Irish Times Inside Business

Britain will not strike a deal with the EU on the basis of Theresa May’s Brexit speech yesterday, according IBEC CEO Danny McCoy on today's podcast. He says the British Prime Minister knows it’s going to be a no deal and she offered up a “fairly appalling vista for Irish business” in her speech.“I think she knows it’s a no deal,” he says.McCoy was joined by economist Jim Power, who said the Irish government badly needs to devote more serious attention to Brexit, and Cliff Taylor, who said their G7 status and strategic military importance will play in their favour.Later in the podcast Irish Times Industry Correspondent Martin Wall and economist Sean Barrett discuss the problems and potential solutions for insolvency-threatened Bus Eireann. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

T.K. Whitaker, who died this week aged 100, made a huge impact on the thing we discuss, one way or another, on this podcast every week - the health of Ireland's commercial and economic life. To look back on his life and career we talked to John Fitzgerald, formerly of the ERSI which Whitaker founded, Anne Chambers, his biographer, and columnist Fintan O'Toole. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Regulation is one way tackle so-called vulture funds, says Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, but it is not clear whether there is a will at government level to introduce it.The Donegal TD told this week’s Inside Business podcast that he believes the government still wants to use these funds to “clean up the carcasses” of the commercial property sector.Deputy Doherty was speaking after last night’s RTÉ documentary, The Great Irish Sell Off, which reported that giant US investment funds paid miniscule amounts of tax despite making enormous profits on their Irish investments.Irish Times markets correspondent Joe Brennan has reported widely on these funds, and spoke to the podcast about the main players in the market, the assets and loans that they have acquired and the structures they have used to pay very little tax.One of those investment funds, Cerberus, hit the headlines over its controversial purchase of NAMA’s Project Eagle portfolio. Barry O’Halloran took us through the details of that and he

In 2016 the number of Irish jobs in IDA-supported companies exceeded 200,000, more even than during the Celtic Tiger period. The figures prove how critically important foreign direct investment has become to the Irish economy today, and how seriously we should take threats to our attractiveness as a location for foreign investors. The threats are there, from potential Brexit shocks to the Trump administration's policies on foreign investment, external pressure to change our tax regime and domestic issues like the housing shortage that undermine our competitiveness. In the next two years IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan wants to add another 80,000 jobs to the 200,000 already brought in by the state agency. He talks to Ciarán Hancock about the agency's achievements, the upsides and downsides of Brexit and Trump and how the IDA will navigate the choppy waters ahead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Increasing the price of a stamp to between 90c and €1 still represents “fantastic value” for the customer, according to An Post CEO, David McRedmond.On the Inside Business podcast today, he joined Sherry Fitzgerald Chief Economist, Marian Finnegan, and Teeling Whiskey co-founder, Stephen Teeling, to look ahead to 2017 and discuss the potential impacts of Brexit, Trump and political uncertainty across Europe, on their own sectors and the wider economy.An Post is undergoing a strategic review and has “quite a way to go” in figuring out its ten year plan, said McRedmond, but it will raise the price of a standard stamp from 72c next year to help ensure security of cash-flow.A re-configuration of the rural post office network is also on the cards, but McRedmond said An Post remains committed to maintaining it and diversifying services.The panel spoke about the export environment post-Brexit, how the Apple ruling might affect government tax policies and the future of the property market.Sherry Fitzgerald’s Marian F

It was an extraordinary and at times confounding year in business and the economy, even as the Irish position remained broadly positive. On Inside Business today we look at the biggest stories of the year in the company of Irish Times business team stalwarts Cliff Taylor, Joe Brennan, Laura Slattery, Mark Paul, and Barry O'Halloran.Cliff Taylor discusses how the political events here and abroad impacted the economy in 2016, from the minority Government to Brexit and Trump's election. Joe Brennan talks us through the biggest company deals and market moves of 2016. Mark Paul recalls the twists and turns in the business and litigation of Denis O'Brien. Laura Slattery picks TV3's new status as a competitor for RTÉ as the major media story of the year.And Barry O'Halloran recaps the Project Eagle story and major moves in aviation that will have consequences for consumers and business in 2017 and beyond.And finally, Inside Business visited the National Treasury Management Agency last week for their annual Christmas

