Creation of EnterpriseThrough Self Employment

First-Step was set up in 1991 as a not for profit organisation by Norma Smurfit and a group of like minded individuals. The objective of First-Step is to provide microfinance loans (i.e. loans less than €25,000) to start up or expanding small and medium enterprises for job creation or protection.  Loans are targeted at people who have difficulty securing finance from traditional banking sources. To date First-Step has assisted 1,500 projects. It is estimated these projects have created in excess of 3,000 employment opportunities.
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European Investment Fund

First-Step is the beneficiary of an SME Guarantee Facility created within the framework of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP 2007-2013) of the European Community. This Guarantee is operated by the European Investment Fund on behalf of the Commission.
The objective of the Guarantee is to encourage organisations like First-Step to provide financing to micro-enterprises and to mitigate a part of the risk in relation to bad debts on the loan portfolio

Eamon Gilmore takes Leader's Questions in Dail Eireann

Watch The Dail Live. At this moment Eamon Gilmore, Tanaiste is taking Leader's Question

http://www.politics.ie/video/dail-eireann/

Leinster House streams are provided by HEAnet, Ireland's National Education and Research Network, in conjunction with the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Press release:: European CommissionTo boost protection for posted workers

21/03/12 - European Commission
To address the specific issues of abuse where workers do not enjoy their full rights in terms of for example, pay or holidays, especially in the construction sector, the Commission has put forward concrete, practical proposals as part of an enforcement Directive to increase monitoring and compliance and to improve the way existing rules on posted workers are applied in practice.
 Read on.....

What is a 'posted worker'?

A posted worker is a person who, for a limited period, carries out his or her work in the territory of an EU Member State other than the State in which he or she normally works. The number of posted workers in the EU is estimated to be 1 million (less than 1% of the EU working age population). The sector that most commonly uses posted workers is construction (25%) with a strong SME presence. Other sectors include services, financial and business activities, transport and communication and agriculture. More Information...

On-street parking, on Patrick Street

For Your Information

REMINDER about Clarion Hotel Meeting Wednesday Night

Information Evening about Aloe Vera Products Open Information evening in the Clarion Hotel, Limerick. MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday 21st March. 7.45pm for 8pm start.

Minister Cannon announces EGF application for redundant Talk Talk workers

The Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon, T.D., announced that his Department had submitted an application on 29 February 2012 for EU co-financing under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 592 redundant workers at the Talk Talk call centre facility in Waterford and three ancillary enterprises.

Minister Cannon said "The application that my Department submitted will, if approved by the EU, assist us to provide a mix of training, education, enterprise support and upskilling interventions to former Talk Talk workers.More

Researchers finish first complete map of Titanic debris site

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITYDO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!

Open Information evening in the Clarion Hotel, Limerick  Wednesday 21st March. 7.45pm for 8pm start.