This week: Expanding Central Bank’s powers ‘risks a new financial crash – Honohan

Dear reader,

Two stories first reported by the Business Post last week have received significant reactions.

First, Kathleen Gallagher's story about BlackRock and State Street's proposals that the Central Bank should be given back its pre-crash role in promoting the financial services industry led to discussion in the sector. Today, we have Patrick Honahan's response, and he does not mince his words, saying that “I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. It’s not that long since the whole thing came crashing down and it could easily happen again.”

Then, Donal MacNamee's story that the University of Limerick overpaid after spending €12 million on 20 student houses has raised concerns from major international investors in a landmark software engineering course.

Elsewhere, our policy editor Daniel Murray appraises Simon Harris' prospects as a Taoiseach for business. Ian Guider always weighs in on the topic and argues that if Harris is serious about backing business he will have to defer government efforts to increase wages.

Read this week’s edition in our e-reader including Connected, Property Plus and Arts & Living

Business editor Lorcan Allen looks at what is really driving Diageo's decision to hike the price of a pint of plain: its performance as one of the most attractive dividend generators on the London stock market.

On the other side of that decision is the hospitality industry and Eoin O'Hare examines the wave of insolvencies facing Irish businesses.

Elsewhere, Ellie Donnelly interviews the couple behind the thriving Rascals brewery and why they will be keeping it local.

In Arts and Living, UK correspondent Dominic McGrath has a fascinating feature on the seedling of a Conservative revolution in Liverpool.

And there is also Connected magazine, where Charlie Taylor has assembled an issue looking at the Irish green tech firms looking to solve environmental issues.

Have a great Easter and thanks for reading,

Daniel