Tax Talk: Recent Episodes
Irish Tax Institute
Tax Talk – a podcast from the Irish Tax Institute which explores current issues in the world of taxation.
In this episode of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan is joined by Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for European Affairs and Sasha Kerins, Tax Partner in Grant Thornton. They discuss Ireland taking up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the unique opportunity it gives to lead and shape the direction of European tax policy.
In this episode of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan is joined by Sandra Brennan, Tax Controversy Partner at EY Ireland to explore the world of Tax Controversy. They discuss the growing complexity in tax both domestically and internationally, and how it impacts compliance.
In this episode of Tax Talk, host Donal O’Donovan explores a career in Tax Advisory with Karen Clarke, Partner in Tax and Legal at Deloitte, and Sam Totterdell, a recently qualified Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and multi-award winner at his Conferring Ceremony in 2025. During the conversation, they discuss why they chose careers in Tax Advisory, what the CTA journey looks like in practice and how academic learning translates into working life.
In our latest episode, following his participation at the Global Tax Policy Conference Danny Werfel, Executive in Residence at Johns Hopkins University School of Government and Policy and former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, spoke to Tax Talk host Donal O’Donovan. From his early career and his efforts to modernise the IRS to the current condition of the US tax administration system, Danny shares his experiences and provides many valuable insights.
In episode 23 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan covers the Revenue payroll tax announcement of 11 September which provides an opportunity for employers to correct payroll tax issues for 2024 and 2025 arising from bona-fide employee/contractor classification errors. Donal speaks with Aidan Lucey, Irish Tax Institute Council Member and Tax Partner in PwC, Sarah Waters, Principal Officer in Revenue’s Accountant General's and Strategic Planning Division, and Sinéad McNamara, Principal Officer in Revenue’s Personal Taxes Policy and Legislation Division, answering common questions and clearing up any misconceptions about the change in policy.
In episode 22 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan previews next month's Global Tax Policy Conference with Tom Woods, Head of Clients in KPMG, who is also chairing the first session of the conference.
In episode 21 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan talks with Shane Wallace, who has just been inaugurated as the 50th President of the Irish Tax Institute. They discuss Shane's career to date, what he'd like to see in Budget 2026, and his priorities for the year ahead.Shane is a tax partner at Deloitte; his expertise includes international tax, tax structuring, mergers and acquisitions, capital taxes and real estate taxes; and he is a Kilkenny man, based in Dublin.
In Episode 20 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan discusses the economic shock and consequences of US President Trump's imposition of punitive global tariffs with Karen Frawley, Tax Partner with Deloitte and a former President of the Irish Tax Institute; and Lucinda Creighton, former Minister of State for European Affairs and CEO of Vulcan Consulting.
In Episode 19 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan discusses Budget 2025 and the Finance Bill 2024 with Laura Lynch, Partner with L&J Tax and a Council member of the Irish Tax Insitute; Alison McHugh, Tax Partner and Head of Private Client Services with EY Ireland; and economist Austin Hughes.
In episode 18 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan talks with Aoife Lavan, the new Irish Tax Institute President. They discuss Aoife's work and various topics of interest in the world of tax.Aoife is a Private Client Tax and Pension Specialist with over two decades of experience in financial planning, pension management, and tax advisory services. Her expertise spans intricate pension legislation, compliance strategies, and high-net-worth client advisory, with a proven track record in leading complex projects. A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, she holds additional qualifications as a Qualified Financial Advisor and a CEDR Accredited Mediator.She has recently set up her own pensions and retirement planning business, Black Oak Advisory, which is based in Westport, Co Mayo.
In Episode 17 of Tax Talk, our host Donal O'Donovan discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tax world and beyond with Opeyemi Osunsan, a tax manager in PWC; Tom Reynolds, President of the Institute and Global Head of Tax at the industrial software company, Aveva; and Sandra Healy, founder and CEO of INCLUSIO, a start-up that enables business owners to measure the effectiveness of their strategies to promote diversity and inclusion.
In Episode 16 of Tax Talk, our host Donal O'Donovan discusses latest developments in the Tax Debt Warehousing Scheme with David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association; Stephen Gahan of O’Doherty Gahan Advisory and Council member of the Institute; and Maureen Marray and Davena Lyons, Principal Officers in the Collector General’s Division of Revenue.
In Episode 15 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren discusses Budget 2024 with Irish Tax Institute President Tom Reynolds; economist Austin Hughes; and Sohini De, Founder of Empeal, an award-winning digital health start-up that provides solutions for the prevention and management of chronic conditions.
In episode 14 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren talks with Tom Reynolds, the new Irish Tax Institute President. They discuss Tom's work and various topics of interest in the world of tax. Tom is Vice-President of Tax, M&A and Business Structuring at Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation. He has previously worked for Kellogg and Kerry Group in senior roles.
