“I thought, worst-case scenario, people always need chairs covered”

“It’s a bit like winning the lottery. A family who wins the lottery can either blow it or do things that would make future generations in that family better off.”

Danny McCoy has spent more than two decades watching Ireland’s economy from the front row, including 17 years as chief executive of IBEC. In this podcast with Ian Kehoe, he argues that Ireland is once again enjoying an extraordinary period of economic strength — but risks wasting it. McCoy draws a sharp distinction between today’s economy and the Celtic Tiger era, pointing to the strength of household and corporate balance sheets and the State’s much-improved debt position. But he warns that the current flow of corporation tax receipts could encourage complacency and excessive spending. He also discusses infrastructure, housing, defence, geopolitics and the prospect of public-sector strikes. And there is a more personal conversation about leadership, where McCoy reflects on what 17 years at the helm of Ibec have taught him.