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The essential guide to visiting Ireland

Here’s everything you need to know about exploring the Emerald Isle—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.

Why you should visit Ireland

Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin; Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good craic in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends .

Best time to visit Ireland

Spring: Easter and St. Patrick’s Day draw crowds, but not quite as many as in the summer. It’s a bit easier to navigate popular sites in the bigger cities like Dublin and enjoy wildflower-dotted areas along the western coast .

Summer: The peak season brings plenty of events, like the Galway Arts Festival . Cycle a trail like the Great Western Greenway , kayak a blueway , or hike in Connemara National Park .

Autumn:   October festivals, such as the Cork Jazz Festival and the enthralling Púca   Halloween festival in County Meath, start filling the calendar. It’s also a great time to sample the local harvest at farmers markets in towns and villages.

Winter : It rarely snows in Ireland, but it rains quite a bit. There are fewer crowds, so winter visitors will feel more of the local vibe, especially in the pubs. Christmas is big, with holiday events like Winterval in Waterford.

Lay of the land

Cities: Capital city Dublin is easy to explore on foot, with Trinity College, home of the Book of Kells , not far from the EPIC Irish emigration museum beside the River Liffey. Laid-back Galway has a thriving arts and music scene plus ferries to the Aran Islands . County Cork and Limerick are market counties, with the historic English Market at the former and the Milk Market in the latter. Known for its shipping history —and mid20th-century troubles— Belfast is also gaining recognition for its food scene .

East:   In County Wicklow, get lost in Powerscourt and Mount Usher gardens or hike in Wicklow Mountains National Park . In County Meath, history buffs find Neolithic monuments Newgrange and Knowth , plus other Boyne Valley treasures like Trim Castle and Loughcrew Cairns .

Southeast:   The city of Waterford’s Viking roots are on display at the Waterford Treasures museums. In Kilkenny city, follow the Medieval Mile walking trail and explore the narrow alleyways that reveal hundreds of years of history.

Southwest:   Backdropped by mountains like the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, gorgeous peninsulas, and colorful harbors, Cork and Kerry draw artists and writers. Killarney National Park and the Dingle Peninsula are sightseeing favorites during long summer days.

West:   The sea-lashed Cliffs of Moher and the otherworldly limestone plateaus of The Burren are just a few miles apart in County Clare. To the north, County Galway is home to the blanket bogs of Connemara . County Mayo preserves Céide Fields , one of the world’s oldest archaeological sites.

( Follow the trail of Ireland’s legendary pirate queen .)

Northwest:   Flat-topped mountains like Ben Bulben and Knocknarea overlook County Sligo ’s lively surfing scene. Donegal is famed for Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) sea cliffs, endless golden beaches, and hilly or lakeside hiking trails at Glenveagh National Park .

The Midlands:   The River Shannon , the country’s longest waterway, snakes through Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and feeds into Lough Derg , popular for boating. Clonmacnoise , founded in A.D. 544, preserves the ruins of one of Ireland’s most influential monastic sites.

Northern Ireland:   The Causeway Coast leads to the natural wonders Giant’s Causeway and the Glens of Antrim . Visit Derry for its walled city and history. The Mourne Mountains are ideal for solitude and sea views.

Getting around Ireland

By plane:   There are daily flights between Dublin Airport and regional hubs including Kerry Airport and Donegal Airport .

By bus:   Bus Eireann is the national operator with local services in cities and towns. It also runs the inter-city Expressway . Private bus services, such as GoBus.ie , connects cities. Plan journeys via the app or website Transport for Ireland . Services in Northern Ireland are run by Translink .

By train:   The rail network is operated by Irish Rail/   Iarnród Éireann , with good connections between main cities and towns. Trains from Dublin to Galway or Cork take around 2.5 hours. Rail services in Northern Ireland are operated by Translink .

By car: Driving in Ireland is on the left. Ireland’s network of motorways (M) includes the M1 from Dublin to Belfast, the M6 crossing the country from Dublin to Galway, and the M8 from Dublin to Cork. Road types include national (N), regional (R), and local (L). Regional and local roads can be narrow and winding, so allow for plenty of time.

By boat: There are seasonal and year-round passenger ferries servicing Ireland’s populated offshore islands such as the Aran Islands. These are for foot passengers (visitors can’t bring cars to the islands).

( Uncover the hidden legends along Ireland’s southern coast .)

Know before you go

Irish language: Irish and English are the country’s two official languages. Irish (a Gaelic language but not called Gaelic in Ireland) was the country’s first language until the 19th century, when English became dominant. While 40 percent of the population can speak some Irish, it is only spoken daily by about 2 percent of the population, particularly in the Gaeltacht , where place names and road signs are in Irish.

Hours:   Some restaurants open only three or four days, especially in smaller towns or during low season (October to Easter). Kitchens can close as early as 8 p.m.

LGBTQ+ : In 2015, Ireland became the first country to approve same-sex marriage by referendum . Ireland has lively LGBTQ+ communities in the larger cities like Dublin, Galway, and Belfast, and a calendar of pride festivals .

How to visit Ireland sustainably

Outdoors: Help preserve habitats by staying on the main trails and boardwalks. Consider joining a tour led by a registered guide to reduce your impact. Leave no trace—remove trash when picnicking or camping.

Shopping: Purchase from independent shops, markets, and small farms. Look for sustainable souvenirs and locally-made gifts like Aran wool sweaters, pottery and ceramics (the label will indicate where they are made).

Dining: Ireland is a land of fishers, farmers, and makers, so eating local isn’t too difficult. Plus, there are several sustainable tourism initiatives, including Origin Green ’s certification program for food producers. Food tours are easy eco-friendly options, but you can also find individual spots on Tourism Ireland’s website. Tap water is drinkable , so bring a reusable bottle.

What to read

A Short History of Ireland , by John Gibney. The historian takes you through five centuries, from 1500 to 2000, covering key events including the Great Famine and the fight for independence.

Dubliners , by James Joyce. The famed novelist’s collection of short stories depicts life in Dublin in the 1900s.

Travelers’ Tales Ireland: True Stories , by James O’Reilly, Sean O’Reilly, and Larry Habegger. Short stories like kayaking around an island and climbing Ireland’s holiest mountain capture some of the country’s magic.

( For more tips on what to do in Ireland, see our Explorer’s Guide .)

Related Topics

• CITY GUIDES
• CULTURAL TOURISM
• FOOD TOURISM
• ADVENTURE TRAVEL

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Official website of Tourism Ireland for visitors to the island of Ireland.

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Where to go

One amazing island. Six unique regions

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Discover Ireland

Welcome to our Discover Ireland website, the official tourism source for domestic holidays in Ireland.

Operated by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, this site includes comprehensive information on great things to see and do in destinations all around Ireland, including listings for activities, events and tourist attractions. Please explore our content, with articles and guides for every county, major town and region in Ireland. Our aim is to provide insights and inspiration for you, our visitors, to plan the perfect short break or holiday here.

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland’s role as the National Tourism Development Authority is to support the tourism industry and work to sustain Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination.

Operating a network of tourism information centres across the country, we welcome visitors to drop in and find out more about all the great things to see and do in locations all over Ireland, including those hidden gems and local tips.

