Podcast appearances and mentions of John Casey

For his hosting duties on America 2026, the Irish Times podcast, Paul Howard watched every World Cup single match, even it was on at 4am and featured a no-hoper team in the tournament to make up the numbers.What did he make of England's loss to Argentina?Why does he think the bloated half-time show featuring Shakira and Justin Bieber, planned for Sunday's final, highlights just how much Fifa is enthralled to the US; and who will lift the World Cup when the final whistle blows on Sunday, Argentina or Spain?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times about the State's purchase of the a 5-acre site on O'Connell Street in Dublin that used to house the Carlton cinema. Officially, it has been purchased for the Metrolink underground rail link to Dublin airport. But is this part of a wider plan by the Government to take charge of regeneration in this key urban quarter of the capital?Why did Transport Infrastructure Ireland pay €80 million to purchase the site from UK developer Hammerson? And did it really need to buy the site to deliver a Metrolink stop on O'Connell Street?Plus, fighting has once again broken out in the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between the US an Iran has impacted on shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz. Denis Staunton has covered the story for The Irish Times, and he sums up the events of this week and where peace talks might go from here.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times about the State's purchase of the a 5-acre site on O'Connell Street in Dublin that used to house the Carlton cinema. Officially, it has been purchased for the Metrolink underground rail link to Dublin airport. But is this part of a wider plan by the Government to take charge of regeneration in this key urban quarter of the capital?Why did Transport Infrastructure Ireland pay €80 million to purchase the site from UK developer Hammerson? And did it really need to buy the site to deliver a Metrolink stop on O'Connell Street?Plus, fighting has once again broken out in the Middle East as the fragile ceasefire between the US an Iran has impacted on shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz. Denis Staunton has covered the story for The Irish Times, and he sums up the events of this week and where peace talks might go from here.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online gambling on black-market betting sites is big business. One company, Soft2Bet, which has been licensed in Ireland since 2022, and its related entities received €600 million from dozens of offshore casinos that regulators in Europe had blacklisted or fined.For gamblers using some of these sites, it means few rules apply. Unauthorised betting sites deliberately target people with gambling addictions and ignore local gambling regulations, including age limits to protect young people.While working on an investigation with cross-border journalism group Investigate Europe, Irish Times investigative reporter with The Irish Times, Mark Tighe discovered that Irish authorities granted gambling licences to six companies at the heart of this global network of black-market betting and casino websites.One of the scheme's newest websites, OnlySpins, a bookmaker and casino with pornographic content targeting Europeans, does not verify whether Irish users are over the age of 18 or provide checks on a customer's identity.He also discovered that two Irish companies were processing payments for Soft2Bet-linked unlicensed gambling sites operating in Europe.Soft2Bet is led by Ukrainian-Israeli millionaire Uri Poliavich.He joins In the News to explain how this investigation unfolded, what the activities of black market sites mean for vulnerable users and what the Irish authorities had to say.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Inside Business recorded at EY's head office, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Dr Harriet Treacy, founder and CEO of BeyondBMI, Ireland's first online medically led weight management and obesity clinic.She explains how frustration at the inefficiencies of healthcare systems was the catalyst in her decision to pivot from a medical doctor to an entrepreneur.Harriet is a finalist in the Emerging category for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.Also on this episode, is Tommy Kearns, CEO and co-founder of customer engagement platform Xtremepush. The company helps legacy media transition to digital, and new companies that have emerged over the last decade or so. Tommy also outlines the pivotal role AI is playing in the company's present and future.Tommy is a finalist in the Established category for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.Plus, we also hear from Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance & EY Entrepreneur of the Year Partner Lead at EY Ireland, on how AI is being implemented in the company's business – the level of investment needed and the impact on employee roles. Roger also highlights the value of our indigenous entrepreneurs against the backdrop of our economy being driven by overseas investment.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Inside Business recorded at EY's head office, host Ciarán Hancock is joined by Dr Harriet Treacy, founder and CEO of BeyondBMI, Ireland's first online medically led weight management and obesity clinic.She explains how frustration at the inefficiencies of healthcare systems was the catalyst in her decision to pivot from a medical doctor to an entrepreneur.Harriet is a finalist in the Emerging category for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.Also on this episode, is Tommy Kearns, CEO and co-founder of customer engagement platform Xtremepush. The company helps legacy media transition to digital, and new companies that have emerged over the last decade or so. Tommy also outlines the pivotal role AI is playing in the company's present and future.Tommy is a finalist in the Established category for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.Plus, we also hear from Roger Wallace, Head of Assurance & EY Entrepreneur of the Year Partner Lead at EY Ireland, on how AI is being implemented in the company's business – the level of investment needed and the impact on employee roles. Roger also highlights the value of our indigenous entrepreneurs against the backdrop of our economy being driven by overseas investment.Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the next 15 years an additional 400 pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists will be killed on European roads because of the increased average car size.The figure is based on projections using data from Eurostat and the UK department of transport. Research by the Transport & Environment (T & E) think tank suggests that those road death figures could be significantly higher.After 25 years of relentless growth, our roads are increasingly dominated by huge SUVs that pose a physical danger to everyone else.And bigger cars means less space on the roads and in car parks. Big vehicles, such as SUVs and pick-up strucks, simply don't fit parking spaces that were designed for a different, smaller car, age.So why are SUVs so deadly for other road users? And why, even when they are made aware of the dangers their large vehicles pose for other road users, do drivers still choose them anyway?Irish Times motoring contributor Neil Briscoe reports.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morning Focus was broadcasting live from the Heights in Ennis as Alan Morrissey kicked off his Summer Tour. Firstly, Alan spoke to Mike Cusack, Vice Chair Clare's Older People's Council, and Brian Frawley, Resident Engineer, about the Realm works that have completely transformed Ennis town centre. Seán Lyons spoke to Clare County Council Senior Executive Officer with responsibility for Housing Activation and Delivery, Sinéad O'Donoghue, about developments in housing strategies in the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee. Alan was then joined by Eoin Troy, Senior Executive Officer For Sport & Recreation, and Declan Fitzgerald, Senior general services supervisor at Clare County Council, about the improvements to Ennis and Clare's public amenities that people have enjoyed and can look forward to. John Rattigan, Curator of Clare County Museum, and Teresa Carmody O'Shea, Education Officer, spoke to Alan about the cultural events that both kids and adults alike can engage in, including summer camps and the fast-approaching Culture Night on September 18th. Alan and mom blogger Petrina O'Halloran discussed the "in-tents" nature of family camping, and the benefits of tech-free stay for all ages. Nicola Waters from Matt Waters Fruit and Veg, Ruairí Henchy, Irish Officer Clare County Council, and Teresa Ní Riain, Administrative Officer with an Clár as Gaeilge chatted with Alan about the new Inis Dom! campaign, and the importance of using your cúpla focal in your day-to-day life. Trevor Hansbury serenaded Alan with a song from his latest album Adjusting to the Seasons. Our Friday Panel (Hilary Tonge, John Casey, and Scott Casson Rennie) discussed the affects of climate change, excise duty cuts, a rumoured visit by Donald Trump, and a celebrity wedding. Finally, to take us into the weekend, Derrick Lynch and Alan gave their opinions on the upcoming Clare hurling and camogie matches.

In the first half of this week's Inside Business, we debate the merits or otherwise of the now permanent 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality sector which kicked in on Wednesday.This followed a pledge in last year's budget to cut the rate, and a long lobbying campaign by many in the industry. But at a cost of €681 million in a full year, is it a good way to spend taxpayer's money? And should the Government have looked at other ways to support the sector rather than this tax break?Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland will argue the case for, while Barra Roantree, assistant professor of economics at Trinity College, will explain why he believes this is a bad policy by Government.In the second half of this episode, John McCartney, a lecturer in property economics at TU Dublin, will explain why he thinks the downturn in the Dublin office market is a permanent one, and not just cyclical as some in the industry would argue. Has the market peaked? And will vacancy rates continually increase?Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first half of this week's Inside Business, we debate the merits or otherwise of the now permanent 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality sector which kicked in on Wednesday.This followed a pledge in last year's budget to cut the rate, and a long lobbying campaign by many in the industry. But at a cost of €681 million in a full year, is it a good way to spend taxpayer's money? And should the Government have looked at other ways to support the sector rather than this tax break?Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland will argue the case for, while Barra Roantree, assistant professor of economics at Trinity College, will explain why he believes this is a bad policy by Government.In the second half of this episode, John McCartney, a lecturer in property economics at TU Dublin, will explain why he thinks the downturn in the Dublin office market is a permanent one, and not just cyclical as some in the industry would argue. Has the market peaked? And will vacancy rates continually increase?Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Jun 2026. Tasha’s, the restaurant group, is about to undergo the biggest expansion in its history, with more than 75 million dirhams being invested in new restaurants. We speak to founder Natasha Sideris. Plus, how often does your luggage actually go missing? A new global report is out, and the Middle East is leading the way. More with Selim Bouri, President Middle East, Africa and Türkiye at SITA. The UAE’s electronic invoicing scheme is now in its pilot phase. We find out how it’s going to work with John Casey of Virtuzone. And we speak to a man who has just started construction on several dozen new villas despite the conflict, Moustafa Elsaid of Swank Development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the morning of June 14th last year, Reykjavik police were called to the luxury 5-star Edition Hotel where the bodies of Emeric Mancel and his adult daughter Catherine were found, along with a wounded Ming Ting Mancel.They had travelled from their home in Dublin for what looked like a weeklong holiday for the reclusive family, but now appears to have been a carefully planned suicide pact.She is now on trial at the Reykjavik District Court, accused of killing her daughter Catherine, in collaboration with her husband Emeric.Little was known about the family's life in Dublin before the trial, but details presented to the court give a clearer picture of how this unusual family lived before taking that fateful trip.Reykjavik-based Irish journalist Karen McHugh explored the details of the case in a previous episode of In the News and she has been in court this week covering the trial.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.If you require support for any of the issues discussed in this episode, you can contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123 or text HELLO to 50808. And Pieta on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444. Or visit yourmentalhealth.