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

When you as a consumer buy a product or a service, do you know what happens to your personal details? Where are highly sensitive data such as your address, credit card details and perhaps even your medical history kept and how can you be sure it won't be leaked somewhere?  Joe discussed all with Susan Brady the Managing Director of Eir Business.

We’ve had a trade war between the two biggest economies in the world. We’ve had major wars and the possible break up of the ‘West’ as we know and yet, the markets kept inching upwards. Breaking new records along the way.  Is there any logic to this or is there an illogical reason why many investors simply shrug no matter what happens?

All to discuss with Bernard Walsh, the Head of Investments & Pensions at Fairstone Asset management and lecturer with the LIA.  

Having a newborn is a joyous time but also an expensive one and one which is not great for the environment. We spend €100m on disposable nappies in Ireland every year and they often end up in landfill alongside wet wipes. Kate Doyle has created reusable nappies as well as a marketplace for other environmentally friendly products including period products.  Only this week she won the ‘Sustainability Champion Award’ at the Business of Craft fair.

Kate Doyle the founder of EcoKinly explained all about her business to Joe this morning.

Donald Trump will doubtless dominate the media coverage when he speaks at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland later today.  His very presence is a distraction from all the other speakers in Davos including Michael Lohan the Chief Executive of the IDA who is there to bang the drum for foreign investment into Ireland.

Wednesday business news review with Joe Lynam.

The backbone of Trump’s upending of the global trading system have of course been his tariffs. They have been arbitrarily applied to America’s allies and sometimes based on the personal whims of the President. But they could be deemed illegal as early as today by the US Supreme Court. If Trump can get around that ruling it will mean 3 more years of economic and political chaos. It’s one of the main topics at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week where Trump himself will doubtless lecture the free world on his idea of Trumpenomics.  

Aidan Meagher is the co-head of the geopolitical strategy unit with EY and joined Joe Lynam on the show this morning to discuss.

Investment in Irish commercial property could reach €4 billion this year which would be a 60% jump on what was invested in 2025. Included in that is an estimated €1.5 billion investment in the private rental sector. They are among the views of the real estate company CBRE, which has published its assessment for 2026. 

Colin Richardson, director and head of research with CBRE, joined Joe Lynam on the show to discuss.

Wednesday's business news headlines with Joe Lynam.

St Patrick's Day has come a long way from shivering majorettes and the local accordion bands winding their way through the wet streets of our cities. Now it’s a 4-day festival, very much aimed at an international audience. In fact, more than a quarter of a million visitors come to these shores in mid-March, expressly to experience a St Patrick's Day parade. But with a weak dollar and all sorts of geopolitical stress, will this year’s festival match recent years?  

Richard Tierney, Director of the St Patrick's Festival, joined Joe Lynam on the show to discuss.