Fáilte Ireland acts as a corporate resource for tourism professionals and service providers at local, regional and national levels. We provide a range of practical business supports to help tourism businesses better manage and market their products and services.

Subscribe now to receive destination inspiration, travel tips, upcoming events and all the best things to do around Ireland.

• Ireland's Ancient East
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In this section

• Our tourism partners

Our history

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The roots of tourism in Ireland run deep, back to the beginning of the 20th century when an Irish Tourism Association was first established. The Irish Tourism Association later became Fógra Fáilte in 1952. In 1955, Bord Fáilte Eireann  was established under the Tourist Traffic Act to develop and promote tourism in the Republic of Ireland, both at home and abroad. As tourism in Ireland developed, CERT (the Council for Education, Recruitment and Training) was established in 1963 to provide education, recruitment and training services for the tourism and hospitality industry. Subsequently, CERT’s role broadened to include the development of the wider business capabilities of Irish tourism businesses.

Regional tourism organisations

During the 1960s, eight regional tourism organisations (RTOs), later renamed regional tourism authorities (RTAs), were established in Dublin, Ireland East, South East, South West (Cork/Kerry), Shannonside, West, North West, and Midlands (Lakelands). These eight RTOs were reduced to six in the 1980s after the Shannonside RTO was adopted by Shannon Development (SFADCO) and Dublin Tourism and Ireland East merged to become Dublin & East RTO. In the early 1990s, Dublin & East RTO separated and Dublin Tourism reverted to its original structure. Ireland East then merged with Midlands to become Midlands & East. Around this time the word “organisation” was replaced by the word “authority.“ Thus, RTOs became RTAs.

Establishment of Tourism Ireland

In 1998, as part of the Good Friday Agreement, tourism was identified as an area of cooperation and Tourism Ireland Ltd. was established to manage the promotion of tourism for the island of Ireland in 2002, a function previously managed by Bórd Fáilte Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in Northern Ireland. Bórd Fáilte retained responsibility for developing Ireland’s tourism industry and marketing Ireland to the domestic market and the six regional tourism authorities – Dublin, South East, South West, West, North West, and East & Midlands.

Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland was formed in May 2003 under the National Tourism Development Authority Act as Ireland’s national tourism development authority, responsible for supporting Ireland’s tourism industry and sustaining Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination. As part of this, Bórd Fáilte Éireann merged with CERT in order to increase the focus on achieving a cohesive tourism strategy for Ireland to ensure a strong and sustainable tourism industry.

Perception vs reality: How Ireland is marketed to tourists abroad

We focus on ‘rip off’ culture and queues at dublin airport, but foreign visitors are focused on other things — for now....

While Ireland focuses its ire on Ireland, the way we view our country can bear little resemblance to how it is viewed from the outside. Graphic: Paul Scott

We Irish routinely moan about our weather, we grumble about the quality or quantity of food we are served in restaurants and we complain about the absence of entertainment laid on by others to keep us amused. And if giving out about the price of everything was a national sport, this little island of ours would be world-beating.

In recent weeks, there has been an outpouring of national outrage about the shambles that Dublin Airport has become at the busiest of times, while Joe Duffy’s Liveline has been hopping mad with people infuriated by the spiralling cost of car hire and hotels close to home.

There is no doubt some of the scenes at the airport have been appalling and the manner in which people were let down by DAA, the authority which runs the facility, absolutely unacceptable.

And there is no escaping the fact that the cost of car hire has gone through the roof with sky-high prices, potentially adding thousands of euro to the cost of a holiday in Ireland. The weather can be pretty terrible too, and some of the meals served in some of the restaurants across the country can be mediocre at best. All the while, prices are only going in one direction.

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But are we, just maybe, too hard on ourselves?

Ireland is not alone in struggling to come to terms with a dramatic resurgence in leisure travel, and holiday prices in most of the popular destinations across Europe have climbed since 2019, before Covid-19 struck, while spiralling inflation is having much the same impact everywhere you look.

In Florida, traditionally one of the cheapest places to rent a car, prices have climbed by as much as 300 per cent in three years, while across Europe price increases of well in excess of 100 per cent have been reported.

And Dublin Airport is not the only one that is struggling, with huge problems managing passenger numbers in airports in Manchester, London and Amsterdam — to name just three.

But while Ireland focuses its ire on Ireland, others appear more sanguine about the state of us, and the way we view our country can bear little resemblance to how it is viewed from the outside.

In 2019, more than 11 million people from overseas chose to come here for their holidays. Most of them had a great time.

They did not complain about the weather because they knew what they were in for, and prepared accordingly. How often have you heard the phrase, widely attributed to the sensible Scandinavians, that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing? Some folk even came here to escape the blistering heat and the endless sun we often seek when we go on holidays.

Visitors didn’t give out about cost because they expected to pay high prices and certainly did not come here because they figured the Guinness would be cheap. And they actively enjoyed many of the things that we may take for granted or even mildly dislike — such as sitting in a pub on a rainy afternoon nursing a pint, or driving along a bumpy country road shrouded in mist trying to find something fun to do.

Tourism is a multibillion euro business in Ireland in good times, employing hundreds of thousands of people, often in places where employment is hard to come by. The pot of gold is guarded jealously by Fáilte Ireland, which is forever conducting research into how others see us.

Its research suggests that beautiful scenery is the main motivation for travel here, with 91 per cent of visitors citing it as a reason for choosing Ireland. Plenty of things to do: natural attractions, history and culture, friendly people and safety are reasons which score percentages in the 80s.

Once here, 90 per cent of holidaymakers have told researchers they were satisfied with Ireland’s suitability as a touring destination, with very few complaints about accommodation.

“Value for money is about the quality of the experience or service that holidaymakers get, as much as price,” is Fáilte Ireland’s mantra. It says 55 per cent of overseas holidaymakers rate Ireland as good or very good value for money.

Covid-19 brought leisure travel to a standstill, so much of the research from our tourism authority about what makes Ireland a good or bad place to visit, and what is to the forefront of the minds of those who travel here, dates from pre-pandemic times.

Irish Times correspondents in some of our key tourism markets offer a more up-to-date glimpse of how we are viewed from the outside. And the good news is, while we might be hard on ourselves, others seem more upbeat about the prospects of a holiday in Ireland.

According to Derek Scally, in Berlin, the Germans are looking forward to coming back to Ireland and aren’t overly concerned about prices or airport shenanigans:

Germany gave the world the term “wanderlust” — the love of travel — and German tourists, desperate to scratch their post-pandemic travel itch, have Ireland in their sights this summer.

According to a leading Ireland travel expert in Germany, current concerns about the cost of hotels and rental cars or the wait times at Dublin Airport are “an Irish consciousness for a problem that is not German”.

Galway-born Kevin Keogh is based in Frankfurt as vice-president of sales with DER Touristik. For half a century the travel group has sent more Germans to Ireland than any other. Pre-pandemic Germany was Ireland’s third-largest market, attracting 728,000 visitors who spent €443 million in 2019.

“We don’t see anything negative with Ireland at the moment,” says Keogh. “Germans couldn’t spend their money for two years and the German customers that go to Ireland aren’t poor: they have money and are willing to spend it without looking at cost.”

