Breakfast Business

Once the powerhouse or engine of Europe.  Now Germany is not in a good place economically.  GDP shrank again in the second quarter and all the certainties which drove the German economy appear to be dissolving:  China is no longer snapping up luxury German exports and the Americans are slapping tariffs on German cars and steel.  So what can the newly elected Friederich Merz do as chancellor to turn things around?  Joe discusses this and more with Michael Harbisch from Cantor Fitzgerald in Frankfurt.

Wednesday's business news review with Joe Lynam.

Irish based pharma companies exported a whopping €13.7bn worth of goods in the month of May alone. .  The pharma sector is not yet paying 15% tariffs on all exports to the US but that looks like it will be the max once the famous section 232 investigation is sorted. But what will these tariffs mean in the long run for those American pharma giants such as Ely Lily and Pfizer who have been here for years but are under pressure to shift production back to the States?  All to discuss with Oliver O'Connor, is the chief executive of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association. 

Mondello Park has been around for 57 years and is the only dedicated motor racing circuit in the Republic.  It’s where a young Ayrton Senna learned his trade and where the late Eddie Jordan started his racing team too.  It hit the financial buffers in the mid 80s but is now back in business and quite popular for corporate days out and for racing bikes as well as normal and supercars. Leo Nulty from Mondello Park chatted to Leo about the business of the circuit.

A new report from Insider AI suggests that more than half of workers in the US violate their company policies when it comes to AI usage and a third of workers say they would quit if their employer banned AI. It all comes amid soaring investment in the sector now risks turning it into a bubble which could burst. All to discuss with Donnchadh Casey Chief Executive of Calypso AI.

Tuesday's business headlines along with Joe Lynam.

The Human Capital Initiative is designed to tweak the supply of qualifications in universities to meet the actual and ever-changing needs of industry and commerce.  Needless to say AI, engineering and sustainability are the in-demand courses.  But what about those who don't have the time to do a degree but need recognised courses to prepare them for their new roles or new jobs? All to discuss with Dr Kieran McNally is Senior Executive Officer with the Higher Education Authority. 

Lenny McLoughlin from Irish Life Investments Managers goes through Monday's business new headlines

The Irish entertainment and media sector includes internet advertising, gaming, video on demand as well as cinema attendance and going to live concerts.  According to PwC's outlook for the sector, it’s set to grow by 3.3% on average every year bringing the value of media and entertainment up to €7.5bn by 2029 but that lags global growth in the sector.  Joining Joe was Naomi Ryan, from PwC is the author of the Irish Entertainment and Media Outlook. 

Kate English from Deloitte takes a run through Friday's business news headlines.

The EU’s AI act came partially into force a year ago and will be gradually rolled out over the next 18 months. But the Americans are moving in the opposite direction and there is a risk that European AI companies might up sticks and move there where regulation is watered down if it exists at all. All to discuss with David McMunn partner with the lawyers Beauchamp.

Over the summer quite a few whiskey distilleries have paused or stopped entirely making whiskey.  Killarney Distillery has already gone into liquidation.  At the heart of this trend is the uncertainty caused by tariffs from America and the fact that younger adults are simply drinking less alcohol. So what next for the whiskey industy? Joe was joined on the show by James Doherty the Founder of The Ardara Distillery in Donegal.

If you've a small business and want to get your message and your brand out there, sometimes that can cost a fair bit of money.  But how about your logo being displayed on the pitchside digital hoardings during one of the big Autumn rugby internationals?  That’s the prize on offer for one lucky SME - courtesy of Vodafone.  But outside promotional events like this, how do businesses get their message out there? Joining Joe this morning to discuss further was Jo Gilfoy is head of Vodafone Business Ireland. 

Thursday's business news review with Joe Lynam.

The Chinese economy is set to grow once again by around 5% this year.  Of course economic data from China is not exactly transparent, but if that’s accurate it’s certainly not an economy struggling under a major tariff war with America.  Is this a long term trend of can we expect the EU to react and decide whether to collaborate or to compete with China in the 21st century? All to discuss with Finbarr Bermingham is Senior correspondent for Europe for the South China Morning Post.

We’re still in the summer time and there may be a few more days of BBQ weather before the chill returns. Conor Layden Commercial Director of Arigna fuels makes charcoal from olives more specifically the pips or seeds within the olives.  It’s called Biochar and now his company Arigna which is now in its 5th generation of the family business has signed a new deal to sell this fuel in Aldi supermarkets.  Joe chatted to Conor this morning.

There was a time when there were little major differences between ESG rules on either side of the Atlantic. But that’s not the case now.  It makes for major problems for big US firms operating in Europe who will soon have to comply with 2 very different sets of rules. A survey by the Compliance Institute suggests that a fifth of companies foresee ‘significant’ disruption due to the divergence of ESG rules and only 40% are preparing for this schism in regulation. Joining Joe this morning was Michael Kavanagh is the chief executive of the Compliance Institute.

Wednesday new review along with Joe Lynam.

Despite sitting on a cash pile of €26bn ahead of the budget in 2 months, the government is already speaking about reining in spending in case the world is plunged into further geopolitical and trading uncertainty.  But many people who start their own business are increasingly frustrated that they don't get the handouts that consumers and ordinary households get.  So what do SMEs want in October to make it easier to start and run a business?   All to discuss with Neil Hughes the Chief Executive of Azets Ireland.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland publishes its analysis later today and it is expected to say that the financial model for food businesses is broken and deserving of help due to their importance for small businesses. The economist Tony Foley from DCU is the senior economic contributor to the report and joined Joe on the show this morning.