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Courts Service launches first Irish language strategy

Courts Service launches first Irish language strategy

The service said the aim of the strategy is to evolve it into a 'genuinely bilingual organisation'
©Press Association
Today at 01:51
The first Irish language strategy for the Courts Service in Ireland has been published.
The service said the aim of the strategy is to evolve it into a 'genuinely bilingual organisation'.
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Central Bank investigating influencer Jonathan Finlay over promotion of unregulated trading platform T4Trade
Central Bank investigating influencer Jonathan Finlay over promotion of unregulated trading platform T4Trade

Irish Examiner

time21 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Central Bank investigating influencer Jonathan Finlay over promotion of unregulated trading platform T4Trade

The Central Bank of Ireland is looking into a matter concerning Irish influencer and content creator Jonathan Finlay, who has promoted an unregulated trading platform to more than half a million online followers. Boasting more than 260,000 followers on Instagram and 586,000 on TikTok, Mr Finlay, who also goes by Nasti_2k online, has made a name for himself in recent years by posting food reviews and luxury lifestyle content. The creator frequently shares photos and videos of himself on first-class flights, at Premier League matches, and on holidays in Dubai. However, the influencer also runs several channels on instant messaging app Telegram, which are focused on making money quickly from financial trading using a platform called T4Trade. In these channels, Mr Finlay encourages people to copy his trades, telling them what they should buy and sell. T4Trade disclaims on its website that it is not targeted to residents of the EU, where it is not licensed. In emails seen by the Irish Examiner,the Central Bank said neither T4Trade nor Mr Finlay was authorised to provide financial services in Ireland. 'The Central Bank can confirm that a firm by the name T4Trade is not authorised by the Central Bank to provide financial services. Further to this, we can also confirm that Jonathan Finlay is not authorised to provide financial services or advice.' The regulator also said that it was 'currently looking into this matter.' In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank added: "Whether a particular entity or individual requires to be registered or authorised by the Central Bank depends on the exact nature of the services provided by the entity or individual. 'VIP' Channels Mr Finlay, who is based in Dublin and claims his primary income is from trading, heavily promotes the T4Trade platform, promising those who use it can copy his trades as well as receive 'VIP' attention from him. Mr Finlay says he charges €1,000 for access to a VIP channel which is owned and operated by him, but regularly allows small groups of people to enter 'free of charge,' for limited amounts of time, encouraging people to join quickly before access to the group closes. 'I show people how to make hundreds from their phone the same way as me for free,' Mr Finlay said in one of his Telegram channels with some 14,000 subscribers. 'But after next week, entry to the group will be €1,000.' For those in the VIP group, Mr Finlay shares his trading activity, which he says will earn his followers a profit if they use the T4Trade platform to copy his trades. 'Currently, there are over 2,000 people in my VIP group making consistent profit just from copying the exact same trades as me,' Mr Finlay told subscribers. To join his VIP channels, Mr Finlay also encourages followers to invest a minimum of €300 into the unauthorised platform T4Trade, which is registered in the Seychelles, adding that he will help 'guide' newcomers who are inexperienced in trading. 'By joining the VIP, you'll get access to: My daily trades, 24/7 support to help you get up and running and help with any issues, and educational material.' In another message sent to his 14,000 Telegram subscribers, Mr Finlay said those in his VIP group saw a '100% profit rate on trades,' across a one-week period, with 'not a single loser.' In another post, Mr Finlay said he would buy himself a new car with the money he made from trading. 'I'm in the market for a new motor,' Mr Finlay told subscribers earlier this month. 'I've been grinding lately and made serious profit on trading this year, so it's finally time to treat myself.' Mr Finlay continued by asking subscribers to vote on which car he should buy, choosing between a Porsche, a BMW X5 and a G Wagon. In a video post from July 20, Mr Finlay claimed he invested €50,000, saying he 'finally put pen to paper." 'In two weeks time, it will be exactly one year since I left my night shift job,' Mr Finlay said. 'If you told me then that I would be able to do all the things that I have been able to do; going on first and business class flights, private jets, going out to Dubai, 11/12 holidays this year, it is insane, and it is all because of trading.' T4Trade Describing itself as a 'global leader in online trading,' T4Trade is a trade name of Tradeco Limited, which is registered in the Seychelles. The platform also states that it is not targeted at residents of the EU, where it is not licensed, and that it does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. In a risk warning published on its website, T4Trade says: 'Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. 'These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.' In addition to the platform being unauthorised in Ireland, several EU regulators have issued warnings against the company. In October 2024, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority issued a warning against T4Trade, adding that many Danish-speaking influencers were soliciting their followers to invest with the platform. Similar warnings have been issued in recent years by French, Spanish, Belgian, Portuguese, and Dutch regulators. Trading affiliates Despite claiming it does not target EU residents, the platform runs an affiliate program that EU residents can join, which is advertised as being 'well-suited to individuals and businesses who focus on driving traffic via a website or digital media and are usually digital marketers, social media influencers, bloggers, or SEO professionals.' It continues by saying it can provide affiliates with 'expert support' and 'exclusive marketing tools' to introduce the platform's products to their audiences and boost their conversion rate. The platform also says it offers 'competitive remuneration plans, including CPA commissions and extra cash bonuses.' T4Trade advertises bonuses of up to $10,000 for affiliates on its website, as well as tailored commission plans and performance-based upgrades. Mr Finlay has not confirmed to his followers whether or not he is an affiliate for T4Trade or if he receives payment from the platform for referring others. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank of Ireland said: 'The Central Bank is bound by strict statutory obligations of confidentiality and is precluded from commenting on the specific investigations it undertakes. 'Consumers should be aware that if they deal with a firm that is not authorised, there is no recourse to statutory compensation schemes or the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.' 'Consumers are advised to check the official Central Bank website to see if the firm is authorised by the Central Bank.' The Irish Examiner has contacted Mr Finlay and T4Trade for comment.

