Breakfast Business

AI adoption could soon raise Gross National Income per person to €160,000 and put a rocket under growth according to a major report carried out by Microsoft and Trinity College.  But nearly two thirds of bosses say their staff illicitly use AI for their work against company policies. Also there’s a major skills gap emerging between those who have and are comfortable with AI and those being left behind.  Joe spoke to Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha, Associate Professor of Business Analytics at Trinity Business School and co-author of the report. 

João Vale De Almeida was the EU ambassador in Washington, the United Nations and then in London and has served under 6 EU commission presidents.  He’s met Putin 15 times and has seen a few trading and geopolitical missteps in his time but his latest book kind of sums up the state of the world right now.  It’s called ‘The Divorce of Nations’ and João Vale De Almeida spoke to Joe this morning.

Donald Trump raised tariffs on Canadian aluminum to 50% last night.  That was in response to the application of a 25% tariff on all electricity sold by the Canadian province of Ontario to northern US states including New York. The escalation and tit for tat between the 2 otherwise friendly neighbours is shocking the world. Speaking to Joe this morning was  Deirdre Giblin Director of Development and External Engagement at National College of Ireland National college of Ireland but is also with the Ireland-Canada Business Association.  

Thursday's business news headlines review with Joe Lynam.

It’s World Consumer Rights day this weekend - do you know yours?  Or are you the ‘shrug your shoulders’ type once you discover you were treated badly or bought faulty goods? The Consumer Watchdog the CCPC was up last year by 13% to 44,247. The number one complaint concerned cars and the amount in question was a substantial €6,000 on average.  Speaking to Joe this morning wasGrainne Griffin from the CCPC.

Have you ever wondered what happens to all the unsold food in restaurants at the end of the day? Much of it alas gets thrown out and totally wasted, some of it is given to the less fortunate and food banks but a growing amount of that food can now be purchased online before the restaurant closes at knockdown prices.  And the website which is spreading fast for that purpose is Too Good to Go.com and Machaela O’Leary is the Sales Manager with ‘Too Good to Go’.

Tuesday's business news review along with Joe Lynam.

We have a look through Monday's big business new stories with Joe Lynam also with Ross Mould from AJ Bell.

Property conveyancing is the legal transfer of property title from seller to buyer.  But the law dates back to 1885 and it’s an anachronistic, analog and slow process in a digital age.  And now the estate agents and auctioneers in the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers are looking into how to speed up the process and drag it into the 21st century. Joining Joe on the show was Pat Davitt is the chief executive of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV). 

Ireland is not famed for its sunshine but thousands of households are now benefiting from free energy from solar panels and we’re now even developing new types of solar engineering in this space. Gary Connolly, Commercial Director, ACtiv8 Solar Energies Ireland has launched a new solar product which he claims performs much better in Ireland’s changeable and often windy and cloudy weather. Gary joined Joe on the show this morning.

It’s international women's day tomorrow and we have two pieces of good news. Ireland has been named 2nd in Europe for investment in women-led start-ups. Also a study from Trinity found that the average daily rate for female contractors is now higher than for men. So joining us to discuss their own senior jobs and positive changes such as these we have Lisa Toomey is the Hotel Manager with Ashford Castle, Emer Higgins is the minister of state at the department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment and also Natasha Jamal from MasterCard.

Friday's business news and markets along with Joe Lynam and Kate English from Deloitte.

We are in a major tariff war started by Donald Trump.  Canada, China and Mexico are the initial victims but the EU including Ireland is bracing for sweeping tariffs on their goods entering America from next month.  But how do tariffs work and what can the EU do to counteract them without damaging its own economy?  All to discuss with John O'Loughlin, Partner for Global Trade and Customs at PwC Ireland. 

Joe Lynam takes a run through the main business stories this morning.

 You get home after a busy day but find an empty fridge or freezer.  You don't have all the ingredients for the type of cuisine you've had on your mind for hours.  Philip Doran's business provides all the exact ingredients including garnishes, sauces and condiments for even the most taxing of recipes. And this week they delivered their 3.5 millionth meal.  They are HelloFresh and Philip Doran is the Chief Executive and he chatted to Joe about his business this morning on the show.

Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam brings us Wednesday's business news headlines.

There was a time when all that mattered was getting American companies to invest in Ireland. Now in Trump-world, the goal is getting Irish firms to set up in the US.  Ireland is already the 6th biggest investor in the US in absolute terms employing 110,000 Americans.  So what will the new Strategy be for Enterprise Ireland the agency charged with creating export champions?    All to discuss with Michael Carey the Chair of Enterprise Ireland.  

Spectrum Life helps insurance companies and other employers find the right healthcare professionals often using AI.  It does that through the use of its digital platform and now provides services to more than seven million people in Britain and Ireland through insurers like Bupa and some universities.  Joe spoke to Stephen Costello the Chief Executive of Spectrum Life. 

Tuesday's business news headlines along with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

David McRedmond run TV3, he now runs An Post and he is also the chair of the Dublin taskforce  Only last week he expressed despair at applications for large scale housing construction being rejected once again under pressure from local residents.   David McRedmond, Chief Executive of An Post and Head of the Dublin taskforce joined Joe in studio this morning.