Also working in Ireland’s favour, he says, is a post-pandemic trend in Europe away from sun package holidays towards individual trips in northern Europe. “Destinations one to two flight hours away are profiting most from the restart in tourism because, after the pandemic, people want to travel — but not too far,” he says.

Looking at Ireland from the outside, Keogh wonders if people back home are a little harsh on their own country.

Germans are notoriously price-conscious customers, but are willing to spend if they consider something to be value for money. And for the comfortable, 55-plus German travellers, Keogh says, Ireland is still a good deal.

Those who travel with DER Touristik companies know Ireland won’t be a cheap destination, and the company, as a big buyer, negotiates competitive prices with Irish hotels and car-rental firms.

To avoid price peaks, the group encourages customers to avoid Dublin at weekends. Similarly, guided and self-guide itineraries visit the capital and other tourist hotspots on weekdays. On its website, the company is offering a self-guided week’s holiday in Ireland in early August with bed and breakfast for two sharing for €866. Add a rental car, however, and that price is likely to double.

“That’s nothing to do with Ireland specifically, more the delivery shortages in the car industry,” says a booking agent.

Last year DER Touristik organised an Ireland trip for 200 German travel agents ending with a conference in Killarney after three days, sampling horse riding, golf and hiking options.

“They were totally flabbergasted by the offering,” Keogh says. He says the travel industry in Germany recognises Tourism Ireland and its chief executive Niall Gibbons as “by far the most active, savvy government agency” in the post-pandemic travel market.

Of the German travel agents invited to Ireland, he says, 80 per cent were first-timers.

“The main challenge is getting people to Ireland the first time, then they come back two [or] three times,” he says. While Ireland debates the cost of holidays, Keogh says holidays in general are 20 per cent more expensive than 2019 and the Ireland numbers speak for themselves: “The level of repeat visitors for Ireland is one of our highest.”

From Lara Marlowe’s perspective in Paris, things are also looking good for the summer ahead but, she warns, the French will be watching the storm clouds of cost closely:

Ireland remains the sixth most popular tourist destination for the French. Only Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and France itself attract more French tourists, a study commissioned by Tourism Ireland found this spring.

The number of French visitors to Ireland peaked in 2019, before the pandemic, at 557,000.

“Holidays are really important to the French,” says Monica MacLaverty, the Paris-based manager for Tourism Ireland for France, Italy and Spain. With French people taking 56 million outbound holidays annually, the country is the world’s third largest outbound holiday market.

“We target a culturally curious demographic, people who are really interested in getting under the skin of the destination,” MacLaverty says. “The French are looking for authenticity, getting off the beaten track, meeting the locals.”

MacLaverty says the chaos at Dublin Airport is “unhelpful” and Tourism Ireland is “obviously alarmed by it”. It has not yet been picked up by French media, however.

Monitoring of French social media shows that cost is becoming an increasingly important factor. Tour operators have complained of the difficulty of sourcing three-star accommodation for coach tours, because so much capacity has been given over to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. “There isn’t as much three-star capacity, so they find themselves having to charge more for four-star properties,” MacLaverty says. “It’s not easy.”

The fact that French tourism spreads out over the year also makes them desirable tourists, with 40 per cent visiting in summer, 26 per cent in spring. “They come early in the season, because they love rhododendrons, long evenings and going to Connemara,” says MacLaverty.

“The rugged beauty of Connemara just delivers for the French,” she adds. The pop singer Michel Sardou’s inter-generational classic Les Lacs de Connemara has made the region famous for more than 40 years. A new television documentary about Sardou features seven minutes about Connemara.

Promotion of the 2,500km of the Wild Atlantic Way has strengthened the attraction of the west and southwest, which are visited by 76 per cent of French tourists.

Tourism Island is also promoting tours involving the Game of Thrones studios in Banbridge, Co Down, the centenary of the publication of Ulysses and a new Norman theme in the southeast, where French tourists arrive on ferries to Rosslare.

Traditional Irish music is seen as an effective marketing tool. A Tourism Ireland advert broadcast from February through April featured the Kesh jig. “Traditional music resonates strongly with the French,” MacLaverty says. “It is instantly recognisable as Ireland, so it helps us stand out.”

Martin Wall is The Irish Times’s man on the ground in Washington, and he says Irish tourism authorities based in North America are reporting strong bookings for the year and have received no “substantial” negative feedback from passengers about their experiences at Dublin Airport:

Tourism Ireland, in the aftermath of the pandemic, is also focusing on the “culturally curious” segment of the market in North America, a group aged between 25 and 65 with a strong desire and propensity to travel internationally. It also focuses on the golf and business market which it describes as “high-yield niche segments” of the market.

The delays experienced by passengers at Dublin Airport last weekend, and the missed flights as a result, were not widely reported in the main US media. There was a reference in a Business Insider report which mainly concentrated on problems in UK airports.

The problems at Dublin Airport and earlier reports of major price hikes in the cost of car rental in Ireland were covered by Irish American media such as Irish Central.

Alison Metcalfe, executive vice-president of Tourism Ireland for the US and Canada, says it has “seen great interest and strong bookings for Ireland in 2022 and looks forward to rebuilding visitor numbers from the US back to pre-Covid record highs.

“While we are, of course, aware of the many challenges and concerns facing travellers at this time, we have not seen significant changes in booking patterns, and we have not received any substantial negative feedback about issues at Dublin Airport.”

Denis Staunton is The Irish Times London editor and is acutely aware of just how important Britain is to Irish tourism:

Britain is Ireland’s biggest market for tourism, accounting for two out of every five visitors from abroad and a quarter of all overseas tourism revenue. In 2019, almost 5 million visitors came from Britain to the island of Ireland, generating about €1.45 billion in revenue.

John Ó Ceallaigh, a luxury travel writer and founder of content and consultancy agency Lute, believes there is potential to pitch Ireland to bigger spenders from Britain. “It’s not perceived as a luxury destination by most British travellers currently. And what I find consistently is when people go and are open to that type of experience and have the means to pay for it, it’s on par or surpasses what they encounter throughout the rest of the world,” he says.

British tourists seldom complain about prices in Ireland and although eating and drinking can be more expensive than in Britain, other costs such as rail travel are significantly lower. British airports have experienced the same problems as Dublin in recent weeks with staff shortages driving delays and flight cancellations.

The Common Travel Area means British visitors to Ireland do not face any of the post-Brexit hassle they often suffer at passport control in other European countries. But, Ó Ceallaigh says, the biggest advantage Ireland has is its national brand which ensures people are predisposed towards liking the place and believing they will have a good time there with friendly people.

“I think it’s just a matter of engaging with those high-net consumers and letting them know that Ireland is as great as they already assumed but, additionally, it has really comfortable places for them to stay,” he says.

Ó Ceallaigh says he would focus the campaign to win high-end visitors on places outside Dublin. “When I’m talking to my clients or people I’m associated with, I always recommend that they prioritise going to country house hotels and castle hotels on the west coast and in the midlands ... I don’t think there’s much global recognition or even much recognition in Britain about what inventory is available for them.”

