Tax Talk

In episode 28 of Tax Talk, host Donal O'Donovan speaks with Brian Brennan, who has just been inaugurated as the 51st President of the Irish Tax Institute. They discuss Brian's pathway to becoming a tax partner, working in the US and the US-Irish relationship, and his priorities for the year ahead. Brian is a tax partner at KPMG; his expertise includes cross border mergers and acquisitions, aviation financing, leasing, structured finance and tax-based fundraising. Brian is a Mayo man who is based between Dublin and the United States.

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.