In short

Today's other stories in brief

Consumer credit growth moderates

Consumer credit growth continued to moderate in January, the Central Bank said yesterday. According to its latest monthly credit statistics, the rate of expansion in private sector credit eased to 25.3 per cent, down from 25.9 per cent in December and the lowest rate of increase since October 2004.

European Central Bank interest rates rose to 3.5 per cent last December, dampening growth in demand for credit.

Residential mortgage lending slowed to 25 per cent in January, the lowest rate since October 2003.

15 competition law convictions in 2006

The Competition Authority secured 15 criminal convictions for competition law offences last year, according to its annual report, writes Ciarán Brennan.

"With multiple successful prosecutions in the home heating oil case in the West of Ireland, 15 criminal convictions in total were secured, including the first criminal conviction by jury trial for Competition Act offences in Europe," it said.

UTV withdraws from SMG bid

Belfast-based broadcaster UTV has withdrawn from talks to acquire SMG, which owns Virgin Radio and the ITV franchise for Scotland.

This is the second time in seven months that negotiations between the two sides have broken down and UTV is now prevented from making another bid for six months.

ODCE to get additional staff

The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) will get four extra staff in the first half of 2007.

A further four staff will be made available by the end of the year, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Scanlan to step down from Fyffes board

Fruit importer Fyffes announced yesterday that Gerry Scanlan is stepping down from the board at the end of next month. He has been a director since 1995.

€50m Kilrush project announced

Shannon Development yesterday announced a €50 million development project for Kilrush that has the potential to create 109 jobs.

This follows the agency agreeing in principle with a private-sector consortium led by L&M Keating Ltd to develop a 15-acre land bank at Kilrush Marina.