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ICT News:

Exhibit on the history of computing in Ireland
Japanese mobile phone firm takes 11.5% stake in Blue Ocean for $10m
Digisoft announces availability of SDK for advanced IPTV services
Buy4Now sale nets backers $15m
IFDS take strategic stake in Percana
HP and Dell operations make news
Trintech takes its new LCM Payments solution to Sibos

Life Sciences:

Alcon to create 186 jobs at Cork plant

Banking & Finance:

Irish bank shares suffer under Lehman fallout

Tourism & Transport:

XL collapse hits over 4,000 Irish holidaymakers
Aer Lingus rumoured to be planning major redundancies programme

The Economy:

National pay deal agreed

General News:

Openhydro installs subsea tidal turbine with new €5m barge
Wood Group buys Galway subsea consultancy
Revenue collects over €12m from 93 defaulters
Grant Thornton, Foster McAteer merger to realise annual fees of €50m
Pepsi to yield €338m from wind-up of Irish company
American Apparel and Tiffany to have Dublin outlets
DCC buys FindlaterGrants from C&C
WYG shows strong results despite "challenging" environment
Kentz H1 pre-tax profits soar 52%
Cappoquin Chickens to close Waterford plant
Diageo to build new plant in Leixlip

Diary:

Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum – Penang, October 10

Irish Computer Society hosts SSCP CBK Review Seminar – October 8-10
Clare Enterprise Week – October 6-10 2008
Unlocking the growth potential of your business – Free seminars

Appointments:

EpiSensor appoints new executive chairman

Academic:

NUI, Galway researcher publishes paper on climate change
9/11 evacuation is subject of UU research
Volunteering Fair at NUI, Galway
NUI, Galway appoints Director of Technology Transfer
Amnesty head at NUI, Galway
Minister of State to speak at UCD graduation
TCD researchers publish paper on infection and dementia

Job Advertisements:

The Irish Aviation Authority
Flight Operations Inspectors- Fixed Wing
ON Semiconductor - Limerick
Design Manager / Senior Analog Designer - Power Switching Division
Senior Analog IC Designer
Senior Digital IC Designer
O’Malley - Executive Search, Selection & Human Resource Consulting
Human Resources Manager - Limerick
Trinity College Dublin - School of Engineering
Lectureship in Biomechanical Engineering (specific purpose contract)
Irish Aviation Authority
Division Manager - Personnel Licensing
Division Manager - Airline Airworthiness
Division Manager - Air Operator and General Aviation Airworthiness
Division Manager - Aircraft Registration and Design Control
Division Manager - Airline Standards
Division Manager - General Aviation Standards
ATS INSPECTOR (Air Navigation Services)
Statistical Analyst

ICT NEWS

Exhibit on the history of computing in Ireland

An exhibition focusing on the history of computers in Ireland will go on display in the Galway City Museum later this year. If anyone has relevant equipment or documents that they would be willing to loan or donate please contact Chris Coughlan <Chris.Coughlan@gmail.com>. The emphasis will be on personal computing but if you have interesting items that may not fall within this category you should still drop a line to Chris.

Japanese mobile phone firm takes 11.5% stake in Blue Ocean for $10m

Dublin-based maritime mobile phone operator Blue Ocean Wireless has sold an 11.5% stake in the company to NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s biggest mobile phone group, in a deal worth $10m. The deal was completed by the largest shareholder in Blue Ocean, Irish equity company Claret Capital. NTT has a large portfolio of telecom-related interests worldwide and also developed the i-mode mobile internet service. Blue Ocean, in conjunction with Tralee-based Altobridge, has developed technology that allows merchant seamen to use their phones from cargo ships to contact friends and family. The company has so far signed up 100 ships for its mobile phone service. http://www.blueoceanwireless.com/

Digisoft announces availability of SDK for advanced IPTV services

Digisoft.tv, a Cork-based provider of carrier class solutions to the IPTV, media and entertainment markets, has announced the general availability of a Software Development Kit (SDK) for its flagship service delivery platform, DigiHost. The SDK provides IPTV service providers and system integrators with a complete toolset for creating real world interactive television (iTV) applications and launching distinctive new revenue generating SD and HD services without increasing CAPEX.

