Irish Times Inside Business

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 General Election campaign will play out over the next few weeks. Will the electorate give Fine Gael any credit for the recent economic growth and which party is best equipped to tackle the housing and health crisis?Plus, New Zealand based entrepreneur Andrew Barnes discusses his new book 'The Four Day Week', which puts forward the idea that shorter working hours results in more productivity. It sounds great in theory, but would it work? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 worst effects of climate change in the decades ahead. He talks to Ciaran about the various strands of his business Crowley Carbon (electrifying vintage cars, creating meatless meat, and making companies more energy efficient), his assessment of Green politics and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 business, the economy and beyond. Stephen Brewer is managing director with telecoms firm Magnet Networks, Michael O'Keeffe is CEO of Teneo PSG Ireland and Lucinda Creighton is CEO of Vulcan Consulting and a former junior minister for European Affairs. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Businessman Kieran Lucid has a dream: an all-Ireland football league, uniting clubs from Northern Ireland and the Republic. But with soccer in the south in dire straits and cultural resistance in the North, he faces an uphill battle. He talks to Ciaran Hancock about his ambitious plan. But first Peter Hamilton has a roundup of the latest business news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 Bank building on Dame Street, or "Central Plaza" as it will be called. It is one of Dublin's standout buildings, a bulky modernist structure towering over the 18th century architecture of College Green. For decades the space outside has been a rendezvous point for Dubliners, a hangout spot for teenagers and a stage for numerous demonstrations. Inside, momentous events in Ireland's recent economic history have played out. Now it is the subject of a €100 million redevelopment by US investment company Hines. Brian Moran, Hines's leading executive in Ireland, shows Ciarán around the site, including its rooftop restaurant and public foyer, while explaining the history and architecture of the building, the challenges of redevelopment and its attraction to signed-on lead tenants WeWork. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 estimates for the first 11 months of the year.Have you ever gone to cash in a gift voucher only to find it has expired? That may be a thing of the past. Dermot Jewell of the Consumer Association of Ireland explains the changes to rules surrounding vouchers after a 25 year campaign by his organisation. But first Peter Hamilton has a roundup of all the latest business news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Economist and journalist Colm McCarthy has forecasted that air fares will rise by 30% should the European Commission increase their carbon tax on jet kerosene. He joins Ciaran Hancock and business reporter Barry O’Halloran in studio to discuss how this increase, along with the removal of the VAT exemption, will send the price of air travel soaring.But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of the week’s big business stories including which Irish city has been named the most efficient place to start a business. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Despite plenty of objection and many questions surrounding the escalating costs, the National Broadband Plan was signed in this week by the Cabinet. While the roll-out of high speed broadband across Ireland is a welcome initiative, Communications Spokesperson for Sinn Féin David Cullinane maintains it is a flawed and compromised process. Business Journalist Eoin Burke-Kennedy also joins host Ciarán Hancock to discuss the controversial plan.Later, Laura Slattery is in studio to discuss the recent decision by the national broadcaster to move their prime sports coverage from RTE 2 to RTE 1. What does this mean for the future of the sister station? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Despite pressure from house hunters seeking to escape the rent trap and from politicians looking for solutions to the housing crisis, the Central Bank will not be tempted to ease mortgage lending restrictions, according to both its deputy governors in statements this week. Where does that leave this troubled market? Analysis from Eoin Burke-Kennedy and Joe Brennan.What comes next for RTÉ? The state broadcaster revealed its plans to cut hundreds of jobs last week (on foot of a leak to The Irish Times). Industry correspondent Martin Wall on the pitfalls facing the organisation as it navigates choppy waters with employees, trade unions and the Government. But first Charlie Taylor has a roundup of some of the best business news stories of the week including a clampdown on dual pricing, a big payday for an Irish fintech success and a meltdown for Revenue's ROS system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 biggest annual tech gathering. Atlantic Therapeutics won the top prize at last night's Innovation Awards, an event run by The Irish Times. The Galway-based company won for its technology that helps to treat bladder disorders, a problem that affects one in three women at some point. Ciarán was there and he interviewed Danny Forde, the firm's global product manager. But first Michael McAleer talks us through the other winners and their innovations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 three possible scenarios. Environment correspondent Kevin O'Sullivan reports. Barry O'Halloran on the decision by regulators to reduce passenger charges at Dublin Airport, a move opposed by the airport on the grounds it needs the funds for development of the critical facility. How was the decision reached and is the airport now at a disadvantage?But first Laura Slattery has a roundup of the week's big business stories. