A strong recovery continues at Ire-Tex Group, the packaging company. Interim results show a rise in pre-tax profit to €1,004,000 (£791,000) from €707,000 in the six months to June 30th, 2000. No interim dividend is being paid but chairman Mr John Bourke said that, with the sustained profit recovery, the company hoped to "return to dividend payments at the end of the year".

On the future, the company, which was previously called ILP, said business should continue to grow "and indeed accelerate towards the end of 2000, in line with the anticipated growth in the market it serves".

The latest results show a rise in sales to €15.2 million (£12 million) from €13.4 million. The share of profit from associated companies fell to €331,000 from €459,000. Shareholders' funds increased to €11.07 million from €9.1 million.

Reviewing the latest results, Mr Bourke said the company's Leixlip, Co Kildare, plant and distribution company "have shown the highest growth in turnover".