The SDK is part of the DigiHost Service Delivery Platform that supports and manages the complete delivery of advanced interactive TV services through the Digisoft Java-based programme guide (or IPG) on set-top boxes and other client devices such as PCs, including content delivery via portable storage devices. It also includes interfaces to allow integration to existing head-end servers such as entitlement, member management and OSS or BSS. www.digisoft.tv

Buy4Now sale nets backers $15m

Irish retail website Buy4Now has sold its subsidiary in the US to Vermont-based MyWebGrocer in a move that has secured a windfall of $15m for its backers, including its founder and chief executive Ali Murdoch. Buy4Now said a “capital restructuring” of the group had netted $15m for its shareholders, which include Eircom, Superquinn, and Grafton Group. Mr Murdoch, who managed the US business and will remain in the US as acting chief executive of the business under the new owners, is understood to have earned $3.5-$4m from the restructuring. Co-founder Michael Veale is now chief executive of Buy4Now.

IFDS take strategic stake in Percana

International Financial Data Services (Ireland) Ltd has acquired what it describes as “a substantial minority interest” in Percana Group Ltd. Percana employs 100 people at its headquarters in Parkwest Business Park in Dublin from where it provides software, outsourcing and consultancy services to the life assurance and pensions industry.

IFDS Ireland is one of a series of joint ventures established between State Street Corporation and DST Systems, specialising in mutual fund services. http://www.ifdsgroup.com/

While Percana has grown substantially in the last number of years, the management of Percana has recognised that a significant global investor was required if the company was to achieve its ambitious growth targets. William Slattery, managing director of State Street Ireland, and Pat Concannon, chief financial officer for IFDS Ireland, will both join the board of Percana Group. http://www.percana.com

HP and Dell operations make news

The media is keeping a watchful eye for further news from both HP and Dell, two of Ireland's largest employers. It is not known at this stage how the HP announcement, that it plans to shed 24,600 staff worldwide, will affect its Irish operations. Reports from the US that the bulk of the job cuts will be among former EDS employees could be bad news for around 400 staff in Dublin who transferred to HP from EDS. HP has some 4,000 Irish employees mainly in Leixlip, Dublin and Galway. www.hp.com

Concerns raised by the recent reports that Dell was planning to sell its production plants and then subcontract its manufacturing have been compounded by a warning from the company that it will be looking at opportunities to cut its long-term cost structure in response to slowing demand. Dell employs around 3,000 in Limerick and about 1,300 in its sales and marketing facility in Cherrywood, Co. Dublin. www.dell.com

Trintech takes its new LCM Payments solution to Sibos

Trintech Group, a provider of integrated financial governance, transaction risk management, and compliance solutions, is attending the 2008 Sibos Conference in Vienna to promote its LCM Payments solution developed using Microsoft technology. Launched in July, LCM Payments is a browser-based account reconciliation and positive pay solution providing financial institutions and their corporate customers with a wide range of real-time capabilities, including fraud prevention and advanced decision-making tools for enterprise payment processing lifecycles. www.trintech.com

LIFE SCIENCES

Alcon to create 186 jobs at Cork plant

US eye care firm Alcon Laboratories is to invest over €20m in its plant in Cork and create 186 new jobs in the process. The decision will see the existing workforce of 200 almost double over five years. Announcing details of the investment, Alcon senior vice-president of manufacturing Ed McGough said: “The successful transformation of our Cork manufacturing plant from the production of large refractive lasers to small, complex intraocular lenses is a testament to the ingenuity of the highly motivated workforce we have in Cork”.

Cork became the first location outside the US to manufacture Alcon’s leading surgical product, the AcrySof intraocular lens, a prosthetic lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens after cataract surgery. http://www.alcon.com

BANKING & FINANCE

Irish bank shares suffer under Lehman fallout

Shockwaves from the collapse of major US investment bank Lehman Brothers and the $50bn takeover of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America have caused shares to fall sharply worldwide. Wall Street is still reeling from the fallout as the Dow Jones closed almost 4.5% lower on Monday – its biggest one day fall since the September 11 attacks in the US in 2001.

