Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG

Why ‘Brexit’ really matters to the half a million Irish living in Britain

    

IRISH PEOPLE ‘HAVE A GOOD THING GOING’ IN LONDON AND ARE ‘BETTER OFF IN A CONNECTED WORLD’, ACCORDING TO A DUBLINER WHO WAS RECENTLY VOTED CHEF OF THE YEAR AND RUNS FOUR OF THE HOTTEST RESTAURANTS IN THE BRITISH CAPITAL.

Chef Robin Gill and his wife Sarah – who works with him in their restaurants – believe a ‘Leave’ vote in Brexit could seriously affect their business.

‘Why we’re voting to remain’ – ‘Chef of The Year’ Irishman and owner of four London restaurants

“It looks like the economy could take a big hit if the vote is for leave. But more importantly for us, we employ over 60 people and a lot of them are from all over the EU,” Robin told Independent.ie.

“What happens if Britain votes to leave? Will they need work visas? Will they have to go home? London needs talented people to come here from all over the world, I really hope the vote is for staying in.

“We’ve lost really good people with the visa situation in Australia and Canada. I can’t imagine what it would do to our business,” he continued.

“We’re doing well, the economy is doing well, we’re better off in a connected, globalised world. We’re voting Remain”.

Brexit is the biggest political decision to face the UK in four decades – should they stay or should they go?

Upwards of half a million Irish citizens could have a big say on the referendum – on whether Britain should remain in the European Union – on June 23rd.

The Irish living in the UK are in a virtually unique position – they are the second biggest migrant group, standing at around 500,000 and only outnumbered by the 800,000 Poles.

And, due to the historical quirk which sees us still counted amongst former commonwealth or Empire dominions, only the Irish, Cypriots and Maltese get to vote in the referendum.

Irish economists, businessmen and politicians have already had their say, with Enda Kenny causing a bit of a stir when he arrived in London for a Mayo GAA game recently and took the chance to remind the Irish in the UK to vote ‘Remain’.

Bob Geldof and Michael O’Leary of Ryanair have also been loud pro-EU voices.

‘We don’t have a negative view of the EU like the Brits do’ – Irishman and owner of London pop-up bar Six Yard Box5

The Irish in London today are different from their parents and grandparents generation, those who came in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, often with low skills and low expectations.

The New London Irish are typically young, very well-educated and making the most of the city’s booming, globalised economy.

For Irish entrepreneurs like Seb O’Driscoll, a 35-year-old Corkman who runs The Six Yard Box, a hip, pop-up sports bar in Elephant & Castle, there’s no doubt how most Irish will vote.

“The Irish are everywhere in London, and most love it for being a multi-cultural city with huge diversity and a real international feel,” says Seb.

“The sense I get, from guys coming into the bar here, from my friends and the Irish you meet, they’ll all be voting remain. We don’t have a negative view of the EU in the way a lot of Brits do. And we don’t know what’s going to the happen to the economy if we leave”.

UK Chef of The Year Robin reiterated Seb’s comments and said the opportunities for Irish in London are endless.

“I’ve tried to leave eight or nine times and then another opportunity comes across. From that point, it’s just uncontrollable,” he said.

Brexit: The issues Ireland faces if Britain leaves the EU

If Brexit is the result of the referendum, there will be many unknowns for Ireland both economic and geopolitical.

One of the big issues for Ireland will be how the Republic and North of the country interact with the re-establishment of borders a possibility that has already been highlighted by British chancellor George Osborne.

Not since the long-fought for peace process has this issue arisen and we don’t know what the outcome would be.

From an economic perspective, while Ireland’s dependence on the UK as a trade partner has waned in the most recent past, depending on what kind of trade deal Britain would establish with the EU then that could have repercussions here.

Currently the UK, like other member states, has access to 500m people through the single market.

However, the remain side argues that there’s no guarantees that any kind of free trade agreement between the UK and the EU would be an option if Brexit were the outcome.

One of the upsides of a Brexit, of course, would be a likely influx of foreign direct investment with our low 12.5pc corporation tax rate already attractive for multinationals.

On the flip side, the spotlight is on Ireland’s tax treatment of many of these firms and if, for example, Donald Trump was elected US president he has already warned that countries like Ireland are outsmarting the US and taking jobs by attracting American firms here and he has vowed to stop this.

