The Ireland Canada Connection

Hosted by The Ireland Canada Business Association

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Latest episode

Mar 2026

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About the show

Interviews with leaders in business, culture and public affairs across Ireland and Canada. Brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association.

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38 recent

March 4, 202647 min

Ambassador Dennis King & Dr Deirdre Giblin in conversation

Listen in to a wide-ranging, open and honest fireside chat between ICBA Chair Dr. Deirdre Giblin and Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Dennis King. It was recorded at a live audience event hosted by FFH Management Services in Dublin, which is part of the Fairfax group. The conversation spans many topics including Ambassador King’s journey from provincial politics to diplomacy, his first year in Ireland and how he has settled in to life in a new country, the impact of Prime minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos, Canada’s evolving global role and why the Ireland Canada relationship matters more now, than ever.For photos of the event visit the ICBA website The Ireland Canada Connection is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. We are the voice of the Ireland Canada Business community. Our membership is composed of chief executives and senior management of Canada's leading enterprises who have located their European operations in Ireland. Since 1978 we have been connecting executives and organizations in Canada and Ireland for the purpose of bilateral investment, trade and entrepreneurship. As a membership organization, our members make our mission possible. They span over 20 business sectors and directly and indirectly support more than 20,000 jobs across the country and hundreds of small businesses. Our partnerships with the Canadian Embassy and the Ireland Canada Chambers inform our work.

September 22, 202523 min

KCB’s experience of establishing an office in Ireland

In the final episode of our mini-series ‘Navigating the Irish Market’, Joseph Quinn and Brian Keenan of Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) join Patrick Haughey to share their experience of setting up an office in Ireland. KCB is a global award-winning engineering, geosciences and environmental consulting firm headquartered in Canada, and with a number of international offices around the globe, the most recent being in Naas, Co Kildare. Joe and Brian talk about why the company made the decision to establish a base in Ireland, what they did in those early stages that gave them a successful start, what their experience has been so far, and advice they would share with other Canadian companies planning to open a base in Ireland‘Navigating the Irish Market’ focussed on what Canadian companies need to know about doing business in Ireland. We’re analysing the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture, and more. And we are doing so In the company of some of Ireland’s leading experts in these areas.

May 7, 202526 min

Navigating the Irish Market - Employment & HR landscape

Alison Hodgson is Partner for Transformation, HR and Change Practice at RSM Ireland. In this episode Alison talks about the employment and HR landscape in Ireland and what Canadian companies need to know about employment law, the importance of those first hires and the types of employee benefits that will make them attractive to an Irish workforce in a very competitive employment market. We also discuss very important factors around communication styles in Ireland and what works best when giving feedback and trying to build rapport. 'Navigating the Irish Market' is a special series designed to help Canadian companies that are setting up operations in Ireland, or are considering doing so. The series analyses the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture. Host Patrick Haughey is joined by leading experts in the key areas that Canadian companies need to be familiar with in order to successfully operate in Ireland. This podcast is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. If you would like to find out more about the ICBA and how we can help you to successfully navigate the Irish market, please visit us at Irelandcanada.com

May 7, 202530 min

Navigating the Irish Market: Ireland's tax system

Cormac Kelleher is a Partner in the leading accounting, tax and advisory firm Forvis Mazars Ireland. In this episode Cormac talks about the tax environment in Ireland and what multinational companies need to know about the Irish tax system in order to set up correctly from the very start. We also talk about some of the aspects of tax that companies often overlook and why it is so important to address them early on, and the business culture in Ireland and how to succeed within it. 'Navigating the Irish Market' is a special series designed to help Canadian companies that are setting up operations in Ireland, or are considering doing so. The series analyses the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture. Host Patrick Haughey is joined by leading experts in the key areas that Canadian companies need to be familiar with in order to successfully operate in Ireland. This podcast is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. If you would like to find out more about the ICBA and how we can help you to successfully navigate the Irish market, please visit us at Irelandcanada.com

May 7, 202532 min

Navigating the Irish Market: Business supports available to Canadian companies.

