Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock
A weekly look at business and economics from an Irish perspective hosted by Irish Times Business Editor Ciarán Hancock. Produced in association with EY.
Episodes
Budget 2027: Does this giveaway budget have potential banana skins that might lie ahead for the Government?
First up on this budget special, host Ciarán Hancock was joined on the line by Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy from Leinster House who took us through the headline elements of the budget.In part two we focused on childcare, where many parents are put to the pin of their collar paying for their children to be minded in creches and other facilities.Elain Dunne is chair of the Federation of Ea
Ireland’s economic outlook ahead of Budget 2027 and agentic AI going rogue
On this episode of Inside Business, we start with Ireland’s economic outlook a week out from the Budget 2027 announcement. After years of consistent steady growth and running a surplus, what potential challenges await next year? Are we putting enough into the State’s rainy-day funds?And why do developments with the US Federal Reserve have a clear impact on our economy?To discuss all this, host Cli
Should Ireland share its corporation tax bonanza with the EU?
On this episode of Inside Business, we look at Ireland’s bulging tax receipts from the major multinationals.Last week in an interview with Naomi O’Leary of The Irish Times, French finance minister Roland Lesscure suggested that this bounty should be shared around Europe, to reflect where the revenue is generated.Naturally, this went down like a lead balloon with our Minister for Finance Simon Harr
Soaring energy costs and why ‘we can’t protect everyone from the impact of war’
Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, fuel prices at the pump continue to rise and Energia last week became the latest domestic player to increase its electricity and gas prices.A winter of discontent potentially lies ahead with the Government scrambling to put together support packages for the budget on October 6th.Muireann Lynch is senior research officer at the ESRI, and an energy exper
From kitchen counter to supermarket shelves, the rise of Ballymaloe Foods
First up on this episode of Inside Business, a family firm that has become one of Ireland’s best-known food brands.Maxine Hyde’s grandmother - Ballymaloe founder Myrtle Allen - began making relish in the kitchen of their family run hotel. Today, Ballymaloe Foods has a range of products sold in supermarkets nationally, and a turnover of €15m.Host Ciaran Hancock gives their signature relish a taste,
Has the Government’s strategy to keep fuel costs down proved to be ‘knee-jerk’ and difficult to reverse?
First up on this episode of Inside Business, the issue of fuel costs after the Dáil voted to postpone the restoration of fuel excise duty last Friday.Did they wilt in the face of more potential protests?What is the cumulative impact of taxes, levies, regulations and other fuel-related charges on the cost of transport and home-heating fuels?And with the budget around the corner, should any changes
Will the upcoming budget drive inflation and increase costs for Irish households?
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council have made their pre-budget submission. They feel the Government’s proposed budgetary package will drive inflation and increase costs for households and firms.The council also warned that current plans would increase reliance on corporation tax receipts, which it considers risky. It also feels more of the corporation tax windfall should be put into the State’s rain
How many new homes does Ireland really need?
The Government has introduced 46 tax measures since 2013 to stimulate house building here. Have they worked and do they represent good value for money for taxpayers? To help answer that question Ciaran Hancock is joined by Marian Finnegan, chief executive of Sherry Fitzgerald, Ireland's largest estate agent, and John McCartney, a property economics lecturer in TU Dublin, who spent 20 years wo
Should Meta's 'intrusive' smart glasses be banned?
It's been a busy week for tech giant Meta. Its new glasses have sparked controversy over privacy concerns, while founder Mark Zuckerberg published his AI manifesto, and the company indicated that it might be willing to pay local communities to host data centres in their areas. Irish Times tech expert Ciara O'Brien explains why the glasses have caused such a stir and how Zuckerberg's approach to AI
Are middle earners getting gouged by the tax system here?
In a column last week, Cliff Taylor posed the question as to whether middle earners are being ripped off by the Irish income tax system. And with no income tax package introduced in 2026, that meant the real tax burden has increased this year.Minister for Finance Simon Harris has signalled that tax cuts are coming in the budget targeted at middle income earners, but does that require difficult pol
What size does your pension actually need to be for a comfortable retirement?
First up this week’s episode of Inside Business, we are looking at pensions and what constitutes a comfortable retirement here.A recent survey from Royal London Ireland suggested Irish workers believe they will need almost €41,000 per year to achieve that.So, when should you start contributing into a pension and what age should you ramp up those contributions? And why is home ownership so importan
Aer Lingus job cuts and Ryanair’s profits plunge - what is happening in the Irish aviation sector?
