HUMANITARIAN and rock star Bob Geldof was the guest speaker at Thomas Crosbie Holdings’ annual dinner last night and said that despite being a victim of the paparazzi culture he still believed in absolute free press.

AUDIT Diagnostics, Azotel Technologies and LeT Systems, all Cork-based companies, are this week taking part in an Enterprise Ireland trade mission to South Africa led by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Micheál Martin.

JUST one-in-four disabled people has a job and those with disabilities are three times more likely to leave school early, according to a report launched yesterday.

THE Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has shrugged off claims that it’s doing nothing to bring jobs to a part of Waterford that has been dealt a series of employment blows.

A LEADING anti-abortion group has called on the Government to provide greater legal protection for human embryos in the face of growing pressure for their use in stem cell research.

A TRAINING project for staff in co-ops was launched yesterday by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin.

AN AMERICAN financial services company is to create 250 jobs in Cork, the second jobs boost for the area in two days.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will lead the first ever All-Ireland trade mission next week.

EMPLOYERS have attacked the Industrial Development Authority’s (IDA) zero job performance in the mid-west in 2005.

UP to 250 jobs will be created in Waterford over the next five years, with the opening of a major hedge fund company.

CONSUMERS called on the Government yesterday to force dentists here to display their prices after it emerged that they are charging almost four times more for certain orthodontic treatments than their colleagues in other countries.

THE Government was accused of “political cronyism” last night following the confirmation that the Taoiseach’s former partner Celia Larkin will be appointed to the interim board of a new powerful State consumer agency.

IF Andrea Bocelli’s star could have been eclipsed last night, the weather would have been the only contender.

THE crucial role played by the GAA in the physical and social education of youngsters was referred to by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin, as he launched the first edition of Datz Cúl magazine.

The 390 jobs lost at Waterford Crystal in Dungarvan are a deadly blow to the local community and a warning to the rest of the country.

OBJECTORS to the proposed €93 million toxic waste incinerator in Cork yesterday hit out at two local ministers for their failure to support the latest bid to stop it going ahead.

INTERNET giant Yahoo has announced plans to create 400 new jobs at its new European headquarters in Dublin.

FOUR new projects are to create a total of 255 jobs in the Dublin area over the next three to five years.

Dónal Hickey

ALMOST 500 jobs will be created in 17 homegrown companies over the next three years, thanks to a €29 million investment programme announced yesterday by Enterprise, Trade and Employment minister Micheál Martin.

FINES for failing to display drink prices are not tough enough to deter wealthy publicans, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley, claimed yesterday.

THE Government must force British chain stores to display the dual prices of goods here and in Britain to stop them ripping off customers here, the Consumers Association of Ireland insisted yesterday.

Nearly 400 jobs are to be lost in Co Galway with the closure of an electrical manufacturing plant in Ballinasloe.

THREE out of four people dumped from community employment schemes (CES) have ended up back on the dole queues.

THE Government is to blame for soaring prices of food and services and is making Ireland one of the most expensive countries in Europe Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

The Government tonight gave the go-ahead for the takeover by Scottish Radio Holdings of the Today FM independent national radio station and the Longford Leader newspaper group.