It’s unlikely that I’m the first carbon neutral journalist, but you never know. While Ireland is waking up to its poor record on environmental matters and carbon emissions, I’ve developed a sense of eco-guilt over the past few years. According to UN figures, Ireland’s per capital emissions were about 17 tonnes … Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2007
Day in the Life: Dublin Port
Published on 9 December, 2007. By John Reynolds From toilet roll to choppers to Ryanair planes, they all pass through the country’s busiest port, says John Reynolds, who spends a day on the docks Seven trucks pass through Dublin Port every minute, and up to 10,000 come through here every … Continue reading
‘Green’ taxes net 13 times more than grants paid
Published on December 9, 2007. By John Reynolds Despite claims that we saw a Green Budget last week, environmental taxes are reaping the Government more than 13 times the sum it hands back in green grants for homes and tax breaks for businesses. According to Government figures, Finance Minister Brian … Continue reading
Charity begins at board level for some do-gooder firms
Published on December 9, 2007. By John Reynolds Some firms take corporate social responsibility more than others Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): is it just another form of PR, or is there some substance behind the hype? Some firms boast about their do-gooding on their websites; others in a section of … Continue reading
Every little helps to fill the till at Tesco’s
Published on 25 November, 2007. In a rare interview, Tesco’s Irish boss Tony Keohane tells John Reynolds how the shopping behemoth plans to grow even bigger. AS THE country frets over the economic slowdown, last week saw Tesco Ireland seize the opportunity to remind us that “every little helps”.With 98 … Continue reading
Quiet Successes: Ecocem
Published on 25 November, 2007. By John Reynolds ECOCEM, Donal O’Riain’s carbon-neutral cement firm, proves that giant multinationals don’t always lead the way in innovation. A thorn in the side of market leaders in the cement business such as CRH, whose €16bn operations span several continents, Ecocem is the world’s … Continue reading
From day trading to water wells
“It was an amazing ride. In five years, we went from just myself to having 200 employees on board and from zero revenue to sales of half a million dollars a day.” Having struck gold with the sale of his day trading software firm Cybercorp at the peak of … Continue reading
Irish tech tycoon’s $20m aid
Published on 04 November, 2007. THE nation’s renowned generosity reached its peak earlier this week after the Dublin Marathon and RTE’s Telethon. But one Irish former tycoon — who grew up a stone’s throw from the broadcaster’s Donnybrook headquarters — is helping people in Ethiopia through a more business-oriented approach … Continue reading
Hibernian bids to go green
Published on 28 October, 2007 . IN A move to become Ireland’s first carbon neutral insurance company, Hibernian Group has just bought 30,000 carbon credits from Dublin-based environmentally friendly concrete firm, Ecocem. As the latest UN environmental report paints the starkest picture yet of the planet’s failing health, the insurer … Continue reading
Blood and guts of the fight game
Boxing promoter Eddie McLoughlin has had many tough battles in his time but now he believes he has found a world-beater in Derry’s John Duddy, writes John Reynolds. Published in 14 October, 2007. “It’s the easiest business in the world in which to become a millionaire – as long … Continue reading