Podcasts about company regulation

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused the government of trying to “ride roughshod over the collective opposition” and said they would be “failing the democratic process” if they did not take a firm stance on the row over opposition speaking time. We get reaction to the chaos in the Dáil yesterday Dara Calleary Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused the government of trying to “ride roughshod over the collective opposition” and said they would be “failing the democratic process” if they did not take a firm stance on the row over opposition speaking time. We get reaction to the chaos in the Dáil yesterday Dara Calleary Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

With less than a week to go until the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States – what will this mean for Irish trade? We discuss further with Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary.

With less than a week to go until the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States – what will this mean for Irish trade? We discuss further with Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary.

Eirmersive, the voice of the Irish Immersive Technology sector, launched its network at a special event on the 11th of September at the O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Dublin. This event marked a significant milestone for the sector, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of Irish immersive technology companies and set the stage for future growth. Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, was present to officially launch the Eirmersive network, met with the Irish Immersive companies demoing at the event, and addressed the large audience about the recognition from the government of the importance of the Irish Immersive Technology sector. The event, titled OUTWARD, showcased the ambition and global reach of Ireland's Immersive Technology sector, where 80% of businesses were already exporting their innovative solutions worldwide. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with immersive technology demonstrations, heard success stories, and learned about the latest developments in the industry. Eirmersive envisions Ireland becoming a global hub for immersive technology by 2030, capitalising on the country's rich IT and creative talent. With an estimated global growth of €800 billion by 2030 and a potential 860,000 new jobs created by 2025, this launch event represented a pivotal moment for Ireland's digital future. The evening featured a keynote address by Michael Barngrover, Managing Director of XR4Europe, an influential industry association actively shaping the future of virtual worlds in Europe. Michael provided an overview of the European landscape, including key strategies such as the Finnish Metaverse Strategy and the EU Virtual World initiatives, highlighting opportunities for Irish companies to engage with and benefit from these initiatives. The Embassy of Finland was also in attendance. The event featured Lightning Talks from end-users of Immersive Technology Solutions built by Irish Immersive companies: • Dafydd Hall Williams, Artistic Director of Ulster Touring Opera, spoke about how Belfast-based company Ulster Touring Opera harnessed the technology developed by Dublin-based immersive technology company Volograms. Dafydd covered two specific use cases where Volograms' volumetric capture technology played a central role: AR Don Giovanni and the Yardmen Trail AR Stories app. • Ger Corbett, Chief Executive Officer at Sandyford Business District, spoke about the implementation and use of a VR digital twin of Sandyford for the EU project, IB-Green, which was all about greening strategies for industrial areas of cities that were traditionally poorly served by public amenity green spaces. • Mary Walsh O'Shea, Adult Education Officer responsible for Certified Training & Adult Education Guidance Service at WWETB, spoke about using Virtual Reality for Immersive Healthcare Simulations with PulseXR built by Emagine. The Immersive Education Working Group, supported by Meta, also presented during the event. This group had been developing recommendations for the Irish government on integrating Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality into educational curricula at all levels. Their work highlights successful use cases from Ireland and explored how immersive learning could enhance education, upskilling, and professional training. Dualta Ó Broin, Director of Public Policy from Meta, spoke of their strategic ongoing support to Eirmersive while Dr Zeta Dooly from SETU detailed the Key recommendations from the working group. The evening concluded with demonstrations from a dozen immersive technology solutions developed by Irish companies, offering attendees an opportunity to explore the innovative ways in which immersive technology was being applied across industries. Eirmersive is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme and benefits from Government funding as part of the Digital Creative Industries Roadmap 2024-2026...

Joe was joined by Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation, to talk about the efforts to steer Irish SMEs towards full digitalisation. Despite the digital sector's prominence in Ireland's economy, many firms still operate with analogue methods. Dara discussed the new government website, growdigital.GOV.ie, designed to assess and assist companies in their digital transformation journey.