First up on Inside Business this week, we look at the woes impacting the Irish aviation sector.Aer Lingus last week announced plans to cut up to 500 jobs at the airline, the equivalent of 8 per cent of its workforce.And Ryanair announced on Monday that its profits had dropped in the first half of the year due to higher fuel costs and a reduction in air fares as people hedge their travel plans amid
Will the State’s plan for the Carlton Cinema site revitalise O’Connell Street?
First up on this week’s episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times about the State’s purchase of the a 5-acre site on O’Connell Street in Dublin that used to house the Carlton cinema. Officially, it has been purchased for the Metrolink underground rail link to Dublin airport. But is this part of a wider plan by the Government to take charge of regener
How can tech offer solutions for obesity and weight management?
On this special episode of Inside Business recorded at EY’s head office, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Dr Harriet Treacy, founder and CEO of BeyondBMI, Ireland’s first online medically led weight management and obesity clinic.She explains how frustration at the inefficiencies of healthcare systems was the catalyst in her decision to pivot from a medical doctor to an entrepreneur.Harriet is a fi
The 9 per cent VAT rate has been welcomed by restaurants but does the hospitality sector actually need it?
In the first half of this week’s Inside Business, we debate the merits or otherwise of the now permanent 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality sector which kicked in on Wednesday.This followed a pledge in last year’s budget to cut the rate, and a long lobbying campaign by many in the industry. But at a cost of €681 million in a full year, is it a good way to spend taxpayer’s money? And shou
Has the Irish building sector got themselves hooked on Government subsidies?
On this week’s episode of Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock has Irish Times new recruit Killian Woods in studio to discuss a Government scheme to support the building of apartments in our cities, which looks set to miss a key target.Croi Conaithe cities is a Government support scheme to help plug the affordability gap to support apartment building, which is a key plank in the State’s plan to sol
Will a Middle East peace deal make any difference to inflation?
The announcement of a 60 day ceasefire in the Middle East to allow detailed negotiations on what we understand could be a deal to end the conflict, has given the financial markets breathing space.First up on this week’s podcast is the potential impact on energy prices through the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil, liquified natural gas and fertiliser.The Irish Times’s C
‘No profit and crap governance’ – is Elon Musk’s SpaceX actually worth $1.75 trillion?
First up on this week’s episode of Inside Business is Elon Musk's company SpaceX and its plan to raise $75 billion through what will likely be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history this Friday.The company values itself at $1.75tn, but some analysts feel it is worth far less.Could it prove to be a risky bet for the retail investor given SpaceX's lack of profit? And there are question
David McRedmond: ‘O’Connell Street needs high density housing’
This week, Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by An Post chief executive David McRedmond, who is about to step down after 10 years in charge of the State-owned company.He recently wrote an article for The Irish Times about the explosion in online shopping in this country and how it would impact on bricks and mortar retailers.Last year An Post delivered 75 million parcels to Ir
Will new pay transparency rules close the gender pay gap for good?
This week Inside Business looks at pay transparency. A new EU directive requiring employers to disclose salary ranges in the workplace and toughen rules enforcing gender pay equality comes into effect on June 7th.However, Ireland is set to miss that deadline, with no draft legislation in place. Nichola Harkin is head of employment law services at employers’ group Ibec and joins host Ciaran Hancock
Rents and evictions soar as house price inflation slows
House price growth hit 6.5 per cent in March, the slowest rate in two years, offering some chink of light to those hoping to buy. For tenants however, the news is grim, with rents rising by 4.4 per cent in Q.1, the highest quarterly increase since 2022. While the number of eviction notices issued by landlords rose by 50 per cent in the same period. All that against the backdrop of new government r
Could we be heading toward a world recession if Trump can’t broker a deal with Iran?
How high could oil prices go?It has shot up since the United States and Israel’s war with Iran began a couple of months ago. But not by as much as might have been expected. Talks on a deal are taking place but in the absence of a deal there is concern that a prolonged conflict could lead to a global recession. Economist John FitzGerald and Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times join host Ciarán Hancock i
PrepayPower are hiking their prices - will other energy suppliers soon follow suit?
