Breakfast Business

Now, Christmas is a time of increased spending, and while higher prices affect everyone, the “K-shaped economy” shows inflation doesn't affect everyone equally Economist Austin Hughes joined Susan Hayes Culleton on the show.

Galway medtech SymPhysis Medical recently secured a $1.25m grant to support its push for US regulatory clearance and commercialisation. The firm is also looking to complete a crowd-­funding round by the end of the year. Dr Michelle Tierney, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of SymPhysis Medical joined Susan Hayes Culleton on the show to discuss.

Susan Hayes Culleton brings us Tuesday's business news headlines.

Back for Business, the free programme aimed at supporting returned or soon-to-be-returning Irish emigrants to start and develop a business in Ireland, is seeking new applicants for its ninth cycle. The development programme, which is funded by the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, was created to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants recently returned to Ireland. Paula Fitzsimons, the National Director of Back for Busines,s joined Susan Hayes Culleton on the show.

If 2025 was a year of uncertainty about the Trump tariffs, 2026 is the year of heightened geopolitical volatility. That's the warning from EY Ireland, who's Co-Head of Geopolitical Strategy Simon MacAllister joined Susan Hayes Culleton on the show this morning.

Monday's business headlines with Susan Hayes Culleton in for Joe Lynam.

The Central bank of Ireland paints a positive picture for the domestic economy in its latest quarterly bulletin. It says modified domestic demand will end up just below 4% this year and a more modest 2.9% next year. But it expects the labour market to cool next year and inflation to remain above target. All to discuss with Martin O'Brien is the Head of Irish Economic Analysis with the Central Bank of Ireland.

Friday's business and markets review along with Joe Lynam and Kate English from Deloitte.

How many times have you received something via a courier which is drowning in bubble wrap and how many times did you wonder what happens to all that protective wrapping which you throw in the recycling? Peter Gregory wondered and decided to do something about it. So he recycles bubble wrap for a living. Peter Gregory is the founder of green-bubble.ie and our Green Business person of the month for December courtesy of Repak.

Unemployment has remained near all-time record lows of between four and 5%. Despite that research from the professional social media site LinkedIn, suggests that those already in jobs are “hugging“ those jobs are not sniffing around for newer opportunities. This seems to suggest that the market is not as tight as it once was, and moving around is more of a risk than it might have been. All to discuss with Cara O'Leary the Country Manager with LinkedIn.

When the infrastructure action plan was published 2 weeks ago, there was plenty of reaction from big business and the major pressure groups but we haven't heard what family run companies think of it. After all, they employ twice as many people in this country as the public sector and the FDI sector. Joining Joe in studio this morning was John McGrane Head of the Family Business Network.

Joe takes a run through of the main business news headlines.

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

Mike Lynch used to run the chip design giant Autonomy before it was sold to HP for $12bn. HP then sued Lynch for fraudulently overstating the value of Autonomy and won in the British civil courts. His life story is fascinating from an Irish point of view because both his parents were born here and now there's a superb book about him. It's called ‘The Curious Case of Mike Lynch: the Improbable Life & Death of a Tech Billionaire'. And its author is Katie Prescott, the Technology Business editor with the Times of London.

Boeing sold its first plane into Ireland 65 years ago. It has since sold 1400 aircraft to Irish airlines and leasing companies making us amazingly the 3rd biggest customer in the world. Now the Seattle based plane-make is opening up a new European hub in Dublin airport - possibly to get closer to its biggest single customer. Joe was joined on the show by Jeremy Quin the President of Boeing UK & Ireland and ask him about those delays but began by asking why they had chosen Ireland.

In 2025 Ireland was the leading European domicile for active exchange-traded funds with a huge 94 per cent of market share. That data comes from Irish Funds and ETF Book. Emmet chats to Pat Lardner, Chief Executive of Irish Funds.

Tuesday's business news review with Emmet Oliver.

Retail pay has increased 40% since 2020, and with National Minimum Wage set to reach €14.15 per hour in January 2026 retailers will face another year of balancing compliance, competitiveness and cost control. This is according to recruitment specialists Excel Recruitment. With more on this Emmet spoke to Nikki Murran, Director of Grocery Retail at Excel.

Venture capital investment in generative AI jumped by 65% in the first 11 months of the year. That's according to new analysis from EY Ireland, whose Technology, Media and Entertainment and Telecommunications Industry Leader Grit Young.

Echelon data centres welcome the new direction from the commission for the regulation of utilities concerning large energy users. All to discuss with Niall Molloy, CEO, Echelon Data Centres.

Monday business markets news with Emmet Oliver along with Russ Mould from AJ Bell.

All the market and business news with Joe Lynam along with Austin Hughes from AJ Bell.

Needless to say cyber risks top the poll for major international companies as the biggest source of threats. That's followed by a global economic slowdown and potential regulatory or legislative changes coming down the tracks. The global risk survey was carried out by the professional services company AON. Speaking to Joe this morning was Rachael Ingle the Chief Executive of AON Ireland.