PennEngineering has announced the expansion of its operations in Galway City, Ireland. This significant extension is set to create 70 new jobs over the next five years in support of the company's commitment to growth and community development. The €14 million expansion project, which involves the construction of a new building, includes a state-of-the-art technology and training centre as well as testing laboratories and customer experience centre that will enhance PennEngineering's capacity to meet the increasing demand for its engineering fastening solutions. The new jobs created will span a variety of roles, including manufacturing, engineering, training and more, offering diverse opportunities for local talent. The expansion project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, said: "I am pleased to welcome this announcement from PennEngineering, which will see the creation of 70 jobs as part of a major expansion project. Investments such as the one today continues to advance Galway's position, in particular, as a global hub. I am pleased to welcome this announcement and wish PennEngineering every success." "We are thrilled to expand our operations in Galway," said Mary Ann Fleming, President of PennEngineering Europe. "This investment reflects our confidence in the potential for growth in the region and our commitment to contributing to the local economy. We look forward to welcoming new members to our team and continuing to innovate in the world of fastening technology. Our on-site manufacturing also continues to expand with the introduction of new products, continuing our 85-year history of product innovation in self-clinch fasteners. Supporting training and development of our people and job creation are priorities for us, and this expansion is key to this initiative. As part of this growth announcement, we welcome the board of PennEngineering on site for their Bi-Annual meeting and wish them well as they strategise for the future of our global company." "Our long-standing partnership with Ireland and the IDA spans over 20 years, and their support has been invaluable in fostering the growth and development of our business in Europe." According to Pete George CEO of PennEngineering. The expansion is expected to be completed by January 2025. PennEngineering plans to begin the recruitment process immediately, with job openings to be posted on the company's website and local job boards. Mary Buckley, Executive Director of IDA Ireland, said: "PennEngineering has been in Galway since 2001, and this announcement today highlights their ongoing commitment to the West Region. The operation is already a recognised centre of excellence within the global organisation, and this 4000m expansion and 70 jobs further enhance its strategic capabilities in Galway. I wish the PennEngineering team continued success." For more information about the expansion and job opportunities, please visit www.pemnet.com/eu/.

Irish and Scottish Ministers are joining companies and researchers and government departments and agencies in the offshore wind sector to promote collaboration between Ireland and Scotland in harnessing the full economic development potential of offshore wind in both countries and beyond. Advancing the Offshore Wind Opportunity: Bridging Irish and Scottish Perspectives will explore opportunities for collaboration on joint initiatives, share expertise, and develop partnerships that can maximise the economic benefit of offshore wind energy to both countries. More Offshore Wind potential for Ireland Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD are being joined by Scotland's Minister for Climate Action, Gillian Martin MSP at the event, which is focusing on offshore wind supply chains, RDI & skills, and regulation, planning and infrastructure and is comprised of a series of policy roundtable discussions in Dublin. The event is an action from the Department Enterprise Trade and Employment's recently published Powering Prosperity - Ireland's Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy. At the core of Powering Prosperity is the ambition to build a successful, vibrant, and impactful new offshore wind energy sector by the end of this decade, and to ensure that sector creates significant value and up to 5,000 jobs in offshore wind energy and related industries for the people of Ireland. Minister Burke said: "It is great to have the opportunity to engage with Minister Martin, as well as with companies and researchers in the offshore wind industry across the two days. Ireland can make a real impact in the delivery of offshore renewable energy, both domestically and internationally. This week's event with Scotland shows that we are serious about realising our ambitions to develop a successful and impactful offshore wind industry in Ireland, to be a world leader in this space in terms of building the capacity of Irish companies to work on international offshore wind projects and to be a global leader in research, development, and innovation in wind energy. "We hope this event will lead to ongoing collaboration with Scotland in the offshore wind sector at Governmental level and between companies and the research community. Both countries have ambitious targets in relation to offshore wind and, working together, we can achieve far more than going this road alone." Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: "Ireland has taken a number of significant steps towards delivering offshore wind energy over the last year including our first successful offshore wind auction, the establishment of the Maritime Area Regularity Authority, the publication of our first Draft Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for our South Coast, as well as the Future Framework for offshore renewable energy, and Powering Prosperity. Together these set a roadmap for how Ireland can create an offshore renewable energy sector of scale to achieve our climate and energy targets beyond 2030, while also bolstering the security and prosperity of the State. "This event with Scotland demonstrates our commitment to working with like-minded countries in addressing common challenges, and developing joint solutions as we navigate the pathway to 37GW of offshore renewable energy by 2050. This is a big target for a country of our size, but it is achievable, and part of realising that will be to work with countries like Scotland in ensuring that all parts of the system, including regulation, planning and infrastructure, research and development, and supply chains are in place to deliver the windfarms." Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, commented: "The development of offshore renewable energy is a priority for our Government. By wo...

