Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

Michael Smurfit on his life in business, The K Club years and criticism of lockdown "panic"

27 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

From lockdown in his home in Monaco, Michael Smurfittalks to business editor Ciarán Hancock about his storiedcareer, his greatest successes and most ...

Reopening Ireland: two businesswomen on meeting the challenge of Covid-19

20 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we hear from two seasoned entrepreneurs in two different industries about how they are dealing with the fallout from Covid-19 and the opportunit...

The impact of Covid-19 on the motor trade with Stephen Gleeson and Ciaran Crean

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, the motor trade will be allowed to reopen their aftersales departments, but still face restrictions on their car sales operations. Many dea...

What does the future hold for the Irish Pub?

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Like most industries, the Irish pub sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 crisis. Under the current restrictions set out by the government in the...

"We'll lose 10k houses this year" - Mark Fitzgerald on Covid-19's impact on housing supply and sales

29 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Fitzgerald is founder and chairman of real estate firm Sherry Fitzgerald. He talks to Ciarán about the housing market's difficulties and resilie...

An Post's David McRedmond on adapting to Covid-19 and the future of the organisation

22 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

An Post is one of the companies on the frontline of the Covid-19 outbreak. CEO David McRedmond talks to Ciaran Hancock about how the organisation is ...

A six-month break for mortgage holders? - with Brian Hayes

15 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Borrowers financially impacted by Covid-19 could be offered a six-month break on their mortgage payments if talks between the banks’ lobbying body a...

Business on life support, but for how long? With Ibec's Danny McCoy

08 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Business representative group Ibec CEO Danny McCoy talsk to Ciaran Hancock about the plight of businesses, the effectiveness of state support and the ...

"This may go on until December, but we will survive" - Dalata's Pat McCann

01 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pat McCann, founder of hotel group Dalata, says this crisis is worse than the many previous recessions and crises of his career all put together - but...

The Evolving Economic Fallout From Covid-19 / Life Inside the Italian Lockdown

11 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Irish Times journalists Joe Brennan and Mark Paul join host Laura Slattery to discuss the evolving economic fallout from the cor...

Has The Economic Outlook Changed? Covid-19 Tech, Personal Insolvency

04 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's podcast:Has Covid-19 changed the outlook for the Irish economy? Cliff Taylor talks to Conall Mac Coille, Chief Economist at Davy Stockbroke...

Is Coronavirus Already Impacting The Economy?

26 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Is the worsening global outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus already impacting the economy here and abroad? * Economist Megan Greene on the global ef...

Business of Sport : GAA Director General Tom Ryan

19 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's the business of sport. Together with Mick O'Keeffe of Teneo PSG, Ciaran interviews GAA Director General Tom Ryan. They talk about fundi...

Businesses, Markets and Banks React to #GE2020

12 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

How has the extraordinary result of the 2020 election gone down among investors, the financial sector and businesses? To talk about the election and i...

AIB Makes €300m Provision for Tracker-Mortgage Customers

05 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Following a ruling this week from the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, AIB have set aside a further €300 million to compensate victims of ...

#GE2020 Manifesto Review / Irish Tourism After Brexit

29 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, host Laura Slattery is joined by Irish Times contributor Chris Johns, who has taken a detailed look through the manifestos of Fine Ga...

Pensions in The Spotlight / Trump, Thunberg but Few Irish at Davos 2020

22 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The growing, ageing population has created a pensions time bomb for this Government and the gap between the common retirement age of 65 and eligibilit...

#GE2020 With Cliff Taylor & Jim Power

15 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ciaran Hancock is joined by Economist Jim Power and Irish Times Journalist Cliff Taylor. Together they take a look at how the Irish G...

An Irish Entrepreneur Takes On Climate Change

08 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cork-born businessman Norman Crowley believes the profit motive is the best hope we have for reducing our carbon emissions enough to stave off the wor...

What Will 2020 Bring?

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For our final show of 2019 we've assembled a panel of experts to take stock of the the year and to make some predictions about the year ahead in busin...

