POPULARITY
This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by economist and Irish Times contributor John FitzGerald. He gives his reaction to the EU-US trade deal that will see a 15% tariff rate on European imports going into the US, a deal that he feels the EU had agreed to with ‘two hands tied behind its back' on account of its continued reliance on the US when it comes to the war in Ukraine.Also, ahead of Budget 2026 John outlines the need for the Government to stop pumping money into a booming economy and focus on making space for much-needed infrastructure. He feels we are inflating the economy when we should be cutting expenditure or raising taxes, neither of which would be politically popular.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Michael D Higgins's 14-year term is in its final months with an election to decide his predecessor set to take place before November 11th.After months when a changing list of potential candidates tended towards the fanciful – for a while it seemed that anyone with a public profile was in the frame – now two names have emerged as definite contenders: Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness.Connolly has secured the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several Independent members, while McGuinness is the Fine Gael nominee.Going by previous presidential elections, it won't be a two-horse race but when will other candidates declare? And do the two women have early-mover advantage?Irish Times political correspondent Ellen Coyne explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the Government outlined spending of €200 billion on a National Development Plan stretching over the next decade. In parallel it also set out its stall for this year's budget, signalling a spending and tax package of €9.5 billion. Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to dissect these spending plans and tax cuts against a backdrop of a potential trade war between the US and the EU were Ellen Coyne, political correspondent of The Irish Times, Ferga Kane, EY Ireland's strategy and transactions team lead, and Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times. They tease out the headline numbers in the National Development Plan, the areas being targeted over the next five years, and the likely impact on future foreign investment.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week the Government outlined spending of €200 billion on a National Development Plan stretching over the next decade. In parallel it also set out its stall for this year's budget, signalling a spending and tax package of €9.5 billion. Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to dissect these spending plans and tax cuts against a backdrop of a potential trade war between the US and the EU were Ellen Coyne, political correspondent of The Irish Times, Ferga Kane, EY Ireland's strategy and transactions team lead, and Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times. They tease out the headline numbers in the National Development Plan, the areas being targeted over the next five years, and the likely impact on future foreign investment.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal that saw all international troops leaving Afghanistan by May 2021, Britain promised to relocate those Afghans who had aided it in the war effort.They had to apply to the Ministry of Defence for consideration. But then in 2022 the list was leaked – in an administrative error – making those on it targets for retribution by the Taliban. It's thought that about 100,000 people were put at risk by the leak when wider family members were included.A panicked reaction followed in 2023 when the list appeared on Facebook and a series of decisions were made by a small number of senior civil servants that were only revealed to parliament and the British public this week.First a super-injunction was placed on the media and on anyone with knowledge of the leak leading to a blanket of secrecy.Then the UK government set up a secret multibillion-pound scheme to bring Afghans to Britain.The political fallout in the UK is ongoing as Mark Paul, Irish Times London correspondent, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Economist and writer David McWilliams was scathing about the level of dereliction in Dublin city in a recent article in the Irish Times. He suggested tax breaks and other measures to breathe new life back into the capital and to get more people living in the city centre. He joined host Ciarán Hancock to discuss his ideas and how we can learn from the mistakes of the not-too-distant past.Plus, it's been another busy week on the tariff front with US President Donald Trump sending a letter to the EU threatening higher taxes on European imports into America. Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times has been covering this story and he joined Ciarán to talk through the contents of the letter, potential consequences for Ireland and whether this is yet another ploy by Donald Trump in this drawn-out negotiation with the EU.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Economist and writer David McWilliams was scathing about the level of dereliction in Dublin city in a recent article in the Irish Times. He suggested tax breaks and other measures to breathe new life back into the capital and to get more people living in the city centre. He joined host Ciarán Hancock to discuss his ideas and how we can learn from the mistakes of the not-too-distant past.Plus, it's been another busy week on the tariff front with US President Donald Trump sending a letter to the EU threatening higher taxes on European imports into America. Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times has been covering this story and he joined Ciarán to talk through the contents of the letter, potential consequences for Ireland and whether this is yet another ploy by Donald Trump in this drawn-out negotiation with the EU.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the first official episode of MSOE season 4, listen ad hosts Kaitlin and Molly sit down with guests, EM Over Easy Hosts, and Program Directors of their respective programs; John Casey and Andy Little to discuss the personal statement. Don't forget our mother show EM Over Easy is the official podcast of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. To learn about this organization and see EM Over Easy live and in personal visit acoep.org today!
