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| Firm is to build Irish city buses | Firm is to build Irish city buses |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A County Antrim firm has won a multi-million pound contract to supply 48 buses to the Irish republic's state bus company. | A County Antrim firm has won a multi-million pound contract to supply 48 buses to the Irish republic's state bus company. |
| Wright Group in Ballymena will supply the single-deck city buses to Bus Eireann. | Wright Group in Ballymena will supply the single-deck city buses to Bus Eireann. |
| Irish Transport Minister Martin Cullen announced the 11.5m euro (£8m) contract at the firm's Galgorm premises. | Irish Transport Minister Martin Cullen announced the 11.5m euro (£8m) contract at the firm's Galgorm premises. |
| "I believe that practical north/south co-operation can benefit us all," he said. | "I believe that practical north/south co-operation can benefit us all," he said. |
| "There are many areas in which we can do business to advance the economic agenda, to the advantage of north and south. | "There are many areas in which we can do business to advance the economic agenda, to the advantage of north and south. |
| "There is real potential for significant purchasing contracts to service our need for new buses. | "There is real potential for significant purchasing contracts to service our need for new buses. |
| "We are in the business of buses - and I'm delighted to see you tendering for the supply of buses in our market." | "We are in the business of buses - and I'm delighted to see you tendering for the supply of buses in our market." |
| The company is to build 48 city buses | |
| The visit follows an Irish Congress of Trade Unions' sponsored meeting between the minister and worker representatives from Wright's in January this year. | The visit follows an Irish Congress of Trade Unions' sponsored meeting between the minister and worker representatives from Wright's in January this year. |
| The minister toured the premises of the group - the largest independent bus-building company in western Europe - and met with both staff and management. | The minister toured the premises of the group - the largest independent bus-building company in western Europe - and met with both staff and management. |
| Founded in 1946, the Wright Group has pioneered low-floor buses in the UK and employs almost 900 people. | Founded in 1946, the Wright Group has pioneered low-floor buses in the UK and employs almost 900 people. |
| Among the local dignitaries present for the factory visit was the area's MP and first minsiter designate, Ian Paisley. | Among the local dignitaries present for the factory visit was the area's MP and first minsiter designate, Ian Paisley. |
| The firm has supplied buses to markets in North America, Asia and mainland Europe. | The firm has supplied buses to markets in North America, Asia and mainland Europe. |
| Mr Cullen also confirmed that Dublin Bus has agreed with Wright's to supply their first prototype - a hybrid electric double-deck vehicle, "to advance the sustainable agenda within Dublin Bus". | Mr Cullen also confirmed that Dublin Bus has agreed with Wright's to supply their first prototype - a hybrid electric double-deck vehicle, "to advance the sustainable agenda within Dublin Bus". |
| The firm has been developing a range of passenger transport vehicles which feature environmentally friendly advanced hybrid engines. | The firm has been developing a range of passenger transport vehicles which feature environmentally friendly advanced hybrid engines. |