The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently published its Spring 2026 Quarterly Economic Commentary, highlighting a higher inflation outlook, driven mainly by the potential effects of the conflict in the Middle East. The ERSI notes that the uncertainty the conflict has created has already weakened the global outlook and increased the risk of renewed, sustained inflationary pressures in Ireland and internationally. On a more positive note, the report outlines that the economy performed strongly in 2025, with exports rising by 9.6 percent, even though growth slowed as the year went on. Modified domestic demand grew by 4.9 percent over the year. Despite the inflationary pressures linked to the Iran crisis, the ESRI expects the domestic economy to continue expanding in 2026 and 2027, with forecasted MDD growth of 2.1 percent in 2026 and 2.8 percent in 2027. While recent international events are shaping short‑term economic considerations, the ESRI cautions that there are still important longer‑term risks to Ireland’s economic success. These include the highly concentrated nature of Ireland’s tax revenues, the imbalance in productivity and performance between foreign-owned and domestic firms, ongoing budgetary overruns and the continued challenge of addressing infrastructure deficits, especially regarding housing. Towards the end of 2025, labour‑market data suggested some softening, with one area of concern being an apparent rise in youth unemployment.

HMRC has recently published for technical consultation draft secondary legislation for the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). This includes some of the CBAM administrative requirements, including those on embodied emissions and the monitoring and verification of emissions data. The consultation is open for responses until 21 May 2026. By way of reminder, the UK CBAM is a new tax which aims to ensure that highly traded carbon intensive goods imported into the UK face a comparable carbon price to that paid by manufacturers producing the same goods in the UK. Currently, UK manufacturers are subject to carbon pricing for direct emissions under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.  The UK’s CBAM is due to commence from 1 January 2027 and will apply to goods from the following industrial sectors: aluminium,  cement,  fertiliser,  hydrogen, and  iron and steel.  

  In this week’s bulletin read about the publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill, a report identifying renewable energy as a hedge against fuel price volatility, the new ISO 140001 standard and investment in critical water infrastructure. Also covered are the publication of guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), resources on nature as a source of long-term value and to support assessment of nature-related financial risks, and the usual articles, resources and upcoming events. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IRELAND Institute congratulates Gorm! Chartered Accountants Ireland congratulates Gorm for winning the ESG Company Award (SMEs) in the Business & Finance Media Group ESG Awards 2026, in partnership with Grant Thornton Ireland. Chartered Accountants Ireland was honoured to have been shortlisted in the category and congratulates all fellow nominees, and all winners, across the categories. IRELAND Minister Chambers publishes Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 The Government’s Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 has been published, and it aims to fast-track the approval processes for critical infrastructure projects in Ireland. The Bill will allow Government, with Dáil approval, to designate specific infrastructure projects or programmes that the Government considers to be critical, thereby requiring all State bodies involved in the approval process for the infrastructure in question to prioritise their consideration of it. It also requires all State bodies involved in the approval processes for this infrastructure to cooperate and coordinate with each other. In Chartered Accountants Ireland’s reaction to the publication of the Bill, Director of Members and Advocacy Cróna Clohisey described it as “a significant step in the Government’s approach to addressing Ireland’s infrastructure challenges.” Renewables an “important hedge against fuel price volatility” At a time of intense focus on energy prices, a new review paper from the Economic and Social Research Institute Ireland (ESRI) has found that while interventions such as energy credits have alleviated much of the burden for Irish consumers, Irish electricity prices have been among the most expensive in Europe during the 2018–2024 period of analysis. Read more here. New ISO 14001:2026 Standard now available The new edition of the leading International Standard for environmental management, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, is now available. Adopted by more than 600,000 organisations worldwide, ISO 14001provides a framework to help organisations of all types and sizes manage their environmental responsibilities systematically and effectively. The new edition has improved guidance, navigation and alignment with environmental priorities such as climate change, biodiversity and resource efficiency. It also aims to integrate seamlessly