What started out as a low cost ‘pile em high’ retailer in Dublin on Mary St in 1969 has now developed into a global fashion behemoth.  We call the stores Penneys but they are known as Primark of course overseas.  They’ll be investing a further €40m in stores next month in Portugal but today for the consumers of north Wicklow, Penneys will be opening its latest in the chain in Bray. Joining Joe in studio was Fintan Costello, Head of Penneys in Ireland. 

From July 7th a new EU rule comes into force to improve car safety.  It’s called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and it will force car makers to monitor driver fatigue, drifting between lanes and even build in a breathalyser. 

It will also include new radar technology which is being developed by an Irish company in Shannon Co Clare called Provizio and joining Joe this morning was Barry Lunn is the founder of Provizio.

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam and Aidan Donnelly from Davys.

Almost 1 in 4 of us changed jobs over the past 12 months according to the latest work trend Index from Microsoft.   That's the most since lockdowns were relaxed and reflects the fact that younger people - especially Gen Z workers are moving around a lot. The report also looked at attitudes to the huge changes on their way from AI and which groups worry the most about it. 

Joining Joe on the show this morning was Ronan Geraghty, is Chief Operating Officer with Microsoft Ireland.  

It appears as if things have improved internationally in economic terms and that has helped the Irish economy’s prospects for the next 2 years.  GDP which had been declining here will remain buoyant this year and next according to the ESRI’s quarterly assessment. Unemployment is expected to decline to a near record low of 4% and net inward migration will enable the economy to continue to grow. However the current rate of house construction will not be enough to meet demand.

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

A look at today's business stories and websites with Joe Lynam.

Ireland may be getting a new Environment and Energy Minister soon but its moratorium on the construction of new data centres will remain government policy for the lifetime of this coalition. It means that large technology companies on whom the Irish economy depends, may have to think twice before further investment in this country if they cannot get easy and quick access to terabytes of data relating to their customers.

Also, AI continues to drive investment in other countries but may not be possible here due to issues with our digital infrastructure. All topics to discuss with Seamus Dunne, UK&I Managing Director at Digital Realty which is one of the biggest technology companies in the world and part of the S&P 500 index. 

Earlier this week the EU council passed the 14th package of sanctions against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  These measures focused mostly on energy and Liquified natural gas imports from Russia. 

The measures also include ways of dealing with circumvention or getting around the existing sanctions by some European companies.  Despite swingeing sanctions, exports of some sensitive products to Russia’s near neighbours have risen exponentially as they always end up in Russia. 

Speaking to Joe this morning was David O’Sullivan who is a Special International EU envoy for monitoring Sanctions against Russia and former EU Ambassador to the US.

A look at today's business stories and websites along with Newstalk Business Editor Joe Lynam.

Do you ever wonder what happens behind the scenes the moment you reserve a hotel room online?  Well one software company in Donegal town called AccuBook provides a suite of services for hotels all over the world specialising in France and Vietnam in fact. Accubook’s Guest Diary service sits somewhere in the cloud between the likes of Booking.com and a guesthouse in the languedoc.  

Joining Joe this morning was Gerry Haughey is the General manager with AccuBook .