Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

Bank 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 Financials Analyst at Goodbody, John Cronin.Also on this week’s episode, Director & Head of Research at BNP Paribas John McCartney was in studio to break down the latest data on commercial property vacancy rates and why they are hitting record levels.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It 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 joined by Cliff Taylor and Irish Times Berlin Correspondent Derek Scally.In the second half of this episode, we look at video-sharing platform TikTok’s restructuring plan that could see a few hundred of its workforce here being impacted. Irish Times technology journalist Ciara O’Brien gives some insight into why restructuring and layoffs has become a common theme in the tech sector over the last 18 months.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.Host Ciarán Hancock is also joined by Markets Correspondent Joe Brennan to get some insight into Denis O’Brien’s business empire after he sold his majority stake in the Beacon Hospital.Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on Sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next 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 with the way the company is being run. Jeff Olin is president, CEO and portfolio manager of Vision Capital and he joins the podcast this week to discuss his issues with IRES.Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With 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 many non-bank ATMs in operation here. Irish Times business and technology journalist Ciara O’Brien thinks plastic and digital are safer, more convenient and more hygienic, but still keeps an emergency tenner on her just in case.Also on this week’s episode, senior business reporter Barry O’Halloran gives us the latest on the pay talks between pilots and Aer Lingus, with the airline’s 8.5% pay offer being rejected. He also has the latest Ryanair profit numbers, information on their new deals with online travel agents and its chief executive Michael O’Leary’s prediction that air fares will continue to rise in Europe this year as many airlines struggle to add capacity.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Employers 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 to discuss the measures. And Irish Times Work Correspondent Emmet Malone brings us up to speed on the public sector pay talks impasse. We hear what the main points of contention are for both sides after discussions stalled last week.Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New 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 joined on the line from the Swiss ski resort town of Davos by Eoin Buke-Kennedy. He is attending the World Economic Forum, which sees the great and the good of politics and commerce come together for the annual event. Headline speakers this year include Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is also in attendance, keen to press home the message that Ireland is a leading location for foreign direct investment. Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing 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 450 acres that could be used to build apartments for up to 80,000 key workers – that’s guards, teachers, nurses and others with key roles in the workforce who find themselves priced out of the Dublin market for accommodation.It's a left-field idea, but will any politician give it their public support?Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Expert gives insight into the slow progress of housing construction in Ireland. Managing director of a restaurant shares challenges faced by cafes and restaurants. Impact of COVID and remote working on city center businesses. The importance of affordable housing and addressing costs in Dublin. Challenges facing the restaurant sector and the need for business support.

An 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 disappointing 2023 for the Chinese economy on the back of a property slowdown of ‘historic proportions’. All is not bleak though, as Denis outlines the push towards a ‘level of higher quality growth’ and the continued drive towards decarbonisation. Plus, could 2024 see China engage in a trade war with the US?Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.