We’re in the final full week of January. So we have a fair idea of whether the mild uptick in the European economy has continued into the new year. Ireland - by most measures appears to have avoided the economic malaise that many had feared 6 months ago - despite soaring inflation, an oil price shock, and a technology Winter. And that doesn't even mention rapidly rising interest rates and a war on the European continent.

So how well placed are we for the coming year? To discuss with Joe was Dan O’Brien a distinguished journalist, author, and economist who runs the formidable think tank the International Institute for European Affairs and Simon McKeever is the head of the Irish Exporters Association.