24/07/08: Enterprise Ireland will hold its second annual National Innovation Forum at Croke Park in Dublin on September 11. 23/07/08: Seasonally adjusted exports increased by 7% in May relative to April 2008, while imports increased by 3%, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 22/07/08: The slowdown in the Irish residential property market is not about to let up any time soon, according to the latest NCB Residential Survey. 22/07/08: A new mortgage service provider is looking to put more pressure on traditional mortgage brokers with the launch of a new 'no fee' online comparison site. 21/07/08: The training and certification body of the Irish Computer Society, ICS Skills, has secured 70% funding for employees and the self-employed for its Equalskills computer training programme. 17/07/08: Independent electricity Transmission System Operator and Market Operator in the wholesale electricity trading system EirGrid released their annual report for 2007. 17/07/08: Airline Ryanair is temporarily closing operations at seven airports from 4/11/2008 to 19/12/2008. 15/07/08: No-frills airline Ryanair has announced plans to cut back on the number of flights flying in and out of Dublin Airport during the winter due to the rising costs. 15/07/08: There was a sharp fall in both the value and volume of retail sales in Ireland during May, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 14/07/08: Davy, the stockbroker and wealth manager, is to lay off up to 15% of its staff due to the downturn in stock markets

This Weeks Irish Business News

14/07/08: As of the close of business on Tuesday, July 15, AIB's lending and deposit rates will change. 14/07/08: Ulster Bank's purchasing managers' index (PMI) registered a survey low for the third month running in June with new orders contracting at a record pace. 11/07/08: The number of firms going into voluntary liquidation rose by 76% in the opening six months of this year, according to figures released by Farrell Grant Sparks. 10/07/08: The annual rate of inflation crept back up to 5% in June from 4.7% in May, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 09/07/08: Bank of Ireland Business Banking has released its latest Business Start-up Barometer, which tracks the number of business start-ups throughout the nation. 09/07/08: Asking prices for property are at their lowest level since May 2006, according to the latest report published by the property website Daft.ie. 07/07/08: According to a survey released by the Small Firms Association 13% of small businesses say that labour costs are their number one problem. Other top concerns included inflation (11%), energy costs (9.7%), skill shortages (9.6%), and increasing legislation on businesses (8.6%). 04/07/08: The number of people on the Live Register rose to 5.7% in June, with another 10,100 joining the list, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 03/07/08: The European Central Bank has hiked its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.25%, as expected. 03/07/08: Activity in the Irish services sector contracted at a record rate in June, according to the latest NCB services PMI. 02/07/08: The Government has posted a deficit of €5.648 billion for the first half of 2008, amid a major drop in tax receipts. 02/07/08: The director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan, has said that the 30% increase in the level of redundancies in the first half of 2008, versus the comparable period in 2007, show clearly the pressures on all businesses within the economy. 01/07/08: The doom and gloom surrounding the Irish economy deepened further today with the release of disappointing manufacturing and consumer sentiment figures. 01/07/08: The average price of a second-hand property in Ireland fell by 4.5% during the second quarter of 2008, compared to a price reduction of 1.9% in the first quarter of 2008, according to Sherry FitzGerald, Ireland's largest estate agents. 30/06/08: Ireland's gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 1.5% during the first three months of 2008, according to figures released by the Central Statistics office (CSO). 30/06/08: Irish telecommunications company Smart Telecom has concluded a multi-million euro deal with ESB Telecoms (ESBT) enabling Smart Telecom to provide high capacity Next Generation broadband services throughout Ireland. 26/06/08: The opening four months of 2008 saw only a marginal rise in the number of tourists visiting Ireland, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 25/06/08: The average price paid for a house in Ireland fell by 1.2% in May according to the latest edition of the permanent tsb / ESRI House Price Index. 25/06/08: The number of new private cars licensed in May this year was down 39.8% on the same month last year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 24/06/08: Enterprise Ireland said that its client companies reported exports of €13.181 billion in 2007. 24/06/08: The The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has forecast that Ireland will this year experience its first recession since 1986. A hike in interest rates by the European Central bank (ECB) next month will prolong the woes of the Irish housing market, according to NCB Stockbrokers. 20/06/08: The number of planning permissions approved in the first quarter of 2008 was 9.5% lower than during the same three month period last year. A survey by the National Consumers Agency has found that shoppers in the Republic are paying almost a third more for thier groceries that those in the North. 17/06/08: Bloxham Stockbrokers has forecast that the Government is likely to overshoot its budget deficit target for the year by more than €1.5 billion. The likelihood of the European Central Bank raising interest rates next month increased after Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office, said that inflation hit a new record high of 3.7% year-on-year in May. 16/06/08: Irish businesses both north and south of the border remain optimistic about the outlook for their company over the coming three years, according to the first Annual Report of the Business Monitor published by BT and InterTradeIreland. 13/06/08: The Decorate Life trade fair, aimed at the retail and manufacturing sectors worldwide, will take place at the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre between July 4-8 this year. 13/06/08: The number of people employed in the construction industry fell by 13.8% year-on-year in April this year, according to the Central Statistics office. 13/06/08: NCB Stockbrokers has forecast that the weakness in the Irish labour market will continue over the remainder of 2008. 12/06/08: AIB has announced that it is to raise interest rates on some of its mortgages from the start of next week. 12/06/08: The volume of retail sales decreased by 3.2% in year-on-year in April this year, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said. 12/06/08: The annual rate of inflation increased to 4.7% in May, up from 4.3% in April, according to the Central Statistics Office. 12/06/08: The global credit crisis is likely to see an increase in demand for venture capital by Irish companies according to a study conducted by the Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA). 11/06/08: Malahide-based start-up company Zignals has announced a partnership with Microsoft which will see the Irish firm launch a beta online active trading service for investors. 11/06/08: The number of new homes registered was down 64% in the opening five months of this year. 10/06/08: For the first time ever in Ireland, charities will be given the opportunity to have top level marketing expertise at their disposal at no cost and for no profit. 