Investigation under way into discovery of ‘angel dust’ in cattle

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONFIRMS POSITIVE TEST RESULT FOR ILLEGAL GROWTH HORMONE CLENBUTEROL

    

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS INVESTIGATING A CASE OF ALLEGED UNAUTHORISED USE OF THE ILLEGAL GROWTH-PROMOTING DRUG CLENBUTEROL, OR ANGEL DUST, IN CATTLE.

The Department of Agriculture is investigating a case of alleged unauthorised use of the illegal growth-promoting drug clenbuterol, or angel dust, in cattle.

It confirmed the investigation followed a positive test result for one animal in a random sample but would not identify the location of the farm from which it had come.

The Sunday Times reported that a farm in Monaghan was under investigation and that the animal had been slaughtered at a meat processing plant.

Investigators are understood to be attempting to identify and trace products in which meat from the animal had been used.

In a statement, the department said the random sample was taken as part of the National Residue Control Programme, which tests sheep, pigs, cattle and poultry across the State to ensure they have not been given drugs that may be dangerous if consumed.

The department said it had placed all animals on the farm under restriction pending the completion of the investigation.

“The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is fully aware of the case and has concluded that there is no risk to public health from meat that is on the market.”

Isolated

A single isolated incidence of the use of clenbuterol was uncovered during sampling in 2011 – the first time it had been found since 1999.

On that occasion, two beef cattle tested positive for the banned hormone during an investigation on a farm in Co Monaghan.

The farm was being investigated by customs officials looking into alleged diesel laundering when evidence of the substance was discovered.

The National Residue Control Programme is a component of the State’s food safety controls and is implemented under a service contract with the FSAI.

More than 19,000 samples were tested in 2014, across all eight food-producing species as well as milk, eggs and honey.

Just 42 (0.2%) out of 19,095 samples tested in 2014 were positive. The results were comparable to those returned in 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Last year the department said the “consistently low levels” of positive samples reflected the responsible approach adopted by the vast majority of farmers.

“The extensive testing under the NRCP indicates the absence of illegal administration of banned growth promoting hormones and other banned substances to food-producing animals in Ireland, ” it said publishing figures for the NRCP last year.

“Overall the small number of positives detected related mainly to residues of authorised medicines.”

Big upsurge in judgments and repossessions feared as ‘vulture funds’ close in on debtors

     

More than €4bn worth of court-ordered debts have been registered against 3,243 borrowers since 2010, with Danske Bank obtaining the largest value in judgments once non-bank entities such as Nama and the former Anglo Irish Bank are excluded.

Danske tops the league of banks pursuing Irish debtors in the courts.

Danske obtained almost €56m in registered judgments against 110 debtors in the first five months of the year alone according to credit agency Stubbs Gazette.

Danske was followed by Allied Irish Bank which obtained judgments valued at just over €38m against 34 debtors in the same period.

Since 2010, toxic loans agency Nama, which last week reported profits of €1.8bn in 2015, obtained just under €1bn judgments against 34 borrowers.

The agency’s annual report shows that it generated €9.1bn in cash during 2015, with €8.5bn coming from asset disposals.

It has registered judgments of almost €682m against 814 borrowers since 2010.

Bank of Ireland has pursued a larger number of borrowers (957) during that time, although the value of judgments is significantly less, at some €377.42m

State-owned AIB has pursued 523 borrowers since 2010, securing judgments valued at €422.43m, followed by Ulster Bank which secured judgments valued at some €344m against 211 debtors.

James Treacy, CEO of Stubbs Gazette, said that he anticipates a “huge upsurge” in judgments and repossessions over the coming years as vulture funds move on distressed borrowers whose loans it has bought.

The so-called “vulture funds” own over 40,000 principal homes and investment properties here in Ireland.

It is understood that a fifth of mortgages sold to ‘non-bank’entities are in arrears.

To date, only two judgments valued at 1.8m were secured by one such fund, Goldman Sachs, through Ennis Property Finance, one of its special purpose vehicles, according to Stubbs data.

However, this is expected to rise now that loans are being actively managed.

“The funds have a reputation for being very tough but pragmatic when it comes to doing deals,” said Mr Treacy.

“Presently it would appear that their preferred approach is to negotiate deals outside the courts but that is not to say that this will not change if they are not achieving their forecasted return on investment.

“If their pre-legal strategies are not profitable I would expect to see a huge upsurge in both judgments and repossessions over the coming years.”

