Irish Times Inside Business
535 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsA weekly look at business and economics from an Irish perspective hosted by Irish Times Business Editor Ciarán Hancock. Produced in association with EY.
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Episodes
A third terminal at Dublin Airport - urgent necessity or pie in the sky?
April 17, 2024 15:01 - 44 minutes - 82.3 MBOn this week’s episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by aviation entrepreneur Ulick McEvaddy. With his brother Des, Ulick has established a successful aviation business over the past 40 years called Omega. He and Des also own a large parcel of land beside Dublin Airport. Along with two other landowners, it amounts to 260 acres and was put on the market for sale in the middle of last year. With no sale agreed, they subsequently submitted a concept plan to...
The auto-enrolment pension scheme seems good on paper, but how will it actually work?
April 10, 2024 16:22 - 32 minutes - 59.7 MBOn this week’s episode of the Inside Business podcast, we look at the pension pots that auto enrolment could deliver for workers on an average wage. The State is planning to establish the scheme for workers who do not already have pension cover in their workplace. It has been much delayed but is moving forward and EY this week crunched the numbers to see what workers might get by way of a pension when they retire. Dominic Coyle of the Irish Times reported on EY’s figures and joined h...
Declining electric car sales: ‘depreciation is wild at the moment’
April 03, 2024 14:22 - 37 minutes - 69.5 MBFigures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry this week showed that electric car sales are in reverse, falling by 14 per cent year on year in March. This compared with double digit increases in the sales of petrol and hybrid car. Even diesel sales rose by 9 per cent. Meanwhile a survey by AA Ireland found that half of the 1000 respondents would not opt to buy an electric car. Why the hesitance to go electric? And what can be done to incentivise people to buy EVs? Irish Tim...
In Profile: Barry Napier, Irish Times Business Person of the Year 2023
March 27, 2024 16:54 - 47 minutes - 86.9 MBIn this episode of Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Chief executive and founder of Cubic Telecom, Barry Napier. In a wide-ranging interview, Barry discusses his formative years in Ireland and Chicago, his early career before joining Cubic more than 15 years ago and the key entrepreneurial lessons he has learned along the way. He also gives his thoughts on why Japanese telecoms giant SoftBank shelled out €473 million for a 51 per cent controlling stake in Cubic las...
What is behind Bitcoin's remarkable recovery?
March 20, 2024 15:41 - 25 minutes - 47.3 MBIt feels like recent history repeating itself with TikTok again facing a ban in the US on national security grounds. A Bill passed through the House of Representatives last week requiring a change in ownership for the social media platform or it would face a total ban in the United States. What if the ban becomes a reality? Host Laura Slattery is joined by Irish Times technology expert Ciara O’Brien to discuss the potential consequences for the hugely popular app that currently has 170 mill...
Should banks be on the hook for access to cash into the future here?
March 13, 2024 17:57 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBWith the use of cash declining in recent years, a trend accelerated by the pandemic, the Access to Cash Bill is designed to manage future cash demand here, initially preserving the cash infrastructure at December 2022 levels. To discuss the Access to Cash Bill and its potential impact on the three retail banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB), Ciarán Hancock is joined by CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland, Brian Hayes. Also on this episode, Irish Times Economics Correspo...
Is Ireland in recession?
March 06, 2024 14:39 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBWith unemployment low, strong exchequer returns and an economy at full capacity, there isn’t much to suggest that Ireland has tipped into a recession. But the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show the economy contracting by 3.2 per cent in GDP (gross domestic product) terms in 2023. Should that be cause for alarm? Host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy for a thorough look at where Ireland’s economy is right now. Later in this episode of Inside Bu...
Why did Bank of Ireland shares plummet despite record profits?
February 28, 2024 16:56 - 46 minutes - 53.8 MBBank of Ireland were in the strange position on Monday of reporting pre-tax profits of €1.94bn for 2023, up from €1bn in 2022, but seeing their share price plunge by over 10pc. There was also the announcement of a €1.15bn of dividends and share buybacks. To make sense of Bank of Ireland’s latest results, along with some insight into what this year is likely to have in store for the three main banks here, host Ciarán Hancock was joined by Irish Times Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan and Fin...
Germany in recession: What does it mean for Ireland and the EU?
