Irish Times Inside Business

Investors are worried about energy prices, with those worries reflected in a series of bad sessions for European stocks this week. To understand what's happening, Ciaran is joined by Aidan Donnelly, Associate Director at Davy Global Fund Management. And Eoin Burke-Kennedy on new analysis from the UK that suggests staggering inflation of over 18% could be possible there. Could it happen here?...

Eoin Burke Kennedy from the Irish Times and DCU Professor John Doyle join Ciaran Hancock to discuss the potential economic impact of Irish reunification. This episode was originally published in May 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Glenveagh Properties, one of the State’s largest homebuilders, faced criticism over a design plan they put forward to Minister Darragh O’Brien, in a bid to solve Ireland’s housing crisis. The plan suggested an overhaul of existing planning regulations which would replace apartments with more own door homes. A move which CEO Stephen Garvey describes as “a win-win for society across the b...

In 2020 Maxol celebrated its 100th year in business, making it the oldest family run oil company in Ireland. As they prepare for their next 100 years in operation, the company have undertaken a major revamp of their forecourt network and convenience shops. In October Ciaran Hancock took a trip out to their flagship outlet in Bray to speak with Maxol’s Chief Executive Brian Donaldson and to Directo...

With the flow of Russian gas to Europe in ever more doubt this winter, the EU is grappling with how to ensure adequate energy supplies across its member states. Ireland has secured an exemption from a new EU directive that calls for a 15% reduction in use. But that doesn't mean Ireland can avoid any pain. Barry O'Halloran and Naomi O'Leary join Ciarán Hancock to discuss.  Barry also repo...

The European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates this week in an effort to dampen inflation. What will the move mean for consumers, mortgage-holders and the economy? Cliff Taylor explains. But first: This week AIB announced it would no longer provide cash services in many more of its branches across the country. The move has angered some customers, advocates for rural services and ban...

Martin Shahahan has been at the helm of IDA Ireland since 2014, but will step down from his role as CEO in early 2023. Today he tells Cliff Taylor about his decision to leave after eight years in the job, the progress made in that time and the challenges facing Ireland in attracting high levels of foreign direct investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UCC economics lecturer Seamus Coffey and Tom McDonnell Co-Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) join Cliff Taylor to discuss the Summer Economic Statement which was published this week and the €6.7 billion budget package poised to tackle the spiralling cost-of-living crisis.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two housing reports delivered two different takes on the Irish property market in the past week.  MyHome.ie , which is owned by The Irish Times, suggests that house price growth is slowing in the face of cost-of-living concerns and rising interest rates. However Daft.ie says they’re accelerating, fast approaching the Celtic Tiger peak, amid chronically low levels of supply.  So, what’s r...

Last week markets worldwide wobbled as investors fretted about a recession and aggressive monetary tightening by central banks. In addition, cryptocurrencies have slumped this year leaving many people nursing major losses.  So, is this just a blip, or is there something more fundamental going on?  In this episode of The Irish Times Inside Business podcast, Ciarán Hancock is joined by Cli...

This week the UK introduced a Bill to unilaterally scrap the Northern Ireland protocol, the post-Brexit set of rules which govern Northern Irish trade. The EU has now launched infringement proceedings against the UK for not complying with significant parts of the deal, which it describes as a clear breach of international law. Ciarán is joined by Public Affairs Editor Simon Carswell, chief executi...

The Government plans to introduce a 20c tax on all single-use takeaway coffee cups in a bid to make Ireland the first country in the world to eliminate their use. The so-called ‘latte levy’ forms part of the Circular Economy Bill, which aims to introduce world-leading moves to reduce waste and influence behaviour. Nearly half a million takeaway cups are sent to landfill or incineration every day....

Tourism and air travel have rebounded strongly in 2022 after two years of pandemic restrictions. But both are also facing major issues around pricing, staff and availability of product. Hotelier Lorraine Sweeney and Irish Times Business Affairs Correspondent Mark Paul outline some of the problems faced by the hospitality sector. Ciarán is also joined by aviation expert, Joe Gill of Goodbody,...