10/06/08: The number of people seeking unemployment benefit broke through the 200,000 level for the first time this decade in May, according to the latest Live Register figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 09/06/08: The Hibernian Group has launched its new health insurance arm, Hibernian Health 09/06/08: Irish construction firms registered record declines in activity new work and employment in May. 05/06/08: The European Central Bank today kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4%, as widely expected. 05/06/08: The latest Quarterly National Household Survey, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that jobs growth slowed again in the first quarter. 03/06/08: Consultancy firm Mazars has warned that the recovery in financial markets may take up to three years. 03/06/08: FinanceOne has launched IrishDeposits.ie, a new website aimed at helping consumers find the best savings options available in the market 03/06/08: Activity in the Irish manufacturing sector contraced for the sixth consecutive month in May, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). 30/05/08: The latest House Price Index from Permanent TSB/ESRI shows that the average price paid for a house fell at the sharpest pace since the start of the year in April. 30/05/08: The number of new cars sold in April fell by 17.9% year on year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 30/05/08: Figures from the Central Bank show that the growth rate in residential mortgage lending slumped to its lowest rate since May 1992 in April this year. 28/05/08: Davy Stockbrokers has forecast that Ireland's economic growth will fall to 2% in 2009. 27/05/08: Ireland's largest Bookmaker, Paddy Power, has expanded into the Northern Irish retail sector with the acquisition of McGranaghan Racing, a leading independent bookmaker in the Greater Belfast area. 27/05/08: AIB said it expects to see a reduction in the number of new business formations this year, dropping back to 12,000 in 2008 from close to 18,000 in 2007. 21/05/08: Tanya Airey, managing director of Sunway Travel, has been named Businesswoman of the Year in the annual awards scheme organised by Image magazine. Ocean Advertising has launched a new unique charity initiative to coinside with its 5th Birthday celebrations which will offer 5 Irish charities the chance to win free creative campaign which will include 48 sheet poster sites in Dublin city over the coming months. 16/05/08: The prospect of the European Central Bank raising interest rates before the end of the year has led to an increase in longer term fixed rates. 16/05/08: Baguette Express, the Scotland-based healthy snacks franchise chain, is about to enter the Irish market and has set itself the ambitious target of opening 30-plus outlets over the next two years. 16/05/08: The volume of retail sales decreased by 2.1% year-on-year in March as a result of a continued slump in car sales. 15/05/08: Dublin-based digital marketing agency Interactive Return has been acquired by French multinational media company Publicis Groupe Media (PGM) with immediate effect. The acquisition price was not disclosed. 15/05/08: The number of persons employed in the construction sector decreased by 11.7% in March, compared to the same month in 2007. 14/05/08: The total value of new mortgage lending was down 24.3% in the first quarter of 2008 on the previous quarter, according to the latest the Irish Banking Federation (IBF)/PwC Mortgage Market Profile. 14/05/08: Irish law firm Mason Hayes+Curran has announced a 14% increase in turnover to €32m in 2007, up from €28m in 2006. 14/05/08: The ESRI has insisted that the Irish economy remains resilient and has the potential to grow at around 3.75% a year over the coming decade, despite significant short-term problems. 14/05/08: The number of overseas visits by Irish Residents increased by 13% to 7,713,000 in 2007 compared to 6,848,000 in 2006, figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. 13/05/08: The percentage of firms reporting vacancies in the private sector fell by 3 percentage points to 7% in April - the lowest the economy-wide vacancy rate has been since August 2005, according to the FAS/ESRI Employment and Vacancies Survey. 12/05/08: Activity in the construction sector slowed markedly in April, according to the Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). 12/05/08: Just over half (51%) of all respondents to a new employment survey have indicated that they are more worried about job security than 12 months ago. 12/05/08: BizSales Business Brokers, in conjunction with Focus Business Advisers and Financial Engineering Network have organised a free seminar on "grooming your business for sale, selling it and enjoying the hard earned proceeds". 09/05/08: Diageo has confirmed that it will continue to brew Guinness at its historic St. James's Gate brewery in Dublin, but said that its breweries in Kilkenny and Dundalk are to close with a new brewery to be built on a site close to Dublin. 08/05/08: The new Peak Health fitness facility in Bray, Co Wicklow will be officially opened next week by Olympic gold medalist Ronnie Delany. 08/05/08: The European Central Bank (ECB) has voted to keep its key benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4%, as expected. 08/05/08: The annual rate of inflation fell sharply to 4.3% in April from 5.0% in March, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 08/05/08: Publishing company Mediacontact.ie has launched an updated version of its Irish Media Contacts Directory. 07/05/08: Bmi has launched a new company rewards product allowing SME's travelling frequently with the airline to benefit from an innovative new points system which rewards companies collectively for all travel booked by its employees. 07/05/08: Irish IT services company Origina, formerly Unitech Systems, one of Ireland's leading IT services and consulting companies, has announced it is to invest over €3 m and create 60 new jobs in the next two years. 06/05/08: AIB has announced that it is increasing its Surcharge Interest Rate for customers from 9% per annum to 12% per annum for branch loans and overdrafts from 16th June 2008. 06/05/08: Star Alliance, has announced that Star Alliance Company Plus, the loyalty programme for small and medium businesses in Ireland, will be offering double points on all flights departing Ireland until May 31, 2008. 06/05/08: A&L Goodbody has announced the appointment of seven new partners from a wide range of legal practices across the Firm. 06/05/08: The average owner or director of a Small or Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) in Ireland is working two hours a week more than they did in 2004 according to the annual O2 SME Lifestyle Survey. 02/05/08: The average price of a house in Ireland fell by a further 0.7% in March, taking falls for the quarter of 2008 to 2.2%. 02/05/08: The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5% in April according to the seasonally adjusted Live Register, but economists predict that further increases are likely in the months ahead. 01/05/08: Irish investor activity in the commercial property market was very limited during the period January to March of this year, with only €52.5m of deals concluded, according to the latest bulletin from the property advisors, Jones Lang LaSalle. 30/04/08: The value of the National Pensions Reserve Fund dropped by 10.5% in the three months to the end of March as a result of the turmoil in financial markets and the global credit crisis. 29/04/08: ADM Londis has posted a 20% rise in pre tax profits to €6.1m, on a wholesale turnover of €371m (up 4.5%) for the year ended December 31, 2007. 29/04/08: A survey of lump sum investments made by more than 25,000 customers of Irish Life in 2007 shows that the average amount invested was €44,915. 28/04/08: More than half of Ireland's small firms expect to expand their business in 2008, according to the Small Firms Association's Annual Employment Survey. 