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock has Irish Times new recruit Killian Woods in studio to discuss a Government scheme to support the building of apartments in our cities, which looks set to miss a key target.Croi Conaithe cities is a Government support scheme to help plug the affordability gap to support apartment building, which is a key plank in the State's plan to solve the housing crisis.Earlier this week, Killian wrote a story in The Irish Times stating that the scheme was in danger of missing its key target of building 5,000 new apartments over the lifetime of the scheme.What will happen when the scheme's €450 million budget is spent? And has the building sector here come to rely too much on State subsidies?In the second half of the programme, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, the CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation explains why the country is in danger of not having enough bedrooms to accommodate tourists. This is despite the Government's aim to increase Ireland's tourism revenue by 50% by 2031. 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 host Ciarán Hancock has Irish Times new recruit Killian Woods in studio to discuss a Government scheme to support the building of apartments in our cities, which looks set to miss a key target.Croi Conaithe cities is a Government support scheme to help plug the affordability gap to support apartment building, which is a key plank in the State's plan to solve the housing crisis.Earlier this week, Killian wrote a story in The Irish Times stating that the scheme was in danger of missing its key target of building 5,000 new apartments over the lifetime of the scheme.What will happen when the scheme's €450 million budget is spent? And has the building sector here come to rely too much on State subsidies?In the second half of the programme, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, the CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation explains why the country is in danger of not having enough bedrooms to accommodate tourists. This is despite the Government's aim to increase Ireland's tourism revenue by 50% by 2031. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night, Andrea and her team were brought on a wonderful food tour around Galway City along with Galway Food Tours. The experience gave a taste of some of the beautiful food and drink Galway has to offer.Joining Andrea today are just some of the wonderful producers from Galway: Mike Browne, to chat all about oysters, and John Casey from The Galway Kitchen, chatting about humus and various popular dips. Also joining to discuss is Sheena Dignam, owner of Galway Food Tours.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Mark Paul join Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics:· Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Brussels for the EU summit this week, also in attendance is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy who is pushing for serious peace negotiations with Russia. Will Vladimir Putin come to the negotiation table? And could Ukraine's EU membership be fast-tracked during Ireland's upcoming EU presidency? · Security, competitiveness and the EU budget are some of the issues that will come into focus as Ireland becomes a deal maker and parks parochial affairs for the duration of its six-month presidency starting July 1st.· And with Andy Burnham justifying the hype by crushing Nigel Farage's Reform UK in the Makerfield byelection, will prime minister Keir Starmer go quietly or hang around for a leadership battle he stands little chance of winning?Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late on a quiet Sunday night in May, gardaí in Limerick arrived on the scene of what they expected would be a routine call-out to a road traffic incident.Instead they were met with an extraordinary scene.In one of the damaged cars they found a dead man on the back seat. He was wearing a balaclava and there was a loaded pistol at his feet. The driver of the anonymous looking Seat Leon had escaped, leaving his phone behind.The Garda quickly established that the dead man was a Swedish hitman and the pair were in Limerick for a contract killing. They were just minutes from their victim.But who was the target? Has there been a resurgence in the deadly feuding that blighted Limerick for years? Where is the hitman who fled the scene and why has the manhunt for him been so muted?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally reports on the latest in this most unusual case.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The announcement of a 60 day ceasefire in the Middle East to allow detailed negotiations on what we understand could be a deal to end the conflict, has given the financial markets breathing space.First up on this week's podcast is the potential impact on energy prices through the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil, liquified natural gas and fertiliser.The Irish Times's Cliff Taylor assesses what we can expect from energy prices and how it could impact interest rates, a review of which is due from the European Central Bank in July.Ciaran also speaks to the manager of Toners Pub in Dublin, Luke Stedmon, about the boost in trade he's seen as a result of the FIFA World Cup.And while he's in the studio, how much is he charging for a pint, and how much has it climbed in his eight years working in the pub trade.Presented by Ciaran Hancock. Produced by JJ Vernon, John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The announcement of a 60 day ceasefire in the Middle East to allow detailed negotiations on what we understand could be a deal to end the conflict, has given the financial markets breathing space.First up on this week's podcast is the potential impact on energy prices through the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil, liquified natural gas and fertiliser.The Irish Times's Cliff Taylor assesses what we can expect from energy prices and how it could impact interest rates, a review of which is due from the European Central Bank in July.Ciaran also speaks to the manager of Toners Pub in Dublin, Luke Stedmon, about the boost in trade he's seen as a result of the FIFA World Cup.And while he's in the studio, how much is he charging for a pint, and how much has it climbed in his eight years working in the pub trade.Presented by Ciaran Hancock. Produced by JJ Vernon, John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Carlos Barragán discovered his mother was the victim of romance fraud, he flew to Lagos to find the con man – and found the Yahoo Boys, young men whose job it is to rip off westerners. The name comes from the old email platform, first used by the Nigerian scammers decades ago.His mother, Silvia, had fallen in love online with flirtatious, sincere, handsome Brian; she bought rings, planned a future and was convinced that they would one day live together – when he was free to travel to Spain.Her sons though, suspected something sinister was afoot, especially when “Brian” started to make financial demands.Over the course of three years Carlos, a journalist, visited Nigeria multiple times to see the Yahoo Boys in action and to try to understand why this particularly cruel, exploitative form of online fraud has become such an earner for so many young men in Lagos. He also discovered a romance scam involving an Irish woman.His compelling book, The Yahoo Boys: Real Life with the Love Scammers of Lagos by Carlos Barragán is published this week.He talks about the experience on In the News.