The Irish government's decision to extend the reduced VAT rate on gas and electricity for small businesses until April 2025 offers a temporary reprieve. However, the looming increase to 13.5% in May 2025 threatens to deliver yet another blow to already struggling small businesses.

In the world of economics and finance, interest rates are often viewed as the pulse that gauges the health of an economy. Their current structure and cost undoubtedly have a profound influence on economic growth. When we consider the landscape today, one can't help but ponder the long-term ramifications of persistent high interest rates, especially given the vast deficits that many nations carry on their ledgers.