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| Professional Ireland :: October 8, 2008 | | Print | |
| Wednesday, 08 October 2008 | |
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October 8, 2008 Issue
No.664
Business and academic news for the
global Irish community
Providing an active network for the
Irish business community and knowledge workers worldwide. Read by more than
28,000 subscribers throughout the high-tech sector and in more than 600
universities, academic and research institutions in over 150 countries.
See bottom of document for subscription and
advertising information.
Visit http://www.professionalireland.com
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.
Facebook
to base international HQ in Dublin
CryptoLogic
wins major games contract
Donegal-based
Voice-to-Content service to expand - 21 new jobs
Ireland
ranks 9th last for broadband out of 27 EU countries
Rocudo
launches its technology at Amsterdam Dance Event 2008
Other
ICT News: Trintech / FINEOS
Nypro
Ireland to create 150 Bray jobs
NovaUCD-based
Celtic Catalysts secures €500,000 funding
State
deposit guarantee to cover foreign-owned Irish banks
Davy
reports pre-tax profits of €30 in first six months
IFG
acquires two firms for up to €13.6m
Aer
Lingus staff to ballot for strike action over 1,500 job cuts
Knock
Airport to lay off 14 staff
TV3 to
cut 15 jobs as advertising market slows
Revenue
refunds €1bn in overpaid taxes
More
cuts sought as tax take falls €9.4bn behind targets
ESRI
downgrades economic forecasts for 2009
Donegal
packaging company to create 70 new jobs
Greencore
shares plunge in wake of stake disposal
How at
risk are you from identity fraud?
Kingspan
raises €300m to fund future expansion
Tipperary
food firm in €22.8m research investment
Musgrave
bows out of Superquinn bid
NI bus
builder secures $55m US contract
Cappoquin
workers take pay deal offered by new owners
Cork
Chamber Conference points to a Vision for the Future – Oct. 23
DBIC to
host breakfast marketing seminar for SMES
Asia
Pacific Ireland Business Forum – Penang, October 10
US NUIG
Alumni receptions for Druid tour
Award
for two Huston School students
NUIG
publication on poetry and music
TCD
involved in new research into Polymer Physics
Submissions
invited for SFI E.T.S. Walton Visitor Award programme
Work of
GMIT Letterfrack students in Áras an Uachtaráin
UU
involvement in 'science meets art' exhibition
Head of
Human Resource Development
National Functional Foods Research
Centre
CRH - Want to build on your
travels?
ICT NEWS
Facebook to base international HQ in Dublin
Social networking site Facebook has
announced that it is to set up its international headquarters in Dublin, a move
which is expected to create 70 jobs. The Dublin facility will provide a range
of online technical, sales and operations support to Facebook's users and
customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is understood that Facebook
is planning to undertake product development in Ireland in the future.
Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl
Sandberg said the company had chosen Ireland after looking at various locations
in Europe. She cited the strong, multilingual talent pool as well as the
Government's track record of "being a great partner" for
multinational companies as the prime motivators to base the EMEA headquarters
in Dublin. CryptoLogic wins major games contract
Dublin-based gambling software firm
CryptoLogic said it has signed a significant deal with one of the world's top
online gaming companies, 888.com. The firm said 888.com has launched three of
the company's most popular internet casino games on its portal, as part of a
three-year licensing contract signed in May.
The Toronto-listed gaming software
developer said this contract has now been expanded, enabling 888 to extend its
total suite of CryptoLogic titles to 13. http://www.cryptologic.com/ Donegal-based Voice-to-Content
service to expand - 21 new jobs
In Co. Donegal, Gaoth Dobhair-based company
SpinVox recently announced that it was creating 41 additional jobs in an expansion
of its Voice-to-Content messaging services. Recruitment has already begun and
within months the workforce should increase to 71.
SpinVox, described as the world’s largest
private speech technology company, first set up its operations in Gaoth Dobhair
in 2006. It captures spoken messages and converts them into text which it then
delivers to specified destinations. The Voice-to-Content service is already
launched with Alltel, Cincinnati Bell, Sasktel, Rogers, Telus, Telstra, Vodacom
South Africa, Vodafone Spain and Livejournal and the company has announced a
deal with Skype. http://www.spinvox.com/ Ireland ranks 9th last for broadband
out of 27 EU countries
A new report compiled by the European
Commission reveals that Ireland is not only trailing behind the EU average in
broadband penetration but is ranked ninth worst out of 27 countries in a number
of categories including speed. The Broadband Performance Index assesses EU
states on a range of factors, including speed, innovation, rural coverage and
affordability.