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful account, a person bravely shares "my story" of being diagnosed with "depression" and the initial struggle with prescribed medications. The narrative touches on difficult moments, including resorting to "alcohol" and grappling with "suicidal thoughts" during a challenging period. This video offers an honest look at a personal journey through "mental health" struggles and the "pain" of navigating such experiences, highlighting the role of "psychiatry" in the process.This video offers an honest look at a personal journey through mental health struggles. Leave Your Mark with Vince Cortese is a leading personal development and mindset podcast dedicated to unlocking human potential and helping you achieve lasting success.This channel is built for individuals committed to self improvement, growth mindset, and transformation for those who are ready to elevate their life, leadership, and purpose.Each episode delivers powerful conversations and practical insights to help you:Unlock your full potentialChange your mindset for successOvercome fear and self doubtFind your purpose in lifeRESOURCES MENTIONED:►  Visit our website: https://www.leaveyourmarkvc.com     InVINCEble Coaching course:►  https://leave-your-mark-podcast-vc.ck...           Discover the keys to monetizing your experience and gain practical tips on transforming your passion into a thriving future.      ►  Donations Here send your gift to our host Vince:                  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/leaveyou...► LYM Social pages:     www.Linktr.ee/VinnieC/Subscribe to LYM on You Tube    / @leaveyoumarkvincecortese2020  Vince Cortese, Author: Bad Days are Really Good Days in DisguiseStory about Courage and Faithhttps://amzn.to/3TB6VBP______________... out to us on our website! https://www.leaveyourmarkvc.com/contactGet vidIQ to grow your channel faster!

As World Cup 2026 kicks off, Gianni Infantino's grip on international football is total.Infantino was brought in to clean up Fifa's image after the murky Sepp Blatter years, to restore transparency and boost the game globally.But if Fifa thought it was getting a self-effacing, legally trained bureaucrat who would stay in the background, it was very wrong. Now after 10 years at the helm, he is Fifa.So how has he dealt with the many complex controversies surrounding the tournament? Why is it the biggest ever World Cup, spread over three countries? How can he be a friend to all, at all times, from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin? And how long will Infantino stay president of world football?Irish Times sports correspondent Gavin Cooney discusses his rise to the top of the international game.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's episode of Inside Business is Elon Musk's company SpaceX and its plan to raise $75 billion through what will likely be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history this Friday.The company values itself at $1.75tn, but some analysts feel it is worth far less.Could it prove to be a risky bet for the retail investor given SpaceX's lack of profit? And there are question marks over governance given Musk's almost untouchable status within the company.To get some insight on all this, host Cliff Taylor was joined in studio by Aidan Donnelly, head of Global Equities at Davy.Plus, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is expected to announce a 0.25% rise in the ECB's interest rate, this will bring it up to 2.25%.It will be the first interest rate hike since 2023, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the impact that had on energy prices.So, what does this week's increase mean for Irish mortgage holders and those looking to buy?And is this the beginning of a cycle of increases designed to control rising inflation?Cliff was joined in studio by Senior Mortgage Advisor at Irish Mortgage Brokers, Michael Dowling.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A summit in Portugal last weekend laid bare the growth in a pan-European remigration movement, with speakers who ranged from an MEP to Greg Bovino, a former US border patrol official who, before retiring, became the public face of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in US cities.The term means deporting not just illegal immigrants but all people judged to be unassimilated in western society, including citizens and the children of non-white immigrants.In Ireland, the push for remigration is being led primarily by the National Party and its members Keith O'Brien (who goes by the name Keith Woods) and James Reynolds attended the event which took place behind tall gates and amid tight security.The Irish Times gained access to the summit to see activists and elected representatives from across Europe, many of whom have close links to neo-Nazi groups, being cheered by delegates.Critics say remigration is essentially a sanitised way of describing state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing. So does this represent a new phase in far-right activity in Ireland?Irish Times investigative reporter Conor Gallagher, who has been tracking far-right groups in Ireland, reports.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government has announced a new €10 million scrappage scheme designed to encourage motorists to switch from older petrol and diesel vehicles to electric cars.    Under the proposal, drivers who scrap a vehicle more than 13 years old could receive up to €8,500 in support towards the purchase of an electric vehicle, with 65% of the funding reserved for people living outside Ireland's major cities.   Supporters say the scheme could help accelerate the move to cleaner transport, while others have raised questions about affordability, charging infrastructure and its suitability for rural Ireland.   To discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the initiative, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Casey of the Clare EV Owners Club and Eddie Punch of Independent Ireland. Image (c) rattanakun via Canva 

