Top European committee in Athlone to discuss helping small businesses

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Political representatives from local and regional governments from across the 27 Member States of the European Union will gather in Athlone’s Sheraton Hotel on September 29-30 for a major conference, to discuss the problems that SMEs are facing and how to help these businesses grow and create jobs.

With most jobs in the EU provided by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) in conjunction with the Association of Irish Regions and the BMW Regional Assembly, will organise a conference on ‘Supporting our SMEs – overcoming barriers to their development’ which will discuss the contribution that SMEs make to the economy and the impact of the proposed Small Business Act for Europe which the European Commission is bringing forward to help make policies more SME friendly.

Hospital team wins catering award

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The ARAMARK Ireland team at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) has been presented with one of the hospitality industry’s top awards at the 20th Hotel & Catering Review gold medal Awards, when they beat stiff competition to win the gold medal award for Institutional Catering sponsored by the National Hygiene Partnership.

Tysabri can improve life quality, says Elan

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Athlone-based Elan has claimed that a post-hoc analysis showed that its controversial multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri increases the probability of achieving sustained improvement in physical disability over two years when compared to a placebo.

We thought bank shares had hit floor six months ago. What should we do?

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Q. My wife and I have AIB and Bank of Ireland shares that we bought about six months ago in the expectation that the stock has reached its floor. We were obviously very wrong. I have now huge paper losses on these stocks. Should I sell them and realize a loss which presumably I can offset against my tax? Can I use the paper loss in any way if the selling the shares now makes no sense?

Top Galway companies attend LEAP/Mazars event

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

More than 25 companies were represented at the successful breakfast briefing, How To Secure Your Company’s Long Term Future, hosted by LEAP and Mazars Tierney Galway, two of Galway’s leading businesses, at the Hotel Meyrick, Galway.

Business groups welcome Gluas but are adamant that city outer bypass is needed

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Five of the top business lobby groups in Galway have come out in support of the city’s public transport feasibility study and Gluas, the proposed light rail system.

Vision 2020 at the people’s airport

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

More words have been written and spoken on Ireland West Airport Knock than any other Irish airport. Everyone has a tale to tell, a memory to recall, an opinion to offer — and all with the same gusto that characterised the man behind the ‘people’s airport’, Monsignor James Horan.

MarCon employee wins prestigious award

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

An employee of Galway-based MarCon Computations International Ltd has received the Mary Breslin Award after successfully developing new software which will help to target new markets in the aquaculture/mariculture industry and the fisheries agencies.

Cedric’s the new head chef at the Twelve

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Recently appointed as head chef at West Restaurant in Galway’s chic and award-winning boutique hotel The Twelve, French-born Cedric Bottarlini has been working in Ireland for the past eight years.

New college to teach Alexander Technique

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Many people think that the Alexander Technique involves improving posture by ‘sitting up straight’. Nothing could be further from the truth. It involves releasing unconscious tension from our body to allow us to move through life with greater ease. It can dramatically help or prevent backache, arthritis, insomnia, and a whole range of physical aches and pains. By learning the technique you may find that your confidence and self-esteem naturally grow. You may also find a natural spontaneity, a greater contentment, and a deeper love of life.

Our bodies are our most precious possession, yet most of the time we give little attention to them. The human body is an amazing anti-gravity mechanism, but most of us unconsciously interfere with the natural working and reflexes to such an extent that millions of people throughout the world suffer acute backache every year. It is also estimated that many more people will suffer from asthma, insomnia, arthritis, headaches, and migraine, all due to stress or excess muscle tension throughout the body.

Mixed feelings towards new national wage agreement

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Many strands of Irish businesses wasted little time this week in hitting out at the new national wage agreement struck early on Wednesday morning, saying that the propsoed wage increases could represent the final nail in the coffin for many small to medium businesses.

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) appoints new regional director

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has announced the appointment of Catherine Doyle to the position of regional director in its Galway office.

VAT and subcontractors

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

I have a construction company specializing in one off housing. I am engaged by contractors to do work for them and also by the house owners in which case I use my own subcontractors. I am very confused by the new scheme for VAT between principal contractors and subcontractors. How does it work?

Would you like to be a driving instructor?

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Due to the Government regulation of driving instructors in Ireland all practising instructors must now register with the RSA and sit three examinations to qualify as an official driving instructor. The deadline set by the Government for compliance is Dec 31 2008 by which all time, every driving instructor in the country must fulfil these minimum requirements.

GOAL’s John O’Shea to speak at Chamber’s Autumn Business Lunch

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Galway Chamber will kick off its Autumn Business Lunch series by welcoming guest speaker John O’Shea of GOAL to its lunch on Tuesday September 30 at 12.30 pm in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, in an event sponsored by National Irish Bank.

A learning curve

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

With 700 employees and 6,000 students, president of Athlone Institute of Technology Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin is at the peak of his learning curve. Eight years into his 10-year tenure, Ciarán takes the responsibility of running one of the midlands’ biggest employers in his stride.

Time to redesign ‘stifling’ Junior Cert, says IBEC

Thu, Sep 11, 2008

The Junior Certificate stifles creativity and a spirit of enquiry in the next generation, IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has claimed this week, as results of the exam were released.

Slamming the make-up of the current Junior Cert syllabus, the group said that society and business need an education system that produces individuals who are adaptable, can think for themselves and have an appetite to learn.

At last — a tv service that requires no licence

Thu, Sep 11, 2008

A telecommunications company is seeking to take advantage of the reform in broadcasting law to offer viewers free internet-based TV.

Boston Scientific invests €50 million in Galway facility

Thu, Sep 11, 2008

Boston Scientific is to invest €50 million in strategic research and development at its Galway facility. The corporation, which specialises in medical devices for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, will invest the money with the support of IDA Ireland.

Boston Scientific was established in Galway in 1994 and is the largest manufacturing site within the corporation. More than 3,000 people are employed to manufacture cardiology and peripheral vascular products such as stents and catheters. This is a major investment for the company and an integral part of its strategic plans.

Expo to attract those who want to move west from Dublin

Thu, Sep 11, 2008

The LookWest.ie Expo that will be held in the Alexander Hotel, Dublin on the September 18 is being held to attract people who want to relocate from the Greater Dublin Area to the Western Region (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Clare) to live, work and do business.

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