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.

Kate English from Deloitte takes a run through Friday's business news headlines.

Thursday's business news review with Joe Lynam.

The Chinese economy is set to grow once again by around 5% this year.  Of course economic data from China is not exactly transparent, but if that’s accurate it’s certainly not an economy struggling under a major tariff war with America. 

 Is this a long term trend of can we expect the EU to react and decide whether to collaborate or to compete with China in the 21st century? All to discuss with Finbarr Bermingham is Senior correspondent for Europe for the South China Morning Post.

If you've a small business and want to get your message and your brand out there, sometimes that can cost a fair bit of money.  But how about your logo being displayed on the pitchside digital hoardings during one of the big Autumn rugby internationals?  That’s the prize on offer for one lucky SME - courtesy of Vodafone.  But outside promotional events like this, how do businesses get their message out there? Joining Joe this morning to discuss further was Jo Gilfoy is head of Vodafone Business Ireland. 

There was a time when there were little major differences between ESG rules on either side of the Atlantic. But that’s not the case now.  It makes for major problems for big US firms operating in Europe who will soon have to comply with 2 very different sets of rules. A survey by the Compliance Institute suggests that a fifth of companies foresee ‘significant’ disruption due to the divergence of ESG rules and only 40% are preparing for this schism in regulation. 

Joining Joe this morning was Michael Kavanagh is the chief executive of the Compliance Institute.