Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam Newstalk

The good news is that the most important part of the Irish economy the services sector is still growing.  But it's the slowest pace of growth so far this year. Financial services were the best performing sub sectors and technology and media the weakest and yet they all had some sort of growth. To discuss this and the wider economy was David McNamara is the Chief Economist with AIB. 

Ireland has set itself a target of 70% of its energy mix coming from renewable energy sources. Currently wind, wave and solar energy accounts for a modest 37%.The next stages in offshore wind energy are in the Irish planning swamp where there is a shortage of skilled experts to adjudicate but plenty of NIMBYs prepared to hold it up.   
Speaking to Joe this morning was TJ Hunter, Senior Director for Development and Operations at Ørsted UK & Ireland which is one of the biggest developer of offshore wind farms in the world.

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

The International Energy Agency said that 17% of Ireland's total energy usage was accounted for by data centres in 2022.  That number may well be higher now. But data centres could well be considered as important to this economy as Ardnacrusha was to electrify Ireland a decade ago or even water treatment facilities are today. 
There’s no doubt that data centres are the backbone of the internet. But do we appreciate that?  Joe discussed this with Garry Connolly,  Founder of Host in Ireland. 

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

The Employment Permits Bill was set to change what kind of workers outside the EU and UK could get permission to live and work here.  It covers seasonal employment and whether spouses could also come live here.  But the Minister steering the Bill through the Oireachtas Neale Richmond has moved to the Department of Finance and immigration has also suddenly become a very hot political and geopolitical issue for Ireland.
To discuss further Joe was joined on the show by Claire Cumiskey, Director of Fragomen which is a consultancy on immigration issues.