Search Results for 'Brussels'

The new president of the Irish Farmers Association, Kilkenny man John Bryan, has officially taken over from the outgoing leader Padraig Walsh.

Independent MEP Marian Harkin has insisted that the European Parliament election debate is being deliberately diverted in an attempt by the Ganley Libertas campaign to avoid dealing with the real issues concerned. She has challenged Mr Ganley to public debate on real issues affecting the north and west constituency.

The view of special advisor to Brian Lenihan, Dr Alan Ahearne, is that the Irish economy has ceased to be in a real recession, and is returning to positive growth, with exports as the engine that drives the machine. Dr Ahearne claims it is advanced technological and scientific exports, from our highly educated population, that has helped make Ireland a competitive country once again.

The An Post Sean Kelly cycling team headed back to their team base in Brussels this week, but not before they sent a message of thanks to the people of Westmeath for the great support they received when the FBD Ras passed through on Sunday May 24, during Stage 8 of the eight-stage race.

There is little else to speak of at the moment other than the local and European elections that are taking place this day next week and I think more than anyone else - the candidates want this day to come so that they can get on with their lives one way or another.

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has confirmed that the European Union is set to announce details of a €14 billion package that will allow Ireland and other EU countries to claim 100 per cent of the cost of projects funded by the European Social Fund and the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the years 2009 and 2010.

One thing is for sure about the European election count on Sunday is that all eyes across the EU will be on The Royal Theatre, Castlebar when the ballot boxes are opened thanks to one man’s name on the ticket, Declan Ganley. The Galway man and Libertas leader has emerged as the most controversial candidate in an election in Ireland for years. Ganley and his Libertas group’s anti-Lisbon Treaty campaign last year lead the charge for the no-vote on the treaty in the country and his party has now gone pan-European in these elections. If Ganley fails to take a seat in this election, where does his or his party’s mandate go to in the expected re-running of the referendum later this year? We will have to wait and see.

The European Union will announce this month details of a €14 billion package that will allow Ireland and other EU countries to claim 100 per cent of the cost of projects funded by the European Social Fund and the European Structural and Cohesion Funds for the years 2009 and 2010.

DESPITE THE general perception that the massive advances in technology threaten the future of the printed book, the parallel growth in the number of new publications would suggest the contrary.

Castlebar businessman and master chocolatier Dirk Schonkeren, who runs Helena Chocolates, the well known Castlebar café, has just been appointed as a World Chocolate Ambassador by the world’s biggest chocolate company, Barry Callebaut. The prestigious Chocolate Ambassador Club has just 70 members and Dirk is the first chocolatier in Ireland to receive the honour. He will attend a two-day seminar in Belgium and will then be called upon to share his master craft with other chocolatiers from around the globe. Dirk also plans to run some practical introduction to chocolate courses locally in the near future.