Breakfast Business

Despite the open border and few if any restrictions, trade between the 2 parts of this small island is still relatively modest. Nonetheless cross border trade is growing and with them profits according to InterTradeIreland’s All Island Business Monitor. Speaking to Joe this morning was Martin Robinson iDirector of Strategy with InterTradeIreland.

When you hear the name Jacobs many of us might think of the cream crackers but in fact they are specialist consultants which advise giant builders on how to design and construct big infrastructure projects such as the Dunkettle interchange or BusConnects.  Now Jacobs is hiring an additional 100 people as it makes Ireland its European HQ. Speaking to Joe this morning was Maurice Gillen is Director of Operations for Life Sciences for Jacobs Ireland, UK & Nordics. 

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

eScooters are now legal on Irish roads for anyone over 16 despite years of not being policed.  You can now book an eBike or eScooter using Freenow.  It comes as Dublin faces a major shakeup in terms of traffic allowed into parts of the city from August and rumours that drivers were quitting the industry. Charlie Gleeson the General Manager of Freenow Ireland joined Joe this morning.

Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined Joe to discuss how it’s been a mixed bag week for one of the world’s biggest companies Microsoft.

A look at today's business stories and websites along with Joe Lynam and Kate English from Deloitte.

Whether it's Tayto, Caprisun, Coca Cola or Nestle, we’re all familiar with the brands but did you know who is responsible for distributing those household brands from boats to supermarket shelves?  Well that’s down to Primeline which is one of the biggest logistics companies in Ireland. Joining Joe this morning to chat about the business was Tim Cummins is Chief Executive with Primeline. 

If you've ever tried to book a table in a popular restaurant at the last minute recently, you’ll know not to expect to get a place and ergo that the consumer is in rude health in Ireland. Two years after interest rates started rising and barely a year after inflation reached almost double digits.  But sentiment fell for the 4th month in a row according to the Credit Union survey.  So what’s going on?  The economist Austin Hughes compiles the CU consumer sentiment survey spoke to Joe this morning. 

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

Americans go to the polls in 5 ½ months and surveys suggest that Donald Trump will return to the White House.  What will that mean for this country which is so dependent on US foreign direct investment?  One man who knows US politics very well on the Democratic side is former Congressman for NY, Joe Crowley.  He’s over here for the Global Economic Summit in Killarney and took time out to talk to Joe this morning.

What do you know about Quantum number generation?    Well as you know it’s a clever way to prevent cyber-attacks by using advanced computing to create random numbers which cyber criminals cannot easily guess.  Now a Spanish company called Quside is working with Equinix data centres to provide these security services in Ireland. Joining Joe this morning was Carlos Abellan is the chief executive of Quside. 

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

The Global economic summit begins this week in Killarney with some very big names in attendance including Hilary Clinton, Prince Albert of Monaco and Mary Robinson.  They’ll be doubtless tackling the big geopolitical themes and what they mean for companies and Governments.  The event is Invite-only but we’ve got someone who is invited.  He’s Brendan McKenna and he’s Emerging Markets Economist and FX Strategist at Wells

The Minister for Finance warned yesterday that up to a third of jobs in the Irish economy might be at risk from AI.  He stressed though that it doesn't mean rampant unemployment but rather how and where we work might change in future.  One company which has hitched its wagon to AI is the cloud computing business ServiceNow which has just taken the top 4 floors of the new landmark Dawson St office block in Dublin. Joining Joe on the show was Mark Cockerill, Senior Vice President for Legal affairs at ServiceNow.

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

Few non Irish companies have invested more in this country than Intel.  Only last October it opened its latest and most modern fabrication unit in Leixlip at a total cost of $17bn.  Only last week it emerged that Intel was looking to invest a further $11bn here.  Now it wants to help the rest of us to give back to our communities by matching voluntary work by paying $10 for every hour donated by volunteers at sports clubs and civil society associations to a total of $1.4m Joining Joe in studio was Sarah Sexton is the Director of Public Affairs at Intel Ireland. 

Ryanair has just published its full year results for the Financial year and post tax profit was up 34% at €1.92billion.   It flew 184m people over the past year - giving it a load factor was also up to 94% but it admitted that soaring fuel bills caused issues Joining Pat on the show this morning was Neil Sorahan the Chief Financial Officer with Ryanair.  

The meltdown in governance at RTE last year underlined for many the importance of having the right people in State boards.  People who are unafraid to speak truth to power.  Unfortunately, the reports from Mazars about RTE may deter qualified and talented people from working in the public sector.  All these issues are underlined today in a book from the Institute of Directors in Ireland and speaking to Joe was Caroline Spillane is the DG of the IOD.

If the weather is continuously good over the coming months, we will no doubt be asked to conserve water. Although Ireland is the only country in the European Union which doesn’t charge for its water, it still has a huge investment program to undertake as well as preserving water resources.  Uisce Eireann, is organising a stewardship accelerator program to encourage companies to come up with clever ideas. With more on this Joe was joined on the show this morning by Geoffrey Bourke Head of Customer Operations with Uisce Eireann 

Joining Joe this morning to look at this morning's business stories was Michael O'Sullivan Co Founder of Unio Wealth Managers.