Ireland and the Chinese Government sign a partnership agreement
Ireland and China have signed an agreement to deepen economic and trade links.
In a joint statement the Irish and Chinese governments said they intend to work together with the aim of boosting two-way trade and investment.
The agreement was made on the final day of Taoiseach Enda Kenny's visit to China.
The statement said the agreement "sets out a framework to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation between Ireland and China in a number of important areas".
These areas include:- Greater levels of two-way trade and investment for Irish and Chinese companies and investors;- Attracting inward investment from China to Ireland which in turn can facilitate greater access to the wider EU internal market;- Increased cooperation in the area of science, technology and innovation;- Closer collaboration in the agriculture sector including food and agribusiness;- Greater levels of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including in the education and research sectors.
Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to respecting and safeguarding human rights and agreed to share expertise in areas such as governance and rule of law. They also restated their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
The two countries also reaffirmed support the development of EU – China relations.
“This agreement will put Ireland-China relations on a new level," Mr Kenny said.
" It provides a clear and important framework for closer engagement and cooperation in all of the key areas of interest to Ireland."
Mr Kenny said agreements of this type were especially important in the Chinese political, administrative and business system.
"It is a new and highly significant development in Ireland-China relations, and puts the seal on a very successful visit to China," he added.
The Taoiseach was accompanied on the visit by Jobs Minister Richard Bruton as well as officials from Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Forfás. Other state bodies taking part included Tourism Ireland, NTMA, the Central Bank and the Department of Finance.
“The mission has been a very important step in growing closer ties and contacts with our Chinese counterparts and that is given physical form with the agreement of both countries to enter in to a strategic partnership for mutually beneficial co-operation," said Minister Bruton.
"It provides a platform for further developing this exciting and evolving relationship that dates back over 30 years.
"It is a relationship that I, my Department and all the agencies under my remit look forward to developing in the coming months and years.”
Enterprise Ireland meanwhile said more than €35m worth of contracts and commitments were signed in Shanghai and Beijing during the past three days.
The contracts signed covered a wide range of sectors including: clean technologies, mobile software, international services, healthcare, consumer products, education and industrial technologies.
In addition, a number of significant Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), which are essential building blocks in developing business in China, were signed between Irish companies and their Chinese counterparts. These MOUs covered areas such as International Education, Financial and International Services.
"Exports create and sustain jobs; and visits like this, especially in China are crucial in building exports," said Enterprise Ireland CEO Frank Ryan.
"We are extremely proud of our Irish client companies and congratulate them on their success this week in China.”
€100 household charge: Warning as bogus property tax collectors hit homes
In a joint statement the Irish and Chinese governments said they intend to work together with the aim of boosting two-way trade and investment.
The agreement was made on the final day of Taoiseach Enda Kenny's visit to China.
The statement said the agreement "sets out a framework to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation between Ireland and China in a number of important areas".
These areas include:- Greater levels of two-way trade and investment for Irish and Chinese companies and investors;- Attracting inward investment from China to Ireland which in turn can facilitate greater access to the wider EU internal market;- Increased cooperation in the area of science, technology and innovation;- Closer collaboration in the agriculture sector including food and agribusiness;- Greater levels of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, including in the education and research sectors.
Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to respecting and safeguarding human rights and agreed to share expertise in areas such as governance and rule of law. They also restated their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
The two countries also reaffirmed support the development of EU – China relations.
“This agreement will put Ireland-China relations on a new level," Mr Kenny said.
" It provides a clear and important framework for closer engagement and cooperation in all of the key areas of interest to Ireland."
Mr Kenny said agreements of this type were especially important in the Chinese political, administrative and business system.
"It is a new and highly significant development in Ireland-China relations, and puts the seal on a very successful visit to China," he added.
The Taoiseach was accompanied on the visit by Jobs Minister Richard Bruton as well as officials from Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Forfás. Other state bodies taking part included Tourism Ireland, NTMA, the Central Bank and the Department of Finance.
“The mission has been a very important step in growing closer ties and contacts with our Chinese counterparts and that is given physical form with the agreement of both countries to enter in to a strategic partnership for mutually beneficial co-operation," said Minister Bruton.
"It provides a platform for further developing this exciting and evolving relationship that dates back over 30 years.
"It is a relationship that I, my Department and all the agencies under my remit look forward to developing in the coming months and years.”
Enterprise Ireland meanwhile said more than €35m worth of contracts and commitments were signed in Shanghai and Beijing during the past three days.
The contracts signed covered a wide range of sectors including: clean technologies, mobile software, international services, healthcare, consumer products, education and industrial technologies.
In addition, a number of significant Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), which are essential building blocks in developing business in China, were signed between Irish companies and their Chinese counterparts. These MOUs covered areas such as International Education, Financial and International Services.
"Exports create and sustain jobs; and visits like this, especially in China are crucial in building exports," said Enterprise Ireland CEO Frank Ryan.
"We are extremely proud of our Irish client companies and congratulate them on their success this week in China.”
€100 household charge: Warning as bogus property tax collectors hit homes
Gardai and County Councils have warned the public to be on high alert after unscrupulous conmen have been spotted going door-to-door trying to extort the €100 household tax.
Members of the public are being reminded that council staff should always carry proper identification.
A spokesperson for Meath County Council confirmed two bogus callers have visited houses in various parts of the county in recent days, attempting to collect the hugely controversial tax.
He stressed there are currently no staff collecting money on the council’s behalf, and warned people not to hand over the €100 charge under any circumstances.
The conmen are knocking on doors masquerading as council staff demanding upfront payment.
In Laois, fraudsters were spotted calling to homes in Mountmellick yesterday, while there were also reports of similar activity in nearby Stradbally on Monday.
DONEGAL County Council also has issued an urgent warning recently saying they have asked Gardai to investigate reports that conmen are posing as household tax collectors – and taking €100 from pensioners.
There have been a number of incidents in Buncrana and Glengad in the past two days where crooks have pretended to be from the council.
But Donegal County Council staff are NOT collecting the household charge door-to-door.
A Virginia Co Cavan diesel laundering operation could have cost the Irish state €5m a year
A Diesal laundering operation uncovered in Co Cavan last night could have cost the state up to €5m a year in lost revenue, customs officers said. The sophisticated and well concealed operation was discovered near the N3 at Virginia.
A yard behind a house at Whitegate had been lowered by over a metre to hide the illegal activity that was going on.
Customs officers had been watching the property for some time, and when they raided it last night they found two vans.
Equipment and bleaching earth used to remove the colour from cheaper agricultural diesel which is then sold on as road fuel, were also found.
One man found at the scene was questioned and subsequently released.
Customs officers estimate that the laundry discovered last night could have washed around 10 million litres of diesel per a year. It is estimated that up to 10 million litres of diesel could have been washed there a year.
Customs officers estimate that the laundry discovered last night could have washed around 10 million litres of diesel per a year. It is estimated that up to 10 million litres of diesel could have been washed there a year.
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