THE Lord Mayor of Cork has defended the spending of public money on a nine-day mission to China to attract high-spending Chinese tourists.

BUSINESS confidence is at its highest level in almost two years, a survey has found.

CORK Chamber saw its pre-tax profits fall 33% to €65,329 last year but it said Ireland’s second city is showing strong resilience economically.

A DELEGATION from Cork signed a memorandum of understanding with one of China’s most pro-business cities yesterday.

THE body that represents almost 1,000 businesses in Cork has called on the incoming Government to adopt its pro-business proposals and introduce sweeping reforms to secure jobs and competitiveness.

CARBERY Group was crowned Company of the Year last night at Ireland’s largest corporate entertainment event outside of Dublin.

STOP crying and get on with it — was the message to Irish people from British Airways chief executive, Willie Walsh, who said Ireland is not encouraging people to start businesses.

IT is time to stop “pussyfooting” around the issue of public sector reform as a matter of urgency.

BUSINESS leaders in Cork have called for a cut in commercial rates to help secure jobs.

YOU report (October 23) that the president of Cork Chamber of Commerce, Ger O’Mahoney, has called for a business leaders council to act as a consultative body to the Government.

Cork: Cork Chamber president Ger O’Mahoney wants the Government to establish a Business Leaders’ Council to act as a consultative body to the Government.

IRELAND needs leadership and the “unseemly carry- on” last week by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and opposition spokesperson Simon Coveney is not serving the country well, business leaders were told yesterday.

FREE parking on Saturday mornings, coupled with reduced rates and service charges, could help save jobs in struggling Cork city centre retail businesses.

BUSINESSES are becoming more optimistic about their future but most have stopped asking their banks for credit, a new survey has found.

Cork Chamber President Ger O’Mahoney today welcomed the recent discussions by stakeholders in the city with a view to kickstarting the Cork Docklands development.

THE south-west region could lose more than €59 billion in trade in the next 25 years if the Government fails to upgrade the main road between Cork and Ringaskiddy.

ENTERPRISE Minister Batt O’Keeffe said he hopes a resolution can be found through discussion to a planning impasse that is threatening the creation of some 1,500 jobs in Cork.

THE IDA has been accused of “de-emphasising” the importance of Cork and Dublin as locations for foreign direct investment.

JUST over two-thirds of Cork businesses are confident about the future with three-quarters saying they have no intention of cutting staff numbers over the next 12 months.

THE head of the Cork company of the year said its success is down to committed and motived staff.

NAMA alone is not the answer to solving credit problems faced by companies, according to the Cork Chamber president, who also believes the public sector needs to be reformed.

BUSINESS confidence has risen despite the recession, a new survey has found.

BUSINESS leaders were urged to “put on the green jersey” after being told Ireland is at a disadvantage globally.

ONE of the world’s largest corporations said it will increase its presence substantially in Ireland over the coming years.

VOTING yes to Lisbon would give a major boost to the Irish economy and help it to move faster out of the current slump.

A CORK health and safety firm is planning to create 100 jobs over the coming year, while 20 further posts will be created at a manufacturing company in Dublin.

TRIBUTES poured in across the country for businessman Joe Gantly yesterday, who was described as a positive, energetic and talented personality.

SIX in 10 Cork companies have seen sales fall in the first three months of the year, forcing one in two businesses to delay paying bills to conserve cash.

CORK Chamber is expected to elect Ger O’Mahoney as president at the chamber’s 190th AGM on Monday next at the Imperial Hotel.

Deloitte has launched a new financial services regional practice from the firm’s offices in Cork and Limerick, catering for the needs of clients in Munster.

Deloitte is officially one of the 50 best companies to work for in the country, according to a detailed assessment by the Great Place to Work Institute Ireland.