The ongoing salary dispute at Aer Lingus, the national airline, could lead to a halt in investment unless a resolution is found, impacting its 784 pilots amid increasing stakes, according to Business Editor Ciarán Hancock. The case is set to go to the Labour Court in late April, and the airline has stated that industrial action will not influence the stance of its parent company, IAG.
Legal representatives for ex-PTSB CEO David Guinane have argued that there’s no evidence that any borrowers were impacted by an alleged strategy to unfairly treat specific tracker-mortgages, amid an public inquiry into the matter. The inquiry continues, with senior counsel Thomas Hogan stating that without such evidence there can’t be a judgement against the bank.
Inflation figures have dropped to 3.4% in February, declining from an annual rate of 4.1% the month before, according to Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy. Nonetheless, core inflation, which omits volatile energy and food costs, continues to be high. Meanwhile, the ECB has made it clear that it won’t lower interest rates until a prolonged decline is seen.
Prominent Irish businessman Gary McGann is poised to become the chairman of the largest ecommerce platform in Poland, reports Ian Curran. McGann, who formerly held top positions at Flutter and Smurfit Kappa, has approved this newest appointment in a statement to the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Lastly, conservation concerns of the light-bellied Brent goose have impeded ambitious urban development plans in Dublin. Gordon Deegan reports that this isn’t the first occasion that concern for wildlife has affected planning applications. In this specific scenario, OTR Development Company’s blueprint for constructing 330 apartments and further developments at the previous Cadbury’s pitch-and-putt course in Coolock has hit a roadblock.
Statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicate a promising growth in housing supply, with apartment planning permissions showing a significant surge last year. The data highlights an increased approval rate of over 50% for apartments, with 21,487 getting the green light compared to 19,738 houses, according to Eoin Burke-Kennedy’s report.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published figures regarding business-related grievances, naming Eir and Ryanair as the most mentioned enterprises in helpline communication in the past year. Almost 40,000 such interactions covering a broad spectrum of products and services in Ireland monitored last year, as examined by Conor Pope.
John FitzGerald, in his recent writing, recognises the uncertainty prevailing in strategies to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to Ireland’s agricultural sector, currently responsible for 40% of the country’s total emissions. He emphasises the necessity for a definitive roadmap for agricultural practices and land utilisation until at least 2040 to actualise achievable goals.
In a dialogue with Laura Slattery, Jamie Dunning, Krispy Kreme’s Managing Director for the UK & Ireland, discusses ambitious plans for the brand’s expansion in Ireland, including the introduction of a new relevant phase. Dunning highlights the company’s aspiration to be synonymous with birthdays, office treats and other family occasions, asking, “how famous are we?”, while referring to the brand’s delightful doughnut range, from original glazed to Nutty Chocolatta.