CORK’S business leaders will sign a new agreement with one of China’s biggest and most influential business groups this week, which could lead to a surge in trade between the two countries.

CONTROVERSIAL author Jeffrey Archer delivered the keynote address at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings annual business dinner in the company’s South Mall headquarters last night.

It has been confirmed that Ireland's first science park will be built in Cork with the potential for 6,000 new jobs.

PHARMACEUTICAL firm Eli Lilly has been named Cork Chamber/BT company of the year at a prestigious ceremony for businesses in the region.

THE Docklands in Cork can be developed with minimal impact to the public purse, business leaders in the city were told.

THE economic downturn had no effect on bookings for the largest corporate event in Cork, which is completely sold out.

A CORK-BASED technology firm has won two major contracts that it predicts will lead to a multi-million euro revenue stream.

THE new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority has pulled out of a scheduled appearance before an Oireachtas hearing today.

THE new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) has been urged to revisit its controversial €113 million debt issue.

INFLUENTIAL Irish American Loretta Brennan-Glucksman has resigned from the board of Cork Airport.

One of Cork's business leaders has called on the Government to re-commit to infrastructural developments in the region to ensure Cork's continued success as "a key southern gateway".

THE media has elevated economists to guru level and dramatised the slowdown in the construction sector.

THE Government has been criticised for delays in appointing a new chairman of the Cork Airport Authority (CAA).

THERE were calls last night for an emergency package to stimulate employment in Cork after the city’s second devastating jobs blow in a week.

RYANAIR’S swift departure from its Cork flights to Glasgow and East Midlands could not have come at a worse time for Cork Airport.

Cork threatens Shannon’s title as the state’s second busiest airport after 15 years of successive growth, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

CORK Airport strongly rejected claims last night of a slump in business.

I TAKE issue with your ‘elevation’ of former Cork Airport Authority (CAA) chairman Joe Gantly as Business Person of the Week (April 26).

The Minister for Transport will appoint a new Chairman for the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) “as soon as possible”.

Cork Airport Authority chairman Joe Gantly today announced that he will be stepping down from his position.

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey sparked a fresh row yesterday by denying Cork Airport claims he had guaranteed financial support if it struggled to service its debt.

CORK Airport Authority (CAA) will officially discuss at the start of next week the €100 million bill it would face under the findings of the Cassells report on the break-up of Aer Rianta.

THE board of Cork Airport last night defended its decision not to appear before a Dáil committee yesterday.

“STOP laughing at me,” implored 16-year-old Hugh Nash as he stood before 600 of his peers in a cavernous Brandon Hotel conference room in Tralee yesterday.

THE Government last night said it would not be rushed into securing tax incentives for Cork’s Docklands project without first ensuring those incentives would not breach EU State aid regulations.

THE bitter stand-off over Cork Airport’s potentially crippling debt is set to drag on.

GOVERNMENT plans to establish three independent airports were plunged into a fresh crisis last night after Cork Airport’s board was told it cannot achieve independence unless it accepts a €100 million debt.

DISAPPOINTMENT was expressed in Cork last night at the failure to provide any financial incentives in the budget for the development of the Cork docklands.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be called to address the €220m airport debt issue as part of his visit to Cork next week.

CRUNCH talks yesterday between the Transport Minister and the boss of Cork Airport over the €200 million debt and rising board tensions were described last night as “constructive and useful”.

The Minister for Transport should make public the findings of a report on the Cork Airport debt issue, according to Councillor Michael O’Connell, chairman of the South West Regional Authority’s Cork Airport Consultative Committee.

THE boss of Cork Airport called publicly on the Government yesterday to give his board full independence from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

THE Port of Cork, which is looking for a €60 million package to move out of the city centre, has been urged to keep with the process to ensure the multibillion-euro development of the Cork docklands moves forwards.

A FORMER university president reacted with shock yesterday to news that he looks set to be appointed chairman of a national body to spearhead a major urban regeneration project.

Cork Chamber wants Government help to make a plan to provide 25,000 jobs and 6,000 new homes in the docklands area a reality, according to The Evening Echo.

ERUDITE jester John Cleese, of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python fame, entertained key players in the Irish business and media worlds at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) annual dinner in the company’s flagship headquarters on Cork’s South Mall last night.

THE Government came under fire again yesterday over the €100 million Cork Airport debt.

CORK’s docklands provides a unique opportunity for the aggressive development of a major financial services industry in the region, Cork Chamber president Joe Gantly believes.

A GOVERNMENT Senator launched a scathing attack on the Government yesterday over the controversial Cork Airport debt issue.

A BUSINESSMAN has been appointed to head one of University College Cork’s four new academic schools following a controversial selection process.

THE Government was accused last night of frustrating the break-up of Aer Rianta by not supporting a State-appointed board trying to run one of the country’s main airports.

PART of the selection process to appoint the head of a new academic college at University College Cork was cancelled after material, relating to some candidates, was circulated among staff.

The chairman of Cork Airport Authority, Joe Gantly has been appointed as senior-vice president of Cork Chamber of Commerce.

Ian Guider