While the views from afar are unlikely to do much to alter our national psyche and make us suddenly less harsh on ourselves, the upbeat assessment from others of where we are in the world might, at least, be one reason to be cheerful as we prepare for the first proper summer season since 2019.

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The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC) is the primary representative body of the Irish tourism industry. We are recognised by Government departments and agencies, North and South, by Tourism Ireland Ltd, by the EU, and other organisations whose activities impact on the business of tourism.

We represent the leading tourism interests and businesses throughout the Republic of Ireland. Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, with a value of over €10 billion, is Ireland’s biggest regional employer, employing one in nine, and generates Exchequer receipts in excess of €2 billion (source: CSO 2019).

Our membership consists of over 30 organisations, covering all sectors of Irish tourism – accommodation, access transport, airports, internal transport, incoming tour operators, food and beverage providers, visitor attractions, educators, activities and outdoor pursuits, and business tourism.

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What We Do – Strategy

ITIC seeks to influence Government strategy for tourism by identifying goals, actions, and key enablers of success. ITIC’s Strategy Document Tourism: An Industry Strategy for Growth to 2025 was the product of an extensive 12-month consultative process engaging the major stakeholders in Irish tourism.

In line with best practice, we provide update reports on progress for our strategy (link).

In June 2020, in response to the COVID pandemic, we published our Post-COVID Tourism Industry Revival Plan.

What We Do – Policy-Making

ITIC works closely with its member organisations to make the case at Government level for policies which will enable success for tourism.

Our policy requests are reflective of the changing internal and external tourism environment.

We recommend the following key policies be undertaken in the Programme for Government 2020-25:

• Business survival grants; a reduction of the VAT rate on tourism services to 0% for 2020;
• SME specific support including a moratorium on local authority rates;
• State backed long-term low interest loans;
• A dedicated Department of Tourism;
• Exchequer funding increase for tourism services;
• An air access development fund;
• A domestic market stimulus incentive;
• The creation of a Tourism Recovery Taskforce.

What We Do – Lobbying & Case-Making

To support the achievement of policies identified by ITIC, we engage in regular consultation meetings with Government agencies. This enables us to articulate our industry asks, and to present our case to senior decision-makers.

We believe in positive and constructive communication, and we work hard at being excellent partners in tourism, while committing to achieving the most favourable outcomes for our members and for Irish tourism.

What We Do – Research

All of our strategy and policy work is founded in professional research. ITIC engages in regular research projects to ensure that its objectives and goals remain evidence-based.

Working with respected research partners, we monitor external forces and international trends in order to understand Ireland’s position on the tourism world stage. Recent research pieces include: Tourism: A Competitiveness Report (2019), Tourism Industry Revival Plan, and the ITIC Sustainable Tourism Report.

What We Do – Membership Engagement

Central to ITIC’s purpose are our members. Founded in 1984, our members have included some of the largest employers and revenue generators within the sector.

We listen to the concerns of members, identify common themes across the sector, and work hard to create a collaborative unity across our membership.

ITIC believes that there is strength in numbers and in unity, and we strongly encourage positive networking and engagement amongst our members. We are open to membership subject to certain criteria. Expressions of interest in joining ITIC can be emailed in confidence to [email protected] .

What We Do – Celebrate & Elevate Tourism

ITIC inaugurated the Irish Tourism Industry Awards in 2015, and it has quickly become the marquis event for recognising excellence and innovation in the Irish tourism industry.

Past winners include GPO Witness History, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, and A Taste of West Cork Food Festival.

Biennally, a Special Recognition Award is presented to a person or persons whose contribution to Irish tourism is considered to be especially significant and valuable.

What We Do – Crisis Recovery Planning

The outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic has had a devastating impact on Irish tourism, and its long term impact remains to be seen. It is essential at this time that ITIC give primary attention to the restarting of Irish tourism, the revival of regional jobs, and the regeneration of tourism revenues.

ITIC’s newest publication A Post-COVID Tourism Industry Revival Plan identifies nine key pillars for business recovery, and maps out a number of scenarios in the journey towards tourism regeneration over the coming years.

What We Do – Industry Updates

ITIC publishes regular updates, commentaries and analysis pieces pertaining to the business of tourism in Ireland.

This enables us to identify key trends nationally and internationally, and to identify and recommend corrective courses of action to secure the future success of Irish tourism.

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As the representative voice for the wider tourism sector, we are regularly invited to comment and write on matters of current interest for national and international news outlets. You can find us on social media | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn

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ITIC’s archive of interviews with leading figures in the Irish tourism industry forms a rich narrative on people, developments, and events of significance which have changed the tourism landscape.

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Tourism Information

What is tourism.

Tourism encompasses most short-term travel away from a persons normal place of work or residence and includes not just holiday, leisure and recreational travel, but also travel for the purposes of visiting friends and relatives, business, education, religious, health or other reasons. 

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN-WTO) defines 'tourism' as the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

• Why is Tourism important?

Tourism is an important measure of the economic activity of the country. It helps to drive employment in a number of sectors such as hospitality and food, particularly in the locations and visitor attractions that are very popular with tourists. The revenue generated by both domestic and foreign visitors during their trip contributes to both the balance of payments and national accounts data.  Organisations such as Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland have a role in marketing Ireland as a holiday and business destination for both our overseas and domestic visitors.

• What does Tourism and Travel Section do?

The Tourism and Travel Section of the Central Statistics Office is the major source for tourism statistics in Ireland. Irish tourism can be categorised into three distinct markets:

• Inbound tourism (foreign tourists coming to Ireland)
• Outbound (Irish tourists going abroad)
• Domestic tourism (Irish tourists staying in Ireland)

Tourism and Travel Section collects tourism data on an ongoing basis through 3 surveys:

• Country of Residence Survey (CRS)
• Passenger Card Inquiry (PCI)
• Household Travel Survey (HTS)

Both the CRS and PCI are conducted by CSO interviewers on a continuous sample survey of incoming and departing passengers at major air and sea ports. Information provided by the CRS is published in the form of a rolling three month release titled Overseas Travel. Information provided by the PCI is published in the form of a quarterly release titled Tourism and Travel. Information provided by the HTS is published in the form of a quarterly release titled Household Travel Survey.

• What is the Country of Residence Survey (CRS)?

The Country of Residence Survey is used to provide an analysis of arriving and departing (overseas) passengers by country of residence. This survey allows the CSO to measure the number of non-Irish residents travelling into the Republic of Ireland and the number of Irish residents travelling abroad.

• What is the Passenger Card Inquiry (PCI)?

The Passenger Card Inquiry provides information on the reason for journey, area of residence, length of stay, expenditure and fare costs of visitors to Ireland and Irish visitors overseas. Type of accommodation used is also recorded for overseas passengers. The results are combined with the overall visitor estimates from the Country of Residence Survey to provide the overseas tourism and travel estimates.

• What is the Household Travel Survey (HTS)?

The purpose of the HTS is to measure domestic and foreign travel patterns involving overnight stays and associated details (expenditure, purpose of trip, type of accommodation used, average length of stay) of Irish residents. The HTS also covers all non-routine overnight trips, both domestic and foreign. The information is collected via a postal survey which is conducted on a monthly basis. Every month, over 4,600 households (or approximately 0.3% of all private households) are randomly selected from the Electoral Register, where the selection is stratified by District Electoral Division.