This week, Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by An Post chief executive David McRedmond, who is about to step down after 10 years in charge of the State-owned company.He recently wrote an article for The Irish Times about the explosion in online shopping in this country and how it would impact on bricks and mortar retailers.Last year An Post delivered 75 million parcels to Irish homes.This year he expects that figure to be well north of 100 million parcels. All this in a country of just two million homes.In this episode, you'll hear David outline how he believes we need to reimagine the streetscape in our towns and cities to reflect this shift.And he gives ideas on what to do with the historic GPO in Dublin, which An Post largely vacated some time back for new offices in the docks.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The trial of Jeffrey Donaldson began on Wednesday with the jury warned they would hear about “difficult and traumatic incidents” the two alleged victims claim they experienced as children.By the end of the second day, Thursday, they had heard more of the substance of those alleged incidents, including watching a video of a police interview with the witness known as Complainant A.She and the other witness, Complainant B, allege sexual abuse by Donaldson when they were children.The jury heard how Donaldson wrote to Complainant A, saying he regretted “all the hurt, pain and distress” he had caused. The former DUP leader, one of Northern Ireland's most high-profile politicians, is accused of 18 offences – one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 counts of indecent assault – between 1987 and 2008. The 63-year-old denies all charges.Eleanor Donaldson (60), who has been judged medically unfit to stand trial, is charged with aiding and abetting in connection with the charges. She denies the charges.Irish Times Northern Editor Freya McClements is reporting from Newry Crown Court. She tells Bernice Harrison about what the jury has heard so far, how Donaldson's defence lawyer questioned Complainant A, and what comes next.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Inside Business looks at pay transparency. A new EU directive requiring employers to disclose salary ranges in the workplace and toughen rules enforcing gender pay equality comes into effect on June 7th.However, Ireland is set to miss that deadline, with no draft legislation in place. Nichola Harkin is head of employment law services at employers' group Ibec and joins host Ciaran Hancock in studio to explain the key elements of the new EU pay legislation and what it will mean for employers and their staff.How is it being received by companies here? And will it close the gender pay gap?In the second half of this episode, Ciarán speaks to Irish Times Washington Correspondent Keith Duggan about the new governor of the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh. He has been described by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman as Donald Trump's sock puppet.So, the question is, will he be his own man or a Trump patsy?Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RTÉ's announcement that the salary of Derek Mooney, one of its most well-known on-air staffers, had been publicly misrepresented for years sparked a very public controversy.It prompted debate in the Dáil and an appearance for the broadcaster's director general Kevin Bakhurst before the Oireachtas media committee.At issue was how pay is calculated in the organisation, with the suspicion that, once again, when it comes to how the “talent” is being remunerated, the public are not being told the full story.And with the DG before it, the committee took the chance to talk about other presenters and their pay, including Oliver Callan and the late Sean Rocks.So what did we learn from the weeklong controversy that once again put the spotlight on RTÉ.Irish Times media columnist Hugh Linehan explains what this latest controversy means and why it differs from others that have gone before.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House price growth hit 6.5 per cent in March, the slowest rate in two years, offering some chink of light to those hoping to buy. For tenants however, the news is grim, with rents rising by 4.4 per cent in Q.1, the highest quarterly increase since 2022. While the number of eviction notices issued by landlords rose by 50 per cent in the same period. All that against the backdrop of new government rules around renting.To make some sense of these data points, Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Marian Finnegan, CEO of Sherry Fitzgerald, the country's largest estate agent, and on the line by Irish Times Economics Correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy.In the second part of this episode, Ciarán is joined by Irish Times business reporter Ian Curran who was in Toronto last week as part of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards programme. Ian highlights some of the business leaders who impressed, their sales pitch, and reaction to Canadian prime minister Mark Carney's group address as he seeks to wean Canada off its reliance on the US.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday night for a two-day visit that both the United States and China hope will stabilise their relationship and prolong a truce in the trade war that began over tariffs last year. The state visit – with all the pomp and ceremony that entails – had been scheduled for April but was deferred because of the war in Iran. There is a lot on the table and, in the shorthand favoured by analysts, they are: the three Ts (Taiwan and Tehran and trade) and the three Bs (beans, Boeing and beef). On day one, Trump flattered Xi Jinping but was that reciprocated? And what about the two superpower's key interests outside trade and tariffs: Trump wants China to help open the Strait of Hormuz; Xi considers Taiwan as the most important issue in the relationship between China and the United States? Is the fact that the meeting happened at all the real win for the two countries following a period of fraught relations.Irish Times China correspondent Denis Staunton is in Beijing.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Times and TG4 by Ipsos B&A poll shows Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan leads the byelection race in Dublin Central with first preference votes at 21 per cent, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats is in second place on 18 per cent. But Ennis will be in line for a lot of transfers from the fragmented left-wing vote, with Labour, People Before Profit and the Green Party all having candidates in the race. Veteran criminal Gerry Hutch is running in third place on 14 per cent, growing his vote from 9 percent in the last general election. Could his transfers play an important role for Boylan's path to victory?And Fianna Fáil's John Stephens is way back in the field on 4 per cent. His cause won't have been helped by Bertie Ahern's comments on immigration, captured while the former taoiseach was out on a byelection canvass last week. The poll shows immigration trails cost-of-living and housing as an issue for voters ahead of election day on May 22nd.Produced by John Casey.