The European Commission says there's a limited risk of another housing bubble developing in Ireland due to stricter rules that have reduced risk in the financial system. The positive finding comes despite the fact that house prices are expected to continue to rise this year. Cliff Taylor gives his views on the matter. Also in today’s episode: after a gap of more than two years, the World Economic...

Irish Times current affairs editor Arthur Beesley has the latest on the Siteserv deal, following a seven-year inquiry into its sale to a company owned by Denis O’Brien. Plus: Markets correspondent Joe Brennan reports on the Government’s efforts to address the thorny issue of banker’s pay, as it seeks the views of the public on continuing pay restrictions across Irish banks which were bailed out du...

With rampant inflation, rising interest rates and the continuing war in Ukraine, warnings about the potential for a global economic downturn are getting louder by the day. Ciarán talks to Irish Times writer Cliff Taylor and Washington Correspondent Martin Wall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With his new company Admatic, chief executive Stuart Fogarty is seeking to disrupt the traditional advertising market in Ireland. It allows clients to buy advertising directly online with the big media companies, cutting out the middleman. Fogarty explains the concept to Ciarán and the traction it has gained in its first five months. He also sounds a warning on the Irish economy, based on the spen...

Dalata Hotel Group founder and former chief executive Pat McCann retired last year, after more than half a century in the hotel business. Last week Mr McCann was presented with an award for Distinguished Leadership at the Irish Times Business Awards. Today, he talks to Ciarán about his life and career, as he settles into a very active retirement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Interpath Advisory, the UK-based corporate restructuring and insolvency firm, is planning to build up a practice in Ireland with 120 staff within the next three to four years, after poaching six partners from KPMG and Deloitte in Ireland. Its chief executive Blair Nimmo talks to Ciarán about Interpath’s ambitious plans for its Irish arm.   Plus: Sixty years after it first launched, Golden Dis...

Pat Davitt of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers talks to Ciarán Hancock about the impact of rent controls on the Irish market. And The Irish Times investigative reporter Colm Keena explains the links between a company in Sandyford, Dublin and one of Vladimir Putin’s closest associates.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The economy is being affected by several strong trends - where will those trends take us in the year ahead? Cliff Taylor looks at the latest Central Bank growth forecast, inflation, and other economic threats posed by the war in Ukraine. The end of this month will see the return of the Pendulum Summit to Dublin after a pandemic hiatus. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is among the big names appearin...

On Monday, VHI took the insurance market by surprise by announcing rebates to customers and a price cut to premiums that will take effect in May. So what has brought about these changes and what will rival companies do? Health insurance expert Dermot Goode from Totalhealthcover.ie joins Ciaran Hancock to discuss this latest development in the market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

With energy prices soaring and fears mounting over access to oil and gas, Cliff Taylor speaks to Muireann Lynch, Energy economist with the ESRI and Gerard Brady, Chief Economist at Ibec about the potential impact of EU embargoes on Russian energy supplies. Later on, Cliff is joined by Kevin O’Donovan, Managing Director at Statkraft Ireland and Senior Vice President of the company’s wind and solar...

This week, ICS Mortgages increased its fixed interest rates for owner-occupier loans with immediate effect. Ciaran Hancock speaks to Joe Brennan of The Irish Times about this development and whether other lenders might follow suit. Later on, Simon Carswell joins Ciaran again, to discuss the latest headaches for Irish aircraft lessors after the Kremlin passed a law re-registering foreign-owned airc...

Nearly two weeks into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Cliff Taylor and Mark Paul of The Irish Times take a look at the impact of the war on the global economy. They speak to Ciaran Hancock about rising energy costs and the implications for Irish consumers and businesses. They also speak about the growing list of firms withdrawing from the Russian market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...