There was another serious warning about Ireland's over dependence on a small cohort of American multinationals today. The ESRI said that these firms were making substantial positive contributions to the country But potential job cuts and America's tilt towards nationalism could jeopardise that Foreign investment and growth in Ireland. The report also looks at how we can grow home-grown productivity here. Prof Martina Lawless is the Director of the ESRI.

Thursdays business news headlines with Joe Lynam.

For decades pharmacists have been giving free advice and care to their customers but now, they will be able to legally prescribe some medication as well. It's a step change and will hopefully unclog GP surgeries but also benefit pharmacies economically. They will only be allowed to prescribe 8 very specific symptoms but it's hoped the list will grow. All to discuss with Caoimhe McAuley who is Director of Pharmacy & Superintendent Pharmacist with Boots and IPU Vice-president.

December and early January are usually the busiest period for furniture sales. Many of us like new stuff for Christmas and others like to refresh our homes during the Winter sales. One of the biggest furniture retailers is of course IKEA and now they've launched an interest free financing for bigger purchases. But should we be encouraging shoppers to take out money on credit - even if the rate is 0%? Joe discuss all with Callum Leavy, the Country Service Experience Lead with IKEA Ireland.

We're only a few weeks away from the start of auto enrollment whereby nearly everyone at work will be signed up to a pension scheme. But many employers can opt to launch their workplace retirement schemes and often do this saving with giants like Zurich, Irish Life or Aviva. As of this week they could choose to go for a brand-new Irish pension company offering a low-cost digital-only way for them to save their and their workers' retirement savings. Speaking to Joe with more on this was Ailish Dooley the Chief Executive with Zen Pensions.

Wednesday's business headlines with Joe Lynam.

Some of you out there may have already had free gifts from your employer. Some of you may have received a prepaid credit card and some of you may have received other rewards from the boss.But employers and employees need to know that the total value in any year can never exceed €1500 if Benefit in Kind is to be avoided. We're also approaching the deadline for contractors who aren't on payroll to be registered with Revenue if most of their income comes from one company. All to discuss with Michelle Dunne, Employment Tax Director with Grant Thornton.

Tuesday's business headlines along with Emmet Oliver.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission's State of Competition in Ireland reports suggest that competition has weakened in several important areas within the Services Sector of the economy in recent years. Speaking to Emmet this morning was Brian McHugh.

New research from Matrix Recruitment finds bullying and even far-right sentiment on the rise in Irish workplaces. Emmet spoke to Recruitment Manager Joanne Foley about the findings.

Emmet Oliver takes a run through the major business stories and market trends along with Kathleen Brooks from XTB.

The average property in the existing homes market is being sold once every 50 years. That's according to a new report from property portal MyHome, in association with Bank of Ireland, which found that the rate at which existing homeowners, with mortgage debt, move home is now less than half the UK level. All to discuss with Conall MacCoille, Chief Economist, Bank of Ireland.

The government is today launching a new report Assessing Economic Trends in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is the first report in a new annual series from the Economic and Social Research Institute examining economic developments across the island of Ireland. Joining Emmet this morning was Dr. Adele Bergin is an Associate Research Professor with the ESRI and co-author of the report.

Friday's business news review with Kate English from Deloitte .

We don't have nuclear power stations in Ireland Britain does. But like Ireland it has had major problems getting big infrastructure projects such as nuclear power built on time and on budget. John Fingleton was born in Laois and used to be a competition watchdog in the UK but lately has written a major report about how Britain can get things done quicker. And it has been accepted in full by Keir Starmer's government. But can we learn here? All to discuss with John Fingleton the head of the nuclear taskforce and former UK Competition regulator.

Senior directors and officers of a company currently must publish their usual residential address with the Companies Registration Office. But the government is worried that may open these senior executives to abuse or even fraud. That's why it is consulting widely to see if the Companies Act needs to be changed to provide the public with a ‘contact address' in Ireland - while keeping the residential details on file with the CRO.All to discuss with Niamh Smyth is the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise with special responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation.

Thursday's business news headlines along with Joe Lynam.

So we know the 30 points in the Government's infrastructure action plan. We know that the government needs to introduce 2 urgent pieces of legislation to speed up delivery and cut down on regulatory and legal delays. But will it work? IImelda Mannion used to work for Jacobs Engineering and advised numerous governments on infrastructure planning but crucially she sat on the accelerating infrastructure Taskforce whose work was published yesterday .

They may be Danish and not Swedish. They may use blue instead of yellow and they might even be a bit cheaper but the comparisons between Jysk furniture stores and IKEA abound. Jysk is a newer entrant to the Irish market business is brisk and now it's opened its 30th store in Mahon Point in Cork with 6 more slated for next year. It's also making some money. Joining Joe on the show was Roni Tuominen the head of Jysk Ireland.