First up on this episode of Inside Business, the rising cost of living. Prepay Power last week became the first Irish energy supplier to announce an increase in its prices since the Middle East conflict began.Daragh Cassidy is Head of Communications at consumer advice website bonkers.ie, and he joins host Ciarán Hancock to discuss the outlook for a range of consumer prices, and whether other energ
Inflation remains steady; and Conor Pope’s energy saving tips
On today’s Inside Business podcast Cliff Taylor from The Irish Times discusses the latest inflation figures, and our Current Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope offers tips on cutting your energy bills.Headline inflation in the Irish economy remained steady at 3.6% in April, figures published today show.“It’s hard to know how things will go but it looks like we could have a turbulent three to six mon
Kerry Group CEO on the impact of Middle East conflict, AI and drive to keep bread fresher for longer
Our guest this week on Inside Business is Edmond Scanlon, chief executive of Kerry Group, the global food ingredients player and one of Ireland’s biggest stock market companies.The Tralee-based company has left behind its dairy roots to focus on high value nutrition and ingredients, supplying major food companies around the world.Edmond joins host Ciarán Hancok in studio to discuss how Kerry Group
Has the fuel protest shown that the loudest lobby generally gets what they want?
On this week’s episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Mayo entrepreneur Ciaran Crean. Ciaran is co-founder of Micksgarage.com, a business founded in 2004 selling car parts online. There have been a few bumps on the road since its foundation, but Micksgarage is currently in growth mode and has spun out a couple of businesses. One of those is WaveOMS, which provides software to Ir
“Back yourself”: Aimee Connolly shares her story of 10 years in business
In the 10 years since Aimee Connolly founded the viral beauty brand Sculpted by Aimee, it’s become a multi-million euro enterprise with plans to increase its revenues this year by 25 per cent.Today, Ciaran asks about her early days as an entrepreneur, starting the business with €10,000 in savings, and her tips on leadership, scaling, and plans to enter the lucrative US market.Connolly tells Inside
Iran’s cyber-attacks on Irish-based companies and the ongoing impact of conflict in the Middle East
It’s a year on since Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs and host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Aidan Meagher, EY partner and co-head of the geopolitical strategy team; to hear about the impact this has had on Irish exporters and global trade.They also chat about the current market turmoil and an increasing level of cyber-attack on the operations of American companies in Ireland by Irani
Are Government's fuel measures betting on a quick resolution to the conflict in Iran?
This week the Government introduced a €250 million package of measures to help businesses and households with their fuel bills over the next couple of months.But will it be enough? And is it merely a bet by Government on the Iran conflict being resolved quickly?Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to tease this out are Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times and Fergal O’Brien, director of lobbying and i
The difficult choices that could dramatically increase housing supply in Dublin
First up on this week’s Inside Business is Ireland’s housing crisis and where it is felt most – Dublin city. Mark Fitzgerald is chairman of the Fine Gael Commission for renewal and a non-executive director of Sherry FitzGerald Group. He joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss a recent piece he wrote for the Irish Times where he highlights restrictive geography and the lack of imagination aro
‘Over a billion eyeballs will be on the parade’: St Patrick’s festival CEO Richard Tierney
First up on this week’s Inside Business is St Patrick’s Day. It’s just six days away but the festival itself is a four-day affair this year and will begin on Saturday. The man in charge of this major annual undertaking is Richard Tierney, chief executive of the St Patrick’s Day festival. He joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss year-long preparations that went into the 2026 festival, wha
How the conflict in the Middle East is already affecting Irish consumers
As the US-Israel attacks on Iran intensify and the conflict spreads in the Middle East, the impact on the world economy is already being felt. Ireland is already seeing motor fuel prices creep upwards, and the cost of home-heating oil soar in recent days. Do those price increases reflect reality or are Irish consumers getting taken advantage of? Will prices continue to rise? And how soon before Do
Could Trump’s new global tariff scupper the US-EU trade deal?
First up on this week’s Inside Business are US tariffs. Last Friday, the Supreme Court there ruled that Donald Trump’s tariffs from last year via emergency legislation were illegal. Trump responded by introducing a 10 per cent global tariff under separate legislation. So, what does this mean for Irish exporters? And what does it mean for the trade deal agreed last year with the European Union?Clif
Could Simon Harris’s savings scheme for the ‘middle classes’ prove to be a sound investment?
