Archive for September, 2009

One thing the Lisbon debate has done is distract us from the juggernaut that is NAMA. In Laois today, speaking to a large group of retailers — who can sense the credit crunch in their bottom lines — the only topic was the banks, the bailout and what is going to be left after NAMA.

Last weekend, Jim O’Hara, the no-nonsense boss of Intel in Ireland, suggested to me that one way to think about the Lisbon vote was through the prism of Monty Python’s brilliant ‘”what have the Romans ever done for us?” sketch.

David was on the Late Late Show on Friday, 18th September 2009, discussing the Global Irish Economic Forum discussing the Irish diaspora with the CEO of Qantas airlines Alan Joyce, entrepreneur and broadcaster Sir Gerry Robinson. View online here.

David and Tommy Tiernan were recently on Canada’s biggest chat show called “The Hour” with George Stroumboulopoulos. David talks about “the economy, the banks, David’s time as a bar man in Toronto and the power of the great Irish tribe and how it can be harnessed”. Watch online here.

The great and the good of the world are meeting in New York to discuss climate change today. This meeting is intended to clear the air before the Copenhagen Summit in December. Already the signs are that the Europeans and the Asians are annoyed with the Obama administration which, they argue, is foot dragging.

The Global Irish Econmic Forum took place over the weekend. A number of video clips and views from forum attendees are available online. Please feel free to add your comments and thoughts below, as David is keen on reading them. Audio/Video clips of the conference on RTE.ie

Eight years ago while working for Jack Welch, the legendary chief executive of GE, we were chatting about his parents and upbringing in Salem, Massachusetts. His grandparents on both sides were from Cork and he was talking about how he loved coming ‘‘home’’ to Ireland. I asked whether his Irish ancestry might have been a factor in deciding to locate GE Capital in Ireland.

It is hard not to feel like you are watching a Bond movie or a hostage drama when looking at how NAMA is playing out. Hostage dramas are compelling, which is why they make such good television.

Last Thursday, the share price of Bank of Ireland rose by 10 per cent following the announcement by the Green Party that it had secured amendments to the Nama bill, which might allow the party to support it.

Leviathan teams up with the Dun Laoghaire Mountains to Sea Book Festival to bring you a fizzy debate on Sat 12th September at the Royal Marine Hotel, Carysfort Suite 9pm.

David McWilliams hosts the discussion; Are Most Liberals Just Champagne Socialists? With panelists CEO of TV3 David McRedmond , Green TD, Ciaran Cuffe , Founder member of pro free market Think Tank – Open Republic Institute Paul McDonnell and Professor Mary P. Corcoran, Sociologist.

Plus musical satire from Paddy Cullivan; comedy sketches from The Emergency: Live; and film from Doris/McGee Productions.