Breakfast Business

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam and Ross Mould from AJ Bell.

Joining Emmet this morning was Dr Angela Quinlan is the MD of Key Patent Innovations which is the company that helps you get patents in Ireland.

Housing construction activity is on the rise in Ireland in 2024 but more labour may be needed to hit the higher targets.  That’s according to the Banking and Payment Federation’s Housing Market Monitor report for quarter 1.  Speaking to Emmet this morning was Ali Uğur is the Chief Economist with the Banking and Payment Federation.

This morning Emmet Oliver takes a look at the stories making the business pages this morning.

Ireland’s famous or infamous bad bank - NAMA or the national asset management Agency is in its final full year of existence.  It returned €350m to taxpayers last year and its annual report says it’s on target to return a total final figure of €5.2bn by the end of next year when it winds up for good.  Economists, politicians and entrepreneurs will debate about whether NAMA has been a success or not?Joe was joined on the show this morning by the NAMA Chief Executive Brendan McDonagh and began by asking him why he described last year a ‘very difficult’ one for the agency.

6.3million people visited these shores from abroad last year most of them were from Britain, the US or Germany and 41% of them were here on holidays rather than on business or to study.  That means the tourism authorities have to continuously refresh what's on offer in a country which is not famed for being cheap. Failte Ireland which is responsible for tourism to the Republic says it will be funding 22 new projects through the EU’s Just Transition Fund to find greener and more environmentally friendly ways of enticing visitors through cycle paths and forest trails etc.  Orla Carroll Director of Product Development with Failte Ireland joined Joe to to tell more about the funding projects.

A look at today's business stories and websites with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

How many of us had never heard of probiotics before the arrival of the famous yogurt drinks such as Yakult 18 years ago on our supermarket shelves.  Pro-Biotics are living bacteria that coexist within us and can improve our health and well-being.  One Cork company, PrecisionBiotics, launched its biotic supplement called Alflorex a decade ago and the Tánaiste was on hand - no less - to mark that anniversary.  The Global dietary supplements business is booming.  It’s set to be worth $128bn worldwide by 2028 according to Fortune magazine.  Speaking to Joe this morning was Colm O'Sullivan the General Manager with PrecisionBiotics. 

Food imports from the UK have fallen dramatically over the past year but our food exports have continued to grow worldwide.  In order to enable that to grow, Enterprise Ireland is hosting its second food innovation summit today which will highlight the research support needed to create the Kerrygold and Strong Roots of the future. Speaking to Joe this morning was Michael Carey Chair of Enterprise Ireland. 

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam.

Modified domestic demand, which is a more suitable benchmark for economic growth in the Irish economy than GDP, is set to grow by 2.5 % next year and 2% in 2026. That’s according to the Central bank of Ireland quarterly economic bulletin which also predicts that inflation will hit the sweet spot of around 2%, over the next two years. But it warns that the pace of excessive spending risks a crisis and that housing and other infrastructure issues need to be sorted.To discuss further Joe was joined on the show by  Robert Kelly the Director of Economics and Statistics with the Central Bank of Ireland.

The mobile operator Vodafone has been awarded ‘Best in test’ by the independent assessment company Umlaut.  It was adjudged to be best for reliability and best for voice calls in Ireland.  However, the tests were carried out on Samsung only devices.  The report also comes as Vodafone’s 3G services are about to be shut down.  Joe spoke to Amanda Nelson the Chief Executive of Vodafone Ireland.  

A look at the main business stories this morning with Joe Lynam.

Ireland may have one of the younger populations in Europe but as a whole, we are living much longer and having fewer children. It means a smaller group of people will need to look after a larger group of older people in a few years time and we’ll  need more nursing homes to cater for that market? My next guest has great plans to grow his business from 300 to 1000 nursing home beds in the next few years. He’s Tom Finn, Chief Executive of Brookhaven Healthcare Group. 

More people get their news from online sources than the traditional media such as linear TV or radio.  That’s the assessment of the Digital News Report published by the new media regulator  Coimisiún na Meán.  The report also found that almost ¾ of people polled are very concerned about fake news or Disinformation.  Rónán Ó Domhnaill is Media Development Commissioner with Coimisiun na Mean and spoke to Joe about the report findings.

Joe Lynam takes a look at the international business stories this morning along with the Director of Research at XTB.

Many dads might receive sweet gifts this Sunday, often imported. But why not choose a local treat? Joe spoke with Tomás Póil, who runs a thriving business called Man of Aran Fudge on Inisheer, the smallest Aran Island.

With Father's Day approaching, we often think of cards, socks, and breakfast in bed. However, the significant role fathers play in passing on knowledge and businesses to their children is often overlooked, despite being a cornerstone of the Irish economy. Joe spoke with David Fanagan, former boss and now Director of Fanagans Funeral Directors, about this enduring legacy.

Russ Mould from AJ Bell takes a look at today's business stories and websites with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

5 years ago, you would probably not have heard about Chinese car brands such as BYD or Geely. But now they are rapidly eating the lunches of European carmakers - especially for electric vehicles. After a probe was launched last October into suspected subsidies of Chinese cars on EU markets, the Commission has now decided to impose substantial tariffs on Chinese EVs. China will almost certainly retaliate and a trade war looms.Olof Gill is a spokesperson on Trade for the EU commission