Few economies are as dependent on international trade as Ireland. In fact, our international trade is a multiple of our total economy. So other countries are looking on with envy at how Ireland does it and some of them will doubtless attend a conference about that today. The Trade Horizons conference in Dublin Castle has a theme of “trade for a sustainable future”, but is that possible when shipping and transport accounts for huge swathes of global carbon emissions? To discuss with Joe was Dara Calleary is the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, T.D., the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O'Donoghue, T.D., and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary, T.D., today launched Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). The aim of the Fund is to encourage collaborations by industry and research sector into the development and commercialisation of ground-breaking technologies. €500m Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund The launch took place in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath at the offices of Ostoform Ltd, the lead partner in a DTIF Call 3 project. Ostoform are working with two other project partners - Ross Polymer Ltd and Technological University Shannon - to develop an innovative ostomy pouch, used in the treatment of digestive and urinary conditions, which directs corrosive output away from the skin and improves patient wellbeing and quality of life. Launching Call 7 Minister Burke said: "I am delighted to announce the seventh Call of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The Fund is an important Government initiative which is helping to future-proof Ireland at a time of geo-political turbulence, economic uncertainty and supply chain disruption. "The Fund is seeking to encourage collaborative projects utilising cutting-edge technologies that will contribute to the achievement of Ireland's economic growth. We want projects that will make a real difference to people's lives, especially in helping us to improve our level of digitalisation and achieve our climate action targets. "The Irish enterprise and research sectors have regularly demonstrated their resilience and ability to adapt to challenges. We want to foster these capabilities by de-risking some of the costs associated with the development of truly disruptive, innovative projects." Patrick O'Donovan, TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said: "In announcing the seventh Call for the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, we aim to maximise the impact of our investment in Irish research institutions," explained Minister for Innovation, Patrick O Donovan. "The Fund can play a major role in delivering on Government research and enterprise objectives, as outlined in policy documents such as the recent Quantum Technologies Strategy and the White Paper on Enterprise. "We're focusing on areas like quantum technologies, where breakthroughs can truly make a difference. By fostering collaboration between companies and research facilities, our goal is to not only drive innovation but also create more job opportunities for graduates in the future." Dara Calleary, TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation also welcomed the DTIF funding: "The Government is committed to supporting companies in improving their digital capacity through targeted investment, with a view to positioning Ireland as a leading global digital hub. "DTIF has already demonstrated its role as a catalyst in bringing about digital transformation by supporting projects that will develop unique applications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. It is notable that 46 projects involving artificial intelligence were awarded €162.5m across the six DTIF Calls to date. This significant investment in disruptive technologies is giving enterprises the support needed to incorporate digitalisation into their business processes and driving Ireland's adoption of digital technologies." Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, who administer the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, said: ''Enterprise Ireland is pleased to continue to support the reopening of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund on an open rolling basis, replacing the previous closed call approach. This will enhance the user-friendliness of a fund that has already demonstrated its value in deepening innovation capability across t...

The second Digital Ireland Conference is taking place today looking at the implementation of digital regulation, artificial intelligence and the opportunities of the digital transformation. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary spoke to Shane ahead of the conference.

The second Digital Ireland Conference is taking place today looking at the implementation of digital regulation, artificial intelligence and the opportunities of the digital transformation. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary spoke to Shane ahead of the conference.

Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation on today's Central Bank report which shows that while the cost of settling public and employer liability claims have come down, premiums have increased.

Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, joined Microsoft at a Connected Hub in north Mayo as it announced the rollout of AI Skill-Up-A-Thons to rural communities across the country and AI masterclasses for businesses in the Kerry region. The rural skilling initiatives are a key part of Microsoft's ambition to 'Skill Up Ireland' providing every person in the country with the opportunity to skill up for the era of AI. The AI Skill-Up-A-Thons are designed to help equip those with little or no understanding of AI with the basic knowledge, skills and competencies in AI. Those who complete the free, 4-hour course will earn an industry recognised Career Essentials Certificate in Generative AI and gain access to LinkedIn Premium to help support those looking to develop a career in AI. AI Skill-Up-A-Thons are being delivered in partnership with FIT (Fastrack into Information Technology) and with the support of local authorities, ETBs and the large network of Connected Hubs throughout the country. Learners will be given the opportunity to take part in a series of AI Skill-Up-A-Thons which are taking place in Counties including Cavan, Galway, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Tipperary in the coming weeks with other locations to be announced in the coming months. The first AI Skill-Up-A-Thon was held at the Connected Hub in Knockmore in north Mayo, where Minister Calleary joined learners as they developed the practical and transversal skills necessary to thrive in an AI age and secured their Generative AI certification. Microsoft has also announced that it will be rolling out a series of AI masterclasses for businesses in Munster focusing on providing business leaders in rural Ireland with the skills and insights to adopt AI within their organisation. Developed in collaboration with the RDI Hub, the AI masterclasses will be delivered both in-person and online from now until September. Speaking at the inaugural AI Skill-Up-A-Thon, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary TD, said: "I welcome the announcement by Microsoft that it is providing new AI upskilling and reskilling opportunities in communities across rural Ireland, including here in Mayo. AI tools and technology have significant potential to transform how we work and do business. But to fully unlock their benefits and meet the ambition of our National AI Strategy, individuals and businesses must start to develop in-demand AI skills and capabilities. It is only by working together across Government, industry, and the education sector that we can demystify AI and ensure Ireland's workforce has the AI skills that will be needed now and into the future." James O'Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Vice-President Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre, said: "AI has the potential to empower people and organisations across the country but it's critical that everyone, everywhere has the skills to harness its benefits. Last October, we launched our national AI skilling programme to help give everyone in Ireland the opportunity to upskill and reskill. One of our key ambitions as part of the programme is to bring AI skilling directly to people, communities and businesses in rural Ireland and ensure they are given equal opportunity to engage in AI. "That's why today we're rolling out the first-ever AI Skill-Up-A-Thons across rural Ireland. Through these new AI learning pathways, we want to empower people of all ages, backgrounds and experience with the skills and knowledge to succeed in an AI-enabled economy. Our new AI masterclasses, in collaboration with the RDI Hub in Kerry, will also help businesses develop the tools and skills to adopt AI at speed and support growth into the future. "By providing these AI rural skilling initiatives, as well as our significant investment in skills more broadly, we will continue to play our part in helping to Skill Up Ireland for the era of AI." Danielle Barr, Director of T...

