Breakfast Business

Venturewave Capital which seeks out Irish companies with decent potential and takes a stake in them. Venturewave is backed by some high profile luminaries. But how will private equity react amid an worldwide energy shock which could push us all into a nasty recession? All to discuss with Kieran McLoughlin is Managing Partner at Venturewave Capital.

A report from State Street bank says that more than 70% of retirees in Ireland rely on the State pension as their primary income source. But we're all living longer and healthier lives, so the dependency ratio is growing . So, what's to be done in order not to over-burden working taxpayers? Joining Joe to discuss further was Ann Prendergast the Executive Vice President and Head of the Europe with State Street Investment management.

Monday's business news review with Joe Lynam and Russ Mould from AJ Bell.

Joe was joined in studio by Sam the Robot. He belongs to the Meath based company Fusion Tech and he and robots like him may soon become a regular sight in homes and offices doing the kind of chores that we're not so keen on. His owner for now at least is Gerry McDonnell, the Chief Executive of Fusion Tech.

March is Guaranteed Irish month. We've already seen a great surge in pride in our rugby team and our actresses and of course the world went green on Tuesday. But does your business consider where a product or service comes from before it buys? Or is price the main determinant? All to discuss with Bríd O'Connell the Chief Executive of Guaranteed Irish.

All the business news headlines along with Newstalk's Business Editor and Leonie MacCann from Irish Life Investment Managers.

Farms can be among the most energy-hungry but also emissions-heavy businesses in the economy. Local Power Ltd has teamed up with the Austrian company Biogest to develop a biomethane site in Carnaross in Co Meath which they hope to turn nasty smelling slurry and waste into cleaner renewable energy. But it will only proceed once the Government decides which types of renewable energy should be obligatory. Joining Joe on the show this morning was Pat Smith the Director of Local Power Ltd.

Thursday's business news headlines along with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Specsavers has a whopping 2800 stores worldwide including 66 or so here in Ireland. They provide far more than just glasses to their customers. Indeed as of this month they carry out cataract and glaucoma operations in-house. But with the arrival of online eye testing and cheap alternatives and hearing aids from overseas, how will Specsavers manage? All to discuss with Kerril Hickey, Chair of Specsavers Ireland.

Whether it's Roy Keane or James Lowe or newer stars such Troy Parrott or Erin King, sports stars are increasingly marketable entities. Sport Endorse is an Irish founded platform that brings together athletes with companies that wish to sponsor them. Only this week it launched its business in the US with a presence in South Africa as well as the UK making it a global player. Joining Joe in studio was Trevor Twamley, Founder and Ceo of ‘Sport Endorse' .

Whether it's crude oil, liquified natural gas, jet fuel, helium or fertiliser, they are all fossil fuel derived and mostly originate in the part of the Middle East currently at war and blockaded. Our utter dependence on the narrow strait of Hormuz has been underlined for the past few weeks. But how can we wean ourselves off this area and how do we manage to avoid a very damaging energy crisis? All to discuss with Robert Maxwell iPrincipal Consultant with the energy company DNV consulting.

Thursday's business news headlines along with Joe Lynam.

After five years of trying, Revolut has finally secured a full banking licence to form Revolut Bank UK. So what does this mean for customers and how will AI impact on your banking experience? All to discuss with John Cronin Founder & Research Analyst at SeaPoint.

Monday's business news headlines along with Emmet Oliver.

Joe Lynam along with Kate English from Deloitte looks through Friday's business news headlines.

We have had a tumultuous fortnight since America and Israel decided to bomb Iran. Commodities, bonds and equities have all been impacted and the global economy has been turned on its head. I thought as we approach the end of the week it might be wise to break down the impact of this war on important sectors. All to discuss with Simon McAllister who is a partner with EY.

Starting your own business is a really big undertaking, starting it with a young family pushes the boat out even further. Joining Joe to chat about her business was Rhona Fitzpatrick the founder of The Diamond Expert.

Forget Belgium and Switzerland, Ireland is home to some of Europe's best and most luxurious chocolate supposedly. Certainly that's the case if you sample the products from Grá chocolate. But how does chocolate manage in the age of GLP1 weight loss drugs and many of us trying to lose weight? Gráinne Mullins is the founder of Grá Chocolates and she's also one of the judges of the Visa ‘She's Next' grant programme.

Gewardz Health provides a remote GP service at a cost of €25 with a fully qualified doctor and at short notice. But will Irish people who love the social and face to face interaction take to the new offering? All to discuss with Iain Cahil from Gewardz Health.

Thursday's business news headlines with Joe Lynam.

TirNua is focused on supporting Ireland's energy transition through investment in new green infrastructure projects and it got a big shot in the arm worth €140m yesterday from the Irish sovereign wealth fund ISIF. But have the old problems which have dogged infrastructure projects gone away? Not by a mile. What will be done with the money? Speaking to Joe was David O'Brien the Chief Executive of TirNua.

The post pandemic rules on the right to request flexible working are 3 years old but the voluntary employer ‘code of practice' is two years old. But is it working. A poll for the law firm Lewis Silkin suggests that only a small number of cases end up before the WRC. All to discuss with Síobhra Rush, Head of the law firm Lewis Silkin Dublin.

