Shane Ross’s new book takes a long view of the RTÉ crisis of 2023, identifying tensions and tussles that existed before RTÉ even launched in 1961. But what could have been done differently and how will RTÉ adapt to a changing world with a diminished reputation? Ross talks to Dion Fanning on today’s podcast.
When people talk about AI transforming business, they tend to focus on marketing, finance, or operations—not tax.
But that may be about to change.
AI isn’t just accelerating tax processes; it has the potential to fundamentally reshape how the tax function operates.
The real question is: is tax ready for that shift?
To explore this, Deirdre Hogan, EY Ireland Indirect Tax Partner, and Alex Manek, EY Ireland Data Analytics Director, speak with Ian Kehoe.
A common theme emerges from their work with clients: uncertainty. Many tax professionals feel the pressure to “use AI,” but lack clarity on where to begin. Their advice is pragmatic—start small, focus on achievable wins, build confidence, and invest in skills.
Ultimately, they don’t see AI as a replacement for tax professionals, but as a tool—one that can free them from low-value tasks and enable more strategic, higher-impact work. This podcast is sponsored by EY Ireland.
In a former life, Mark Mellett was vice admiral of the Irish Navy and chief of staff of the Irish Defence Forces. Since retiring, he had taken on a number of other roles, including chairman of Sage Advocacy, a group that represented older and more vulnerable members of society, many of whom are impacted by the ongoing protests.
As protests over fuel price gather steam, he spoke to Ian Kehoe to discuss the nature of protest, democracy, and the need to distinguish between legitimate protest and actions that undermine democratic institutions.
Sophie Peirce-Evans died penniless in 1939 at the age of 42. A decade earlier, she had rivalled Amelia Earhart in the pursuit of aviation records. June O’Sullivan, the author of a new novel that tells the story of one episode in her extraordinary life, talks to Dion Fanning.
Mike Lynch’s life reads like a story that constantly defied probability – a self-made tech billionaire who built one of Britain’s most successful software companies, fought a decade-long legal battle, and walked free when almost no one expected him to. In this podcast with Ian Kehoe, journalist Katie Prescott unpacks that extraordinary arc, from the rise of Autonomy to the $11 billion Hewlett-Packard deal that unravelled into one of the most complex corporate disputes of modern times.
Prescott takes us inside the courtroom drama, the competing narratives of fraud and misunderstanding, and the personality of Lynch himself: brilliant, combative, and deeply unconventional. This is not just a story about business or technology, but about ambition, identity, and the fine line between genius and hubris.
And then, just as a second act seemed possible, came an ending that stunned even those closest to him. A sudden, almost surreal tragedy that reframed everything that came before it.
In June 2024, in Limerick, John Moran became Ireland’s first directly elected mayor.
It wasn’t just a new role – it was a political experiment. Powers were being decentralised for the first time in more than a century. Moran, a high-profile former secretary general of the Department of Finance and a former banker, ran as an Independent and outflanked the political establishment.
And from the start, it wasn’t smooth sailing. Conflicts with councillors, clashes with senior officials, high-profile disputes.
So, just what is going on?
For the past three months, Alan English has conducted more than 40 interviews and spoken to dozens of other people involved, including the key protagonists.
Ahead of a landmark three-part investigation to be published this week on The Currency, English joins Ian Kehoe in the studio to discuss the key issues, the central characters, and why he was reluctant to take on the project initially.
In this episode of The Tech Agenda, PwC Ireland fintech leader Nicola Sheridan and blockchain expert Lory Kehoe talk to Ian Kehoe about the growing momentum behind tokenisation – the process of turning real-world assets into digital tokens.
From shares and investment funds to real estate, infrastructure and even artwork, tokenisation allows ownership to be represented digitally and transferred almost instantly. Supporters say the technology could make markets faster, cheaper and more transparent while reducing the friction that still slows global finance.
Sheridan and Kehoe argue that tokenisation could also open investment opportunities to a much wider audience. By allowing assets to be fractionalised into smaller pieces, everything from office buildings to whiskey barrels could be owned by hundreds or even thousands of investors rather than a handful of institutions. They talk about how it works, the importance of regulation and the opportunities for Ireland. The Tech Agenda with Ian Kehoe podcast series is sponsored by PwC.
Roy Keane continues to have a hold over Ireland. Dave Hannigan’s new book ‘We Need to Talk About Roy’ looks at how Ireland shaped Keane and how Keane changed Ireland. He talks to Dion Fanning about the Keane he observed growing up in Cork at the same time and the man he became.
A letter to Tony O’Reilly changed Kingsley Aikins’s life. His new book on networking looks at how human connection is fundamental to how we live well. He talks to Dion Fanning about the power of human connection, what we lost during lockdowns and his experience working for Tony O’Reilly.
The west of Ireland has proven itself a rich stage for Colin Barrett with the author winning international acclaim for his stories. Now writing his second novel, he talks to Michael Cogley about "getting into the skin" of his characters, movie rights, and why he feels "lucky" to be part of the Irish writing tradition.
Are Irish CEOs moving fast enough on AI?
PwC’s latest Irish CEO survey suggests ambition is not the problem. Almost half of business leaders are entering new sectors. More than two-thirds plan international investments in the year ahead — well above the global average.
But when it comes to artificial intelligence, the returns remain early. Just 17 per cent of Irish CEOs report revenue gains from AI. Only 23 per cent report cost reductions. Meanwhile, global companies that have embedded AI at scale are two to three times more likely to report meaningful financial returns.
The divide is opening.
In this episode of The Tech Agenda, Ian Kehoe speaks to Amy Ball, Reinvention Leader at PwC Ireland, and Kieran Little, partner at Strategy&, PwC Ireland, about what “tech-driven reinvention” actually means – and why pilots and experimentation are no longer enough.
Ball and Little discuss Ireland’s lower risk appetite, the execution gap between strategy and scale, the governance challenge boards are now demanding answers on, and why this may be “a time for big bets”.
