Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PAThe drumbeat of Black Friday is unrelenting as the global retail sector looks to fill its boots at the expense of consumers. Cantillon’s inbox is overflowing with surveys and studies, all designed to persuade us that this coming weekend is a wonderful opportunity. Amazon, who else, has helpfully published a report, arguing that online shopping is helping to keep prices lower for Irish households. Specifically, for every 1 per cent increase in online shopping activity, annual inflation decreases by approximately 0.03-0.06 per cent. The bottom line: Amazon says that, without online commerce, prices would be about 4.1 per cent higher today than they are.

Photograph: Ben Birchall/PAThe Government could next year increase the value at which businesses must inform regulators of mergers and acquisitions, it has emerged. The news comes as the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) publishes details of a ruling that required telecoms tower business Phoenix Tower to sell 300 sites as a condition of allowing it to buy rival Cellnex. Depending on their likely impact on competition, the regulator can approve or block deals, or allow them subject to conditions. Inflation has boosted many businesses’ turnover, meaning that the commission is increasingly reviewing deals that pose no threat to normal commercial competition. Recently, Phoenix Tower chief executive Dagan Kasavana calculated that it could spend €75 million in the Republic over five years as demand for wireless infrastructure continues growing.

AnswerFor students with the aptitude, curiosity and compassion, these professions offer the chance to make a real difference, along with a recognised degree and clear career pathways. Nursing and midwifery undergraduate programmes are four-year Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons, Level 8) degrees, accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). When applying through the CAO, students choose between the distinct professions of nursing and midwifery. Those entering nursing also decide on their area of focus: general nursing, mental health nursing or intellectual disability nursing. Nursing and midwifery are demanding but deeply rewarding careers.

Eddie Byrne, CEO of Ires Reit, said the company's apartments are achieving sale prices in excess of 25% above book value. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/The Irish TimesIres Reit, Ireland’s largest private landlord, has claimed the Government’s proposed revision of rental market regulations, including rent pressure zones, is “already” improving sentiment among developers of apartments in the Republic in advance of their implementation in March 2026. Ires also said that occupancy levels across its portfolio remain “strong”, standing at 99.5 per cent at the end of September. Looking ahead, the company said the Government’s overhaul of the rental market regulations, coupled with the cut in the rate of VAT on apartment sales in Budget 2026 and other measures, will improve the supply of units. “Although the proposed new rules will not take effect until March 1st, 2026, Ires is already seeing an increase in market liquidity and improving sentiment amongst developers,” it said in a statement.

South Africa's Cobus Reinach (second left) celebrates after scoring his side's second try against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday. Capacity crowds witnessed a largely captivating month, which nicely sets up the 2027 World Cup draw on December 3rd – i.e. The 24 countries at the World Cup will be divided into four bands of six. No less than South Africa, New Zealand and England, Ireland’s status among the top tier was never in doubt. South Africa (world ranking 1)Job largely done, pending Saturday’s game against Wales in Cardiff, with four victories.

Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne scores a try against South Africa that was subsequently disallowed during last Saturday's Test match at the Aviva Stadium. In any event, Tadhg Beirne believes Ireland can learn from the carnage inflicted by the Springboks scrum last Saturday night. “We’re just trying to fix things on the go as well out there,” Beirne admitted. Hopefully, he’ll go back and get that review and we’ll see what happens.”“That’s the way the game is going in these decisions. “From our first game of the series to that game, it’s been huge steps every game.

Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan commissioned an external review of the governance and organisational culture in the Arts Council and this review has been under way since February, his department said. Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsThe Department of Culture should “develop and enforce stronger oversight mechanisms” for organisations it funds, according to a report by the Dáil’s spending watchdog. Earlier this year it emerged that an abandoned IT project at the Arts Council aimed at replacing existing systems led to a net loss of €5.3 million. A statement from the Department of Culture said it had not seen the PAC report and “obviously cannot comment on the contents”. The statement said Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan commissioned an external review of the governance and organisational culture in the Arts Council and this review has been under way since February.