Meanwhile, Irish banks’ shares plummeted, with shares in Anglo Irish Bank falling 21.6% and Irish Life and Permanent down 13.3%. Bank of Ireland and AIB dropped to their lowest same-day trading level in recent years, down 13% and 15.6% respectively. The Central Bank moved to reassure investors, with the European Central Bank (ECB) injecting €30bn in one-day money to improve liquidity across the sector.

At one stage on Monday the ISEQ index of Irish shares was down 7% but finished the day off 3.21%; that was a drop of 139.33 to 4,205.67. On Tuesday the Dublin index closed down a further 155 points or 3.7% at 4,050. The decline continued today with a drop of 201.15 points, or 5%, to 3,849.04. http://www.ise.ie

TOURISM & TRANSPORT

XL collapse hits over 4,000 Irish holidaymakers

Up to 4,000 Irish holidaymakers were affected by the collapse of Britain’s third largest tour operator, XL Leisure Group. The group, which operates in Ireland as XL Holidays, went into administration leaving 85,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad. XL Airways provided flights to more than 50 destinations across Europe, America and Africa and operated flights from Dublin to Reus and Skiathos. In a statement on its website, the group said it had been hit by rising fuel costs and the credit crisis as well as a failed attempt to secure a rescue package amid deep financial difficulties.

XL was the fifth travel company to collapse affecting Irish consumers this year, sparking fears of further closures in the travel business in Ireland. XL Leisure Group (Ireland) employed 12 staff at its Capel St, Dublin office.

Under a bonding scheme the aviation regulator has been organising flights home for the 1,200 or so Irish clients of XL who were in the middle of their package holiday and is accepting applications for refunds from those who have booked holidays with the company. Those who booked flight-only tickets with XL Airways do not benefit from the scheme.

Aer Lingus rumoured to be planning major redundancies programme

It was reported in at least one Sunday newspaper that Aer Lingus, which recently announced the need for further cost savings, was planning to lay off its 1,300 ground staff in Ireland and outsource the work. It is also believed that the airline proposes to use US-based cabin crew on its transatlantic flights following a cost analysis comparison with US transatlantic carriers. Under the plan US cabin crew would fly on services to Ireland from American cities and then go back on return flights the same day, reducing the need for Irish-based staff to overnight in US hotels. Despite having €800m of cash on its balance sheet, the airline says it needs to reduce expenses considerably before winter 2008/2009.

The airline has yet to comment on the reports, which caused consternation in SIPTU. A union spokesman suggested that such proposals would scupper the national pay talks which, appear to have reached a successful conclusion this morning.

THE ECONOMY

National pay deal agreed

At the end of a final negotiating session, which lasted for 18 hours, employers and unions this morning agreed in principle on a new national pay deal covering a 21-month period. Workers will receive a 6% pay increase paid in two phases, the first of 3.5% followed by 2.5%. Low paid workers will receive an extra 0.5% at the end of the period.

Public sector workers will, however, first face an 11-month pay pause, while for the private sector it is three months. This aspect does not please the construction sector, which was looking for a 12-month pay pause.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen joined the negotiators yesterday evening and stayed with them throughout the night. Both sides now have to obtain the approval of their members before the deal can be ratified. http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=584&docID=4007

GENERAL NEWS

Openhydro installs subsea tidal turbine with new €5m barge

Irish renewable engineering company OpenHydro has become the first company to successfully deploy a tidal turbine directly onto the sea-bed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. The subsea base and turbine were lowered onto the seabed at EMEC by the company-designed and custom-built heavy lift barge, the 'OpenHydro Installer'. OpenHydro has invested €5m in this project which includes the design and development of this specialist equipment. This is the world's first vessel to be built specifically for deploying full-scale tidal turbines and the project has been supported by the Scottish Government through the WATES scheme.

