Every Friday, we bring you the top five Government news stories of the week. Catch up on what you might have missed here. Click on the headlines to read the full story.
(l - r) Barbara Wood, Tourism Ireland manager, Spain; Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons; Minister Paschal Donohoe; Niamh Kinsella, Tourism Ireland manager, Italy
Strategies unveiled to boost tourism from Spain & Italy
On Monday, Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe launched two new strategies seeking to bring in 25% more visitors from Spain & Italy over the next four years. The strategies identify the significant potential for Irish tourism from the two countries, setting a target of welcoming almost 3.8 million Spanish and Italian visitors between now and 2020 – 825,000 visitors per year from both countries by 2020.
Fitzgerald announces Saturation Policing and new Armed Support Unit
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced a package of additional measures to tackle gangland crime this Tuesday. Additional resources will be ring-fenced to allow Gardai to sustain and intensify saturation policing in Dublin City, including multiple rolling checkpoints and patrols. A dedicated new Armed Support Unit for Dublin will be established, comprising 55 Gardai.
Minister Donohoe with Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons making the announcement today
Donohoe unveils Global Greening line-up
Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe announced this week that the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and Nelson’s Column in London will go green this year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, as part of the organisation’s seventh annual Global Greening initiative.
Minister Richard Bruton with from left: Aine Behan, Cortechs Dublin; Xuemei Germaine, MicroGen Biotech Carlow, and Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland
Over 1,500 jobs to be created over the next three years
Over 1,500 jobs will be created over the next three years by 105 High Potential Start-Up (HPSUs) companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2015. HPSUs are start-up businesses with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within 3 to 4 years of starting up.
There was more good news on the jobs front this week when Galway based company Chanelle announced 175 new jobs on Thursday.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny on threats to journalists
Following threats to journalists this week, the Taoiseach issued a statement, saying:
On behalf of the Government and myself I deplore and condemn any threat made to any journalist in this jurisdiction. One of the pillars of a functioning democracy is freedom of speech and in any self respecting society, journalists must be afforded the freedom to go about their jobs without fear of reprisal.
Have a look at more photos from this week over on our Flickr
You can follow us on Twitter, subscribe to us on Youtube, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram to keep up to date with news, photos and video features.