Bobby is joined by TD Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation to discuss the Family and Care referendums, the general health of business in Enniscone, and more.

Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, has today announced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerator programme for start-ups at University College Dublin (UCD). The 6-month AI Ecosystem Accelerator, which begins in April, will be delivered by NovaUCD, the university's hub of innovation and start-up activities, in partnership with CeADAR, Ireland's National Centre for Applied AI. The focus of the new accelerator programme is to support entrepreneurs who are developing disruptive AI solutions in sectors including, healthcare, cybersecurity, education, sustainability, finance, content creation, supply chain and customer service, for a global market. The programme is being funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative with funding of €700 million from both the European Commission and the Governments of member states. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, is leading on the EDIH programme for Ireland and CeADAR has been designated as the European Digital Innovation Hub in AI for Ireland. Targeted supports for participants on the AI Ecosystem Accelerator include a dedicated commercial mentor and workshops on value proposition, route to market, sales strategies and securing investment. Participants will have access to co-working space at NovaUCD and access to the NovaUCD community of founders, investors, business partners and student interns. Participants will also have access to CeADAR's EDIH services which include AI technologies, and research expertise with technical mentorship. Applications are open for the programme via https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/aiecosystem/ Announcing the AI Ecosystem Accelerator, Minister Calleary TD said, "There is no doubt Ireland's entrepreneurs and founders have the talent, the creativity, and the drive to seize the opportunities of AI to improve the way we all live and work. Sitting at the crossroads of higher education, industry, and research, the AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme aims to support AI start-ups grow through dedicated technical and commercial supports. I am delighted that funding is in place to support the acceleration of enterprises in this space, which is key element in our National AI Strategy "AI - Here for Good". My ambition is for Ireland to become a leading country in using AI to the benefit of our citizens, through a people centred and ethical approach to AI adoption and use. I encourage all interested AI start-ups to consider applying and be part of Ireland's AI ambitions." Marina Donohoe, Head of Research and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland, said, "The adoption and deployment of AI technologies is critical to driving the competitiveness and innovation of Irish businesses in international markets. Many AI-driven Irish businesses are scaling globally, with a number of excellent start-ups following in their tracks. Enterprise Ireland sees a major opportunity for Irish entrepreneurs to take the lead in this ever-changing field. The new AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme, funded through the EDIH programme managed by Enterprise Ireland, will be delivered by NovaUCD in partnership with CeADAR, and will nurture cutting-edge AI solutions and provide strategic support to help AI-driven businesses thrive in a global market." Since opening in 2003 NovaUCD has developed a strong track record and has supported 550+ start-ups and early-stage ventures through the services it provides, and through business support programmes run and managed by NovaUCD. In addition, the NovaUCD entrepreneurial community has now raised €1.3+ billion in equity funding. Tom Flanagan, Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation, UCD said, "We are delighted to be announcing a new AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme which we will be delivering with CeADAR to showcase and support the most advanced AI start-ups in Ireland. We are currently seeking applications from Irish-ba...

In this insightful episode of the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast, we are honored to host Minister Dara Calleary, the Irish Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation. Minister Calleary will delve into the significant trade mission between Ireland and Canada, discussing its pivotal role in strengthening the economic relationship between these two nations.Throughout his career, Minister Calleary has championed responsible and sustainable trade, innovation, and effective market operations for businesses and consumers. His efforts in digital transformation have solidified Ireland's position as a leading digital economy in Europe. This episode will explore the key objectives of the trade mission, the impact of Irish innovation, especially in construction, digital collaboration opportunities, and the roles of organizations like Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in enhancing trade and innovation.Key Highlights:Minister Calleary elaborates on the main goals of his four-day visit to Canada and its impact on the Ireland-Canada economic relationship amidst global economic challenges.Insights into how Irish innovation is addressing construction industry challenges and the benefits of this new network.Discussion on fostering collaboration between Irish and Canadian companies in the digital sector and the mutual benefits for both countries.Minister Calleary highlights some successful initiatives and partnerships between Ireland and Canada.Understanding the contribution of these organizations in facilitating trade and innovation, and their support for Irish businesses in Canada.Analysis of the factors behind the success of Irish companies in Canada and how to enhance this growth further.Our heartfelt thanks go to Minister Dara Calleary for sharing his valuable insights and expertise. His detailed exploration of the dynamic relationship between Ireland and Canada has illuminated the exciting opportunities ahead for both nations.We're also immensely grateful to our partners for making this podcast possible. A special thanks to our exclusive banking partner, RBC, for their unwavering support. Our gratitude also extends to our exclusive shipping partner, UPS, and our exclusive accounting software partner, Xero, for their vital contributions.Don't forget to subscribe to CanadianSME Small Business Magazine at https://canadiansme.ca/subscription/   for more inspiring stories, tips, and resources to help your small business thrive. We appreciate your time and look forward to bringing you more valuable conversations in our future episodes.