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How high could oil prices go?It has shot up since the United States and Israel's war with Iran began a couple of months ago. But not by as much as might have been expected. Talks on a deal are taking place but in the absence of a deal there is concern that a prolonged conflict could lead to a global recession. Economist John FitzGerald and Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times join host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss the implications for Irish householders and businesses. In the second half of this week's Inside Business, we hear about how plans for a €250 million winter sports arena in Cherrywood, south Dublin are progressing. This week we learned that several US and Canadian ice hockey stars, including former Stanley Cup winners, have signed on as investors in the proposed ice hockey arena.Eoin Burke-Kennedy of The Irish Times has been covering the story, and he joined Ciarán to outline who these investors are and what their involvement means for the project. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For online fraudsters to be successful they need a web of bank accounts to first receive the money they steal and then to channel it, often out of the country.Some people, often students, willingly let their bank accounts be used in exchange for a small sum of money. For others though, they have no choice, like the victim of sextortion before the courts this month who was blackmailed into letting his Revolut account be used by a crime gang.Drug gangs still use bricks-and-mortar operations to launder money; businesses that are often cash based, from barbers to nail bars. But the volume of cash generated particularly by online fraud needs a more sophisticated banking-based solution.Ten years ago An Garda Síochána was uncovering just 50 cases of money laundering a year in Ireland, in 2025 it was nearly 2,800. So why the huge increase and does the Garda have the resources to deal with this growing category of crime?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains why money laundering is now big business in Ireland.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When 21-year-old Katie Simpson died in August 2020 after an event in her home, why did the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) accept the version of events offered by Jonathan Creswell, the man she shared a house with? He said she had taken her own life.Why did they not look into his past as a convicted domestic abuser, or her history of presenting at hospitals with injuries and why did they so readily believe him?Nearly a year after her death he was charged with her murder and on the second day of the trial in Belfast, he killed himself.In doing so he not only denied his victim justice, he stopped the details of her death and the investigation into it being made public in a court.A 200-page report on how her murder was handled has now been published and it reveals a shocking litany of failures by police that are not simply down to poor investigation techniques but something far more ingrained and sinister: “institutional misogyny”.It also reveals that many more victims have come forward with allegations of abuse against Creswell who was active in equestrian circles in Northern Ireland.Seanín Graham, Northern correspondent of The Irish Times, explains how the report on PSNI failings has been received.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this episode of Inside Business, the rising cost of living. Prepay Power last week became the first Irish energy supplier to announce an increase in its prices since the Middle East conflict began.Daragh Cassidy is Head of Communications at consumer advice website bonkers.ie, and he joins host Ciarán Hancock to discuss the outlook for a range of consumer prices, and whether other energy suppliers would follow Prepay Power's lead and increase their prices.In the second half of this episode, Professor at the School of Computer Science & IT at UCC, Barry O'Sullivan, joins Ciarán to get under the skin of artificial intelligence and its poor image. Some say it will cure cancer and solve climate change; while others view it as a threat to humanity and something that will take away all our jobs. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Iran war, which began on February 28th, has disrupted air traffic routes and pushed up jet fuel prices. That much is clear. But with the war showing little sign of resolution, what is less clear is what will happen as the aviation industry grapples with inevitable fuel shortages?The disruption to aviation has been severe in the Middle East and Asia but, to date, the impact on European airlines has been relatively minimal. Flights have been cancelled and prices have risen marginally but for most, it has been a case of travelling as usual.That though could change radically and soon as jet fuel becomes scarce and the price airlines must pay for it – already 90 per cent higher than before the war began – rises even further.The industry is now talking of rationing but what might that look like?Irish Times consumer affairs correspondent Conor Pope explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Declan Conlon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael, the biopic tracking the early years of Michael Jackson, opened to dire reviews and criticism over its silence on the child sex abuse allegations levelled at the music superstar.The fans, though, don't care; they made Michael a box office smash. Its first weekend broke records, with the film scoring the biggest opening of all time for any musical biopic.It stars Jaafar Jackson, who does a good job channelling his late uncle Michael, and the music is wall-to-wall with brief detours into some aspects of Jackson's odd life, including his obsession with Peter Pan, his first nose job and his acquisition of Bubbles the chimpanzee. Originally the script included the case of one of the boys who alleged sex abuse, but that was cut.So without the truth of Jackson's life, what is the point of this biopic? And why is Hollywood so fixated on musical biopics?Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The annual Banner GAA club charity cycle is looming large on the horizon which takes place this May Bank Holiday weekend. As with last year, Bushy Park Addiction Treatment Centre will be the chosen charity to benefit from the event. To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined live in-studio by John Casey with Banner GAA club and Mags Nash, Manager at Bushy Park.