Business of Sport: An All-Ireland Football League?

18 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Businessman Kieran Lucid has a dream: an all-Ireland football league, uniting clubs from Northern Ireland and the Republic. But with soccer in the sou...

Inside "Central Plaza"

11 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are taking you on an exclusive tour of one of the biggest construction projects in Dublin city today: the redevelopment of the former Central...

Another Corporation Tax Bonanza, Voucher Reform

04 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Eoin Burke-Kennedy and economist Alan McQuaid take a look at the news that Ireland's corporation tax take came in a massive €1.45 billion ahead of e...

Why Are We Facing a 30% Increase In Air Fares?

27 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Economist and journalist Colm McCarthy has forecasted that air fares will rise by 30% should the European Commission increase their carbon tax on jet ...

The National Broadband Plan / What next for RTE2?

20 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Despite plenty of objection and many questions surrounding the escalating costs, the National Broadband Plan was signed in this week by the Cabinet. W...

Warnings of a New Credit Price Spiral / RTÉ Restructuring

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Despite pressure from house hunters seeking to escape the rent trap and from politicians looking for solutions to the housing crisis, the Central Bank...

Web Summit Dispatch, A Worthy Winner at the Innovation Awards

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Paul reports from Lisbon where he's repping The Irish Times at this year's Web Summit. Find out who is speaking and what is happening at the bigg...

Where Will Our Energy Come from in 2040?

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Where will we get our electricity from in a decarbonised future? Eirgrid has produced a report on the future sources of Ireland's energy, setting out ...

Multinationals Shed Jobs, Eir's Shoddy Customer Service

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dominic Coyle, Conor Pope and Laura Slattery join Cliff Taylor on today's podcast to talk about:- two days, two big announcements of lost jobs. Bad lu...

Can We Count on A Brexit "Relief Rally"?

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Work continues in Brussels on a a Brexit deal, and its still uncertain if one will be reached, or indeed if one is whether it can then be passed by UK...

Paschal’s Brexit Budget – Will It Be Enough?

08 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has delivered his Budget 2020 speech, with an overall package of €2.9 billion. Announcing measures worth €1.2...

Budget 2020 Preview / Trifol Turns Plastic Waste to Wax

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In today's podcast Cliff Taylor previews next week's budget and Peter Hamilton takes a trip to Trifol, a Portlaoise-based company which has developed ...

Business of Sport: Rugby World Cup Special

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last weekend saw a successful opening of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Today on Inside Business we take a look at the tournament through a busine...

Ireland and OECD Tax Reform – How Great is the Challenge?

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The OECD’s efforts to frame a global tax for multi-nationals that will satisfy the demands of the 134 countries involved in the long-running process...

RTÉ Needs A Revenue Boost - But Where Will It Come From?

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It emerged last weekend that RTÉ sought a €55 million annual funding boost from the State, which it never got. Staff at the broadcaster have been w...

Makhlouf Begins Governorship / Irish-backed Firm Chasing Nigeria for $9bn

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The new governor of the Irish Central Bank, Gabriel Makhlouf, settled into the role this week, telling staff that he will be in listening mode over th...

Employment, Emigration & The Economy / A Let-Down for Forestry Investors

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Two sets of figures were released by the CSO this week. One shows a return to net emigration in Ireland: more people departed the country than arrived...

No-Deal Brexit: Is it Possible to Prepare for the Unknown?

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week Irish Times columnist Chris Johns wrote about why a hard Brexit on October 31st will be the beginning, rather than the end, of a cha...

5G Has Finally Arrived – Will It Live Up To The Hype?

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Vodafone got out of the traps first this week announcing the beginning of its roll-out of 5G internet. So, how much will it cost? And, what will it me...

What Happened to Harland & Wolff?

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Harland & Wolff is officially in the hands of administrators. The legendary Belfast shipyard, once the world's largest, is now a symbol of the decline...

Ireland’s Love Affair With Multinationals Is Set To Change - How Can We Adapt?

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looming international tax changes will be a big setback for Ireland's relationship with multinationals. But how great is the danger? And, how can we a...