In Episode 13 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren discusses the effect tax has on politics, in the context of the recent Commission on Taxation and Welfare report, with former Government ministers Lucinda Creighton and Pat Rabbitte, and Donal de Buitlear, who served as Secretary to a previous Commission in the 1980s and who has a life-long interest in tax policy.
In Episode 12 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren discusses Budget 2023 and its likely long-term impact with Irish Tax Institute President Colm Browne and economist Austin Hughes.
In episode 11 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren talks with Colm Browne, the new Irish Tax Institute President. They discuss Colm's work and various topics of interest in the world of tax.
In Episode 10 of Tax Talk, we examine the effectiveness of Ireland’s Research and Development (R&D) tax credit and the Institute’s submission on the credit to the Department of Finance earlier this year. Joining our host, Samantha McCaughren, are renowned tech investor, Elaine Coughlan, who is Managing Partner and Founder of technology fund Atlantic Bridge and is on the board of Scale Ireland; and Ian Collins, Tax Partner and Head of Innovation with EY.
In Episode 9 of Tax Talk, we explore some of the broad themes in the Institute’s recent submission to the Commission on Taxation and Welfare and consider the prospects for reform in the prevailing political climate.
Our host, Samantha McCaughren is joined by: • Brian Brennan, Tax Partner with KPMG and Chair of the Irish Tax Institute’s Commission Working Group • Donal de Buitléir, long-time member of the Irish Tax Institute, secretary to the Commission on Tax that sat in the early 1980s, former assistant secretary in Revenue and a prominent figure in public policy and administration. • Lucinda Creighton, former Minister of State for European Affairs, public affairs consultant, and columnist.
In Episode 8 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren talks to three members of the Irish Tax Institute who are among country’s most talented and best-known GAA stars.
Current Meath All-Ireland senior football champion Aoibhín Cleary, former Dublin footballer Cian O’Sullivan, and former Kerry footballer and Australian Rules player Tommy Walsh have all reached the pinnacle of the game, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, they have done it while studying, training and working in tax.
In this episode, they discuss their paths to tax, how they manage to excel both on and off the field, and much more.
In Episode 7 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren and an expert panel take a more reflective look at last week’s Budget, the implications of major recent changes in international tax, and the strategic direction the Government should be taking to underpin the remarkable economic recovery which is gathering pace.
Joining Samantha to discuss these topics and more are Karen Frawley, President of the Irish Tax Institute; Stephen Gahan of ODG Advisory; and Austin Hughes, Chief Economist at KBC Bank.
In episode 6 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren talks with Karen Frawley, the new Irish Tax Institute President. They discuss Karen’s work and various topics including international tax reform, debt warehousing, women in tax, Brexit, the digitalisation of tax, and a growing focus on sustainability in business.
In Episode 5 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren and an expert panel discuss the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS). Is it fit for purpose in an economy that needs to be re-booted and rebalanced? Can it incentivise the much-needed investment required to raise productivity levels and grow our indigenous sector?
Joining Samantha to discuss these topics and more are:
Nick Corcoran, co-founder of Cardinal Capital;
Brendan Sheppard, CEO of Smart Factory Solutions; and
Laura Lynch, tax partner with Laura Lynch & Associates and Irish Tax Institute Council member
In Episode 4 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren and an expert panel discuss the protection of taxpayers’ rights, tax rules and procedures, and topical developments such as the European Commission’s recently-launched initiative on taxpayers’ rights.
Joining Samantha to discuss these topics and more are:
Albert Raedler, Policy Officer, DG TAXUD, who is leading the European Commission’s initiative on EU Taxpayer rights and the simplification of tax rules and procedures;
Nina Olson, the former US National Taxpayer Advocate who retired in 2019 after 18 years in the job; and
Kieran Twomey, Principal of Twomey Moran, Chartered Tax adviser, and Chair of the Irish Tax Institute’s Taxpayers’ Rights Working Group.
In Episode 3 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren and an expert panel discuss global tax reform. Where do we stand, how soon will we see real change, and how will this affect businesses operating globally and in Ireland.
Joining Samantha to discuss these topics and more are:
Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD;
Feargal O’Rourke, Managing Partner at PWC and leading expert on Corporate Tax; and
Tom Reynolds, Vice President of Global Tax at French multinational, Schneider Electric.
In Episode 2 of Tax Talk, host Samantha McCaughren and an expert panel take a reflective look at this week’s extraordinary and unprecedented Budget. They discuss how our economy is likely to respond and the implications of the tax changes for practitioners and their clients. They also cast a critical eye on the budgetary process itself.
Joining Samantha to discuss these topics and more are:
Sandra Clarke, President of the Irish Tax Institute; Tom Woods, Head of Tax and Legal at KPMG; and Economist Alan McQuaid.
In episode one of Tax Talk host Samantha McCaughren talks with Sandra Clarke - the new Irish Tax Institute president. They discuss Sandra's background, her work at the Institute and the main areas she'll be focusing on over the course of her presidency.
Tax Talk is a new podcast series from the Irish Tax Institute which explores the world of taxation and your finances. Coming Soon.