Housing Minister Simon Coveney expects to appoint a new water commission chief by this weekend, as he goes to Brussels to stop the EU fining Ireland for suspending water charges.

The head of Tesco’s operations in the London region has been handed the task of revitalising the supermarket giant’s fortunes in Ireland.

One of rugby’s most celebrated wing wonders may no longer be crossing the whitewash for Munster, but Doug Howlett can still play an important part in shaping the province’s future in his role as a corporate ambassador.

Cork man Tony Keohane has been appointed as the chairman of Tesco in Ireland after serving seven years as chief executive of Tesco Ireland.

Munster Rugby have brought in some of the country’s leading businessmen to help steer them through the economic downturn.

Tesco has pulled the plug on its €15m contract with Silvercrest following the horsemeat scandal as the Irish company braced itself for the possibility of Burger King following suit.

Tesco stores in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary will stock Irish packet butter as part of the chain’s new €20m supply contract with the Irish Dairy Board.

The opening of nine shops across Ireland was the engine for Tesco Ireland’s growth last year. The company managed to increase its market share and improve its sales despite a shrinking groceries sector.

Sixteen food and beverage companies are taking part in a Bord Bia and Tesco programme to help them develop skills to achieve sustainable growth at multiple retail level.

Exports to Tesco represented 9% of the value of Irish food and drink exported during 2010, according to a Indecon International Economic Consultants report.

TESCO saw sales drop 3.4% at its Irish stores to €1.5 billion in the first half of the year as customers spent less on non-food items.

TESCO saw its sales in Ireland increase more than 5% to almost €3 billion in the year to the end of February 2011.

MORE than 300 jobs have been created in Ireland with the opening of three Tesco supermarkets, the retailer said.

More than 300 jobs have been created with the opening of three Tesco supermarkets, the retailer said today.

NEARLY 800 jobs were announced yesterday, with supermarket giant Tesco leading the way in creating the bulk of them as part of a €113 million expansion drive in the Irish market.

Supermarket giant Tesco will create almost 750 jobs with the opening of seven new stores in Ireland, it announced today.

GREEN technology firm Nualight is to create 25 jobs over the next two years on foot of signing a €5 million contract with retail chain Tesco.

TESCO saw sales in Ireland drop 7.5% to €2.9 billion in the year to the end of February as it took a hit of almost €38 million following price and supplier changes.

CONSUMER confidence is one of the best indicators of the health of an economy.

TESCO Ireland’s chief executive has hit back at claims the supermarket is abandoning its Irish supplier base.

SHOPPERS in southern counties are paying 22% more for groceries at Tesco because they have yet to benefit from the supermarket’s price-cut initiative.

CONSUMERS are set to benefit from a new price war that has broken out among supermarket chains after Tesco announced it is to expand its price cut promotion on a national basis over the next two months.

Tesco is to slash prices by up to a third across the state to woo bargain-hunting shoppers but admitted charges have also gone up for hundreds of products.

A family-run bakery struck a big dough deal today to supply muffins to a major supermarket chain.

THE move by supermarket giant Tesco to slash prices could spark a nationwide price war and help stop the flow of shoppers over the border, it has been claimed.

Conall O Fátharta says Tesco’s strategy will boost imported own-brand products at the expense of familiar Irish brands – as well as Aldi and Lidl

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has slashed prices by as much as 25% to stem an exodus of cross-border shoppers into the North.

Tesco has announced a 20% cut in the price of around 12,500 products at 11 of its outlets in border counties.

THE country’s largest supermarket chain is set to launch an all-out attack in a bid to stop shoppers heading North, promising to slash prices.

TESCO is putting expansion plans in Ireland on hold for a year despite a 5% increase in sales to a record high of e3 billion last year.

IRISH food suppliers are charging up to 70% more for products than their British counterparts, retailer representatives told the Oireachtas Enterprise, Trade and Employment committee yesterday.

Tesco will create 220 new jobs in Drogheda today with the opening of a new store in the town.

THE country’s largest supermarket chain has launched an all-out attack on low-cost outlets, Lidl and Aldi, by promising to cut prices to match their competitors.

TESCO is investing €12.5 million in the development of its first eco-store in Ireland while also finalising plans for new stores throughout the country.

TAOISEACH BertieAhern will deliver the keynote address at the Irish Management Institute (IMI) national management conference tomorrow.

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco buys more Irish food and drink than nations such as the US, Germany and France, according to a report out today.

Tesco Ireland has today announced the launch of its strategy on the environment and carbon reduction, the company’s commitment to minimise its carbon footprint and to help address crucial environmental concerns.

TESCO and mobile group O2 said yesterday their Irish units would launch a 50:50 joint venture next year to sell Tesco-branded mobile services in Ireland.

Tesco is to open a new €70m distribution centre at Donabate, north Co Dublin, bringing 600 jobs to the area.