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris announced a plan this week to introduce a new savings scheme to unlock the €170 billion that people here are keeping in mostly low-yield bank deposit accounts.His plan is to devise a scheme that generates good returns for savers in a way that puts the money on deposit to better use in the economy.Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times covered the story this
David McWilliams on how social media giants are making billions from fake ads
First up on this week’s episode of Inside Business, we look at new research this week from Revolut suggests that social media companies made €32 million in revenue from scam ads to Irish users in 2025. The figure for Europe as a whole was a whopping €4.4 billion.Host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times reporter Hugh Dooley to takes us through the headline findings from the Revolut research, wh
Is it time Ireland abolished mandatory retirement?
On this week’s episode of Inside Business, we hear the argument for scrapping mandatory retirement here.Host Cliff Taylor is joined on the line by Irish Times contributor John Fitzgerald who thinks Ireland should follow the lead of Scandinavia, the Baltics and the Netherlands, where three-quarters of the population aged 60-64 are in the labour force. He makes the case that such a move could not on
With the price of an ounce now more than $5,000, why is everyone going for gold?
This week on Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Cliff Taylor to talk about the recent surge in the price of gold, which went past $5,000 an ounce on Monday, setting a new high. In January alone, the price has climbed by 17 per cent.So, who’s buying it? Why is it viewed as a safe investment? And what role has US president Donald Trump played in this price spike?Cliff has be
Old order ‘not coming back’ as Trump overshadows World Economic Forum
As the annual World Economic Forum enters its third day, host Ciarán Hancock is joined from Davos in the Swiss Alps by Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy.US President Donald Trump’s push to take over Greenland, and the strain it is putting on EU-US relations, has dominated this year’s event so far. Trump is due to arrive in Davos on Wednesday afternoon.On Tuesday, French presid
Trump vs the Fed: What does it mean for global trade and Ireland?
On this week’s episode, host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by the Irish Times economics experts Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy.Tensions are rising between US President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve. Trump has made it very clear that he is no fan of Fed chief Jerome Powell who is due to step down from his post in May, and that he wants the Fed to be more aggressive with interest ra
Ireland’s record tax take makes light of Trump tariffs fear
2025 proved to be a record year for tax receipt figures, with the total hitting €106bn.This was despite extensive warnings about the State’s precarious position due to Donald Trump’s series of tariffs, and the number of big multinationals that use Ireland as an export base.It was another bumper year for corporation tax receipts as they exceeded expectations, but perhaps the non-corporation ta
Another huge corporate tax take to AI’s next phase: What’s in store for 2026?
For this week’s episode, host Ciarán Hancock Is joined by an expert panel to look forward to 2026. After another record-breaking year for corporate tax receipts, is there now a real threat of concentration risk in the Irish economy?A huge amount of money has been raised and spent on AI, but where is it at in terms of its development? When will investors start looking for a tangible return?And will
Trump’s tariffs, a deepening housing crisis, and more corporate tax bonanza: The big stories of 2025
For this episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the major stories of 2025.A busy year in markets was dominated by US president Donald Trump’s threats to impose huge tariffs on the United States’ trading partners, including Ireland.Ireland’s housing crisis showed no sign of improvement with completions trending well below Government targets.And an
Could the decision to spend most of next year’s corporation tax come back to bite the Government?
On this week’s episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Chairman of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) Seamus Coffey to discuss his concerns on how the Government is spending our corporation tax windfall.Ifac were this week in front of the Oireachtas Budgetary Committee giving its view on how that windfall is being spent. The corporation tax receipts for November topped&n
Why are apartments in Ireland so much more expensive to build than houses?
The latest report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland shows that only the top 20 per cent of earners can afford to rent an average apartment built in Ireland in 2025, while just the top 40 per cent of earners can afford to buy one.Paul Mitchell, a chartered quantity surveyor and one of the authors of the Real Costs of New Apartment Delivery report, joins host Ciarán
Will the Government’s new plan speed up the delivery of vital infrastructure projects?
On this week’s episode of Inside Business, we look at the sluggish delivery of large and necessary infrastructure projects that has been a feature of several successive Governments.A population surge means building more and better infrastructure for transport, water and housing has become increasingly urgent.The Government unveiled a new plan this week. The Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce co
If Irish households are so rich, why does it feel like an illusion?
