Breakfast Business

EBay, Adverts and Vinted are cashing in on the surge in private selling and and now the delivery giant DPD is launching a network of parcel delivery and collection lockers called Pickups all over the island. The company even aims to have 1500 of these locker groups by 2028.  They’ll be going up against the likes of OohPod or An Post.  But is the demand there? All to discuss with Colin Kennedy,  Managing Director of DPD Pickup. 

Change is definitely afoot in the investment climate here in Ireland. Up to this governments of all stripes almost discouraged households investing their own money in the capital markets with really high capital gains tax and other charges. But will slashing CGT achieve the desired result and will Irish people break a habit of a lifetime when it comes to investing their risking their savings?  Pat Lardner, chief executive of Irish funds which represents many of the companies that would like to use some of that Capital 

Russ Mould from AJ Bell joined Joe to look through all the business news headlines.

There’s no doubt that change is afoot in the world of auditing and consulting.  Some of the big players are splitting those 2 parts of the business and others and merging.  That includes BDO - formerly known here as BDO Simpson Xavier, its Irish business is merging with its UK business.  The newly merged entity is part of a network of BDO shops operating in 169 nations worldwide.  But will it make the Irish business that little bit less Irish?  All to discuss with Brian McEnery, Managing Partner at BDO Ireland.

Joe Lynam takes a run through Friday's business news headlines along with Aidan Donnelly from Davys.

The Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland includes all those creative agencies which devise many of the campaigns you see or hear on tv, radio or online.   The industry spent €1.6bn in 2024 and my next guest says it should be a lot more.  But does that mean a lot more ads and will much of that money flow in the coffers of the giant tech platforms?  IAPI also includes PR professionals and there has been plenty of consolidation in that sector too. Joining Joe in studio was Siobhán Masterson, CEO of IAPI. 

In 6 months from now, the EU’s new E-Evidence regulation comes into force which could have a profound impact on Irish service providers.  It requires companies to hand over emails, messages, and other digital data if requested by police and judicial authorities from anywhere in the EU.  The new rules exclude banks from handing over private financial data but it could mean that many firms will have to be very careful how they store data in future.  It will be especially onerous in Ireland because so many of the servers on which this important data is stored in this country. All to discuss with Jake O’Sullivan, a partner with Deloitte Advisory .

The European planemaker Airbus beat its arch rivals Boeing again last year in terms of delivering aircraft to customers.  It even has a backlog of almost 9,000 planes but that doesn't mean it’ll stay the leader of the pack. That’s because Boeing is learning from its mistakes and coming along on the outside is the Chinese manufacturer Comac which is making great aircraft at very competitive prices and might be able to do for aviation what Chinese carmakers such as BYD are doing to the automotive market.  Joining Joe to discuss this sector is the aviation and leadership expert Anita Mendiratta.

Joe Lynam takes a run through of today's business news headlines.

The government is set to spend a record breaking €102 billion on public projects between now and 2030. That includes massive investment in water, electricity but also public transport including the Metrolink. These contracts are highly complex and often legalistic as they may end up in the courts as we have seen with the national Children’s Hospital. The Junior Minister responsible for that is:  Joining Joe to discuss all was the Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Frank Feighan.

Ireland has set itself a target that 70% of our total energy needs should come from renewable sources by 2030. With 4 years to go that figure currently stands at around 36%. That means that fossil fuel usage especially Gas will continue to be the backbone of our national electricity requirement for a few years yet.  In its latest report Gas Networks Ireland, says gas demand fell 1.5% last year while gas demand for transport actually rose by 10% due to compressed natural Gas and biogas demand rising.     All to discuss with Edwina Nyhan the Director of Strategy and Regulation with Gas Networks Ireland. 

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

The Renewable Heating Obligation or RHO is the government’s effort to cut the use of fossil fuels when it comes to heating our homes. By ensuring that some of those fuels are blended with renewable sources such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil.  But the group which represents gas, oil and solid fuel suppliers and distributors says the RHO is not ambitious enough.  In fact, they say it’s cheaper for them to pay the fines than adjust the types of fuel they sell to households. All to discuss further with Philip Hannon, CEO of The Alliance of Zero Carbon Heating. 

Ireland is one of the least attractive places for people to invest their money.  The Capital gains tax rate is among the highest at 33%.  There are also very high taxes on investing in ETFs and that's not forgetting the deemed disposal tax which applies even if you haven't sold your investment.  But the mood in Europe is changing and Ireland is changing with it. Now there’s a strong drive since the informal EU council meeting last week to encourage Europeans to invest their money rather than earn next to nothing on savings accounts.   Here to tell us more is Michael Healy the Managing Director with the trading platform IG.

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

Monday's business news review along with Joe Lynam and Russ Mould from AJ Bell.

The world's biggest cardboard box maker Smurfit Westrock says that it believes its profit levels could rise by 40% by the end of the decade.  In its first full set of results since Smurfit Kappa merged with WestRock in 2024, the Ireland headquartered but US listed group said it made an EBITDA profit of $4.9bn last year and trimmed its staffing by 3% amid softer US demand. So what does this year hold for them? All to discuss with Ken Bowles the Chief Financial Officer with Smurfit Westrock.

There are increasingly calls for the European Savings & Investment union to be completed as soon as possible. In order to move Europeans from a savings culture to a more risk taking culture to promote European startups.  There might also be a single regulator for financial services which might threaten the two biggest nations for banking and fund management:  Luxembourg and Ireland.  So today the body which represents financial services here is launching its strategic vision for the sector and protecting what it holds is one of the key themes.  Joining Joe on the show was Patricia Callan the Director of Financial Services Ireland.  

A good bed and mattress is vital for something that accounts for a third of your life, i.e. sleeping.  Many beds are made overseas as are most mattresses. But Respa beds  has been making beds since 1947 in Oldcastle Co Meath.  Respa was even nominated recently for the Best Family Run Business Award in the Guaranteed Irish awards this year. Speaking to Joe all about their business was Pam Stone the Chief Executive of Respa beds. 

There are 180 companies working in the space sector in Ireland these days and that's expanding due to demand for satellite technology in orbit but also for defence technology and even agricultural monitoring. We don't yet have a dedicated space agency here but the industry hopes to even launch rockets into space within the next decadeBarry Kennedy, CEO at IMR  runs Irish Manufacturing Research which is also charged with disbursing money from the European Space agency.