Breakfast Business

Whether it's Tayto, Caprisun, Coca Cola or Nestle, we’re all familiar with the brands but did you know who is responsible for distributing those household brands from boats to supermarket shelves?  Well that’s down to Primeline which is one of the biggest logistics companies in Ireland. Joining Joe this morning to chat about the business was Tim Cummins is Chief Executive with Primeline. 

If you've ever tried to book a table in a popular restaurant at the last minute recently, you’ll know not to expect to get a place and ergo that the consumer is in rude health in Ireland. Two years after interest rates started rising and barely a year after inflation reached almost double digits.  But sentiment fell for the 4th month in a row according to the Credit Union survey.  So what’s going on?  The economist Austin Hughes compiles the CU consumer sentiment survey spoke to Joe this morning. 

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

Americans go to the polls in 5 ½ months and surveys suggest that Donald Trump will return to the White House.  What will that mean for this country which is so dependent on US foreign direct investment?  One man who knows US politics very well on the Democratic side is former Congressman for NY, Joe Crowley.  He’s over here for the Global Economic Summit in Killarney and took time out to talk to Joe this morning.

What do you know about Quantum number generation?    Well as you know it’s a clever way to prevent cyber-attacks by using advanced computing to create random numbers which cyber criminals cannot easily guess.  Now a Spanish company called Quside is working with Equinix data centres to provide these security services in Ireland. Joining Joe this morning was Carlos Abellan is the chief executive of Quside. 

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

The Global economic summit begins this week in Killarney with some very big names in attendance including Hilary Clinton, Prince Albert of Monaco and Mary Robinson.  They’ll be doubtless tackling the big geopolitical themes and what they mean for companies and Governments.  The event is Invite-only but we’ve got someone who is invited.  He’s Brendan McKenna and he’s Emerging Markets Economist and FX Strategist at Wells

The Minister for Finance warned yesterday that up to a third of jobs in the Irish economy might be at risk from AI.  He stressed though that it doesn't mean rampant unemployment but rather how and where we work might change in future.  One company which has hitched its wagon to AI is the cloud computing business ServiceNow which has just taken the top 4 floors of the new landmark Dawson St office block in Dublin. Joining Joe on the show was Mark Cockerill, Senior Vice President for Legal affairs at ServiceNow.

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

Few non Irish companies have invested more in this country than Intel.  Only last October it opened its latest and most modern fabrication unit in Leixlip at a total cost of $17bn.  Only last week it emerged that Intel was looking to invest a further $11bn here.  Now it wants to help the rest of us to give back to our communities by matching voluntary work by paying $10 for every hour donated by volunteers at sports clubs and civil society associations to a total of $1.4m Joining Joe in studio was Sarah Sexton is the Director of Public Affairs at Intel Ireland. 

Ryanair has just published its full year results for the Financial year and post tax profit was up 34% at €1.92billion.   It flew 184m people over the past year - giving it a load factor was also up to 94% but it admitted that soaring fuel bills caused issues Joining Pat on the show this morning was Neil Sorahan the Chief Financial Officer with Ryanair.  

The meltdown in governance at RTE last year underlined for many the importance of having the right people in State boards.  People who are unafraid to speak truth to power.  Unfortunately, the reports from Mazars about RTE may deter qualified and talented people from working in the public sector.  All these issues are underlined today in a book from the Institute of Directors in Ireland and speaking to Joe was Caroline Spillane is the DG of the IOD.

If the weather is continuously good over the coming months, we will no doubt be asked to conserve water. Although Ireland is the only country in the European Union which doesn’t charge for its water, it still has a huge investment program to undertake as well as preserving water resources.  Uisce Eireann, is organising a stewardship accelerator program to encourage companies to come up with clever ideas. With more on this Joe was joined on the show this morning by Geoffrey Bourke Head of Customer Operations with Uisce Eireann 

Joining Joe this morning to look at this morning's business stories was Michael O'Sullivan Co Founder of Unio Wealth Managers.

Everyone knows UPS with their distinctive brown uniforms and vans. But did you know it has a major healthcare division focusing on getting vital products and sometimes even organs from A to B in zip time.  And with Pharma accounting for 50% of Irish physical exports, UPS is opening a new state-of-the-art healthcare facility in Swords. Cathy O’Brien, Vice President for International Sales at UPS Healthcare

It’s been exactly 3 years since the HSE and the Irish Government was rocked by a giant cyber attack which flattened the Irish healthcare system.  The attackers wanted ransom to be paid in cryptocurrencies which is the go-to payment method due to its perceived untraceability.  But what can the authorities do in these situations? Joining Joe this morning was Jim Lee used to be a Director of Criminal Investigations with the US tax collection service the IRS but is now a senior adviser with ChainAlysis which specialises in protecting government bodies and the private sector when using the Blockchain. 

Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam takes a look at today's business stories and websites.

The average cost of litigation through the courts is €17000 and can take up to 4 years but if you use the injuries resolution board formerly known as PIAB you can bring that down to roughly 9 months and a fraction of the cost. Mediation is a new service as well which adds to the slew of insurance reforms aimed at keeping premiums down. But premiums which have fallen of late especially for car insurance are starting to go back up.  It all comes as the Injuries resolution board marks 20 years in action.  Speaking to Joe this morning was Rosalind Carroll is the Chief executive of the Injuries resolutions Board 

What do the credit unions, An Post, Lidl and Boots have in common?  They've been voted the most reputable companies in Ireland.  Uisce Eireann has improved the most but dear old RTE has falling down the charts the most over the past year according to the Reputations agency. Niamh Boyle, is the CEO of The Reputations Agency and joined Joe this morning on the show.

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