There were many accusations during the Dublin riots that the social media Giants might not have done enough to take down the spreading of hateful information. Many of them appeared before TDs and Senators last week but X ignored the invitation. That's despite looming new legislation called the Digital Services Bill which will dramatically change the responsibility of the big online platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and X. The Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary joined Joe this morning on the show.

In the first half of 2024, Ireland will assume the rotating chair of the D9+ (or ‘Digital Nine+) - a group of digitally advanced European states which are at the forefront of Europe's digital economy. In this IIEA event, which is supported by Amazon, an expert panel of speakers assesses what Ireland's presidency of the group could contribute to the D9+'s long-term development; how the D9+ can link in with the priorities of the Presidencies of the Council of the EU; and how this group of digital frontrunners can contribute positively to EU digital policymaking in the coming years. The event opens with a keynote address by Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation. A panel discussion follows, featuring contributions from: Alberto Gago Fernandez, Advisor to the Secretary of State for Digital and AI of Spain; Lucinda Creighton, CEO of Vulcan Consulting and former Minister of State for Europe; Alexander Hoefmans, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Digitization, Belgium, whose country will take the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first half of 2024. This event is chaired by Dan O'Brien, IIEA Chief Economist.

Dara Calleary, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation. discusses the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence from the inaugural AI Safety Summit in the UK.

The Personal Injury Assessment Board or PIAB has been with us for a few years and its aim is to cut the legal costs for personal injuries or so-called ‘slips and trips' as well as slashing the exorbitant public liability insurance costs which Irish companies have to pay due to enormous payouts in the courts. The next phase of the Personal Injury Resolution Board Act comes into force this week and the minister in charge of that is Dara Calleary TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

The Government has published a review of a new 7 pillar AI strategy, which will aim to "build public trust". Dara Calleary, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Massive reform and EU membership have brought Czechia and Poland to the average for European national incomes and now they are huge potential markets for Irish companies. That's why the government and Enterprise Ireland are over there today touting the wares of a slew of well-known companies including Smurfit, Kingspan, and ICON. Joe spoke to Dara Calleary - the Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation about the types of sectors that Irish companies were hoping to grow in both of those nations.

Bobby is joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy who is also the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. Together they discuss AIB scrapping their plan to remove cash services in 70 branches and what role the Post Office might play in the years to some when it comes to managing personal finances.

Robert Troy TD, Minister of State for Company Regulation discusses a new watchdog to crack down on corporate wrongdoing that has been set up by the Departments of Enterprise and Justice.

