Breakfast Business

Hydrotreated vegetable Oil of HVO could be the green alternative to using diesel for those who can't afford to buy an electric car.  Now Certa has opened up what it describes as the ‘forecourt of the future’ with HVO on tap in Liffey Valley by the m50.  However HVO is usually slightly more expensive to buy per litre than traditional fuels. So will motorists make the switch? Speaking to Joe this morning was Andrew Graham who is the Managing Director of Certa Ireland. 

In Last week’s budget, Finance Minister Michael McGrath announced a public consultation into how Revenue might be able to improve how VAT returns are made digitally.  The review could suggest making VAT returns fully paperless and almost in real time which could make life much easier for SMEs. Patricia Lahert, Principal Officer in Revenue’s Indirect Taxes Policy and Legislation Division joined Joe on the show this morning.

For those tourists who think that Dublin hotel prices are already expensive, they’re set to rise a further 10% next year.  That's according to American Express Global Business Travel which says that demand for hotel nights in key global cities will shift away from leisure travel and more for business purposes To discuss this further Joe was joined on the show by Cameron Spence is the Consulting Manager with AMEX GBT. 

 3D printing is now widely available and is especially used by companies to make their own parts or components.  But consumers can also print up their stuff at home.  But mass adoption hasn't taken off yet.  Does the technology and especially the speeds need to improve? Dave Doyle, 123-3D ,ie commercial manager

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

Dublin hosts one of the larger conferences in Gaming this week.  It’s called NEXUS by Gamerfest and some of the biggest developers will be there in a sector worth way more than some of the traditional industries. Among the delegates will be an Irish company called StoryToys and Emmett O’Neill, CEO of StoryToys. 

  After the horrific events in Israel and Gaza 9 days ago, oil prices shot up over fears that the conflagration might spread to other oil-producing regions.  They retreated back by the end of last week but energy and energy dependence hasn't gone away. Ireland’s best hope is of course renewables but they are not easy to switch on and off.  So let’s chat about how we will power our companies and our homes. Joining Joe this morning was Robert Maxwell from the energy consultants DNV.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

According to a key poll in the financial crime sector, Ireland and Dublin in particular, is the most likely to become the home of the proposed Anti Money Laundering agency for the EU.  It pipped Madrid which came second and then  Luxembourg and Frankfurt.  But given the high cost of labour and housing here, will we win it? To discuss further Joe spoke to Stephen Rae, from the consultants Kobn.

Ireland has gone from a standing start 30 years ago to one of the biggest consumers of coffee in Europe. We’ve even taken to drinking cold coffee products - on not-so-warm days according to Bewleys.  But is it a fad and what can be done to keep the price of a cuppa Joe from becoming punitively expensive?  Bewley’s Marketing Director is Catherine Casserly joined Joe this morning on the show.

We look at the business papers and markets with Mike O'Sullivan Director of UNIO.

Statkraft started out as a hydroelectric facility in Norway more than 125 years ago and is now a global enterprise in 21 countries including here in Ireland where it is developing a large offshore wind project in the Irish Sea.   Speaking to Joe on the show about their business Kevin O'Donovan is a Senior Vice President at Statkraft and Managing Director of UK and Ireland.

There are 187 insurance and reinsurance companies operating in Ireland at the moment but a new report for the sector has found that our attractiveness as a location may be set to decline.  The Milliman report says that the lack of skilled workers and the regulatory regime may deter future entrants into the market here.   Moyagh Murdock from Insurance Ireland joined Joe on the show this morning.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Newstalk Business Editor Joe Lynam,

Extra payments for parents, extra support for landlords, a tax cut for most earners, and some treats for nearly everyone in the audience.  If we didn't know better, we’d think there was an election on the way. Joining Joe live from the offices of Grant Thornton Sarah Meredeth Partner Tax and Andrew Webb Chief Economist from Grant Thornton.

 Expected tax cuts outlined in this year's 2024 Budget may mean well to offer relief from the cost-of-living crisis but what implications will this tax cut have on future generations?    Speaking to Emmet was the Co-Director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute, Tom McConnell.   

As more details of Budget 2024 come to light ahead of today’s announcement, what do we know about how it's likely to affect your taxes?    To discuss further Emmet was joined this morning by Crona Clohisey from Chartered Accountants Ireland.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Emmet Oliver.

The Dublin stock exchange is supposed to be where large listed companies float their shares and allow Irish-based investors to establish their value.  The Exchange is itself a business and makes money from those listings. But something is happening in the Dublin Stock Exchange - now known as Euronext Dublin.  Giant Irish companies like CRH and Smurfit Kappa are delisting and relisting in the much bigger US markets. Flutter could soon follow them and even Ryanair has threatened to do so as well.  So is this the beginning of the end of the Dublin stock exchange?  Joining Joe on the show this morning was Daryl Byrne is the chief executive of Euronext Dublin. 

We’re only a day away from the budget - Fianna Fail’s first in 13 years and this coalition’s 4th.  Much of what will be announced has been flagged up in advance.  Additional Children's allowance payments looked almost baked in. Billions will be stowed away for the next inevitable downturn and some sort of inducement for landlords to stay in the private rental sector also seems likely.  But what will SMEs expect? Neil Mcdonnell the Chief executive of ISME spoke to Joe this morning on the show.