Irish food and agri-business group Origin Enterprises has reported strong annual profits of €92.9m in the year to the end of July despite experiencing a slight dip in revenues.

A former head of the Garda Traffic Bureau, whose review of the penalty points system six years ago was "shelved", has said the worst driving offenders are escaping sanction.

A key landowner in Cork’s sprawling south docklands has backed O’Callaghan Properties’ €50m Albert Quay events centre project.

In the absence of an adequate resolution body, disputes loom large, says Stephen Rogers.

Agri-services business, Origin Enterprises is set to return up to €100m to shareholders, via a tender offer, on top of increasing its full-year dividend payment.

A team of the country’s most senior trade unionists, business leaders and civil servants has been tasked with making a last attempt to resolve the Dublin Bus dispute and avoid a strike.

Origin Enterprises has moved to strengthen its focus on its core agri-services business by agreeing to sell its marine proteins interests for €90m-plus.

Joint venture partnerships have helped to drive first-half growth at Origin Enterprises.

Speed cameras may soon be used to catch motor tax evaders under plans being drawn up by the Department of Transport.

The Department of Justice accused two drinks’ industry groups involved in a Government alcohol strategy committee of trying to “undermine” its final report.

The talented Colman Sweeney gave Salsify as good a drive as you could wish to see to land the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase.

Agri-food group Origin Enterprises has reported net profit of €6.4m for its accounting first-half year to Jan 31, a reduced profit level on this period last year, explained by the seasonality of new acquisitions UAP and Masstock.

The “bizarre” inability of the Revenue Commissioners to understand complex tax laws was blamed for the Government becoming involved in a lengthy legal battle over the National Aquatic Centre.

GARDAÍ have begun an investigation into alleged irregularities around how Basketball Ireland spent €1.8 million in grants intended for the specific purpose of installing basketball hoops in local communities.

AN improvement in trading conditions helped agri-services group Origin Enterprises generate a near 11% rise in operating profit and a €200 million increase in revenue in its latest financial year.

CLOUGHDUV had a sterling second-half performance to thank for their slenderest of winning margins at the end of this frenetic Muskerry JAHC final in Blarney last night.

WILLIE Mullins took the training honours is Sligo last night, completing a fine treble with Earls Qaurter, both ridden by champion jockey Paul Townend and Pickapocketortwo partnered by the trainer’s son Patrick.

AGRI-SERVICES company, Origin Enterprises is to expand its nutritional services division with a £25 million (€28m) takeover of British company CM Fertilisers.

ORIGIN ENTERPRISES, owners of Masstock and R&H Hall, increased first-half sales by 3% to €613 million.

MEELIN rounded off their marvellous campaign with a flourish in Croke Park yesterday as they deservedly claimed the honours in the All-Ireland Club JHC final.

TOM O’MAHONY has a confession to make. As the preparations were being put in place for Meelin’s 2010 junior hurling campaign, O’Mahony found himself mulling over thoughts of retirement.

ONE of the key players in the agri-food sector has called for a new emphasis on agriculture and food as a means of delivering sustainable economic growth.

ORIGIN Enterprises, a subsidiary of the speciality bakery group Aryzta, is to set up an all-Ireland grain and feed handling business.

THREE executive directors at Origin Enterprise shared a €2.4 million pay pot last year, up from €2.2m a year earlier.

A CRACKING Evening Echo Cork Junior A Hurling semi-final in Páirc Uí Rinn, with Cloughduv having two points to spare over Castlemartyr.

SHARP increases in grain prices in the second half of the year boosted earnings per share by 3% to 37.26 cent at Origin Enterprises as demand for inputs from farmers rose. Group turnover fell 11.3% from €1.5bn to €1.3bn.

THE Government did not even know how much it cost to build the controversial M50 toll bridge before it agreed to a €600 million buyout of the operation in 2008, it has emerged.

ORIGIN Enterprises, the Dublin-based agri-food company, has reported a pre-tax profit of €11.3 million for the first half of its financial year, down from just over €17.1m for the same period last year.

Animal feed and food production specialist Origin has reported a 28% drop in half year profit to €10.2m.

WHEN the once mighty Cloughduv’s hurling fortunes fell on lean times, the call went out to one of their most famous sons to lend a hand to get the club back to the top.

AGRI-food group Origin Enterprises has shrugged off a difficult trading environment to post an 8.5% increase in full-year profits and deliver a first dividend payment to shareholders.

SHARES in agri-food group Origin Enterprises rose more than 5.3% – or 11c – to €2.16 yesterday despite the company saying its profits for this year would take a hit of more than €100 million, due to the write-down in the value of its property portfolio.

FOOD and agri-business group Origin Enterprises, owners of the Shamrock Foods and Roma brands, has announced a sharp rise in turnover and profits for the financial year.

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

AN IRISH-based public company is to become the leading provider of input products and farm consultancy services to arable and grassland farmers in Britain and Poland.

ORIGIN Enterprises, the Irish agribusiness and food company controlled by IAWS will submit its first multi-million euro planning application for a mixed-use development in Cork’s Docklands over the coming months.

ONLY time will tell how shrewd a move the €80 million purchase of Masstock was by Origin Enterprises in mid-January.

ORIGIN Enterprises, in which IAWS holds a 71.4% stake, has bought Masstock Group for a total of £61 million (€81.78m) which includes £30m (€40m) of debt.

IN THE past week two leading Irish firms involved in the food sector warned the globe is facing into a period of sustained food price inflation. The prognosis is not encouraging.

MOVING R&H Hall’s animal feed operations from Cork’s dockland area will cost up to €30 million to finalise.

ORIGIN ENTERPRISES said strong demand across its food and agri-nutrition divisions delivered a good first year for the group.

ORIGIN, the IAWS agribusiness and property subsidiary, planning an initial public offering (IPO) next month, has bid for warehousing group Moyglare Holdings.