Alexion, AstraZeneca's Rare Disease group, today announced a €65 million investment in new and enhanced capabilities across its sites in College Park, Blanchardstown and Monksland Industrial Park, Athlone. The programme will centre on three investments: the installation of new drug substance production equipment and warehousing facilities to support ambient and cold storage at both sites in College Park and Athlone; and the construction of a Manufacturing Sciences & Technology Lab at College Park. The equipment and warehouse facility in each site will expand Alexion's drug substance production capabilities in Ireland. The Alexion Manufacturing Sciences & Technology Lab at College Park will facilitate the scaling up of biologics drug substance manufacturing in Ireland. This development programme in Ireland follows last year's announcement to build a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient facility at AstraZeneca's College Park campus. Marc Dunoyer, Chief Executive Officer, Alexion said “We are delighted to be further investing in our facilities in Ireland, an increasingly critical global hub for AstraZeneca operations, to support the continued growth of Alexion's portfolio of medicines and meet our needs for expansion. This investment will allow for new capabilities for AstraZeneca in Ireland and support our global ambition to accelerate the development and delivery of life-changing medicines for more people affected by rare diseases.” Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said “This is really fantastic news and a real boost to Ireland as a global hub for life sciences. This €65m investment by Alexion, AstraZeneca's Rare Diseases group, is a testament to the talent and skills we have in Blanchardstown and Athlone, and will significantly expand the company's production capabilities here. It's also great for our research bodies and will make a major contribution to the overall expertise we have based here. I wish the teams involved the very best of luck and thank both Alexion and AstraZeneca for their commitment to Ireland.” Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said, “I am delighted that Alexion has announced further investment in its Dublin and Athlone sites. This news further cements Ireland's reputation as a global centre of excellence for life sciences. I am particularly delighted to see continued investment in Athlone, and further endorses the midlands as an excellent place to invest, work and live.” Martin Shanahan, CEO IDA Ireland said, “Ireland's ambition is to be at the forefront of driving the future of biopharma. Today's announcement to continue to increase Alexion capabilities in Ireland further demonstrates the company's commitment to the rich life science ecosystem Ireland has to offer. The future of biopharmaceuticals lies in R&D and manufacturing opportunities, growth in advanced therapeutics, building employment opportunities in specialised roles and a commitment to a patient-centric, partnership approach.” More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD and the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD have welcomed the announcement by the European Commission that CeADAR based in UCD, Dublin and the FactoryxChange consortium in the Midlands are one step closer to being fully approved as European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). The European Union is investing over €700m to co-fund an EU-wide network of hubs. Each Irish hub is set to receive annual funding of €1.9m from both the EU and the Irish Government under the National Recovery and Resilience Facility. These new hubs will work with local SMEs and public sector bodies to help them ‘go digital', incorporating the benefits of digital technology in their operations, no matter what stage they are currently at. The hubs will provide help with training, research and testing and advice on funding. They will be up and running by the end of this year. Subject to the outcome of the next phase of national due diligence and evaluation, the successful Irish candidate hubs which are eligible to be co-funded under the Digital Europe Programme are: CeADAR led by Ireland's EI/IDA Technology Centre in Applied Data Analytics and Machine Intelligence (based in UCD) which will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) transformation in SMEs and public-service organisations. FactoryxChange (FxC), a consortium led by the EI/IDA Technology Centre Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) in Mullingar, which will accelerate factories to become ‘Factories of the Future' integrating ecological, digital, and societal solutions into their core business models. Two digital innovation hubs from Ireland awarded ‘Seal of Excellence' Through the evaluation process conducted by the European Commission a further two candidate hubs from Ireland have been deemed eligible to join the EU-wide network of Digital Innovation Hubs having been awarded the Commission's ‘Seal of Excellence' for the quality of their proposals as follows: DATA2SUSTAIN, a consortium led by Atlantic Technological University, Sligo which will develop a comprehensive service programme to increase the transformation capacity and transformation speed of SMEs with a focus on circular economy, operations and sustainability areas. ENTIRE, a consortium led by Tyndall National Institute, Cork which will help SMEs in the Agriculture, Energy and Transport sectors to become more competitive in their business or production processes using digital technologies such as sensors. The Seal of Excellence is a quality label awarded by the Commission to projects which have been assessed in a call for proposals and are deemed to comply with the quality requirements of the call but could not be funded due to European Commission budgetary constraints. These projects may receive support from national sources of funding, subject to additional due diligence and evaluation at member state level. It is intended that all of the above EDIHs, which will be either co-funded or fully funded by the Government under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, will now go through the remaining evaluation, approval and contract negotiation process before their formal establishment. Welcoming the Commission's announcement, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, said on June 17 in his announcement: “How businesses interact with their customers, how citizens access public services and how we communicate and work with one another is all being transformed by digital technology. We need to make sure we are prepared for what will surely be an acceleration of this trend and that our SMEs especially, are assisted to make the most of new technology and stay ahead of the curve. We are doing this in many ways, including through direct grant funding, but these European Digital Innovation Hubs, EDIHs, will certainly be a welcome boost to the areas they are placed in and I hope all o...

The Tánaiste and Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy, TD and Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English TD has announced a new €85m fund to help businesses, no matter what stage they're at or what sector they're in, go digital. The Digital Transition Fund has been allocated funding of €85m during the period to 2026 as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. €10 million will be available in 2022. It will be administered by Enterprise Ireland. The Fund will be used to help companies use digital technology like AI, cloud computing and big data to improve their products, processes, supply chains and services. The funding will help companies at all stages of their digital journey – from going online to facilitating exporting and using digital technologies to reach new markets and improve their productivity and competitiveness. A new online website is also being developed, allowing companies to assess their needs and point towards their next steps to improve their offering through digital technology. The Tánaiste said: “Digital technology has transformed so much of our everyday lives, vastly improving it in many ways. From how we get around, to how we work, to how we access services and communicate with one another, digital technology has massively disrupted traditional ways of doing things. The trend is only going one way and our lives are only going to become more integrated with digital technology. That is why we need to make sure our SMEs are prepared. This €85m will fund businesses looking to use cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence to improve how they make their products and services. It will fund new equipment and software, staff training and expertise. “I know the whole area can be a bit overwhelming to some and many businesses don't know where to start. Rest assured, we will meet you at whatever stage you're at. We're also developing a new website that will allow you to input your details and find out what help is available for you, according to your individual circumstances.” Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said: “It is absolutely vital for every company to seize the opportunities presented by digitisation. Each business will have its own digital journey and this funding will support businesses all across Ireland at every stage of the digitalisation journey, from those who are taking their first step to the cloud to others who are looking to test and deploy wide-scale technical solutions to improve their operations. This Funding will assist companies in staying competitive, resilient and productive. “Digital technologies can reduce costs for businesses by making processes like invoicing, stock management and supply chain logistics much more efficient. In addition, the use of digital technologies will assist companies in reducing their carbon footprint and helping to tackle climate change.” Grow Digital Workshops Minister Troy will host a series of “Grow Digital” Workshops in regional locations from the end of June and throughout July. Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD said: “With this €85 million fund we are committing support for the Irish business community to develop an effective and ever-evolving digital transformation programme which is necessary to improve efficiencies, drive growth, and create more job opportunities right across the country. Businesses that embrace digital technologies, processes and skills will be crucial for Ireland's continued economic success. In truth, digitalisation is no longer an option or innovation but an essential business step for future-proofing businesses and building resilience in their operations” More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast...