February 21, 2024 16:03 - 35 minutes - 40.3 MBIt was not good news for Europe’s largest economy on Monday when the Bundesbank announced during its regular monthly report that Germany was officially in recession. A range of factors, including weak external demand and cautious consumers, have contributed to the fourth straight quarter of zero or negative growth. But what does a German recession mean for the euro zone and Ireland? And are there any indications of when Germany’s economy will likely turn a corner? Host Ciarán Hancock is joi...
Electric vehicle prices are tumbling, but is it all good news for the customer?
February 14, 2024 15:44 - 31 minutes - 36 MBThe high price of electric cars has long been seen as a barrier for those looking to switch from the traditional combustion-engine car to an EV, but that is now changing with many car makers slashing their prices. But what is driving prices down and what impact will it have on the second-hand EV market here? Irish Times writer specialising in motoring Neil Briscoe explains. And what of the broader picture for EV usage here, how do we compare to other countries and is charging infrastructure...
Vision Capital vs IRES REIT: trouble brewing at Ireland’s largest private landlord
February 07, 2024 17:05 - 33 minutes - 38 MBNext week the battle between listed property landlord IRES REIT and its 5% dissident shareholder Vision Capital will come to a head at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in Dublin. IRES is the biggest private landlord in the state with more than 3,700 apartments. On the face of it IRES is performing well, however the share price has struggled and a government-imposed 2% annual cap on rents is a potential drag on the business. Vision Capital owns 5% of IRES and is not happy ...
‘It’s a fool who turns down money’
January 31, 2024 16:13 - 30 minutes - 34.9 MBWith ATMs now an endangered species, the Access to Cash Bill, recently announced by Minister for Finance Michael McGrath, would oblige banks to maintain access to cash dispensers at December 2022 levels. But should cash play an important role in our economy into the future? Ciaran Hancock is joined this week by Vincent Jennings, Chief Executive Officer of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association who feels that cash has an important role to play and would welcome oversight of the ...
‘To blame the lowest paid for challenges in our economy is cheap’
January 24, 2024 17:59 - 52 minutes - 60.6 MBEmployers group Ibec’s chef executive Danny McCoy sent an open letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Monday calling for a pause on labour policy measures to avoid ‘uncoordinated and cumulative’ costs to businesses. Those measures include upping the national minimum wage and increases in employer Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI). In response, Owen Reidy, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, labelled Mr McCoy’s proposals as “short termist”. They joined host Ciarán Hancock ...
Is the restriction on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport doing untold damage to our economy?
January 17, 2024 15:24 - 39 minutes - 44.8 MBNew research commissioned by Aer Lingus points to the current restrictions on passenger capacity at Dublin Airport potentially costing the Irish economy €1.4 billion for every 1 million passengers not allowed to arrive into the airport. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Aer Lingus, Donal Moriarty, joined host Ciaran Hancock in studio to discuss the findings of the report and the likely implications for the airline in terms of its own growth at Dublin Airport this year and next. And we are ...
Is it time to start building homes on Dublin’s main parks?
January 11, 2024 16:04 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBHousing is undoubtedly the biggest domestic issue on the political agenda right now, with a focus recently on the long commutes being faced by workers in certain key roles in Dublin. So, it is perhaps timely that a new report has been launched with a potential solution to this thorny issue. Authored by veteran businessman Paschal Taggart and young law graduate Luke Cantwell, the report has suggested that the State should shave 10 per cent of land off Dublin’s major parks that could free up ...
Housing in 2024: ‘several more years before we see the quantity of houses we need’
January 03, 2024 15:22 - 31 minutes - 35.9 MBWhat awaits those looking to buy or sell property this year? Will the beginnings of an uplift in supply last year gain momentum in 2024? And will price inflation in rural areas continue to outstrip Dublin? Managing Director of Residential & Advisory at Sherry Fitzgerald, Marian Finnegan, gives her expert view. According to figures compiled by the Restaurant Association of Ireland, 228 food-led hospitality business have closed since July 2023. Why are so many cafes and restaurants strugglin...
What’s in store for 2024?
December 27, 2023 14:47 - 42 minutes - 48.4 MBAn Post CEO David McRedmond joins Ciarán Hancock to discuss a stellar year for the company with a move to a new HQ, a €30 million government loan repaid and some six million packages delivered this December. He also gives his predictions on how Ireland’s economy will perform in 2024, the impact of new EU directives on sustainability and whether hybrid working will continue. Ciarán is also joined on the line by Irish Times China Correspondent Denis Staunton to discuss what was a disappointin...