David Hall, Director of the Irish Mortgage Holders Association, said that borrowers including professionals such as lawyers, doctors and accountants whose loans have been transferred to vulture funds have been operating under a “false sense of security” for the last 18 months.

“It will be carnage,” said Mr Hall, who said dealing with vulture funds will be a “nightmare” for many borrowers.

“It’s like fighting with Conor McGregor with your hands tied behind your back”.

As much as 4,500 diagnosed with diabetes every week, warns a charity

      

Every week 4,500 people are diagnosed with diabetes across the UK, the charity Diabetes UK has said.  it said that in the last year 235,000 people have been diagnosed with the condition.

The figures, released to mark Diabetes Week, highlight the scale of the “crisis” surrounding the illness, charity chief executive Chris Askew said.

He warned that many people are not aware of the seriousness of the condition.

“This Diabetes Week we are setting the record straight and focusing on the realities of living with the condition,” said Mr Askew.

“There is still a lack of understanding when it comes to people being aware of the seriousness of diabetes and this worries us at Diabetes UK.

“There are over four million people living with the condition in the UK. The fact that 4,500 people will discover they have diabetes over the next seven days is deeply concerning, and highlights the current scale of the crisis.

“Diabetes Week is a time to share our concerns about the scale and seriousness of diabetes, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to highlight that with the right healthcare, support and management, diabetes doesn’t have to hold anyone back.”

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. There are two forms of the condition – Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce insulin. Around one in 10 people with diabetes have Type 1 and it usually affects children or young adults.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes is linked to lifestyle factors such as being overweight.

If diabetes is not properly managed it can lead to serious consequences such as sight loss, limb amputation , kidney failure and stroke.

This is how Nasa thought we would be living in 2100

     

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT DREAMS OF MOVING TO ANOTHER PLANET TO ESCAPE TO IMPENDING DOOM OF OUR DYING EARTH IS SOMETHING KNEW, THEN YOU’RE WRONG.

NASA THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING IN OUTER SPACE BY 2100

RECENTLY RESURFACED IMAGES SHOWS HOW IN 1975, SPACE AGENCY NASA THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING IN 2100.

ILLUSTRATIONS COMMISSIONED BY THE US AGENCY, AND CARRIED OUT BY DON DAVIS AND RICK GUIDICETO, SHOW SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF HOW HUMANS MIGHT LIVE IN THE NOW-NEAR FUTURE.

FOLLOWING 10 WEEKS OF RESEARCH, LED BY PRINCETON PROFESSOR GERARD O’NEILL, THE TEAM CAME UP WITH THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS AS TO HOW WE MIGHT BE LIVING AT THE END OF THE CENTURY.

ONE IDEA IS THE CYLINDRICAL COLONY WHICH WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THAT SHOWN IN THE 2014 CHRISTOPHER NOLAN MOVIE INTERSTELLAR COULD BE HOME FOR UP TO ONE MILLION PEOPLE.

• NASA launches spacecraft to STOP Earth-bound KILLER asteroid
• Hubble telescope captures baby star BURNING through gas cloud

ANOTHER IDEA IS THE BERNAL SPHERE WHICH WOULD BE A STRUCTURE ROTATING AROUND A LARGE SPACECRAFT AND FINALLY THE TOROIDAL COLONY.

ALL THREE OF THE DESIGNS HAD ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY THAT WAS CREATED FROM CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, AND POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY.

PROFESSOR O’NEILL HAD HOPED THAT WORK ON THESE STRUCTURES WOULD BEGIN IN THE 1990S, BUT THAT TIME HAS PASSED WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, AND HE HAS SINCE PASSED AWAY.

1. Artificial greenery was also a concept
2. The colony might have looked cylindrical
3. A circular tunnel may have revolved around Earth

HOWEVER, NASA CONTRACTOR AND SPACE SETTLEMENT EXPERT DR AL GLOBUS SAID THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

HE SAID: “WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN OR NOT IS REALLY HARD TO SAY. WHETHER IT CAN HAPPEN, ABSOLUTELY.

“IF WE AS A PEOPLE DECIDE TO DO IT, WE CAN DO IT. WE HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITY, FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, THERE IS SIMPLY NO QUESTION WE CAN DO IT.

