Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam

Ornua or the co-operative formerly known as the Irish Dairy Board has just published its results for last year.  Profits were up 3.6% to €171m but worryingly net debt was up 89%.  But how will the current energy shock and a potential global recession affect Ornua? All to discuss with Conor Galvin, the Chief Executive of Ornua. 

Wednesday's business news review with Joe Lynam.

After a protracted legal battle the one remaining car park in Dublin airport which wasn't controlled by DAA was sold to the German giant APCOA and opened a year ago this week under the brand Park2Travel. The room for expansion is limited by the physical footprint of the car park and the number of shuttle buses on the go. Joining Joe this morning was Neil Cunningham is the boss of APCOA which...

They've only been around for 11 years but Monzo bank is Britain’s largest digital bank with 15million customers worldwide.  Now they are withdrawing from America entirely but opening up a business here in Ireland.  But what does Monzo offer that Revolut, which is huge here, doesn't already?    All to discuss with The CEO of Monzo Bank Michael Carney.

It’s getting tougher than ever to distinguish between a real and AI created video.  That also goes for fraud.  AI is creating such believable emails and websites that customers have to work hard not to fall for them. So what’s to be done to protect companies and consumers from fake CEO messages or urgent but fake letters from legit clients? To discuss this and more was Righard...

Research suggests that people’s commitment to long-term financial planning dips in middle age, just as its importance increases.  That’s according to the latest edition of PTSB’s Reflecting Ireland research series. All to discuss with Leontia Fannin, Chief sustainability and corporate affairs Officer at PTSB .    

The growth for housing prices is experiencing a cool-down period.  That’s according to the Q1 2026 Property Report from MyHome   Susan discussed the findings with Conall MacCoille, Chief Economist, Bank of Ireland .

The exchequer returns for the first quarter of the year show that the public finances remain broadly on the course set on budget day last October. Susan discussed the returns further with Seamus Coffey, Former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Lecturer in Economics at UCC.

Activity in Ireland’s services sector increased again in March but at one of the weakest rates over the past five years, as new business growth moderated and price inflation accelerated sharply to a three-year high.       That’s according to AIB’s latest purchasing managers’ index report. To discuss further was John Fahey AIB Senior Economist.

Drone delivery firm Manna recently announced it has raised €43.1m in a new Series B funding round with plans for 400 extra jobs in Ireland and the US.  All to discuss with Alan Hicks Chief Technical Officer of Manna. 

As US markets become more expensive and uncertain for Irish firms, one sector struggling among many is MedTech.  To discuss the pressure and the solutions is Tim Jones, CEO of Galway medtech company SymPhysis Medical .

Tuesday's business news headlines along with Susan Hayes Culleton.

This week, you likely heard thieves stole more than 400,000 KitKat chocolate bars weighing around 12 tonnes from a truck in Europe.  While it might have gone viral, Geotab are warning that it points to a larger issue, a marked increase in cargo theft.  Emmet discusses further with   Phil Barnes, Business Development Manager at Geotab .  

PwC’s latest Insolvency Barometer shows that there were 212 insolvencies recorded in the first quarter of this year. Ken Tyrell Head of Insolvency at PwC discusses the findings with Emmet.

The new Banner Plaza on the M18 from the owner of Supermacs includes a supermarket, play area and a large food court a €20m investment and 120 new jobs.  But it was far from smooth sailing to get it opened.  In fact, it was 8 years behind schedule thanks to a number of judicial reviews and challenges from environmental groups and serial objectors. Joining Joe this morning was Pat McDonag...

New figures for motor insurance by the Central Bank showed a 4% rise in premiums in the first half of last year. The National Claims Information Database shows that the cost of repairing cars went up again last year and is up 155% since covid but payouts for claims in the courts are down 24% in that time. That report comes on top of a huge surge in complaints to the Financial Ombudsman about insur...

Wednesday's business news review along with Joe Lynam.

How often do you see some very special piece of old furniture and cover it immediately? Perhaps it’s the shape, the colour but more often than not it’s wood. My next guest sells special lighting, kitchen islands and tables and every piece is a story which is usually at least one hundred years old, whether taken from a convict ship or an old church or a railw...

Despite the trade barriers created by Brexit, the UK remains Ireland’s second biggest trading partner. But the red tape in shipping stuff from here to there is acting as a deterrent to trade. So now An Post is launching a new streamlined service for companies to get their goods to Great Britain called ‘UK Direct’. It includes pre-clearance and payments of any duties in adv...

Tuesday's business news headlines with Joe Lynam.

Across the island of Ireland, 3.6 million people save with a credit union. They’re very local and connected to customers and have been slow to digitalise and try to compete with the traditional or neo banks when it comes to mortgage lending and account management. Now, many credit unions have signed up to a new digital platform to meet the banking needs of their customers. It’s&nbsp...

It’s not news that Ireland earns the lion's share of its Corporation Taxes from a handful of American companies and that it hasn't enough of large indigenous businesses. My next guest used to advise the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and is now a professor of economics in the University of Galway. He was commissioned by the Collison brothers to assess the long-term hea...

Joe Lynam was joined by Mike O’Sullivan from Unio for Monday's business news review.

Kate English from Deloitte joined Joe to look through Friday's business news stories.

How many times have retailers had only seconds to judge whether a young adult is old enough to buy alcohol or vapes or cigarettes? Mercury Retail Services uses AI to fairly accurately estimate the age of a customer and the estimation service is already in use in the Galmont Hotel in Galway.      He also uses technology to monitor and hopefully prevent shoplifting.  Joining...