On this week's programme, presented by George Lee
The Burden of Bankruptcy
Following on from our story last week about the number of indebted Irish people who may be moving to the UK to take advantage of their more lenient bankruptcy laws, we speak to a man who's doing just that. John is an Irish businessman who once ran a company with a turnover of over €100 million, and is now heavily in debt and facing the prospect of bankruptcy. We've changed John's name and disguised his voice to protect his identity.
A Class Act
Tara Haughton from Cross Passion College in Kilcullen, Grainne Ághas from Pobal Scoil, Corca Dhuibhne in Kerry and Stirling O'Mháirtín from Dundalk Grammar School are three impressive first-time entrepreneurs. They've just won their respective age categories in the National Final of the Student Enterprise Awards. They join us fresh from the awards ceremony to tell us about their businesses.
Business Review
Dylan Cullen, founder of property firm Appreciating Assets and Siobhán Creaton, business journalist with the Irish Independent, discuss Sean Quinn's forced exit from the Quinn Group, and the recent distressed property firesale.
Obama-Rama
In anticipation of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth's upcoming visits to Ireland, we've asked our listeners to come up with a t-shirt slogan to commemorate the occasion. The t-shirts will be made and sold by Fergus Burke of Dot Cotton in Cork, with all proceeds going to the winner's charity of choice. Fergus joins us to explain what he's looking for in our winning entry. The winner will be announced next week, send your suggestions to @thebusinessrte or thebusiness@rte.ie
Business to Business Debt
As we heard earlier in the programme, the consequences for those going bankrupt in Ireland these days are huge. But what about the people who are owed money and are left high and dry by those who have gone out of business. Mike is a man who owns a construction-related company, he feels that he's being brought down by those who owe him money.
Sticking with Tradition
Shillelaghs are a dying phenomenon in Ireland, but ex-engineer Liam Kealy is carving out a future for himself by fashioning traditional shillelaghs in his workshop. Our reporter Colette Kinsella travelled to Wicklow to find out how an ancient fighting stick has become a profitable business.