The seizure of the MV Matthew, with its massive consignment of drugs, off the Irish coast in September 2023 was as daring as it was skilful.After days of a cat and mouse chase in challenging weather between the Naval Service and the Matthew, members of the elite Army Ranger Wing descended from a helicopter on to the deck of the cargo ship. The crew were arrested and the drugs found.Operation Piano – which brought Revenue, the Garda and the Defence Forces together – resulted in Ireland's largest ever drugs seizure, worth €156 million.While the operation was an undoubted success, a showcase of ability, power and intent, it also highlighted how ill-equipped the Defence Forces are.Only one ship was available for the operation, and only one helicopter. So many things could have gone wrong.Eight men have been jailed over the drugs seizure, their significant sentences a signal from the Irish courts that anyone involved in such international drug smuggling will be treated severely.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher describes how the Matthew was intercepted and seized.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're looking at the Juggle that women with young children have to make in Ireland to find a work-life balance.It's an age-old problem in Ireland with no solution yet in sight. Margaret Ward writes about Work issues each week for the Irish Times as well as running her own consultancy business Clear Eye and she's written a series of articles on the Juggle in recent weeks.Aideen Finnegan is an audio producer with The Irish Times and the host of the Better with Money podcast. She has two young children, and you'll hear her tell host Ciarán Hancock about the daily grind she and her husband face to get their kids to creche and school while also commuting to work to earn a living.Both of them offer their clear views on what Government and employers need to do to help young mothers balance their responsibilities at home and in the workplace.Also in this episode of Inside Business, Donald Trump recently got his Big Beautiful Act through Congress, which allows for major cuts in taxation while boosting spending in key areas to support his policies. It will also involve cuts in Medicaid and other assistance offered to the most vulnerable in the US.Keith Duggan joins host Ciarán Hancock on the line from Washington to discuss this and the latest developments in Trump's tariff threats.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode is about sex, gender, and Jesus—and what happens when our bodies get wrapped in shame, pleasure, politics, and power. It comes in four parts:
This week we're looking at the Juggle that women with young children have to make in Ireland to find a work-life balance.It's an age-old problem in Ireland with no solution yet in sight. Margaret Ward writes about Work issues each week for the Irish Times as well as running her own consultancy business Clear Eye and she's written a series of articles on the Juggle in recent weeks.Aideen Finnegan is an audio producer with The Irish Times and the host of the Better with Money podcast. She has two young children, and you'll hear her tell host Ciarán Hancock about the daily grind she and her husband face to get their kids to creche and school while also commuting to work to earn a living.Both of them offer their clear views on what Government and employers need to do to help young mothers balance their responsibilities at home and in the workplace.Also in this episode of Inside Business, Donald Trump recently got his Big Beautiful Act through Congress, which allows for major cuts in taxation while boosting spending in key areas to support his policies. It will also involve cuts in Medicaid and other assistance offered to the most vulnerable in the US.Keith Duggan joins host Ciarán Hancock on the line from Washington to discuss this and the latest developments in Trump's tariff threats.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To kick of Season 4 of Med Student Over Easy, we do a rewind of a fan favorite from Season 3, EM Resources, where Kaitlin is joined by John Casey, Marco and Mark to discuss resources Medical Students can use to help them learn about and practice EM. Don't forget, EM Over Easy (our parent show) is the official Podcast of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. Visit acoep.org to learn more about their next CME event!
Taoiseach Micheál Martin wraps up his four-day visit to Japan today with a visit to Hiroshima where he will lay a wreath at the cenotaph commemorating those who died after the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.It's been a hectic few days with an itinerary that included the opening of Ireland House in Tokyo, which at more than €20 million is the largest capital project overseas since the foundation of the State, as well as a visit to Osaka to visit the Irish pavilion at Expo 2025, an international exposition that is expected to attract more than 28 million people.Irish Times Beijing-based correspondent Denis Staunton explains why this visit is so timely and why it has focused on an economic relationship that has doubled in size over the past decade.He also explains the deep interest in Irish culture that has been building in Japan, from the development of Irish pubs to the thriving branch of Comhaltas.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are looking at the phenomenon of the D4 farmer. Not some wealthy entrepreneur herding cattle in Ballsbridge but wealthy individuals buying up farmland around the country as a wheeze to reduce the inheritance tax bills for their children.How does the tax break work? What impact will it have on land prices? And is anything being done to change it?Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times wrote a brilliant article on this last week and she joins host Ciarán Hancock in studio, along with Marty Murphy, who is head of tax at IFAC Ireland, one of the country's biggest accounting firms with a large number of farmers on its books.