The government has announced a new multi-million Euro package to support digital start-ups in Ireland. It comes as Ireland becomes increasingly dependent on technology companies for tax revenue. Some even say that Ireland should set aside a sovereign wealth fund to take advantage of the corporation tax windfall from tech giants here which may dwindle or even disappear in the future. Others say that the IDA should no longer actively seek new jobs for Dublin because it's full up. All issues for Robert Troy TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation and spoke to Joe on the show this morning.

Annie Madden, the co-founder of FenuHealth, has won Enterprise Ireland's 2022 Student Entrepreneur Awards. The University College Cork student was presented with the award at a ceremony at Trinity College Dublin. FenuHealth FenuHealth, which is based in Co Meath, produces powdered supplements that are added to feed to help prevent and resolve stomach problems in horses and ponies. The business was built on work done by sisters Annie and Kate Madden as transition year students taking part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. FenuHealth offers a range of 9 products and currently exports to 15 countries as well as counting five royal families among its customers. FenuHealth was one of ten finalists at the awards and the team received €10,000 as part of the Enterprise Ireland student prize. The Madden sisters will also receive mentoring from Enterprise Ireland to develop the commercial viability of their products. The Enterprise Ireland's Student Entrepreneur Awards This is the 41st year of Enterprise Ireland's Student Entrepreneur Awards, which are co-sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Offices. The awards are open to all third-level institutions across the country. The Cruickshank High Achieving Merit Award went to Claire Finnegan of Rollagen. Representing St. Angela's College, Sligo, she received a prize of €5,000 for her sports recovery and injury prevention food product. The Grant Thornton High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 went to Recapture One, the cloud-based multimedia company specializing in the development of personalised bereavement memorials developed by South East Technological University student Alannah Pardy. The Local Enterprise Office High Achieving Merit Award and €5,000 went to NutrixBix, by Goodness Oats, which has developed a range of artisinal, oat-based cookies designed specifically for nursing mothers. The company was founded by Rachel McDonnell of St. Angela's College, Sligo. Ronan McArt and Roisin Lydon, lecturers at St. Angela's College, Sligo, won the Enterprise Ireland Academic Award. Along with the prize money, the winners will also share in a €30,000 consultancy fund that will enable them to turn their ideas into a commercial reality. Speaking at the awards ceremony at Trinity College Dublin, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Robert Troy TD, said: “Congratulations to all the participants in this year's Student Entrepreneur Awards. The calibre of the entries this year are a credit to the student entrepreneurs and their institutions. The projects presented today address a range of challenges facing Irish society from sustainability and the environment to health and wellness with innovative solutions to not only meet the needs of an Irish market but with potential global appeal also. Today's Awards highlight a vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial spirit within Ireland's universities and colleges across the country, and I look forward to following each of the entrants on their entrepreneurial journeys over the coming months and years.” Richard Murphy, Manager LEO Support, Policy & Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland said: “It is great to be able to host this event in person once again. The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards represent an important starting point for many as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey. The competition provides these students with a platform to explore their innovative business ideas and the opportunity to turn these ideas into thriving businesses. Fostering the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs is a priority for us at Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise offices and it is great to be here on what is the 41st rendition of these awards. Congratulations to each student team and college that participated.” More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Irelan...

