Irish Times Inside Business

It's a year since the Irish economy first shut down. Parts of it have scarcely reopened since. For an update on how the pandemic is affecting the overall economy, Ciaran talks to Mark Paul of The Irish Times and economist Jim Power. In the retail sector, many businesses are carrying significant rent arrears from periods of lockdown. Some of them may never be able to pay those arrears back. But the...

We look at the extraordinary events of the past week at Ireland's biggest stockbroker Davy, with help from reporter Joe Brennan and Professor Niamh Brennan, an expert on corporate governance. Davy was fined €4.1 million for conducting a bond deal in which 16 of its own employees, including senior executives, were the buyers, a fact unbeknownst to the seller. How could such a breach occur and what...

With such reduced passenger numbers, how has Dublin Bus adapted and survived in the age of Covid-19? And what does the future hold? To find out, Ciaran went to the semi-state transport company's newly refurbished Broadstone depot to meet CEO Ray Coyne. They talked about the future of transport in Dublin, how technology will allow bus routes to become more flexible, the electrification of the fleet...

Twinlite describes itself as the best property company in Dublin. A family run business, their property portfolio consists of housing and apartment developments in Dalkey, Clongriffin and Stepaside. In today’s episode, Ciaran Hancock sits down with Executive Director at Twinlite, Rick Larkin, for a wide ranging discussion on the Irish housing market. Larkin speaks about the impact of lockdown rest...

After almost a year in an out of lockdown, many retailers have seen their premises shuttered for vast majority of the last 52 weeks. A good deal of them have managed to strike rent agreements with their landlords, but some are refusing to make concessions for the pandemic. Ciarán talks to Michael Callaghan, head of commercial finance at Carraig Donn, about how they've been handling the issue with...

On this week's podcast we look at how Covid-19 has created a series of complications for the many companies based in Ireland with large numbers of employees from other countries. What are the tax implications for foreign workers employed here who, having been sent home from the office, decided to return to their home countries temporarily? Ciaran asks reporter Colm Keena and Daryl Hanberry, tax pa...

Galway-based company HidraMed Solutions has won the Irish Times Innovation of the Year award for 2020 for developing a novel dressing system aimed at those suffering from the incurable skin disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa. In today’s episode, HidraMed founder Suzanne Maloney joins Ciaran Hancock to speak about the company’s origins, products and plans for expansion. But first, Ciaran is joined b...

After a devastating 2020, it was hoped that the tourism sector could be restarted in the second quarter of 2021. With the extension of Level 5 restrictions to March 5th and new mandatory quarantine travel rules, that now looks unlikely. Just when, and how, will tourism - domestic and overseas - get its post-Covid reboot? Ciaran talks to Dublin travel agent John Galligan, hotelier and president of...

Olympic Federation of Ireland president and Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane and GAA director of communications Alan Milton join Ciaran Hanacok and Michael O'Keeffe to talk about the challenges and opportunities for sport in Ireland in 2021. But first, Michael has some research on the disruption created by Covid-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A group of Irish banks is seeking to set up an instantaneous money-transfer mobile app to take on the likes of Revolut and N26. Synch Payments, a joint venture between AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and KBC, is awaiting approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. In today's podcast, Ciaran is joined by Irish Times markets correspondent Joe Brennan and Hesus Inoma, associ...

In December 2020, An Post delivered a staggering 14 million parcels. This figure comes in at more than double the amount handled by the company in the same period last year. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown have resulted in phenomenal e-commerce growth for the business, with most consumers doing their shopping online. In today’s episode, CEO of An Post David McRedmond sits down with host Ciara...

Ciarán is joined by a panel of guests to look ahead to 2021 and the major challenges facing Irish businesses and the economy. On the panel are Danny McCoy, CEO of business representative group Ibec, Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, and Mark Paul, business affairs correspondent with The Irish TimesDanny tells Ciarán what Brexit really means for Ireland in 2021, Anne explains th...

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says widespread vaccination against Covid-19 is possible by "late autumn". In this podcast he talks to Ciaran Hancock about the vaccine rollout plan, how the Government will extend supports to businesses and employees beyond the current expiration date of those schemes, the likelihood of a Brexit deal and much more. To all our listeners, we wish you a happy and safe Christ...

This week Ciarán speaks to Dalton Philips, chief executive of daa, which owns and runs Dublin and Cork airports, as well as the travel retail business Aer Rianta International. In this wide-ranging interview, he tells us that passenger numbers at Dublin Airport are down by 90% and are unlikely to get back to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.The situation at Cork Airport is even worse. Before Covid-1...

After six weeks of lockdown many shops and restaurants were finally able to reopen last week. How has it been so far? Ciarán is joined by Elaine Murphy, founder director of The Winding Stair Group of restaurants, and Jean McCabe, owner of the Willow boutique in Ennis Co Clare and deputy chair of Retail Excellence Ireland, to discuss their experiences of resuming trade, how they’ve fared in the pan...

Arcadia Group, the retail empire belonging to British businessman Philip Green, has gone into administration. The news this week, puts over 13,000 jobs at risk and a question mark over the future of the company's fashion brands including Topshop, Topman and Dorothy Perkins. In today’s episode, Laura Slattery is joined by Dubliner Jo Farrelly, former Marketing Director of TopShop, to speak about th...

Perhaps sensing we all need a bit of a lift, Irish Times columnist Chris Johns explains why he feels conditions are ripe for robust economic growth in 2021, and outlines things the government should and shouldn't do to help that become a reality. This podcast is sponsored by Davy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front, we look at the companies who have developed vaccines so far, what they mean for the pharma industry and what they mean for the economy. Ciaran talks to Ian Hunter, equity analyst with Canton Fitzgerald and Dominic Coyle of The Irish Times. Plus: Naomi O'Leary on Brexit talks. What are the barriers to a last-minute deal? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

US president-elect Joe Biden is expected to restore a calmer US trade and foreign policy when he takes office in January, but after four years of Donald Trump in the White House a lot of work needs to be done to repair transatlantic relations. What impact will the Biden administration have on global trade? What will it mean for Ireland? Will it bring an end to Trump’s damaging trade wars with the...

In today’s episode, Ciaran Hancock is joined by Pat McCann, Chief Executive of Dalata Hotel Group. McCann last spoke to us on the podcast back in April, as the hotel industry came to terms with the lockdown. So how have things progressed in the seven months since, as restrictions continue and an uncertain year of trading lies ahead. With an average occupancy of just 25% across the group, they disc...

Irish consumer sentiment has fallen again amid concerns of how the latest Covid-19 restrictions will impact income and employment prospects over the next 12 months. How will this play out in the run up to Christmas and how are advertisers responding to the fragile mood? Austin Hughes, chief economist of KBC Bank and Charley Stoney, CEO of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI...

From midnight tonight the entire country will move to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, resulting in the closure of many businesses, including all non-essential retail. In today’s episode, Cliff Taylor speaks to Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland about the impact on trading in the run up to Christmas and how the sector will survive further lockdowns. We also hear from Michael Cronin, the owner...

Budget 2021 is here. A budget like no other, drawn up on the assumptions of a no-deal Brexit and another year without a Covid-19 vaccine. It was delivered today by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath. The package, worth a staggering €17.75 billion euro, is the biggest in the history of the state. In this episode, Irish Times political...

Even before the impact of Covid-19, low interest rates and uncertain markets were making it difficult for investors to find a good place to put their cash. So what impact has months of Covid-19 had on the markets, and what are the best options now for those looking to invest or close to retirement? Ciarán talks to Donough Kilmurray, chief investment officer with Davy. But first he talks to entrepr...

This week it’s the business of sport with Ciaran Hancock and Mick O’Keefe of Teneo. Together, they speak with Mick Dawson, CEO of Leinster Rugby and Peter Twiss, Secretary of the Kerry County Board to gain an insight into how Covid-19 has impacted their respective organisations both on and off the pitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.