OpenHydro has recently commenced the manufacture of its next generation 1MW Open-Centre Turbine, which will be deployed in Nova Scotia and Alderney. The turbines are being constructed at the company's Technical Centre in Greenore, Co. Louth. www.openhydro.com

Wood Group buys Galway subsea consultancy

Scottish gas and oil giant Wood Group has bought Galway-based subsea engineering consultancy MCS for an undisclosed sum. MCS employs approximately 200 people in seven locations around the world. Mike Straughen, group director and chief executive of Wood Group's engineering activities, said: "MCS is one of the world's leading exponents of riser design technology and this represents an excellent strategic fit which will enable us to deliver leading-edge solutions for subsea and floating production projects worldwide". http://ww.woodgroup.com

MCS will form part of a newly created Sub-sea & Pipelines Technology business within Wood Group that will also consist of JP Kenny, Multiphase Solutions and Ionik Consulting. In 2007 Ireland-based MCS reported earnings before interest and tax of €3.3m and had a gross asset value at the end of the year of €11.4m. http://www.mcs.com/site.php?page=20&story=37

Revenue collects over €12m from 93 defaulters

The Revenue Commissioners collected €12.24m in tax settlements from 93 cases published in its quarterly list of tax defaulters. The three largest settlements were all made by company directors, including €635k by Patrick Keane of Blackrock in Cork, as a result of an investment in a bogus non-resident account; Charles McDaid, a retired company director from Buncrana, Co Donegal, who paid a settlement of €588k as a result of his investments in offshore assets and a single premium insurance product; and Derek Jones, a retired company director from Skerries, Co. Dublin, who paid a total of €575k as a result of an investment in a single premium insurance product.

The defaulters' list includes 19 company directors, 20 builders or related occupations, eight farmers, three professionals including a solicitor, 16 retail outlets, including shops, pubs and filling stations, three landlords, and five restaurant owners. The full list of defaulters can be seen on the Iris Oifigiúil. http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/ir1209081.pdf

Grant Thornton, Foster McAteer merger to realise annual fees of €50m

The merger of accounting group Grant Thornton with Dublin-based corporate recovery specialist Foster McAteer will form one of the largest corporate recovery units in the State with an annual fee income in the region of €50m. Grant Thornton, led by Paul Raleigh, employs 28 staff and expects to generate fee income of more than €45m this year. The company, which is auditor to Kingspan and Superquinn, merged with the Dublin office of accountants RSM Robson Rhodes. The Foster McAteer operation, led by Brendan Foster and Mick McAteer, expects revenues of €4m this year, and the company's five partners and 24 staff will join Grant Thornton in October. http://www.grantthornton.com http://www.fostermcateer.com/

Pepsi to yield €338m from wind-up of Irish company

Pepsi will realise a total of almost €338m from the voluntary liquidation of an Irish holding company, PepsiCo International Ireland. A Bermuda-based liquidator, Paul King of King & Associates, had been appointed to oversee the process of the unlimited company based at Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin. Most of the shares in the business are owned by Pepsi Cola (Bermuda) Ltd. Six of the seven directors are based in Bermuda, while a seventh is based in England.

American Apparel and Tiffany to have Dublin outlets

The recent downturn in the economy and negative consumer sentiment has not proven a deterrent to multinationals as one of the largest clothing manufacturers in the United States, American Apparel, is to open its first store in the former TSB bank building opposite Trinity College. The Los Angeles-based firm, which has 185 stores worldwide, is likely to pay an annual rent of about €860k to owners Irish Life Investment Managers. The building has been vacant for the past five years following a decision by the Educational Building Society not to move in, despite having paid €500k for the lease.

Meanwhile iconic New York jeweller Tiffany is to open in the Brown Thomas department store on Dublin's Grafton Street this November.

DCC buys FindlaterGrants from C&C

Drinks group C&C has sold its wine and spirits distribution business FindlaterGrants to DCC in a deal worth around €9.6m. FindlaterGrants, which distributes wine and spirits brands to retailers, off-licences, restaurants and hotels, employs 32 people. Frank Fenn, DCC managing director, said the merger of FindlaterGrants with DCC's Irish wine distribution business Woodford Bourne would "generate significant commercial and operating synergies" with overall revenues in the region of €50m. http://www.grantsofireland.ie

WYG shows strong results despite "challenging" environment

Multidisciplinary consultants White Young Green (WYG) Ireland has delivered strong results in what it describes as "a challenging economic environment". Gross revenue increased by 57% to €74.8m, net revenue increased by 59% to €67.5m while operating profit increased by 39% to €9.4m, giving an operating margin of 14%.

