In short

The other business news of the day in brief...

eGovernment win for NPPR site

The online payments and processing system for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge (www.nppr.ie) won the overall Ireland eGovernment Award at an event at Dublin Castle yesterday.

Developed by the Local Government Management Agency, the site enables information-sharing with the Revenue Commissioners and the Companies Registration Office.

Also recognised at the awards, hosted by Elucidate and the Public Sector Times and sponsored by Eircom, were the National Concert Hall’s website, Trinity College Dublin for making its website accessible to people with disabilities, the Big Switch marketing campaign for Bord Gáis Energy and Mayo County Council’s online services.

Nestlé forecasts further growth

Nestlé forecast another year of market-beating growth after the maker of Nescafé instant coffee and Kit Kat bars reported above-market expansion and higher margins in 2009 thanks to “iron discipline” on costs and working capital.

The world’s biggest foods group predicted further margin improvements, based on strong brands and productivity gains, in spite of tough markets and economic uncertainties.

The group proposed a 14.3 per cent dividend increase to SFr1.60 a share. Coming with confirmation that Nestlé would disburse more of a new SFr10 billion buy-back programme in 2010 than expected, the group’s shares rose by 2.43 per cent to SFr52.70. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010)

Treasury redundancy dispute resolved

A dispute under the Unfair Dismissals Act between Treasury Holdings and former employee Suzanne Mahon was resolved between the two parties at the Employment Appeals Tribunal yesterday.

Chairman Mark O’Connell BL adjourned the matter for eight weeks on the basis that it had been resolved. Ms Mahon is at liberty to re-enter the dispute if she deems fit in that period.

Ms Mahon was employed as an accountant with Treasury Holdings between 2007 and 2009 with a weekly gross pay including bonuses and allowances of €2,528.

She brought the claim against Treasury on the basis that she was informed “without notice, discussion or consultation” that she was being made redundant, was not consulted on the situation and was denied the right to consider any alternative employment options.

She added that, even if a redundancy situation did exist, which she denied, that she was unfairly selected.

Treasury Holdings claimed Ms Mahon had been dismissed on the grounds of redundancy, for which she was selected fairly.