Is It Time to Loosen Restrictions on Bankers' Bonuses?

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week minister of state at the Department of Finance Michael D'Arcy told The Financial Times that banking pay restrictions should remain i...

Tracker Mortgage Scandal: Have The Banks Learned Their Lesson?

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

With the publication this week of the final report on Irish banks's practice over several years of denying customers their rightful tracker mortgage r...

Is A "Tsunami" of Home Repossessions Coming?

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On today's podcast Ciarán Hancock talks to David Hall, the mortgage debtor advocate, who expects 20,000 homes to be repossessed by banks or so-called...

What's Behind The Drop In House Prices?

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Property price growth has slowed to its lowest level in five years, according to a report from Davy and property website myhome.ie.The study also sugg...

Sarah Keane on Life after Rio, Corporate Governance & Funding Sport

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Olympic Federation of Ireland President and Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane is among Ireland's top sports administrators. She talks to Ciaran and Michael...

Troubling Housing Trends / Credit Union Savings Caps

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are we building the wrong houses in the wrong places at the wrong prices? Sherry Fitzgerald chief economist Marian Finnegan and Orla Hegarty, architec...

Fiscal Council Chairman Seamus Coffey on Policing the Public Finances

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In its latest report the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has described the Government’s medium-term spending plans as “not credible”. The watchdog...

How Ireland Builds a Better Start-Up Scene - with Dómhnal Slattery

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to supporting a culture of entrepreneurship, how does Ireland stack up against the global competition? Avolon CEO Dómhnal Slattery set ...

Are We Ready to Decarbonise Ireland's Economy? With Danny McCoy and Hazel Chu

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Can we build a low-carbon economy in Ireland? On Monday business group Ibec launched its €40 billion blueprint, or greenprint, with proposals includ...

Are there too many restaurants in Dublin?

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last week the high-end Dublin restaurant Luna closed after four years in business and just days after winning the Restaurant Association of Ireland’...

Insurance Ireland in EU Spotlight / US-China Trade War

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into whether Insurance Ireland is operating a cartel by restricting access to a claims datab...

The National Broadband Plan / Struggling Department Stores

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Eoin Burke-Kennedy on the ins and outs of the National Broadband Plan. Is the €3-billion project a misguided expense or a vital infrastructure that ...

The Commercial Side of Trinity College

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Trinity College Dublin is our most prestigious university but the institution has struggled to remain globally competitive. Government funding per thi...

STATSports Scores Star Investors / Public Sector Pay

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

STATSports head of marketing Ian Forrester joins Ciarán and Irish Times business journalist Charlie Taylor to discuss the Newry-based sports tech com...

A Global Economic Slowdown / Corporate Power Shift at the FAI

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Economists Megan Greene and Austin Hughes on the prospect of a global slowdown in economic growth, what should be done about it and how it might impac...

The Changing Face of Home Ownership

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Jack-Horgan Jones on the impact of institutional landlords on the property market. Simon Carswell on why we may never see a report on the collapse of ...

The Quinn Case Was Worth Its €170 Million Cost

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Colm Keena on the strange saga of the Quinn business family. The State's long battle to recover debts the Quinns owe to the IBRC, formerly Anglo Irish...

Brexit: Lower Wages, Higher Prices / The Robots are Coming

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The ESRI has warned that its projected growth rate for the Irish economy this year could be slashed by more than two-thirds if Britain crashes out of ...

Apple TV, Google's Bad Day, Why Marriage Still Pays

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ciara O'Brien on the launch of a video streaming service by Apple. Can the tech behemoth make a dent in Netflix and Amazon's existing services, and wh...

Brexit: The Threat of No-Deal Tariffs

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The UK has revealed the tariffs it would impose on imports in the event of a no-deal Brexit, which will have serious implications for the Irish econom...

Boom-Era Apartment Defects "Verging on Systemic"

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week an investigation by The Irish Times revealed that hundreds of residents in boom-time apartment blocks are facing huge bills, the ris...

