Author Archives: splash

Why Hiring Processes Now Involve So Many Rounds of Interviews

Many jobseekers are finding that recruitment has become a marathon rather than a sprint. Roles that carry any real responsibility or competitive salary often involve several stages of screening, from online tests and case studies to panel interviews and culture-fit meetings. Some of these steps focus on technical ability, others on personality and values, yet […]

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ICCL Lodges Complaint Over European Commission’s Use of Generative AI

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has submitted a formal complaint to the European Ombudsman, raising concerns about the European Commission’s use of generative artificial intelligence in official documentation. The issue came to light after an access to documents request revealed that at least one hyperlink in a Commission response had been produced using OpenAI’s […]

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Annual Inflation Reaches 19-Month High as Consumer Prices Continue to Rise

Ireland’s annual inflation rate climbed to 2.9% in October, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office. This marks the highest annual reading since March and represents a slight rise from the 2.7% recorded in September. The CSO figures show that the strongest upward pressure came from Education costs, which increased by 8.4% over […]

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EU to Remove Duty Exemption on Low-Value Parcels in Response to Surge in Chinese Imports

EU finance ministers have reached political agreement to abolish the long-standing customs duty exemption on low-value goods entering the bloc. At present, items worth less than €150 can be shipped directly to consumers across the EU without attracting import duties, a rule that has become increasingly exploited by high-volume retail platforms such as Temu and […]

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US Government Shutdown Ends Following Major Funding Agreement

The United States has brought an end to the longest federal government shutdown in its history after President Donald Trump approved a new funding bill. The legislation passed through the House of Representatives with a narrow majority and followed a week of tense political negotiations in Washington. The measure reinstates funding for key federal programmes, […]

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Government’s New National Housing Plan Sparks Mixed Reactions

The Government is preparing to unveil its latest National Housing Plan, a strategy that aims to reshape Ireland’s housing landscape over the next six years. Ministers have described the initiative as an unprecedented investment in housing, although opposition figures remain sceptical about its potential impact. The plan sets out an ambition to deliver 300,000 homes […]

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Average rents up 4.3% in year to September – Daft report

Market rents in the year to September have risen by 4.3%, according to the latest rental report by Daft.ie. In the third quarter of this year market rents went up by an average of 1.7% , the eighteenth consecutive quarter of rising rents. This means they are now one third higher than their pre-covid levels, […]

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