Breakfast Business

Thursday's business new review with Tom McEnaney. 

With the UK’s Reform Party leading Labour and the Tories in opinion polls the question we have to ask ourselves is what would a Reform government mean for trade with the UK and in particular the special arrangements agreed for Nothern Ireland post Brexit. All to discuss with Anand Menon Professor of European Politics at King’s College London.

Today, the Department of Enterprise will be publishing the Collective Bargaining Roadmap, as part of a 2024 EU Directive that aims to promote collective bargaining on wages in all member states.   Joining Tom on the show was Alan Dillon is Minister of State at the department of Enterprise.

Tom McEnaney looks through today's business news headlines.

Irish workers are doubling-down on flexibility and stability as employers take a “wait-and see” approach following the Budget, according to Matrix Recruitment’s latest Workforce Trends Report for Q3.  Joining Tom to discuss the report findings with Matrix Recruitment’s Head of Recruitment, Breda Dooley.

Tuesday's business news along with Tom McEnaney. 

Every year, the Society of Chartered Surveyors releases updated house rebuild figures and a rebuild calculator to help homeowners determine the correct level of insurance for their property. Tom spoke to Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland President Gerald O’Toole. 

Sanmina announces expansion of Ireland manufacturing site, creating up to 150 jobs. Emmet was joined on the show by  Sean Moran, SVP of IMS Europe at Sanmina. 

Aidan donnelly from Davys and Tom McEnaney brings us Friday's business new headlines.

Joining Tom on the show is Newstalk’s Green Businessperson Of the Month is Oscar Lai, Director and Co-founder of Ecoset.   All with thanks to Repak.

Halloween is here and that means it’s time for your annual dose of monstrous workplace behaviour! Joining Tom to give us the ghoulish details is Moira Grassick, Chief Operating Officer at Peninsula Ireland.

Today's business news review with Joe Lynam.

There’s been a lot of talk about our infrastructure deficit and how to circumvent it.  There’s no doubt that major physical digging needs to be undertaken -whether that’s for water, power networks or houses. Sabrina Casalta the Chief Executive of Vodafone Irelan thinks nothing future-proofs an economy better than investment in communications and telecoms: hard and software. Sabrina Casalta the Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland joined Joe on the show this morning.

The biggest cardboard box maker in the world Smurfit Westrock has trimmed its expectations for annual profits and the markets really didn't like it.  In its 3rd quarter financial statement, the US-listed but Irish headquartered giant says it expects to earn around $5bn in profits this year down from 5.1.  It’s been just over a year since Smurfit Kappa formally merged with Westrock and the business is still bedding in changes.  All to discuss with Ken Bowles is the CFO of Smurfit Westrock. 

Joe Lynam takes a look at Wednesday's business news headlines.

The rising cost of going to a restaurant for a proper meal probably hasn't escaped your attention.  It means that many of us are trying to cook quality food for ourselves at home.  The pre-portioned home preparation business is growing here and Gousto is one of the biggest.  Set up just before Lockdowns, Gousto has seen a surge in its business and Joe was joined on the show by its founder Timo Boldt.

Around 2.2% of the population has a hearing-related disability. The HSE suggests that as many as 8% have the much broader "disabling hearing loss".  The technology has advanced now to the point that hearing aids are so small and effective that they are no longer visible. With the stresses that the HSE are under, finding private solutions is increasingly the way thousands of us solve the problem and the 2nd biggest company for that in Ireland is Hidden Hearing. Joe sits down to chat to Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Hidden Hearing.

One sector which knows a bit about objections is the Data Centre industry.  David Smith is building a large one in Arklow as we speak and hoping to build something even bigger in Waterford. They want to do so by supporting rather than drawing upon the electricity grid. All to chat with David Smith the Deputy Chief Executive of Echelon.

The budget 3 weeks ago increased the cost of fuel up to an average of €1.72 per litre of petrol and €1.68 for diesel.  We’ve also learned that EV sales are starting to take off in Ireland.  All these reasons mean that petrol forecourts are no longer places just for fuel.  Mini supermarkets are often attached to them to boost revenues. And that's one of the reasons why turnover was up 4% at Maxol to €486m last year.  Brian Donaldson is the Group Chief Executive of Maxol spoke to Joe this morning.

Tuesday's business news headlines along with Joe Lynam.