WYG now operates from ten locations in Ireland, employs over 700 people and generates 19% of gross revenue. Some 29% of WYG Ireland's business is generated in the North and 71% in the Republic.

In October 2007 PH McCarthy Consulting Engineers was acquired by WYG and more recently Malachi Cullen, the Athlone based engineering business, has been successfully integrated into WYG Ireland, making the firm one of the leading suppliers of infrastructure design services in the country. http://www.wyg.ie/

Kentz H1 pre-tax profits soar 52%

Clonmel-based international engineering company Kentz Corporation has reported a 52% increase in pre-tax profits to $16.8m for the six months to the end of June. Revenues rose by over 34.4% to $328.6m and Kentz said the outlook looks very positive. Kentz provides engineering and instrumentation services mainly in the oil, gas and mining sectors. The company said the upstream and downstream oil and gas markets, which represent about 88% of its business, are continuing to show strong growth. The company said that the Middle East continues to be the strongest area of growth for the firm.

Following the posting of its H1 results, chief executive Hugh O'Donnell said Kentz hopes to make an offer on a US oil and gas process engineering company and to complete the deal before the end of the year. He declined to name the firm as he said the talks were subject to a confidentiality agreement. http://www.kentz.com/

Cappoquin Chickens to close Waterford plant

Cappoquin Chickens, one of the biggest poultry producers in the country, is to close its facility in Co. Waterford. Operations will cease completely over the next six weeks. The firm employs up to 250 people at peak times of the year and 40 to 50 egg suppliers and producers are also dependent on the company, which said during the summer it had debts of at least €7m. Cappoquin Chickens went into liquidation three weeks ago and at least one English poultry company was said to have been involved in a failed rescue bid.

Diageo to build new plant in Leixlip

Guinness owner Diageo Ireland is planning to build its new brewery on a 73-acre site in Leixlip, Co Kildare. The decision is part of a plan announced in May, under which Diageo said it would close its breweries in Kilkenny and Dundalk, but maintain production at St James's Gate in Dublin, to serve the Irish and British markets, and build a brand new facility for all other exports. Diageo Ireland expects the new brewery to be completed by 2013 and will be called the 'Arthur Guinness Brewery'.

Arthur Guinness established his first brewery in Leixlip in 1755 before moving to St James's Gate in 1759. Most of the proposed site will be bought from the Guinness family, and the remaining area of the site will be purchased, subject to approval from Kildare County Council. www.diageo.ie

DIARY

Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum – Penang, October 10

The world’s first regional network of Irish Business Groups and Chambers of Commerce brings together people based in Asia-Pacific and the Gulf who share a connection with Ireland.

The ten Irish Business Groups in Asia-Pacific and the Gulf are co-organising the Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum in Penang, Malaysia on October 10, 2008.

The event will be part of the biggest weekend of the year for the Irish Community in Asia, when the 13th Annual Guinness Asian Gaelic Games will be held, bringing in more than 500 young professionals from around the region.

The business and sporting worlds will meet in Penang – as it was put by Liam Ferrie, founder of the Irish Emigrant - ‘The Inaugural Asia-Pacific Ireland Business Forum in Singapore in 2007 provided an excellent learning and networking opportunity for Irish entrepreneurs and professionals in Southeast Asia. For me it again demonstrated the wealth of business talent produced by Ireland in recent decades and confirmed their ongoing interest in Ireland. The forum has the potential to be a launch pad for Irish-based entrepreneurs planning to enter Asia-Pacific markets’.

So make sure you take this rare opportunity to connect with dynamic, entrepreneurial and well-placed professionals from a range of sectors based across Asia - to share experiences, contacts and resources.

By attending the APIBF you will be connected to Irish business people in Asia-Pacific who can help you to identify;

Business Opportunities
Business Networks
Business Information and leads
The Craic – sporting and cultural activities!

How do I join the Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum?

Check out http://www.apibf.com for more details.