25/04/08: An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has unveiled the Dublin Airport Authority's masterplan for the development of a €4 billion Dublin Airport City located to the east of Dublin Airport on lands owned by the DAA. 25/04/08: The volume of retail sales fell for the first time in more than four years during February. 24/04/08: Preliminary figures show that Irish exports increased by 4% in February compared to January, while imports decreased by 3%. 24/04/08: Manufacturing prices fell by 4.3% on an annual basis in March, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 23/04/08: Goodbody Stockbrokers has more than halved its GDP growth forecast for the full year as a result of what it refers to as "an unhelpful cocktail of factors". 22/04/08: Just over five million passengers passed through Dublin airport in the first three months of 2008, the Dublin Airport Authority said. 21/04/08: Business telecoms provider Magnet Business has announced the acquisition of Irish internet telephony provider, Glantel, for an undisclosed sum. 18/04/08: Dublin-based spread betting company WorldSpreads has confirmed plans to list on the Irish Stock Exchange next month. 17/04/08: Asking prices for residential property in Ireland dropped by almost one and a half per cent nationally in the first quarter of the year, according to the MyHome.ie NCB Property Barometer. 16/04/08: The number of firms in the private sector reporting vacancies remained unchanged in March from February, according to the FAS ESRI Employment and Vacancies Report. 15/04/08: The number of new businesses started up in Ireland during the first quarter of the year has fallen by 20% to 4,019, according to the Bank of Ireland Business Banking Start-up Barometer. 15/04/08: Whether you're embarking on your career, considering changing employment or returning to the workforce, job hunters will be interested in the FÁS Jobs Ireland Munster 2008 on the 18th and 19th April in Nemo Rangers Complex, Douglas, Cork. 14/04/08: Activity in the construction industry continued to deteriorate in March, according to Ulster Bank's Construction Purchasing Managers Index. 11/04/08: The number of persons employed in the construction industry fell by 11.1% in February this year, compared to the same month last year. 10/04/08: The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate on hold at 4% as expected and hinted that rates won't be changing any time soon. 10/04/08: The annual rate of inflation edged up to 5.0% in March from 4.8% in February, due to increasing energy, fuel and transport prices, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said. 09/04/08: Employment agency FAS has forecast that the unemployment rate in Ireland will rise to 5.5% this year, before rising to 6.6% in 2009. 08/04/08: Asking prices for houses fell in most parts of the country in the first quarter of the year, according to a new analysis by Daft.ie. 07/04/08: Deloitte, the leading business advisory firm, has today launched the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards programme, in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland). 07/04/08: The average pedestrian footfall on Ireland's Top 50 high streets during the first quarter was down by over 17% year-on-year, the latest High Street Productivity Review report carried out by CB Richard Ellis and CREST Retail Excellence Ireland shows. 04/04/08: There was an increase of 12,000 people signing on for unemployment assistance in March and the unemployment rate is now at 5.5%. 03/04/08: Activity in the Irish services sector contracted for the second month running during March as new orders fell at their sharpest pace since 2001. 03/04/08: The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has criticised the Irish Planning Institute's (IPI) call on local authorities to further significantly increase their development contribution charges. 03/04/08: The annual Ernst & Young Fraud Risk Management Survey shows that despite growing action by businesses to tackle fraud, with almost all respondents undertaking some sort of review of internal controls, only 45% have undertaken a Fraud Risk Assessment in the last year. 02/04/08: On joining the oneworld airline alliance on 1 April 2007, the nine partner airlines brought more than 65,000 passengers on board Malév. This has generated nearly HUF 3.5 billion in extra revenue for the Hungarian national airline. 02/04/08: Broadband and web hosting provider Digiweb is offering a three month introductory half price offer for new subscribers to its home Metro broadband and phone service. 02/04/08: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today announced that he will tender his resignation to President Mary McAleese on May 6, 2008, amid mounting pressure about his personal finances. 01/04/08: Sherry FitzGerald said that the average price of a second-hand property in Ireland fell by 1.9% during the first quarter of 2008, compared to a price reduction of 2.4% in the final quarter of 2007. 01/04/08: Inflation in the eurozone accelerated to 3.5% this month, it's highest level in almost 16 years, Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office in Luxembourg, said. 31/03/08: Almost three quarters (72%) of small business expect to grow their business over the next year despite the gloomy outlook for the Irish economy, according to a new survey. 28/03/08: Ryanair has announced plans to close its Dublin Telesales Operation (Ryanair Direct) at the end of May, which may lead to up to 40 redundancies. 27/03/08: The cost of buying a house in Ireland fell by 0.8% in February compared to January, taking falls in the first two months of the year to 1.5%, the latest permanent tsb / ESRI House price index shows. 27/03/08: Irish technology companies raised €84.4m from investors in the fourth quarter of 2007 despite the fact that most Irish venture capital funds were raising new capital, according to the Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) Techpulse survey. 26/03/08: Smart Telecom is looking to shake-up the broadband market with the launch of a suite of high speed business packages aimed at SMEs and corporate firms. 26/03/08: The value of Irish pension scheme assets dropped by 1.3% during 2007 to €86.6 billion from €87.7 billion at the end of 2006, according to the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) annual asset allocation survey. 26/03/08: A leading economist has forecast that the Irish economy will grow by 3% this year and by 4% in 2009. 20/03/08: The Irish economy grew by 5.3% last year as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to figures released by the Central Statistics office (CSO). 20/03/08: The number of firms reporting vacancies in the private sector fell to 10% in February - its lowest level since August 2005, according to thee FAS/ESRI Employment and Vacancies Survey. 19/03/08: IBM is to establish Europe's first Cloud Computing Centre at its Innovation Campus at Mulhuddart. 18/03/08: The value of Ireland's private housing stock fell by 4% in 2007, according to the latest Halifax Review of the Value of the Irish Housing Stock report. 14/03/08: The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has forecast that Ireland's GNP growth will slow to 1.6% this year, which would be the slowest pace of GNP growth since 1988. 14/03/08: Wavin, a leading European supplier of plastic pipe systems and solutions, has announced plans to downsize its operations in Ireland with up to 50 redundancies. 13/03/08: The annual rate of inflation rose sharply in February to 4.8%, up from 4.3% in January, according to new figures. 13/03/08: Dublin-based gourmet jelly beans producer Aran Candy has picked up the top SFA National Small Business Award 2008. 12/03/08: The volume of retail sales increased by 3% year-on-year in January, according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 12/03/08: NCB Stockbrokers has forecast that the Irish economy will grow by 3.5% this year and said that any risks to this prediction are to the upside. 