The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) recently published its report Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland which provides a high-level comparison of the economies of Ireland and Northern Ireland (NI) over recent years. The report outlines similarities and differences between the two economies in terms of economic growth, labour market trends, living standards, education, health, general well-being and economic structures. The report highlights, that over recent years, the disparity in economic performance and well-being indicators between Ireland and NI is widening with the economy in Ireland displaying stronger economic growth and higher wages and living standards. Some of the key findings in the report are as follows: Ireland's population is growing faster than NIs, largely due to strong net migration in recent years. This has resulted in Ireland having a younger population, with a lower old-age dependency rate. There have been shifts in the labour market over time.  Labour market participation in Ireland has increased significantly since 2010, widening the gap with NI.  In 2022, the participation rate of those aged 16-64 was 76.8 percent in Ireland compared to 72.4 percent in NI. Employment rates in Ireland overtook NI in the period after the financial crisis, reflecting Ireland’s strong recovery. Ireland’s modified gross national income per capita in 2022 was 57 percent higher than NI’s gross domestic product per capita, reflecting stronger economic growth. In terms of wages, the data show a positive gap favouring Ireland, with hourly earnings 36 per cent higher than in NI in 2022. While Great Britain (GB) remains NI’s largest trading partner, NI’s trade with GB has declined since 2015, while trade with Ireland has increased. On a per capita basis, NI residents pay significantly lower personal income tax than those in Ireland (€2,980 in NI vs. €6,725 per capita in Ireland). Corporate tax receipts per capita in Ireland (€5,760) are over five times those in NI (€1,018), reflecting the dominance of multinationals.

Remote work offers flexibility, but connection with colleagues can’t be left to chance. Building relationships at work boosts well-being and helps teams thrive, writes Moira Dunne The traditional working model, where most people congregate in the office at the same time, enabled connection and collaboration. But, with so many people working remotely these days, we can't leave collaboration to chance—especially as meaningful connections with our work colleagues can boost our wellbeing. The importance of workplace connection It is widely agreed that one of the biggest limitations of remote working is the lack of social connection. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, social interactions come third, with only physiological and safety needs being more important, suggesting that social interaction and a sense of belonging and togetherness, are crucial for people. The downsides of not connecting with others include: Isolation; Problems seeming bigger; Lacking an alternative perspective; No feedback; and No rapport with colleagues. In contrast, the list of reasons to collaborate is long. Consider the benefits of the following: Emotional support during challenges/setbacks; Less stress and anxiety; Mood boost and increased happiness; Sense of belonging; Productive team culture; Collaborative problem-solving; Learning and personal growth; and Enhanced well-being. Working together in a group brings a sense of purpose as we share goals or targets. Providing input helps us feel valued which, in turn, boosts our well-being and self-esteem. By exchanging ideas with others, we learn from their experiences and can share our knowledge to help others grow. Networking with colleagues and industry professionals also leads to professional growth opportunities. It can often seem easier to “save time” by foregoing optional work events, but by connecting with colleagues, we may avoid the negative impacts of working alone, such as anxiety, worry and reduced ability to switch off. Making time to connect For most people, time is at a premium. Everyone is busy. When you are planning your week, consider who you need to meet. By booking time at the start of the week, you have a greater chance of connecting while respecting their busy schedule.   Boosting online connection Working from home can be very productive as we have fewer distractions. Our energy levels can drop as we spend hours working alone, however. An online collaboration can inject energy and help spark ideas. Book a catch-up session or a project discussion with some colleagues, or ask your manager for a one-to-one check-in. In addition to formal meetings, there are many informal ways to connect with colleagues when working remotely. Encourage team members to try something new, and then tweak the approach to suit each person's needs. Most people already collaborate within Microsoft Teams—but, make sure you access all of the functionality on offer, such as chat, messaging and polls. This kind of collaboration can save time and deliver better outcomes. Connect to manage relationships Consider the amount of time often wasted trying to get started on a project—or time spent reworking a document that isn’t approved at a later review. Working together enhances our relationships and can prevent issues from occurring. An open and honest connection provides an ongoing chance to discuss issues or challenges before they develop into bigger problems that may be harder to resolve. Communicating assertively promotes open and transparent communication through which everyone feels heard. The key to this style is to present your needs and concerns while also demonstrating your interest in the other people’s needs and concerns. (endbio) Moira Dunne is the co-founder of beproductive.ie. Moira will present a free Webinar on May 1st to mark National Workplace Wellbeing Day. You can sign up for 'How Connection with Colleagues can Boost Your Wellbeing', which runs from 9:30am to 10:15am. Register here.