Ireland, on 17.4%, is in 13th position in
broadband penetration compared with an EU average of 20%. Denmark is in the
lead on 35.6%. When it comes to cost we are the sixth most expensive, with
consumers in four eastern European countries and Cyprus paying more. The
statistics are based on January 2008 data. For more information go to the
europa.eu website. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1422&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Rocudo launches its technology at
Amsterdam Dance Event 2008
Rocudo, a Galway company specialising in
online music technology, is launching at this year's Amsterdam Dance Event,
October 23-25, and is to sponsor A Critical Mass: Resident Advisor &
Innervisions, featuring Henrik Schwarz, Ame & Dixon – live for the first
time.
With offices in Galway and London, Rocudo's
technology allows fans to create mixes and remixes with easy to use tools and
then share their creations with friends anywhere on the web including Facebook,
MySpace and Bebo.
For labels and artists, Rocudo provides
business tools to create promotional and sales widgets to make dedicated viral
promos, post them online and watch fans repost again and again. Rocudo's Data
Feedback system provides a view of what is happening with content in real time.
Visitors to the Rocudo website can win two
free passes to the Amsterdam Dance Event conference, as well as two free passes
to A Critical Mass! http://www.rocudo.com Other ICT News: Trintech / FINEOS
Trintech Group, a provider of integrated
financial governance, transaction risk management, and compliance solutions,
has announced the availability of the newest version of its reconciliation and
account balancing application – ReconNET 7.5. The new version provides improved
security and usability enhancements. It also supports a new archival module
which will help customers further streamline reconciliation workflow so they
can deploy resources to other areas critical to their business. ReconNET 7.5
includes support for current versions of Oracle and Microsoft databases, the
Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, and Crystal 2008. http://www.trintech.com
FINEOS Corporation, a provider of
enterprise software solutions for insurance, bancassurance, and government, has
announced that the US-based global financial company, the Principal Financial
Group, has recently implemented FINEOS Claims to manage its group disability
insurance and group life insurance claims and payment processes. The Principal
has been using FINEOS Claims since 2005 to manage individual DI claims and this
additional implementation brings the number of live users at The Principal to
300. http://www.FINEOS.com
LIFE
SCIENCES
Nypro Ireland to create 150 Bray jobs
Medical device firm Nypro Ireland this week
unveiled its re-developed manufacturing facility in Bray, Co. Wicklow, with
news that it will create 150 jobs over the next four years. The facility will
produce a new needle-free drug delivery device for a US pharmaceutical company
for late 2008.
The facility was opened in an official
ceremony by Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche, and Ted Lapres, Nypro's
global chief executive officer and represents a $10m investment in Ireland.
Nypro Ireland established operations in 1980 and has invested over $10m in
developing a highly valued export business with leading healthcare and personal
care product manufacturers. It acts as a centre of excellence for support of
proof of concept, initial prototyping, clinical trial support, validation and approval
for the world's regulatory authorities, such as the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). http://www.nypro.com NovaUCD-based Celtic Catalysts
secures €500,000 funding
Celtic Catalysts, the NovaUCD-based life
sciences company, has secured €500k in funding from existing investor, 4th
Level Ventures, and private investors. Celtic Catalysts has to date secured
over €2.5m in investment from 4th Level Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na
Gaeltachta and Business Expansion Scheme investors.
The company specialises in the area of
'P-chiral' technology, which enables pharmaceutical companies to manufacture
drugs more cost effectively., particularly those in anti-viral and anti-cancer
therapeutic areas,
Celtic Catalysts was co-founded in 2000 by
Professor Declan Gilheany and Dr Brian Kelly as a spin-out from UCD's School of
Chemistry and Chemical Biology. The company currently employs 17 people and is
headquartered in NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at
University College Dublin. http://www.celticcatalysts.com/
BANKING &
FINANCE
State deposit guarantee to cover
foreign-owned Irish banks
A total of eight foreign-owned banks have
applied to join Ireland's State guarantee scheme in the wake of the British
Bankers' Association, accusing the Government of distorting competition by
singling out Irish banks for the guarantee. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
last week put pressure on Ireland to stop banks using the new €400bn guarantee
to take business from British rivals, amid signs that it could trigger a flood
of funds leaving British banks.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan
says he is satisfied that he can reach agreement with the European Commission
on the bank guarantee scheme amid concerns that the scheme would be in breach
of EU competition and State aid rules. The Minister met the Competition
Commissioner Neelie Kroes, and said the meeting helped to clarify the
Government's intentions on how the bank guarantee legislation will be
implemented.
In spite of US congressional approval of a
$700bn bank bailout, world stock markets continue to fluctuate wildly this week
with the ISEQ dropping almost 10% on Monday and a further 7% on Tuesday. Bank
stocks were particularly badly hit; Anglo Irish lost 33% on Tuesday to finish
at €2.68, Bank of Ireland slid almost 18% to €3.29, Irish Life & Permanent
shed 24% to €3.80 and AIB was off 13% to €5.55. http://www.ise.ie
Davy reports pre-tax profits of €30
in first six months
Ireland's largest stockbroker, Davy, made a
pre-tax profit of more than €30m in the first six months of this year and has
continued to perform well in the third quarter, despite what chief executive
Tony Garry described as "scurrilous rumours" that it was in danger of
breaching its banking covenants.