11/03/08: The Irish Home Builders' Association (IHBA) said it is confident that improving sentiment in the housing market will encourage higher residential construction activity than recent statistics have suggested. 11/03/08: US wireless technology developer Qualcomm Incorporated has announced the acquisition of Dublin-based Xiam Technologies Limited, which provides wireless content targeting solutions. 07/03/08: The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose to its highest level since August 1999 in February, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 07/03/08: Hopes that the property market in Ireland might be stabilised by interest rate cuts have been dashed by the European Central Bank 06/03/08: A leading economist has forecast that Ireland's GDP is likely to grow by 2.3% this year due to a tougher economic outlook. 05/03/08: The number of persons in employment in Ireland last year grew by 3.2%, despite a 2% drop in the number of people employed in construction, according to the Quarterly National Household Survey. 05/03/08: Sentiment in the commercial property market has fallen across all sectors according to a new survey. 04/03/08: Tax revenues slumped through February, with a fall in Exchequer VAT receipts signalling alarm bells for finance minister Brian Cowen. 04/03/08: Commercial cleaning company SanServ has announced the expansion of its brand with the launch of a nationwide franchising programme. 03/03/08: Smart Telecom has launched a new range of high-speed broadband products for the residential market, ranging from 4Mb up to 15Mb. 03/03/08: Teva Pharmaceutical is to create more than 165 new jobs over the next five years at its Waterford-based subsidiary 03/03/08: In the past year 48% of SMEs have introduced measures to tackle the growing burden of energy costs and 62% have introduced measures to tackle waste costs, according to the latest Ulster Bank Business Confidence Survey 03/03/08: National house prices reduced by 0.7% in January of this year - a smaller reduction than was recorded each of the previous three months. 29/02/08: Figures released by the Central Bank show that growth in private sector lending fell to a four-year low in January, as demand for new mortgages plummeted. 28/02/08: The newly refurbished Regency Hotel is hosting corporate hospitality for the forthcoming Ireland vs Wales Six Nations Rugby internationals at Croke Park on March 8 28/02/08: Patent and intellectual property law firm Cruickshank has launched its new 'IP-Free60' service, which offers a free patents and trademarks advice in the form of a one-hour free consultation 28/02/08: The Government has announced €50m in funding through Enterprise Ireland for the development of enterprise in the regions. 28/02/08: Irish software SMEs are being effectively ruled out of taking part in the Irish public procurement process, according to a new survey. 27/02/2008: A new major training initiative for employees of the retail sector has been launched by Minister Micheal Martin. 27/02/08: AIB has introduced an introductory interest rate of 12% on its High Interest Current Accounts (HICA) to new customers who open an account between March 3 to May 2. 26/02/08: Cork based recruitment group Premier has launched a cash bid of around €60m for UK recruitment company Imprint. 25/02/08: The McConnell Group and The AFA Group have merged to create the largest advertising agency in the country, both in terms of staffing and billings. Dublin-based Breaking Gaming Concepts company has won the Docklands Innovation Park Enterprise Awards 2008, a joint initiative of the Bolton Trust and DIT Hothouse. 21/02/08: Corporate Ireland is being encouraged to enter teams of runners, joggers or walkers in a unique Business Challenge which will be incorporated into the Great Ireland Run. 21/02/08: Irish manufacturing prices fell by 3.8% on an annual basis during January, new figures from the Central Statistics Office have revealed. 20/02/08: The growing strength of the euro against sterling is placing Irish food and drink exporters under serious competitive pressure, particularly those with exposure to the UK market, the Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) has warned. 19/02/08: UK-based Parity has won an EU-wide tender to re-develop and maintain Bord Bia's website, extending its six-year relationship with the Irish Food Board 19/02/08: No frills airline Ryanair has slammed Ireland's air traffic controllers over their recent strikes at Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports. 18/02/08: The number of passengers passing through Dublin Airport in January was up 7% on the same month last year to 1.5m, according to the Dublin Airport Authority. 15/02/08: The volume of retail sales recovered markedly in December last year, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 14/02/08: More than half of those have a fixed telephone line in their home subscribe to some for of bundled package, according to a new study. 13/02/08: A total of 158,098 new mortgages were taken out last year to a value of €33.8 billion, the latest in the series of the IBF/PwC Mortgage Market Profile has shown. 12/02/08: The adjustment process currently taking place in the property market is far from over, according to Goodbody Stockbrokers. 11/02/08: Activity in the construction sector fell for the third consecutive month in January. 08/02/08: The number of people employed in the construction industry was down 6.4% year on year in December 2007, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 07/02/08: The annual rate of inflation fell to 4.3% in January from 4.7% in December as a result of the January sales. 07/02/08: The European Central Bank today voted to keep its main interest rate steady at 4%, as expected. 07/02/08: Estate agents in Ireland saw an increase in the level of inquiries and viewings in January compared to the second half of 2007, according to a new survey. 06/02/08: The Government has unveiled a new €60m growth fund to support small and medium enterprises in Ireland. 05/02/08: The Irish services sector grew at its slowest pace for four and a half years in January, according to the latest NCB/NTC purchasing managers' index. 04/02/08: AIB Bank today announced that it is significantly expanding its Better Ireland Programme to include children with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. 04/02/08: Eircom is calling on entrepreneurs to apply for it's €100,000 Web Innovation Fund. 04/02/08: In one of the gloomiest economic forecasts yet, Ulster Bank has predicted that Ireland's GNP will grow by just 2% in 2008. 01/02/08: National house prices fell by 7.3% last year compared to an increase of 11.8% in 2006, according to the 2007 year-end edition of the permanent tsb House Price Index - compiled in association with the ESRI. 01/02/08: The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 4.5% in January from December, according to the CSO. 31/01/08: Finance Bill 2008 contains few new initiatives over those announced in December when Budget 2008 was unveiled, though there is a new tax incentive scheme for caravan parks and camping sites. 30/01/08: Allergan Inc. has announced the phased closure of its manufacturing facility in Arklow, Co. Wicklow which will account for 360 job losses. 30/01/08: Irish investors remain optimistic about the future, despite recent market turmoil, with four in ten planning to make investments over the next one to two years, according to a new survey. 29/01/2008 Bank of Ireland has teamed up with 15 County & City Enterprise Boards to provide countrywide support to early business start-ups with an Enterprise Bus. 29/01/08: Fine Gael has launched a new ten point plan to improve broadband availability and take-up levels in Ireland. 