Offering high-margin business models and recurring revenue streams, gaming is fast becoming a focus for investors in Ireland, writes Christopher Brown Gaming is an industry traditionally overlooked by investors in Ireland, but there are indications that the tide is turning. Irish gaming company Keywords Studios made headlines in October 2024 when it accepted a $2.8 billion acquisition bid of from a consortium of investors. Albeit at the larger end of the scale, this deal is one of many in the Irish gaming space and follows a wider trend emerging in the international investment landscape. As of the third quarter of 2024, the buyout value of private equity (PE) gaming increased 63.46 percent year-on-year, from $5.2 billion in 2023 to $8.5 billion in 2024 (as you can see on this Pitchbook graph). This trend, both globally and in Ireland, begs the question: Why gaming, and why now? Growth potential and revenue streams Gaming companies are attractive to investors for several reasons, the most compelling being the strong return on investment achievable under private ownership. Gaming companies typically have low overheads, high margins and obtain exit valuations such as those yielded by software-as-a-service companies. Like software businesses, gaming is also scalable at low cost, and developers can capitalise product expenditure on the balance sheet as an asset. Games have in-built data and insights, which can be leveraged for both research and development and advertising. While its ease of deployment gives gaming global reach, the sector is also relatively resistant to economic cycles. Games also have the potential to generate recurring revenue in the form of microtransactions. The term ‘gaming-as-a-service’ (GaaS) has been used to describe game content provided on a recurring revenue model, offering a potentially lucrative investment opportunity. The global online microtransaction market size has been valued at $522.50 billion in 2025, and is predicted to reach about $691.30 billion by 2029. The product mix in gaming has also adapted over time and extends well beyond the release of a new gaming title. In-game transactions, limited edition content, subscriptions (including season passes), skins (which allow players to customise the appearance of characters or items), brand collaborations, live services, advertising and downloadable content (DLCs) can all deliver recurring revenue. Gamers have demonstrated their willingness to pay for new and innovative gaming experiences, and while the younger generation of gamers continues to grow, older gamers also offer stronger purchasing power. Consolidation opportunities The gaming industry is ripe for consolidation. Investors see opportunities to merge smaller companies in a fragmented industry to create larger, more competitive entities. Further, as PE-backed gaming corporations continue to hold fast in the face of current financial headwinds, their larger publicly traded counterparts are struggling and expected to offload some of their underperforming titles, creating acquisition opportunities at depressed valuations. We expect 2025 to be a strong year for large-cap and mid-market gaming deals as investors seek out bolt-ons as part of buy-and-build strategies. The independent gaming scene has been applauded for its use of cutting-edge innovation and ability to tell compelling stories through gameplay. Typically bootstrapped, these companies have proven that larger investment in game development does not necessarily equal greater returns. Investors recognise that there are opportunities to acquire developers at a lower valuation, securing a great return on investment. In short, there are clear signals that gaming deals are likely are likely to rise in Ireland in the years ahead. Overall, the industry feels buoyant and optimistic. Christopher Brown is Partner and Head of Strategy at KPMG