• What about Confidentiality?

The details given in the surveys are strictly confidential. This is guaranteed by law, under the Statistics Act, 1993. Individual details cannot be given in an identifiable form to any person or organisation.

• Who uses Tourism and Travel Statistics?

The data collected by Tourism and Travel Section is used by:

• Irish government departments
• The European Union
• Macro-economists
• Analysts and researchers with an interest in economic trends
• Other special interest groups
• Internal producers of macroeconomic estimates
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Further information is available as follows:

• Releases, Publications and Tables 
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Alternatively, you may contact:

Information Section Tel: +353-21-4535000 Email: [email protected]

Tourism and Travel Section Email: [email protected] .

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Amazon announces the launch of Amazon.ie in Ireland in 2025

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Amazon announced that it will launch a new dedicated store in Ireland, Amazon.ie, in 2025 to enhance the retail experience for new and existing customers. While many people in Ireland already shop on Amazon stores in other countries, the new Ireland store will offer a localized shopping experience offering customers what they value most—a wide selection of over 100 million products including even more from Irish businesses, low prices, and fast and convenient delivery and returns.

The store follows the launch of Amazon’s first Fulfillment Center in Dublin in 2022, which created 500 new jobs and has provided faster delivery for customers across the country seven days a week, including One-Day Delivery on hundreds of thousands of products. Customers will also be able to browse products with clearer, local pricing, and without additional customs charges.

"The launch of Amazon.ie will be great news for Irish customers and we’re looking forward to opening its virtual doors in 2025,” said John Boumphrey, Ireland & UK country manager at Amazon. “This underscores our continued commitment to Ireland, and will bring a wide selection of great value products with fast delivery to Irish customers, as well as provide great opportunities for small- and medium-sized Irish businesses to reach a bigger audience at home and abroad.”

Over 1,000 small- and medium-sized Irish businesses already sell on Amazon and genereated over €150 million in export sales in 2022 alone. From 2020 to 2022, Amazon has invested over €20 billion to help European small- and medium-sized businesses reach new customers across the European Single Market and international export markets, achieving more than €8 billion in export sales in 2022. The new store will also be supported by the new five-year agreement that An Post and Amazon announced last year which will lead to more convenient and faster deliveries and returns.

Amazon already has a rich history in Ireland, and employs around 6,500 people in Cork, Dublin, and Drogheda in a diverse range of roles including data engineers, operations management, and finance—supporting an additional 9,000 jobs in the wider Irish economy. Amazon has invested more than €17 billion in Ireland since 2020, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) investment in cloud infrastructure has expanded Ireland’s economic output by almost €11.4 billion over the last decade. Earlier this year, Amazon released LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland — its first Irish Originals production, which was filmed entirely in Ireland. Prime members in Ireland will also be able to watch UEFA Champions League football on Prime Video starting from next season.

“We already serve customers across Ireland, support more than 1,000 local businesses who sell on Amazon, and are a significant employer in Ireland," said Darragh Kelly, Ireland general manager for Customer Fulfillment at Amazon. "Our teams across the country are so excited about this next chapter in our story here, and are looking forward to delivering for our customers through our new Irish store in 2025.”

Meet some of Amazon's Irish sellers

Earthchimp (available as earthchamp in the uk), dublin-based organic, vegan protein powder producer.

Around ten years ago Dave McGeady founded the Dublin-based organic, vegan protein powder brand. Produced locally to give customers more plant-based products to choose from, EarthChimp started out as a small business and, with the help of Amazon, now reaches customers around the world.

“Amazon has been a game-changer for us. Despite years of hard work, we struggled to expand internationally, but after selling on Amazon, EarthChimp is flourishing, with thousands of customers in the UK, U.S., and Germany," said McGeady. "For small businesses, Amazon creates opportunities to compete with bigger, more established brands and once people were able to try our vegan protein powder, they kept coming back for more. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunities we’ve been able to unlock through selling on Amazon."

Drink Botanicals Ireland, a producer of dried garnishes and syrups for enhancing beverages, cakes, teas, and more

Founded in 2017, Drink Botanicals Ireland is an award-winning Irish business which was originally created for gin enthusiasts to garnish their drinks at home and has now grown to supply dried fruits and syrups to customers, retailers and supplies bars, restaurants, and hotels.

“Selling on Amazon across the UK, U.S., and Europe has been transformative for our business. We’ve not only been able to reach a global customer base, but it’s contributed to local job creation too," said Laura McCarthy, founder of Drink Botanicals Ireland. "Seeing one of our products rank as the 4 th bestseller in the U.S. last year was an incredible milestone for a small Irish business, largely helped by Amazon.”

“For Irish sellers, a dedicated online store makes it easier to compete with larger brands and attract more customers both in Ireland and overseas," said McCarthy. "Simplifying the process for Irish sellers to expand into overseas markets with the help of Amazon also means local sellers can unlock growth opportunities and reach customers on a global scale.”

Solvotrin Therapeutics, producer of award-winning iron supplements

An award-winning brand founded in 2010 which makes iron supplements called Active Iron . The business, which has its headquarters in Ireland, spent a number of years on research and development, and conducting clinical studies. They started selling on Amazon in 2018 a year after making their first sales and now sell to customers in 14 countries around the world.

“My wife had low iron and felt tired all of the time, but couldn’t tolerate oral iron, and then Active Iron was born,” said Pat O’Flynn, CEO at Solvotrin Therapeutics. “We worked with Trinity College Dublin and the School of Medicine and Medical Science at University College Dublin to produce a ground-breaking technology that uniquely avoids the common side effects of oral iron, but is clinically proven to increase your iron levels in six weeks.”

“Our business has seen huge growth from Amazon, and we’re looking forward to continuing on our journey, with an enhanced experience for our customers here at home and increased support for Irish sellers too," said O'Flynn.

More details about the new store, and ways for Irish brands and small- and medium-sized businesses to register will be announced in the coming months, alongside further information about customer offers and benefits.

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How to Watch the 2024 Met Gala Livestream Replay

By Christian Allaire

The 2024 Met Gala took place last night, on Monday, May 6. For the fourth year in a row, Vogue hosted the night’s exclusive livestream, where all of the action from the red carpet unfolded in real time.

This year, the Vogue Met Gala livestream was hosted by actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham. Multihyphenate Emma Chamberlain returned as Vogue ’s special correspondent to interview some of the biggest stars on the carpet. If you missed it last night, you can still catch up on all of the fashion fun—rewatch the livestream now to see all the A-listers as they arrived in style.

Meanwhile, this year’s theme—“ Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion ”—celebrated the Costume Institute’s new exhibition of the same name. The presentation will feature approximately 250 items drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, some rarely seen in public before, displayed in entirely new ways. Of course, the Met Gala’s star-studded red carpet on the first Monday in May cannot be missed either.

Below, everything to know about the 2024 Met Gala livestream, from how (and where) to rewatch the red carpet to what the night’s dress code and themes entail.

Where can I watch the livestream?