“IN TWO OR THREE DECADES WE MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE OF SMALL HOTELS [IN ORBIT], AND PEOPLE MOVING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS.

“ALL THAT IS ON A TIME SCALE MEASURED IN DECADES, OR IN THE WORST CASE CENTURIES.”   

Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG update

Trinity Treaty blueprint dictates the limits of a minority ruled Irish Government by Fine Gael?

    

THE SO-CALLED ‘TRINITY TREATY’ AND ITS EIGHT PAGES, WHICH WILL BE THE GLUE THAT KEEPS THIS MINORITY FINE GAEL GOVERNMENT FROM FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS, WAS DEBATED AT PARTY MEETINGS LAST NIGHT.

This is essentially a blueprint for the next few years and the ‘rules of play’, as agreed between Fine Gael, who will run the country, and Fianna Fáil, who will watch owl-eyed from the opposition benches.

Any dereliction from this deal between the rival parties would likely collapse a government and cause fresh elections. So, here’s a quick digest of the rules of engagement between Enda Kenny’s team and Micheál Martin’s for the next three years, plus an idea about what is planned for water charges. Expect the rules to be referred to religiously by both leaders during the lifetime of this Dáil.

The eight-page, 2,000 word, document includes a three-part deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The first focuses on the mechanics of the minority government deal between the two rival parties.

It includes a commitment by Fianna Fáil to abstain in the election of Taoiseach, nomination of ministers and any reshuffles.

Fianna Fáil will also facilitate budgets in line with the policies it wants. It has also committed to voting against or abstaining on any motions of no confidence in the government, ministers or money bills. Crucially, the deal allows for both leaders to personally resolve differences arising between both parties if an event arises that could “undermine” the deal.

The document also shows that Fine Gael will publish all agreements with Independent TDs or other parties “in full”. This compares to secrete sweetheart deals made by previous Fianna Fáil governments with Independents over the years which were never published. The deal also allows Fine Gael to seek separate policy commitments from other parties for a programme for government. The later could prove useful for Fine Gael if its support fell mid-way through the minority government, and it was forced to turn to others, such as Labour or the Greens, to be propped up.

Another section outlines the changes agreed to water charges. Charges will now be suspended within six weeks of a government being formed, which means bills may be halted from mid-June.

The incoming Fine Gael Government, though, have committed to possibly “abolishing” water charges if the Oireachtas recommends so after the whole system is reviewed by a special commission. This is the first written commitment of this option.

Changes under the deal will also see the €100 water conservation grant scrapped and more funds instead injected into group water schemes and the refurbishment of wells.

The document says that the Oireachtas will — six weeks after the government is formed — introduce legislation to suspend charges for a period of nine months.

The suspension period can be extended, the document adds, by the incoming government.

The expert commission will be set up within eight weeks of the new government and report within five months.

Crucially, the document states commission recommendations will go to a committee and then be voted upon by the Oireachtas.

It adds: “The Government will facilitate the passage of legislation (whether it be a money bill or otherwise) the implementation of the recommendations in relation to domestic water charges supported by the Oireachtas including abolition, a reformed charging regime or other options.”

  The Independent Alliance

However, on the contentious issue of the near million customers who are thought to have paid their water bills so far and whether any refunds will be made, the deal between the two is vague.

It says: “We affirm that those who have paid their water bills to date will be treated no less favourably than those who have not.”

This seems to suggest that those who paid will be no less-off than those who have not, but the agreement does not suggest that non-payers will be pursued or refunds provided.

Fine Gael sources last night said this left the option open for the party to continue to insist that non-payers will still be pursued, but that refunds could be granted down the line, if charges are abolished.

The next move will be for Independent TDs to agree to the ‘Trinity Treaty’ document, especially the points on policy. If not, the decision of a new government will be postponed again.

While TDs own concerns were listened to by Fine Gael during 70 hours of talks, it is likely Independents will want their moment, and are sure to stall an end to the talks until their own demands are well voiced.

Prediction for Ireland to be the EU’s fastest-growing economy for 2016

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REVISES ITS GROWTH FORECAST FOR IRELAND UPWARDS TO 4.9%

     

Ireland is predicted to be the fastest-growing economy in Europe this year according to new figures from the European Commission, with the EU’s executive arm expecting the economy to grow by 4.9% this year.