On this week’s Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by senior lecturer in housing at TUD Dublin, Lorcan Sirr.The episode starts with some recent good news, that the net wealth of Irish households is nearly €1.3 trillion, or an average of €228,000 each.Sounds good but as Lorcan explains, this is an illusion. He argues that Ireland isn’t really a wealthy country in spite of what
How AI is beginning to wreak havoc in the jobs market
On this week’s episode of Inside Business, we look at the role of AI in the hiring and firing of workers.Host Ciarán Hancock is joined on the podcast by Ciara O’Brien of the Irish Times to discuss why Amazon recently announced 14,000 job cuts globally as it seeks to trim expenses. Is this being driven solely by AI? Well, in an update to staff in June, Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy stated the c
Irish business grandee Gary McGann on working with Michael Smurfit, the fall of Anglo Irish and the current state of the Irish economy
This week on Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Gary McGann, a grandee of Irish business whose many roles included being chief executive of drinks group Gilbeys, Aer Lingus and packaging group Smurfit. Born and raised in Dublin, Gary actually began his career in the civil service, with the Comptroller & Auditor General. He studied at night to become an accountant and la
Will Imagine’s big gamble double its customer base?
This week’s episode of Inside Business sees host Ciarán Hancock joined in studio by Niall Tallon, chief executive of Irish telecoms group Imagine. A minor in the Irish market, the company recently made a bold move offering cheap fibre broadband products along with a promise not to increase those prices for the next five years. This is designed to double its customer base by 2030 as part of a multi
Tom O’Brien of Nephin Energy on the importance of gas, the potential of biomethane, and whether our energy bills will come down
This week’s guest on Inside Business is Tom O’Brien, group chief executive of Nephin Energy. Nephin owns 43 per cent of the Corrib gas field off the west coast of Ireland and also has ambitious plans to develop a network of agri-based biomethane plants across the country. While gas is a polluting fuel it continues to be an important part of our energy mix. Tom joins host Ciarán Hancock in studio t
Are plug-in hybrids just as polluting as petrol cars?
There is research from Brussels think tank Transport & Environment suggesting that plug-in hybrids are just as polluting as petrol cars. Neil Briscoe is a motoring expert and writes extensively on this for The Irish Times. And given his knowledge of motoring and our transition to EVs, were the findings a surprise to him? In the second part of the podcast, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Ta
Dublin Bus CEO on recruitment challenges, going electric, and stamping out anti-social behaviour
On this episode of Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Billy Hann, chief executive of Dublin Bus, the biggest public transport company in our capital city. He joined the State-owned operator almost three years ago after a long career with the Irish Aviation Authority and is charged with leading a company that now transports more than 160 million passengers a year. He has a b
Budget 2026: What it means for Irish households and businesses
Ciarán Hancock is joined by guests to pore over the main elements of Budget 2026. The €9.4 billion package includes a minimum wage increase of 65c to €14.15c per hour, a €10 across-the-board increase to core weekly welfare payments, but no once-offs like double child benefit payments and electricity credits. On the panel:Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor, The Irish TimesFrank O’Neill, Tax Partner, EY&
Should we put more money into Irish soccer?
Ireland’s national soccer team will slide down the international rankings unless significant investment is made in the League of Ireland’s academy system, according to the league’s director Mark Scanlon.He has submitted a proposal to the Department of Finance ahead of Tuesday’s budget requesting €4m annually, rising to €8m after two years to be spread across Ireland’s 26 soccer academies.Mr Scanlo
The NFL comes to Dublin: How it became the richest sports league in the world
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park this weekend in the first regular-season NFL game to take place on Irish shores.Dublin is now part of a growing roster of cities outside the United States hosting lucrative NFL games. Irishman Paul Holland has worked in the sports marketing industry for many years and has charted the financial rise of the NFL and how it dwarfs o
Why has the DAA board fallen out with chief executive Kenny Jacobs?
First up on the Inside Business podcast this week, the rift between the board of the DAA, the State-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports, and its CEO Kenny Jacobs. The Irish Times reported yesterday that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see Jacobs leave his role early with a €1m exit package. Joe Brennan and Martin Wall of The Irish Times have been covering the story an
What can we potentially look forward to in Budget 2026?
With the budget just under a month away, what will ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers deliver on October 7th?The one-off cost-of-living measures of recent budgets may be discontinued, but what will be in their place to help families feeling the pinch? Will there be tax cuts? And what can renters and those looking to buy a home expect?Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times joined host Ciarán Hanc
Why are some independent Irish breweries turning off their taps and closing?
