Thoughts have moved from flooding to freezing but estimates are coming in from the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) of the claims costs arising from the flooding in November. The combined bill for household and commercial property as well as motor claims facing IIF members is expected to be €224m. It is estimated that household insurance claims will cost the industry €77m while commercial property claims will amount to €159m.

If talk of the recession seems never-ending and you want some positivity about business, then the Rochestown Park Hotel is the place to be today. A seminar entitled, 'Confidence in Action' is taking place today in an effort to fight back against the "prophets of doom and naysayers". The seminar promises to declare war on pessimism and, with the Cork Chamber, muster a determined group of business activists to help "lead you to victory in your business".

Renewed calls have been made to secure a larger relief package for areas in Cork affected by the flooding in November. The Cork Chamber is looking for an increase in the allocation of funds from central government to keep Cork moving. Speaking in advance of the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment meeting this week, Cork Chamber CEO, Conor Healy called for a bigger relief package for affected areas.

Network Cork, the organisation for women in business, the professions and the arts, is building on a successful 2009 with the announcement of its first event of the New Year. Internationally renowned speaker, author, mentor and business strategist, Veronica Canning, will address members at a meeting in the Maryborough Hotel and Spa, in Douglas.

Credit Unions in Cork and throughout Ireland are continuing to aid relief efforts for victims of the recent flooding with over half a million euro raised. The total contribution received from participating Credit Unions and their members nationwide to date is €570,000. In Cork, Bantry, Buttevant and Doneraile, Crosshaven and Carrigaline, Muintir Clanna Caoilte, The Lough, Kanturk, St Gabriel's and St Patrick's Credit Unions all contributed to the national campaign.

Having overcome a "challenging" 2009, the Port of Cork remains "optimistic" for 2010. According to the company, all areas of port business were exposed to the current economic slowdown. "Over the past 15 months, port customers and the majority of businesses in Ireland have seen a significant change in trading conditions with an overall reduction in cargo volumes of 18 per cent coming through the port," a spokesperson said.

Many of us are struggling this week with our new year's resolutions. Some of us have already discarded them with the Christmas wrapping paper; more are determined to keep them up. Whatever they are, a resolution that everyone should make and keep is to be aware of their personal finances. This is according to financial journalist and co-author of the TAB Guide to Money, Pensions and Tax 2010, Jill Kerby, writes Peter Tobin

Measures have been introduced to help certain businesses in the state continue trading into the future. The Minister for Trade and Commerce and Cork TD, Billy Kelleher, this week announced the enactment of the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 with most of the provisions coming into effect immediately.

A legal rights organisation this week highlighted the upward trend in serious mortgage arrears, warning that people may lose their homes as a result of arrears. Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) has described as worrying, the figures from the Financial Regulator on people falling behind on their mortgage payments. According to the last previous figures available on arrears, from June 2008, some 13,931 residential accounts were in arrears.

Enterprise Ireland has described 2009 as "a year of unprecedented challenge" for Ireland's exporters and stressed that the priority for the coming year is building stability in the business community. In its end of year statement, the group said that exporters suffered due to the "significant drop in global demand and the sustained pressure of Sterling and US Dollar exchange rates."