If you've shopped online and you're Irish you may be familiar with the feeling that you are being ripped off by international retailers. Geo-blocking (when you can't access a site aimed at consumers in another country) and excessive price differences are the most frequent complaints, and we Irish make more such complaints than most others, according to a report today from the European Consumer Centre. We talk to ECC representative Martina Nee about the report's findings, and to Mark Paul and Laura Slattery about personal experiences of what Mark calls the "Paddy Levy". Have you been caught out by the levy? Email us your stories: businesspodcast@irishtimes.comAlso on the podcast, we look at Minister for Housing Simon Coveney's big announcement that rent increases will be capped at 4% per year in Dublin and Cork. It seems no-one is entirely happy with the plan - but is it better than nothing? John McCartney of Savills Auctioneers, Mick Byrne of the Dublin Tenants Association and our property editor Madeline Lyo

The imposing acronym CCCTB could spell serious trouble for the Irish economy according to the Economic and Social Research Institute. Bottom line: the proposed European Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base could wipe 1.5 per cent off economic output. On today's Inside Business podcast, Mark Paul goes into the details of the ERSI's report. Economist Jim Power says it is time we accepted the inevitability of more equitable corporate tax rates and faced up to the challenges this will pose our unique situation, while Suzanne Lynch in Brussels says CCCTB is not yet cause for panic.Mark, Jim and Suzanne also discuss the plight of Italian banks which some fear could plunge the EU into a new banking crisis in 2017, and take another look at the goings-on in Independent News and Media's boardroom after Monday's EGM bun-fight between board and shareholders over pensions. In part two: $69 transatlantic flights? At that price point you might be forgiven for ignoring the fine details, and Norwegian Air's plan to launch t

The Irish Times broke the story about a "schism" within the Independent News & Media board that led its CEO Robert Pitt to consider his position. For more on the story this week's host Cliff Taylor talks to business affairs correspondent Mark Paul and media reporter Laura Slattery.Then Ciara O'Brien pops in with an array of gadgets you may be tempted to splash out on, either for yourself or a loved one this Christmas. Ciara shows Cliff how to use a Virtual Reality headset and the best way to silence a blabbering Furby. And Joe Brennan has the latest market news, including Opec's moves towards reducing oil production and fears over Italy's constitutional referendum. What knock-on effects will a defeat for Mario Renzi have on Italy's banks? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Central Bank announced today that it is easing the mortgage lending rules. What will this mean for first time buyers and will supply meet increasing demand for new units? To discuss the permutations of this latest decision, Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Housing Studies lecturer in DIT Lorcan Sirr and Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan.Black Friday promises deep discounts for bargain hunters in the run up to Christmas. While a a relatively new phenomenon in this country, Black Friday has had American consumers queuing outside stores for decades. Does it actually represent good value for shoppers and why are some bricks and mortar retailers less than enthused by it's growing popularity here? Our Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope, CTO with eShopWorld Colm O'Donaill and founder of Wolfgang Digital Alan Coleman offer their insight. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Transformational" is how Greencore CEO Patrick Coveney described the company's proposed $747.5 million acquisition of Illinois-based Peacock Foods. Patrick joins Ciarán Hancock to talk about the deal. Why is this deal the right one for Greencore now, and how will they avoid a repeat of their ill-fated purchase of Imperial Holly in the 1990s? In part two, Irish Times business team Cliff Taylor, Laura Slattery and Joe Brennan pop in with all the business news that's fit to talk about, including post-Trump market mayhem, moves by Aer Lingus and Easyjet, and Virgin Media's purchase of UTV. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The election of Donald Trump has taken everyone by surprise, not least the Republican Party who seemingly have no transitional arrangement in place. How will President Trump impact free trade? Will we see an exodus of US companies from our shores? Will President Trump retreat from some of the rhetoric that defined his election campaign? To answer these questions and more, Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by business consultant and former Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton, Equity Analyst at Investec Ronan Dunphy and Business Editor Cliff Taylor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We look ahead to the presidential election and ask whether a President Trump or a President Clinton would best serve Irish interests in trade, foreign direct investment, the peace process and dealing with undocumented migrants. On the panel are former Taoiseach John Bruton, American economist Megan Greene and NUIG lecturer and Boston native Larry Donnelly. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mark Paul paid a visit to Athenry in Galway to find out about Apple's proposed data centre there and a legal challenge to it's development that has the local business community up in arms. A proposed trade deal between Canada and the EU could be scuppered by the staunchly socialist Wallonia region in South Belgium. To look at the reasons for this we're joined by Suzanne Lynch and EU trade expert John Clancy. Does the merger of AT&T and Time Warner signal a change in how their customers will watch content in the future? The $85.4 billion deal would bring 130 million mobile phone customers and 25 million pay-TV subscribers in contact with a vast amount of content - if allowed go through. Laura Slattery explains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael O'Leary remains bullish in the face of falling sterling with promises to pump a million seats month into weak winter market and 15% price reductions. Head of broking at Goodbody Stockbrokers Joe Gill and markets correspondent Joe Brennan join host Cliff Taylor to discuss the strange scenario of Ryanair issuing profit warning while seeing a 5% rise in their stock.Joe Brennan discusses the permutations of tomorrow's Finance Bill in light of what many are calling a "minimalist budget". What are the key issues Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has to grapple with? What kind of tone of discussion can we expect at this week's EU leaders summit and how will those present react to the 'hard Brexit' line taken at the recent Tory Party conference? Suzanne Lynch joins us on the line from Brussels to discuss Theresa May's much-anticipated first EU summit as leader.And finally, Ciarán Hancock sat down with Gareth Loye and Mark McCloskey for the last in our series of EY Entrepreneur of the year profiles. See acas

