DUBLIN: The Minimum Wage- We kick things off looking at recently announced plan for the first increase to the level of the minimum wage since 2011. The 50c increase will see the minimum wage rise from €8.65 an hour up to €9.15. To discuss the issue we’re joined by Fergal O’Brien who is the Head of Policy and Chief Economist with IBEC and by Colm Quinlan who is Unite regional officer for Ireland.
The Future of the Irish Pub – Figures last year showed that a thousand pubs in Ireland have closed since 2007. Bobby is joined by publican and chair of the Licensned Vintners Association, Oliver Hughes, Padraig Cribben CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland and also is Eddie Gershon who is a spokesperson for Wetherspoons – the UK chain who are hoping to cause some disruption in the Irish market.
New Kegs- Kevin Whelehan and Ken Allan are both men who have been in the drinks Industry for years having both held senior positions in Diageo and Britvic. They are putting they’re know-how behind a brand new keg called ‘The Emerald Green Keg and Casks’ which are safer and much better for the environment.
Get your Motoring Running- One of the longest-established driving schools in Ireland is The Irish School of Motoring and I went out to their Premises in Finglas to see how his own driving rates and also to have a go at driving an articulated truck.
Pointy- We’ll be joined by Mark Cummins who is the co-founder of Pointy. He has helped design a small piece of hardware, the Pointy box, that connects between a shops point of sale equipment and its barcode scanner.
Why the National Spatial Strategy Failed- I caught up with Professor Rob Kitchin from Maynooth University while he was at the MacGill Summer School, he told me all about National Spatial Strategy – and were it went wrong!
Executive Chair- Paul Dunn is the Head of Sales with Merrion Fleet and he’s our guest. As well as talking all about his business life Paul will be talking about spending a night sleeping rough, because Merrion Fleet are this year’s Shine a Light Sponsor. Focus Ireland asking Business Leaders to sleep out for one night to ‘Shine a Light’ on Homelessness – sending a message of solidarity and hope to people experiencing homelessness in Ireland today.
