Breakfast Business

We focus on the 50 years since Ireland became a member of the EEC and especially what it’s meant for Irish companies. One such successful sector is of course Irish food which switched a dependence on the UK market in the 1970s to the EU from the 1980s onwards and one product more than most was especially successful - Kerrygold butter. That’s owned by the Irish company Ornua - formerly known as the Irish Dairy board. JOHN JORDAN is the Chief executive of Ornua co-ops

It’s 50 years since Ireland joined what was then the European Economic Community or EEC. We joined as the poorest member of that block in 1973 and now we’re one of the richest on paper at least. This week Breakfast Business will be broadcasting live from the European parliament here in Strasbourg and examining what Ireland has lost and gained over the past half century and what more needs to be done at an EU level for companies and consumers in Ireland. Speaking to Joe this morning was Patricia Callan who is the Director of Financials Services Ireland which represents the banks and fintech companies that are based in Ireland.

A run-through of some of the business stories today as we broadcast live from the European parliament in Strasbourg.

According to Deloitte's research, the number of company insolvencies is approaching pre-pandemic levels. Given how many firms were artificially kept alive with taxpayer support for 2 years, it was to be expected. But as we face a global downturn will the number of companies winding upstart to accelerate in 2023? David Van Deesel - Partner in Financial Advisory with Deloitte joined Joe on the show this morning.

The European central bank meets this week and is widely expected to raise the cost of borrowing once again. It could do so by as much as 75 basis points or ¾ of one percent. This will have an immediate impact on mortgage holders with tracker mortgages but it’s unclear what it means for other borrowers and indeed for savers who need the income Denis Eustace from Progressive Financial Services spoke to Joe with more on this.

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

Two-fifths of business leaders expect a recession next year in Ireland and inflation remains a key concern. And yet most bosses are worried about filling job vacancies.  The Business Decision Maker Pulse survey of senior business leaders is carried out by the consultant AON and Rachael Ingle, CEO of Aon Ireland who joined Joe on the show this morning.

Have you started making new year's resolutions? Well companies should be making resolutions too to combat climate change according to Alan Keogh from Cool Planet who spoke to Joe this morning.

A look at today's business papers and markets with Aidan Donnelly from Davys.

A few weeks ago we broadcast the show live from Shannon to highlight some of the amazing companies and the ‘cluster effect’ of bringing talented people together in one area down there. Among the people, Joe spoke to was Russ Vickers from the Future Mobility campus in Shannon who tests drones as well as self-driving cars for how we might all get around in the very near future.

IBEC’s international division is known as IBEC Global and it publishes a "Divergence Watch" on how the UK and the Eu are diverging in policy and trade terms. This third edition focuses on carbon emissions and what EU and UK divergence on carbon policies means for businesses operating in both jurisdictions - especially Ireland. Ibec Global’s Executive Director is Jackie King 

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

Google has announced that it’s providing half a million Euros in grants for social enterprises in Ireland. The money will be distributed by Social Enterprise Ireland and INCO to support underserved parts of the economy that might struggle to get funding from either the State or commercial banks Tim Griffiths from Social Enterprise IRL spoke to Joe with more on this.

In September’s €11 billion budget, the government announced a temporary business energy support scheme to help companies meet the huge challenges of soaring energy costs through the winter. As the Mercury starts, dipping, and real winter weather sets in, the Revenue Commissioners are urging companies to at least apply for the TBESS. As the old adage goes if you’re not in you can’t win. Joining Joe was Maresa Hempenstall, Assistant Principal Officer with the Revenue

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

A fortnight ago minister Helen McEntee officially opened a new care home in her constituency in Duleek. The provider is Silver Stream healthcare and they also announced the creation of 170 new jobs. But many in the sector worry that care homes are gonna start closing due to lack of funding and the pressure that might place on taxpayers. And that problem will accentuate as we’re all living longer. Tom Finn is the Chief executive of Silver Stream Healthcare. One of the largest providers in Ireland and Tom joined Joe this morning on the show.

Stock markets linked to China soared yesterday after the mood music appeared to signal that China might relax its Zero Covid-19 policy which has seen whole cities continue to be locked down almost 2 years after the virus first emerged and despite the presence of vaccines. It follows a week of unprecedented protests by citizens in a country not famed for its tolerance of criticism. Joe spoke to Ava Shen from the Eurasia Group think tank about what was going on in China.

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

Among the many centenaries that Ireland has been marking since the tumultuous birth of the nation 100 years ago, is the fiscal independence that came with the establishment of the Department of Finance. The department which controls the purse strings often has few friends within the Government and has also had a rollercoaster century. So much so that there’s a fascinating new book about it. Ciaran Casey is the author of the ‘Department of Finance 1959 to 1999’ and Ciaran joined Joe on the show.

Joe caught up with Michael O’Leary at the launch of a partnership with Trinity College Dublin to use new Sustainable aviation fuel.