Ericsson has announced its plans to hire 250 people at its Irish Research and Development Centre in Athlone, to support the company's ongoing development of innovative cloud-native products that orchestrate, automate and power its global 5G portfolio. The highly-skilled roles, which include opportunities for software developers, data scientists, architects, cloud and mobile communication engineers at all career stages, will be added over the next three years. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. One of Ireland's largest employers within software development, Ericsson has had a Research and Development (R&D) presence in Athlone since 1979. The Athlone facility, which is the global R&D headquarters of Ericsson Digital Services OSS (Operations Support Systems), currently employs 1200 people developing its OSS and Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) portfolio. Ericsson employs an additional 200 at its Dublin base. Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said: “This is really great news. Ericsson is expanding further, adding 250 new jobs to the 1400 the company already employs here. These new jobs are in new areas in cloud-native technologies, providing some really exciting opportunities for the Midlands. It truly is a vote of confidence in Athlone and Ireland as a whole that such an internationally renowned company has chosen to make this investment. Thank you to Ericsson for their continuing commitment to our country and the Irish-based team who I know were crucial in the decision to bring this investment to Ireland.” Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said: “I am delighted with Ericsson's announcement to add 250 roles at its R&D Campus in Athlone. These highly skilled roles in software development, engineering and cloud technologies are a very welcome development for the region and this expansion reaffirms the Midlands as a centre of excellence in the ICT sector and cloud technology. Ericsson is a well-established presence here in Athlone and its continued success and investment in its R&D Campus is a testament to the fact that Westmeath, and indeed the Midlands as a whole is a great place to do business. I want to wish the staff in Ericsson all the very best in this exciting new chapter.” Denis Dullea, Head of Research and Development at Ericsson Athlone said: “This announcement underscores our global reputation as a world-class R&D software development centre. Our team here already play a critical role in the development of Ericsson products, services and solutions that enable Ericsson to deliver limitless connectivity that makes the unimaginable possible. “We are hiring an additional 250 software developers, engineers and architects with cloud-native skills to enhance our capability to deliver the benefits of cloud-native technologies to our global customer base via our RAN, Management, Automation and Orchestration offerings.” Mr Dullea added: “The investment is also good news for Athlone and the wider Midlands region, where Ericsson is one of the largest employers. With strong ongoing partnerships with the IDA, the Irish Government and the recently established Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), we are excited to continue attracting and nurturing the best and brightest Irish and international talent to the heart of Ireland.” IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “Today's significant announcement by Ericsson, a company that has had a presence here in Ireland since 1957 and an R&D facility in Athlone since 1979 is terrific news and demonstrates this global leader's continued commitment to its operations here. The next generation of technology developed at the Athlone facility will set the standard for the industry. These jobs and the associated investment will have a substantial impact on both the local and regional economy. I wish Ericsson every success with this expansion, and ...

Over the course of the last week, KCLR had been marking 18 years of the station being on air, so for our latest episode of The Bottom Line we began the show with a look back at some of the big business stories over that period. Tom Molloy, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Trinity College Dublin and former Editor of the Kilkenny People Newspaper along with Colin Duggan, President of Carlow Chamber of Commerce and General Manager of the Woodford Dolmen, joined John to chat about business in Carlow, Kilkenny and beyond over the last 18 years.Edwina Grace was out and about across Carlow and Kilkenny tracking two Government Ministers as they met local businesses and review how business is progressing over the last challenging number of years. In Edwina's Report we hear from Minister Damien English T.D. Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail; Minister Robert Troy, T.D. Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation; Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise at Carlow Local Enterprise Office and local business owners.David Carpendale, owner of David Oliver Bespoke joined John to tell us more about his business and the work he does.With thanks to O'Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.To contact the show, email: thebottomline@kclr96fm.com

The Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion, digital & company regulation Robert Troy links in with the Morning Mix this morning for the publication of the new trade and investment strategy

In recent weeks the Government announced the commencement a dedicated rescue process for small companies, the act seeks to simplify and reduce the costs for small businesses who are experiencing difficulties. Minister Robert Troy TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and he joined John to discuss the main provisions of the new act.

Tom Molloy, Director of Communications in Trinity College Dublin joined John to discuss some of the business news stories from the week.During the week, the Government announced the commencement of a dedicated rescue process for small companies, the act seeks to simplify and reduce the costs for small businesses who are experiencing difficulties. Minister Robert Troy TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and he joined John to discuss the main provisions of the new act.The motor industry is a very significant employer in Carlow and Kilkenny employing approximately sixteen hundred people. John was joined by James Walsh, Dealer Principal of Walsh's Toyota Kilkenny and Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal of Dooley Motors in Carlow about how 2021 has been for them and how they feel about the car market as we face 2022. Focus and mental clarity are huge ingredients for business success, but for many it can be difficult to maintain that focus at this time of year while also dealing with the constant changes of the pandemic. Caroline Cunningham, Wellness Coach joined John to chat about the factors that can impact us and offers some tips on how we can manage these changes to retain that focus and build resilience.With thanks to O'Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.  To contact the show, email: thebottomline@kclr96fm.com

Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath and Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

In July 2021, Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment launched the Here for Good: National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Ireland. In his address to the IIEA, Minister Troy discusses how the Government's National AI Strategy will ensure a responsible and inclusive approach to developing, applying and adopting AI. Minister Troy also outlines how Ireland seeks to harness the potential benefits of AI for business and society. About the Speaker: Robert Troy TD has been the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital, & Company Regulation since July 2020. He is the Fianna Fáil TD for Longford/Westmeath and was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2011. He has been a Fianna Fáil frontbench party spokesperson on numerous briefs including for Business, Enterprise & Innovation. He also served on the Oireachtas Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Robert Troy, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital & Company Regulation, Eamon Dunphy, Boradcaster and Former Soccer Player.

Robert Troy, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Aoife Grace Moore, Political Correspondent, Irish Examiner, Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent, Louise O'Reilly, Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Health