O’Neill to seek election in Dundalk South

Brian O’Neill

Well-known local businessman Brian O’Neill has confirmed his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the forthcoming local elections.

Brian, best known for his business RQ O’Neill’s, will be seeking election in the Dundalk South constituency when the public go to the polls on Friday May 23rd.

Mr O’Neill has been heavily involved in the local community for several decades and is the chairman of the Dundalk Business Investment District Scheme (BIDS). He is also a former Dundalk Chamber of Commerce president, a former co-chair of the Dundalk-Newry Economic Forum and a peace commissioner.

As he looks forward to his retirement from the family’s retail business, Brian confirmed that his continuing interest  in local issues has led him to make the decision to ask the people of Dundalk South for their vote in the elections taking place in just over seven weeks time.

He stated: “I have always held a lifelong interest in the community and the organisations and groupings which support it.  Over the years I have been involved in many sectors throughout Dundalk and the environs of County Louth.

“I have a deep belief in taking positive action, in being pro-social, and in harnessing the goodwill of communities. It is in seeing the benefits of being both a leader and a team worker, which has led me to seek a seat in our new local authority under the banner of ‘Good Citizenship’.

“Not one person can solve all problems, but one person can harness positivity and an enthusiasm to bring people’s views to the fore. I would like to be that person in Dundalk South.”

He added: “Myself and my family before me have always done our best to serve the people of Dundalk and Louth, both in business and the community. There are many people who have been loyal customers, indeed many families going back through generations, who know me well enough to know if I say I’m going to try and do something for them, I will do it to my best ability.

“Retirement from business would give me time to devote myself fully to the challenges of local government and time to liaise with the people of Dundalk and Louth that I hope to serve.”

Brian added that given the dissolution of Dundalk Town Council, he is undaunted by the change in the local authority and would look forward to the new era of local government.

“Some people would see it as going into unchartered territory but after you’ve been in so many groupings as I have, it’s a new challenge, and a challenge I would relish if given the opportunity by the electorate.”

Dundalk-based Prometric records huge profit increase

Prometric’s offices in Dundalk

Dundalk based company Prometric saw its revenues increase by 81% last year.

The US multi-national has reported that its turnover rose from €14.3 million in 2012, up from €8 million in 2011.

The results helped to push its Irish operation, which is headquartered in Dundalk, into profitability.

Prometric Ireland recorded a net profit of €744,000 last year, which was up from a net loss of €180,000 in 2011. The company closed the year with accumulated profits of €396,000.

The results indicate that Prometric has quickly scaled up its operation in Ireland since it opened its offices in Dundalk in 2011.

The company had 99 employees at year-end, which is two-thirds of the 150 jobs it said it would be creating over a three-year time period from 2011. It had a total remuneration bill of €3.7m in 2012.