View this email in your browser Business Today Thursday, 30 July, 2026 Editor's Note Good morning, reader The State’s affordable housing developer, the Land Development Agency, says it has started exploring the purchase of sites for housing outside cities in a bid to encourage more regional development. Killian Woods reports that the agency will likely spend €200 million on development land this year. Killian also writes that Tetrarch Capital has secured permission for the demolition and redevelopment of the Deer Park Hotel in Howth. It comes after its plan for the site was reconsidered by An Coimisiún Pleanála following a judicial review. Consumer protection has featured very little in talk about Tánaiste Simon Harris’s proposed new personal investment accounts, the Society of Actuaries has warned, with talk of stock-picking - investing in individual companies’ shares - too prominent. Its comments come despite its backing for the proposal. Continue Reading Dominic Coyle   TOP BUSINESS STORIES Business Meta shares tumble as Mark Zuckerberg tries to sell his vision for AI ‘agents’ Business LDA to move beyond cities for sites capable of delivering 200-home schemes Business Permission granted for new five-star hotel at Deer Park in Howth Work Let them eat crumbs: Growing wage inequality is bad for both workers and businesses Business Federal Reserve keeps US interest rates on hold for now Sarah O’Connor If you think your profession is dying, it could soon be gone MORE BUSINESS STORIES Work Witnesses in cafe tips row unable to explain mystery card machine which pulled in €5,000 in 18 months Financial Services Stripe founder buys US bank to extend fintech push Business Workers at IT firm Kyndryl balloted for industrial action over redundancy terms Business Smurfit Westrock lowers full-year earnings forecast amid spike in fuel costs Do you have questions about becoming an Irish Times subscriber, or about your subscription? You'll find handy guides in our FAQs, and you can manage many aspects of your subscription in the My Account section. Never miss a business story Subscribe now for just €1 for your first month SUBSCRIBE