This week on Taking Stock Susan Hayes Culleton talks to Harry Halem who is Senior Research Fellow in the National Security Unit at Policy Exchange and is the author of a controversial paper that claims Ireland has reached its peak and other countries need to take note!

Susan also looks at how the global 'chocolate' market is changing due to pressure on cocoa farmers when she talks to Dr. Kristy Leissle, Founder & CEO of African Cocoa Marketplace.

Plus, with the longest government shutdown ever taking place in the US, Susan talks to Will Hodgson of the FT in Washington about what it's doing to the world's biggest economy.