The predicted GDP growth rate is higher than the figure of 4.5% for 2016 estimated three months ago. The Commission also revised upwards its estimates for 2017 to 3.7%, up slightly from the growth rate of 3.5% predicted in February.

The 4.9% GDP growth rate contrasts with the euro zone average of 1.6% growth expected this year, down slightly from the 1.7% growth forecast in February. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is expected to grow by 1.6% in 2016 with a 1.3% growth rate expected for France. Among the other countries expected to above-average levels of growth are  Romania and Malta, which are expected to grow by 4.2% and 4.1% respectively.

In its analysis of the Irish economy, the Commission states while Ireland appears resilient to the recent deceleration in world output, “the uncertainty surrounding external economic and policy developments invite some caution.” While it does not cite specific external threats to the economy, it states that Ireland is particularly exposed to external factors such as a deceleration in demand from trading partners due to its status as an open economy.

Regarding the housing market, the Commission expects that house price increases in Ireland will moderate as government measures to boost supply kick-in.

It also sounds a cautious note on employment trends. Noting that employment growth decelerated in the final quarter of last year, it says that unemployment is expected to decrease at a slower pace in Ireland than in earlier phases of the recovery.

The reduction in the deficit is welcomed by the Commission, which notes that the government’s deficit fell sharply to 2.3% of GDP in 2015, compared to 3.8% in 2014. It notes that the deficit would have fallen further to 1.3%, but for the accounting treatment of the conversion of some of the state’s preference shares in Allied Irish Banks to ordinary stock in preparation for the bank’s sale.

But it notes that the strong deficit figures reflect the fact that tax revenues increased by 9.3% last year, fuelled by an “unprecedented surge in corporate tax receipts,” which were 50% higher than the previous year.

Overall, the European Commission is cautious about the economic performance of the bloc, revising downwards its economic growth estimates for the year to 1.6% compared to the figure of 1.7% forecast just three months ago. Similarly it expects the euro zone economy to grow by 1.7% in 2017, compared to the figure of 1.9% expected in February.

“Economic growth in Europe is expected to remain modest as key trading partners’ performance has slowed and some of the so far supportive factors start to wane,” the Commission states in its Spring Economic Forecast.

It warns that the expected rebound in oil prices and the single currency’s recent appreciation could affect the economic picture

European Commission vice president Valdis Dombrovskis said that, while the economic recovery in Europe is continuing, the global context is less conducive than it was. “Future growth will increasingly depend on the opportunities we create for ourselves. That means stepping up our structural reform efforts to address long-standing problems in many countries – high levels of public and private debt, vulnerabilities in the financial sector or declining competitiveness.”

HSE unable to pay the €10m emergency nurses pay deal?

COST OF DEAL SET TO BE ADDED TO EXECUTIVE’S FINANCIAL OVERRUN WHICH MAY HIT €300M

     

UNDER THE DEAL NURSES IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ARE TO RECEIVE AN EXTRA TWO DAYS’ LEAVE THIS YEAR AND IN 2017 IN LIEU OF MISSED MEAL BREAKS.

The HSE has told the Government it does not have the money to pay for a €10 million deal agreed with nurses to avoid strikes in hospital emergency departments before the general election.

However, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has told the HSE that agreements made by public sector employers and unions at the Workplace Relations Commission were “binding and must be honoured”.

The cost of the deal with the nurses and it has already led to knock-on claims from other healthcare staff and is now expected to be added to the HSE’s already growing financial overrun for 2016. This could reach €300 million by the end of the year.

Under the deal nurses in emergency departments are to receive an extra two days’ leave this year and in 2017 in lieu of missed meal breaks.

In addition, a €1,500 educational bursary is to be put in place for personnel who stay in their post for one year.

Additional promotional positions for nurses in emergency departments are also to be established.

Additional costs

HSE director general Tony O’Brien told the Department of Health in March the deal involved additional costs which were over and above those covered by the State’s allocation to the HSE.

Mr Varadkar took responsibility for the deal in a replying letter to Mr O’Brien on March 16th. “I appreciate that provision was not made for this when the national service plan 2016 (the HSE’s agreement with the Government on how its budget will be spent) was approved. The Workplace Relations Commission agreement was made subsequently with my full knowledge and support.

“For this reason I am asking that you proceed to implement it in full as soon as practicable and to inform the Workplace Relations Commission of the same.”