The Health of Irish Banks / Rezoning Dublin's Industrial Estates

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

BANKING: Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB both released their annual results this week. What have we learned about the health of Irish banks? And why...

Simon Carswell on ODCE's Botched Anglo Investigation / Cliff Taylor on Jobs Numbers

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Simon Carswell on what he heard at Oireachtas committee hearings into the botched prosecution of Anglo Irish Bank by the Office of the Director of Cor...

Solving Ireland's Pensions Problem - Live at Irish Life

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some call it the pensions time-bomb. In the private sector, under 40% of workers are covered by a pension. As our workforce ages, the problem of retir...

The Business of Sport: The Open Championship Returns to Portrush

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's officially titled The Open Championship but whether you call it that, the British Open or simply The Open, it’s coming to these shores in July....

Five-Star Living & Sky-High Rents: Inside Capital Dock

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been in Dublin lately you might have noticed a tall new building dwarfing its neighbours on the south quays. Capital Dock, now the Republic'...

Interview: Glanbia CEO, Siobhán Talbot

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Siobhán Talbot, Glanbia chief executive and the Irish Times Business Person of the Year for 2018, talks to Ciarán about Brexit and the difficulty of...

Markets React To May's Defeat, Car Sales & Brexit, Victory for Supermac's

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's podcast: Cliff Taylor on the market reaction to the defeat of Theresa May's Brexit deal. What now? There is at least one sector for who...

Profit Warnings at Apple & Samsung / 2019 Economic Outlook

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Apple and Samsung both reported revenue slumps for the last quarter of 2018. What's going on? Analyst at Davy Stockbrokers Aidan Donnelly explains.Plu...

Looking Ahead to 2019 with Anne Graham, Maurice Pratt and Michael O'Flynn

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Christmas Day is behind us, and so is a record year for Irish business. But as 2018 draws to a close the picture is beginning to look a lot more mixed...

The Business Stories that Dominated the Year

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As 2018 draws to a close, Ciarán talks to some of the Irish Times business team about the stories they’ve covered this year. Joe Brennan and Cliff ...

Brexit, Trade Wars & Stock Market Wobbles

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What could derail Ireland's economic recovery next year? Ciarán talks to Megan Greene, Global Chief Economist of Manulife/John Hancock Asset Manageme...

FAI Finance Director Eamon Breen / Corporation Tax Boost / Brexit

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why are Republic of Ireland football managers paid so well? That’s just one of the questions Ciarán puts to FAI finance director Eamon Breen on thi...

Business of Sport: Irish Sports Agents

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sports agents have never been as big a part of the sporting landscape in Ireland as in some other countries, but that is slowly changing. Today Ciara...

Tech Stocks Stumble; Sky-High Rents at Capital Dock; Aid:Tech Wins at Innovation Awards

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The 2018 Irish Times Innovation Awards took place last night and the overall winner is Aid:Tech. The company's platform enables entitlements like aid,...

Mediacon Summit, Brexit & Innovation Awards

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mediacon Summit co-founder Steve McCormack talks to Laura Slattery about the TV business and why the Irish television industry needs to look overseas ...

EU Digital Tax Disharmony, 100% Club Launches, Ryanair Sackings

07 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week: Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe will be happy with the outcome of Tuesday’s Ecofin meeting, which saw his German counterpart suggest...

"We Blew €500k on Our Name" - Teamwork.com's Daniel Mackey & Peter Coppinger / UK Budget Analysis

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This year's winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ireland awards, Daniel Mackey and Peter Coppinger, are the founders and leaders of Teamwork.com...

The Business of Sport: Leinster Rugby CEO Mick Dawson

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today's guest: Former stockbroker Mick Dawson took over as Leinster Rugby CEO in 2001. Since then Mick has overseen the transformation of Leinster Rug...

Interview: AIB Chief Executive, Bernard Byrne

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s show AIB chief executive Bernard Byrne is in the hot seat to answer questions on a wide variety of topics including housing and rip-o...