The 2024 Met Gala livestream was hosted exclusively by Vogue and broadcast live across its digital platforms as well as TikTok and YouTube . You can also rewatch the livestream within this very post and catch up on Vogue ’s by-the-minute live updates from the 2024 Met Gala here.

What time does the livestream start?

The Met Gala red-carpet livestream took place on Monday, May 6, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PST. If you missed it, you can watch the replay on this page!

Who’s hosting the livestream?

This year the Met Gala livestream was hosted by actor Gwendoline Christie, producer and actor La La Anthony, and model Ashley Graham. Multihyphenate Emma Chamberlain also returned as Vogue ’s special correspondent to interview some of the biggest stars on the carpet.

What’s this year’s Met Gala theme?

The 2024 Met Gala celebrated the opening of the Costume Institute’s new spring exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” The exhibition—which will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 10 to September 2 this year—will spotlight 250 items drawn from the Costume Institute’s permanent collection, including some very rarely seen in public before. All works will be displayed in entirely new ways, utilizing elements such as video animation, CGI, AI, and more.

Every year the Met Gala provides the Costume Institute with its primary source of funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.

Is there a dress code?

The dress code for the 2024 Met Gala was The Garden of Time, which takes inspiration from a short story of the same title written by J.G. Ballard in 1962.

Who are the co-chairs this year?

Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, Bad Bunny, and Vogue ’s Anna Wintour served as the evening’s co-chairs . Honorary chairs for the evening, meanwhile, were Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO Shou Chew.

Met Gala 2024 : See Every Celebrity Arrival, Read the Latest Stories, and Get Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Access Here

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Federal budget 2024: Treasurer reveals $9.3b surplus while offering power bill relief, boosting rent assistance — as it happened

Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his third budget on Tuesday evening, with a raft of measures aimed at dealing with Australia's cost-of-living crisis.

Take a look back at how things unfolded.

And to stay across all the reaction to last night's budget follow our live blog .

• 12:54 PM 12:54 PM Tue 14 May 2024 at 12:54pm Is the budget inflationary?
• 11:59 AM 11:59 AM Tue 14 May 2024 at 11:59am Budget almost guarantees future rate cuts will be 'slower and smaller'
• 11:32 AM 11:32 AM Tue 14 May 2024 at 11:32am 'Oh my God': Lambie slams lack of means testing for energy bill package

Live updates

That's it for tonight's budget live blog.

By Andrew Thorpe

Thanks for joining our live coverage of the 2024 budget — this is where we'll call it a night.

To recap, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has handed down a budget that delivers a $9.3 billion surplus , while doling out $300 per household in energy bill relief , boosting rent assistance , and plowing billions into transport networks and renewable energy .

But concerns remain about gross debt ,   future deficits and inflation , with the treasurer having to walk a delicate line by pumping up cost-of-living payments without spooking the RBA.

You can catch up on all the developments below, or   download the   ABC News app   and   subscribe to our range of news alerts   for the latest news.

I'll leave you with   national affairs editor Melissa Clarke, who's taken a look at the winners and losers from tonight's budget:

You can also catch up by reading political correspondent   Brett Worthington's main wrap below:

Will the government's HECS reforms apply to other student loans?

Hi, Is there any word on whether SFSS (Student Financial Supplement Scheme) loans will receive the same indexation relief as HECS/HELP loans? - Chris

Great question Chris.

SFSS loans aren't mentioned explicitly in the budget overview, but it appears student loan payments other than HELP (formerly HECS) will indeed be covered by the changes to indexation.

Here's the section in question:

The Government will cut $3 billion in student debt for more than three million Australians. This will provide relief for everyone with Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and other student loan debt , while continuing to protect the integrity and value of the student loan system which has massively expanded access to tertiary education. In response to the Universities Accord, the Government will cap the HELP indexation rate to be the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index (WPI). The Government will backdate this relief to all HELP, VET Student Loan, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan and other student support loan accounts that existed on 1 June 2023.

VIDEO: Laura Tingle breaks down the budget

7.30 chief political correspondent Laura Tingle   says the government is resting its economic credibility — and therefore much of its political future — on inflation falling below 3 per cent by Christmas.

That would mean the RBA would be in a position to cut rates earlier than it had previously flagged — and potentially before an election.

Watch as she breaks down the budget's political and economic consequences below:

Is the budget inflationary?

By Kate Ainsworth

It's the question that divided economists in the lead-up to the budget, but have opinions changed now the budget is out in the open?

I put this question to two of Australia's most experienced economists in the budget lock-up — and both said it's not that straightfoward.

"I think we need to be really careful about what we're asking," says Barrenjoey's chief economist Jo Masters . "Clearly, electricity rebates, rent subsidies, freezing of maximum contributions to the PBS technically lower measured CPI, so they reduce the cost of those items to households ... but arguably there is more government spending. "The counter argument though is that lower measured CPI has broader benefits, including that most households set inflation expectations on measured CPI and set wage expectations."

Lachlan Vass from e61 Institute says that there's two main components to the budget when it comes to inflation.

"There's the rent assistance increase and the household energy subsidies, which the government claims is disinflationary," he says. "The budget says it will take 0.5 percentage points off the CPI, but that's not inflation itself, and the government would argue that it helps decrease inflation through expectations. "However, the government is spending $9.5 billion extra on net decisions this coming financial year, and next year they're spending $10.3 billion. "So, in the two coming years they're still fighting inflation, and spending another $19.5 billion isn't going to help."

ABC political reporter Tom Crowley   also took a look at the issue earlier tonight:

Any news on the fight against scams?

Consumer affairs reporter Michael Atkin   has taken a look at what's in the budget to help fight against scams, which are costing Australians billions each year.

A record number of scams hit Aussies hard last year, making paying the bills even harder for people struggling with the cost of living. Despite better efforts to coordinate the response by the National Anti-Scam Centre, some scams prove stubbornly hard to stop . Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has been talking up the government's next step, which involves putting "tough" new obligations on   banks, telcos and tech giants. But we have no idea what those obligations will be just yet. This budget sets aside $67.5 million over the next four years, but that's mainly to see in the mandatory industry codes, with money going to the ACCC, ASIC and the ACMA, who will be tasked with enforcing these codes.

NDIS: What you need to know

By Liana Walker

Specialist Reporting Team's Evan Young and national disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella have the latest on the NDIS out of the budget.

Tonight's budget says the government expects sweeping reforms will "offset increases in NDIS payments" and save $14.4 billion over the next four years. The papers don't break down exactly where those savings are coming from. While the government plans to crack down on fraud and bureaucracy, there's fear in the disability community that savings could come at the expense of people's plans. Disability Advocacy Network Australia acting CEO El Gibbs says the implications of the savings for people with disability need to be better understood. "People with disability cannot miss out on essential support and we will be watching closely to make sure people are not removed from the scheme or supports are not taken away," she says. The government says spending on the scheme is now projected to rise to $60.7 billion by 2027-28 and it will spend $468.7 million over the next four years to get it "back on track". That includes $129.8 million for consultation on the recommendations of last year's review.

