Irish Times Inside Business

Is the worsening global outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus already impacting the economy here and abroad? * Economist Megan Greene on the global effect. Why did investors initially underestimate the risk of the virus, and what are they doing now to minimise their exposure to losses? * Barry O'Halloran on the impact on tourism. Will airlines struggle in the months ahead? * Irish Exporters Association CEO Simon McKeever on the threat to businesses. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 funding the sport, Dublin's dominance and what the future holds for inter-county players. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How has the extraordinary result of the 2020 election gone down among investors, the financial sector and businesses? To talk about the election and its aftermath from an economic perspective, Ciaran is joined by Cliff Taylor and by Brian Hayes, head of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland and a former Fine Gael TD. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following a ruling this week from the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, AIB have set aside a further €300 million to compensate victims of the tracker-mortgage scandal. In studio to discuss what this means for the thousands of customers affected is consumer campaigner Brendan Burgess from Askaboutmoney.com and Irish Times journalist Joe Brennan. Plus Peter Hamilton is here for the business roundup with details on a major new Brown Thomas store and some controversial Ryanair ads. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 Gael & Fianna Fáil. What are the parties promising in terms of public finances and how will it be implemented? Also, with Brexit set for Friday evening & the value of Sterling falling, Irish Times journalist Mark Paul discusses the likely impact it will have on Irish tourism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The growing, ageing population has created a pensions time bomb for this Government and the gap between the common retirement age of 65 and eligibility for the state pension has emerged as a major election issue. Our own Dominic Coyle explains the problem, while Willie O'Dea, Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on pensions, claims his party will make a better fist of this policy area if voted in next month. Joe Brennan reports from Davos where an unusually small Irish contingent is rubbing shoulders with US President Donald Trump, climate activist Greta Thunberg and the usual coterie of premiers, ministers and CEOs. One Irish person who did make it is 18-year-old  Fionn Ferreira, winner of the 2019 Google Science Fair, to talk about his plan to remove microplastics from the ocean. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.