There’s no doubt that change is afoot in the world of auditing and consulting.  Some of the big players are splitting those 2 parts of the business and others and merging.  That includes BDO - formerly known here as BDO Simpson Xavier, its Irish business is merging with its UK business.  The newly merged entity is part of a network of BDO shops operating in 169 nations worldwide.  But will it make the Irish business that little bit less Irish? 

All to discuss with Brian McEnery, Managing Partner at BDO Ireland.

The Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland includes all those creative agencies which devise many of the campaigns you see or hear on tv, radio or online.   The industry spent €1.6bn in 2024 and my next guest says it should be a lot more.  But does that mean a lot more ads and will much of that money flow in the coffers of the giant tech platforms?  IAPI also includes PR professionals and there has been plenty of consolidation in that sector too.

Joining Joe in studio was Siobhán Masterson, CEO of IAPI. 

Joe Lynam takes a run through Friday's business news headlines along with Aidan Donnelly from Davys.

In 6 months from now, the EU’s new E-Evidence regulation comes into force which could have a profound impact on Irish service providers.  It requires companies to hand over emails, messages, and other digital data if requested by police and judicial authorities from anywhere in the EU. 

The new rules exclude banks from handing over private financial data but it could mean that many firms will have to be very careful how they store data in future.  It will be especially onerous in Ireland because so many of the servers on which this important data is stored in this country. All to discuss with Jake O’Sullivan, a partner with Deloitte Advisory .

The European planemaker Airbus beat its arch rivals Boeing again last year in terms of delivering aircraft to customers.  It even has a backlog of almost 9,000 planes but that doesn't mean it’ll stay the leader of the pack. That’s because Boeing is learning from its mistakes and coming along on the outside is the Chinese manufacturer Comac which is making great aircraft at very competitive prices and might be able to do for aviation what Chinese carmakers such as BYD are doing to the automotive market. 

Joining Joe to discuss this sector is the aviation and leadership expert Anita Mendiratta.

Joe Lynam takes a run through of today's business news headlines.

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

Ireland has set itself a target that 70% of our total energy needs should come from renewable sources by 2030. With 4 years to go that figure currently stands at around 36%. That means that fossil fuel usage especially Gas will continue to be the backbone of our national electricity requirement for a few years yet.  In its latest report Gas Networks Ireland, says gas demand fell 1.5% last year while gas demand for transport actually rose by 10% due to compressed natural Gas and biogas demand rising.     

All to discuss with Edwina Nyhan the Director of Strategy and Regulation with Gas Networks Ireland. 

The government is set to spend a record breaking €102 billion on public projects between now and 2030. That includes massive investment in water, electricity but also public transport including the Metrolink. These contracts are highly complex and often legalistic as they may end up in the courts as we have seen with the national Children’s Hospital. The Junior Minister responsible for that is:  Joining Joe to discuss all was the Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment Frank Feighan.

The Renewable Heating Obligation or RHO is the government’s effort to cut the use of fossil fuels when it comes to heating our homes. By ensuring that some of those fuels are blended with renewable sources such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil.  But the group which represents gas, oil and solid fuel suppliers and distributors says the RHO is not ambitious enough.  In fact, they say it’s cheaper for them to pay the fines than adjust the types of fuel they sell to households. 

All to discuss further with Philip Hannon, CEO of The Alliance of Zero Carbon Heating.