In a letter addressed to its private
clients, Mr Garry said he expected Davy to build on its performance so far this
year and that its net assets are some €140m, or three times that required by the
Financial Regulator. The contents of this letter was devised to assuage
concerns about rumours that had been circulating in recent weeks about Davy's
financial position. In July, Davy announced it was to cut 75 jobs from its 520
staff and it was also seeking a 5% pay cut from staff on annual earnings of
more than €50k. http://www.davy.ie IFG acquires two firms for up to
€13.6m
Financial services group IFG paid up to
€13.6m – €5.5m initially and an additional performance-based fee of over €7.7m
– for two companies, Pensco and Nameridge, as part of an expansion plan into
the pensions market. IFG is to integrate the two businesses into its existing
Irish group pension companies.
Pensco specialises in defined contribution
group schemes, while Nameridge Ltd is the corporate pensions division of
Pension Systems Ltd, which also specialises in the defined contribution
pensions sector. IFG said it had €45m in the kitty to fund its acquisition of
pensions companies, and is eyeing two more firms which it hopes to purchase by
year-end. http://www.ifggroup.com/
TOURISM &
TRANSPORT
Aer Lingus staff to ballot for strike
action over 1,500 job cuts
Staff at Aer Lingus are to ballot for
all-out industrial action in the wake of a €74m cost-saving plan announced on
Tuesday. Some €50m of this will be achieved through a reduction in staff costs
which will mean 1,500 redundancies. The airline wants to outsource baggage
handling, catering, check-in and cargo handling. Cabin crew bases in Shannon and
London will be closed, with staff being offered redundancy or relocation to
Dublin or Cork. Ground staff can opt for voluntary redundancy or transfer to
the out-sourcing companies carrying out the work. From next summer the cabin
crew on transatlantic flights will be based in be US.
The proposals also include a pay freeze
plan affecting all remaining staff – including management – until at least the
end of 2009, as well as new performance based contracts. The civil
service-style annual pay increments will be abolished. The a long-haul fleet
will be cut from nine to eight.
Aer Lingus said the measures are necessary
to ensure future viability following losses of €22m in the first six months of
the year. The airline has invited unions to produce alternative proposals to
generate a similar level of savings but warned that it wants an agreement by
the end of November.
SIPTU said its members would co-operate
with a process involving the Labour Relations Commission, but it is also to
ballot its 1,700 members for all-out industrial action in protest at the
proposals, which have been described as "draconian". Knock Airport to lay off 14 staff
Ireland West Airport Knock said it is to
cut 14 jobs across "all disciplines and all operations" as a result
of a review of its staffing requirements. The airport has been hit recently by
the termination of its service to London Gatwick following the collapse of the
XL airline, as well as the closure of Swinford-based Great Escapes travel
agency. The airport continues to employ more than 100 staff directly. http://www.irelandwestairport.com/
MEDIA
TV3 to cut 15 jobs as advertising market
slows
TV3 is seeking up to 15 voluntary
redundancies from its 250-strong workforce as a result of a slowdown in
advertising revenues. The independent terrestrial broadcaster, owned by British
private equity group Doughty Hanson, is to offer staff at the station's
Ballymount studios in southwest Dublin up to five weeks' pay for each year of
service. TV3 chief executive David McRedmond said the job cuts would come from
studio operations, news reporting and administration. TV3 renewed its contract
with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in September for another ten
years. The company also recently acquired Irish TV station Channel 6. http://www.tv3.ie/
THE ECONOMY
Revenue refunds €1bn in overpaid taxes
Revenue has refunded more than €1bn to
workers who overpaid their taxes in the past two years. In the first six months
of 2008 alone, almost €400m was repaid. Most repayments, which have grown over
the past few years, are to workers who failed to claim tax relief on bin
charges, medical expenses and trade union subscriptions. In 2006, €407m was
recouped while last year €530m was paid back to taxpayers. April this year saw
more than €90m repaid – over double the €40m returned in April 2006. The
increase is being attributed to more taxpayers undertaking the claim process to
ensure they receive what is due to them. The issue has been receiving increased
publicity in recent years. More cuts sought as tax take falls
€9.4bn behind targets
The latest figures from the Department of
Finance for the nine months to September show an exchequer deficit of €9.4bn,
with the tax take 11.2% behind Budget targets. The figures suggest that the
Government's borrowing requirement for the full year will be €11.5bn or about
5.5% of gross domestic product (GDP); well in excess of the 3% specified in the
EU Stability and Growth Pact.