with other ISO management systems standards. Investment in critical water infrastructure resilience Uisce Éireann is to invest over €500 million in 30 critical water supply projects over the next ten years, as part of its Water for Growth Programme. The projects are to build resilience by upgrading treatment plants, building new trunk mains, and installing new strategic water storage facilities. This is in addition to the investment in leak-reduction of €420 million over the next five years to prevent the loss of up to 250 million litres of water per day. Uisce Éireann’s Growth and Development Programme is the national programme of targeted investment to enable essential housing. The delivery of water and wastewater capacity is identified as vital to support economic growth locally and nationally.  EUROPE Guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) publish The European Commission has published guidelines on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to facilitate the uniform application of the new packaging rules across the EU and simplify compliance for economic actors and Member States. The guidance document presented by the Commission clarifies rules where the PPWR need further interpretation and areas where stakeholders have requested assistance. The law aims to contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and to strengthening the Single Market for packaging through common rules. Several delegated and implementing acts are being prepared, including on harmonised registration and reporting formats for the extended producer responsibility, labelling for waste sorting by consumers, recycled content in plastic packaging, and recyclability criteria. These are being prepared in close cooperation with Member States, stakeholders and trading partners. TECHNICAL ROUNDUP (From our colleagues in Professional Accounting) The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has published its March 2026 ISSB update and podcast. The UK Endorsement Board is conducting research  to better understand company experiences in relation to the UK’s climate-related financial disclosures reporting regime. If you are a company reporting under these regulations and would like to take part, please contact the researchers at climatefinresearch@iffresearch.com to arrange a time to be interviewed. RESOURCES CAANZ, ACCA publish case study on sustainability assurance judgement Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have issued a report to guide assurance practitioners on applying professional judgement to estimates and forward-looking information in sustainability engagements. Estimates, targets, transition roadmaps and projections are now a core part of sustainability disclosures and are increasingly influential for investors and other stakeholders. However, this type of information is by nature uncertain. It rests on assumptions, expert judgement and future developments that may be outside an organisation’s control. The report, A case study: Demystifying the assurance of estimates and forward-looking information in accordance with ISSA 5000, is presented as a practical case study to support practitioners in applying that judgement. It looks at how assurance providers can address the inherent uncertainty in estimates and forward-looking disclosures when conducting engagements under ISSA 5000. Nature as a source of long-term value In this blog, Natura’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Silvia Vilas Boas, shares how the organisation integrates financial, social and natural capital, how the finance team works alongside sustainability colleagues to guide everyday decisions, and how new financial instruments are being used to channel capital towards nature positive and socially inclusive outcomes. OECD publishes report on enhancing interoperability of policy‑mandated emission monitoring, reporting and verification systems The OECD has published a Technical summary report,  exploring practical avenues for establishing interoperable carbon intensity metrics by leveraging existing policy-mandated monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) systems and data governance frameworks. The report finds, among other things, that interoperability does not require full harmonisation of MRV systems. Instead, it can be enhanced by expanding coverage and increasing emissions data disaggregation and by establishing mutual recognition of emission estimation methods and reporting and verification frameworks. The report concludes by outlining practical actions to strengthen interoperability via policy-mandated MRV systems, including options to improve alignment, data transformability and mutual recognition across systems. New materials to support assessment of nature-related financial risks The Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) has released a package of materials to support the assessment of nature-related financial risks. The package provides practical tools for central banks and supervisors to integrate nature-related risks into their work to help strengthen the resilience of the financial system. Nature degradation, such as deteriorating water or soil quality, can have knock-on effects that can lead to economic and financial damage.    The World Bank now estimates that as much as half of the world’s GDP relies on biodiversity, nature capital and ecosystem services. In his opening remarks at a panel discussion on “Incorporating nature into supervisory practices” Frank Elderson stated that in the euro area, nearly 75% of banks’ corporate lending goes to firms that are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service.” A Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, Elderson warned that in the face of multiple challenges, the very urgent often overtakes the vitally important: “Put bluntly: if we keep destroying nature, we keep destroying economic activity. And this leads to risks surging, prices rising and instability spreading to every part of society and across borders.”  ARTICLES “ESG considerations are now central to capital allocation” – CEO Q&A with Keith Butler, Group CEO of Acorn Life Group (Business and Finance) ‘Greenhushing’ flagged as growing risk in Irish finance (Business Post) AI laws overlook environmental damage – here’s what needs to change (The Conversation) How this aerospace company built resilience through sustainability (ICAEW Insights) US EV Fast-Charging Network Grows Amid High Gas Prices (Bloomberg) UK Car Sales Rise to Highest Since 2019 in Resilient Showing (Bloomberg Green) EU climate chief warns there is ‘no workaround’ for high energy prices (Financial Times) EVENTS IBEC, Briefing: Voluntary Sustainability Reporting for SMEs - VSME At this briefing Lorraine McCann, Managing Director, Sustainability Reporting Lead, KPMG will provide an overview of the voluntary sustainability reporting standard (VSME), the key reporting requirements and how it can assist SMEs in responding to requests for information from companies in their value chain. The briefing is for any SME that wishes to become more informed on the voluntary sustainability reporting standard (VSME) and the potential benefit to their business, as well as senior leaders, owners, compliance managers, risk managers, sustainability managers, environmental and EHS professionals, accountants, operations managers, employees with sustainability reporting as part of their role Virtual |Monday 27 April | 3.00pm – 3.45pm |  Free, booking required UN Global Compact, Climate Ambition Accelerator — 2026 Applications Now Open The UN Global Compact's Climate Ambition Accelerator is now accepting applications for 2026. This six-month programme equips companies with the knowledge and tools to accelerate progress toward setting science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway — putting them on track for net-zero by 2050. Application Deadline: 30 April 2026 | Programme: May–November 2026 IBEC, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations - Guidance on new requirements A free 1-hour briefing on the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) and the implications for business.  Virtual, Friday 1 May, 12.00 noon - 1.00pm Enterprise Ireland, Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops A half‑day workshop series designed to support business leaders in recognising the strategic importance of sustainability and decarbonisation. The sessions provide practical skills to integrate core sustainability principles, identify competitive opportunities, and build actionable plans to meet rising customer expectations for sustainable products and services. Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop ICAEW, Sustainability for business 2026 This in-person event brings together business leaders – especially from SMEs – to explore how sustainability is shaping the UK business landscape and influencing resilience, competitiveness, and access to capital. Through a mix of interactive sessions, expert discussions and real-work examples, the event will help businesses understand the practicalities of sustainability such as related risks and opportunities, how peers are responding, and what this means for long-term planning and decision-making. In person, Chartered Accountants' Hall, Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA, 11 May, 2026, 08:00 - 12:00       ICAEW, What determines the price of energy - factors, forecasts and future This webinar will explore the latest trends in energy prices, examining why volatility persists and what this means for businesses planning for the short and long term. Equip your organisation with the insight and tools needed to navigate today’s fast‑changing energy landscape effectively by gaining a clear overview of the UK’s current energy mix and how it is expected to evolve over the coming years, driven by policy, market forces and the transition to net zero. Also considered will be the practical implications of these changes for organisations, helping you better understand the risks, opportunities and strategic considerations shaping the future energy environment. Virtual, 20 May 2026, 13:00 - 14:00 UN Global Compact Network Canada, Annual Sustainability Reporting Peer Review Group (ASPiRe) — Now Open for Registration This structured peer review programme offers an exceptional opportunity for sustainability and communications teams to strengthen the quality and credibility of their sustainability disclosures — including Communications on Progress (CoPs). Registration Deadline: 5 June 2026 | Programme: July–October 2026 Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre. 

