National Lottery plans to move its HQ to new location

• Published date: 05 May 2024
• Author: Colin Coyle
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

This is the latest change for PLI, which was bought last year by French gaming company and lottery operator La Française des Jeux in a deal worth about €350 million. Chief executive Andrew Algeo is stepping down next month, while senior communications executive Fran Whearty is also heading for pastures new. The pair will finally be able to play the lottery themselves; staff are strictly prohibited from buying as much as a Quick Pick

'I'm going to be with the HR gang, working with the loveliest boss ever'

Humanist funeral for agent to the stars

A private humanist funeral was held last week for Teri Hayden, agent to some of the most successful actors Ireland has produced, including Gabriel Byrne, Brendan Gleeson and his son Domhnall Gleeson. Derry-born Hayden, who was 75 when she died last month, was particularly close to Gabriel Byrne, with the actor crediting her for helping him to get into rehab and sober in the late 1990s.

Last year Brendan Gleeson dedicated the IFTA award he won for The Banshees of Inisherin to her. Her son, Karl, now runs her agency, which includes many of the country's best-known stars of stage and screen, including Owen Roe, Marie Mullen and Bryan Murray. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

CRH chief runs into renovations trouble

CRH chief executive Albert Manifold was the highest-paid Irish executive last year, with his total remuneration topping €12 million. The 61-year-old, whose parents ran a hardware store in Kimmage in Dublin, is spending some of his fortune doing up a house on Carlisle Avenue in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, but it hasn't been straightforward. Last year Dublin City Council wrote to Manifold warning that it had come to its attention that "unauthorised work" was being carried out on the Victorian pile he bought for €1.45 million in 2021.

A planning consultant for Manifold, who currently lives in Co Wicklow, responded that his client wasn't aware planning was needed on "internal modifications", which he begun after discovering that damp was undermining the integrity of the structure. Manifold has now applied for retention permission for a series of works including new roof slates and reconfiguring internal walls, while he has also applied for permission to replace some sliding sash windows and replace internal joinery.

CRH puts its hands up over shortcomings on investor dividends

Phil Hogan joins the lobbying register

Phil Hogan has also been raking it in since the former Fine Gael politician had to resign as EU trade...