2023: The year in business
December 20, 2023 16:48 - 49 minutes - 57 MBWith the dust settling on 2023, Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined by an esteemed panel to pore over the big stories from the world of media and tech and the economy. Cliff Taylor explains the notable slowdown in domestic growth here, despite the rosy picture that strong corporate receipt returns continues to paint. A lower level of discretionary spending is putting real pressure on smaller businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector – could a glut of closures follow i...
Are cheaper energy prices finally on the way for Irish consumers?
December 13, 2023 15:03 - 33 minutes - 38.4 MBEnergy provider SSE Airtricity is set to cut its prices for the second time in recent months. Conor Pope joins Ciarán Hancock to discuss whether this move from one of Ireland’s four main energy companies will spark a price war given the high prices Irish consumers are forking out for gas and electricity. And it was an Epic loss for Google on Monday as a US court ruled their app store to be uncompetitive. Fortnite maker Epic Games brought the case having been unhappy with the current arrange...
IKEA's Irish store is its best performer globally
December 07, 2023 05:30 - 36 minutes - 41.5 MBIKEA is one of the biggest retailers in the world and according to its latest sales results, IKEA’s store in Ballymun had over three million customers walk through its doors in the last 12 months, making it the Swedish retailer’s best performing outlet globally. Since it opened its doors in 2009, the store in north Dublin has attracted 40 million customers to date, and now has a workforce of over 730 people. Marsha Smith, IKEA’s Deputy Country Manager for UK & Ireland, joined host Ciarán Ha...
Christmas time is ‘make or break’ for booksellers
November 29, 2023 15:39 - 34 minutes - 40.1 MBThey are the ideal stock-filler - inexpensive, entertaining with a huge amount of choice, so it’s no surprise that Dubray Books shift a serious number of titles over the festive period. Ciarán Hancock is joined by Managing Director of Dubray Books, Maria Dickenson, to discuss another good year for the retailer, weathering the challenges of audio and eBooks, bouncing back from Covid and what title she has read three times already this year. Produced by John Casey, with JJ Vernon on sound. ...
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme * (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
November 22, 2023 16:07 - 33 minutes - 38.8 MBThe Government’s landmark auto-enrolment scheme for pensions has moved closer to being a reality with the Department of Social Protection now saying that the process of finding a company to build and run the system will begin in earnest. But after years of delay and missed deadlines, will the scheme be up and running by the second half of 2024? What will the impact be for SMEs across the country? And is this a major step towards eventually eradicating the State pension? To tease out the de...
Will a new direction for RTÉ ensure the broadcaster’s long-term future?
November 14, 2023 21:16 - 36 minutes - 41.2 MBOn this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times journalist Laura Slattery to discuss the latest twist in the RTÉ saga. A new strategic report, entitled ‘A New Direction for RTÉ’, has been delivered to the government by director general Kevin Bakhurst, it outlines a range of changes designed to get the broadcaster back on a sound financial footing. The main takeaway for RTÉ staff will be the 400 job cuts being sought by 2028, representing a 20 per cent ...
How to balance the demands of a career and competitive sport
November 08, 2023 17:26 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBWith seven wins from the last ten championships, the Dublin football team are expected to be in the mix for the All-Ireland every year. Playing for Dublin means carrying that expectation, but it also means juggling a professional career and the demands of competitive sport. Dublin footballers Dean Rock and John Small sat down with Ciarán Hancock to discuss the balancing act of winning 15 All-Ireland medals between them, while also excelling in their careers as utility consultants with Procu...
Is the euro zone drifting into recession?
November 01, 2023 15:56 - 36 minutes - 42.3 MBWith inflation dropping to its lowest levels in two years across the euro zone, 10 straight interest rate hikes from the European Central Bank seem to be having the desired effect. But attention now turns to stagnating growth across the bloc, with GDP (gross domestic product) falling by 0.1 per cent between July and September. And with Ireland having the largest quarterly decline in GDP (-1.8 per cent) in the third quarter, the State’s highly volatile GDP numbers were cited as one of the fac...
Could a Supreme Court decision have huge implications for workers in the gig economy?
