Irish Times Inside Business

On Monday, the motor trade will be allowed to reopen their aftersales departments, but still face restrictions on their car sales operations. Many dealers are growing increasingly frustrated by the impact on sales and the threat of job losses. In today’s episode Ciaran Hancock speaks to Stephen Gleeson, managing director of Hyundai Ireland who is calling for showrooms and garages to open from May 18th. Meanwhile, the online sales of car parts have seen a sharp increase in the last few weeks. Ciaran Crean founder of the website Micksgarage.com discusses the growth in demand since the lockdown was introduced.

Like most industries, the Irish pub sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 crisis. Under the current restrictions set out by the government in their roadmap to opening the economy, pubs must remain closed until August 10th 2020. Publicans argue this will put many out of business and have put forward a proposal to open six weeks earlier than planned. Joining Ciaran to discuss what the future might look like for Irish pubs is Donall O’Keeffe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association and John Gleeson who runs Gleesons of Booterstown.

Mark Fitzgerald is founder and chairman of real estate firm Sherry Fitzgerald. He talks to Ciarán about the housing market's difficulties and resilience in the time of Coronavirus. Despite the worsening economic situation, he insists there is no drop-off in demand from buyers yet and predicts prices will recover in 2021. Mark predicts a drop in new housing builds this year of between eight and ten thousand, and calls for the next government to ensure a resulting shortfall is made up in the years ahead.

An Post is one of the companies on the frontline of the Covid-19 outbreak. CEO David McRedmond talks to Ciaran Hancock about how the organisation is adapting to serve the public during the Covid-19 outbreak, and also about the future of letters, post offices, parcels and the financial services that are an increasingly important part of their offering.

Borrowers financially impacted by Covid-19 could be offered a six-month break on their mortgage payments if talks between the banks’ lobbying body and the Central Bank of Ireland are successful, according to Brian Hayes, chief executive of the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland and today's Inside Business guest.

Business representative group Ibec CEO Danny McCoy talsk to Ciaran Hancock about the plight of businesses, the effectiveness of state support and the importance of getting state cash into businesses fast.

Pat McCann, founder of hotel group Dalata, says this crisis is worse than the many previous recessions and crises of his career all put together - but he says Dalata has the strength to survive, even if, as he believes, restrictions remain in place until late 2020. He talks to business editor Ciaran Hancock.

From the Inside Business team, thanks to our listeners for their patience while we have been on hiatus for the past fortnight.

In today’s episode, Irish Times journalists Joe Brennan and Mark Paul join host Laura Slattery to discuss the evolving economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. In a week that began with Black Monday, the greatest global stock market crash since 2008, what emergency measures are now being taken across the world to ease the economic impact? And how will the Irish tourism sector survive the biggest challenge it has faced in decades?

Plus Cork native Emer Downing joins Laura on the line from her home in Bergamo, Italy to speak about daily life under lockdown. Emer is a primary school teacher and is delivering all her lessons online through Google Classroom.

On today's podcast:

Has Covid-19 changed the outlook for the Irish economy? Cliff Taylor talks to Conall Mac Coille, Chief Economist at Davy Stockbrokers. 

We find out about an all-Ireland company, Randox Laboratories, whose product is at the frontline of global efforts to detect the disease and prevent its spread. 

Plus: Before the High Court this week a high-profile personal insolvency case demonstrated the benefits of this ne for debtors in trouble. Simon Carswell reports.

Is the worsening global outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus already impacting the economy here and abroad? 

* Economist Megan Greene on the global effect. Why did investors initially underestimate the risk of the virus, and what are they doing now to minimise their exposure to losses?

* Barry O'Halloran on the impact on tourism. Will airlines struggle in the months ahead?

* Irish Exporters Association CEO Simon McKeever on the threat to businesses.