Podcast appearances and mentions of Conor Pope

In an age of tapping, is the smell and feel of paper money dead? Joining Bobby to discuss whether cash is still king is Conor Pope, consumer affairs correspondent with the Irish Times.

The number of people falling victim to online fraud, and in some cases losing their life savings as a result of being scammed, is skyrocketing. Banks have warned of a sharp increase in phone calls and text messages from criminals purporting to be delivery companies or Government agencies. However, in some of the most disturbing cases, victims are targeted with the promise of love and romance.Romance scams are not new – lonely people have always been targeted by criminals. But with the omnipresence of social media in people's daily lives, and the rapid development of AI, criminal gangs are using more sophisticated methods than ever before to exploit the human need for connection, trust and affection.The sheer extent and impact of these scams remains unknown because many people are too embarrassed to report the relationship, or their lost funds, to the authorities. They are often also left heartbroken after truly believing they had found their soul mate.One Irish woman in her 60s, who recently lost more than €291,000 through a sinister romance scam to a man who claimed to love and want to marry her, shared her experience with The Irish Times this week.On today's In The News episode Conor Pope, Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent, shares the story of Mary* who has been left with huge debts, and potentially serious legal implications, after being financially exploited, and emotionally manipulated, by a man who called himself Donald.What are the red flags people should watch out for if they begin a relationship online?And can further steps be taken by authorities to track down the criminal gangs behind this financial fraud?Today, the story of one woman who lost everything through an elaborate romance scam.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.*Pseudonym requested to protect woman's identity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories in the Sunday papers is Dr Rhona Mahony, Consultant Obstetrician; Seán Defoe, Bauer Media political correspondent; and Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

Last year, Revenue seized 112 million illicit cigarettes in Ireland. The black market trade in tobacco products is big business. So, how do tobacco companies go about clamping down on all this.Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times, joined a sting operation to find out, and joins Seán to discuss.

Last year, Revenue seized 112 million illicit cigarettes in Ireland. The black market trade in tobacco products is big business. So, how do tobacco companies go about clamping down on all this.Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times, joined a sting operation to find out, and joins Seán to discuss.

It's budget day and one thing we can almost certainly expect in Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe's spending announcements is an increase in the price of cigarettes. This year, the cost of a pack of cigarettes is set to increase by 50 cents, bringing it to almost €19 for a pack of twenty.And while this price hike may help reduce smoking levels in Irish society, and improve the overall health of the population, it is also driving Ireland's rapidly growing black market tobacco business.More than one in four cigarettes smoked in Ireland are now sold through the black market, costing the exchequer around €600 million in lost revenue annually.And it's not just the Irish authorities who are keen to end this booming underground activity – Big Tobacco companies are now hiring investigators in Ireland to collect data on how and where this business takes place.On today's In The News episode, consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope discusses the day he recently spent shadowing an investigative team hired by Japan Tobacco International, one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world, to scour Dublin for sellers of illegal tobacco.Who is selling this tobacco, where is it produced and what do we know about the criminals behind this illegal cigarette chain?And what is the point of tobacco companies tracking down small-time street dealers who are purely cogs in a much larger, multimillion euro, illicit tobacco-producing machine?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is in Budget 2026 for you? Not a lot, probably - as expected, Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have delivered a much tighter package than recent years. Out are universal payments to help with steep energy bills and most bonus social welfare payments. But the budget did deliver some help for some groups. Conor Pope runs through the main points. Plus: Cliff Taylor on why, eleven months after a general election campaign that featured many spending promises, the Government has instead decided to tighten its belt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope consumer advocate joins Ray to chat about consumer affairs.