Dealing with one crisis at a time is no longer effective as the onslaught of unprecedented events becomes the norm for businesses, writes Colette Devey A fire at a substation causes a catastrophic power outage. A cyberattack paralyses the operations of an organisation. A major storm deprives a business of power, water and telecommunications. The imposition of tariffs by major trading partners requires supply chain reshaping. These are all examples of real-world crises that have affected corporations in the recent past. While they may take many forms, together they form an urgent call to action that goes well beyond the normal course of business. The age of permacrisis Organisations today have shifted from managing multiple interconnected crises to operating in a constant state of crisis. We have entered the era of the permacrisis, an ongoing period of instability resulting from a series of catastrophic events. Business leaders can no longer rely on traditional one-off business continuity practices to manage this new reality. They have been forced into a state of constant firefighting, often supported by outdated plans and response mechanisms. Those that are managing best have shifting their approach to focus on resilience, with stronger capabilities and less organisational stress. When a crisis hits, the typical approach has been to apply a ‘playbook’ based on how previous business disruptions have been handled. There is no such thing as a standard or textbook crisis, however. Each event, and its consequences, tend to be unique in their own way. Instead of preparing organisations for all potential scenarios, this limited approach forces organisations to improvise when each new crisis hits, expending scarce resources in the process. Worse still, it can lead to flawed decision-making and missteps as the people involved are operating in unknown territory. More frequent unexpected events A different approach is required in the face of increasingly frequent crisis events—one that  can help to build organisational resilience. Catastrophic and once-rare events occur with greater frequency these days, including cyber breaches, IT outages such as CrowdStrike, and weather events such as Storm Éowyn and Storm Darragh. Each brings with it the potential to compromise an organisation’s ability to do business. The question for organisations now is how best to prepare for the increased frequency of such events and situations never encountered before. The nature of their response to unanticipated events is crucially important. In recent years, many organisations have found that just thinking about business continuity is probably too narrow an approach. It is more important to consider what is critical and core to the organisation. If yours is a services business, ask yourself: what are the most critical services we provide, whether that be to a patient, citizen or consumer? If you sell products, identify your core products and the operational processes critical to their production and distribution. This approach will help you identify and prioritise the aspects of the crisis requiring an immediate response, and determine the order of recovery that will enable the business to resume operations as quickly as possible. A successful resilience programme encompasses the process and plan of action that empowers an organisation to manage any crisis, no matter how improbable or unexpected. Five-step approach to crisis and risk management To effectively prepare for, and respond to, crises, organisations should follow these five steps: Anticipate – Plan ahead and consider the risks and threats that may arise in the future. Think about what might go wrong in the organisation and the impact this would have. Prepare – Establish a business resilience policy and framework encompassing crisis management, communications, business continuity and disaster recovery. Respond – It is critically important that everyone in an organisation understands their assigned role in a crisis response, and how to perform it. Learn – Organisations should examine what has gone wrong during a crisis response, and what should be done differently in the future. Equally important is the need to examine what went right. This will help you identify the strengths you can build on in future crisis responses. Improve – Drawing on these lessons, leaders should seize the opportunity to reshape their business in preparation for the next crisis. The increasing frequency of previously improbable and unprecedented events, requires a new approach to crisis response. What worked in the past will not necessarily be effective today or in the future. Organisations must focus on resilience and implement processes and action plans that will shield them for the full impact of unexpected events, and protect core operations. Colette Devey is Risk Consulting Partner at EY Ireland