29/01/08: Eircom is to invest €100m in a new 125,000 square foot managed services data centre in Clonshaugh, Co. Dublin. 28/01/08: Ballymore has announced that it is sponsoring the title race at the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown, which adds €600,000 in prize fund value to the festival 28/01/08: Science Foundation Ireland has announced at a board meeting held in Cork that its research commitments have exceeded €1 billion. 28/01/08: Housebuilder McInerney said that the number of house completions in Ireland fell by almost one half in 2007 to 594, down from 1,025 in 2006. 25/01/08: The stage could be set for a stabilisation in house prices in the second half of this year, according to a new report from NCB Stockbrokers. 24/01/08: The Government has launched a revised and simplified Research and Development (R&D) Grant Scheme which it claims will make €500m available to companies across all sectors. 24/01/08: New figures show that Ireland's trade surplus narrowed in November 2007, relative to October, courtesy of a 10% rise in imports and a 3% drop in exports. 23/01/08: The volume of retail sales decreased by 0.6% month on month in November as a result of a marked slowdown in motor trades, new figures show. 22/01/08: The US Federal Reserve has slashed its benchmark interest rate by three quarters of a percent from 4.25% to 3.5% amid yet more declines in global stock markets. 22/01/08: The number of new businesses started up in 2007 was down 2% on the 2006 figure, according to the Bank of Ireland Business Start-up Barometer. 21/10/08: A survey has revealed that 83% of mortgage switchers found it easy to change mortgage providers. 18/01/08: Goodbody Stockbrokers has cut its GDP and GNP growth forecasts for 2008 to 2.3%, from 2.5% previously. The broker said this is mainly on the back of lower export growth assumptions. 18/01/08: Demand for quality Irish seafood increased in 2007, with estimated total sales worth €803m, up 6% on the €778m recorded in 2006, according to the end of year statement of review for the Irish seafood industry from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Irish Sea Fisheries Board. 17/01/08: The annual rate of inflation fell to 4.7% in December, from 55 in November, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). 17/01/08: The number of vacancies across all sectors of the economy decreased by two percentage points to 14% in December, according to the FAS/ESRI Employment and Vacancies Survey. 16/01/08: The number of containers passing through the Port of Cork grew by 8% last year to 200,000, up from 185,000 in 2006. 15/01/08: Malev Hungarian Airlines is offering flights from Dublin to Budapest for as low as €63 return as part of its New Year seat sale. 15/01/08: New figures show that Christmas 2007 was a slower one for Irish retailers with national Footfall Index figures revealing that 2.3% less people visited shopping centres and city stores in December 2007 compared to December 2006. 15/01/08: Ireland continues to have the lowest level of tax and social security as a percentage of total cost of employment at 15.92%, according to a new study. 14/01/08: Irish consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level since in four and a half years in December. 14/01/08: Activity in the construction sector declined significantly in December, according to the latest Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). 11/10/08: The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in December 2007 was up by more than 15,000 when compared to the same month in 2006. 10/01/08: The European Central Bank has kept its main interest rates on hold despite calls for an easing of monetary policy in the euro zone. 10/01/08: A new survey has revealed that workers in Cork are far more concerned about their job security than their counterparts in Dublin. 10/01/08: The balance of power in the Irish property market has shifted from sellers to buyers, according to property website Daft.ie. 09/01/08: The number of international passengers passing through Shannon International Airport in 2007 increased by 6% to 3.1m despite the commencement of the Open Skies agreement. 08/01/08: Tens of thousands of male construction workers face long term unemployment because of their lack of education if the sector goes into serious decline, the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Tom Boland, has warned. 07/01/08: Corporate finance firm CFM Capital has described 2007 as 'a bumper year' for merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Ireland. 07/01/08: The number of jobs created by IDA Ireland backed companies fell by around 2,000 to 9,216 in 2007, according to the organisation's end of year statement. 07/01/08: Almost two thirds of Irish small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are more confident about the overall business climate in Ireland going in to 2008 than they were at this time last year, according to the latest annual O2 Business Confidence Survey. 04/01/08: Fruit distributor Fyffes has raised its profit outlook for the full year 2007 as a result of by favourable exchange rates and higher average selling prices in the second half of the year. 04/01/08: Business confidence in the service sector came under pressure in December, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers' Services Index. 02/01/08: Confidence among SMEs remains high, with over three-quarters of companies across Ireland expecting their own performance in 2008 to be the same or better than in 2007. 02/01/08: Estate agent Sherry FitzGerald said the average price of second-hand houses fell by 10% in Dublin through 2007. 21/12/07: New figures show that exports for January to September increased by 4% when compared to the same period in 2006 20/12/07: AIB has announced increases in mortgage and overdraft rates with effect from 15 January 2008. 20/12/07: A national technology donation programme for non-profit organisations in Ireland has been launched 20/12/07: Global PR firm FD has strengthened its presence in the Irish market with the acquisition of K Capital Source, a four-year-old niche PR company 20/12/2007: The Irish economy grew at a rate of 4.1% in the 12 months to the end of September, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 20/12/07: The ESRI has forecast that economic growth will fall to a 16-year low of 2.3% in 2008 19/12/07: DCC said it has received and accepted an offer to sell its 49% shareholding in Manor Park Homebuilders to Morvest Limited, a Moran family company, for a consideration of €9m 18/12/07: Media group UTV has bought Dublin radio station FM104 from the Communicorp Group for a cash consideration of €52m 18/12/07: Kingspan said that trading in the first 11 months of the year has shown strong growth, but cautioned that challenging market conditions make it difficult to guide for the coming year 17/12/07: The majority of accountants expect the business climate in Ireland to deteriorate in the next year, according to the latest business barometer survey from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Amarach 17/12/07: A new survey shows that financial confidence is holding up in Ireland despite the recent volatility in financial markets 14/12/07: CityJet has confirmed that it is to commence a twice daily service from Shannon Airport to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) on February 4, 2008 13/12/07: The annual rate of inflation increased to 5.0% in November from 4.8% in October, but rents showed signs of levelling off 13/12/07: Convenience foods group Greencore has announced two acquisitions in the UK for a total cost of around £15m (€20.8m) 13/12/07: The M50 Enterprise Programme is calling on budding entrepreneurs in the early stages of starting their own business to sign up to apply 13/12/07: Irish owned technology