Higher education reforms still thin on detail

National education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy   has been looking through the budget for spending that would constitute a response to the Universities Accord :

Spending is earmarked at $1.1 billion over five years, and while any new funding is celebrated, in a sector with an estimated worth of $37 billion, it's unlikely to effect the generational change the government's touting. The budget also promises an additional Accord spend of $2.7 billion beginning in the 2028-2029 financial year, or a hypothetical third term of the Albanese government. It seems a commitment so far into the future, it might just come with an entire shaker of salt.

Read the full story here:

What do economists make of the budget?

For Lachlan Vass from e61 Institute , he said the government had delivered a "broad ranging budget, but it's hard to understand the narrative".

" It feels like the budget you have before an election when you're fiscally constrained," he says. "High inflation means you can't throw money out the door, and there's lots of uncertainty, but there's no big negative surprises, and there's nothing here that will alarm the RBA. "They're [the government] is traversing the narrow path, but it's hard to say if they're doing it successfully."

Barrenjoey's chief economist Jo Masters agrees that the budget is broadly what she had expected, but the cost of living relief measures were far broader and less targeted than she thought.

"Overall, the government has done a reasonable job in a complex environment," she says. "The cost of living relief is less inflationary than giving cash to households, and it's also less inflationary than the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO)."

Is there any increase to JobSeeker?

For less than one per cent of job-seekers, yes. Otherwise, no.  

Here's the Specialist Reporting Team's Leonie Thorne:

Last year unemployment and student payments increased by $40 a fortnight – or $2.86 per day. That increase was enough to be described as a "win" by some players, but advocates argued it still left people receiving Jobseeker below the poverty line. Even a committee set up by the government itself described it as "seriously inadequate". "People receiving these payments told the committee that they regularly go without life's essentials because they simply cannot afford them," said the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee , which was tasked with giving pre-budget advice on welfare payments. That committee advised the government to increase Jobseeker by $17 a day. That has not happened. Instead, Jobseekers who are unable to work more than 14 hours a week will qualify for a higher rate — a change that will benefit about 4,700 JobSeekers.

Budget almost guarantees future rate cuts will be 'slower and smaller'

That's according to economists Jo Masters and Lachlan Vass, who both agree that tonight's budget is unlikely to alarm the Reserve Bank of Australia , but will affect the size of future rate cuts.

Jo Masters , who is the chief economist at Barrenjoey , said that if anything, the budget will result in future rate cuts by the RBA to be less extreme than previously forecast.

"They're a central bank that doesn't want to hike rates," she says. "We don't think there will be another rate hike coming, but more government spending this year and across the forward estimates suggests to us that when rate cuts do come, they will be slower and smaller. "As a result, we expect the cash rate will stay above 3% in 2025."

Lachlan Vass from e61 Institute agrees that the amount of government spending in the coming financial years will also deliver "slower and smaller rate cuts".

"You can't put an extra $10 billion into the economy each year and call it disinflationary," he says. "The government have really ramped up their spending, even compared to the mid-year update in December, and that can only add to inflationary pressures."

He adds that the RBA will keep all of this in mind when it eventually moves to reduce the cash rate, but stressed that it's not certain when that might be.

VIDEO: Changes coming to health

One of the big changes announced in this budget is a freeze to the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions.

That means the maximum price will be $31.60, or $7.70 for pensioner or concession card holders.

On top of that, the government will provide $3.4 billion over five years from last financial year for new and amended listings on the PBS.

Other funding announced in the budget in the health sector includes:

• $2.8 billion to strengthen Medicare, including a further 29 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
• $2.2 billion to improve the aged care system
• $888.1 million to help people get the mental health care they need

Watch the treasurer announce the measures in his speech earlier tonight:

Is this the end of small government? The budget seems to suggest so

The government is getting back into business.

In a move that has horrified the economic purists and overturned half a century of developed nation dogma, Australia has joined the United States and Europe in winding back the clock to an industrial future.

The budget's $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia spend is a bet on the government picking the right investments to secure the nation's future in a zero-emissions economy.

As chief business correspondent Ian Verrender writes, it's a big gamble on the future for a government still struggling to solve the pressing problems of the present in high interest rates and a cost of living crisis.

Funding set aside for aged and child care wage increases

Off the back of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, this budget has committed to fund a further increase in award wages for our aged care workers, building on the $11.3 billion allocated last year.

Another $87.2 million will also go towards workforce initiatives to attract nurses and other workers into aged care.

On the other end of the life cycle, funding has also been set aside for child care.

How much that actually amounts to will be dependent on an upcoming Fair Work decision.

'Oh my God': Lambie slams lack of means testing for energy bill package

Senator Jacqui Lambie is savaging the government's decision not to means test its energy bill relief package, which will see every household receive $300   — including high earners.

"Not means tested? What are we back in COVID days, when we were just chucking money left, right and centre?" she says to David Speers. "Seriously, you're too lazy to do some means testing? "We [high-income earners] don't need $300, I can assure you … I mean this is an absolute joke. "They've had two years, two years mate, that they've been in, and this is the best budget they can come up with? Oh my God."

Watch the senator's response below:

Analysis: Chalmers gambles on a second term

Successfully landing a budget in a weak economy in which you are also fighting inflation is not easy — and it's even harder if you bring politics into it, writes 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle :

There is some more limited cost-of-living support: things like more rental assistance for those on low incomes, a freeze in the cost of medicines and the already announced changes to student loan indexation. But given the stress households have been under, it is hardly generous. Instead, the third Chalmers budget is one built on a hope that the government gets more time to fix the long-term problems if it can just survive the political stress of an electorate living on the financial edge for another year.

Read the full piece here:

What's in the budget for business?

  I'm glad you asked, because we'll get the thoughts from some of the country's leading economists in a special budget edition of The Business .

Barrenjoey chief economist Jo Masters and e61 Institute research manager Lachlan Vass will give their takes on the budget, and   Finance Minister Katy Gallagher   will chat to host Kirsten Aiken about whether this Budget is inflationary and what it will means for interest rates.

We'll also hear what businesses make of the budget, including from two leaders of corporate Australia:   Fortescue executive director Elizabeth Gaines and Zip Co chair Diane Smith-Gander.

Plus, you'll get all of the insight and analysis from the ABC's experts, including chief business correspondent Ian Verrender , Rachel Pupazzoni and Alicia Barry .

Still need convincing? Let my colleagues do the talking 👇

Join us at 9.30pm on the ABC News Channel and 10.45pm on ABC TV.

How will I receive energy relief?

The treasurer explained at a press conference earlier today the energy relief relies on the states and energy retailers to provide rebates or credits on energy bills.

This is applied to each bill.

For example, someone who is billed quarterly should see a $75 credit on each bill for the next financial year.

Here's what the treasurer had to say about power bills in his speech tonight:

What's the deal with the $300 energy bill relief?

The government had been hinting for days in the lead up that energy bill assistance would likely be included again in the budget — and it's now been confirmed.

All up, more than 10 million households will be getting $300 to put towards their power bills from July 1, while about 1 million eligible small businesses will get $325 to put towards their energy bills.

The reason? It's because the government sees this as a key way to reduce inflation — which it's forecasting to be 0.5 percentage points lower by the end of the year.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this afternoon, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the bill relief is about relieving the cost of living pressures that are felt "up and down the income scale", noting that "middle Australia" is also feeling the pinch from higher power bills.