It’s crucial to highlight the challenges faced by all of us in the accountancy profession—a high-stakes, detail-oriented field that often grapples with tight deadlines, heavy workloads, and complex regulatory environments. Whether you're a seasoned accountant or just starting your career, managing stress is essential for both your mental health and professional performance. Stress is a natural part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can significantly impact your health, well-being, and ability to perform at work. In the context of accountancy, stress might arise from managing intricate financial data, navigating regulatory compliance, or balancing multiple client demands. So how can we manage workplace stress and, more importantly, our personal stress while maintaining a healthy work-life balance? 1. Recognise the Signs of Stress The first step in managing stress is recognising when it’s becoming an issue. Stress manifests differently in everyone, but some common signs include irritability, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. It’s easy to ignore these symptoms in the rush of meeting deadlines, but doing so can lead to burnout—a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. In the accountancy profession, the pressure to avoid errors while delivering results on time can create a cycle of stress that builds up over time. It’s essential to pay attention to the warning signs and address them before they escalate. 2. Prioritise Time Management and Organisation One of the leading causes of stress in accountancy is the constant juggling of tasks and deadlines. Time management is crucial in minimising stress. Developing effective organisational habits, such as maintaining an up-to-date calendar and using project management tools, can help accountants keep track of deadlines, prioritise tasks, and allocate time for each project efficiently. Breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps can also reduce the overwhelming feeling of having too much to do. For example, when working on an audit, plan specific stages of completion with realistic deadlines. This approach can reduce the pressure of delivering everything at once. 3. Set Boundaries to Maintain Work-Life Balance In today’s always-connected world, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal time. For accountants, especially during peak periods like tax season, this can lead to long hours and an inability to fully disconnect from work, both physically and mentally. Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is essential to maintain balance. This might mean turning off work notifications after a certain hour or designating a specific time for personal activities, such as exercise, family time, or hobbies. By respecting these boundaries, you can recharge your energy levels and return to work more focused and productive. 4. Self-care isn’t selfish – take control of your own well-being Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can be powerful tools in managing stress. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga can help you stay grounded during stressful moments. In a fast-paced work environment, taking just a few minutes to breathe deeply or meditate can significantly reduce stress levels. Additionally, regular physical exercise, whether it’s a morning run, or a lunchtime walk, can help clear your mind and boost your energy. Physical activity is proven to reduce cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, and increase endorphins, which improve your mood and mental outlook. 5. Seek Support When Needed Accountants may feel the need to keep up a professional facade and handle stress on their own. However, it’s vital to recognise that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Stress is an unavoidable part of any profession, especially in a demanding field like accountancy.  Many organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of mental health support in the workplace and offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), which provide confidential counselling services and resources to help employees manage stress and other personal challenges.  Here at Chartered Accountants Ireland, the Thrivewellbeing team can help you take that first step to seeking help from a professional – get in touch to talk to them in complete confidence. In summary, by recognising the signs of stress, prioritising time management, setting boundaries, and seeking support, when necessary, accountants can build resilience and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.

In Irish news this week, new guidance on the General Anti-Avoidance Rule was issued and the Government announced the development of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity. In UK news, the Institute has written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to express its concerns on the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief and this week is your last chance to take our short survey on Making Tax Digital for income tax. In International news this week, the Council of the European Union has adopted an amendment to DAC9. Ireland 1. Revenue has published a new Tax and Duty manual on the General Anti-Avoidance Rule and protective notification procedure. 2. Read about the development of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity recently announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. UK 3. Read the submission by the Institute’s NI Tax committee to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on the proposed changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief. 4. This is your final opportunity to take our short survey on Making Tax Digital for Income Tax. International 5. Read about the amendment to DAC 9 recently adopted by the Council of the European Union. Keep up to date with all the latest Irish, UK, and international tax developments through Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Tax Newsletter. Subscribe to the Tax News by updating your preferences in MyAccount.

In this week’s miscellaneous updates, HMRC has shared with us the current version of the AM103 letter; the letter that is sent to agents who have access to HMRC’s services for tax agents and need to confirm who their anti-money laundering supervisory authority is. The latest schedule of HMRC Talking Points live and recorded webinars for tax agents are available for booking. Spaces are limited, so take a look now and save your place. And finally, check HMRC’s online services availability page for details of planned downtime and the online services affected. AM103 letter HMRC has shared with us the current version of its AM103 letter; the letter that HMRC sends to agents who have access to HMRC’s services for tax agents and need to confirm who their anti-money laundering supervisory authority is in order to avoid losing access. To continue using HMRC’s agent services, the declaration form with the letter must be completed and sent to HMRC within 28 days together with evidence of the agent’s anti-money laundering supervision. By completing the declaration form an agent is confirming that it is: trading as a business, registered with a supervisory authority for anti-money laundering purposes or has registered (or applied to be registered) with HMRC for these purposes, and complying with the HMRC standard for agents. HMRC will suspend access to its agent services if the letter is not complied with or if the agent does not respond in the 28 day timeframe.

