Tag Archives: European Commission

A public seminar entitled European Economic Policy – What’s in it for Ireland? will be held at Glór in Ennis on Wednesday night next. This event, which is being organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland, will feature presentations from Stephen Kinsella of the University of Limerick and Seamus Coffey from University College Cork. The panel will aim to shed light on new EU economic governance rules and what lies in store for Ireland’s economy. Speaking ahead of the seminar, Barbara Nolan, head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said, “Ireland is now well on the road to recovery. The economy is again growing and creating jobs. This seminar in Ennis seeks to explain how new EU economic governance rules support policy making in Ireland and seek to ensure that the recovery is sustainable and socially inclusive. Those who attend will have an opportunity to hear from the experts, but also to ask questions.” During the Q&A session, …

A SHANNON firm is to benefit under an EU initiative which will deliver €3 billion to small to medium enterprises (SMEs). AltraTecch Ltd, based at Ballymurtagh business park, is one of 155 small companies from 21 countries, including 10 in Ireland, that will be first to receive €50,000 to finance feasibility studies for their projects. The projects can also benefit from up to three days of business coaching and after that, their projects may be considered for further financial support from the Commission worth up to €2.5 million. AltraTech is to receive funding for their innovative development of a 30-minute on-site DNA test kit for food-authenticity testing. Speaking about the project, AltraTech CEO, Tim Cummins said, “Food samples currently have to be sent to a lab for DNA species testing, and it takes 4-6 days to get results. Our on-site DNA test eliminates this delay, and helps food processors and retailers to test food authenticity quickly in their plants or …

The Competition Authority is to investigate a complaint from Clare TD Michael McNamara about Irish regulations that restrict the export of live cattle by boat. McNamara had previously complained in the Dáil that the Irish regulations governing the transport of live animals posed an unnecessary barrier to trade in live animals and were contrary to EU free competition. Deputy McNamara said that because of falling beef prices in Irish farming, he has complained to the European Commission and to the Competition Authority that the licensing of boats from Ireland servicing the live cattle trade is far stricter than those applying in other EU countries and that boats licensed in other EU member states could not operate in Ireland. “I am very pleased that the Competition Authority will examine this situation. In the last Dáil session, I tabled a parliamentary question asking how many boats were licensed to take cattle to Libya and the Minister [ for Agriculture]  very proudly told me …