Breakfast Business

With the arrival of the Fintech companies, such as Revolut, Wise, and N26, the traditional way of banking has been severely disrupted. Now the credit unions are trying to get it on the act by making it easier to offer loans to its customers by using new AI technology from an Irish company called Metamo which is a joint venture between the credit unions and Fexco To tell us more about this Joe was joined on the show by Joe O'Toole is the Chair of Metamo.

This week is Seachtain na Gaelige and Tomorrow is SPD on the show, we take to look at how we attract companies and individuals to set up shop in Gaeltacht areas. And who better to talk to than Sinead Ní Fhátharta, Ceannasaí Fiontraíochta agus Fostaíochta Head of Enterprise at Údarás na Gaeltachta - the agency charged with promoting investment in Irish-speaking areas.

It’s decision day once again for the European central bank. Will they hike rates yet again and if so, by how much? Inflation hasn't gone away you know but there’s definitely a pullback underway in the technology sector and great unease following the collapse of its banker of choice - SVB. Speaking to Joe this morning was Dermot O’Leary the Chief Economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers.

A look at today's business papers and websites with Business Editor Joe Lynam.

 On Sept 23rd last year, the UK announced a so-called ‘mini budget’. It was a tax-cutting blueprint that threw caution to the wind. Within hours the markets had signaled that it would simply not wear the extra borrowing and within a month Prime Minister Liz Truss was gone. Now a more cautious chancellor Jeremy Hunt takes to his feet today and his job in many ways is to undo the damage caused by his predecessor and reassure investors that Britain is not an economic basket case. But can he do it amid falling confidence and such global uncertainty? For more on this Joe spoke to Neil Shah a Director with Edison.

The ramifications of the collapse of America’s 16th largest bank are being felt on this side of the Atlantic. Tech Ireland wrote to its members in the startup community about how important it was for scale-ups SVB and for those firms eventually sold to large technology players. Brian Caulfield, the Chair of Scale Ireland said ''The demise of Silicon Valley Bank is of major concern to the Irish startup sector. So is there a chill flowing through the startup sector here. To discuss this further Joe was joined on the show by Alan Gleeson is the Chief executive of the Software as a service company Contento which only started formally this year.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Last year small companies had to endure the perfect storm of soaring inflation and interest rates as well as a shortage of workers and extortionate electricity prices. The government has mitigated some of the inflation problems, but SMEs have complained that it was too difficult to get access to TBESS support and the scheme has been simplified since then. So how are things for small firms? All issues for David Broderick -the new Director of the Small Firms Association who spoke to Joe this morning.

Amid the fallout from the collapse of not one but 2 banks at the weekend, some taxpayers are asking whether we might be returning to the Financial Crisis from 2008 when banks were bailed out by governments and investors were spared. It comes as Grant Thornton publishes its International Business report including the health of the technology sector. Mike Harris – Forensics & Cyber Partner with Grant Thornton spoke to Joe on the show this morning.

Business Editor Joe Lynam takes a run-through of some of the business stories today.

Too often you hear accusations that giant multinationals come to Ireland: make huge profits, avoid paying taxes elsewhere, and fail to ‘give back’ to the area that they are based. One such multinational is pushing back on the latter accusation. The ‘Google Employment Task Force’ has joined forces with local community groups and the government to help those less well-off areas with training and facilities. Joining Joe this morning on the show was Joe Donnelly, Director of The Anchorage Project in Ringsend, and Teresa Weafer-Grennel community engagement manager at Google.

One of the major banking stories was on Friday evening when the Silicon Valley bank collapsed. It was the main banker for start-ups, not just in America, but all over the world, and potentially could ruin some dot com companies. To discuss its implications, I’m joined now by Pat Phelan chief Executive officer of SISU as well as a serial technology entrepreneur.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Joe spoke with the General manager with JLR in Ireland, John Cormican, about how the development of autonomous cars in Ireland is progressing.

Only this week, the environment Minister Eamon Ryan published draft proposals on the economic benefit offshore wind could have for this country. However, engineers are worried that proposals to develop the renewable resource may hamstring companies, wishing to invest in it. Director General of Engineers Ireland, Damien Owens, joined joe to discuss the concerns raised.

Aidan Donnelly from Davy joined Joe to look at what is making the business headlines today.

Whether it was the outrageous practices that caused the financial crisis or the culture of risk-taking with other people’s money or the more recent mortgage tracker scandal, few senior bankers have been held personally responsible. Now a new piece of legislation called the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill hopes to make individuals with banks and financial services companies personally more accountable for the actions of their employers. And it takes a big step towards becoming law next week. Patricia Callan who is the Director of Financial Services Ireland which represents the banks and fintech companies that are based in Ireland and Patricia joined Joe this morning on the show.

How do you feel about being served food by a robot or a mobile tray without anyone actually pushing it? Automated service is likely to increase in the future as restaurants look to save money on waiting staff. One of the innovators in this space is called Bear Robotics and they’ve just announced that Ireland will be the host for its European hub. Malachy Ryan from Bear Robotics joined Joe this morning

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Today is 'International Women's Day' and we’re covering international banking, international retailing and one of the only 3 revenue commissioners in Ireland. They’ve all succeeded in their field, and they all happen to be women. Joining Joe in the studio this morning was Ruth Kennedy from the Revenue Commissioners, Evelyn Moynihan, Kilkenny Group CEO, and Sana RAHAN Communications Director with the fintech Wise.