However, the rebate is less than what was in last year's federal budget, when up to $500 was paid out only to those who were eligible (that is, pensioners, veterans, concession card holders and people on government support payments).

In total, energy bill relief will cost the budget $3.5 billion in the 2024-25 financial year.

Angus Taylor calls budget 'Band-Aid on a bullet wound'

The shadow treasurer has also been asked directly if he supports the government's cost-of-living measures.

He says the government is not going to the source of the inflation problem, instead   they are putting a "Band-Aid on a bullet wound".

"The context is incredibly important and I will answer the question but the context is usually important. You should be dealing with the source of the problem when inflation is raging," he says. "The government isn't because [the budget] is designed for election and not a cost-of-living crisis."

Bandt says Chalmers 'talked a big game and delivered nothing'

Greens leader Adam Bandt isn't a fan of the cost-of-living measures announced in tonight's budget, telling the ABC's David Speers the budget is a "betrayal of people who are doing it tough".

"It's a betrayal of renters, of mortgage holders, of women, of students — meanwhile [it] backs unlimited rent increases, supermarket prices are going to continue to rise. "Labor is tightening your belts while letting big corporations and billionaires run wild."

When pressed on whether the Greens will back the measures that have been announced, he avoids answering directly — but says the party is going to fight for more.

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What Does the European Court of Human Rights’ First Climate Change Decision Mean for Climate Policy?

On 9 April the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its first ever comprehensive  decision  in a climate litigation case. The judges of the Court’s Grand Chamber found that Switzerland was in breach of its positive obligations to protect the health, well-being and quality of life of Swiss citizens from the impacts of climate change. This violation was attributed to the Swiss government’s failure to implement the robust regulatory framework necessary for fulfilling its commitment to reduce emissions as set out in the Paris Agreement.

As the dust begins to settle on this case, the critical question in the minds of many is what implication the judgment will have for how Switzerland and the  45 other signatories  of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) now address climate change.

Could this ruling catalyse the rapid cross-cutting action that is urgently needed to combat climate change?

Firstly, this is a question of  compliance : will Switzerland and the other ECHR signatories find the judgment a compelling reason to amend their climate laws in line with the guidance given by the court? Most commentators have focused on this element. While there appears to be a general consensus that the ruling will be “ transformative ”, some have treated it  more cautiously . In particular, while the case is expected to have “ knock-on ” effects on law and policymaking at the domestic and international levels, the extent of these impacts will take time to crystallise. Some researchers argue that, with its ruling, the ECtHR has merely set a “ minimum standard ” and thus they  question  whether it will lead to ECHR signatories significantly tightening their climate laws.

But importantly, this is also about  effectiveness : can the type of regulatory framework envisioned by the ECtHR drive countries to meet their legislative climate commitments? We focus our analysis below on this aspect, seeking to assess how effective the type of regulatory framework envisioned by the Court can be in accelerating credible climate action.

A domestic regulatory framework aligned with human rights obligations

In its judgment, the ECtHR set out a series of minimum requirements that a domestic climate change regulatory framework must meet to align with human rights obligations. These are firmly grounded in the architecture of the Paris Agreement, reflecting global practices in climate governance and  strong scientific foundations .

Climate framework laws  have emerged as a prominent tool to drive domestic climate action, including establishing regulatory frameworks. To date,  59 countries , including 25 ECHR signatories, have enacted climate framework laws. These laws set the  strategic direction for national climate policies,  and also often include long-term climate objectives: for example,  17 countries’ laws  contain net zero or climate neutrality targets.

The  scope  of climate framework laws varies significantly, however. Some countries, like  Nigeria , set up inter-ministerial coordination bodies to prepare national climate action plans designed to meet targets, whereas others like  Canada  mandate interim targets or carbon budgets based on the advice of independent expert advisory bodies. In some cases, like  Japan , legislation separately addresses mitigation and adaptation efforts. At times, countries also establish domestic governance processes across multiple laws, executive policies or through informal processes.

Unfortunately, when it comes to understanding the impact of such climate framework laws, empirical evidence remains limited, particularly regarding how impacts might vary across different socioeconomic and political contexts. However, research conducted by the Grantham Research Institute into the impacts of climate framework laws in the  UK , and most recently in  Germany, Ireland and New Zealand , has uncovered varied impacts across five key areas (see Figure 1). These findings indicate that the most significant impacts of climate framework laws are observed in the areas of governance and political debate.

Figure 1. Impacts of climate framework laws

Source:  Averchenkova et al. (2024 )

Mapping the Court’s minimum requirements against the building blocks of effective climate laws

The ECtHR’s specified set of minimum requirements for a State’s regulatory framework on climate change (paragraph 550 of the judgment) align closely with what  our research identifies  as the core building blocks of effective climate framework laws – see Table 1 below. Not only do these elements of climate laws have the most direct influence, they also lead to the most significant impacts. Our research shows that these building blocks directly contribute to the robustness of regulatory frameworks, ensuring that climate action is both ambitious and grounded in scientific evidence.

Table 1. The ECtHR’s minimum requirements mapped against our identified building blocks for effective climate framework laws

The similarities between the ECtHR’s stipulated requirements for climate regulatory frameworks and the building blocks that make climate framework laws most effective suggest that the approach required by the Court could have significant positive impacts.

However, while the identified components are crucial, they may not be sufficient on their own to catalyse rapid and enduring change. For example, although many climate framework laws mandate public consultation, the specifics of these processes are often imprecisely defined, leaving uncertainty about how public participation, stakeholder engagement and deliberative processes are to be continuously or formally integrated into an institutional framework. This integration is vital for ensuring public acceptance of climate policies.

The ECtHR addressed this need in paragraph 554 of its judgment, underscoring the importance of public participation and access to information in developing climate policies. The extent to which this aspect of the judgment will influence future legislative practices and improve the inclusivity and effectiveness of climate governance remains an open question.

Helpful guidance from the Court – but ultimately it comes down to political will

Our research also highlights that there are significant challenges to implementing climate framework laws: in particular, without sustained political will, enforcement becomes very difficult. Another recurring issue is the absence of stringent penalties for non-compliance, which undermines the credibility of these laws and poses risks to democratic accountability. Litigation, while a last resort, can strengthen both administrative and political accountability for fulfilling climate commitments. The  KlimaSeniorinnen  ruling highlighted significant gaps in Switzerland’s regulatory framework and its failure to meet previous emissions targets, underscoring the judiciary’s role in holding states accountable for their climate obligations.

The ECtHR has set out clear directions for member states to follow to align their climate policies with human rights obligations. Domestic legislators across Europe must give these requirements serious consideration to ensure their climate laws not only meet these minimum standards but also effectively contribute to global climate goals. This is imperative for both environmental sustainability and the protection of fundamental human rights that climate change is affecting.

Isabela Keuschnigg

Isabela Keuschnigg is a Legal Officer at Opportunity Green and a Research Assistant at the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Catherine Higham

Catherine Higham is a Policy Fellow and Coordinator of the Climate Change Laws of the World project at the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Joana Setzer

Joana Setzer is an Associate Professor at the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Tiffanie Chan

Tiffanie Chan is a Policy Analyst at the LSE Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

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