Breakfast Business

Joe Lynam takes a look at Thursday's business papers and websites.

Small businesses have had to deal with a slew of challenges over the past 3 years including, Brexit, Covid, and soaring costs but there’s a new bureaucratic train coming down the tracks which could be far more burdensome. It's called the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. It’s a new obligation for companies to audit the impact of everything they do not just on their immediate environment but also on their supply chains. These new requirements might be an irritant for larger firms but a real headache for smaller ones. Neil McDonnell – the CEO of ISME joins me now

The sudden departure of Damian English due to planning irregularities 3 weeks ago, opened the door for the relatively new TD Neale Richmond as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and the Retail Business. It is a portfolio of interest to Breakfast business listeners or anyone in the retail or Human resources and the Minister joined Joe on the show.

A look at today's business papers and markets with Joe Lynam.

It’s tough in any town to get people to spend money in the local economy - especially when it’s up against bigger shops in cities and giant eCommerce players like Amazon. It’s especially tough if you're in one of the more remote towns close to the border where things might be cheaper. But that’s the challenge that faced Letterkenny in Co Donegal and it rose to that challenge by introducing its own local voucher scheme - with a payment card that can only be spent in local shops. It’s been working for 19 years and now has 240 retailers involved It’s called ShopLK and Claire McDonough is the Vice President of Letterkenny Chamber of commerce which administers the project. Claire spoke to Joe on the show this morning.

You've heard of technology or simply Tech. You've also probably heard of Fintech but the latest iteration of tech and one which is growing rapidly because of its necessity is Climate Tech. The Irish Climate Tech Opportunity 2023’ written by SustainabilityWorks and PwC is out and it’s a call to arms for anyone in the technology space not to miss the boat and help heal the planet as well. Joe spoke to Laura Heuston Co-Founder of SustainabilityWorks.

A look at Tuesday's business papers and markets with Joe Lynam.

We’re in the final full week of January. So we have a fair idea of whether the mild uptick in the European economy has continued into the new year. Ireland - by most measures appears to have avoided the economic malaise that many had feared 6 months ago - despite soaring inflation, an oil price shock, and a technology Winter. And that doesn't even mention rapidly rising interest rates and a war on the European continent. So how well placed are we for the coming year? To discuss with Joe was Dan O’Brien Chief Economist with the IIEA and Simon McKeever is the head of the Irish Exporters Association.

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

An acute shortage of qualified accountants will worsen in 2023, as the talent crunch is on course to worse in 2023 as Irish businesses and firms struggle to access the talent they need to support the economy That’s according to the Chartered Accountants of Ireland President, Pat O’Neill who joined Emmet this morning on the show.

Irish-owned architectural company, ARGO has expanded into the United States with the official opening of a New York Office and intends to tap into a €12 billion US investment potential David Campion, Founder of ARGO Development Studio spoke to Emmet this morning.

Emmet Oliver takes a look at today's business papers and markets with Aidan Donnelly Head of Equities in Davy Private Clients, Dublin.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme 2023 is officially open for nominations from this morning. Entrepreneurs from emerging, established, and international businesses operating across all industry sectors across the island of Ireland are invited to submit their nominations between now and March 2nd. Emmet Oliver spoke to Roger Wallace, Partner Lead for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme.

Ireland will not experience any industry growth in 2023 but should remain on par with 2022 levels. That’s according to infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, which today published its annual Irish construction industry review. John O’Regan is AECOM’s Ireland Director joined Emmet this morning on the show.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Emmet Oliver.

Despite enormous headwinds throughout the European economy, Ireland remains an attractive place to buy property for international investors. That’s one of the conclusions in the outlook for 2023 from the commercial property agents CBRE. But is there a risk of a glut of commercial property on the markets as 200000 m2 is under construction and we move to a hybrid working model of working from home and the office? Colin Richardson – Director and Head of Research - at CBRE gave Joe the details.

Lidl has gone from a minor presence 15 years ago to one of the biggest retailers in Ireland. Now the German supermarket says it’s invested a landmark €1 billion into Irish farming and food production. But can it keep up the rapid pace of expansion amid fierce competition from local grocers? JP Scally Chief Executive of Lidl Ireland joined Joe in the studio this morning.

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

It’s not easy for an unemployed single mother to start a business in any environment. Add in a global pandemic and not much money and you've got insurmountable obstacles for some. But not for Sinead Crowther who created a soother made of real honey which has taken off and even has two of the most famous investors in Ireland Niall Fitzgerald and Seán O’Driscoll as early backers. Speaking to Joe about the business was Sinead Crowther is the founder and boss of Tonstix.

Apart from our own Business 'Person Of The Month' competition, there are a few other big competitions for companies to enter. One of them is the Guaranteed Irish Business of the Year. And the finalists for this year have been announced. Brid O’Connell is the chief executive of Guaranteed Irish and Brid joined Joe this morning.