Airlines for America has communicated to US administration representatives about the passenger limit at Dublin Airport, as reported by the Business Post. The information provided shows that the alliance, comprising members such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, and United, has held various discussions with US authorities over this matter. Moreover, it has participated in a High Court proceeding initiated by Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and the DAA against the IAA’s winter slot restraints. It has alleged that the decision of IAA to limit the passenger volume at Dublin Airport contravenes the Open Skies arrangement between the US and the EU. Airport operator DAA, aspiring for an upward revised limit than the present annual cap of 32 million, anticipates this dispute landing in a European court. The IAA is expected to declare its final decision on slot distribution for summer 2025 at Dublin Airport shortly.
WaterWipes, a company from Co Louth that manufactures plastic-free baby and face wipes, is contemplating a sale after receiving an expression of interest from an investor, informed the Sunday Times. The newspaper realised that the company – established in 2008 by Edward McCloskey, one of the Boyne Valley Group’s family members – might fetch a bare minimum of €300 million. A company spokesperson stated, “WaterWipes has received an offer from an investor keen to collaborate with us. We are still in the process of talking things over, and haven’t made any concrete decisions yet.” The group has a global employee count of 400, with 55 new additions to the company this year alone. The Sunday Times has learnt from sources that its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation totals approximately €30 million.
The Business Post reports that Uisce Éireann has signalled that there is an urgent requirement for the nation’s water infrastructure to receive an investment of at least €120 billion to cover the forthcoming decade’s deficiencies. The semi-public company revealed that its capital expenditure budget, valued at several billion euros, needs to double within the next five years to ascertain a secure water provision and foster the nation’s social and economic progress. Angela Ryan, the Asset Strategy Manager at Uisce Éireann, issued a set of alarming messages regarding the company’s requirement for increased funding at a recent conference organised by the Irish Planning Institute.
Ms. Ryan stated that nearly €60 billion is necessary to address identified risks attached to water and wastewater services and to facilitate expected growth up to the year 2040.
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Marketing of Kerrygold
Ornua, an Irish dairy behemoth, formerly spent over $226 million (€205.8 million) to market its Kerrygold butter label in North America, spanning a four year period. This detail emerged from a Sunday Independent report.
A US judge dismissed Ornua’s claims of trademark violation against a US competitor last Monday. The case linked to their Kerrygold butter brand name. Ornua had raised a “trade dress” case in the US against Abbey Specialty Foods for their Tipperary unsalted butter, arguing that the packaging was strikingly identical to that of Kerrygold’s.
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Sale of Diagnostic Company
According to the Sunday Independent, Metabolomics Diagnostics, a diagnostics business located in Cork, was recently sold to a biotech firm listed on Nasdaq. The deal, which included Trinity Biotech shares, cash and the liability assumption, is reported to value the company at roughly $1.3 million (€1.2 million).
Metabolomics, with Charles Garvey, ex-CEO of Horizon Technology Group functioning as chairman, was picked up by Bray-based Trinity Biotech. Metabolomics had pioneered PrePsia, a technology proven to enhance the foreseeing of preterm pre-eclampsia risk at the 12th week of pregnancy. Discovering this risk at such an early stage would make a huge difference, enabling healthcare providers to prescribe needed medications, substantially diminishing grave health hazards to expectant mothers and their infants.