A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Grants for 'green' small businesses
Small hospitals, hotels and offices will qualify for €11 million in grants if they install environmentally friendly power plants, following a decision by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey.
The money will be used to pay part of the costs of buying combined heat and power plants, which use steam generated from electricity generation to heat water.
The systems, which can be powered by gas or wood and other forms of biomass such as elephant grass, are 25 per cent more efficient than existing generators that produce electricity alone.
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is now accepting applications for small-scale, gas-powered CHP plants producing more than 50kWe and less than 1Mwe to light and heat hotels, small hospitals, leisure centres, offices etc.
SEI, the State agency which encourages the use of green energy, will later this year begin to encourage the installation of even smaller CHP plants in small offices and homes.
The grants will be paid out of a €65 million fund set up in the last Budget to develop renewable energies. Money is also being paid to householders installing solar panels and wood pellet boilers.
Biomass CHP plants could save 36 million litres of heating oil, while the full range of grant-aided schemes could save 100 million litres - 13 per cent of the total used in 2004, according to Mr Dempsey.
"This is a significant achievement," the Minister said. "It paves the way for a new renewable electricity and heating sector in Ireland, which will dramatically reduce our dependence on imported, polluting fossil fuels."
A combined heat and power plant in St Patrick's hospital in Dublin has saved €50,000 a year in fuel bills and will pay for itself in five years, even though it is expected to last for between 10 and 15 years.
Fine Gael, meanwhile, has warned that higher energy costs are hitting export industries most acutely and damaging Ireland's international competitiveness.
"To date the Government has taken a laissez-faire attitude to the energy crisis, even though all the indications are that it is going to get worse," said Phil Hogan.
Green Party TD Eamon Ryan, launching the party's small business policy document, said the Greens in power would cut bureaucracy, impose fair taxes and help businesses find properly trained workers.
"Having run a small company, I know how difficult it is to get off the ground," said Dublin South TD Mr Ryan, who said the Greens would target small businesses for growth.
Beacon moves on co-location
The Beacon Medical Group said last night it welcomed an invitation it had received from the Health Service Executive to proceed to the next stage of the process in providing co-location hospitals at six hospital centres.
These are the Cork University Hospital, St James's, Dublin; Waterford Regional Hospital; Beaumont, Adelaide and Meath, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, all in Dublin, and Limerick Regional Hospital.
Chairman and chief executive officer of Beacon Michael Cullen said: "We are in an ideal position to meet the requirements of the HSE in all six co-location sites."
New ferry service for Inishbofin
A new five-year contract for a passenger ferry service to Inishbofin island, Co Galway, has been approved by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív. The contract, worth €1,104,800, has been awarded to Inishbofin Island Discovery Ltd and will involve 14 return sailings a week all year round.