Breakfast Business

Concrete accounts for 8% of global Co2 emissions and cement is one of the key ingredients in concrete. Meanwhile buildings & construction as a whole account for 2 fifths of nasty emissions. So if we want to get our overall emissions down, we need to look at better forms of concrete.Well one company is launching a new greener concrete and it’s called Ecocem. Joining Joe this morning was Susan McGarry is the Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Ecocem. 

It’s decision day for the European central bank and it’s more than the tea leaves which point to a Cut in interest rates.  They stand at 4% at the moment  up from zero 2 years ago. But what does it mean for consumers?  They've seen soaring inflation and borrowing costs over the past 2 years.  What should they do with their money?  To discuss with Joe was Denis Eustace an Independent Financial Adviser with Progressive Financial services.

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

Recently we learnt in a survey for KPMG that Irish consumers are aware of shrink Fraction and resent brands who carry out the practice. Today PwC put out its consumer sentiment survey and it shows that some consumers are scaling back in order for ends to meet. The study also found that consumers were determined to buy as sustainably as possible though cost is often an issue. Speaking to Joe this morning was Owen McFeely Director for retail and consumer with PwC.  

Despite a looming ban on the traditional engine types, sales of electric vehicles in Ireland were down a whopping 39% last month compared to last year and despite a rise in sales overall. If EV sales continue to dip that will have a pronounced impact on second hand car sales prices and may even slow down the roll out of EV infrastructure.  The Society of the Irish Motor Industry of SIMI has a new president. Jonathan Meade joined Joe this morning on the show.

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam.

As of Saturday just gone, anyone who is in a serious road accident will be automatically tested for drink and drugs for the first time.  It’s in response to a surge in drug taking and collisions all over the country.  But with a quarter of all road accidents involving work related vehicles, what should bosses do if one of their staff is arrested for drug taking not just at the wheel? Moira Grassick is Chief Operating Officer with Peninsula which advises companies on HR issues. 

 Annual revenues at DAA which operates Dublin and Cork airports breached the €1bn mark last year.  Not bad for a business which was essentially shut down in 2020 and much of 2021.  But it still has a debt of €815m on the books.  But the biggest headache of all is what to do about the passenger cap of 32 million at Dublin airport which will start seeing planned services cancelled from the autumn.   Joining Joe on the show this morning was Kenny Jacobs Chief Executive of DAA. 

 It’s Day 2 of the Bloom garden festival in the Phoenix park and the sponsors Bord Bia have done some research into our eating habits as it hosts its annual Trade Breakfast for the top people in the industry.  Apparently we’re cutting down sugar and alcohol from our diets. Joining Joe on the show this morning was Jim O’Toole the Chief Executive of Bord Bia 

The company Avanade which has a decent presence here in Ireland, is now shifting its focus to copilot and how companies can radically save time and hopefully money, by using the AI solution. Speaking to Joe this morning was Pamela Maynard the Chief Executive of Avanade .

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam and Aidan Donnelly from Davy's.

Unemployment may be at record lows and Growth is at a sustainable pace but SMEs have been feeling the heat from a series of new costs on employment including higher minimum wages and holiday and sickness pay.  The Government says it’s going to make things easier especially on the PRSI side of things but is it becoming too expensive to hire people in Ireland? The Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Peter Burke joined Joe this morning on the show.

There’s nearly an announcement every day about AI these days.  Only on Tuesday Google was trumpeting what the economic benefits might be for this country once countless tasks become automated by AI.  But what about the careers that will inevitably be lost?  The European Association for People Management says there should still be ‘decent work and good jobs’ as workplaces adopt more technology and artificial intelligence tools than ever. It says that the workplaces of the future should still have a high trust culture- embedding equality, diversity and inclusion.  Joining Joe this morning was the President of the EAPM  Berna Oztinaz.

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam.

With voting in the EU and local elections starting in 12 days, many parties have claimed that Ireland is in a ‘cost of living crisis’.  But are we?  Unemployment is at record lows, real incomes which take account of inflation are up and the economy is growing robustly.  But prices soared in the shops and forecourts in 2022 and much of last year and they have not retreated back to where they were so people feel poorer.  With neutral voice on the health of the Irish economy Conor O’Toole from the ESRI joined Joe on the show this morning.

Dawn Meats started off with 3 farming families in County Waterford in 1980. It now has 8,000 employees all over the world selling its meat products.It can add the large and growing market of South Korea to that list after six years trying to get into the rapidly growing Asian market. But how has the business been affected by the perceived shift away from red meat products? Speaking to Joe this morning was Paul Nolan, the Group Development Director with Dawn Meats. 

Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam takes a look at the business news this morning.

In a recent interview on Newstalk Breakfast, the Justice Minister Helen McAtee said there were no plans to change the current rules surrounding how much and under what circumstances students from abroad could work here in Ireland. This has been condemned by some in the hospitality sector, given the squeeze in finding  employees. Also disappointed were recruitment agencies and Joe spoke to Shane McLave the MD of Excel recruitment. 

Tonight is the annual Irish Sport Industry Awards which celebrate the value of Sport to the Irish economy, and excellence in the business of sport.  It comes after the Europa League final was hosted in Dublin and attracted thousands of German and Italian fans and showcased Ireland as a venue for major events.  Mary O’Connor the CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport spoke to Joe ahead of the award night. 

Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam takes look at today's business stories and websites.