We have compiled the latest updates to various VAT legislation, publications, briefs and guidance. VAT Assessments and Error Correction, Insolvency (VAT Notice 700/56), Local authorities and similar bodies (VAT Notice 749), Caravans and houseboats (VAT Notice 701/20), Help with VAT compliance controls — Guidelines for Compliance GfC8, Extra Statutory Concessions (VAT Notice 48), VAT Refund Scheme for museums and galleries (VAT Notice 998), Claim a VAT refund as an organisation not registered for VAT, Local authorities and similar bodies (VAT Notice 749), VAT Civil Penalties, VAT Default Surcharge Officer's Guide, Goods and services you can claim for under the VAT DIY Scheme, VAT Export and Removal of Goods from the UK, and Insolvency practitioner bulletin 1 (2025): VAT7 form update.

This is your last chance to take our short six question survey on Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax. The survey will close later this week on Friday 25 April and will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Take the survey now.

On 14 April 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted a further amendment of Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (DAC9). The amendment will streamline filing obligations and reduce compliance burdens for companies under the Pillar 2 Directive. Member States are required to implement the Directive into national legislation by 31 December 2025.

Last week the Institute’s NI Tax Committee, chaired by Janette Burns, wrote to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (XST) to express its concerns about the UK Government’s April 2026 proposals to restrict the availability of 100 percent agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) for inheritance tax (IHT) to a £1 million allowance. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Select Committee, the House of Commons Treasury Committee, and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland. The Committee has also responded to the related consultation ‘Reforms to Inheritance Tax agricultural property relief and business property relief: application in relation to trusts.’ The letter to the XST highlights the particularly damaging impact of these proposals which are already being felt across the UK but which will impact disproportionately for family owned businesses and farms in Northern Ireland. Also highlighted is the need to ensure these proposals do not impact retrospectively which would damage the principle of legitimate expectation. Although the £1 million allowance will refresh every seven years on a rolling basis which will be of benefit to lifetime gifts, the proposals are especially unfair to the many owners of APR and BPR property who are elderly and/or in poor health amongst whom a common strategy is to hold these assets until death before passing these on to the next generation. Unfortunately, this cohort of taxpayers will not realistically be able to make future lifetime gifts to their children every seven years over an extended period of time to take advantage of the renewal of the £1 million allowance. Whilst recognising that difficult decisions may be necessary in the current geopolitical and economic environment, the Government still needs to do whatever it can to protect genuine business and farming activity in the UK. The value of comprehensive, wide-ranging consultation also cannot be underestimated. The consequences of not consulting are already clear with reports of farmers and business owners in deep distress. A broader review of the UK’s IHT regime, building on prior work conducted by the Office of Tax Simplification, is warranted to address concerns that the effective IHT rate falls as estates get larger. This should also examine mechanisms to target the concern that ‘non-farmers’ are currently investing in land to avoid IHT by using APR to pass assets to the next generation IHT free. At the moment, the government is focusing solely on these two reliefs leaving those who run businesses and farms facing an unexpected tax burden with little choice but to consider selling. These reliefs are not loopholes but exist to allow farms/businesses to continue trading, without penalty, when the owner dies and the next generation takes over. The Committee is urging the government to postpone the changes in order to consult wider and reframe this policy change in a way that it is more effectively targeted. However, if this is not an option, a range of potential mitigations are suggested in both the letter and the consultation reply which would curtail the impact.

Revenue has updated its guidance on Securitisation Regulation: Notification of Investment to reflect the most recent EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes which was updated on 28 February 2025.