Irish Times Inside Business

Despite a slowdown in the tech sector, Ireland’s corporation tax receipts are as healthy as ever. The latest exchequer returns show the Government collected €3.2 billion in the first quarter of 2023, €1.3 billion higher than in the same period last year. Eoin Burke-Kennedy and Cliff Taylor talk to Ciaran Hancock about the government's plan for the takings. Later, Marian Finnegan, Managing Director of Sherry Fitzgerald joins Ciaran and Eoin to talk about property prices and the outlook for the housing market. According to MyHome.ie, house prices have fallen by a modest 0.3% in the first quarter of 2023, however Sherry Fitzgerald maintains prices are still on the up. They also discuss possible routes out of the housing crisis and the lifting of eviction ban. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has published a new report on Ireland's economic circumstances. Conor O'Toole, Associate Research Professor with the ESRI, joins Eoin Burke-Kennedy and Ciaran to talk about the report. They discuss inflation, growth, the impact of inadequate housing supply and the problem of relying so heavily on a few major industrial sectors. Plus: London correspondent Mark Paul reports on how the UK's economic situation is evolving under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Amazon announcing a further 9,000 jobs job cuts this week, and Workhuman’s plans to reduce its global workforce by 10%, it could be many weeks or even months before we learn how many Irish roles are affected. Business and technology journalist, Ciara O’Brien, analyses the latest retrenchment in the tech sector. Business reporter, Ian Curran, examines the potential risk of contagion following the bailout of Credit Suisse and the collapse of Silvergate, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the US. Markets have reacted well to the Swiss deal but the wiping out of AT1 bonds, a key source of funding for Irish banks, could have implications here. Presented by Laura Slattery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) last week has spooked financial markets, with global banking stocks dropping significantly as a result. With a new CEO at the helm, SVB is declaring ‘business as usual’, but the ripple effects of the bank’s failure can still be felt. To discuss the reasons behind the bank run and the wider implications on markets and the tech sector, Ciaran Hancock is joined by Irish Times columnist Chris Horn and Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's podcast is focussed on stock market and banking news. Host Ciaran Hancock is joined by Aidan Donnelly, Head of Equities at Davy and Joe Brennan, Markets Correspondent with The Irish Times. It is reporting season, so news is emerging about the performance and intentions of Irish plcs. And some are indicating plans to shift their main stock market listing to the United States. Why is this happening and what does it mean for Irish operations? Irish banks are posting healthy figures, and Bank of Ireland has a plan to bypass the ban on bonuses. Will others follow suit? What can we expect from the next European Central Bank meeting - will interest rates rise again? Inside Business is produced in association with EY Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The deal is done between the UK and the EU to solve problems with the Northern Ireland protocol, and should it become operational, that deal means Northern Ireland will remain within the EU single market, with the added benefit of access to the UK market. So what will that mean for its economy - and what will it mean for the economy in the Republic? Ciaran Hancock and Cliff Taylor are joined by Mark O'Connell, founder of Belfast-based consultancy OCO Global and Stephen Kelly, CEO of Manufacturing Northern Ireland to talk about the deal. Plus: Businessman Denis O’Brien is on track to cede control of Digicel under a plan agreed with a group of bond creditors to swap $1.8 billion (€1.7 billion) of the heavily-indebted group’s borrowings for an equity stake in the business. Joe Brennan has the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government's latest package of cost of living measures includes extra cash payments to social welfare recipients and parents - but no further contributions to our energy bill payments. Does the package go far enough? And by extending - again - a more favourable VAT rate for the hospitality sector, the Government is foregoing tax revenues of €300 million. Why does the return of the rate keep getting pushed back? Ciarán talks to political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones and columnist Cliff Taylor. Plus: We're by now sadly familiar with finance scams using texts, emails and bogus websites to defraud people. The latest method takes advantage of the growing use of digital banking services like Revolut. Consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains what to watch out for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chupi Sweetman is the Irish jewellery designer on a mission to disrupt the diamond industry. The founder and CEO of her eponymous brand has just secured €3.75m in investment to fuel her global ambitions. She speaks about industry trends, removing Russian diamonds from her supply chain and how blockchain will help secure the provenance of her heirloom jewellery. Also in this episode, Barry O'Halloran reports on the yawning gap between what multinationals are paying for energy compared to domestic Irish businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barry Connolly, the man who brought Red Bull and Kopparberg cider to Ireland has just been named the Irish Times Business Person of the Year. After graduating from UCD with a degree in business, the Dubliner went on to work in advertising and sales at the Sunday Tribune, before moving into the world of entrepreneurship, where he worked alongside a number of successful brands. In 2016, he launched Fulfil, a range of protein bars which took the Irish market by storm. Last April, he sold the business for a reported €160 million to family-owned confectionery giant Ferrero. In this conversation with Ciaran Hancock, he looks back over his career trajectory, explains why Fulfil has become a hit with consumers and shares his top tips for budding entrepreneurs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendan Burgess joins the podcast to explain his critique of Central Bank policy on mortgage interest rates. It comes after Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf told an Oireachtas committee that Irish banks should increase interest rates to reflect increases applied by the European Central Bank. Plus: Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy look at the latest economic trends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An increase in office stock, the switch to hybrid working, as well as job losses in the tech sector have contributed to a slowdown in the Dublin commercial real estate market, according to industry expert, John Moran. The CEO of JLL joins Ciaran Hancock to discuss the 13% office vacancy rate driven partly by the increase in 'grey space.' The term is used to describe what is available for sub-leasing or assignment, more of which is being seen in the capital as Big Tech companies pull back to 2019 levels of employment. Meanwhile, Director of Technology Ireland, Una Fitzpatrick gives the industry view on the recent job losses. The Ibec branch wants to counter the narrative that the sector is in free-fall, noting these are the first redundancies of this level since 2010.With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate change is one of the themes of this year’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Markets Correspondent, Joe Brennan, reports from Davos where a recent winter heatwave means the highest town in Europe has significantly less snowfall than usual. The Taoiseach, Finance Minister and a delegation from the IDA are there as part of Ireland’s attempt to court FDI. All three parties are awaiting news from Microsoft on how many Irish jobs will be among the plans announced today to cut its workforce by 10,000, globally. Berlin Correspondent, Derek Scally, reports on how Europe’s most senior data regulatory body has ruled the Data Protection Commission in Dublin has failed to investigate, with due diligence, data collection and processing at Facebook and Instagram. Critics say that may have deprived the exchequer of a multibillion euro windfall. With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See

This week we got a look at two reports into economic activity in Ireland, one from Enterprise Ireland and the other from Bord Bia. Eoin Burke Kennedy explains what we learned about the performance of homegrown businesses and within the growing food sector.But first, Joe Brennan explains what the arrival of a new insurer, the South African company OUTsurance, into the Irish car insurance market means for the industry and for motorists. Will their presence drive down premiums? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will 2023 have in store for the economy, the media landscape and the tech sector? Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times business journalists Eoin Burke-Kennedy, Ciara O’Brien and Laura Slattery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2022: It was a year of soaring inflation, bumper corporation tax and the cost of living crisis. In the first of two episodes looking back on the biggest business stories of the year, Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times journalists Cliff Taylor and Joe Brennan. The panel discuss the knock on effect of rising interest rates, the 12 billion surplus in November and what the new year may have in store for the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CEO of An Post David McRedmond joins Ciaran Hancock to discuss the ongoing row between An Post and the UK’s Post Office over the implementation of post-Brexit customs rules, which is resulting in thousands of online purchases being returned to British retailers. Later on, we hear from two Dublin city centre business owners, Stephen Kennedy of Copper+Straw cafe and Sean Crescenzi of Happy Endings restaurant. They speak about the impact that anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, in and around Aston Quay, is having on their businesses and the immediate and long-term solutions they would like to see implemented to address the issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Times Current Affairs Editor Arthur Beesley joins Ciarán Hancock to discuss the recent spike in applications by wealthy Chinese citizens to the Immigrant Investor Programme. The scheme allows applicants, with a minimum net worth of €2 million, to obtain residency in the State, if they invest in the Irish economy. With the number of applications almost tripling in the first nine months of the year, speculation is mounting that the scheme could be closed off. Later on, we hear from Economics Correspondent Cliff Taylor who discusses how rising interest rates, coupled with a slowdown in construction are impacting the housing market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe's surprise move to ease restrictions on pay and bonuses in the banking sector, we look at what it might mean for the three domestic banks and their international competitors. Markets Correspondent, Joe Brennan, also takes us through the rest of the headline-grabbing details in the 220 page Retail Banking Review. Ciaran is also joined by the Irish Times' Karlin Lillington to discuss the €265m fine handed down to Meta this week over its data protection breach. With fines now totalling over €900m, will it have made Mark Zuckerberg sit up and notice? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The need is well above the government's policy targets and we're obsessed with married people who are just about to have children, according to the author of he latest Daft.ie report, economist Ronan Lyons. The latest figures show another quarter of extreme shortages in rental supply. Economics Correspondent, Eoin Burke Kennedy, also joins Ciaran to take a deep dive into the report. We also delve into World Cup sponsorship deals with London marketing expert and former head of the Copa90 football agency, James Kirkham. Are brands getting bang for their buck in one of the most controversial tournaments in decades? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the podcast this week?: Ciara O'Brien on the troubles swirling around Twitter under the leadership of Elon Musk. The company this week met with the Irish Data Protection Commission to discuss concerns about upheaval at the company and how it could impact the safety of users and their data. Joe Brennan on the news that car insurers had a bumper year in 2021, enjoying the highest profits since 2009. The size of awards paid out plummeted but premiums only dipped slightly. Will cheaper premiums be on the way? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.