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are looking at the phenomenon of the D4 farmer. Not some wealthy entrepreneur herding cattle in Ballsbridge but wealthy individuals buying up farmland around the country as a wheeze to reduce the inheritance tax bills for their children.How does the tax break work? What impact will it have on land prices? And is anything being done to change it?Fiona Reddan of the Irish Times wrote a brilliant article on this last week and she joins host Ciarán Hancock in studio, along with Marty Murphy, who is head of tax at IFAC Ireland, one of the country's biggest accounting firms with a large number of farmers on its books.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A new chapter in the fractious relationship between Iran and the US began this week with America's bombing of three Iranian nuclear-development sites; Iran's retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar, and the tentative ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war announced by President Donald Trump.The two countries have history: Key dates include 1953 when a CIA-orchestrated a coup, with British support, overthrew Iran's democratically elected government and installed the monarch in exile, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi – the Shah of Iran; 1979 when Iranians, rebelling against his autocratic rule and fuelled by anti-American sentiment ousted the Shah putting the theocratic revolutionaries in power with their hard-line rule; November 4th, 1979 when Iranian students held more than 50 American citizens hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran in captivity for 444 days; and 1980 when US-Iran diplomatic relations broke down and stayed that way until US President Barack Obama struck a deal in 2013 with Iran to curtail its burgeoning nuclear programme.In his first presidency Trump called that nuclear deal “the worse deal over” and pulled the US out. This left the way open for Iran to ramp up its nuclear programme.But what happens now? Are the days of diplomacy over and how will Iran react?Borzou Daraghi, Iranian-American journalist and long-time Middle East-based Journalist, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, the Geneva-based representative group for the airline industry.Willie will be known to you as the Irish man who was a high-profile chief executive of both Aer Lingus and British Airways.He then became head of IAG, which is the parent group to both of those airlines plus some Spanish carriers, including Iberia.He's now in charge of IATA, with his contract set to run until 2027.You'll hear Willie talk about airline profits and whether air fares are likely to go up or down in the near term.He spoke about aviation's role in reducing harmful carbon emissions and the chances of a climate-friendly biofuel being developed for commercial use.He gives his view on why emerging markets such as India and burgeoning economies in Africa are entitled to grow their airline industries and passenger traffic as they become wealthier.He also expresses his frustrations with the inefficient way air traffic control is managed in Europe.And Willie explains why, in his view, Ireland has become something of a laughing stock on the international stage over the legal battles being fought around the Dublin Airport passenger cap. In his view, this is hindering growth here and jeopardising foreign direct investment. And the 63-year-old talks about his plans for retirement, which could include Italian wine. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, the Geneva-based representative group for the airline industry.Willie will be known to you as the Irish man who was a high-profile chief executive of both Aer Lingus and British Airways.He then became head of IAG, which is the parent group to both of those airlines plus some Spanish carriers, including Iberia.He's now in charge of IATA, with his contract set to run until 2027.You'll hear Willie talk about airline profits and whether air fares are likely to go up or down in the near term.He spoke about aviation's role in reducing harmful carbon emissions and the chances of a climate-friendly biofuel being developed for commercial use.He gives his view on why emerging markets such as India and burgeoning economies in Africa are entitled to grow their airline industries and passenger traffic as they become wealthier.He also expresses his frustrations with the inefficient way air traffic control is managed in Europe.And Willie explains why, in his view, Ireland has become something of a laughing stock on the international stage over the legal battles being fought around the Dublin Airport passenger cap. In his view, this is hindering growth here and jeopardising foreign direct investment. And the 63-year-old talks about his plans for retirement, which could include Italian wine. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're flying high with the Irish drone delivery company Manna.Its founder and chief executive is Bobby Healy, who joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss what he believes is Manna's massive growth potential.Set up in 2019, Manna only recently began generating revenues and is yet to turn a profit. It is currently flying nine drones in Dublin 15 and has made more than 170,000 deliveries in Ireland so far.It has another eight drones operating outside Ireland. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.You'll hear Bobby's ambitious plans for expansion into the United States and the Nordic countries and how it would need 45,000 drones just to serve the UK market.And he wants to manufacture all of those drones in Ireland.It's a cash hungry company with plans to raise many millions of dollars from investors but Healy is thinking big and believes Manna can become Ireland's biggest corporate success story.Of course, not everyone is delighted by having drone deliveries in their areas and Healy addresses some of those complaints in the interview.An engaging entrepreneur, Healy has previously sold three travel tech companies. So, he has form in this space.