Ian Drennan, the Chief Executive of the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), has firmly rejected the characterization of his organization as Ireland's equivalent of the FBI. This came in response to an assertion made on social media that the CEA was akin to the FBI. Drennan pointed out that the FBI's responsibilities extend to counter-intelligence, investigating terrorism, murder, and cybercrime, and the CEA's mandate focuses on promoting compliance with company law and taking action against noncompliance. He emphasized the substantial differences in their roles and sizes, indicating that the comparison would be a stretch.
The debate originated from a podcast interview with a CEA director, Michael Dillon, in which he was described as working with the "so-called 'Irish FBI'." Drennan's swift response clarified the nature of the CEA's work compared to the FBI's. Despite some debate, the thread on LinkedIn was subsequently deleted.
Former Ryanair Social Media Head Embarks on New Venture
Michael Corcoran, who previously served as the head of social and creative content at Ryanair, has embarked on a new venture after leaving the airline. Corcoran is renowned for transforming Ryanair's social media strategy, earning a significant following on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. He has decided to establish a social media consultancy named "Frankly" in partnership with Dave Connor and Niamh Haughey, founders of the independent agency Frank and Bear. Corcoran already has a year's worth of partners lined up and is in discussions with various clients, including a low-cost airline. While he has no regrets about leaving Ryanair, he looks back at his time there with a sense of missed opportunities to improve the company's culture.
New Managing Director Takes Over at Go-Ahead Ireland
Dervla McKay, previously associated with Aircoach, has assumed the role of Managing Director at Go-Ahead Ireland. The company, which runs 30 routes, including five Dublin commuter routes, has faced challenges related to hiring drivers. Go-Ahead Ireland incurred a €3.05 million fine in 2021 due to performance penalties, largely attributed to staff shortages. McKay's primary task will be to navigate the BusConnects network redesign, and the company is already expanding its Ballymount depot to accommodate the additional routes. The road ahead is expected to have its share of challenges.
Irish Activity on X Remains Steady Since Musk's Takeover
Despite announcements of users leaving X (formerly Twitter) since Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform, the level of Irish activity on X remains relatively unchanged. According to Stephen O'Leary, CEO of Olytico, a social media analytics company, there has been a minor decrease in the amount of original content published but an increase in content resharing. This suggests that while there may be fewer users, the activity from new accounts compensates for the departures, resulting in a consistent level of Irish posts on the platform.
Tech Executives Apply for Canopy at Wicklow Home
Two former Apple executives, Guy "Bud" Tribble and Susan Barnes, who purchased a stately home in County Wicklow a few years ago, have submitted a planning application to erect a glass-roofed, open-sided decorative wrought-iron sculpted canopy at their Glanmore Estate residence in Ashford. This canopy would provide weatherproofing and protect a stone sculpture while framing views of the surrounding landscape. The architects have indicated that the canopy would be fabricated by Edward Bisgood, a celebrated metal craftsman in Ireland. The 389 sq m Glanmore Hall was once home to playwright John Millington Synge and was briefly rented by actress Julia Roberts during her filming in Ireland.