Irish Examiner view: Rural communities are losing their light
Irish Examiner view: Rural communities are losing their light

Irish Examiner

time21 minutes ago

  • Irish Examiner

Irish Examiner view: Rural communities are losing their light

What now for the Irish pub? As reported on these pages in recent weeks, an average of two pubs are closing a week, with one third of those in Co Cork having shut since 2005. Overall, the country has seen 2,119 shut their doors, with as many as 1,000 more to follow suit in the next 10 years. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is rural Ireland taking the brunt of the losses, even if it's the part of the country that needs them most. On these pages yesterday, we voiced concerns about cutting the Vat rate for hospitality when it would take the room to manoeuvre away from areas of the economy that needed more help: We highlighted families struggling with the basics, including food. That Vat move is on pause, it was announced yesterday, and it likely wouldn't make a difference between keeping a pub open or shut given other cost pressures, but is there not scope to consider a more targeted tax reduction for rural pubs? That's not to minimise the challenges being faced by other hospitality businesses, but it recognises the unique place of the pub in rural Ireland. Vintners Federation of Ireland president Michael O'Donovan, in a piece published by the Examiner in May, noted: 'Pubs are the social fabric of rural Ireland. They are where local clubs meet, where fundraisers are held, where neighbours look out for each other. For many older people, a visit to the local pub is a lifeline, a chance to see familiar faces, catch up on local news and feel part of a community. Every pub that closes is another light going out in its community.' He also noted that pubs pay some €567m of the €1.26bn collected in alcohol excise duty, suggesting that some of this money be put toward keeping the industry going. We should recognise that, while some initiatives have been suggested, rural Ireland still needs considerable help, and this should be considered less a burden and more an investment in the country's social and cultural fabric. This is not a call to keep Ireland drinking; far from it. Pubs can reinvent or diversify, as long as the options and support is there. Clock ticking for X on safety rules It was, perhaps, inevitable that at least one of the big digital firms would be tardy in complying with the online safety code, which was brought in last November but which saw its last section come into force on Monday. It was also, perhaps, inevitable that the biggest outlier would be X, formerly Twitter. Under the code, companies are obliged to put measures in place to protect children from harmful material. Since Monday, they have been obliged to restrict access to adult content such as pornography, as well as provide for parental controls. Since its acquisition by Elon Musk (it's now owned by one of his other companies, xAI), the social media company has platformed all manner of hard right and racist detritus, with Musk himself known to champion conspiracy theories and other harmful nonsense. That it launched an anime-style AI assistant that can engage in sexual conversations just days before the code came into force indicates very much where the company's priorities lie. There is no age restriction on that tool, even if it requires a subscription. X has until today to provide answers to Comisiún na Meán, or face fines of up to €10m or 20% of its turnover, whichever is greater. The various online platforms had nine months to get ready for this, even if a sizeable amount of this crossed over with Musk's foray into politics and fractious relationship with US president Donald Trump, as well as declines at his car-marker, Tesla. Still, these are rules and not guidelines, so any failure to adhere to them, especially where child welfare is concerned, should be taken seriously. It remains to be seen just how the regulator will respond if X continues to fail in its responsibilities. It may become the first real test of not just