Our guest this week on Inside Business is Edmond Scanlon, chief executive of Kerry Group, the global food ingredients player and one of Ireland's biggest stock market companies.The Tralee-based company has left behind its dairy roots to focus on high value nutrition and ingredients, supplying major food companies around the world.Edmond joins host Ciarán Hancok in studio to discuss how Kerry Group has created ingredients that have reduced the salt and sugar levels in popular foods without compromising on taste while also keeping prices down.It is also working on ways to extend the life of bread, so it lasts for up to two weeks.Edmond also explains how the current Middle East conflict is affecting its operations in the region and why the weak dollar, rather than Donald Trump's tariffs, are impacting on its operations in the US.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a pilot scheme was announced in 2022 to provide artists with a guaranteed weekly income of €325 a week for three years, there were more than 8,000 applications for the 2,000 places.The Basic Income for the Arts pilot programme ended in February and a review of it was conducted by the Department of Culture before the decision was taken to create a new, permanent scheme. It is now open for applications.It will once again be open to 2,000 artists, chosen by lottery with no qualitative assessment. The weekly payment remains the same.There are some key changes; notably in oversight. Recipients will be audited regularly to ensure they are producing art. Also, their names will be publicly available.While the scheme, thought to be a world first, is widely seen as a positive, a freedom-of-information request by Irish Times journalist Órla Ryan reveals that not everyone is happy. She explains why the pilot scheme was so popular and explores the changes as it transitions from pilot to permanent.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Inside Business, host Ciarán Hancock speaks to Mayo entrepreneur Ciaran Crean. Ciaran is co-founder of Micksgarage.com, a business founded in 2004 selling car parts online. There have been a few bumps on the road since its foundation, but Micksgarage is currently in growth mode and has spun out a couple of businesses. One of those is WaveOMS, which provides software to Irish retailers looking to fulfil their online orders. Plus, IFAC chairman Seamus Coffey discusses the Government's €505 million package of supports in response to last week's fuel protests around the country. Is this money well spent? Will it be enough if the Middle East conflict drags on? And is it now a case that those who shout loudest will be appeased by the Government?Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí have identified a person of interest in the disappearance of Icelandic man Jon Jonsson. The suspect, who's from Liverpool, is a veteran criminal with a history of large scale drug dealing.Jonsson, who'd come to Ireland for a poker tournament, vanished on February the 9th 2019. He was caught on CCTV leaving the Bonnington Hotel on the Swords Road in north Dublin.Beyond those images, Gardaí have no information about where he went and no trace of him has since been uncovered. One line of enquiry is that this man from Liverpool travelled to Ireland to attack another Icelandic man on the orders of a criminal gang and mistakenly targeted Jonsson.As investigations continue into this new lead, listen back to a podcast originally broadcast in February 2024 that explains the puzzling details of the case.Hosted by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a year on since Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and host Ciarán Hancock is joined in studio by Aidan Meagher, EY partner and co-head of the geopolitical strategy team; to hear about the impact this has had on Irish exporters and global trade.They also chat about the current market turmoil and an increasing level of cyber-attack on the operations of American companies in Ireland by Iranian interests.In the second half of this week's Inside Business, Ciarán speaks to Declan Bolger, the chief executive of the Irish Life group, one of the biggest asset managers in the country.Declan gives his thoughts on the State's new auto enrolment pension scheme, the rising costs of health insurance premiums, and the impact of AI on his sector.He also explains why Simon Harris's plan to introduce a tax-friendly savings and investment scheme will be an “absolute failure” if only viewed for the wealthy.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The scale of the fake medicines in Ireland has been made worryingly clear with the latest figures from the State's drugs watchdog.The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) seized more than 750,000 units of illegal and fake medicines over the course of 2025.As has been in the case in previous years, anabolic steroids top the list of fake imported drugs, with erectile dysfunction medication next.But what has alarmed the watchdog is the 180 per cent rise in individual consignments year on year – people going online and ordering these bogus products – with a “significant proportion” being presented as GLP-1 products, also known as weight-loss drugs.So why do people seek out these particular medicines online; are they aware they may be fake despite their apparently authentic packaging and appearance; and is there an understanding of the health risks involved?Irish Times health correspondent Shauna Bowers explains the ever-increasing rise in fake medicines reaching Ireland.