Irish Computer Society hosts SSCP CBK Review Seminar – October 8-10

The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, (ISC)2, in conjunction with the Irish Computer Society (ICS) is to host the first official (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) CBK Review Seminar in Ireland. The seminar will provide a comprehensive review of information systems security concepts and industry best practices at the practitioner level. The programme supports individuals seeking the SSCP credential. SSCP addresses the growing prioritisation of secure computing practice and subsequent expansion of information security disciplines across IT and business roles.

The first SSCP CBK Review Seminar in Ireland will take place on October 8-10 at the Irish Computer Society offices. Irish Computer Society members can avail of a 10% discount off the cost of this course. For further information on the (ISC)2 SSCP CBK Review Seminar, please visit the http://www.ics.ie website or phone +353 (0)1 6447820.

Clare Enterprise Week – October 6-10 2008

Nearly six months on from the launch of a major inter-agency enterprise strategy for Co. Clare, a new initiative – Clare Enterprise Week – has been launched to promote entrepreneurship and protect the future competitiveness of the local economy. Clare Enterprise Week 2008 will showcase the wide range of supports to local enterprises.

The week will also include special training and information sessions and workshops on innovation and leadership, creative industries, internet marketing, planning and environmental matters for business, energy management for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), opportunities for women, HR and employment law, succession planning for family business, technology transfer and schools' enterprise programmes among other events. http://www.clarecdb.ie/EnterpriseWeek08.htm

Unlocking the growth potential of your business – Free seminars

Businesses in the Mid-West and beyond have an opportunity to take part in a series of three free public seminars between now and the end of the year. The series is organised by the Unlocking Innovation Skillnet in association with Design Shannon Skillnet, and funded by Skillnets and member firms. The objective of the Unlocking Innovation Skillnet is to help participating businesses to identify ways to achieve growth through innovation and design-related activities.

The series of seminars and workshops kicks off on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at the Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick (formerly the Hilton Hotel) with a half-day programme, entitled 'Knowledge Rush'. These free public seminars are sponsored by Egan Golf (www.egangolf.com,) Innovator (www.innovator.ie) and Midpoint Creative (www.midpointcreative.com). For further information/reservations, visit www.designshannon.ie; tel. 065 6895282.

APPOINTMENTS

EpiSensor appoints new executive chairman

Gary Carroll has been appointed executive chairman of Limerick-based technology company, EpiSensor, which has developed a wide range of energy monitoring and control devices from electricity power supply to street lamps and water quality. Gary Carroll has founded and been involved in the running of high technology, internationally trading companies for the past 20 years including Blackbird Data Systems, the National Microelectronics Applications Centre and IC Mask Design. http://www.episensor.com

ACADEMIC NEWS

NUI, Galway researcher publishes paper on climate change

Dr Colin O'Dowd, a climate researcher at NUI Galway, has been working with a team of international experts in proposing a theory as the role played by atmospheric aerosol pollution in precipitation. Their findings have been published in an article, "Flood or Drought: How do Aerosols Affect Precipitation", in the latest edition of the journal "Science".

Dr O'Dowd is director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies in the university's Environmental Change Institute and a senior lecturer in the School of Physics. The researchers found that pollution not only affects the type of rain that falls but also governs the quantity and geographical location. http://www.nuig.ie/news/main_press.php?p_id=819

9/11 evacuation is subject of UU research

Researchers from the University of Ulster led by Professor Jim Shields, working with researchers from the University of Greenwich and the University of Liverpool have spent the past three and a half years studying the evacuation of the Twin Towers in September 2001. The researchers conducted interviews with 271 survivors of the towers' collapse, with the aim of improving evacuation procedures in future. Among the findings was that occupant response time is paramount in a speedy evacuation, and that in high rise buildings stairs alone are not sufficient to ensure safe evacuation. The data from the research has been entered into a High-rises Evacuation Evaluation Database, a project funded by the British-based Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council. http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2008/4006.html

Volunteering Fair at NUI, Galway

More than 2,000 students are expected to attend the NUI Galway Volunteering Fair on Monday next, September 22, where 60 charities and community organisations will showcase volunteer opportunities for students; these will include Rehab Care, Habitat for Humanity, Enable Ireland and the Simon Community. Part of the university's ALIVE Volunteering Programme, the Fair will begin a week-long series of events culminating in the "Give it a Swirl" day on September 26. http://www.nuig.ie/news/main_press.php?p_id=821