companies raised €75.4m from investors in the four months to October 2007 according to the latest Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) Techpulse survey 12/12/07: The volume of retail sales increased by 5% in October this year, compared to the same month in 2006, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 12/12//07: Blackrock International Land has announced that it has agreed to purchase a Class A office investment in Amsterdam for a total consideration, including costs, of €25.5m 11/12/07: A survey of estate agents by Merrion Stockbrokers has revealed that purchasers' decisions about buying property have not been affected by the recent Stamp Duty changes 11/12/07: Convenience foods group Greencore has announced that chief executive David Dilger is to retire from his position at the end of March 2008 10/12/07: Aer Lingus has commenced operations from its new Belfast base its first ever base outside the Republic of Ireland 10/12/07: Activity in the Irish construction industry continued to contract in November for the sixth consecutive month, according to the Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers index 07/12/07: The number of people claiming unemployment benefit increased by 5,000 in November to 169,700, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 07/12/07: Housebuilder Abbey has posted a 19% drop in pre-tax profits to €18.20m for the six months ended 31 October 2007, down from €22.57m in the same period last year 06/12/07: The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at 4%, as expected, for the sixth consecutive month 06/12/07: Michael Barry, managing director of Barry Fitzwilliam Maxxium, the independent drinks distributor, has been named as Cork Business Person of the Year for 2007. 06/12/07: Renewable energy company Airtricity has signed a new €1.5m green energy contract with Cork City Council for a number of their premises including their Head office, City Hall, pump houses and the Jack Lynch Tunnel. 05/12/07: Minister Brian Cowen's fourth budget has been given a general welcome by the business community 05/12/07: The failure to adequately promote renewable energy in Budget 2008 will cost Ireland in terms of lost investment and further carbon penalties, according to the Wind Energy representative group 05/12/07: The reform of the stamp duty system announced in this year's Budget has been welcomed by the Construction Industry Federation and the IAVI 05/12/07: The director general of IBEC, Turlough O'Sullivan, welcomed Minister Brian Cowen's budget as being responsible and prudent but called for a new Commission on Taxation 05/12/07: In opening his Budget Speech this afternoon, Finance Minister Brian Cowen said the the fundamentals of our economy are still good and said that his budget would maintain a sound and sensible fiscal policy. 05/12/07: Average hourly earnings in the financial sector rose by 11.7% in the year to the end of the second quarter this year. 05/12/07: Business activity in the service sector increased at the slowest rate for almost four-and-a-half years in November as new order growth softened, according to the NCB Purchasing Managers' Services Index. 04/12/07: Online savings and investment bank RaboDirect has announced a new fixed term rate of 4.50% for balances on deposit for a one month period. 03/12/07: The economic health of the Irish manufacturing sector improved moderately in November, according to the seasonally adjusted NCB Purchasing Managers' Index. 03/12/07: The mortgage market has continued to soften in recent months, according to the winter 2007 IIB/IMAF mortgage market survey. 30/11/07: Healthcare company Baxter International is to invest more than €75m over a six year period as part of a strategic programme to introduce new technologies and higher value products to its manufacturing plants in Castlebar and Swinford, Co. Mayo. 30/11/07: Bank of Ireland has launched an online training course especially designed for those considering starting or already managing a small business. 29/11/2007: International Securities Trading Corporation (ISTC), the lender of capital to financial institutions, has announced the appointment of an interim Examiner to allow the company sufficient time to negotiate with its creditors. 29/11/07: The number of people visiting shopping centres and city stores has fallen sharply in the year so far, according to figures from information services company Experian. 29/11/07: Consumer sentiment sank to a four year low in November, according to the latest overall IIB Bank/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index. 29/11/07: Property and private equity investment group Quinlan Private is to form a 50/50 joint-venture partnership with Hungarian real estate development company, SCD Group, to lead a €450m real-estate development programme at Lake Balaton in Hungary. 28/11/07: Anglo Irish Bank has reported a 46% rise in pre tax profits to €1.243 billion for the year to the end of September 2007. 27/11/07: A total of 40,992 new mortgages to the value of almost €9 billion were issued during the third quarter of 2007, according to the latest IBF/PwC Mortgage Market Profile 27/11/07: Eighteen Irish companies have achieved a ranking in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. 26/11/07: Mobile phone services provider Zamano has conditionally agreed to acquire Dublin-based Red Circle in a reverse takeover for a sum of up to €24.4m 22/11/07: AIB today announced a new two-month fixed term deposit account available exclusively to business and agricultural customers wishing to maximise the return on their seasonal cash surpluses. 22/11/2007: The ongoing sell-off of Irish equities has left some Dublin stockbrokers bemused at what's going on, though others have been number crunching to try and spot a floor. 21/11/07: Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has today announced that it has cut its two, three, and five year fixed mortgage rates, and introduced a new one year fixed rate, which is the best available on the market. The rates are available through the broker channel. 20/11/07: Irish builders and trade professionals are now embracing the internet in large numbers to help boost flagging demand for their products and services according to figures from Onlinetradesmen.com 19/11/07: New media publishing firm iText has launched Mobi-Cards, what it calls "the first Christmas cards for mobile phones" 19/11/07: Smart Telecom has launched a 12-month free broadband offer as it attempts to re-establish itself in the residential market 16/11/07: Mercer's Total Remuneration Survey (TRS) has reported an increase in Base Pay levels for 2008. 16/11/2007: Lulu O'Sullivan, founder of Ireland's largest online gift delivery company 4giftsdirect.com, has been named Internet Entrepreneur of the Year in the annual awards scheme organised by the Irish Internet Association. 16/11/07: There were no days lost to industrial disputes in the third quarter of 2007, according to the central Statistics Office (CSO) 15/11/07: C&C has announced a major re-organisation and cost reduction programme which will result in the loss of 150 jobs across the group 15/11/07: The number of persons in employment grew by almost 68,000 or 3.3% in the year to the third quarter of 2007 bringing the total in employment to 2,140,900, according to the latest Quarterly National Household Survey from the Central Statistics Office 15/11/07: There was a slight decrease in economy-wide vacancies in October, according to the latest FAS/ESRI employment and vacancies survey 14/11/07: Bank of Ireland has posted a 24% rise in pre-tax profits to €1.091 billion for the first six months of the year, up from €879m in the first half last year 13/11/07: AIB has announced a new fixed interest motor loan rate of 6.99% APR for loans between €20,000 and €59,999 as part of its car finance fortnight 13/11/07: An independent survey of European small businesses (less than 20 employees) has discovered that 82% of Irish small businesses are taking advantage of web-based services and business applications 13/11/07: Vodafone Ireland has announced the acquisition of fixed line voice and broadband services provider Perlico 13/11/2007: The Director of Corporate Enforcement has tried and failed to get the Supreme Court to decide whether Jim Flavin, cjairman of DCC plc, should be disqualified as a director. 