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the Government introduced a €250 million package of measures to help businesses and households with their fuel bills over the next couple of months.But will it be enough? And is it merely a bet by Government on the Iran conflict being resolved quickly?Joining host Ciarán Hancock in studio to tease this out are Cliff Taylor of The Irish Times and Fergal O'Brien, director of lobbying and influence at employers group Ibec.But the episode starts with Irish times political correspondent Cormac McQuinn taking us through the various fuel measures introduced by Government. Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's Inside Business is Ireland's housing crisis and where it is felt most – Dublin city. Mark Fitzgerald is chairman of the Fine Gael Commission for renewal and a non-executive director of Sherry FitzGerald Group. He joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss a recent piece he wrote for the Irish Times where he highlights restrictive geography and the lack of imagination around land use and zoning as some of the key contributors to the challenging housing situation in the capital. But what decisions led to the current scarcity of supply and what choices could be made to meet demand for future generations in the capital?Also on this episode, the latest report from the Economic and Social Research Institute suggests Ireland is trending to fall far below the 2030 targets as set out in the Climate Action Plan.Focusing on decarbonising Irish households, the report highlights the slow uptake in retrofitting and the installation of heat pumps. The report also points out some of the barriers preventing homeowners from taking such measures.Muireann Lynch is a Senior Research Officer with the ESRI and co-authored the report. She joined Cliff on the line to go through the report's key points.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this week's Inside Business is St Patrick's Day. It's just six days away but the festival itself is a four-day affair this year and will begin on Saturday. The man in charge of this major annual undertaking is Richard Tierney, chief executive of the St Patrick's Day festival. He joined host Ciarán Hancock in studio to discuss year-long preparations that went into the 2026 festival, what it means for the economy and the part it plays in kicking off Ireland's tourism season. Earlier this week, The Irish Times began an 8-week series on how to invest. Fiona Reddan is the author of the series, and she joined Ciarán in studio to discuss the thesis behind the series and the various that she will cover.She began with a piece on how Irish people are leaving up to €172 billion on deposit with the banks, earning little or no interest.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You do not want to miss out on DOME! It will change how we shop, how we sell and it is not a matter of if it is just when! CEO of Sparxworks Billy Newell and long time ecommerce Advisor to Sparxworks John Casey join the show to explain why DOME is a no brainer for brands and retailers. It basically makes your site into an LLM/Answer Engine. This new startup is going to catch fire and Summer, Hayley and Scotty had a great time learning more! Enjoy Always Off Brand is always a Laugh & Learn!    FEEDSPOT TOP 10 Retail Podcast! https://podcast.feedspot.com/retail_podcasts/?feedid=5770554&_src=f2_featured_email   Guest: William Newell  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamnewell/ Website: https://sparxworks.com/   Guest: John Casey  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocasey/ Website: https://sparxworks.com/ QUICKFIRE Info:   Website: https://www.quickfirenow.com/ Email the Show: info@quickfirenow.com  Talk to us on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quickfireproductions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quickfire__/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quickfiremarketing LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/quickfire-productions-llc/about/ Sports podcast Scott has been doing since 2017, Scott & Tim Sports Show part of Somethin About Nothin:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/somethin-about-nothin/id1306950451 HOSTS: Summer Jubelirer has been in digital commerce and marketing for over 17 years. After spending many years working for digital and ecommerce agencies working with multi-million dollar brands and running teams of Account Managers, she is now the Amazon Manager at OLLY PBC.   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerjubelirer/   Scott Ohsman has been working with brands for over 30 years in retail, online and has launched over 200 brands on Amazon. Mr. Ohsman has been managing brands on Amazon for 19yrs. Owning his own sales and marketing agency in the Pacific NW, is now VP of Digital Commerce for Quickfire LLC. Producer and Co-Host for the top 5 retail podcast, Always Off Brand. He also produces the Brain Driven Brands Podcast featuring leading Consumer Behaviorist Sarah Levinger. Scott has been a featured speaker at national trade shows and has developed distribution strategies for many top brands. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6/   Hayley Brucker has been working in retail and with Amazon for years. Hayley has extensive experience in digital advertising, both seller and vendor central on Amazon. Hayley lives in North Carolina.  LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-brucker-1945bb229/   Huge thanks to Cytrus our show theme music "Office Party" available wherever you get your music. Check them out here: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cytrusmusic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cytrusmusic/ Twitter https://twitter.com/cytrusmusic SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VrNLN6Thj1iUMsiL4Yt5q?si=MeRsjqYfQiafl0f021kHwg APPLE MUSIC https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cytrus/1462321449   "Always Off Brand" is part of the Quickfire Podcast Network and produced by Quickfire LLC.