Breakfast Business

Joe was joined by Russ Mould to review the stories making the business pages.

How many of us hate sitting through online Ads before we can watch even the shortest of videos on YouTube? Of course you can skip those ads if you pay the monthly premium to the Google-owned company. Now Youtube is raising its prices for its premium service. And it’s not a small price rise it’s a highly inflationary 44% rise from €18 to €26 per month for a family subscription. Is it worth it? All to discuss with Newstalk Technology Correspondent and Presenter of Tech Talk, Jess Kelly. 

Kate English from Deloitte joined Joe this morning to look at the main business stories.

The Credit Union consumer sentiment index was one of the few voices to suggest earlier this year that the economy wasn't as robust as other higher profile surveys might have suggested.  It warned of consumers withholding their spending because they were still stuck with the aftereffects of Inflation.  This time, the survey is a bit more bullish about the beloved consumer.   However, it warns that spending power is not increasing in line with population growth. To take a look at the report findings Joe spoke to the renowned economist Austin Hughes compiles and edits the report for the Credit Unions. 

We hear from the ESRI that it expects growth whether measured using GDP or Modified Domestic demand will be at a steady path this year and next. Unlike the Fiscal advisory Council, the think tank believes that spending patterns by the government are sustainable. However it warns that housing completions have slowed compared to last year and it warns about a possible Trump victory in November.Speaking to Joe this morning was Dr Conor O'Toole is Associate Research Professor with the ESRI .

Next week the Minister of Finance will have record sums in his war chest to give away in the budget. That’s mostly down to soaring corporation tax receipts. But is that money ephemeral or it is real and makes Ireland into a tax haven for wealthy American companies without much benefit for indigenous companies? To discuss further with Joe was Brian O’Boyle economist and a lecturer with the Atlantic Technical University in Sligo and has written a book called ‘Tax Haven Ireland’. 

Joe Lynam takes a quick run through of the main business headlines this Thursday morning.

The FDI sector in the country was rocked 2 weeks ago after Apple was ordered to pay Ireland up to €14bn in back taxes over a perceived special deal. While that may be great for the government ahead of next week’s budget it might have upset other big investors in this country. That is one of the reasons why the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is in the West Coast of America at the head of a trade delegation with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. Joe spoke to Minister Burke this morning.

As part of the transition away from fossil fuels and towards fully electric heating and energy, hydrotreated vegetable oil or HVO is being rolled out for both consumers and companies. Today CERTA Ireland launches its 10th filling station Nationwide for car and truck drivers to slash their noxious emissions by up to 90% by filling up with HVO.  Households may soon also be able to use greener fuels instead of concentrated kerosene to heat their homes this winter. Joining Joe this morning was Orla Stevens the Managing Director of Certa Ireland.  

Getting mentoring or advice is more important to female business startups than money?  That’s one of the findings of study carried out by the credit card giant Visa as part of its ‘She’s Next’ programme to support women entrepreneurs.   Joe was joined on the show by Mandy Lamb Managing Directors of Visa UK and Ireland.

Last week Amazon surprised many people by ordering all its white collar staff back into the office from January next year. And only yesterday a survey found that many Irish employers would give better pay and benefits to those workers who regularly show up in the workplace. It’s a massive U-Turn for some employers to pivot away from encouraging working from home following lockdowns. But is it good or bad for the economy to clamp down on Hybrid working? Joe discusses this with Donal O’Donoghue runs Sanderson recruitment. 

Joe Lynam takes a look through the business headlines.

We’ve spent a bit of time talking about what headline announcements to be expected in tomorrow’s budget. But we’re gonna take a step back now and focus on some of the less spoken about measures we should look for from Jack Chambers - for example something called a Participation Exemption as well as how it could be a strategic budget. Daryl Hanbury is a partner with Deloitte and joined Joe this morning.

In Just over a week from now, Jack Chambers will rise to his feet to give his first and the coalition government’s last budget.  He will have billions to spend and an electorate to woo ahead of the general election which could take place in weeks rather than months.  But what will companies want to see in the budget in light of the fact that many of them have been struggling with much higher employment costs as well as  red tape. We discuss all with Mairead Harbron a partner with PWC. 

The Dublin stock exchange known as Euronext Dublin lost 3 major companies last year CRH, Smurfit and Flutter.  It diluted the depth of capital markets in this country and may lead to other large listed companies to follow them out the door and to float in New York.  But Dublin is fighting back with the launch of an alternative market to make it easier and cheaper for smaller firms to list.  But will it work? Joe discusses all with Daryl Byrne the Chief Executive of Euronext Dublin. 

Joe Lynam was joined this morning with Kathleen Brooks from XTB to take a look at the international business headlines.

There was a time when it took a week to transfer money between bank accounts in Ireland.  From January it should take seconds.  Much of that improvement is thanks to the pressure applied on the traditional banks by FinTechs or technology firms who focus on banking and financial services.  The Fintech sector gathers again today for its conference and AI as well as cyber security will be on the agenda.  But so too will be regulation and the cost of banking no doubt. Joining Joe in studio this morning was Michael Concanon the Director of Strategy with the Fintech and Payments Association of Ireland. 

Joe Lynam takes a run through all the business news this morning with Aidan Donnelly from Davys.

One of Argentina’s biggest companies is Globant.  It was the first Latin American business to float on the NY stock exchange and now the IT and software giant supplies the likes of Google, Electronic Arts and even AIB here in Ireland. Joe caught up with the founder Martin Migoya at the Dublin stock

Using the courts to settle disputes is a very expensive business and excludes the vast majority of consumers and SMEs.  But there are cheaper alternatives including Mediation which brings together the warring parties with the aid of specialist mediators.  Why don't more of us use it?  It comes as the legal profession faces questions of speed in delivering justice from the Tanaiste and amid a strike by barristers over fees. Joining Joe this morning was Ronan Hannigan is a partner with the law firm Clark Hill.