13/11/07: Savenet Solutions has launched Ireland's first hosted Disaster Recovery (DR) solution, ResurrectIT, specifically tailored for the SME market 13/11/07: Limerick-based Calibration Technology Ltd (CTL) has became the first dedicated pipette calibration laboratory in Ireland to achieve ISO 17025 accreditation 12/11/07: Accounting Ireland has been enlisted by Ireland West Airport Knock to overhaul its business and accounting system as part of a major investment to achieve the goals set out in the airport's 'Vision 2020' strategy 12/11/07: Providence, the AIM and IEX listed oil and gas exploration company, has announced that it has entered into a new farm-in agreement for the AJE Field, located in OML113, offshore Nigeria. 09/11/07: Head of marketing at Permanent TSB, Niall O'Grady, has been named as Marketer of the Year for 2007 09/11/07: House prices are likely to fall by 8% in 2008, following a 5% decline this year, according to a new report by Goodbody Stockbrokers 09/11/07: New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that industrial production was 4.3% higher in September this year, compared to the same month in 2006 09/11/07: Support services group Newcourt has announced the acquisition of Lenmac Mechanical Services Limited for an undisclosed sum 08/11/07: The European Central Bank has left its main interest rate unchanged at 4%, as expected 08/11/07: The annual rate of inflation increased to 4.8% in October, from 4.6% in September, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 08/11/07: A delegation from Pakistan's IT industry is visiting Ireland to explore business opportunities with Ireland through a series of networking events until Saturday, November 10 07/11/07: A total of €29.77m in venture capital was invested in young innovative firms in Ireland in during the third quarter of 2007, according to the Quarterly European Venture Capital Report by Ernst & Young and Dow Jones VentureOne 07/11/07: Effective website content management is becoming increasingly important for Irish businesses, according to the results of a new survey 07/11/07: Bank of Ireland has forecast that GDP growth will slow to 4% in 2008, from 5.3% this year as a result of falling residential construction 06/11/07: Company directors and senior managers could face prosecution for workplace health and safety offences, the Health and Safety Authority (HAS) has warned 06/11/07: AIB Bank is expanding its direct banking operations with the opening of a new Customer Contact Centre in north Dublin, creating 260 new jobs 06/11/07: The mood of Irish consumers darkened once again in October, according to the latest IIB/ESRI consumer sentiment index 06/11/07: There was a slight increase in the number of people signing on in October, according to new figures from the central Statistics Office (CSO) 06/11/07: Microsoft has announced that Ireland has been selected as the location for its new European data centre 05/11/07: A national programme to install a new smart electricity meter in every home is to begin in 2008, according to energy minister Eamon Ryan, who has launched a pilot programme of 25,000 homes 05/11/07: Business activity at firms in the Irish service sector increased during October, according to the NCB Purchasing Mangers' Index 05/11/07: Ryanair has announced record half year after tax profits of €408m, a 24% increase over last year 02/11/07: BSkyB said it added a net total of 16,000 new customers in Ireland during the three months to the end of September, bringing the total number of Irish subscribers to 513,000 02/11/07: NTR has announced the completion of the acquisition of Verdant Group, by its Greenstar UK business 01/11/07: The percentage of e-mail containing spam that is sent to Irish users rose to an all-time high of almost 70% in October 2007, according to new statistics from IE Internet 01/11/07: Average national house prices declined by 0.3% in September, according to the latest edition of the Permanent TSB / ESRI House Price Index 01/11/07: Activity in the manufacturing sector grew at its slowest rate since May last month, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) 31/10/07: Foreign workers account for 17% of the workforce, according to a new survey commissioned by Chambers Ireland 31/10/07: The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland's dot-ie domain names, has relaxed the rules for registering personal dot-ie domain name registrations for individuals 31/10/07: Ireland has been ranked 22nd in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), maintaining its performance over recent years 30/10/07: National Irish Bank has reported pre-tax profits of €21m for the first nine months of the year, compared to a loss of €4m in the same period last year 30/10/07: A total of 15,381 new companies have been established so far this year, slightly ahead of this time last year when 15,161 start-ups were recorded, according to the Bank of Ireland Business Start-up Barometer 26/10/07: Tesco Ireland has launched of Ireland's newest mobile telephone service, Tesco Mobile, but its pricing does not impress rivals 26/10/07: Employment is forecast to grow by a net 70,000 jobs this year before moderating to a net 21,000 increase in 2008, according to the latest FAS Quarterly Labour Market Commentary for the third quarter 25/10/07: While higher interest rates have inflicted some pain on Irish consumers, there is no evidence of a sharp deterioration in their debt burden in the past year, according to IIB Homeloans/ESRI Irish Household Finances Survey 2007 24/10/07: Enterprise Ireland has set an ambitious €4 billion target for new export sales from Irish companies over the period of its new strategy Transforming Irish Industry 2008-2010 24/10/07: The volume of retail sales fell by 1.1% in August compared to July - the biggest monthly drop in over a year, according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 24/10/07: Broadband company Magnet Networks has confirmed the appointment of Mark Kellett as its new chief executive 24/10/07: GDP growth will slow to 3.3% in 2008 as a result of a slowdown in the housing market, household spending and government expenditure, according to a report from AIB 23/10/07: RaboDirect, Europe's largest online bank, has launched two new investment funds, the JPMorgan Global Natural Resources Fund and the Robeco Emerging Stars Equities Fund 23/10/07: Entrepreneurial development needs an approach similar to the drive which attracted foreign direct investment to Ireland, according to a new report from Forfas 23/10/07: Smurfit Kappa Group has warned that its underlying profits for the full year will be towards the lower end of the range of current market expectations 23/10/07: Eircom has announced that it is offering all its new and existing broadband customers free access to almost 1,100 of Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide 22/10/07: Irish companies remain cautiously optimistic about future growth and innovation, according to research by IrishJobs.ie 22/10/07: Bank of Ireland has announced that following a €10m investment in its online banking service a range of new services are now live for its banking 365 internet customers 19/10/07: Davy Stockbrokers has reduced its full year profit forecast for Smurfit Kappa for both 2007 and 2008 by 5% to reflect higher input costs. 