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Knock designation status stands - Duffy The Chairman of Board of Directors of Knock Airport, Mr. Cathal Duffy has revealed that three companies are at an advanced stage of setting up at the industrial enterprise zone at the base. He rejected suggestions that tax incentives were not available and confirmed that those investing there could avail of 100% capital allowance write-off on buildings; 10% corporation tax as well as financial assistance from the State development agencies. Mr. Duffy said: "Plans for the first office type building of 30,000 sq ft have received planning approval from Mayo County Council. We have gone out to tender for this building. "The Board are in negotiations regarding their first tenants which will meet the 'Qualifying trading Operation' clause as set out by the EU Commissioner for its approval. He said the EU had modified the designation proposal last December but he above incentives were available on a company-by-company basis and this was provided for in the 1997 Finance Act. Mr. Duffy added: "There is no problem as far as our designation is concerned. It has been modified a little but the main attractions are there." Achill man buys £40m trawler An Achill Island born fisherman has ordered what may be the world's largest freezer type trawler at a cost of about £40 million. Kevin McHugh, who hails from Bullsmouth where his mother and sister still live, is regarded as one of Europe's leading pelagic fish owners. His interests include the Bayview Hotel in Killybegs. His brother, Eamon recently took delivery of a £10 million craft, The Antarctic. The new vessel will be half the length again of Mr. McHugh's "Veronica", which is named after his wife. It will be able to hold about 7,000 tonnes of frozen fish with a daily freezing capacity of 300 tonnes. The vessel is due for delivery in August 2,000. Kilbane moves to defuse party tension BY TOM KELLY THE chairman of Mayo County Council has moved to defuse an internal Fine Gael party row over the snubbing of former Tourism Minister, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D., at the opening of the £3m. holiday village in Castlebar. Mr. Pat Kilbane was expected to receive flak from party members over his failure to refer, in his speech at the opening, to the tremendous work of Mr. Kenny in putting key funding in place for the facility during his time as minister. Mr. Kenny had also been omitted in the speeches made by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., and Mr. Blackie Gavin, chairman of Castlebar Urban Council. But Fine Gael supporters felt particularly upset when Mr. Kenny appeared to be overlooked by one of his own, Mr. Kilbane. Now the Achill -based councillor has explained why protocol prevented him from praising Deputy Kenny. "I was the holder of a chain of office outside of my jurisdiction. Protocol dictated that it was not my place to single out the efforts of Mr. Kenny, even through I realised he was being omitted. "If I had done so, it would have been a direct reprimand to An Taoiseach and the chairman of Castlebar Urban Council."
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