The lower tax take was due mainly to the
poor performance of VAT, stamp duty and capital gains tax. In a statement,
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said that the "disappointing" figures
reflect developments in the property markets as well as weaker economic
activity. He told ministers that cuts of up to 7% would be sought in certain
areas, well above the 3% general cutback anticipated earlier this year. Major
capital spending projects such as the Metro may be shelved or even abandoned. http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=5484 ESRI downgrades economic forecasts
for 2009
In its latest quarterly commentary, the
Economic and Social Research Institute has downgraded its forecast for the
economy, predicting that the recession will continue until at least the end of
2009. The writers of the report say that tax increases and severe spending cuts
are necessary to stabilise the budget deficit.
The forecast is that GNP will contract by
1.3% in 2008 – down from its previous forecast of a fall of 0.4% – and the ESRI
has revised its prediction for 2009 and now expects that GNP will contract by
0.7% next year.
The economic think-tank underlined the
uncertainty surrounding its forecasts in the face of current economic
conditions, with the possibility of further downward revisions considering the
rise in numbers on the Live Register and weak third quarter exchequer returns.
"For 2009, a downturn in commercial
building is expected, along with a fall in the Government's consumption of
goods and services", according to the report.
Employment is expected to fall this year by
14,000 and by 47,000 next year. The rate of unemployment is expected to average
6.1% in 2008 and to adjust to an average of 8% in 2009. http://www.esri.ie/publications/latest_publications/view/index.xml?id=2613
GENERAL NEWS
Donegal packaging company to create 70 new
jobs
A company that designs and manufactures
environmentally friendly packaging plans is to create 70 new jobs on the Udarás
na Gaeltachta Business Park in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal. RA. Pacáistí Teo.
(RAP), with support from Udarás, is investing €3.3m which will increase
employment at the facility from 54 to 124 over the next three years. The
company will commence manufacture of three new product lines aimed at the
European food-on-the-move (sandwich and coffee) marketplace.
RAP (Rapid Action Packaging) has sales,
administration and production units in Ireland, Britain, Korea, Malaysia and
the US with its head office in London. The company also has agents distributing
its products throughout continental Europe. http://www.rapuk.com Greencore shares plunge in wake of
stake disposal
Shares in food group Greencore plunged by
21.1% following Icelandic food manufacturing group Bakkavör's disposal of its
10.9% stake in the firm. The sale of the shares accounted for over 50% of all
activity on the Irish market, and resulted in the share price falling back by
€0.31 to €1.49 at close. In April, Bakkavör announced that it had built up a
stake of over 22 million shares in Greencore through contracts for difference (CFDs),
prompting speculation that the group would launch a bid for the Irish company.
It is believed that the firm sold its stake in the company due to turmoil in
the Icelandic banking market. http://www.greencore.ie/ How at risk are you from identity
fraud?
National Identity Fraud Prevention Week is
taking place from October 6-12 and aims to educate the general public and
businesses about what they need to do to protect themselves from becoming
victims of identity fraud, one of Europe's fastest growing crimes. Identity
theft is the first step to perpetrating a criminal activity whereby criminals
may use personal information to obtain credit, goods or other services
fraudulently.
As part of the national drive to make the
public more aware of the dangers of identity fraud, the campaign has set up a
dedicated website, www.stop-idfraud.ie,
with a test to highlight 'how at risk you are'. Members of the public can also
call 00800 1810 1810 to receive a free copy of 'A Guide to Protecting Your
Identity'. Kingspan raises €300m to fund future
expansion
Building materials group Kingspan has
raised funding of €330m from a group of banks – IIB Bank and its parent KBC,
Ulster Bank, AIB, Bank of Ireland, France-based BNP Paribas and HSBC – to
facilitate its expansion plans over the next five years. The deal, which brings
Kingspan's credit facilities to about €500m, partly replaces a previous
syndicated facility due to run until December 2009. The funding, which was
oversubscribed, has been viewed as a vote of confidence in the group, according
to finance director Dermot Mulvihill. Kingspan has operations in Ireland,
Britain, Europe, the US and Canada. http://www.kingspan.com/ Tipperary food firm in €22.8m
research investment
Thurles-based Dew Valley Foods is to invest
€21.8m in a new state-of-the-art research facility. The initiative, supported
by Enterprise Ireland, will also see an expansion of current production
capabilities and the establishment of a new employee skills development
programme.
Announcing the new investment, which will
result in a total of 55 new jobs, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise
Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan said: "The food sector is a key
industry in Ireland and Dew Valley is an excellent example of the type of
innovative high-value added food companies that Enterprise Ireland is keen to
support. This significant investment encompasses all the elements of Enterprise
Ireland's strategy for Irish businesses; it will enable international growth
through innovation and enhances key employee skills and leadership
capabilities". http://www.dewvalley.com/ Musgrave bows out of Superquinn bid
Cork-based wholesale grocery group Musgrave
has withdrawn its bid for Superquinn, having deemed the €250m price tag being
placed on the business by its owners Select Retail Holdings as too rich for its
taste.