Conor Pope

First up on the Inside Business podcast this week, the rift between the board of the DAA, the State-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports, and its CEO Kenny Jacobs. The Irish Times reported yesterday that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see Jacobs leave his role early with a €1m exit package. Joe Brennan and Martin Wall of The Irish Times have been covering the story and joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss the background to the rift. Also on the podcast, Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent, discusses new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which shows that one in four Irish adults have no financial arrangements in place for their retirement. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the ice cream maker after almost 50 years at the company; this is over the brand's new ties with Unilever.But, they are not the only company to have had a very public breakup...Joining Seán to chat about some of the more interesting and maybe unknown side of corporate breakups is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

First up on the Inside Business podcast this week, the rift between the board of the DAA, the State-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports, and its CEO Kenny Jacobs. The Irish Times reported yesterday that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see Jacobs leave his role early with a €1m exit package. Joe Brennan and Martin Wall of The Irish Times have been covering the story and joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss the background to the rift. Also on the podcast, Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent, discusses new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which shows that one in four Irish adults have no financial arrangements in place for their retirement. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the ice cream maker after almost 50 years at the company; this is over the brand's new ties with Unilever.But, they are not the only company to have had a very public breakup...Joining Seán to chat about some of the more interesting and maybe unknown side of corporate breakups is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times.

New research carried out for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has shown that almost three-quarters of people in Ireland believe the country's wealth is unfairly distributed.It comes as almost half of respondents said they were concerned they would not be able to pay their bills over the year ahead.The findings have now put added pressure on the Government to incorporate energy credits in next month's Budget as a way to tackle these concerns.So, do you think these energy credits should be included in the 2026 budget?Joining Andrea to discuss is Irish Times Consumer Journalist, Conor Pope, Stephen McMahon from the Irish Patients' Association and listeners.

Bord Gáis Energy customers are facing electricity price hikes of more than €200 a year after the company became the second provider to announce increases in less than a week. So, should you be making a switch or is there even any savings left to be made?Joining Kieran to discuss is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Conor Pope.

Conor Pope is back and tackling your quibbles such as what to do when your skip gets filled by neighbours.

The Economist magazine recently published its annual country rich list. Ireland was nowhere to be found on the list in spite of the fact that we are constantly being told that Ireland is one of the world's richest countries. Host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times to talk about how rich we all are, or not as the case may be, and the measures that ruled Ireland out of consideration. Also on Inside Business this week, Conor Pope of The Irish Times discusses the companies that consumers complain about the most to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Who are they? What are the most common complaints? And how much out of pocket are consumers as a result of their bad experiences? Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economist magazine recently published its annual country rich list. Ireland was nowhere to be found on the list in spite of the fact that we are constantly being told that Ireland is one of the world's richest countries. Host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times to talk about how rich we all are, or not as the case may be, and the measures that ruled Ireland out of consideration. Also on Inside Business this week, Conor Pope of The Irish Times discusses the companies that consumers complain about the most to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Who are they? What are the most common complaints? And how much out of pocket are consumers as a result of their bad experiences? Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is back to tackle your consumer quibbles.

Conor Pope joins Brendan to offer advice on what your rights are on attending conerts.

The Irish Times reports that senior management in RTÉ may use the departure of Joe Duffy to reimagine the Liveline brand. The article's author, Conor Pope, speaks to This Week along with Eileen Culloty, Assistant Professor in the School of Communications at DCU.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of Lidl's arrival in Ireland. Conor Pope joins Bobby to discuss the impact Lidl has made on the Irish supermarket sector and more.

Opposition parties including the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin have been criticising the Government over its record on the cost of living, and especially the price of food, alleging that supermarkets have been allowed to "price gouge" customers. It's true that food price inflation has hit Irish shoppers hard in recent years. But are supermarkets really ripping us off, and does the Government have the power to influence prices? Sorcha Pollak asks Conor Pope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is on with Ray to answer your consumer questions

Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times

Two court cases this month will have signalled to those supplying so-called ‘dodgy boxes' that there is a high penalty to be paid.A man who appeared before Trim District Court charged with selling the boxes was jailed for 3½ years, while in the High Court Sky Ireland alleged that another man may have earned up to €450,000 a year from operating a different dodgy service.These cases occur periodically as the law catches up with those selling the means to illegally watch content that broadcasters and streamers services charge for.But could people who buy these boxes be hauled before the courts?Sky Ireland chief executive JD Buckley has warned of “consequences for those identified as operating illegal services and for those who watch them”.Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is back to tackle your consumer quibbles.

To celebrate Lidl's 25 years in Ireland, The Hard Shoulder hears from Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden, who asked shoppers about their weirdest and most wonderful middle aisle purchases. Conor Pope, consumer affairs correspondent with The Irish Times, and Hazel Chu, Green Party councillor, join to talk about how discount stores have changed the Irish retail landscape.Listen here

Conor Pope, Consumer Champion with The Irish Times is back tackling your tricky queries.

