Irish Times Inside Business

This week it’s the business of sport with Ciaran Hancock and Mick O’Keefe of Teneo. Together, they speak with Mick Dawson, CEO of Leinster Rugby and Peter Twiss, Secretary of the Kerry County Board to gain an insight into how Covid-19 has impacted their respective organisations both on and off the pitch. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Some people called it brave. A lot of people called it stupid too!" That's what coffee shop owner Ger O'Donohoe tells Ciaran on this week's podcast about his decision to open a second business in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ciaran also talks to entrepreneur Connor Keppel, who is launching a tech startup. Why did they decide to talk the plunge in these uncertain times, and how is it going for them? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dublin city centre faces a unique threat to its business ecosystem. Retail and hospitality are suffering, tourists are absent, office workers are absent, and new lockdown measures look increasingly likely. To add insult to injury, its wet pubs face yet another delay before being allowed to reopen. Ciaran talks to Mark Paul, business affairs correspondent with The Irish Times, and to Ronan Lynch, proprietor of The Swan pub on Aungier Street and chairman of the Licensed Vintner's Association, about the challenges facing Dublin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland is officially in recession. Recent figures from the CSO, show the economy contracted by 6.1% between April and June, the sharpest decline ever recorded. In today’s episode, Laura Slattery speaks to Irish Times business journalist Eoin Burke-Kennedy about the path the economy might take from here, how we compare to our European counterparts and what challenges lie ahead for Finance Minister Paschal O’Donohoe. Later on, Irish Times technology journalist Ciara O’Brien joins Laura to discuss Google’s recent decision to cancel a major office deal in the capital. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

First up in today’s episode, Cliff Taylor is joined by Dee Ryan, Chief Executive of Limerick Chamber of Commerce and Irish Times reporter Barry O’Halloran to discuss another bleak week in Irish aviation. With reports that Aer Lingus is to move two aircraft from Shannon to the UK, what will this mean for regional connectivity and the industry as a whole? Later on, we’ll hear from Sebastian Barnes, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, who takes a look back at the economic impact of Covid-19 and what we should be expecting in the weeks and months to come. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the many ways that Covid-19 has impacted daily life, is the complete overhaul of the office working environment. Since March, many Irish people have adapted their professional lives to working from home, while others have returned to the office on a staggered basis . In today's episode, we examine what the future holds for the traditional office. Is remote working the way of the future and what will happen to the empty office blocks in our towns and cities? Joining Ciaran to discuss this and more is CEO and Co-founder of Teamwork, Peter Coppinger and Roland O'Connell from Savills, one of Ireland’s leading commercial real estate agents. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Over the past few months we've spoken to many businesspeople in different sectors about their struggles to adapt and survive in the Covid-19 economy. Today we revisit some of them a few months after we first heard from them, to see how things are going. They are: restauranteur JP McMahon, hotelier Des O'Dowd and travel agent Mary McKenna. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim was set up in 2014. In just under six years, the young business has proved a success at home and in international markets, with it’s famous Gunpowder Irish Gin rated amongst the top five premium gins in the US. The distillery is also due to expand with the construction of a €3 million visitor centre in the small town of Drumshanbo. In today’s episode, managing director and founder Pat Rigney speaks to Ciaran Hancock about how the industry is powering through the pandemic and the future of the new visitor centre. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Certain parts of the economy remain almost completely shuttered, either as a result of restrictions or changed consumer behaviour. Can these stricken sectors survive?Cliff Taylor talks to two entrepreneurs, in events and tourism, who say the government must do more or their small businesses will go to the wall.And Eoin Burke Kennedy analyses the news that the reopening of "wet pubs" has been delayed again until August 31st - and probably beyond. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 heard from representatives of Ryanair, Aer Lingus, the DAA and Shannon Group on how Irish aviation has been affected by the pandemic. Irish Times journalist, Barry O’Halloran has the latest. Also, Ann Chapman from Stonechat Jewellers speaks to Ciaran Hancock about expanding her premises in Dublin city centre in March, only to close down the shutters the very same week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week EU leaders agreed a 750 billion euro recovery fund to help member states deal with the economic damage caused by the pandemic. So who were the winners and losers of this deal and what's in it for Ireland? Naomi O'Leary and Cliff Taylor join Ciarán Hancock to discuss. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"No-one expected as unequivocal a ruling as this": Ireland has prevailed in its case against the EU Commission, who claimed that billions in corporation tax were owed by Apple to the Irish exchequer due to its operations here. Europe's second highest court decided that none of the money was taxable here. But why was the case taken in the first place, and what will the EU's next move be in its attempts to shut down tax avoidance? Joe Brennan and Cliff Taylor explain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a report published yesterday the EU downgraded its forecast for the European economy as the impact of Covid-19 beds in. Meanwhile, the government is preparing its July stimulus package. Where should it find and direct its funds? To talk about the economic outlook, Ciaran is joined by Chris Johns and Eoin Burke Kennedy of The Irish Times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Reports this week that AIB will not give mortgages to those in receipt of government-subsidised wages showed the potential impact of Covid-19 on the property market. So how is this closely-watched sector being affected, months into the crisis? John McCartney, director of research at Savills, and Irish Times reporter Jack Horgan-Jones talk to Ciaran Hancock. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As we approach the next phase on the roadmap out of lockdown, many businesses across Ireland are preparing to reopen after three months of closure. In this episode, Ciaran Hancock speaks to Teeling Whiskey co-founder Jack Teeling about the challenges that lie ahead for the Dublin based distillery. Also joining the discussion is Adrian Cummins from the Restaurants Association of Ireland, who is calling for a 1.8 billion euro government bailout of the sector.Plus, Brian Keating from Richie’s Bike Store in Swords gives an insight into how their bicycle business has been operating since reopening in May. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s episode Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty and Irish Times journalist Cliff Taylor join Ciaran Hancock to discuss the economic elements of the new Programme for Government. With very little in the way of costing laid out in their plans to reignite and renew the economy, how will the government pay for all of these new measures? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s episode, Ciaran Hancock is joined by JP McMahon, a chef and restaurant owner from county Galway and by Des O’Dowd a hotelier in Inchydoney, West Cork, to speak about the impact Covid-19 has had on the hospitality trade. They discuss their plans to reopen at the end of the month and share their thoughts on the new guidelines issued this week from Fáilte Ireland. So what does the future hold for McMahon’s three restaurants and how will Inchydoney Lodge and Spa cope with strict social distancing and no-touch spa treatments amongst other new measures? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode, Ciarán Hancock speaks to Francesca McDonagh, Group Chief Executive at Bank of Ireland, about the impact Covid-19 has had on the financial sector. Also on the agenda is the payment breaks obtained by 18,000 Bank of Ireland customers, the likely fall in property prices and when the bank will restore its dividend payment for shareholders. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From lockdown in his home in Monaco, Michael Smurfittalks to business editor Ciarán Hancock about his storiedcareer, his greatest successes and most stinging failures. He also recalls his ownership of The K Club, and criticises Covid-19 reaction he calls a “panic-demic”. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we hear from two seasoned entrepreneurs in two different industries about how they are dealing with the fallout from Covid-19 and the opportunities that will hopefully begin to arise as the economy begins to reopen. How does this compare to past disruptions they have experienced, and what lessons can be applied to this new situation? Rachel Doyle founded Wicklow garden centre Arboretum in 1977 and the family business has since expanded with another store in Carlow. Mary McKenna is one of the country's leading tour operators, of Tour America and Cruise Holidays. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.