Musgrave is understood to have submitted an
offer of about €150m to Goldman Sachs in London, which is handling the process.
The sale relates to Superquinn's operating business only, and does not involve
the acquisition of any property. Superquinn reported sales of €620m in 2007.
It is also understood that the sale process
is ongoing, although it is unclear how many parties remain in the field.
Musgrave was viewed as one of the frontrunners in the bid to acquire
Superquinn. Other interested parties are thought to include Irish wholesale
grocer BWG, British retailers Asda (a subsidiary of Walmart) and J Sainsbury. http://www.superquinn.ie/ NI bus builder secures $55m US
contract
Bus builders the Wright Group have won a
$55m contract in the US to provide 50 of its StreetCar RTV hybrid vehicles
which the Ballymena, Co. Antrim-based firm will unveil for the first time at an
international public convention in San Diego, California. The Wright Group
launched its first version of the StreetCar – described as a rubber-tyred,
light rail vehicle – three years ago in Britain. The firm won its first order
for the new vehicle from Southern Nevada's Regional Transportation Commission
(RTC). http://www.wrightbus.com Cappoquin workers take pay deal
offered by new owners
Cappoquin Chickens in Co. Waterford was
saved from closure last week when it was sold to English-based Derby Poultry
and will be known as Cappoquin Poultry. Staff at the plant rejected an initial
pay and conditions deal offering the minimum wage of €8.65 per hour with no
overtime pay, but subsequently accepted a revised offer of €9 per hour plus
overtime at time and a quarter. Staff were told they could apply for a job with
the new company or take redundancy terms set out by the liquidator. There are
expected to be at least 40 jobs losses out of the 200 who are currently
employed at the plant. Siptu said that 98 workers had chosen to remain on at
the plant, while an estimated 50 redundancies would occur. Cappoquin went into
liquidation in early September with debts of over €7m.
DIARY
Cork Chamber Conference points to a Vision
for the Future – Oct. 23
This year's Cork Chamber Business
Conference, in association with the Irish Institute of Bankers (Cork Region)
will take place on October 23 at Rochestown Park Hotel. Sponsored by AIB, this
conference – "Cork's Renaissance: A Vision for the Future" – will
outline business opportunities as well as the strategic perspective required to
underpin Cork's future development. The half-day conference, to be chaired by
John Walsh, Editor of Business & Finance magazine, is aimed at individuals
with an interest in the development of the region.
Bookings can be made by contacting Leigh
Gillen at the Chamber, tel (021) 4530133, mailto:leigh@corkchamber.ie or
through the Chamber website, www.corkchamber.ie DBIC to host breakfast marketing
seminar for SMES
Dublin Business Innovation Centre (DBIC),
the enterprise support organisation, is hosting a free business breakfast
seminar entitled "Marketing for SMEs" from 8:30am to 10:30am on
Wednesday, October 15 in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, Dublin 2.
The workshops have been designed and will
benefit early stage entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises who are seeking to
prepare or signifcantly strengthen their marketing
plans. Some of the marketing topics to be covered include market research,
market analysis, brand building and marketing planning.
Guest speakers will include John Phelan
from Halcyon Business Solutions and Heidi Corr from New Level Consultancy.
For more information and to secure a
booking, contact 01-671 3111 or mailto:info@dbic.ie. Places
are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended. 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.
ACADEMIC NEWS
€5m research grant to UL
The University of
Limerick has been granted €5m to lead a European research programme which will
use nanotechnology to develop MRSA-resistant textiles which will be used for
hospital gowns and bedding. The project, led by Dr Tofail Syed, includes nine
other agencies in addition to NUI Galway and Irish companies BeoCare and Cook
Medical. According to Dr Syed more than 40% of hospitals in southern and
western Europe have significant problems with the MRSA super bug and at present
one in ten patients entering hospitals in Europe contracts MRSA or similar
infections.