Someone in Ireland has just won €250 million. It's the biggest ever lottery win in Europe and it means the winner's life will never be the same again. But history shows that suddenly coming into vast wealth is not always a good thing. Conor Pope talks to Bernice Harrison about the pitfalls of winning the Euromillions - and what you should do in the extremely unlikely event you find yourself in that position. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is in studio to talk about buy now pay later services and prize bonds

A listener contacted the show recently detailing how they have been plagued by poor customer service in recent years.How big of a problem is bad customer service, and should it be a consumer right?Joining Andrea to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affair Correspondent at the Irish Times.

Irish Times' Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Conor Pope reports on Boots' plea of guilty to breaching legislation aimed at protecting consumers from misleading prices during sales periods.

Butter is becoming a luxury item. Rents have reached an all time high – just two examples of prices that seem to be constantly on the move upwards. Good news for the hard-pressed consumer is in short supply – even as inflation has reduced to around 2 per cent. And to add to the uncertainty, US president Donald Trump on Friday said he will impose a 50 per cent tariff on goods from the EU starting on June 1st. In previous years, the government has sought to help households with a range of one-off payments and double allowances, but the mood music coming from Leinster House is that those days are over as the chill winds of changing US tax and tariff policies start to bite. Two years ago, it seemed that every second headline and radio discussion was about the “cost-of-living crisis” but we don't hear that expression much any more. Are we worn down with ever-rising prices? Or could it be that those price rises might reverse? Irish Times consumer correspondent Conor Pope explains why prices are staying stubbornly high and suggests ways people can help themselves. Cliff Taylor looks at the potential impact of tariffs. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is back tackling your consumer queries.

A new survey by Laya Health has found a stark increase in the cost of raising a child, with the average cost per child at over €169,000, up 60% in a decade. But, is it actually putting people off having kids, or do we simply deal with the costs as they arise?Joining Kieran to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Wendy Grace, Columnist and Journalist and later Sinead Ryan, Consumer Journalist and Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and Financial Expert Karl Deeter.

Conor Pope, Consumer Champion, The Irish Times

Conor Pope from the Irish Times is back with consumer advice.

This week on Taking Stock Susan Hayes Culleton talks to Tom Calver of the Times and the Sunday Times about how the iPhone has the most astounding supply chain.Susan is also joined by PwC Ireland Partner Barry Whelan to talk about the best time to reinvent your business.Plus, the economics of going to gym; Susan talks to Conor Pope of the Irish Times and Leslie Giltinan of 'Lean with Lesley' about the changing nature of people's exercising routines.

Holiday season is just around the corner, and while you're booking flights and packing bags, there's one thing you can't afford to forget: travel insurance.Joining Kieran to discuss is Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Pricewatch Editor and Co-Host of the ‘In the News' podcast.

Unsuspecting Irish shoppers are being duped by scammers who have figured out a fiendish way to win your trust. Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains what the scam is, how it works and how to avoid it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Pope is back to tackle your consumer queries.

Conor Pope is back to tackle your consumer queries.

Not long until Easter, and we're being warned that shrinkflation continues!To discuss, Kieran (on the bike raising money for Make-A-Wish) is joined by Pricewatch Editor for the Irish Times, Conor Pope.

Online reviews are now part of our everyday shopping routine, but with the rise of bots and fabricated feedback, how can we know what's real? Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times and later Miriam Simon, Business Strategist at One Foot In The Future, join Kieran to unpack the growing issue of fake reviews, and the impact they're having on consumers and businesses alike.

Conor Pope, Consumer Champion at the Irish Times

Conor Pope joins Ray to answer consumer queries on banking

Conor Pope is back and this week he tackles the problem faced by a New Look voucher holder who had their vouchers refused in-store over the weekend.

Conor Pope is back to tackle your consumer quieries.

Consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope joins In the News to discuss the rise in online romance scams, while Dublin woman Stacey* shares her own experience of losing more than €20,000 to an online fraudster, who pretended to be Coldplay's Chris Martin. Presented by Sorcha Pollak, produced by Suzanne Brennan.*Pseudonym used to protect interviewee's identity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.