APRIL 2011
Shannon Partnership To Create 170 Jobs
170 jobs are to be created in Co Clare in two companies who will design and manufacture protective coverings for mobile phones and other hand held devices.
US company Zagg, which is headquartered in Utah, is to base its European expansion out of the Shannon Free Zone with the creation of 40 jobs. Local company Cregg will create the remainder of the jobs, primarily in manufacturing.
Zagg makes transparent films to cover screens and fashion-savvy covers and other protective coverings to keep devices such as mobile phones and iPads new looking.
It is setting up a design, administration and sales and marketing at Shannon which will employ 40 people. It has contracted local outsourcing company Cregg Logistics, a substantial employer in Shannon, to manufacture its products and that company plans to create a further 130 positions.
Zagg says there are many reasons for choosing Shannon, but Ireland's competitive 12.5% corporation tax rate, 'definitely sealed the deal'.
Zagg hopes to more than double the 170 jobs being announced today by the end of 2014. Zagg had a turnover of $76m last year, having doubled its turnover every year since it was formed in 2005. It is listed on the Nasdaq in New York.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Richard Bruton, says today's announcement shows there are still many positives to the Irish economy.
MARCH 2011
If We Rise To The Challenge, Ireland Can Be The Comeback Economy Of Europe
Over the past 24 months, developments in Ireland have diminished our international reputation and consequently, international commentary on Ireland has been largely negative in focus.
In the prevailing doom and gloom, even we ourselves have perhaps lost sight of all that we have going for us and important stories, such as the growing success of Irish companies in worldwide markets, are going untold or ignored both in domestic and international discourse on Ireland.
We have a strongly positive story to tell and it is this: Ireland’s best days lie ahead of us and not behind us. To read the full article, please click here.
Monday 7th March 2011 - Irish Examiner
€4.5m Wave Energy Test Platform to Enhance Ireland's Leading Status
Ireland's reputation as a leader in wave energy technology is being enhanced by a €4.5 million research investment on a test platform being set up in Galway Bay. To read the full article, please click here.
Saturday 5th March 2011 - Irish Examiner
FEBRUARY 2011
Ireland wins battle for EU funds to build efficient energy supply system
Ireland has won its battle to get European Union funds to help build energy infrastructure, linking the country to the rest of Europe for both gas and electricity supplies. To read the full article, please click here.
Monday 7th February 2011 - Irish Examiner
4 Reasons Why Ireland's Roar Will Return
Ireland's stringent austerity measures will almost certainly slow its growth in the coming years. But the country is better positioned than most troubled European nations to grow its way out of the crisis. To read the full article, please click here.
Friday 4th February 2011 - FORTUNE
€10m Venture Capital Fund Aims To Boost Medical Technology Sector
Venture capital firm Kernel Capital has launched a €10 million fund which, it said, is Ireland’s first to focus exclusively on the indigenous medical technology sector. To read the full article, please click here.
Friday 4th February 2011 - Irish Examiner
Confidence Up In Irish Services Sector
Confidence levels and business activity among Irish service industry firms rose in January — with activity advancing at the fastest rate in six months. To read the full article, please click here.
Friday 4th February 2011 - Irish Examiner
Ocean Energy 'Could Deliver 70,000 Jobs To Economy'
JANUARY 2011
Jobs bonanza as 30% of Irish ICT firms already sell via Cloud
Did you know that already 30% of ICT firms in Ireland sell products and services through cloud computing? And in a little under three years this will be closer to half of all ICT firms in Ireland? To read more, please click here.
Friday 28th January 2011 - Silicon Republic
'Green IFSC' may create thousands of jobs, says Taoiseach
The "Green IFSC" has the potential to create about 7,000 new jobs over the next five years, Taoiseach Brain Cowen said yesterday. To read the full article, please click here.
Friday 28th January 2011 - Irish Times
Ireland to top most globalised nations
Ireland is on course to become the most globalised nation on Earth next year and will retain the position until at least 2014, according to Ernst & Young adn the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). To read the full article, please click here.
Wednesday 26th January 2011 - Irish Examiner
Cloud Computing 'could revolutionise economy and create 20,000 jobs
The cloud computing industry has the ability to revolutionise the economy over the next decade in the same manner as the IFSC did over the past 20 years, with nearly 20,000 new jobs a possibility, according to a new story. To read the full article, please click here.
Tuesday 25th January 2011 - Irish Examiner
Aer Arann and Aer Lingus launch new route from Edinburgh to Shannon
Aer Arann and Aer Lingus have announced details of a new direct Shannon to Edinburgh route, from Sunday 27th March 2011 in the latest phase of the franchise agreement between the two airlines. To read the full press release by Shannon Airport, please click here.
Thursday 17th January 2011 - Shannon Airport Press Release
Strong food export growth for Ireland in 2010
Exports of food and drink increased last year by 11% reaching €7.9 billion. Bord Bia says the sector was a major contributor to the economy's strong export performance in 2010. To read the full article, please click here.
Wednesday 12th January 2011 - RTE News
Ireland has 7th 'freest economy'
Ireland is the world's seventh most economically free country according to a new report. To read the full article, please click here.
Wednesday 12th January 2011 - Irish Times
Manufacturing to lead recovery
The manufacturing sector returned to strong growth last year - up 15.7% - with experts saying it will help lead the economic recovery. To read the full article, please click here.
Wednesday 12th January 2011 - Irish Examiner
Businesses are finding out that Facebook could be their fortune
With over 500 million people on Facebook, businesses are now using it as part of their integrated marketing strategy. "Where marketing once was about talking at consumers, it’s now about talking with consumers" and this is why Facebook should be one of the main marketing tools for every business. To read the full story, please click here.
Friday 7th January 2011 - Irish Times
Aer Lingus announces new Shannon/London Gatwick service
Aer Lingus has announced its decision to establish a new daily service from Shannon to London Gatwick from March 27th 2011. The service will start at 6.50am from Gatwick arriving in Shannon at 8.15am. The return-leg from Shannon departs at 9am arriving in Gatwick at 10.25am. For more information, please click here.
Thursday 6th January 2011 - Shannon Airport Press Release
Exports to exceed €170bn, predicts trade body
The value of exports from the Republic is expected to top €170 billion this year, according to estimates released by one business body yesterday. To read full article, please click here.
Thursday 6th January 2011 - Irish Times
Irish Exporters report record sales for 2010
Last year saw the value of Irish exports reach €161bn, which is the highest figure for export sales ever recorded. To read the full article, please click here.
Wednesday 5th January 2011 - RTE News