At a time of intense focus on energy prices, a new review paper from the Economic and Social Research Institute Ireland (ESRI) has found that while interventions such as energy credits have alleviated much of the burden for Irish consumers, Irish electricity prices have been among the most expensive in Europe during the 2018–2024 period of analysis. The review, which charts electricity price trends in Ireland and Europe, also finds that Ireland’s exposure to international gas prices helped push residential electricity prices to the highest in Europe in 2024, before taxes, levies and energy credits are taken into account. Commenting on the research, Dr Niall Farrell, Associate Research Professor at the ESRI, said: “Irish electricity prices tend to track trends in natural gas prices. While many countries have reduced their reliance on gas-fired generation in recent years, Ireland has been less able to diversify away from gas-fired generation. Renewables provide an important hedge against fuel price volatility.” According to provisional data from Eirgrid, nearly half of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources during March. A growth of rooftop solar saw a reduction in need for traditional generators at times and wind energy made up a significant proportion of renewable energy, contributing 40 percent of the overall fuel mix in March. The increase in wind energy generation limited the increase of wholesale electricity prices in Ireland, according to research from Wind Energy Ireland, which states that “Rising gas prices drove the average wholesale price of electricity in Ireland last month up 19 percent compared to February but a strong performance by Irish wind farms kept prices lower than in March 2025.” Separately, the Government announced a package of measures on fuel costs to support the transport, farming and fisheries sectors. These measures include reducing by a further 10 cents the excise on diesel and on petrol (VAT inclusive), reducing the excise on marked gas oil (green diesel) by a further 2.4 cent (VAT inclusive), and deferring the planned increase in carbon tax, scheduled for 1 May, until the Budget. These measures are in addition to the previously allocated €250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure. The Government is also establishing a new Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS) providing direct payments to the haulage and coach operators, and has announced a €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers. 

Chartered Accountants Ireland has reacted to today’s publication of the Critical Infrastructure Bill which aims to fast-track the approval processes for critical infrastructure projects in Ireland. Commenting on the Bill, Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland said “As a professional body representing 40,000 businesspeople across the economy, we see this Bill as a significant step in the Government’s approach to addressing Ireland’s infrastructure challenges. “Engagement with our members has demonstrated that infrastructure deficits need to be addressed as a matter of urgency if Ireland is to achieve its growth ambitions, meet its energy, transport and water requirements, and its sustainability goals. It is encouraging, therefore, to see the Bill’s focus on coordination and collaboration between public bodies to facilitate the rapid approval of projects and programmes.” Grant Sweetnam, Head of Public Policy at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said: “For a small, open economy like Ireland, infrastructure is key to competitiveness. It is vital for maintaining the standard of living for our citizens, for attracting foreign direct investment, for supporting our SMEs and for ensuring Ireland remains one of the best locations to do business.” “Our infrastructure continues to be one of our most critical competitiveness deficits. It is essential that barriers are removed to facilitate investment in our infrastructure to safeguard Ireland’s social and economic interests.  We look forward to engaging constructively with Government and stakeholders on this issue.”

This week, the Institute attended the inaugural Annual Savings and Investment Forum held at the Central Bank. The Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris T.D. addressed the Forum announcing his intention to introduce a Savings and Investment Account in Ireland. It is intended that legislation will be drafted this year with a view to products being established in 2027. Savings and investment accounts form a fundamental pillar in Europe's Saving and Investment Union proposals to increase levels of investment among citizens. Statistics from the Central Bank of Ireland show that Ireland has a long way to go when it comes to households and individuals investing in capital markets. This week’s announcement has the real potential to increase retail participation in capital markets and empower workers and households to create wealth over their working lives. The savings and investment account proposed by the Tánaiste is similar in nature to the Swedish model which was first introduced in 2012. Simplicity is at its core, with one simple tax applied which is administered solely by the financial provider and not the individual investor. This means there are no reporting obligations placed on the investor and individual transactions are not taxed. As a consequence, investors can focus on making the right investment decisions for themselves. At the Forum a strong emphasis was placed on financial literacy. Improving understanding and confidence among individuals will be critical to increasing participation in capital markets over the long term. In Ireland, nearly €170 million in household deposits is held in low return deposit accounts which diminish in terms of purchasing power over time. The Institute made the point that without financial literacy, the savings and investment accounts will not be as successful as they can be. The Institute also pointed out that the savings and investment account should be seen as one element of a wider reform plan which should include tax reform and the removal of the deemed disposal tax which penalises investors. The Tánaiste indicated that the roadmap on taxation of investment products will be published in the coming months. Chartered Accountants Ireland is hopeful that the roadmap will contain commitments to remove the deemed disposal tax along with other tax measures to improve the overall investment environment in the economy. We will continue to engage with Government on this issue over the coming months including as part of our Pre-Budget Submission.   You can read our earlier response here. You can read about the Investment Tax Guide published in conjunction with Goodbody here.