Deirdre Moran is Country Manager for Canada at IDA Ireland and Hugh McGrath is Head of Corporate Services, Ireland, at investor services group, IQ-EQ. In conversation with host Patrick Haughey, Deirdre and Hugh talk about Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for multinational companies, the many supports that are available to companies who choose Ireland as their European base, and what you need to know about the geography of Ireland and the regions that might suit your sector best. 'Navigating the Irish Market' is a special series designed to help Canadian companies that are setting up operations in Ireland, or are considering doing so. The series analyses the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture. Host Patrick Haughey is joined by leading experts in the key areas that Canadian companies need to be familiar with in order to successfully operate in Ireland. This podcast is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. If you would like to find out more about the ICBA and how we can help you to successfully navigate the Irish market, please visit us at Irelandcanada.com

May 7, 202528 min

Navigating the Irish Market: Ireland's legal system

Kieran Trant is a Partner in the corporate department of Matheson - one of Ireland’s largest law firms. Kieran works with international companies on the establishment, expansion and operation of their businesses in Ireland and we talk about what the Irish legal system is like and how, as a common law system, it shares a lot of similarities with the Canadian legal system. But we also discuss the key differences and what companies need to know about those.We also learn about the ease of doing business in Ireland and why the pro-business environment has proven so popular with companies looking to internationalise. For more information about the main legal issues involced in setting up an international business in Ireland click https://www.matheson.com/doingbusinessinireland'Navigating the Irish Market' is a special series designed to help Canadian companies that are setting up operations in Ireland, or are considering doing so. The series analyses the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture. Host Patrick Haughey is joined by leading experts in the key areas that Canadian companies need to be familiar with in order to successfully operate in Ireland. This podcast is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. If you would like to find out more about the ICBA and how we can help you to successfully navigate the Irish market, please visit us at Irelandcanada.com

May 7, 202521 min

Navigating the Irish Market: The banking environment

Kevin Elliott is EVP and Head of Global Foreign Direct Investment at Bank of Ireland. Kevin works with international companies to establish and scale their operations in Ireland. In this episode we learn about the banking environment in Ireland, how it compares to other EU countries, some of the common pitfalls to avoid, and advice for building relationships and networks in Ireland. For more information on setting up in Ireland and the key banking considerations, visit https://corporate.bankofireland.com/sectors/fdi/'Navigating the Irish Market' is a special series designed to help Canadian companies that are setting up operations in Ireland, or are considering doing so. The series analyses the Irish business landscape from a number of perspectives, including the tax system, the legal system, employment and HR, banking, government supports, networking and business culture. Host Patrick Haughey is joined by leading experts in the key areas that Canadian companies need to be familiar with in order to successfully operate in Ireland. This podcast is brought to you by the Ireland Canada Business Association. If you would like to find out more about the ICBA and how we can help you to successfully navigate the Irish market, please visit us at Irelandcanada.com

February 4, 202517 min

The power of air connectivity between Ireland and Canada - Minister Steve Crocker

Air connectivity between two areas has been proven to boost tourism and business links between them. On this episode of The Ireland Canada Connection Steve Crocker, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, talks about the new Westjet direct route linking Dublin, Ireland and St John’s, Newfoundland and the benefits it will bring. In conversation with host Patrick Haughey, Minister Crocker shares his vision for Newfoundland’s relationship with Ireland, from a tourism, culture and economic perspective. They also discuss: · The appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador as a tourist destination· What the provinces have to offer to businesses, particularly in the area of renewable energy. · The very special historical links between Ireland and this part of Canada· Why Minister Crocker is supporting the nomination of the Valentia Transatlantic Cable project for Unesco World Heritage status

September 9, 202428 min

Former Ambassador Nancy Smyth reflects on her term as Canadian Ambassador to Ireland

Recorded during her final weeks in the role as Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Nancy Smyth joins host Patrick Haughey to for a wide-ranging conversation about her career in public service, why being posted to the role of Canadian Ambassador to Ireland was so significant for her and her family, the achievements of which she is most proud, and what Nancy has learned about Ireland and Irish people during her term.Produced and Presented by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand For more information about The Ireland Canada Business Association visit Irelandcanada.com

July 22, 202419 min

Dr Ailish Campbell - Canada's Ambassador to the European Union

While in Dublin to deliver the keynote address at the ICBA Business Summit 2024, Dr Ailish Campbell recorded an interview with Patrick Haughey for this special episode of The Ireland Canada Connection. They speak about Dr Campbell’s Irish heritage, how she was the first person on both sides of her family to go to university, why she was drawn to work in public service and what she loves about it, and they discuss the special relationship between Ireland and Canada and Dr Campbell’s vision for how it can continue to grow and thrive.If you would like to watch the keynote speech that Dr Campbell delivered at the ICBA’s business summit in Dublin’s Iveagh House, you can find it HERE