19/10/07: PulseLearning, the e-learning firm has been named as the fastest growing IT company in Ireland at the 2007 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards 18/10/07: The government has forecast that Ireland's GDP growth will slow to 3.25% next year and to an average of 3.5% for the period 2008 - 2010. Growth of 4.75% can be expected for this year 18/10/07: Qualceram Shires, the bathroom furnishings firm, said that the slowdown in the Irish housing market and higher interest rates mean that group turnover is likely to be down by approximately 8% to 9% on current market expectations for 2007 18/10/07: AIB has announced a new start-up package for entrepreneurs looking to set up their own business 18/10/07: The number of firms in the private sector reporting vacancies increased slightly in September to 14%, up from 12% in August, according to the latest FAS/ESRI employment and vacancies survey 17/10/07: Imtech N.V., the Dutch publicly quoted technical services provider, is to acquire the Irish-based Suir Engineering for an undisclosed all-cash sum 17/10/07: The Dublin office is enjoying a record year with over 200,000 square metres of office accommodation signed in the capital in the first nine months of this year, according to the latest research report from property consultants CB Richard Ellis 17/10/07: One out of every ten property sellers since the start of the year has reduced the asking price of their home to force a quicker sale, according to the latest house price report from property website Daft 16/10/07: Postbank, the joint venture established between An Post and Fortis, has launched a new investment fund 16/10/07: Ireland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to attracting mobile foreign investment, according to the latest National Irish Bank/OCO Investment Performance Index for the third quarter 15/10/07: Coca Cola's parent board has endorsed the decision by local management to close their concentrate plant in Drogheda, Co. Louth with the loss of 250 direct jobs 15/10/07: United Drug, the Irish drug and medical equipment distributor, has announced the acquisition of US company Alliance Healthcare Information in a deal worth over $10m 12/10/07: Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has launched an incubator programme to support new small ventures for emerging green business opportunities in the sustainable energy sector 12/10/07: The manufacturing sector in Ireland remained strong in August, with total production up 10% on the same period last year, according to new figures from the Central Statistics office (CSO) 11/10/07: The annual rate of inflation fell back to a 10-month low of 4.6% in September, down from 4.8% in August, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 10/10/07: Global medical technology company Smith & Nephew and the Regenerative Medicine Institute (Remedi) at NUI Galway are to invest over €6m to establish a four-year R&D collaborative programme 10/10/07: Nortel Networks has announced that it is to create 60 new high level research positions over the next three years at its Galway facility 09/10/07: Engineering firm White Young Green has bought engineering consultancy PH McCarthy & Partners 09/10/07: Nearly two-thirds of businesses across the island of Ireland expect growth in cross-border co-operation in the next five years, according to a new study 08/10/07: Poor manners and office politics are the number one causes of 'office rage' in Dublin, according to a new poll by camera maker Canon 08/10/07: Irish consumer sentiment recovered slightly in September following sharp falls in the previous three months, according to the latest IIB Bank/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index 05/10/07: The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 2,200 in September, according to new figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) 04/10/07: The European Central Bank (ECB) has left its main interest rate unchanged at 4%, as expected by economists 04/10/07: The second Manufacturing Technology Ireland exhibition is to hold an evening opening on the first day to facilitate visitors who can't make it during the day 04/10/07: Average national house prices declined by 0.3% in August, extending falls for the first eight months of the year to 3.3%, according to the latest edition of the Permanent tsb/ESRI House Price Index 03/10/07: Ryanair founder Dr Tony Ryan has died at aged 71 after a long illness 03/10/2007: KPMG Corporate Finance has been apointed to find a buyer for sub-prime lender Start Mortgages, which claims to be market leader in the sector in Ireland. 03/10/07: American pharma giant Amgen is abandoning plans to set up a bulk manufacturing facility in Cork that promised to deliver 1,100 jobs 03/10/07: The Competition Authority has found that a lack of competition in dental services and restrictive practices are pushing up dental prices in Ireland 03/10/07: Bank of Ireland has reduced its interest rate for small business customers with a reduction in the rate of its Developing Business Loan fund to 5.9% for new business with immediate effect 03/10/07: Growth in the Irish services sector fell to its slowest rate in over four years during September, according to new figures released today. 02/10/07: National Irish Bank (NIB) has forecast that Ireland's GDP will grow by 6pc this year despite the slowdown in the construction sector 01/10/07: Most Irish firms are still experiencing growth in activity and remain optimistic about the current business climate, according to the latest business sentiment survey from IIB Bank/Chartered Accountants 01/10/07: Applications from small firms seeking solutions to their knowledge questions are now being sought for the third round of Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Vouchers initiative 01/10/07: Business conditions in the Irish manufacturing sector improved markedly in September, according to NCB's Purchasing Managers' Index. 26/09/07: Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has entered into a joint venture arrangement with Impala Limited to acquire and develop Clancy Barracks, a historical site in Dublin 8, and two sites on Davitt Road also in Dublin 8, which were formerly owned by Unilever and Lyons Tea. 26/09/07: The Mayor of Clare has expressed disappointment that a Government motion on the Shannon to Heathrow issue has been postponed after Fine Gael tabled a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. 26/09/07: ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is advising its members in practice to resist attempts by the Revenue to impose tax penalties on deceased tax payers in default. 26/09/07: Ryanair has launched a strong attack on the board of Aer Lingus over the airline's trading performance and refusal to call an emergency general meeting over the Shannon issue. 26/09/07: InterTradeIreland has published 'A Simple Guide to Cross-Border Business' which has information relating to the tax, legal and financial obligations and implications on businesses operating on an all-island basis. 26/09/07: The Construction Industry Federation has urged the Government to restore confidence in the housing market by slashing stamp duty. 25/09/07: The value of exports in July 2007 was €7,380m, up 5% on July 2006, while the value of imports was €4,801m, up 4% 25/09/07: FÁS has launched a new apprenticeship programme for the Electronic Security sector, providing an opportunity for the industry to gain recognition for the provision of quality services. 21/09/07: Global management consultancy Hay Group has launched a global total remuneration solution, PayNet International 21/09/07: Irish companies need to dramatically change their attitude to design if they want to gain real return on investment and effectively promote their services at home and abroad, according to the Graphic Design Business Association (GDBA)