Photograph: Conor O Mearain/PA WirePeople seeking international protection face paying up to 40 per cent of their weekly income to fund the cost of State accommodation, under proposals to be considered by the Government on Wednesday. The changes are being proposed by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy. He was speaking alongside European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, who visited the Citywest accommodation centre in Saggart, Co Dublin, for international protection applicants. Government projections are that about 7,600 people will be eligible to pay a charge next year when it comes into effect. The Government believes figures are likely to fall in the coming years once the EU’s new migration and asylum pact is implemented.

The Merrion Square tearooms were supposed to open last spring, but are still under construction. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien“Significant delays” and “exceptionally high building inflation” are being blamed for a decade-long plan to build new tearooms at a Dublin city centre park going over time and over budget. The 2024 audit report on Dublin City Council (DCC) found the costs for consultant architects for the Merrion Square tearooms had risen from €246,000 in 2015 to €655,000 in 2024. The local authority declined to tell The Irish Times what the final cost of the project was expected to be. In response to the audit, DCC agreed it was not “fully” compliant with the rules.

Cash may no longer be king in a world of digital transactions, but it retains an important role. This is, above all else, because most of us – more than 90 per cent according to Central Bank research – use notes and coins at some stage. And some – including those uncomfortable with using digital payment methods – still prefer to use it most of the time. But the risk of losing electronic payments for a period of time means some cash holdings may indeed be wise. They have invested in digital payments, but they also need to continue to accept notes and coins, not just in special circumstances but as an ongoing part of business life.

Swinney says the contrast between the recent approach on this issue in Westminster and the SNP proves that Scotland and England in particular “are two countries going in completely different directions”. But other welfare reforms the UK Labour government plans will make it go up. Meanwhile, the UK’s Labour government, under political pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, is cracking down heavily on migration. With Reform UK now splintering support among Swinney’s unionist opponents in Scotland, he claims an SNP overall majority is possible. Even if Farage offered a Scottish independence referendum as the reward?

The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Jordan Duffy from Tallaght, Dublin, concluded in Navan on Monday. The jury was also told that at one stage he had been prescribed an antidepressant drug which he self-administered. He had been received into the care of the agency in 2010 and a care order was granted in 2012. In 2018 he experienced a placement breakdown and he was then placed in foster care in Tallaght and Mullingar. In Clonee he had developed into a very social young person, charismatic and charming with a unique style of humour, Ms Cullen said.

The Beacon Hospital was acquired by Australian financial services giant Macquarie. The ultimate sale price for the Beacon Hospital was €342 million when it was acquired by Australian financial services giant Macquarie, according to newly filed accounts. Macquarie Asset Management agreed the deal to acquire the private hospital on February 12th, 2024, with the deal completed two months later on April 5th. The Beacon recorded €193.7 million in turnover in the period, which it described in a statement to The Irish Times as “continued strong demand across inpatient and outpatient” services. “Beacon Hospital has seen strong growth in demand over the past nine months,” a spokeswoman said, noting the “critical” support of “strong collaborative partnerships with private insurers”.

Pearse Doherty said minors are buying alcohol on delivery apps and websites where age-verification is often not adequately enforced. Mr Doherty said some of these services use ‘tick-the-box’ age verification whereby the person can simply say they are 18 or older. Some delivery services check the person’s ID when they drop off the alcohol but this doesn’t always happen, he said. He said that when a delivery driver arrives at a house with an alcohol order which is already paid for, a young person may answer the door. “There could be intoxication already, there could be a safety issue,” Mr Doherty said.

Doyle Collection, which owns the Westbury among other hotels, saw a strong increase in revenue and earnings last year. The Doyle Collection hotel group recorded strong increases in its turnover and earnings last year, helped by revenue growth of nearly 11 per cent from its UK hotels. In Your Money, Fiona Reddan explores how to use your Tesco points for air travel and why cornflakes can translate into free flights. Electricity and gas supplier Yuno Ltd could extend a winter price freeze beyond March, according to its chief executive, Cathal Fay. Yuno, owner of PrePay Power and Yuno Energy, boosted profits by 40 per cent last year to €4.3 million from €3.08 million in 2023, new accounts for the business show.