The panel discuss the year's biggest stories

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There was a significant slowdown in domestic economic growth in 2023. Photograph: Eli Asenova
There was a significant slowdown in domestic economic growth in 2023. Photograph: Eli Asenova

With the dust settling on 2023, Inside Business host Ciarán Hancock is joined by an esteemed panel to pore over the big stories from the world of media, tech and the economy.

Cliff Taylor explains the notable slowdown in domestic growth here, despite the rosy picture that strong corporate receipt returns continues to paint. A lower level of discretionary spending is putting real pressure on smaller businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector – could a glut of closures follow in 2024?

It was a rotten year for RTÉ with the payments scandal proving a fixture in the headlines from late June onwards. Laura Slattery teases out the ramifications of the scandal after government funding steadied the ship as the national broadcaster seeks to significantly cut costs. And with license fee revenue having fallen off a cliff, is it time to explore alternative options?

Ciara O’Brien takes us through the big stories in tech with the potential of generative AI provoking much discussion – not all of it positive. Web Summit was also in the news after its co-founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave stepped down following criticism in the wake of comments he made on X about the Israel-Hamas war.

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Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound.