Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

This week: Ryanair pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a one-day strike on Thursday of next week. Thousands of holidaymakers face disruption after 99 per cent backed industrial action in a union ballot. Barry O’Halloran explains how it has come to this.And, as the unemployment rate falls to its lowest level since October 2007, hitting 5.1 per cent in June, economist Jim Power joins Ciaran Hancock, Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy for a discussion on the current state of the Irish economy and what needs to be prioritised in October’s budget. But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the week’s other stories including an internal investigation at FBD concerning chief executive Fiona Muldoon and an increase in used car imports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Bill compelling employers to publish data on their gender pay gaps received Cabinet approval this week. Speaking on today's podcast, Marguerite Bolger SC, an expert in employment law, says it's welcome news but other measures are needed to increase the number of women in better paid roles. She joins Ciarán Hancock and Irish Times journalist Laura Slattery to discuss the pros and cons of the Bill and what impact it might have. Later in the show: As the deadline for this year's Irish Times Innovation Awards approaches, Ciarán talks to John Browne, CEO of last year's winner Kastus. The company produces anti-microbial technology, which has been making waves internationally since taking the top award for 2017. This year's deadline is Friday July 6th.But first, as always, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the week's other stories, including IMF MD Christine Lagarde's visit to Dublin this week and why motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson has fallen foul of Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rip it up and start again - That's what is needed to tackle the housing crisis, according to Orla Hegarty, a lecturer and an assistant professor of Architecture at UCD. On today's episode, she tells Ciaran that tinkering with existing policy isn't working for anybody and a whole new approach is what is needed. She is joined by president of the Construction Industry Federation and managing director of John Flanagan Developments, Dominic Doheny, and Irish Times business journalist Eoin Burke-Kennedy to discuss the problems blighting the construction sector.In the second half of the show, Ciaran talks to former head of AIB and current chief executive of Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks, David Duffy, about his group's take-over of Virgin Money in a £1.7 billion (€1.94 billion) deal.But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of the week's news, including the Summer Economic Statement and Apple chief Tim Cook's visit to Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Ireland a tax haven?It’s a case of semantics it seems, but what really matters is that many countries see Ireland as the bad guy when it comes to tax.On this week’s podcast, Mark Paul, Cliff Taylor and Barry O’Halloran join Ciarán to discuss a study from the Universities of Copenhagen and Berkeley in California, which labels Ireland “the world’s biggest tax haven” and states that profits moved through the Republic topped the Caribbean.Also on the show: Has Nama done a good job? And, as it becomes clear that there is a majority in favour of a soft Brexit in Westminster, what does it mean for Theresa May?But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the other stories hitting the headlines this week, including a Revenue crackdown on AirBnB hosts, Dublin makes world’s most expensive list and Wetherspoons to cut champagne after Brexit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First Peter Hamilton has a roundup of the week's major business news including the conviction of former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm, more data problems for Facebook, Italian markets and the collapse of building company Sammon. Then our markets correspondent Joe Brennan explains how the proposed acquisition of Smurfit Kappa by IP fell apart and what comes next. Finally we're joined by Seamus Coffey, chairman of the Fiscal Advisory Council, and business journalist Eoin Burke Kennedy to talk about the latest FAC report which paints a positive picture of the Irish economy. But the underlying weak budgetary position has not changed, says Mr Coffey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it’s our regular Business of Sport section and for that, we’re joined again by Mick O’Keeffe of Teneo PSG.In just over a fortnight’s time, the 2018 Fifa World Cup kicks off in Russia, with the tournament likely to generate billions for both the association and the local economy.Patrick Nally is considered the founding father of modern sports marketing and the man responsible for the commercial resurrection of the Fifa World Cup, brokering a sponsorship deal for the tournament with Coca Cola that lasted for four decades.He talks to Ciarán Hancock and Mick O’Keefe about Fifa’s toxic image in recent years, how that has led to a loss of trust in the brand and why this might be the first World Cup since 1978 that he won’t be attending.Also in this episode, Marc Bennetts, a Moscow-based journalist who has written for The Times, The Guardian and Politico, on what preparations have been like on the ground in Russia.But first, Ciarán and Mick discuss the major sport business themes of the month, including a number of big Irish sponsorship and broadcast rights deals, sports betting in the US and a move by the Irish Open to Lahinch, Co Clare in 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economist Megan Greene talks to Cliff Taylor about market turbulence in Italy sparked by political upheaval. They also look at trade tensions between the US and China. Later, Joe Gill of Goodbody Stockbrokers and Eoin Burke-Kennedy on the response of investors to results at two Irish companies: Greencore and Ryanair. But first, Laura Slattery has a roundup of some of the week’s other stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IMF's urged the Government not to cut taxes in the upcoming budget, to protect against future fiscal shocks. DCU professor of economics Edgar Morgenroth, Cliff Taylor and Eoin Burke-Kennedy discuss why Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe would do well to heed the warning, contained in the fund's latest assessment of State’s economic performance.They also discuss whether Ireland is headed for another property bubble, if it is time for price parity between petrol and diesel, and why the government must get the planning for MetroLink right, if it is get any bang for its buck. But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the week’s other stories, including Glanbia chief executive Siobhán Talbot being named The Irish Times Business Person of the Year for 2018 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The timber industry contributes about €2.3 billion to the Irish economy each year and supports 12,000 jobs in rural Ireland. But with some 78 per cent of the output exported overseas, the implications of Brexit are obvious. To discuss this industry and the threat it faces, Ciarán is joined by Coillte CEO Fergal Leamy, John Murray, owner of Murray Timber, and Lucinda Creighton, MD of Vulcan Consulting. But first Eoin Burke Kennedy is here to talk about his selection of the day's major business news, including soaring property prices, Google and Facebook backing away from political advertising and a proposed levy on diesel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A row has erupted over a controversial decision by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown county council to place land around Leopardstown racecourse on its Vacant Sites Register. Olivia Kelly and Barry O'Halloran have the details on the story. Later, Davy's chief economist Conall Mac Coille on the stockbroker's latest upbeat economic forecasts. But first, Peter Hamilton has a roundup of some of the other stories this week, including the EU’s Multi Annual Financial Framework and mixed news on Ireland’s cost of living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.