Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

With good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front, we look at the companies who have developed vaccines so far, what they mean for the pharma industry and what they mean for the economy. Ciaran talks to Ian Hunter, equity analyst with Canton Fitzgerald and Dominic Coyle of The Irish Times.Plus: Naomi O'Leary on Brexit talks. What are the barriers to a last-minute deal? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US president-elect Joe Biden is expected to restore a calmer US trade and foreign policy when he takes office in January, but after four years of Donald Trump in the White House a lot of work needs to be done to repair transatlantic relations.What impact will the Biden administration have on global trade? What will it mean for Ireland? Will it bring an end to Trump’s damaging trade wars with the EU and China? And, how will it influence Brexit?To tease out these issues, Ciarán is joined by Ibec’s director of policy and public affairs, Fergal O’Brien, and global economist and senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, Megan Greene.Plus: Davy’s chief investment officer, Donough Kilmurray, on this weeks’ markets rally following Biden’s election win and Pfizer’s announcement that the Covid-19 vaccine it is developing with BioNTech has been more than 90 per cent effective in late stage trials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Ciaran Hancock is joined by Pat McCann, Chief Executive of Dalata Hotel Group. McCann last spoke to us on the podcast back in April, as the hotel industry came to terms with the lockdown. So how have things progressed in the seven months since, as restrictions continue and an uncertain year of trading lies ahead. With an average occupancy of just 25% across the group, they discuss the impact of the current level 5 restrictions, how the group is dealing with cases of Covid and what impact a Trump or Biden win will have on the tourism industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish consumer sentiment has fallen again amid concerns of how the latest Covid-19 restrictions will impact income and employment prospects over the next 12 months. How will this play out in the run up to Christmas and how are advertisers responding to the fragile mood? Austin Hughes, chief economist of KBC Bank and Charley Stoney, CEO of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) join Laura Slattery to discuss. Also on today’s episode, Proinsias O’Mahony of The Irish Times, takes a look at how the US election may impact the stock market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From midnight tonight the entire country will move to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, resulting in the closure of many businesses, including all non-essential retail. In today’s episode, Cliff Taylor speaks to Arnold Dillon, Director of Retail Ireland about the impact on trading in the run up to Christmas and how the sector will survive further lockdowns. We also hear from Michael Cronin, the owner of Cronin’s menswear in Cork city centre, who will be closing his shutters this evening until the 1st of December. But first, economist and Irish Times columnist Chris Johns joins Cliff to discuss the impact of the restrictions on the wider economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Budget 2021 is here. A budget like no other, drawn up on the assumptions of a no-deal Brexit and another year without a Covid-19 vaccine. It was delivered today by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath. The package, worth a staggering €17.75 billion euro, is the biggest in the history of the state. In this episode, Irish Times political reporter Jennifer Bray outlines the key points of today’s budget, while Cliff Taylor and Liam Diamond, Tax Partner at PwC Ireland, join Ciaran to discuss the green measures contained within and how this level of spending will affect the state in years to come. Finally, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of ITIC and Patricia Callan, Director of Drinks Ireland take a look at what Budget 2021 has delivered for the tourism and hospitality industries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even before the impact of Covid-19, low interest rates and uncertain markets were making it difficult for investors to find a good place to put their cash. So what impact has months of Covid-19 had on the markets, and what are the best options now for those looking to invest or close to retirement? Ciarán talks to Donough Kilmurray, chief investment officer with Davy. But first he talks to entrepreneur Greg Gormley, owner of Little Ass burrito restaurant in Rathmines, Dublin. Greg's plans to expand were interrupted by the pandemic but now he's about to open a second premises in Temple Bar. He shares his insights on running a restaurant in unusual circumstances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.