Wednesday's business news review with Joe Lynam.

Once the powerhouse or engine of Europe.  Now Germany is not in a good place economically.  GDP shrank again in the second quarter and all the certainties which drove the German economy appear to be dissolving:  China is no longer snapping up luxury German exports and the Americans are slapping tariffs on German cars and steel.  So what can the newly elected Friederich Merz do as chancellor to turn things around?  

Joe discusses this and more with Michael Harbisch from Cantor Fitzgerald in Frankfurt.

A new report from Insider AI suggests that more than half of workers in the US violate their company policies when it comes to AI usage and a third of workers say they would quit if their employer banned AI. 

It all comes amid soaring investment in the sector now risks turning it into a bubble which could burst. All to discuss with Donnchadh Casey Chief Executive of Calypso AI.

Mondello Park has been around for 57 years and is the only dedicated motor racing circuit in the Republic.  It’s where a young Ayrton Senna learned his trade and where the late Eddie Jordan started his racing team too.  It hit the financial buffers in the mid 80s but is now back in business and quite popular for corporate days out and for racing bikes as well as normal and supercars. 

Leo Nulty from Mondello Park chatted to Leo about the business of the circuit.

Tuesday's business headlines along with Joe Lynam.

Lenny McLoughlin from Irish Life Investments Managers goes through Monday's business new headlines

The Human Capital Initiative is designed to tweak the supply of qualifications in universities to meet the actual and ever-changing needs of industry and commerce.  Needless to say AI, engineering and sustainability are the in-demand courses.  But what about those who don't have the time to do a degree but need recognised courses to prepare them for their new roles or new jobs? All to discuss with Dr Kieran McNally is Senior Executive Officer with the Higher Education Authority. 

The Irish entertainment and media sector includes internet advertising, gaming, video on demand as well as cinema attendance and going to live concerts.  According to PwC's outlook for the sector, it’s set to grow by 3.3% on average every year bringing the value of media and entertainment up to €7.5bn by 2029 but that lags global growth in the sector. 

Joining Joe was Naomi Ryan, from PwC is the author of the Irish Entertainment and Media Outlook. 

Over the summer quite a few whiskey distilleries have paused or stopped entirely making whiskey.  Killarney Distillery has already gone into liquidation.  At the heart of this trend is the uncertainty caused by tariffs from America and the fact that younger adults are simply drinking less alcohol. So what next for the whiskey industy? Joe was joined on the show by James Doherty the Founder of The Ardara Distillery in Donegal.

The EU’s AI act came partially into force a year ago and will be gradually rolled out over the next 18 months. But the Americans are moving in the opposite direction and there is a risk that European AI companies might up sticks and move there where regulation is watered down if it exists at all. All to discuss with David McMunn partner with the lawyers Beauchamp.