NUI, Galway appoints Director of Technology Transfer

Dr John Kavanagh has been appointed Director of Technology Transfer at NUI Galway, where he will work with the university's Ignite Technology Transfer Office to commercialise and license the work of researchers. Managing Director of Inverin-based Bioniche Teoranta for the past five years, he previously held senior positions at Abbott Laboratories, Sandoz/Novartis and Schering-Plough. http://www.nuig.ie/news/main_press.php?p_id=822

Amnesty head at NUI, Galway

Irene Zubaida Khan, the head of Amnesty International, delivered a public lecture this week at NUI Galway. The lecture, hosted by the Irish Centre for Human Rights, was entitled "At sixty, is it time for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to retire?" Appointed Secretary General of Amnesty International seven years ago, Ms Khan became the first woman, Asian and Muslim to lead the organisation. http://www.nuig.ie/news/main_press.php?p_id=825

Minister of State to speak at UCD graduation

Tomorrow, Thursday, Minister of State John McGuinness will address the graduates of the InterTradeIreland-sponsored partnership programme FUSION. In addition to bridging the gap between business and academia, the programme also encourages co-operation between the North and the Republic. The graduates will receive their Diplomas in Management Practice from the Smurfit Business School. http://www.intertradeireland.com/index.cfm/area/information/page/FUSION

TCD researchers publish paper on infection and dementia

A group of researchers at Trinity College Dublin, under the direction of Dr Colm Cunningham and working in collaboration with Professor Hugh Perry of the University of Southampton, have published their findings in the journal Biological Psychiatry. The researchers found that inflammation in the brain resulting from infection or injury may accelerate the progress of dementia, information which may affect the treatment and care of those living with the condition. The research was funded by Wellcome Trust. www.tcd.ie

Job Advertisements

The Irish Aviation Authority

The Irish Aviation Authority, the State Company responsible for the Provision of Aviation Safety Regulation in Ireland, has a number of vacancies for Flight Operations Inspectors in its Safety Regulation Directorate.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS INSPECTORS- FIXED WING

The duties of a Flight Operations Inspector include safety oversight of Commercial Air Transport, Corporate, Aerial Work and General and Sport Aviation in accordance with Irish and international regulations; the application of EU-OPS/JAR FCL as applicable to Irish Aviation, assessing the competence of applicants for AOCs, Aerial Work, Training Organisations and Facilities and Instructor/examiner personnel.

An attractive salary and benefits package will apply to the positions.

Further information, including details of qualifications and details of qualifications and experience required for this position, can be obtained from www.iaa.ie

Applications to include details of qualifications and career to date should be sent in strict confidence to:

Director Human Resources
Irish Aviation Authority
Aviation House
Hawkins Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

To arrive no later than 5.30pm on Friday 26th September 2008.

Canvassing will disqualify.
The Irish Aviation Authority is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

ON

With its global logistics network and strong product portfolio, ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN) is a preferred supplier of efficient power solutions to customers in the power supply, automotive, communication, computer, digital and consumer, medical, industrial, and military / aerospace markets. The company’s broad portfolio includes power, analog, DSP, mixed-signal, advance logic, clock management and standard component devices.

Design Manager / Senior Analog Designer
POWER SWITCHING Division

For further details about this position, please visit Professional Ireland’s website at http://ieplists.com/?ID3038

Interested in this position, please send your resume to frederique.macron@onsemi.com

Senior Analog and Digital IC Designers
POWER SWITCHING Division

ON Semiconductor has just recently opened an advanced R&D Design Centre in Limerick, Ireland, with significant backing from the Irish Government and is looking to hire a number of key IC designers to support the immediate growth of the Design Centre.

