A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Green Isle wins export award
Green Isle Foods was named Exporter of the Year 2007 at an awards ceremony in Dublin last night. The company was also recognised as food exporter of the year.
The awards are organised by the Irish Exporters Association. Association president Joe Lynch said: "Green Isle has shown the industry that, not alone can it survive in the new business climate in Ireland, but that it can out-sell competitors from UK manufacturing bases and further afield in the very competitive but lucrative European market."
Female-owned firms lag behind Manufacturing firms owned by females are likely to produce less, have lower productivity and are less likely to export than similar firms owned by men, new research has revealed.
The research, based on data from 1985 to 2002, was presented by Prof Frances Ruane, director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, to yesterday's Fás labour market conference. It found that female-owned firms also grow slower than male-owned firms but those with mixed gender ownership grow fastest.
Prof Ruane said a study of international literature suggested female-owned firms fared worse because of constraints they encounter raising capital but also because women are generally more risk averse.
Food research change urged
A new approach to food research by the institutes and universities was called for by a leading food industry chief, Larry Murrin, yesterday.
Mr Murrin, who is chairman of Ibec Food and Drink Industry Ireland, told a conference at UCD that the State research and development model for food used during the last two decades would not work in the future.
"It has not produced sufficient results or return on investment for the agri-food sector or the economy. Neither did it support or create a culture of research and innovation throughout the food sector," he said.
Proceedings over Lynn loan
A loan issued to solicitor Michael Lynn by First Active plc has become the subject of discovery proceedings connected with an action for damages brought against the bank after it placed a development company into receivership.
The Cunningham Group, which was involved in a number of major developments in Dublin and Galway, is seeking damages against First Active for negligence arising from the bank's appointment of a receiver to a number of companies in the group. First Active had loaned companies in the group some €40m between 1999 and 2002.
At the High Court yesterday, lawyers for the group of companies involved in the lawsuit sought orders for discovery of documents against First Active and the receiver in advance of the full hearing of the case, which is due to take place next April.
Doherty new ComReg head
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has appointed John Doherty as chairman of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) for two years with effect from December 1st.
Mr Doherty has served as a commissioner since the establishment of ComReg five years ago, as well as chairman from December 2003 to November 2004.
