Ministers Humphreys and Breen announce publication of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2018

Dublin, Ireland, 20 July Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Pat Breen TD, Minister with responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection today announced the publication of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2018. This follows Government approval for publication of the Bill at Cabinet last week….

Minister Humphreys launches public consultation on gift voucher fees

Dublin, Ireland, July 19th — The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys T.D., today launched a public consultation on gift voucher fees. This follows her announcement on June 12th that the Government had approved the General Scheme of the Unfair Contract Terms (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018, which proposes a minimum lifespan of five…

European Commission releases online test tool and questionnaire for Exporters

Commission Rules of Origin Questionnaire and Test Tool   The European Commission has released an online test tool and questionnaire, aimed at exporters, that has been designed to give information to operators and to help address their needs in relation to Rules of Origin.   The below link gives exporters access to the anonymous questionnaire…

Annual Report Reveals 15,000 Irish SMEs Availed of Upskilling in 2017

Annual Report Reveals 15,000 Irish SMEs Availed of Upskilling in 2017

Skillnet Ireland Annual Report reveals 15,000 Irish SMEs availed of upskilling and training in 2017   94% of the member companies that benefited from investment in training through Skillnet Ireland were SMEs Skillnet Ireland Chairperson warns of ever-widening productivity gap between indigenous SMEs and the multi-nationals based in Ireland 6% of the 240,000 SMEs registered…

University of Limerick Seeks Companies for its Cooperative Education Programme

The University of Limerick’s Cooperative Education programme (or undergraduate placement) is a core element of all undergraduate degrees. As part of the programme, all students, regardless of discipline, undertake relevant work experience normally of eight months duration. About 1,600 students are placed on CoOp every year, with about 30% placed internationally. This makes it one…

Chambers Ireland Launches Pre Budget 2019 Submission

Chambers Ireland launched its Pre Budget 2019 Submission, recommending that Government use Budget 2019 as an opportunity to think strategically about how we can future-proof our economy and make the best use of today’s prosperity in preparing for the threats facing Ireland on an international stage.   Speaking at the Chamber Chief Executives’ Forum in…

Element Six to showcase Lean benefits at Shannon Chamber briefing

Element Six to showcase Lean benefits at Shannon Chamber briefing

By adopting Lean methodologies and tools, enterprises can achieve significant improvements in competitiveness, according to Stephen Linnane, HR Manager with Shannon-based Element Six. Mr Linnane was speaking ahead of a Breakfast Briefing on Lean systems organised by Shannon Chamber to be held at Shannon Airport House, Shannon Free Zone on Thursday next, July 19 at…

Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD launches the new SME Credit Guarantee Scheme

Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD launches the new SME Credit Guarantee Scheme

Dublin, Ireland, July 10th — Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD today formally launched the revised SME Credit Guarantee Scheme, joined by Suzanne Sweeney, Head of Lending, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI); Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking with AIB; Michael Lauhoff, Director…

Minister Ring launches call for proposals under new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Supports, which will start at €500,000, will strengthen rural communities and economies and improve quality of life The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, T.D., today launched the first call for proposals under the Government’s new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.  The Fund will provide €1 billion in investment over the next 10 years to support…

Have you any views on EU-Canada Trade Agreement?

Have you any views on EU-Canada Trade Agreement? A new EU-Canada trade deal, called CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) was provisionally implemented last September. The EU Commission’s Trade Department, which is responsible for EU policy on trade with countries beyond the EU’s borders, put together an expert group to discuss trade matters earlier this…