  Research published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has found that almost a third of Irish enterprises used ICT in 2025 to reduce their environmental impact, slightly ahead of the EU average. It also found that investing in technological innovation can support enterprise resilience, efficiency and competitiveness as well as environmental sustainability within enterprises, allowing enterprises to use fewer resources while producing the same or greater output. Commenting on the release, Morgan O’Donnell, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy & Transport division of the CSO said: “Sustainability is of increasing importance to enterprises, in terms of meeting environmental regulations and expectations, but also from an economic and social perspective. There is increasing national and international recognition that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of success, and that long term prosperity depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, environmental, and social outcomes.” The research, titled Business in Ireland 2025 - Sustainability Through Innovation and Technology, is the second in a series of releases that brings together relevant enterprise economy statistics from a variety of outputs and looks at them through the lens of sustainability to provide greater insights around sustainability and climate targets.

The Climate Change Advisory Council’s latest report: Annual Review 2026 - Our Changing Climate in 2025, finds that climate change is having measurable impacts in Ireland, with growing risks for communities, infrastructure, essential services and the economy. The economic damage from the five named storms that affected Ireland in 2025 amounted to almost €360 million, following estimated losses of €4.1 billion from flood and windstorm events in Ireland in 2024. The storm also exposed vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and essential services, including energy, water and telecommunications. The Council identifies gaps in how the economic, social and environmental consequences of extreme weather events are monitored and notes that robust data and evidence are essential to inform effective policy, planning and investment; it also calls for coordinated Government action, including investment in climate monitoring and infrastructure systems, strengthened policy and legislative frameworks, and a systemic approach to improving national resilience.

Moving away from fossil fuels is key to reducing the impact of the current crisis and future crises, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. The Taoiseach was commenting in a  recent Government announcement of temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses in order to shield them from the recent hikes in fuel prices. The measures provide for temporary reductions in the rates of Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) applying to petrol, auto diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO), and are in effect from 25 March to 31 May 2026. Separately, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, warned that Ireland and the European Union remain exposed to fossil fuel price shocks: “As long as we rely on imported fossil fuels, events far beyond our shores will continue to impact in a real way on households and businesses. That is not a sustainable position. And it is not a secure one.” The Tánaiste further commented that reducing that dependence as “the only lasting answer”, by accelerating Ireland’s transition to renewable energy and improving efficiency, and building a system that is more resilient and more within our own control. Energy was also a core pillar of Ireland-UK Summit 2026 which took place in Cork in March. A key focus of the Summit was closer cooperation between both countries to deploy offshore wind at scale, as well as increased electricity interconnection and securing critical infrastructure in shared maritime space. An expanded Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Summit between the electricity transmission system operators of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (EirGrid, NESO and SONI), to increase knowledge-sharing and cooperation. Commenting, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien TD said “This Summit has come as Ireland reaches 8GW of onshore renewable electricity generation, which is a significant milestone. We're building on this both in Ireland and with our near neighbours, creating opportunities for jobs, investments, and a more stable economy." Ireland has doubled wind energy capacity over the past decade, receiving more electricity from onshore wind farms than any other country in Europe. A new peak for wind energy was reportedly recorded in Ireland during February 2026, according to provisional data from EirGrid, with almost 50 percent of Ireland’s electricity came from renewable sources last month.