Budget 2019 Special with Fiach Kelly, Fiona Reddan, Cliff Taylor and Liam Diamond

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Paschal Donohoe’s Budget 2019 has a little something for everyone, but the goodies are spread widely across tax and welfare. The decision to restore...

Budget 2019: Scrooge, Santa or Sensible? / Ryanair in a Tailspin

03 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

September tax returns give Paschal Donohoe little scope for surprise giveaways in Budget 2019, unless he raises taxes elsewhere. Will that see hotelie...

The Guarantee, Ten Years On - With Simon Carswell

26 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It is ten years since the decision was taken to guarantee six Irish banks, a decision that has been debated ever since. Public Affairs Editor Simon Ca...

Peter McKenna on the GAA's Year & Croke Park's Future - The Business of Sport

19 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Croke Park Stadium Director Peter McKenna talks to Ciarán Hancock and Michael O'Keeffe about another financially successful year for the GAA, how the...

Rent: Will Tackling AirBnB Make a Difference? / Ryanair's AGM Media Ban

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Under an information-sharing agreement with the Revenue Commissioners, Airbnb is to hand over data on thousands of hosts in Ireland who let out proper...

Warnings on Economy as Budget Nears / What Inspectors Mean for INM

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With Brexit on the way, should we aim to spend less next year and run a surplus? Central Bank governor Philip Lane has issued a warning suggesting as...

Inside Lidl: A Tour of the Rebuilt Fortunestown Store

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone remembers the wanton destruction of Lidl in Fortunestown, Tallaght last March as the snows of Storm Emma enveloped the country. Now the store...

Housing Measures Kick In / After The Bailout, What Next For Greece?

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

New CSO figures reveal an uptick in new housing construction. Good news for those seeking a home? Sadly its not that simple. Eoin Burke Kennedy and Cl...

Turkey in Crisis, Aryzta Cash Call, Web Summit U-Turn

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Turkey has been hit by a currency crisis in the past week that, coupled with a tense stand-off with Donald Trump, threatens to wreak havoc on the coun...

"The Relationship Has Broken Down": Leslie Buckley & INM / Is Distance Tax A Good Idea?

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The relationship between former Independent News and Media chairman Leslie Buckley and his erstwhile employers has turned very sour indeed, as reveale...

Business of Sport: FAI's John Delaney

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ciarán Hancock and regular co-host Michael O'Keeffe of Teneo PSG sat down last week with John Delaney, CEO of the Football Association of Ireland, to...

Banking Culture, No Deal Brexit, Ryanair Jobs Threat

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After the release of a sobering report form the Central Bank on the way banks treat consumers, David Hall, well-known for his advocacy on behalf of ba...

Business of Sport: Shamrock Rovers's Ray Wilson

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Like most League of Ireland clubs, Shamrock Rovers has experienced financial difficulties over the years. Two years ago Australia-based businessman Ra...

Ryanair Wins PR Battle, When to Sell Our Bank Shares

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week: 100 Ryanair pilots will go on strike this Thursday (July 12th) for the first time in the airline’s history. But just how effective will t...

Ryanair Strike, Jobs for All, Imports Dent New Car Sales

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week: Ryanair pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a one-day strike on Thursday of next week. Thousands of holidaymakers face disruption...

Gender Pay Gap Bill, Kastus CEO & Christine Lagarde's in Town

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A Bill compelling employers to publish data on their gender pay gaps received Cabinet approval this week. Speaking on today's podcast, Marguerite Bolg...

A New Approach to Housing / David Duffy on CYBG's Virgin Money Deal

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rip it up and start again - That's what is needed to tackle the housing crisis, according to Orla Hegarty, a lecturer and an assistant professor of Ar...

Ireland: “World’s Biggest Tax Haven”, Nama, Brexit & Irish Ferries Fiasco

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is Ireland a tax haven?It’s a case of semantics it seems, but what really matters is that many countries see Ireland as the bad guy when it comes to...

David Drumm Convicted, Smurfit Deal Falls Through, The Economic Picture with Seamus Coffey

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

First Peter Hamilton has a roundup of the week's major business news including the conviction of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm, more data pr...