On this week's podcast our panel looks at budget 2017.First, Political Correspondent Fiach Kelly reports from Leinster House on what big ticket items were announced today. Then Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times Property Editor Madeline Lyons, Business Editor Cliff Taylor and Peter Reilly of PWC to look at what the budget means for housing, business, investors and your pocket. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Part one: Host Ciarán Hancock and Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan are joined on the line by BBC business reporter Joe Lynam to get the latest understanding of short and long-term impact of Brexit. The drop in sterling aside, the much-anticipated "short, sharp shock" hasn't quite materialised. What is the current mood among the Conservative party, and what awaits Britain and Ireland after Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is invoked next March?Part two:In the wake of the closure of Clerys last June, it has come to light that Boston-based equity firm Gordon Brothers paid themselves €3.65 million shortly before the the store closed its doors and 460 people lost their jobs. Business Affairs Correspondent Mark Paul talks us through the recent developments.Part three: The latest in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards nominee profiles features Stephen Vernon of Green Property and Colin Culliton from TPI Group. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The domestic tourism industry has experienced strong growth in the last two years and now provides one eighth of all jobs in Ireland. Initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way and the 9% VAT rate applicable to some in the industry have helped. On today's programme, Business Affairs Correspondent Mark Paul takes to the road to speak with operators around the lesser-visited parts of the country to see how things are going and what more can be done. Back in studio, Mark and Ciarán are joined by practitioners Travis Zeray of Clew Bay Bike Hire, Joan Reilly of Doolin 2 Aran Ferries, and also Eoghan O'Mara Walsh of Irish Tourism Industry Confederation to discuss what more can be done by the state and the industry to continue the good work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's another bonus podcast featuring four more finalists in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition. This week we have Leona and Sean McAllister of Plotbox, a software tool for managing cemeteries and John Moore of 3D4 Medical, specialising in the creation of 3D renderings of anatomy. Leona and Sean explain how they got into their unusual line of business and John shares how 3D4 achieved 12 million users. Then Brendan Mooney talks about how his firm Kainos Group helps government departments harness the power of IT and cloud computing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Part one: Interim COO of Limerick 2030 Pat Daly joins us on the line to discuss how a €500 million investment will rejuvenate Limerick city, helping to create 5,000 plus jobs and make the city attractive for foreign investment. Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by The Irish Times' Barry O'Halloran to crunch the numbers.Part two: Laura Slattery discusses TV3's proposal to merge content with RTÉ to create a channel aimed squarely at the diaspora. Is this a play from TV3 to get a slice of the license fee?Part three: Business Editor Cliff Taylor and Policy Director of the Irish Tax Institute Cora O'Brien analyze our unforgiving personal taxation system and look ahead to 2016's budget. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.