site. 'It builds on the success of solar installations at our Kilkenny Soup Plant and Tirlán CountryLife Castlecomer retail branch and reflects our commitment to a more sustainable energy mix. "In addition, there has been a strong uptake of 'turn-key' solar packages on-farm to help suppliers reduce both their carbon emissions and cost through our FarmGen programme," Mr Murphy said. The solar array will consist of 12,816 photovoltaic panels and 32 inverters, and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint by 2,100t of CO₂ annually — equivalent to removing 450 diesel cars from Irish roads or planting 94,000 evergreen trees. Over its 25-year lifespan, the project will avoid about 50,000t of CO₂. 'We're proud to partner with Tirlán on this landmark solar project, which demonstrates the power of collaboration in accelerating progress toward net zero,' said Ciaran Gallagher, ESB's head of Smart Energy Services. By enabling projects like this solar farm in Ballyragget to generate clean electricity, we're helping to reduce emissions and enhance energy resilience at scale. This project is a shining example of how Irish industry can lead the way in renewable energy innovation. Tirlán's chief ESG officer Lisa Koep said Tirlán was continuing to actively explore other renewable electricity options for its facilities as part of its wider Living Proof sustainability strategy and as part of its commitment to helping Ireland decarbonise. Tirlán's Ballyragget processing facility is one of the largest multi-purpose integrated dairy plants in Europe. The site employs more than 360 people, processing up to 1.2bn litres of milk, 1.3bn litres of whey and up to 200 million litres of cream annually. More than €180m has been invested during the last decade in developing and enhancing the site, which has been operational for more than 50 years.
