Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

The Irish Times
  • 4.3 (79)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock Podcast

A weekly look at business and economics from an Irish perspective hosted by Irish Times Business Editor Ciarán Hancock. Produced in association with EY. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Could office construction in Dublin soon come to a full stop?

    Reports last week highlighted the challenges in the commercial property market, particularly in the offices sector, with some prized assets receiving offers well below the sale prices attached by agents, with banks moving on some borrowers who find they are in breach of their covenants. John McCartney is head of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate and follows the market closely. He joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss the latest moves in the commercial property market. He began by giving some context to what’s happening in the market in terms of valuations and how private equity firms and the banks are currently viewing their exposures. In part two of this week’s episode of Inside Business we hear how a new survey from recruiter IrishJobs noted how AI is increasingly being used in hiring processes. This is happening on both sides of the equation, with candidates using it for their CVs and covering letters and by employers to sift through applications. Ian Curran of The Irish Times reported on the survey and joined us on the line. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

  2. 28 AUG

    Inheritance tax in Ireland: What are the rules, and could they be changed in the budget?

    Inheritance tax has become something of a hot political issue, with hints of change coming in the budget supported by senior Fine Gael members who want to allow people to inherit more without being exposed to tax. But is this justified? Does it simply improve the lot of the better off in society? Or are there real anomalies that need to be addressed? For some insight on this, host Cliff Taylor was joined by Deputy Business Editor of the Irish Times, Dominic Coyle. In the second half of the show, Munro O’Dwyer, a partner with PwC Ireland, discusses potential changes to the current pension regime for high earners. PwC published a document earlier this week that points out some issues with the current €2 million standard fund threshold for pensions, something they want to see changed in the budget.  Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  3. 21 AUG

    What’s happening with Ireland’s housing crisis and where do we go next?

    If you’re trying to buy a home, a report this week from estate agent Sherry FitzGerald on house prices and available stock won’t have lifted your mood. The supply of second-hand properties for sale in Ireland has fallen by almost a third since the pandemic, according to Sherry Fitz figures. And it found that annual house price inflation was running at 5.5 per cent for the 12 months to the end of June, up from 3.4 per cent at the same time last year. Figures from the CSO last week told a similar story. On this episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock picks through the latest data points with Marian Finnegan, managing director of Sherry Fitzgerald, and Eoin Burke Kennedy, economics correspondent with The Irish Times. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  4. 14 AUG

    What to consider when switching to an EV

    The 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 keeping pace? Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation & Head of Department at Trinity College Dublin gives his thoughts. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. This episode was originally published in February 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

  5. 7 AUG

    ‘A matter of days’ from insolvency: How an Irish company came back from the brink

    The Covid-19 pandemic that hit in March 2020 hammered the Irish hospitality and retail sectors. One company that was directly in the firing line was Moriarty’s a family run craft shop and restaurant in the Gap of Dunloe in Kerry that was largely dependent on American visitors for its business. The company survived this near-death experience by becoming one of the first SMEs in Ireland to use a new small company rescue process called Scarp, introduced by the Government at the end of 2021. Having wiped out substantial debts, Moriarty’s is once again thriving, and looking to expand its business beyond the Gap of Dunloe. Denis Pio Moriarty is a son of the founders and runs the business with other family members. He joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to tell his company’s story of surviving the pandemic. He began by recalling Moriarty’s early days, from its opening in 1964 and its growth story up to when the pandemic hit in early 2020. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  6. 31 JUL

    Despite its €725m funding plan, are there still storm clouds on the horizon for RTÉ?

    On this episode of Inside Business we look at the €725 million funding plan the Government has agreed to provide to RTÉ over the next three years. Laura Slattery of The Irish Times sat down with RTÉ chief Kevin Bakhurst last week and not surprisingly he was “really pleased” with the settlement. Laura joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to explain how the settlement provides RTÉ with financial stability over the next three years. Also on the podcast this week, Revolut recently announced its intention to offer mortgages in the Irish market. But there has also been a growing number of complaints about the digital bank from customers who have had their accounts scammed and have run into a brick wall with Revolut in terms of getting the issue resolved. Brendan Burgess is a consumer advocate and runs the website Askaboutmoney.com, we began by asking him for his view on whether Revolut offering home loans would shake up an Irish mortgage market dominated by AIB and Bank of Ireland. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  7. 24 JUL

    ‘With airlines there’s always some volatility'

    This week industrial peace broke out at Aer Lingus when pilots at the airline voted in favour of a pay proposal brokered by the Labour Court, ending weeks of industrial action that disrupted about 86,000 passengers of Aer Lingus. Ryanair also warned of weaker trading and profitability as passengers put a limit on how much they are prepared to pay for a flight. Barry O’Halloran of The Irish Times and Davy equity analyst Stephen Furlong joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss those and other developments in the aviation sector this week. In the second part of this episode, Eoin Burke Kennedy, economics correspondent of The Irish Times, discusses the tax strategy papers released by the Department of Finance on Tuesday, which will help inform policy in October’s budget. They include proposals to introduce congestion charging for motorists and to require people to report inheritances and gifts to Revenue if it exceeds €3000 in value. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min

  8. 17 JUL

    Ireland’s hospitality sector: ‘The customer feels they are not getting value for money’

    This week the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, which represents the broad hospitality sector, made its pre-budget submission to Government. Among the asks, were a return to the 9 per cent VAT rate, more cash from the State to promote the industry and a lifting of the 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport, the country’s main gateway for visitors. So, how is the hospitality sector in Ireland doing given it is peak tourism season and Covid is a distant memory? Host Ciarán Hancock is joined by an expert panel, with Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, Paul Donnellan, Head Chef and Owner of Gemelle’s Restaurant in Galway, and Paul Gallagher, General Manager of Buswells Hotel in Dublin. Paul Donnellan explains why half of his restaurant in Galway city is currently mothballed, while Paul Gallagher outlines the financial hit to Buswells Hotel from recent Aer Lingus flight cancellations and the empty rooms it was left with on the first night of Taylor Swift concerts in Dublin at the end of June. But this episode begins with Eoghan O’Mara Walsh explaining why the industry was once again asking Government to restore the 9 per cent VAT rate. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
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4.3
out of 5
79 Ratings

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A weekly look at business and economics from an Irish perspective hosted by Irish Times Business Editor Ciarán Hancock. Produced in association with EY. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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