Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam

How many of us hate sitting through online Ads before we can watch even the shortest of videos on YouTube? Of course you can skip those ads if you pay the monthly premium to the Google-owned company.

Now Youtube is raising its prices for its premium service. And it’s not a small price rise it’s a highly inflationary 44% rise from €18 to €26 per month for a family subscription. Is it worth it? All to discuss with Newstalk Technology Correspondent and Presenter of Tech Talk, Jess Kelly. 

Kate English from Deloitte joined Joe this morning to look at the main business stories.

The Credit Union consumer sentiment index was one of the few voices to suggest earlier this year that the economy wasn't as robust as other higher profile surveys might have suggested.  It warned of consumers withholding their spending because they were still stuck with the aftereffects of Inflation.  This time, the survey is a bit more bullish about the beloved consumer.   However, it warns that spending power is not increasing in line with population growth. 

To take a look at the report findings Joe spoke to the renowned economist Austin Hughes compiles and edits the report for the Credit Unions. 

Next week the Minister of Finance will have record sums in his war chest to give away in the budget. That’s mostly down to soaring corporation tax receipts. But is that money ephemeral or it is real and makes Ireland into a tax haven for wealthy American companies without much benefit for indigenous companies?

To discuss further with Joe was Brian O’Boyle economist and a lecturer with the Atlantic Technical University in Sligo and has written a book called ‘Tax Haven Ireland’. 

We hear from the ESRI that it expects growth whether measured using GDP or Modified Domestic demand will be at a steady path this year and next. 

Unlike the Fiscal advisory Council, the think tank believes that spending patterns by the government are sustainable. However it warns that housing completions have slowed compared to last year and it warns about a possible Trump victory in November.

Speaking to Joe this morning was Dr Conor O'Toole is Associate Research Professor with the ESRI .

Joe Lynam takes a quick run through of the main business headlines this Thursday morning.

As part of the transition away from fossil fuels and towards fully electric heating and energy, hydrotreated vegetable oil or HVO is being rolled out for both consumers and companies. Today CERTA Ireland launches its 10th filling station Nationwide for car and truck drivers to slash their noxious emissions by up to 90% by filling up with HVO.  Households may soon also be able to use greener fuels instead of concentrated kerosene to heat their homes this winter. 

Joining Joe this morning was Orla Stevens the Managing Director of Certa Ireland.  

The FDI sector in the country was rocked 2 weeks ago after Apple was ordered to pay Ireland up to €14bn in back taxes over a perceived special deal. While that may be great for the government ahead of next week’s budget it might have upset other big investors in this country. That is one of the reasons why the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke is in the West Coast of America at the head of a trade delegation with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. Joe spoke to Minister Burke this morning.

Getting mentoring or advice is more important to female business startups than money?  That’s one of the findings of study carried out by the credit card giant Visa as part of its ‘She’s Next’ programme to support women entrepreneurs.   Joe was joined on the show by Mandy Lamb Managing Directors of Visa UK and Ireland.

Joe Lynam takes a look through the business headlines.