http://www.entemp.ie/ Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment - Latest Speeches and Press Releases en-ie Copyright 2004 Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. All rights reserved. webmaster@entemp.ie http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100312.htm The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., today (Friday, 12 March 2010) launched a call for proposals to be funded under the new ¤20 million Labour Market Activation Fund. The Tánaiste has put the ¤20 million fund in place to stimulate innovation in the provision of training and activation measures for jobseekers. The call for proposals is open to all providers, including those in the public, private, community and voluntary sectors and is targeted at assisting some 3,500 jobseekers this year. The places to be made available through successful applicant providers are to be in addition to the 145,000 training and activation places already being funded this year through the Tánaiste’s Department. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100310.htm Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Mary Coughlan T.D. today (10th March 2010), provided a welcome ¤56m boost to companies determined to succeed and grow in the Smart Economy. Conceived by her Department as part of the Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Competence Centres are being delivered jointly by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Clusters of companies will work together to overcome common research challenges and drive opportunities for innovation, growth and jobs. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100309.htm Today (Tuesday 9 March 2010) the Minister for Trade and Commerce, Billy Kelleher TD, announced that the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, has supported the establishment of 73 new high potential start-up companies (HPSUs) in 2009. These young companies are an integral part of the Government’s blue print for the Smart Economy. They will create over 900 new jobs over the next three years, bringing total employment in these businesses to almost 1500. Total sales over the same period are expected to reach ¤600m, with exports accounting for over 80% of this figure. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100305.htm The Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, T.D, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today (Friday, 5th March, 2010), published the latest set of composite figures from returns of Government Departments on payments made to their respective business suppliers. The figures cover the last Quarter of 2009. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100304.htm Mr. Billy Kelleher, T.D., Minister for Trade and Commerce, today (Thursday 4th March 2010) performed the official opening of a new ¤1.6m leading edge R&D operation of high performance aviation and industrial repair service provider, PAS Technologies, in Cork. The investment is supported by Government through IDA Ireland and is anticipated to create 10 high-value positions, with recruitment already underway at the operation. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100303b.htm Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation, met today, March 3rd 2010, with Prof. Enric Banda, President of Euroscience, to mark the formal commencement of preparations to host the European City of Science in Dublin in 2012. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100303a.htm Thank you Cathaoirleach. I want to make it clear at the outset that job creation in this country is at the top of this Government’s agenda. It is the driving force behind so much of our work in stabilising our public finances and getting our banking system working again. It is the reason why, in a time of significant current budget deficit, we are continuing to invest so heavily in our capital programme, in building necessary infrastructure and investing so much in enterprise, research and development. The challenge of the Live Register figures is one that this Government is working hard to overcome. We are conscious that people across the country want to know that we are taking the action necessary to ensure that Ireland is best positioned when this period of economic turmoil comes to an end. Indeed, if we have been remiss in relation to anything, then it is in terms of getting the message out to the public about what we are doing. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100303.htm The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan, TD, announced today (Wednesday 3 March 2010) that leading Australian healthcare company Probiotec Limited is to establish its European manufacturing headquarters in Dundalk, Co Louth where it will produce its range of weight management and other food products. This investment is expected to create 70 new jobs and generate sales of over ¤30m over the next three years. The facility will be the strategic production centre for Probiotec to drive their continued growth in the European market. It is a highly significant investment for Probiotec and reaffirms Ireland’s reputation for excellence in the food ingredient sector and as a primary location of choice for international food companies. http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100302.htm Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D., today (Tuesday 2nd March 2010) launched ‘Horizon 2020’, IDA Ireland’s strategic blueprint for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland in the coming decade. She said this initiative is an integral part of the Government’s Smart Economy policy noting that, “Within the Irish economy, foreign direct investment has been, and will continue to be, a catalyst for our national prosperity. FDI companies create hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs, both for the employees of the investing companies and in the firms, including indigenous firms, that provide them with goods and services. Securing such investments can also play a pivotal role in rejuvenating part of a city, a town or region where employment opportunities are limited.” http://www.entemp.ie/press/2010/20100301a.htm Speaking at EU Competitiveness Council in Brussels today (Monday, 1 March 2010), the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., said that in its new strategy for jobs and growth, EUROPE 2020, the Union must learn from the failings and flaws of its predecessor, the Lisbon Agenda.