First up on Inside Business this week is the plight of independent Irish breweries, who, like so many now, are finding the cost of doing business to be far too high.This is despite an explosion in the popularity of craft beers here in the last decade. What costs are forcing some operators out of business? How are they coping with competition from far larger, commercial breweries? And will these in
Why is the delivery of vital infrastructure so slow in Ireland?
The predictably slow delivery of infrastructure here has a raft of negative consequences, not least how it undermines our competitiveness in a very challenging global environment.So why are vital projects so slow to get over the line? How does Government prioritise one project over another? And what can be done to streamline the planning process?To get into the causes and some potential solutions
Why is Ireland not considered a truly rich country?
The Economist magazine recently published its annual country rich list. Ireland was nowhere to be found on the list in spite of the fact that we are constantly being told that Ireland is one of the world’s richest countries. Host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times to talk about how rich we all are, or not as the case may be, and the measures that ruled Ireland ou
‘I don’t think the Department of Finance have any respect for the tourism industry’
This week Inside Business is looking at tourism. Data from the Central Statistics Office earlier this year suggested that the number of visitors to the country had fallen off a cliff. Not so said the industry, while acknowledging that the market was a bit soft compared with the past two years of trading.Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss this is Paul Gallagher, chief executive of the
Influencers beware, Revenue is on the prowl
We start this week’s episode of Inside Business with a look at how influencers have been reminded recently by Revenue of their obligations to pay tax on their earnings. Siobhan Maguire is a contributor to The Irish Times and wrote an excellent piece this week on this hot topic. She joins host Ciarán Hancock on the line to go through the many ways influencers expose themselves to tax liability as o
Did the EU have its hands tied before striking a trade deal with the US?
This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by economist and Irish Times contributor John FitzGerald. He gives his reaction to the EU-US trade deal that will see a 15% tariff rate on European imports going into the US, a deal that he feels the EU had agreed to with ‘two hands tied behind its back’ on account of its continued reliance on the US when it comes to the war in Ukraine.Also, ahead
How will the updated National Development Plan shape Ireland in years to come?
This week the Government outlined spending of €200 billion on a National Development Plan stretching over the next decade. In parallel it also set out its stall for this year’s budget, signalling a spending and tax package of €9.5 billion. Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to dissect these spending plans and tax cuts against a backdrop of a potential trade war between the US and the EU were El
David McWilliams on how ‘big incentives’ to build could save Dublin city
Economist and writer David McWilliams was scathing about the level of dereliction in Dublin city in a recent article in the Irish Times. He suggested tax breaks and other measures to breathe new life back into the capital and to get more people living in the city centre. He joined host Ciarán Hancock to discuss his ideas and how we can learn from the mistakes of the not-too-distant past.Plus, it’s
The Juggle: the issues facing women with young children when balancing childcare and their careers
This week we’re looking at the Juggle that women with young children have to make in Ireland to find a work-life balance.It’s an age-old problem in Ireland with no solution yet in sight. Margaret Ward writes about Work issues each week for the Irish Times as well as running her own consultancy business Clear Eye and she’s written a series of articles on the Juggle in recent weeks.Aideen Finn
How the wealthy are buying up land to avoid inheritance tax
This week we are looking at the phenomenon of the D4 farmer. Not some wealthy entrepreneur herding cattle in Ballsbridge but wealthy individuals buying up farmland around the country as a wheeze to reduce the inheritance tax bills for their children.How does the tax break work? What impact will it have on land prices? And is anything being done to change it?Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times wrote a
IATA Director General Willie Walsh on airline profits, air fares and why the Dublin Airport passenger cap makes Ireland a laughing stock
This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, the Geneva-based representative group for the airline industry.Willie will be known to you as the Irish man who was a high-profile chief executive of both Aer Lingus and British Airways.He then became head of IAG, which is the parent group to both of those airlines plus some Spanish carriers, including Iberia.He
Bobby Healy on why Manna drone delivery could be the ‘biggest technology company in the world for its space’
This week we’re flying high with the Irish drone delivery company Manna.Its founder and chief executive is Bobby Healy, who joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss what he believes is Manna’s massive growth potential.Set up in 2019, Manna only recently began generating revenues and is yet to turn a profit. It is currently flying nine drones in Dublin 15 and has made more than 170,000 deliv
Will rent reform make building apartments viable?
