FAQ · Economy & Work 16

The Kinsale Head gas field is an offshore natural gas field located in the Celtic Sea off the coast of County Cork. It was discovered in 1971 near the Old Head of Kinsale and met the gas needs of Ireland until 1996. Over its 42 years of operation, the field produced an estimated 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The operator, Kinsale Energy Limited, extracted its last commercial quantity of gas on 5 July 2020. Decommissioning works began after production ceased, with the removal of platforms occurring during 2022. A floating wind turbine project has been proposed for development in this area.

Wages and working conditions are often determined through a process called collective bargaining. This involves negotiations between employers and groups of employees to reach agreements on compensation and rights. Trade unions commonly represent the interests of employees during these discussions. The resulting collective agreement functions as a labour contract that establishes terms for wage scales and working hours. These agreements can also cover overtime, health and safety, and other aspects of employment.

The history of the tricolour on Irish ships involves various legal and maritime developments. Following the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, the mercantile marine was technically required to fly the Red Ensign. Some ships sailed under the tricolour, while others continued to use the Red Ensign until September 1939. A decree was made during the outbreak of World War II to ensure neutral ships were not mistaken for British vessels. The marine status of the tricolour was eventually formalised by the Merchant Shipping Act 1947.

The public service in Ireland encompasses the totality of public administration and consists of seven distinct sectors. These sectors include the civil service, the defence sector, the education sector, and the health sector. Additionally, the public service comprises the justice sector, local authorities, and non-commercial state agencies. The health sector is currently the largest, followed by the education sector. It is important to note that commercial state-owned bodies are not considered part of the public service.

The 2008 Irish pork crisis was caused by a dioxin contamination incident involving animal feed. This contamination affected nine pig farms and thirty-seven beef farms across the Republic of Ireland, as well as farms in Northern Ireland. As a result, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recalled all Irish pork products produced between September and early December of that year. While beef samples also showed high dioxin levels, authorities stated there was no significant public health risk from beef. The incident impacted pork supplies to twenty-three different countries across multiple continents.

The first industrial school in Ireland was established by Lady Louisa Conolly in Celbridge, County Kildare. In these institutions, young boys were taught various trade skills including woodwork and shoemaking. A government-aided system was officially introduced through the Industrial Schools (Ireland) Act 1868. This legislation ensured that Protestant and Catholic children were placed in different schools to prevent proselytising. These schools were part of a broader movement to address the plight of vulnerable children who previously lived in workhouses or on the streets.

Ireland is labeled as both a corporate tax haven and a traditional tax haven. This status is due to its BEPS tools such as Double Irish, Single Malt, and CAIA, as well as QIAIFs. However, Ireland does not appear on the 2017 OECD list of tax havens. It also does not appear on the EU list of 17 tax havens or the EU's greylist of 47 tax havens. No EU-28 country has ever been listed by the EU.

Several charges described as taxes are actually withholdings from certain payments made. In these cases, the payer withholds a relevant percentage and pays it directly to Revenue. The recipient remains liable for tax on the full amount but can set the withholding against their overall tax liability. If the amount withheld is less than the tax payable, the recipient must pay the difference. If the amount withheld exceeds the tax payable, the recipient can set it off against other tax due or obtain a refund.

A building surveyor named Roger Bryant was convicted in September 2024 for submitting false invoices. This fraud occurred against the National Trust in Devon between 2008 and 2013. The scheme resulted in the Trust being defrauded of over £1 million by an employee. The issue only came to light when the Trust decided to update its procurement procedures in 2013. Bryant was ultimately sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for his actions.

Accounting Technicians Ireland offers qualifications that combine professional exams with practical work experience. The diploma is divided into two parts, consisting of a one-year Certificate for Accounting Technicians and a two-year Diploma for Accounting Technicians. Both the certificate and diploma are National Framework of Qualifications Level 6 qualifications. Students can study these qualifications full or part-time through a college or directly with the ATI. These qualifications are also recognised by other professional accountancy bodies which may offer examination exemptions to graduates.

Banks in Ireland observe several holidays throughout the year. These include New Year's Day on 1 January and Saint Patrick's Day on 17 March. Other observed dates are Good Friday on 18 April and Easter Monday on 21 April. You should also note the Early May bank holiday on 5 May and the Spring May Bank Holiday on 26 May. Summer bank holidays occur on 4 August and 25 August. Finally, Christmas Day on 25 December and Saint Stephen's Day on 26 December are also holidays.

Experian plc is a multinational data broker and consumer credit reporting company that is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. This company is currently listed on the London Stock Exchange. It also serves as a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Beyond its credit services, the firm provides decision analytic and marketing assistance to various businesses. The company has a long history involving several acquisitions and corporate changes over the decades.

The main insurance activities in the country cover life insurance, general insurance, reinsurance, and captive insurance. Within the IFSC, there is a niche strength as a top location for the relatively small Captive Insurance market. The IFSC occasionally provides accounting and administration services for products sold on a pan-EU basis. FBD Holdings is the only remaining listed Irish insurance company and is one of the smaller players in the market. The Dublin International Insurance & Management Association serves as the trade body for the IFSC Insurance sector.

Tourists from non-EU countries may be able to receive a partial refund of the 23% VAT tax. There is no unified scheme for this, so the method depends entirely on the specific retailer. You should ask the retailer before making a purchase if they offer a VAT refund. Some popular retailers use private VAT refund agents that provide a magnetic stripe card to record purchases. Alternatively, some retailers may instruct you to take a receipt to the airport, but Irish Revenue does not make refunds directly to tourists. You are responsible for having your receipts stamped by customs to claim a refund.

Tourists from non-EU countries may be able to receive a partial refund of the 23% VAT tax. There is no unified scheme for this, so the method depends entirely on the specific retailer. Some popular retailers use private VAT refund agents where shoppers use a magnetic stripe card to claim money back at the airport. Alternatively, you may need to have receipts stamped by customs and send them to the retailer to receive a refund directly. You must ask the retailer about their specific refund process before you make a purchase.

The summer programme for students follows a highly structured schedule on weekdays. Classes are held from 9am to 3pm and include a scheduled lunch break. Following the classes, various activities take place from 3pm to 5pm under the supervision of residential assistants. Students then have dinner between 5pm and 6pm. After dinner, they must attend a meeting with their group until 6:30pm.