ESG or environment, social and governance issues have been under attack since electorates on both sides of the Atlantic moved to the right.  Trump has ordered an end to all Diversity programmes.  But what about here in Ireland?  Should we stick with ESG matters and do our bit to protect the environment and minority groups? 

Chief Executive of Repak Zoe Kavanagh certainly thinks so and that’s why her company is sponsoring the ESG award as part of the Newstalk Changemaker awards. 

Paul Kavanagh from Patronus partners along with Joe Lynam takes a run through of Monday's international business stories.

The number of buildings which started construction is up 65% compared with 2022 but the number of homes actually completed fell last year to 30,000. With a housing crisis almost hitting middle age, how can these anomalies be allowed to continue? 

Danny O’Shea from BuildingInfo.com which collates all the country’s construction data, joined Joe this morning to discuss further.

Customer service matters or at least it should matter.  Close Brothers Motor Finance, finances thousands of car purchases in Britain and Ireland and they are sponsors of the Customer Service award for the forthcoming Changemakers on Newstalk. Joining Joe in studio this morning was Peter Pedlow, Director of Sales Close Brothers Motor Finance.

Ian Hyland is the chief executive of Ireland Inc and new owner of Windmill Lane Studios. He also played host to the ECB president in a major ceremony on Wednesday and he’s also the boss of Ireland Inc with deep connections in the United States. So what does he make of the global tariff war initiated on Wednesday night? 

Ian joined Joe this morning on the show.

We take a run through of  Friday's business news headlines along with Aidan Donnelly from Davy.

So now we know.  A minimum tariff of 10% on all goods entering the United States, and an across the board tariff of 20% on all goods from the European Union and tariffs of over 50% now on Chinese exports to the United States.

There was no mention of a tariff on pharmaceutical products which is so vital to our economy, yet.

To take a insight into these tariffs and what it means for Ireland. Joe spoke to Michael Lohan is the chief executive of the IDA which has been the most effective agency in luring foreign and especially American investment into this country. Also with Joe was Ambrose Conroy is the chief executive of the manufacturing consultancy Seraph which has a business both in Ireland but mostly in the US.  

Thursday business news review along with Joe Lynam.

Some have warned that the tariffs to be announced this afternoon in the Rose Garden in Washington could be a bigger financial calamity than the great financial crisis of 2008.  Others have called for cool heads and for the EU to respond very carefully to whatever tariffs are announced.

Either way change is on its way to world trade patterns and investment and Ireland could be disproportionately impacted. 

Joe discusses this and more with Mike O’Sullivan the Director of Unio Wealth Managers and the author of 'The Levelling and How Globalisation Is Coming To An End'. 

Wednesday's business news headlines along with Joe Lynam.