Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

In 2020 Maxol celebrated its 100th year in business, making it the oldest family run oil company in Ireland. As they prepare for their next 100 years in operation, the company have undertaken a major revamp of their forecourt network and convenience shops. In October Ciaran Hancock took a trip out to their flagship outlet in Bray to speak with Maxol’s Chief Executive Brian Donaldson and to Director and family shareholder Noel McMullan. They spoke about the impact of the pandemic on fuel sales, the future of cars and travel and how their business model can align itself with climate change targets set by the government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the flow of Russian gas to Europe in ever more doubt this winter, the EU is grappling with how to ensure adequate energy supplies across its member states. Ireland has secured an exemption from a new EU directive that calls for a 15% reduction in use. But that doesn't mean Ireland can avoid any pain. Barry O'Halloran and Naomi O'Leary join Ciarán Hancock to discuss. Barry also reports on the latest Ryanair news including Q1 results and baggage handling problems.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates this week in an effort to dampen inflation. What will the move mean for consumers, mortgage-holders and the economy? Cliff Taylor explains. But first: This week AIB announced it would no longer provide cash services in many more of its branches across the country. The move has angered some customers, advocates for rural services and bank employees. Ciarán talks to markets correspondent Joe Brennan and Financial Services Union general secretary  John O'Connell about the move. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Shahahan has been at the helm of IDA Ireland since 2014, but will step down from his role as CEO in early 2023. Today he tells Cliff Taylor about his decision to leave after eight years in the job, the progress made in that time and the challenges facing Ireland in attracting high levels of foreign direct investment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UCC economics lecturer Seamus Coffey and Tom McDonnell Co-Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) join Cliff Taylor to discuss the Summer Economic Statement which was published this week and the €6.7 billion budget package poised to tackle the spiralling cost-of-living crisis.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two housing reports delivered two different takes on the Irish property market in the past week. MyHome.ie, which is owned by The Irish Times, suggests that house price growth is slowing in the face of cost-of-living concerns and rising interest rates. However Daft.ie says they’re accelerating, fast approaching the Celtic Tiger peak, amid chronically low levels of supply. So, what’s really going on?In this episode, Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy sheds some light on the differences in the two reports, while Marian Finnegan of Sherry Fitzgerald has the estate agents view from the ground.The European Central Bank is expecting to hike its interest rates from next month, with further increases anticipated as the year rolls on. Cliff Taylor explains what effect those hikes might have on house buying over the next 12 months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week markets worldwide wobbled as investors fretted about a recession and aggressive monetary tightening by central banks.In addition, cryptocurrencies have slumped this year leaving many people nursing major losses. So, is this just a blip, or is there something more fundamental going on? In this episode of The Irish Times Inside Business podcast, Ciarán Hancock is joined by Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times, Aidan Donnelly, head of equities at Irish stockbroker Davy, and Irish Times Washington Correspondent Martin Wall, to make sense of it all and discuss what it might mean for the Irish economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the UK introduced a Bill to unilaterally scrap the Northern Ireland protocol, the post-Brexit set of rules which govern Northern Irish trade. The EU has now launched infringement proceedings against the UK for not complying with significant parts of the deal, which it describes as a clear breach of international law. Ciarán is joined by Public Affairs Editor Simon Carswell, chief executive of Manufacturing Northern Ireland Stephen Kelly and Robert Sweeney, a policy analyst at TASC, to discuss this standoff over the protocol. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government plans to introduce a 20c tax on all single-use takeaway coffee cups in a bid to make Ireland the first country in the world to eliminate their use.The so-called ‘latte levy’ forms part of the Circular Economy Bill, which aims to introduce world-leading moves to reduce waste and influence behaviour.Nearly half a million takeaway cups are sent to landfill or incineration every day. So why do some claim that the proposal won’t achieve its aims?In today’s episode of the Inside Business podcast, we hear from Dairine Keogh, owner of the Clement and Pekoe coffee shops in Dublin, about her views on the tax.Presenter Laura Slattery also speaks to managing director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham, and Sadhbh O’Neill, an assistant professor at Dublin City University and lecturer in climate policy and environmental politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tourism and air travel have rebounded strongly in 2022 after two years of pandemic restrictions. But both are also facing major issues around pricing, staff and availability of product.Hotelier Lorraine Sweeney and Irish Times Business Affairs Correspondent Mark Paul outline some of the problems faced by the hospitality sector. Ciarán is also joined by aviation expert, Joe Gill of Goodbody, to discuss how airlines across Europe are faring and whether the queuing at Dublin Airport will have a lasting impact on Ireland’s reputation as a tourism destination. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.