The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland is to pilot two new programmes for its members this year aimed at supporting women in international leadership roles.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said Ireland has little to fear from attempts by the world’s richest countries to get multinationals to pay more tax, reiterating that the country’s headline 12.5% rate is not under threat.

An increase in R&D spending and a greater focus on improving the talent pool need to be the main focus areas relating to the maintenance of Ireland’s competitiveness this year, according to the main representative body for US firms based here.

The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland (AmCham) has suggested further tax incentives for US multinationals as a way of persuading them to invest funds deposited in Dublin for tax purposes into the wider Irish economy.

A deal on the EU’s multiannual financial framework could be reached at the trilogue scheduled for next week, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, told an audience in Dublin yesterday.

The EU is the biggest trading bloc in the world and remains one of the most lucrative regions for US multinationals to do business, according to the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, Peter Keegan.

Ireland is not a tax haven and the Government should vigorously defend the corporate tax rate, said Peter Keegan, president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.

Employers are mostly satisfied with Irish graduates but more than a third are still recruiting overseas because of skills shortages.

US investment into Ireland amounted to $30.5 billion (€23.6bn) last year, marking a 9% increase on 2010 and the second highest annual level on record.

It is too early to properly judge the impact of the new Project Maths syllabus which has been partially credited for improved Leaving Certificate grades in the subject, say teachers and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn.

Business leaders have welcomed the improved maths results being collected by almost 56,000 Leaving Certificate students this morning.

Maintaining Ireland’s position at the centre of the EU is vital to encourage and sustain investment by US companies in Ireland, according to the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, Peter O’Neill.

Innovative measures to attract key personnel to head up new divisions of foreign and domestic companies will lead to the creation of more jobs here, the Irish Tax Institute has said.

LINKS between Ireland and the US have become stronger since the financial crisis erupted according to a new report.

JOBSEEKERS can apply to fill any one of 2,000 professional vacancies with 50 leading companies exhibiting at the second annual admission-free Career Zoo at Dublin’s Mansion House on Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11.

A COMMON EU-wide corporate tax system would save companies €1.3 billion in the first year but would cause a loss of revenue to member states, according to the European Commission.

SOME 250 jobs are to be created by US financial services firm Citi.

Leading healthcare firm Hollister is to create 250 high-end manufacturing jobs in Co Mayo.

IRELAND’S rejection of the Lisbon treaty has created uncertainty among multinational companies here, according to the head of one of the country’s largest employers.

A JOHN McCAIN presidency would herald a new tax regime enticing American companies to redirect the €2.5 billion they pump into the Irish economy.

CORK needs greater air access to other parts of Europe and better road links to win new investment, the new southern chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland said yesterday.

The Small Firms Association has welcomed the report of the Enterprise Strategy Group.

GOVERNMENT policy should focus on encouraging fostering competition in all aspects of Irish economic life in order to increase cost competitiveness, leading economist Dan McLaughlin said urged yesterday.