October 25, 2023 15:23 - 30 minutes - 34.7 MBIn a decision that has important implications for workers in the gig economy here, a Supreme Court ruling last week found that delivery drivers for a pizza restaurant should be treated as employees and not contractors. Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times Work Correspondent Emmet Malone and employment solicitor Anne O’Connell to tease out the potential ramifications for businesses and workers alike. And after Web Summit’s CEO Paddy Cosgrave decision to step down from his role following ...
Will co-hosting Euro 2028 be of any real benefit to Irish football?
October 18, 2023 15:21 - 48 minutes - 55.4 MBWith Ireland confirmed as co-hosts for Euro 2028 along with the UK, could the tournament be a catalyst for positive change when it comes to the standards of training and facilities within the domestic game here? And while tournament football under the floodlights of the Aviva is a tantalising prospect, will Ireland even qualify? Ciarán Hancock is joined by Irish Times Soccer Correspondent Gavin Cummiskey and CEO of Teneo Ireland Michael O’Keefe to tease out the pros and cons of hosting an i...
Budget 2024: What it means for households and businesses
October 10, 2023 17:27 - 37 minutes - 43 MBCiaran Hancock is joined by guests to pore over the main elements of Budget 2024. The €14 billion package includes notable measures such as the threshold for higher income tax rate rising to €42,000, a €12 weekly increase to welfare and pension payments, and mortgage interest rate tax relief. On the panel: Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor, The Irish Times Loretta O’Sullivan, Chief Economist and Partner, EY Ireland Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive, ISME Jennifer Bray, Political Correspond...
The cost of climate change: ‘almost like driving another budget through public finances’
October 04, 2023 13:17 - 38 minutes - 44.5 MBA new report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council points to the cost of climate change to the Government rising to billions by the end of this decade. On this week’s Inside Business, host Cliff Taylor is joined by IFAC’s chief economist Dr. Eddie Casey to go through the key points contained in 'What Climate Change Means for Ireland's Public Finances' and the calculations for what the government may have to spend to attempt to achieve our emissions reduction targets. Also on this week’s ep...
Are the EU and China edging towards a trade war?
September 27, 2023 13:43 - 33 minutes - 37.8 MBThe EU’s trade commissioner is unhappy with the vague nature of two new Chinese security laws, laws which he feels are putting European investment there at risk. Speaking to host Ciarán Hancock, Irish Times China correspondent Denis Staunton told Inside Business how these concerns were raised at the recent EU-China High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue, along with other concerns around Beijing’s neutral stance on the war in Ukraine and the huge inroads Chinese electric vehicles are making...
‘These housing demand forecasts are not worth the paper they’re written on’
September 20, 2023 14:51 - 37 minutes - 42.8 MBJoining Ciaran Hancock this week is Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy who has the latest figures from the CSO, which point to rising house prices outside Dublin, but house prices in the capital continuing to fall. Has supply finally caught up with demand? And the significant slowdown in commercial construction here would usually be viewed as bad news, not so according to John McCartney, Director, Head of Research at BNP Paribas Real Estate, he explains that this is in f...
Will Apple’s new iPhone 15 have consumers rushing to upgrade?
September 13, 2023 14:28 - 29 minutes - 33.6 MBAfter attending the glitzy launch of Apple’s new iPhone 15 range in California, Irish Times business and technology journalist Ciara O’Brien joins host Ciaran Hancock to pore over the incremental changes in the company’s new handsets. They are lighter, stronger and have a better camera, but with the iPhone 15 Pro starting at €1,239, are they worth the money? Plus, we go to journalist Hugo McCafferty in Italy to hear how a blue crab invasion is wreaking havoc on the seafood industry there. ...
Budget 2024: 'You might have a bit of a bonanza in terms of one-off spending'
September 06, 2023 15:20 - 43 minutes - 49.5 MBBudget 2024 is only a matter of weeks away, with the government flagging a package of measures amounting to €6.4 billion. So, what can we expect from this budget, and will we see any surprises with a general election on the horizon? Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times and Head of Tax at EY, Kevin McLoughlin, give Ciaran Hancock their predictions when it comes to areas such as housing, social welfare, tax reform and one-off cost-of-living measures. And Cliff Taylor supplies the economic ...