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're flying high with the Irish drone delivery company Manna.Its founder and chief executive is Bobby Healy, who joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss what he believes is Manna's massive growth potential.Set up in 2019, Manna only recently began generating revenues and is yet to turn a profit. It is currently flying nine drones in Dublin 15 and has made more than 170,000 deliveries in Ireland so far.It has another eight drones operating outside Ireland. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.You'll hear Bobby's ambitious plans for expansion into the United States and the Nordic countries and how it would need 45,000 drones just to serve the UK market.And he wants to manufacture all of those drones in Ireland.It's a cash hungry company with plans to raise many millions of dollars from investors but Healy is thinking big and believes Manna can become Ireland's biggest corporate success story.Of course, not everyone is delighted by having drone deliveries in their areas and Healy addresses some of those complaints in the interview.An engaging entrepreneur, Healy has previously sold three travel tech companies. So, he has form in this space.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Sunday night, 57-year-old Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with murder following the largest manhunt in the history of the US state of Minnesota.Mr Boelter is suspected of shooting and killing a Democratic politician and her husband and of shooting and wounding a Democratic senator and his wife on Saturday.That same day, Donald Trump celebrated his birthday by holding a carefully choreographed military parade in Washington DC, while across the country, millions of protesters took part in ‘No Kings' demonstrations.What do we know about the Minnesota attacks and what do these shootings mean for the safety of American lawmakers?To what degree is Trump's rhetoric prompting violence against politicians in the US?And what do these mass demonstrations, and Trump's response to protesters, tell us about the country's deteriorating political situation?Today, on In The News, have the divisive politics of Trump's second term reached boiling point?Professor of International Politics at the UCD Clinton Institute Scott Lucas joins the podcast.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the Irish government considers the introduction of a scrappage scheme aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), industry voices and EV advocates are weighing in on its potential impact. With EV searches on Carzone up 16% year-on-year and consumer interest continuing to rise, the momentum for a greener transport future is clear. However, challenges around affordability, charging infrastructure, and vehicle range persist. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Casey of Clare EV Owners Club.
Sonia ‘Sunny' Jacobs was 76 when she died on Tuesday morning in a house fire in Connemara.Her tragic death made headlines far beyond Galway and Ireland because Jacobs had led a truly remarkable life. It included a death row sentence for the murder of two policemen in Florida in 1976.She spent 17 years in a US jail, five in solitary confinement, before a deal with prosecutors saw her released in 1995.Another person died in the fire in the remote cottage, her carer a young man called Kevin Kelly from Moycullen.Her life – before and after that highway shooting – has been chronicled in books, a play and a film as Jacobs became a campaigner against the death penalty.In an extraordinary twist of fate, a coincidence that could barely have been imagined, she ended up married to a man whose experience mirrored hers. Peter Pringle had also been handed the death sentence over his part in the murder of two policemen: gardaí John Morley and Henry Byrne during a bank robbery in Co Roscommon in 1980.Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy has been in Connemara where Jacobs found peace and sanctuary and where she died. He tells In the News her story.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump's second term in the White House has seen markets go through a period of extreme volatility, something that has worried many Irish pension holders. How should they react? Should they react at all? And what is the outlook for the rest of this year?Munro O'Dwyer is a partner at PwC Ireland and joins host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss managing your pension in volatile times. In the second half of this episode of Inside Business, Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy looks at why so many companies are pulling back from their pledge to go green and lower carbon emissions.This alarming trend is worrying given the latest analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency that shows that Ireland is going backwards in its attempts to achieve its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets.So why the about-face on an issue that affects us all? Is reaching net zero emissions simply not realistic for many companies? Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the moment he reported her missing in 2017, Richard Satchwell stuck to his story that his wife Tina had run off.His many media appeals begged her to come home. But as the jury heard during his five-week trial in the Central Criminal Court for her murder, she was indeed home and she had been all along.Richard had killed her in 2017, dug a hole under the stairs of their terraced Youghal home and buried her.The Garda did look for her – as a missing person – but “red flags” emerged soon after her disappearance were “simply ignored” by gardaí, the court was told.What were they? And why did it take until six years after her disappearance for a thorough search of the Satchwell house to take place?Irish Times legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan tells In the News how the court case unfolded and what happens next.