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

Tuesday's business news headlines along with Joe Lynam.

There's a new kid in town when it comes to instant payments between friends, family and contacts. It's called Zippay and the three pillar banks hope that it will provide an alternative to the near monopoly that Revolut has in Ireland. . But is it too late and will Revolut simply shrug? All to discuss with Brian Hayes the Chief executive of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland.

According to Julien Moutte CTO at Bentley Systems it is one of Europe's smarter cities using the Internet of things all over Dublin. The Dublin Fire brigade also uses 3-D imagery of many key buildings so that if they need to deal with a fire, they know exactly how to do so. Bentley Systems provides some of that 3-D information for the fire brigade. Julien Moutte, is the CTO at Bentley Systems joined Joe to discuss all.

Popeyes restaurants are opening up in Blanchardstown and later on in Westmoreland Street in Dublin. An estimated 500 jobs will be created but what's it like selling fast food in an era of weight loss jabs and strict animal welfare rules? Joe spoke to Tom Crowley, CEO of Popeyes IRE and UK.

Energy prices have been at the heart of the news for the past week. Heating oil and diesel prices have rocketed since Iran effectively closed the strait of Hormuz choking off petroleum shipping. And now the wider oil prices have soared 27% overnight. So what does it mean for our electricity and gas prices here? All to discuss with Stephen Gallagher, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity. Nominations are now open for the Newstalk Changemaker Business awards in association with FBD Insurance, across 9 categories, including Sustainable Workplace, supported by SSE Airtricity. Closing date is March 20th. Nominate now at newstalk.com/changemaker.

Newstalk Business Editor Joe Lynam and Russ Mould AJ Bell take a look at today business news headlines.

Friday's business news review along with Newstalk's Business Editor and Kate English from Deloitte.

Sunday the 8th is the actual date for International Women's Day. We're marking it today and the huge transformation to the workplace and the economy that women have made over the past few decades. Our panel this morning on the show was Mary Considine Chief Executive of Iarnród Eireann or Irish rail, Emer Higgins is the Minister of State for attending Cabinet at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Also Kate English the Chief Economist with Deloitte.

Soon the new Consumer Protection Code comes into force from the central bank. Among the key provisions of the code is allowing vulnerable groups to nominate someone to act on their behalf with banks and insurance companies. The Compliance Institute polled its members and 22% of them believe that preventing so-called “greenwashing“ is also an important aspect of the new code. All to discuss with Michael Kavanagh the Chief Executive of the Compliance Institute.

Ireland is rapidly becoming the European base for medical and pharmaceutical giants, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. But in order to foster indigenous and smaller Irish medical companies, the new ARC Hub for HealthTech has been set up as part of the University of Galway. Speaking to Joe was Garry Duffy, Professor of Health Technology Innovation at University of Galway and Director of the ARC Hub for HealthTech.

Thursday's business news review with Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Wednesday's business news review along with Joe Lynam.

If you have money to spare and want to support Irish Startups at an early stage, it's always possible to do so and is one of the more tax efficient ways of helping indigenous companies through the EIIS scheme. Joe Bergin the Chief Executive Elkstone specialises in providing a pool of Investment money for Irish Startups and he may find himself busy towards the end of the year if, as expected, the capital gains tax rate is cut to encourage more risk taking investment.

Yesterday a US appeals court threw out an appeal by the White House to decline refunds for those companies who paid tariffs on imported goods after the US Supreme Court said they were illegal. That means the lower courts can now start refunding billions of dollars by claimants. But the White House is using different legal statutes to keep the tariffs in place for nearly all countries in what can technically be described as ‘a mess' for exporters from Europe. So what happens now? All to discuss with Mark Ludwikowski Chair of Clark Hill's International Trade Practice.

We all know that AI is set to transform our lives but few of us are in a position to leverage it for their companies especially if they are SMEs. This week - as part of the Local Enterprise Week. Google is getting together with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise offices to create a new scheme called ‘AI Works for Ireland' in order to foster training and supports for startups and Scale-ups here. All to discuss with Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland.

Repak is an environmental not-for-profit organisation charged with improving recycling and re-use of packaging by companies. It's also a major proponent of the circular economy and of course sponsors our Green Businessperson of the Month on this programme. It's also a sponsor of ESG Strategy of the Newstalk Changemaker awards and Zoe Kavanagh is the Chief Executive of Repak.

Tuesday's business news review along with Joe Lynam.

Future Work World is the new book from Barry Winkless, Cpl's Executive Strategy Advisor and Head of Future of Work Institute. In it, he discusses the new kinds of workers and workplaces, from AI to creating a “hero journey” for staff. Barry joined Susan Hayes Culleton this morning on the show.

Equinix is committing USD $700M to Dundalk company Hanley Energy in a deal that will create an initial 200 new jobs in Dundalk. The deal will see Hanley Energy build a manufacturing facility to be used exclusively to build specialised power equipment for Equinix's data centres worldwide. All to discuss with Peter Lantry MD Equinix Ireland.