Arts department yet to carry out five-year reviews of agencies as required since 2016 under governance rules

Irish events business Cogs & Marvel had bought out a founding shareholder days before the pandemic changed everything. Since then, in addition to dealing with litigation from its former CFO, it has been restructured the business, almost halving headcount.

After three days of revelations on its finances, National Broadband Ireland is set for a restructure as the firm of its chairman David McCourt appoints an international investment bank to explore a new capital structure.

The co-founders of Sisu believe the aesthetic clinic group will become a multi-billion dollar public company. Pat Phelan and Brian and James Cotter talk about US expansion, why it has reignited plans to enter the UK, and the economics of "face-as-a-service".

Before National Broadband Ireland delivered its first connection, it started spending money on another priority: Payments to companies controlled by its own investors.

With its robust performance, it is easy to see why there was a five year battle for control of the Blackrock Clinic. Now, thanks to a capital injection by Larry Goodman, it has paid off all of its €34 million bank debt.

As CEO of Mason Alexander, Andrew Lynch has had a ringside seat to how the pandemic has changed both the workplace and the workforce. He talks about employee side hustles, the Great Resignation and how he intends to scale his own business to 1,000 people.

Despite repeated government pronouncements that private investors in the National Broadband Plan would inject their own money first, after one year they had provided just half of the amount promised – and charged hefty interest for it.

Redesdale Food & Beverage Fund, led by corporate financier John Conroy, is raising funds to invest in early-stage food and beverage companies. Former AIB chairman Lochlann Quinn has emerged as a backer.

Revenue has long targeted the use of holding companies to disguise employment in IT and pharma. New briefing documents show that the authority is also looking at the issue of contractors across a range of other sectors including media, entertainment and chemical plants.

The finances of National Broadband Ireland unveil its true ownership, the narrow commitment of its backers and its initial spending priorities – all different from government promises before the €3bn contract was signed. In the first instalment of a three-part series, we investigate its shareholders.