The three-year
research programme will also examine three other health issues:
plaque-resistant cardio-vascular stents; urinary stents with less stone
formation; and bone implants that will heal more rapidly. http://www2.ul.ie/web/WWW/Faculties/Science%20%26%20Engineering/Research/Research%20Institutes/MSSI US NUIG Alumni receptions for Druid
tour
The Druid Theatre
Company's Fall tour of the US is to be hosted by the Galway University
Foundation, who will hold pre-show receptions in the University of California,
Berkeley on October 9 and UCLA Los Angeles on October 16. Any alumni not yet in
receipt of an invitation should contact JB Terrins, Director of Alumni
Relations, NUI Galway at mailto:jbterrins@nuigalway.ie Award for two Huston School students
Richard Walsh and
Julian Ulrichs, both students of the MA in Production and Direction at the
Huston School of Film & Digital Media at NUI Galway, have won the Best
Short Documentary award at the Radharc Awards in Dublin. Their film,
"F.G.M. - No Way Home" deals with female genital mutilation in
relation to African refugees in Ireland. The documentary was based on a brief
proposed by students of the MA in Public Advocacy, who collaborate with
Production and Direction students every year to deliver films addressing
societal issues. The Radharc Awards
honour the memory of the late Fr Joe Dunn, co-founder of Radharc Films. http://www.filmschool.ie http://www.nuig.ie/news/main_press.php?p_id=841 NUIG publication on poetry and music
A study of the
relationship of traditional Irish music and song to modern Irish poetry was
launched at NUI Galway last week. "'The Given Note': Traditional Music and
Modern Irish Poetry" is the work of Seán Crosson, a PhD graduate of the
Centre for Irish Studies. Including an overview of the historical relationship
between poetry and music, the books focuses on the work of six poets, three who
write in English and three primarily in the Irish language: Thomas Kinsella,
Ciaran Carson, Séamus Heaney, Gearóid Mac Lochlainn, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and
Cathal Ó Searcaigh. http://www.nuigalway.ie/research/centre_irish_studies/Newsletter08/newsletter_features08.html#first GMIT to hold Open Day
On Wednesday
October 22 Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology will hold its annual Open Day on
its two campuses in Galway for secondary school students from counties Galway,
Mayo, Roscommon, Clare, Leitrim, Donegal and the Midlands. The day will
comprise information stands and tours of the two campuses, on the Dublin Road
and in Cluain Mhuire, the Creative Arts campus, while information will also be
available on the Institute's two other campuses in Castlebar and Letterfrack. http://www.gmit.ie/news-events/dublinrd-openday08.html TCD involved in new research into
Polymer Physics
Scientists at Trinity
College Dublin, working with scientists at the University of Illinois, have
made a new discovery concerning polymer physics that could have major
significance for manufacturing processes in nanotechnology. The research, which
sheds new light on the mechanism of polymer flow at the nanometre scale, was
jointly led by Dr Graham Cross of TCD's School of Physics and the CRANN
nanoscience research institute, and Professor William King of the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The results of the
research, which is seen as a significant step forward in the understanding of
polymer deformation that is directly related to nanoscale manufacturing, have
been published in the journal "Science Express". http://www.crann.tcd.ie Submissions invited for SFI E.T.S.
Walton Visitor Award programme
Submissions are now
invited for the SFI E.T.S. Walton Visitor Award Programme, a programme that
enables highly qualified academic and industrial researchers resident outside
Ireland to carry out research projects of their own choice in Ireland.
Applications may be submitted for research stays normally of three to twelve
continuous months.
An information
webinar on the E.T.S Walton programme will be held at 11am BST 14th October
2008. This is a web-based seminar (possible with PC or Mac) with separate
telephone dial-in which will focus on submission, eligibility requirements and
general queries. Registration for the webinar is available from the SFI
webpage. For further information, please go to http://www.sfi.ie/content/content.asp?section_id=662&language_id=1
Work of GMIT Letterfrack students in
Áras an Uachtaráin
The work of three
students from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology's Letterfrack campus is
now on display in Áras an Uachtaráin following a commission by President Mary
McAleese. The president had asked the students of the furniture design course
to design and manufacture a lectern incorporating the President's Seal of
Office, the State Harp. From the 15 submissions three were chosen to be placed
in different rooms of the presidential residence, those from Ann Foley from
Lisselton, Co Kerry, Mathew Croker from Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhun na nGall, and
Mark Allen, from Model Farm Road, Cork city; the lectern designed by Mark is
the one located in the State Reception rooms. http://www.gmit.ie/news-events/furniture-lecterns.html
UU involvement in 'science meets
art' exhibition
Wonderland, an
exhibition on display at the Ormeau Baths Gallery in Belfast, is a joint
project involving research chemist Professor Tony Ryan of Sheffield University,
Professor Helen Storey of the London College of Fashion, and Interface, the
design-research centre at the University of Ulster. The exhibition focuses on
waste in people's lives and the need for recycling.
According to
Professor Ryan, people throw away 20 tons of plastic during their lifetime and
Wonderland is fuelled by novel science-based recycling processes. Interface has
created the textiles for the exhibition, which include dresses that dissolve
and bottles that form a gel when placed in hot water, which can be used to grow
flower seeds. http://www.ormeaubaths.co.uk/ JOB
ADVERTISEMENTS
For further information on these career opportunities: Wyeth
Investing in the
health of Ireland
Investing in the
Irish Economy
Investing in People
Creating a
healthier Ireland
Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals is the commercial division of Wyeth Ireland, working across a
wide range of therapeutic areas. Our company is growing and to accommodate this
growth we have made a €5 million investment in our new Corporate Headquarters
based at Ballycoolin, Dublin and created a number of exciting new positions.
