Author: Sam Allcock

Ireland’s new AI Office is now the central coordinating authority for implementing the EU AI Act, but it is not the country’s only AI enforcement body. Ireland has adopted a distributed regulatory model in which the AI Office coordinates designated sectoral authorities. The AI Office of Ireland was established as an independent statutory body under the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Act 2026. The legislation was signed into law on 21 July 2026, and the Office was established on 2 August 2026. That distinction matters for Irish businesses. A company using AI will not necessarily deal directly with the AI Office…

Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating across Ireland, but the evidence does not support a simple league table showing one industry definitively using AI faster than every other sector. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) found that 20.2% of Irish enterprises used AI technologies in 2025, up from 8.1% in 2023. Adoption was substantially higher among large companies than smaller firms. Other measures point towards particularly strong AI exposure in information and communication, finance and insurance, real estate, and professional, scientific and technical activities. Meanwhile, the Irish Government is developing targeted sectoral policies for manufacturing, tourism, construction and ICT services. The key…

Published: 17 September 2026 The EU AI Act is no longer a future regulatory issue for Irish businesses. Major provisions became applicable on 2 August 2026, enforcement powers are now operating for applicable rules, and additional obligations are scheduled through 2027 and 2028. For Irish companies, the practical question is no longer simply whether the EU has regulated artificial intelligence. It is which AI systems the business uses, what role the company has under the Act, which requirements already apply and what evidence of compliance should be maintained. Ireland now has its own central coordinating authority, the AI Office of…

Published: 7 September 2026 Brexit did not end UK business with Europe. It changed the terms on which that business takes place. For companies moving goods between Great Britain and the European Union, customs declarations, rules of origin, VAT procedures and product requirements are now part of normal cross-border operations. Service businesses face a different set of issues, including national regulations, professional qualification requirements and restrictions that vary between EU Member States. The UK and EU are now trying to reduce some of those barriers, but businesses should not assume that closer cooperation means a return to the pre-Brexit trading…

Published: 2 September 2026 The United Kingdom and European Union are moving towards a closer relationship across defence, trade, energy, regulation, education and youth mobility. The shift does not mean Britain is seeking to rejoin the EU or its Single Market. Instead, both sides are pursuing targeted agreements designed to reduce friction, strengthen security and create more practical cooperation while retaining separate decision-making systems. What is happening between the UK and EU? The UK-EU relationship is entering a more pragmatic phase. The first major step came at the UK-EU Summit in London on 19 May 2025, when both sides agreed…

Nepal is facing renewed flood concerns after a lake formed by debris following the catastrophic Bhote Koshi flash flood began overflowing on 28 August, prompting authorities to temporarily halt some rescue operations and monitor the risk of another surge. Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology continues to show warnings in effect, while the UK Government has updated its travel advice to warn that further flooding is possible. British nationals are among those reported missing. Nepal flood warning: what is the latest? Yes. There are continuing warnings about further flooding in parts of Nepal. The immediate concern is no longer only…

There is something quietly powerful about bringing greenery into your home. Not just a small potted herb on the windowsill, but a considered, deliberate arrangement of plants that makes your interior feel alive, grounded and genuinely beautiful. As summer 2026 hits its stride and the outdoors bursts with colour, more and more people are channelling that same energy inside their homes. The secret weapon behind many of the most stunning interiors right now? The planter itself. Choosing the right vessel for your plants is just as important as choosing the plants, and modern materials have opened up a world of…

The European Union remains the United Kingdom’s largest single trading partner, accounting for roughly half of all UK foreign trade. However, the structural realities of post-Brexit commerce, combined with full border controls under the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) and evolving rules under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), continue to reshape cross-border supply chains. This statistical report provides a comprehensive examination of UK–EU bilateral trade in goods and services for 2026, drawing on official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and Eurostat. Official 2026…

UK–EU cooperation in 2026 has reached a decisive phase, driven by the five-year statutory review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) under Article 776. Key developments include the signing of a landmark bilateral competition enforcement agreement in February 2026, progressing negotiations on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) food safety standards, carbon market alignment, and UK entry into Europe’s defense procurement framework (SAFE). These measures aim to reduce non-tariff barriers for UK exporters without re-entering the EU Single Market. Six years after the UK’s formal departure from the European Union, the bilateral relationship is undergoing its most significant structural update since…

UK-EU trade after Brexit operates under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which ensures zero tariffs and zero quotas on goods. However, non-tariff barriers continue to create friction for many businesses. Customs bureaucracy, SPS inspections, and regulatory divergence weigh heavily on British exporters. The mandatory five-year review of the TCA in 2026, alongside the Labour government’s reset agenda, offers an opportunity to smooth out these trading issues. Table of Contents The Post-Brexit Trade Landscape What the TCA Framework Provides Key Statistics in UK-EU Trade After Brexit The Non-Tariff Barrier Challenge The 2026 TCA Review The UK-EU Reset and May 2025…