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 luck or something more? - why eir customers in need of help from the telecoms provider are often left unhappy. - WeWork's travails hit plans for Dublin, new charges for EV owners and another gloomy Brexit forecast from Moodys. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 legislators. But what would it mean for the Irish economy if a deal such as we are hearing about is passed? Ciaran asks Cliff Taylor. Then Barry O'Halloran reports on two stories about how we are trying to reduce carbon emissions: a proposed offshore wind farm that would be situated 10 kilometres off the south Dublin coast and generate enough energy to power 600,000 homes, and the move by British Airways parent company IAG to offset some of its carbon emissions. A sign of things to come? But first, Laura Slattery has a roundup of the latest business news, including bad news for Facebook's cryptocurrency and for health food supplement manufacturers, and some interesting retail trends. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has delivered his Budget 2020 speech, with an overall package of €2.9 billion. Announcing measures worth €1.2 billion to tackle no-deal Brexit, Minister Donohoe said Budget 2020 is without precedent and “a budget that has been developed in the shadow of Brexit”. Will the measures announced today be enough to soften the landing?In today’s podcast, Ciaran is joined first by Irish Times political reporter Jennifer Bray to go through the main points of the budget. Later, Liam Diamond, Tax Partner at PwC Ireland, and Cliff Taylor and Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times, get into the weeds on items including the no-deal Brexit package, the much vaunted €6 carbon tax hike and measures related to housing and health. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 a lucrative process for turning landfill plastic into wax.Plus: Laura Slattery has a roundup of some of the week's other business including Paddy Power's mega-merger with Canadian rival Stars and Tesco's little-known new CEO, Irishman Ken Murphy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 business lens. Ciaran Hancock and Mick O'Keeffe of Teneo PSG are joined by Sean Kavanagh, Global Director at Pentland Brands (whose suite of brands includes Canterbury), Padraig Power, Commercial and Marketing director at the IRFU and Ed Dixon, a journalist with Sportspro See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 was discussed at the PwC-Irish Times Tax Summit earlier this week. Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy join Ciarán to dissect comments made at the summit by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Pascal Saint-Amans, director at the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD. What will the changes mean for Ireland and what impact will they have on our bulging corporation tax receipts?Plus: Laura Slattery has the week’s other business news including Ireland’s Apple tax appeal, calls to tighten regulations on used-car imports and WeWork’s abandoned IPO. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 warned that the organisation cannot continue as it is without a significant increase in state funding. That's unlikely to materialise in the upcoming budget. So, what now? Does the solution lie in a doubling of the licence fee, cutting staff, or selling its Dublin 4 campus and starting from scratch?In today’s podcast, Larry Bass of ShinAwiL Productions predicts a grim future in which the state broadcaster will be without funding to make Irish productions and could be caught up in industrial disputes. We’re also joined by Irish Times business affairs correspondent Mark Paul, who this week wrote that RTÉ’s funding woes are of its own making.Plus: Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the other business stories of the week, including the much mourned closure of beloved Dublin venue The Bernard Shaw. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 the coming months. Joe Brennan outlines what he’ll have found waiting in his in-tray on his first day, including a key ECB governing council meeting on September 12th that will consider whether to ease rates or launch a new bond-buying programme – or both – to shore up the euro zone economy.Later: Mark Paul has the story of Irish-backed company, Process & Industrial Development, which has won a $9.6 billion (€8.7 billion) UK court judgment against the Nigerian government. P&ID, an offshore company linked to Dublin-based Industrial Consultants (International), won the huge arbitration award after a 2010 gas deal to build an oil refinery in Calabar fell through.Plus: Peter Hamilton has some of the other big stories this week including exchequer returns, Dalata results and falling wine sales. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 in the year to April. Another set, the latest Labour Force Survey, reveals 2.3 million people are now employed in the state, the highest ever figure. What lies behind the figures? Dominic Coyle asks Eoin Burke Kennedy. And Fiona Reddan has a story of a too-good-to-be-true investment opportunity that turned out to be just that. First, though, it's Peter Hamilton with a roundup of the latest business news including another dip in sterling, another Press Up investment and punishment for corporates implicated in the US opioid crisis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.