THE Irish-based Drumaville Consortium behind Sunderland has paid just over £20m (€21.5m) for its investment in the Premier League club, according to 2007 figures available from Jersey’s Financial Services Commission (FSC).

TWO companies within the Thomas Crosbie Holdings group - the Irish Examiner and RecruitIreland.com - now hold the prestigious FÁS Excellence Through People Award.

THE tearing down of trade barriers with eastern and central Europe offers huge opportunities to Irish business.

THREE Irish companies are set to expand in the Czech Republic. Westmeath-based Mergon International will invest €3 million in a new plant in Brno, the country’s second largest city, that will employ 80 people.