Our continued
growth is testament to the ongoing success of Wyeth, Ireland’s largest
pharmaceutical employer with over 3000 employees across 5 sites and contributor
of over €500 million to the Irish economy each year. The creation of these new
roles within our commercial organisation will enable us to optimise the launch
of the new and innovative products in our pipeline, thereby bringing them to
market sooner.
If you want the
opportunity to join this high growth, dynamic and innovative company, we invite
you to apply for the following positions within our organisation.
1.
Sales &
Marketing Director
2.
Sales Manager, SMA
Nutrition
3.
Health Economist
4.
Medical Advisor
5.
Business Systems and
Processes Analyst
6.
Supply Chain
Specialist
7.
Product Manager
8.
Associate Product
Manager
9.
Marketing Associate
10.
Sales &
Marketing Administrator
11.
Customer Services
Representative
For further information on these career
opportunities:
T: 01- 449 3500
U: www.wyeth.ie
Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt
Research & Development, Software
Development & Design, Software Testing & Quality Assurance, Project
Management/Operations, Interactive Design, Instructional Design...
You Do. We Do. they
do...
Lead. Strive.
Create. Inspire. Accelerate.
Transform. Change.
Learn. Achieve.
Solve. Participate.
Innovate...Educate.
You can help us
educate them for the future
“Global e-learning
company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) will invest €350 million over the next
five years developing a research and development (R&D) hub in Dublin that
will create 450 jobs.” - Irish Times, September 11, 2008
Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt (formerly Riverdeep) is one of the world's largest and most esteemed
educational publishers. With over 100,000 customers and around 6,000 employees,
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt commands approximately 50% market share of the US
primary and secondary school market and $2.5 billion in annual Revenues.
Central to the
company’s offering is a vast array of award-winning print and digital products,
and a long tradition of excellence in publishing, including amongst its authors
Mark Twain, J.R.R.Tolkien, and Philip Roth. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt also has
operations and significant market penetration outside the US, in countries
throughout Asia, South America and Europe. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's recently
announced research and development centre, which will create 450 new jobs in
Dublin, is now poised to provide the most innovative and technologically
advanced educational solutions for the 21st Century. Because we dare to
explore, we are looking for highly skilled, best-in-class talent to join our
research and development team, to help us provide the most engaging and robust
educational content for this century's digital natives.
If you want to
change the way the world learns, and can do, we would love to learn about you.
We currently have positions for innovative, forward-thinking individuals in the
following key areas:
Research & Development
Software Development & Design
Software Testing & Quality
Assurance
Project Management/Operations
Interactive Design
Instructional Design
To learn more about
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's global career opportunities, please visit http://www.hmlt.hmco.com/Intl-Careers.php
Do you care about
innovation in education? We do too!
If you are
interested in attending an Open Day at our offices, please email us at openday@hmhpub.com SVP
Society
of St Vincent de Paul
The Society of St
Vincent de Paul invites applications for a Head of Human Resource Development
Reporting to the
National Director and based in the National Office, Seán McDermott Street,
Dublin 1, the purpose of the role is to develop and support a caring,
compassionate, effective and skilled staff inspired by the Mission of the
Society.
Key tasks will
include implementing and monitoring the Good Employer Programme, developing
clear organisational structures aligned to a collaborative culture, people
development and leadership capacity building, directing and managing the Human
Resource Management and Development function at National Office.
Key requirements
are degree-level education, at least 7 years' relavant and diverse experience
at a senior level including management of staff, broad HR experience including
industrial relations, a positive and resilient approach, excellent
interpersonal skills, and an ability to work in a large, voluntary-led,
decentralised environment.
Please apply to:
Brendan Schutte, Catalyst Consulting, 334 NCR, Phibsboro, Dublin 7. Tel. 01
8500500.
E-mail: info@dignityatwork.ie
A full job
description is available on request.
The closing date is 17th October. National
Functional Foods Research Centre
UCC,
Teagasc, UCD and UL
The
National Functional Foods Research Centre is a recently created Centre for Functional
Food development funded by Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with Carbery,
Dairygold, Glanbia and Kerry Foods. The NFFRC will consist of up to 30
individual scientists/postgraduate students working on the development of milk
based Functional Foods targeting health areas which include early infant
development, metabolic syndrome, immunity/infection and colorectal cancer.
Research on the isolation, identification, characterisation, formulation and
validation of milk bioactives will form the basis of the Centre’s research. The
NFFRC combines expertise from a number of national institutes and is located at
University College Cork, Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, University
College Dublin and University of Limerick. The Centre headquarters is located
in University College Cork.
The
NFFRC is commencing operations in Autumn/Winter 2008 and is seeking to fill a
number of Postdoctoral, Research Assistant, Technologist and Postgraduate
student positions across its constituent campuses.