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Shane O'Farrell was 23 when he was the victim of a hit-and-run near his home in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. A law graduate, he had just submitted his master's thesis and was enjoying a carefree cycle on that August evening in 2011.Questions around how the crash happened soon turned to who was behind the wheel. It was Lithuanian Zigimantas Gridziuska, a man known to the Garda and the courts.On the day he killed Shane and drove off, he had more than 40 convictions, including some in Northern Ireland.So how was he free to go out and kill? He had breached his bail conditions many times so why was he not in prison?Since 2011, the O'Farrell family has been seeking answers and has worked tirelessly to understand how the justice system failed their son and brother. His parents Lucia and Jim, and his sisters, Hannah, Pia, Gemma and Aimee were in Leinster House last Tuesday to hear Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan give a State apology to the family “for the fact that the criminal justice system did not protect him [Shane] as it should have”.Gemma O'Farrell tells In the News about the family's long campaign, how they were stonewalled and disrespected by branches and agencies of the State that should have helped them and how they persisted despite all that.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New electric vehicle sales here dipped last year by 24% when compared to 2023, further making a mockery of the government's target of 1 million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.A reduction in the SEAI grant and gaps in charging infrastructure fed into consumer uncertainty when it comes to making the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles.But that trend looks to be reversing this year, something that Lisa Brankin, chairman and managing director of Ford UK & Ireland, will be keen to see accelerate.She joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss the challenges of going electric, her plans for the company's future, and the launch of Ford Power Promise across Ford's range of electric cars in Ireland.Also on this week's episode of Inside Business, AIB's Economic Outlook Report for May highlights how global uncertainty and an escalation in trade tariffs could lead to a slowdown in global and Irish growth in 2025 and 2026.That said, the report also points out that the Irish economy has built up a certain level of resilience to withstand a potential trade shock in the short term.AIB Chief Economist David McNamara went through the risk US tariffs and future US tax policy pose, and the outlook for 2025 and 2026.Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its latest projections for the 2030 climate targets and it's bad news for Ireland.The Irish State has the worst emissions per capita in Europe – projections show our greenhouse gas emissions will fall by just 23 per cent by 2030, compared to our original national target of 51 per cent, according to EPA data published on Wednesday.The latest figures indicate none of the State's biggest emitting sectors – transport, agriculture and electricity – will meet their climate commitments. In most sectors, emissions continue to rise or are going down only marginally.The cost of missing these targets is obvious – extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and disruptive. And countries who fail to meet these commitments must pay huge fines.What can Ireland do between now and 2030 to reduce emissions? And how much will Ireland pay if it fails to meet these legally-binding targets?Irish Times environment and science correspondent Kevin O'Sullivan discusses the implications of Ireland's failure to meet climate targets. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former US president Joe Biden's announcement on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer paused the avalanche of damning stories about his mental acuity and cognitive fitness for office during his presidency.The leaks and pre-publicity around a new book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper have been going on for weeks.The authors contend that Biden's decline was obvious during his tenure as president and accelerated while he was campaigning for a second term. They say the facts of the 82-year-old's health were kept secret from the wider Democratic party and the American public by a small inner circle, led by his wife, Jill.Then last weekend audio surfaced of his interview with former special counsel Robert Hur in 2023 in which Biden sounded confused, rambling and with a notably weak voice.There were public messages of support and sympathy for Biden and his family from his supporters and political rivals - even president Donald Trump - when he announced the news.But as the week has gone on, commentary has turned to speculation around the timeline of his diagnosis, reviving questions about what health issues he was dealing with while in the White House.Irish Times Washington correspondent Keith Duggan looks back a monumental week for Biden and the Democrative party.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Casey, Pete Hooley & Derek Rucker. Emergency NBL with potentially the biggest free agency signing in NBL History.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week brought more bad news for first time buyers and those renting.Figures from both the CSO and property website Daft.ie suggest that house prices and rents continue to soar across the country. The national monthly average rent between January and March surpassed €2,000 for the first time. And the chronic shortage of supply for those looking to buy put house price inflation at 7.5% in March.To discuss these numbers and to tease out some potential solutions to the housing crisis, host Ciarán Hancock was joined by Eoin Burke Kennedy, economics correspondent of The Irish Times who has reported on the data.And by Marian Finnegan, an economist and a senior executive at Sherry Fitzgerald, Ireland's biggest estate agent.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The trial of Richard Satchwell, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Tina at their home in Youghal, Co Cork in March 2017, has now entered its fourth week. The first three weeks of this high-profile trial featured testimony from gardaí, crime scene managers, the family doctor, a forensic archaeologist and friends regarding the disappearance of Tina Satchwell in 2017 and the discovery of her body six years later. On Tuesday, the Central Criminal Court heard a cause of death for Tina Satchwell, whose skeletal remains were found buried under her Co Cork home in 2023, could not be determined due to the level of decomposition. After more than three weeks of testimonies, what else have we learned from the Richard Satchwell murder trial about the death of his wife in 2017?Today, on In The News, courts reporter with Ireland International news agency Alison O'Riordan discusses the Satchwell trial. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the end of June, the people of Ireland will no longer be able to pick up the phone and talk to Joe.Last week, Joe Duffy announced he was leaving his role as presenter of the RTÉ radio phone-in show after 27 years in the hot seat.The 69-year-old broadcaster, whose contract was due to expire this summer, said he was “deeply privileged and eternally grateful” to have worked for so long presenting the programme. He also said he hoped Liveline had “made people feel heard”. Over nearly three decades, Duffy presided over Ireland's court of public opinion, while his tagline, ‘talk to Joe', could be seen as either an invitation or a threat.His weekday radio slot gave a platform to issues that were sometimes ignored by the rest of the media. And some of the most unintentionally hilarious, totally unplanned, moments on Irish radio also emerged through the Liveline phone lines. What legacy does Duffy leave behind and who has the experience, and kudos, to fill his shoes?Today, on In The News, Joe Duffy is leaving but who will replace him?Irish Times radio columnist Mick Heaney discusses the history of Liveline, Duffy's career and the names already in the mix for the much-coveted afternoon slot.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week's episode of Inside Business starts with an interview with Irish entrepreneur Jordan Dargan.Fans of the popular BBC show The Apprentice, will have seen Jordan come within a whisker of reaching the final two who got to pitch to secure Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment.There was some consolation for the 22-year-old Dubliner with Lord Sugar giving him his business card before he left the boardroom and encouraging him to keep in touch. Jordan joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to detail his experience on the Apprentice, how the business he pitched to Lord Sugar has developed since recording finished last year, and offers he has received here to pursue a career in media.Earlier this week, US president Donald Trump pressed for drug companies to invest more in the United States and to lower their prices for medicines.So, what would that mean for the Irish pharma sector, which exports a huge amount of medicines to the US each year.Dominic Coyle of The Irish Times has covered the story and goes through Trump's proposals and the possible implications for Irish pharma.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For years tourists have been told it's a tradition in Dublin to rub Molly Malone's breasts – “for luck”. Something that's news to residents of the capital.And it is causing damage – not just to the look of the piece but also to its stability and that has prompted Dublin City Council to take action. Every day this week “Molly minders” were at the statue with one job – to stop tourists climbing up to touch her.The metal statue made by sculptor Jeanne Rynhart in 1988 shows all the signs of constant friction – the patina has rubbed off her breasts leaving them gleaming in the sunshine, a contrast to the dull finish on the rest of the near life-size figures.But that's been obvious for at least a decade, what hasn't been so visible is the damage people clambering up on Molly is doing to the structure of the piece and increase her stability is now in place.Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains why Dublin City Council has moved to protect the statue and what will happen next.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Earlier this week, US meal delivery group DoorDash agreed a deal to take over its British rival Deliveroo, which has a big presence in Ireland.The deal is valued at £2.9 billion and will pit the merged group in competition with other online delivery platforms such as Just Eat and Uber Eats.Callum Cant is an author and senior lecturer from the University of Essex and also worked for Deliveroo while he was in college.He joined host Ciarán Hancock on the line to discuss the merger and what it might mean for Deliveroo's battalion of gig economy workers and for retailers using the online ordering platform.Also on this week's Inside Business, the Department of Finance's annual progress report on the Irish economy, a document that informs budgetary strategy and is filed with the European Commission.This week it brought news of a slowdown in growth, reduced job creation and a significant fall in corporation tax receipts.Eoin Burke-Kennedy covered the story for The Irish Times and explained the headline numbers in the report and what impact Trump's tariffs will have on Irish economic growth this year.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ivana Milicevic was a struggling stand-up comedienne, trying to win over crowds with her stories of the modeling business. In 1996, she made her film debut under the name Ivana Marina with a one-line role as a former girlfriend of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. In 1997, she followed up with a guest role on NBC's Seinfeld and made guest appearances on several other television shows, including Royal Pains and playing the love interest of John Casey on Chuck. She played bit parts in Vanilla Sky and Love Actually, among her many other cameo appearances. Milicevic capitalized on her experience as a comedienne in a supporting role as Russian model Roxana Milla Slasnikova in the romantic comedy Head Over Heels. She appeared as a lookalike of Uma Thurman's character opposite Ben Affleck, trying to fool him into thinking she is Uma's character, in Paycheck. In a departure from her one-dimensional roles, Milicevic showed her dramatic talent in a supporting role as Milla Yugorsky in a dark and gritty drama Running Scared. In 2006, she started a recurring role on the CBS TV series Love Monkey. In 2006, Milicevic made a big step forward in her career appearing as Valenka , one of three Bond girls in Casino Royale. She is also known for her work on The 100, Hit Monkey, Strike Back, Banshee, Power, Gotham, Psych, House, Charmed, Friends, Seinfeld, Pushing Daisies, Castlevania, American Dad, Just Shoot Me and Buffy the Vampire Hunter! Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod
On Monday, the unthinkable happened: Spain and Portugal experienced an electricity blackout. Just after midday the lights went out, wifi went down, trains stopped, airports closed, ATMs froze and everyday life for millions of citizens ground to a halt. Both countries quickly ruled out the possibility that the outage was caused by a cyberattack. Human error was also discounted. Critics of Spain's ambitious green energy policy were quick to lay the blame on renewables. Nuclear power proponents suggested the outage was the inevitable result of moving away from nuclear.Power started to be restored on Monday evening, and by Tuesday morning the Spanish government reported that more than 90 per cent of supply had returned, with a similar percentage restored in Portugal.The costs are now being counted; the CEOE employers' association estimating the economic cost at about €1.6 billion. Self-employed workers may have lost as much as €1.3 billion, according to the ATA workers' association.But what caused the blackout? And how is it possible that days later the authorities still don't know for sure?Contributor to The Irish Times Guy Hedgecoe was on a train in Madrid when the blackout began. He tells In the News what happened next and explores the reasons and reactions to the unprecedented outage that has shaken confidence in the energy supply.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Inside Business looks at the impact of Donald Trump's first 100 days in office on markets. The sweeping US tariffs announced on April 2nd rocked equity and bond markets.They plunged in value to such an extent that Donald Trump was forced into a quick U Turn, postponing all of the tariffs for 90 days, with the exception of China.Aidan Donnelly is Head of Global Equities at Davy stockbrokers and joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to consider the impact of those tariffs and to offer a view on where markets might go for the rest of the year.In the second half of the show, Hugh Linehan of The Irish Times will reflect on the terms being offered in RTÉ's latest voluntary exit programme for staff in an effort to help the broadcaster reduce its headcount by 400 over the next four years.The funding for this restructuring has essentially been provided by the State via a €725 million three-year funding plan agreed last year with the Government.In a column in The Irish Times this week, Hugh Linehan of The Irish Times examined the plan and asked the question as to whether RTÉ was in a worse position than other media companies in Ireland?Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On April 16th, the Supreme Court in London ruled unanimously that “the terms ‘woman' and ‘sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.The ruling came in response to a legal dispute between the activist group For Women Scotland and the Scottish government over whether trans people with gender recognition certificates (GRC) identifying their gender as female were considered as having the sex of a woman.For Women Scotland had argued that the sex-based protections in the Act should only apply to people born female and that sex is “immutable biological state”.The judgment, which ran to more than 80 pages, found that “the concept of sex is binary” – there is a female and a male.It went on to say that the legislation gives transgender people “protection, not only against discrimination through the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment in substance in their acquired gender”.The judgment has come as a blow to the transgender community, particularly to transwomen who fear it will marginalise them further.Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains the ruling and its implications.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week's episode features Patrick Guilbaud, the French chef who brought fine dining to Ireland 44 years ago. Situated beside the Merrion Hotel in central Dublin, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud continues to thrive with two Michelin stars. Guilbaud moved to Ireland in the early 1980's when the country was in recession, and it wasn't always plain sailing. A visit from the sheriff for unpaid debts led to a partnership with successful businessmen Lochlann Quinn and Martin Naughton that helped put the restaurant on a sound financial footing. It also led him to relocate the restaurant to the Merrion Hotel site which was developed by Quinn and Naughton. A move that he considers to be the making of the business.In February Guilbaud received the Distinguished Leader in Business award at the Irish Times Business Awards. In this interview with host Ciarán Hancock he discusses those difficult early days of trading, changes in the Irish restaurant trade over the past four decades, the current challenges facing the sector in terms of cost, and his plans for retirement.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Most of China's roughly 10 million Catholics attend officially sanctioned churches but a substantial minority belong to the so-called “underground church”, attending masses in unapproved venues and private homes.Under Pope Francis, the Vatican entered into an agreement with China in 2018 aimed at ending the division between the two Catholic communities by regularising the appointment of bishops.But the agreement, which was renewed last October for four years, has drawn criticism from some Catholics who fear it cedes too much influence to the Communist Party.Irish Times Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton explains the controversy and why Catholicism is growing in China.