Conall Mac Coille, chief economist at Bank of Ireland, joins Cliff Taylor and Ciaran Hancock to talk about Irish economic and business news:RPZ reform: will changes to rules for landlords and tenants help bring investment to Ireland IFAC report: why Ireland's corporate tax receipts may be about to boom again. But will it last? Produced in association with EY. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
How to manage your pension in these volatile times
Donald Trump’s second term in the White House has seen markets go through a period of extreme volatility, something that has worried many Irish pension holders. How should they react? Should they react at all? And what is the outlook for the rest of this year?Munro O’Dwyer is a partner at PwC Ireland and joins host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss managing your pension in volatile times. In the s
Ford Chief Lisa Brankin on accelerating the switch to EVs
New electric vehicle sales here dipped last year by 24% when compared to 2023, further making a mockery of the government’s target of 1 million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.A reduction in the SEAI grant and gaps in charging infrastructure fed into consumer uncertainty when it comes to making the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles.But that trend looks to be reversing this year, something that Lis
‘We’re at a critically low level of housing stock’ for buyers and renters
This week brought more bad news for first time buyers and those renting.Figures from both the CSO and property website Daft.ie suggest that house prices and rents continue to soar across the country. The national monthly average rent between January and March surpassed €2,000 for the first time. And the chronic shortage of supply for those looking to buy put house price inflation at 7.5% in March.
‘I’ve entrepreneurial spirit in my veins’ – Apprentice star Jordan Dargan
This week’s episode of Inside Business starts with an interview with Irish entrepreneur Jordan Dargan.Fans of the popular BBC show The Apprentice, will have seen Jordan come within a whisker of reaching the final two who got to pitch to secure Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.There was some consolation for the 22-year-old Dubliner with Lord Sugar giving him his business card before he left th
Will DoorDash takeover of Deliveroo mean better pay and conditions for gig economy workers?
Earlier this week, US meal delivery group DoorDash agreed a deal to take over its British rival Deliveroo, which has a big presence in Ireland.The deal is valued at £2.9 billion and will pit the merged group in competition with other online delivery platforms such as Just Eat and Uber Eats.Callum Cant is an author and senior lecturer from the University of Essex and also worked for Deliveroo while
100 days of Trump: “It’s like The Karate Kid, tax on, tax off, tariffs on, tariffs off”
This week Inside Business looks at the impact of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office on markets. The sweeping US tariffs announced on April 2nd rocked equity and bond markets.They plunged in value to such an extent that Donald Trump was forced into a quick U Turn, postponing all of the tariffs for 90 days, with the exception of China.Aidan Donnelly is Head of Global Equities at Davy stock
Patrick Guilbaud on bringing fine dining to Ireland, retirement plans, and not getting that third Michelin star
This week’s episode features Patrick Guilbaud, the French chef who brought fine dining to Ireland 44 years ago. Situated beside the Merrion Hotel in central Dublin, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud continues to thrive with two Michelin stars. Guilbaud moved to Ireland in the early 1980’s when the country was in recession, and it wasn’t always plain sailing. A visit from the sheriff for unpaid debts led
“1 in 5 US households consume Kerrygold” – Ornua CEO Conor Galvin
Kerrygold is one of the biggest food brands in Ireland and one of our largest exports.Earlier today, its parent company Ornua announced that revenues last year were flat at €3.4 billion but its operating profit and Ebitda were up, helped by efficiencies achieved during the period.But that was last year. Before Donald Trump won the US presidential election and later announced sweeping tariffs on al
Trump’s tariffs: “The rest of the world is now going to de-risk from the United States”
A full-blown global tariff war in underway.Donald’s Trump’s tariffs took effect last night with the EU due to vote today on a retaliatory list drawn up by the European Commission.The US and China meanwhile have engaged in tit for tat tariffs in the past few days. China has also vowed to fight to the end in the tariff war.What will all this mean for Ireland? What hit will consumers face?And should
What is behind Ireland’s tourism slowdown?
Last week data from the CSO showed a decline of 30 per cent in the number of visitors to the country in February, with revenue taking a hit of €88 million during the month.This continued a trend dating back to last September.In this week’s episode of Inside Business, you’ll hear conflicting views from the trade on the current state of the tourism sector here.Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of the Irish T
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