Successful
candidates will work as integral members of a team of scientists involved in a
highly competitive area. Excellent facilities and equipment are available to
support the research, which is expected to deliver the basic information needed
to make a significant impact on health risk through functional food
development.
NFFRC at UCC
Infection/Immunity
(Scientific contact
Professor Colin Hill c.hill@ucc.ie)
Ref:
UCC 01
Cardiovascular
Health
(Scientific contact:
Professor David Kerins d.kerins@ucc.ie)
Ref: UCC 02
Milk Mining
(Scientific contact
Dr Alan Kelly a.Kelly@ucc.ie)
Ref: UCC 03
Metabolism-
Obesity
(Scientific contacts
Professor Ted Dinan t.dinan@ucc.ie/Dr. John
Cryan/Dr Linda Giblin)
Ref: UCC 04
NFFRC
Centre Manager
Ref: UCC 05
Intellectual
Property Co-ordinator
50% Appointment. Ref: UCC 06
Applicants
should send CV, names of two referees and a letter of application to: Ms.
Claudia Cashman, National Functional Food research Centre, University College
Cork or email nffrc@ucc.ie . The letter of application should indicate clearly
which position is being applied for.
NFFRC at UCD
Metabolic
Syndrome/Glycaemic Function
(Scientific contact: Professor Philip
Newsholme, UCD School of
Biomolecular
and Biomedical Science) phillip.newsholme@ucd.ie)
Ref: UCD 01
Screening
of bioactive milk based compounds using a metabolomic approach
(Scientific contact. lorraine.brennan@ucd.ie) Ref:
UCD 02
Screening
of bioactive milk based compounds using a cell-based approach
(Scientific contact. Alan.Baird@ucd.ie) Ref:
UCD 03
Screening
of bioactive milk based compounds for safety using cellomics approach
(Scientific contact:
Peter.James.Obrien@ucd.ie & Helen.Roche@ucd.ie)
Ref: UCD 04
Transcriptomic
Screening of milk biopeptides for functional effects relevant to
the Metabolic Syndrome/ Atherothrombosis/ Inflammation
(Scientific contact: Helen.Roche@ucd.ie) Ref:
UCD 05
Project
Manager
Ref: UCD 06
Applicants should send C.V. names of two
referees and a letter of application to: Ms. Claudia Schmid
(Claudia.schmid@ucd.ie), Agricultural and Food Science Centre, University
College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. The letter of application should indicate
clearly which position is being applied for.
NFFRC at Teagasc
Post-doctoral
scientist and Research Assistant positions in Milk Mining Research
(Scientific contact: Dr. Tom Beresford: tom.beresford@teagasc.ie) Ref: T
01
Post-doctoral
scientist, Process Technologist and post-graduate position in Pre-Commercial
Scale up & GMP research
(Scientist contact: Dr. Sean Tuohy: sean.tuohy@teagasc.ie) Ref: T
02
Post-doctoral
scientist, Research Assistant and Post-graduate student positions in Early
Infant Development research
(Scientific contact: Professor Paul Ross: paul.ross@teagasc.ie) Ref: T
03
Post-doctoral
scientist and Post-graduate student positions in Metabolic Syndrome (Obesity)
research
(Scientific contact: Dr. Linda Giblin: Linda.giblin@teagasc.ie) Ref: T
04
Scientific
Administrator
50% Appointment. Ref: T 06
Clerical
Officer
50% Appointment. Ref: T 06
Applicants should send CV, names of two
referees and a letter of application to: Dr. Sheila Morgan, Teagasc, Moorepark
Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, or e-mail at Sheila.morgan@teagasc.ie .
The letter of application should indicate clearly which position is being
applied for.
NFFRC at University of
Limerick
Postdoctoral
Researcher in Milk Peptides
(Scientific contact. Prof. R.J. Fitzgerald dick.fitzgerald@ul.ie)
Research Assistant
in Milk Peptides
(Scientific contact. Prof. R.J. Fitzgerald dick.fitzgerald@ul.ie)
Post-Graduate
Studentship in Milk Peptides
(Scientific contact.
Prof. R.J. Fitzgerald dick.fitzgerald@ul.ie)
Further details: www.graduate school.ul.ie
Salary Scales
Postdoctoral
Researcher €39,589- €56,143 p.a.-
Maximum Starting Salary €44,977 p.a.
Research
Assistant €22,454- €36,349 p.a.-
Maximum Starting Salary €28,609 p.a.
Further information for applicants and
application material is available online from: http://www.ul.ie/hrvacancies/
More detailed information regarding all
these positions can be accessed at http://www.nffrc.ie
Salaries for each of the positions will be
commensurate with experience and will reflect CHIU/Teagasc research scales.
The closing date for receipt of
applications is 10th October 2008.
Any applications received after this date
will be kept on file should any other opportunities arise. |
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