the safety code, but of what teeth regulators have to enforce it. Put an end to dereliction Anything that puts unused property back into circulation is a welcome thing. Any street that has vacant buildings that might once have been shops or businesses looks a very sad thing, and the more they decline the more the town or city around them declines in turn. Dereliction is a blight. So the suggestion by Cork councillor Isobel Towse that empty properties in West Cork be given over — temporarily — to arts or community groups is a welcome one. Importantly, these are not gone in perpetuity: Rather, the idea is that while awaiting longer-term tenants, the buildings are used by smaller groups looking for a base or a home. Noting that some 12.4% of commercial buildings in Co Cork are vacant, among the highest in Europe, she says: 'All of this would boost economic development and innovation, attract tourism, and improve the liveability of towns, and importantly, tackle problematic vacancy and dereliction.' These are all worthwhile points that should be discussed even at the highest level — a pilot project in West Cork, for example, might be a blueprint to bring other parts of rural Ireland back to life as they see their pubs and social avenues decline. But a bigger question when it comes to vacant commercial property is, what about housing? That would be a much longer-term initiative and would have to very carefully weigh the needs of locals and, indeed, property owners. But with grants available for renovating derelict buildings, rural Ireland under pressure as we've noted above, and the country creaking under the weight of housing demand, is it not worth at least a debate? Read More Irish Examiner view: Food price cuts should be on the table in Budget 2026

Consumer sentiment slips in July amid concern over cost pressures and tariff threats, survey shows
Consumer sentiment slips in July amid concern over cost pressures and tariff threats, survey shows

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Consumer sentiment slips in July amid concern over cost pressures and tariff threats, survey shows

Irish consumer sentiment has slipped backwards during July, amid renewed concerns over cost pressures and the threat of higher tariffs being implemented by the US, the latest Credit Union Consumer Sentiment Survey shows. The survey showed after a slight improvement across May and June, Irish consumer confidence slipped back this month towards the level seen in April, when tariffs announcement by US president Donald Trump prompted a deterioration. During July, the consumer sentiment index recorded a reading of 59.1, down from the 62.5 figure reported for June. The reading of 58.7 in April represented a two-year low. The July reading is well below the 70.5 recorded during the same month last year, and the long term average of 83.9. The Credit Union Irish Consumer Sentiment Survey is a monthly survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults conducted by Core Research. The analysis for the sentiment was written by economist Austin Hughes. Earlier this month, Mr Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on imports from the EU from August 1 if a deal is not reached. This is higher than the 20% he initially proposed on April 2, before he backtracked and lowered it to 10%. On Thursday morning, EU member states voted to approve counter-tariffs on €93bn on US goods in case a deal is not reached, potentially increasing prices here in Ireland. 'At current levels, the tone of consumer sentiment on the Irish economy is altogether more negative than that implicit in a range of recent forecasts for the Irish economy,' Mr Hughes said. 'While this doesn't mean Irish consumers envisage an imminent economic collapse, it does suggest very elevated fear and uncertainty, coupled with a strong sense that economic conditions could deteriorate markedly through the next 12 months.' 'It could also suggest that many consumers don't feel their own financial circumstances are as robust as the economy as a whole.'

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