This weekend saw more long lines for passengers, and the cancellation of some flights due to strikes, staff shortages and a “Covid spike” at Aer Lingus.
So what is going on, and how long can Irish holidaymakers expect the summer travel disruption to last?
After a break from Ireland’s live music scene, it’s beyond exciting to know that these events are back in business – but what the hell do we wear to festivals now? Sarah Magliocco has the answers.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/fashion/2022/0624/1306662-your-ultimate-festival-fashion-guide-for-2022
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The cost of commonly used prescription drugs can almost double between one pharmacy in the State and another, according to a new study.
Wide price variations and a lack of price transparency in the pharmacy sector are highlighted in the study by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). None of the more than 1,500 pharmacies surveyed displayed prices on their websites, and one in eight that replied to a call or email did not provide a price, despite regulatory guidance stating pharmacies should provide medicine prices to patients.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2022/05/30/prescription-medicine-prices-vary-hugely-across-pharmacies-survey-finds
The chairman of Bank of Ireland has said restrictions on remuneration which apply to it and other banks here should be replaced by European Banking Authority guidelines on pay.
Patrick Kennedy said the pay cap (a mere €500,000 annually) and ban on variable pay are not replicated in any market in which the bank does business.
“They create an uneven playing field between the bank and other corporates, both banking corporates and non-banking corporates, with whom we compete for talent,” Mr Kennedy told the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Dublin today.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/0526/1301346-boi-chair-calls-for-irish-banker-pay-cap-to-be-lifted
One in four consumers say they will be unable to afford a holiday this summer, as the cost-of-living crisis hits household budgets hard.
However, others have been frustrated by the repeated lockdowns – and plan to spend more this year on a holiday than they did last year, according to the latest KBC Bank consumer sentiment survey.
Some people had already factored in the higher cost of airfares and hotels, and expected to have to spend more, said KBC Bank economist Austin Hughes.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.independent.ie/news/one-in-four-families-say-they-cannot-afford-a-holiday-this-summer-41690064.html
Almost half of the Irish public (48%) does not trust the Government to be honest and truthful, with 58% of people believing that it communicates inaccurate and biased information.
The figures are contained in a study commissioned by University College Dublin, which saw 12,000 people across six countries surveyed in January this year, including 2,030 people in Ireland.
The survey found that the Irish public’s perceptions of the Government are more negative than other countries, with just those in Britain and Poland rating their governments as less trustworthy.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/nearly-half-the-irish-public-doesnt-trust-government-to-tell-the-truth_arid-40879916.html
The Department of Foreign Affairs insists there is no backlog in processing passports and has blamed forms being filled out incorrectly, as almost 200,000 people wait for their delayed travel documents ahead of summer holiday season.
Four in 10 passport applications are incomplete and this is the major cause of long delays in issuing documents, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/department-insists-no-backlog-as-195k-people-wait-for-new-passports-and-blames-any-delays-on-form-errors-41681458.html
In tax and benefits terms, it has long been assumed that it is better to work in Northern Ireland but to receive unemployment benefit or a State pension in the Republic, but this Study finds that all income groups except the top 30 per cent of earners would end up paying less tax in the Republic’s system, effectively debunking the notion that most workers would be better off working north of the Border.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/who-pays-more-income-tax-workers-in-republic-or-in-north-1.4885184
Ireland’s handful of billionaires had an excellent pandemic swelling their already enormous wealth to the tune of €15.5 billion in just over two years since the global health crisis began.
By contrast close to 700,000 Irish people – including 200,000 children – are facing deprivation as we head into the summer of 2022.
SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-billionaire-s-club-saw-fortunes-swell-by-15-5-billion-during-the-pandemic-1.488585
Many Irish people will be taking their first summer holiday abroad since 2019 this year. After two years of Covid uncertainty, some sun, sea and scenery are to the forefront of the mind.
But the pandemic has not completely gone away and there are rules and restrictions to be aware of, particularly if travelling to a foreign country.
The Irish Independent has compiled a list of some of the most popular destinations for Irish holidaymakers with factsheets to help you prepare for the most anticipated summer in quite a while.
As well as sun holidays in Europe, Disneyland is calling and for the first time in two summers Irish families can head stateside, sample some Poutine in Canada or hit the glorious beaches of Thailand.
Destinations included: Spain, France, Portugal, USA, Italy, Greece, Canada, Thailand, Croatia and Dubai.