Senior Analog IC Designer
Senior Digital IC Designer

For further details about these positions, please visit Professional Ireland’s website at http://ieplists.com/?ID3038

Interested in these position, please send your resume to frederique.macron@onsemi.com

O’Malley InterSearch

Executive Search, Selection & Human Resource Consulting

Human Resources Manager

For further details about this position, please visit Professional Ireland’s website - http://www.emigrant.ie/images/ul.pdf

Salary scale: €81,636 - €107,602 per annum

For further information or to apply for this post, please contact:

Cass Fitzpatrick,
Director/Executive Search Consultant,
O’Malley InterSearch,
3 South Bank, Crosses Green, Cork, Ireland.

Tel: 00-353-21-4314760; Fax: 00-353-21-4314761
Email: cass@omalley-intersearch.com
Website: www.omalley-intersearch.com

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 26 September 2008.

Applications are welcome from suitably qualified female and male candidates. The University is an equal opportunities employer and committed to selection on merit.

Human Resources Manager

Trinity College Dublin
School of Engineering

Lectureship in Biomechanical Engineering (specific purpose contract)

Salary: Appointment will be made on the Lecturer salary scale: €37,343 - €75,365 / €77,875 - €85,599 per annum. Appointment above the bar will only be considered for candidates with appropriate experience and qualifications to date.

The School of Engineering seeks to make an appointment of Lecturer in Biomechanical Engineering as part of the implementation of the College’s and School’s strategic plans.

*As this appointment will backfill a permanent member of staff appointed as a College Annual Officer, it is anticipated the duration of this contract will be 4 years, and possibly up to 6 years.

The Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for teaching and research and has an undergraduate complement of some 55 students in each year of the course of Mechanical Engineering, as well as a further 15 students in each year of the Engineering with Management course. It is particularly active in research, with over 50 postgraduate research students with substantial funding being generated from research contracts. The main research groups in the Department are in Bio-Engineering, Fracture and Fatigue of Materials, Fluids, Acoustics and Vibration, Fluids and Heat Transfer, Manufacturing Technology and Systems, and Tribology and Surface Engineering.

The School of Engineering leads one of the College’s research centres, the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering (TCBE), and is staffed with 12 Principal Investigators drawn from the Schools of Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, and Natural Sciences; 10 Research Fellows/Assistants; together with some 23 PhD students (see http://www.tcd.ie/bioengineering/).

Applicants for this post should have a strong research background, with a Ph.D. an essential requirement for this position. Industrial experience in bioengineering or in the commercialisation of medical device technologies and the development of Intellectual Property would be a distinct advantage, as would experience of collaborating with clinicians.

The appointee will have a significant publication record in high-ranking journals and citations matching their age and experience. Preference will be given to candidates with interests that complement existing research expertise in the Department in bioengineering. In addition, this new Lecturer will participate in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in mechanical and manufacturing engineering and in bioengineering, and will be expected to initiate personal and funded postgraduate research programmes and to become, in due course, a Principal Investigator in the TCBE. S/he will also participate in Departmental administration.

This post will be tenable from as soon as possible.

The closing date for receipt of applications will be no later than 12 noon on Monday, 6th October, 2008.

Further information and full application details are available at: www.tcd.ie/vacancies

Trinity College Dublin is an equal opportunities employer.

Irish Aviation Authority
Údarás Eitlíochta na hÉireann

The Irish Aviation Authority, the State Company responsible for the Safety Regulation of Civil Aviation in Ireland, has a number of vacancies in its Safety Regulation Directorate for:

1. DIVISION MANAGER - Personnel Licensing

2. DIVISION MANAGER - Airline Airworthiness

3. DIVISION MANAGER - Air Operator and General Aviation Airworthiness

4. DIVISION MANAGER - Aircraft Registration and Design Control

5. DIVISION MANAGER - Airline Standards

6. DIVISION MANAGER - General Aviation Standards

7. ATS INSPECTOR (Air Navigation Services)

8. STATISTICAL ANALYST

An attractive salary and benefits package will apply to each of the positions. Further information, including details of qualifications and experience required for the positions can be obtained from www.iaa.ie

Applications to include details of qualifications and career to date should be sent in strict confidence to:

Director Human Resources
Irish Aviation Authority
Aviation House
Hawkins Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

To arrive no later than 5.30pm on Friday 12th September 2008.

CANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY.

The Irish Aviation Authority is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

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