‘We are in unchartered waters on health insurance pricing’
August 30, 2023 14:45 - 38 minutes - 43.9 MBSelecting the correct health insurance policy can seem like a minefield at the best of times, but with premiums going up across the board this year, it feels especially difficult. Speaking to Cliff Taylor on this week’s Inside Business, Dermot Goode of Totalhealthcover.ie explains the reasons behind the increases and points out that consumers are ‘going to have to shop around’ if they want to stay within their budget. And why are so many sectors struggling with staff recruitment and reten...
‘There’s no farming without profit, it’ll be gone in the morning if there isn’t money’
August 23, 2023 14:44 - 38 minutes - 44 MBFarming In Ireland can often feel like a gamble, with external factors like Brexit, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine often impacting a producer’s bottom line. Speaking to Ciaran Hancock on this week’s Inside Business, Rob Coleman, a tillage farmer in North Cork, and Shane McAuliffe, a pig farmer based in Kerry, point out that it’s not just the weather forecast that influences their decisions with input costs proving extremely expensive over the last 18 months. Another challenge that Ro...
Will ending the 9% VAT rate spell disaster for the hospitality sector?
August 16, 2023 15:39 - 37 minutes - 43.4 MBWith the temporary 9% VAT rate for hospitality set to return to 13.5% at the end of August, what impact could that have on a sector still finding its feet post-pandemic? Ciaran Hancock gets some insights on the multitude of challenges facing the sector from hotelier Lorraine Sweeney and chef & restaurateur JP McMahon – challenges that already include rising food prices, huge electricity bills, and a staffing crisis across the sector. Plus, Irish Times Political Correspondent Jennifer Bray ...
Challenging times ahead for Irish Stock Exchange as big companies look to the US
August 09, 2023 15:52 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBWith cement giant CRH shifting its primary listing to the New York stock exchange and noises that gambling group Flutter could soon follow suit, the Irish stock exchange is facing significant challenges. Will there be moves to make the domestic stock exchange easier to join? Perhaps a vibrant junior exchange could provide a solution? Ciaran Hancock gets the thoughts of Current Affairs Editor with the Irish Times, Arthur Beesley and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, Ronan Reid. And Irish T...
Accenture job cuts: Staff ‘distraught and devastated’ after announcement
August 02, 2023 14:30 - 44 minutes - 51.2 MBThis week Accenture announced they are to cut a further 890 staff from their Irish workforce. The news comes just months after their last round of redundancies, which saw 400 staff let go from the company in March. To discuss the job losses, the reaction from staff and the wider issues facing the tech sector, Ciarán Hancock is joined by Ian McArdle, Deputy Secretary General of the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) and by Phil Codd, Managing Director of Expleo in Ireland. Hosted on Acast....
What are the big challenges facing the aviation sector post-pandemic?
July 26, 2023 14:56 - 53 minutes - 61.1 MBOn this week’s episode of Inside Business, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, Willie Walsh, and Founder and managing director of Tour America and Cruise Holidays, Mary McKenna, join Ciarán Hancock to discuss where the aviation sector finds itself post-Covid. Has air travel demand fully recovered? Are fares going to continue to rise? And will sustainable aviation fuel be the key to net zero emissions across the sector by 2050? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
The latte levy: ‘Consumers want to do the right thing’
July 19, 2023 13:00 - 37 minutes - 43.3 MBWill Government’s plan for a 20c tax on disposable coffee cups have the desired effect or could it end up hurting businesses? On this week’s episode of Inside Business, co-owner of Olive’s Room restaurant and co-founder of Vytal Ireland, Michelle Moloughney, gives Cliff Taylor her thoughts on the divisive levy. And Irish Times business and technology journalist Ciara O’Brien on why she has been writing about Irish tech firm Intercom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
The Irish economy has grown rapidly in recent years, how long can it continue?
July 05, 2023 13:47 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBOn this week’s episode of Inside Business with Ciarán Hancock, Chief Economist at Davy, Conall MacCoille, explains why labour shortages and capacity pressures are putting the brakes on growth in some sectors here. And Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy runs through the headline details from both the exchequer receipts and the Summer Economic Statement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are the key challenges when attracting new investment here?
June 28, 2023 13:09 - 50 minutes - 58.2 MBOn this week’s episode of Inside Business with Ciarán Hancock, IDA chief executive Michael Lohan tells us how housing, energy supply and a ready pipeline of new talent are need to keep Foreign Direct Investment flowing into the country. Michael and EY partner Feargal de Freine discuss a new report from EY covering 44 European countries on where Ireland sits in the competition for foreign direct investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is mortgage interest relief a really bad idea?