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kerrygold is one of the biggest food brands in Ireland and one of our largest exports.Earlier today, its parent company Ornua announced that revenues last year were flat at €3.4 billion but its operating profit and Ebitda were up, helped by efficiencies achieved during the period.But that was last year. Before Donald Trump won the US presidential election and later announced sweeping tariffs on all imported goods.Kerrygold is one of the main Irish food brands facing a hit from Trump's tariffs, which are currently set at 10 per cent for 90 days but could ultimately rise to 20 per cent.Conor Galvin is chief executive of Ornua and he joined me in studio to discuss the impact the 10 per cent tariff is currently having on Kerrygold sales in US retail.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gardaí have made a renewed appeal on the 20th anniversary of the murder of art student Emer O'Loughlin in Co Clare.Detectives believe that a man they want to speak to in connection with the killing in Ballybornagh, Tubber, is still alive.But where is John Griffin, and why were so many mistakes made when the charred remains of the young woman were found in a burnt out caravan in 2005?While Griffin, who left his clothes on a cliff edge in a failed attempt to make gardaí believe he had killed himself, will have changed greatly in 20 years, it is likely that he still has his very distinctive tattoo – an Eye of Horus symbol on the front of his neck.Crime and security correspondent Conor Lally traces back the details of the death of this vibrant young woman and why so many mistakes were made in finding her killer.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A full-blown global tariff war in underway.Donald's Trump's tariffs took effect last night with the EU due to vote today on a retaliatory list drawn up by the European Commission.The US and China meanwhile have engaged in tit for tat tariffs in the past few days. China has also vowed to fight to the end in the tariff war.What will all this mean for Ireland? What hit will consumers face?And should Ireland now pivot east to protect jobs and secure new investment?To answer these and other questions host Ciarán Hancock Is joined on this week's episode of Inside Business by Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy, Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times, and Chris Smyth, group CEO at Perennial Freight & president of the France-Ireland Chamber of Commerce.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Shortly before 10am, on Thursday, March 20th, Kerry farmer Michael Gaine walked into a Centra store in Kenmare to buy phone credit. The 56-year-old farmer was reportedly seen later that day in the tourist town but his trip to Centra was the last confirmed public sighting of him.Nearly three weeks later, the sheep farmer is still missing. Gardaí are increasingly concerned he may have been the victim of foul-play. However, the county-wide search remains a missing person inquiry rather than a murder investigation.Cork-based journalist Liam Coates discusses the investigation into the Kerry farmer's disappearance.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last week data from the CSO showed a decline of 30 per cent in the number of visitors to the country in February, with revenue taking a hit of €88 million during the month.This continued a trend dating back to last September.In this week's episode of Inside Business, you'll hear conflicting views from the trade on the current state of the tourism sector here.Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, CEO of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, tells host Ciarán Hancock why he thinks the CSO figures might be overstating the current position within the sector.Whereas Sean Connick, who operates the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience and the Kennedy Homestead in Co Wexford, is seeing a different picture with visitor numbers to those experiences declining last year with January and February also soft.In addition, he has had to absorb significant increases in their running costs.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the first part of this week's episode of Inside Business, we look at Tesla and the backlash against the vehicle car maker this year because of Elon Musk's association with Donald Trump.Sales in Europe have slumped while its share price has shed 24 per cent of its value year to date. That amounts to about $800 billion of market value being wiped out.In addition, there have been many protests and reports of Tesla's being vandalised.To add to the mix, Chinese rivals have also upped their game.Neil Briscoe is a motoring journalist and writes for the Irish Times. He's been covering Tesla since the get-go and joined host Ciarán Hancock on the line to discuss the issues affecting the company.Also on the show, Eoin Burke Kennedy, economics correspondent of The Irish Times, discusses new data on house prices from Daft.ie after it published its latest quarterly report. It doesn't paint a pretty picture for anyone seeking to buy a home, with house price pressure reaching an eight-year high and the number of second-hand properties available for sale at lowest level since 2007.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's episode of Inside Business, we discuss US President Donald Trump's intention to impose new reciprocal tariff rates on EU countries and elsewhere from April 2nd. What are reciprocal tariffs and how will Ireland be affected? Will we be singled out? What is coming down the line in terms of ‘special tariffs', and their potential impact on big exports from Ireland to the US? And what possible options are available to Irish companies to soften the blow of all this uncertainty? Gerard Brady, Head of National Policy and Chief Economist at Ibec, joined the podcast to give a timeline of all upcoming tariffs and what they mean.And this week saw the much-anticipated arrival of Amazon.ie, a dedicated Irish platform for the retail behemoth – a move that will be welcomed by most online shoppers in Ireland with the prospect of more product choice and better value. But what about retailers who will have to go toe-to-toe with Amazon here? Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to outline what Irish consumers can expect.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.