Irish Times Inside Business

After six weeks of lockdown many shops and restaurants were finally able to reopen last week. How has it been so far? Ciarán is joined by Elaine Murphy, founder director of The Winding Stair Group of restaurants, and Jean McCabe, owner of the Willow boutique in Ennis Co Clare and deputy chair of Retail Excellence Ireland, to discuss their experiences of resuming trade, how they’ve fared in the pandemic and their hopes for 2021.

Later, Cliff Taylor has the latest on the Brexit trade deal negotiations.

Arcadia Group, the retail empire belonging to British businessman Philip Green, has gone into administration. The news this week, puts over 13,000 jobs at risk and a question mark over the future of the company's fashion brands including Topshop, Topman and Dorothy Perkins.

In today’s episode, Laura Slattery is joined by Dubliner Jo Farrelly, former Marketing Director of TopShop, to speak about the history of the iconic clothing store, the famous takeover by the billionaire in 2002 and her eventual departure from the company in 2007, alongside other senior members of management.

Farrelly worked closely with Topshop director Jane Shepherdson to develop the strategy and vision of the brand, turning the once nicknamed ‘Flopshop’ into the coolest store on the high street.

Also in today’s episode, Laura speaks to personal finance journalist Fiona Reddan about the record surge in mortgage approvals in October. With a 23% increase year on year, what does this mean for the market and is it really a good time to buy?

Perhaps sensing we all need a bit of a lift, Irish Times columnist Chris Johns explains why he feels conditions are ripe for robust economic growth in 2021, and outlines things the government should and shouldn't do to help that become a reality.

This podcast is sponsored by Davy.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.