“I understand that implementation will cost up to €10 million in 2016,” the Minster said.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged the HSE earlier this year proposed financial incentives to encourage 8,000 nurses currently working on flexible arrangements to work additional hours.

Pay policy: However, this was rejected by the Department of Health, which feared the impact of such a development on broader public service pay policy.

The HSE told the department in late January that there was evidence that the existing terms and conditions were not sufficiently attractive to encourage nurses on flexible arrangements to work additional hours.

It said nurses who did not work full hours could not be paid overtime under existing terms and conditions.

“While it is not within the capacity of the HSE to change the terms and conditions of public sector staff, this initiative could be assisted by the provision of incentivised terms,” the HSE said.

Overtime arrangements?

Within days the Department of Health replied, stating: “There can be no question of overtime arrangements or other financial incentives applying to staff members who work less than full-time hours or any departure from existing overtime arrangements.”

Details of the HSE proposals have emerged as nurses are expected to demand improvements in their terms and conditions at the annual conference of theIrish Nurses and Midwives Organisation which gets under way in Co Kerry today.

SuperValu group set for global expansion as Musgrave eyes export markets

      

Musgrave chief executive (left) Chris Martin

The SuperValu brand could start making an appearance on shop shelves around the world, as Cork-based retail group Musgrave plots a targeted internationalisation of its products.

Musgrave chief executive Chris Martin said that while its plans are at a very early stage, the group is looking at how it might emulate retailers such as UK-based Waitrose, which sells its products to other retailers around the globe.

“We believe there is a real opportunity, particularly with our own-brand, that we can create export opportunities,” said Mr Martin. “It’s early days. We’re investigating it.”

He cited Waitrose as an example of a retailer that exports branded goods around the world.

Dunnes Stores, for example, has stocked Waitrose products in the past. Waitrose sells its products in about 60 countries.

“The appetite for the sorts of product that we’re developing and working with our suppliers on, is unique,” said Mr Martin, pointing to hundreds of products that have been launched under its own-brand ‘Signature Tastes’ label.

He said SuperValu’s Food Academy initiative – a programme developed in conjunction with Bord Bia and local enterprises offices – has been successful in helping to drive sales at the retailer’s stores.

The programme supports hundreds of small businesses in developing their products and getting them on shelves.

“The opportunity we’re looking at is working with distributors and talking directly with retailers about how we can sell our product in (to their networks),” said Mr Martin. “It plays partly to the Irish diaspora, but more importantly, it places the quality that we are developing (in focus),” he added. He said healthy products developed for SuperValu could present a good opportunity for the retailer.

He added that Musgrave now has an executive examining the potential for exports, but that they have only taken on the task within the past few weeks.

“We’ll wait and see, but it’s about looking at different ways in which we can extend our offer,” the chief executive said.

He said it’s not clear yet though whether the SuperValu name would be used for any exports.

“It’s too early to say. The reality is that you’ve got to make your product work in the local market. But the fact is, you can go into markets. It’s about looking at the catalogue of products, seeing who’s interested, seeing what retailers want, and the products absolutely reinforce the sorts of quality that some of the markets are looking for.”

SuperValu is the country’s biggest grocery retailer, with most of the stores operated by franchisees.

Family-owned Musgrave also owns the Centra and Daybreak brands here.

Musgrave generated revenue of €3.7bn and a pre-tax profit of €52.8m from continuing operations last year.

New planets found boost search for life beyond our Earth

    

THE DISCOVERY OF THREE PLANETS THAT CIRCLE A SMALL, DIM STAR COULD BOLSTER THE CHANCES OF FINDING LIFE BEYOND EARTH, ASTRONOMERS NOW SAY.

The Earth-sized planets are orbiting their parent star, located in the constellation Aquarius relatively close to Earth at 40 light years away, at a distance that provides the right amount of heat for there to be liquid water on their surface, a condition scientists believe may be critical for fostering life.

The discovery marked the first time that planets were found orbiting a common type of star known as an ultra-cool dwarf, the scientists said.

“If we want to find life elsewhere in the universe, this is where we should start to look,” Michael Gillon, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature, said.

The discovery was made using Europe’s Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope, or TRAPPIST, located in Chile.

Though the planets are about the size of Earth, their host star is just 8% of the size of the sun and less than a half a percent as bright.

So far, astronomers have found more than 2,000 planets beyond the solar system and are developing techniques to scan planets’ atmospheres for gases related to biological activities.