AIB’s UK loan book sale, money mules, and Covid woes of live events sector

Business Today: the best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

Fans enjoying Kodaline on the main stage at Electric Picnic in 2019. The organisers of the music festival in Laois have been refused permission to hold the event this year. Photograph: Dave Meehan for the Irish Times
Fans enjoying Kodaline on the main stage at Electric Picnic in 2019. The organisers of the music festival in Laois have been refused permission to hold the event this year. Photograph: Dave Meehan for the Irish Times

Four parties remain in the race for AIB's almost £1 billion (€1.2 billion) British SME business loan book, which was put on the market earlier this year, according to sources. Joe Brennan reports.

More than 700 "money mule" transactions totalling €5 million moved through Irish bank accounts in the first half of the year, according to new industry figures, writes Laura Slattery.

The new State body responsible for developing housing projects on State-owned land has suffered a setback to one of its first major schemes. The Land Development Agency has been refused permission to build more than 200 new homes at a former Army barracks in Co Kildare. Seán McCárthaigh has the details.

Cork and Dublin airports face a loss of traffic if the Government does not aid both in cutting charges to lure airlines back, Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson warned on Thursday. Barry O'Halloran reports.

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In Caveat, Mark Paul says the refusal to allow the Electric Picnic music festival in Laois to go ahead suggests the live events sector might have missed its reopening window.

In Agenda, Joe Brennan talks to Permanent TSB chief executive Eamonn Crowley about his plan to make it a real force in Irish banking.

In Wild Geese, Irish jazz singer Liv Monaghan tells Barbara McCarthy about life in Paris and the unusual way in which she established her music career.

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Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times