June 21, 2023 15:45 - 44 minutes - 51.1 MBWith the European Central Bank raising rates to a 22-year high, should Sinn Féin’s proposal for an introduction of mortgage interest relief be entertained by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien? Brendan Burgess, founder of the consumer forum, askaboutmoney.com, thinks it is a poorly thought-out plan. As he tells host Ciarán Hancock, despite the increases in mortgage rates, most mortgage holders are not in distress and can cope with the higher interest. And with corporation tax receipts lik...
‘You can’t decarbonize without digitization, you can’t increase digitization without data centres’
June 14, 2023 15:06 - 32 minutes - 37.7 MBWith the latest CSO figures pointing to data centres in the Republic using as much electricity as urban households last year despite an effective moratorium on new connections to the grid in the Greater Dublin Area, does the proliferation of data centres here in recent times represent a real threat to our carbon emissions goals? Ciaran Hancock is joined by Irish Times Business Reporter Ian Curran to talks us through what those latest CSO figures mean, while Director of Cloud Infrastructure ...
Accountability for bankers and how it will work
June 07, 2023 13:36 - 46 minutes - 52.9 MBFifteen years on from the 2008 financial crash, a new accountability regime is due to come into force in Ireland for senior executives in the financial services industry here. In March, the Central Bank launched a three-month consultation period on key aspects of the Individual Accountability Framework for bankers. Derville Rowland is Deputy Governor at the Central Bank of Ireland with responsibility in this area, and she joined Ciaran Hancock to explain how this new regime will work...
'They are like heroin addicts, spending more and more money': The US debt ceiling explained
May 31, 2023 15:50 - 37 minutes - 42.8 MBIn the United States, the legislative limit on the amount of national debt that can be incurred by the US Treasury has reached its absolute limit. As it stands, the US government is limited by law to borrowing no more than $31.4 trillion, this debt ceiling is routinely reached, but once that happens Congress can simply vote to raise the ceiling and allow the US to borrow more money, and thus continue to pay the nation’s debts. This time around, Republicans have put pressure on President Joe...
Crisp entrepreneur Tom Keogh on tasting success in a crowded market
May 24, 2023 14:16 - 56 minutes - 65.1 MBTom Keogh delves into the 200-year history of his family's farm business in north county Dublin, the pivots those before him were forced to make, and how ingenious branding and marketing helped Keogh's stand out in a crowded market. We also hear how a conversation with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration official inspired Tom to start making crisps, the challenge of taking on Tayto, and how the pandemic was actually good for business. Plus, with Keogh's crisps boasting some eighteen flavou...
Norman Crowley on the business of decarbonisation
May 17, 2023 15:37 - 42 minutes - 97.2 MBCork entrepreneur Norman Crowley has signed a deal with a leading global mining company to retrofit some 8,500 diesel mining trucks into electric vehicles over the next three years, with much of this work to take place at sites in the Republic, he tells Ciaran Hancock on today's podcast. Norman's company Cool Planet Group will carry out some of the work at a new factory it has just completed at Powerscourt, Co Wicklow. He returns to the podcast to talk about how the businesses that make ...
IT Business Person of the Year Barry Connolly on 'fulfilling' his business goals
May 10, 2023 12:08 - 45 minutes - 52.5 MBBarry Connolly scooped the award for Business Person of the Year in February at the fifth annual Irish Times Business Awards. He joined Ciaran at the time for a wide-ranging chat about his successful career to date. Barry is co-founder of nutrition bar ‘Fulfil’, which was sold in April of last year for a reported €160 million to confectionary giant Ferrero. After giving his reaction to receiving this most prestigious of awards, he explained how he developed a range of protein bars that too...
Should the League of Ireland be an all-island competition?
May 03, 2023 14:01 - 45 minutes - 52.2 MBThe fact that winning the League of Ireland Premier Division is less lucrative than a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying round tie speaks volumes about the financial state of football here. Could government intervention have a positive impact? Perhaps a redistribution of the tax income from betting is a good place to start. And with facilities from a bygone era still a feature throughout the country, are too many clubs attempting to play professional football on the island? On toda...