Ireland is a high cost location for small firms according to Assistant Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA), Linda Barry. Ms Barry stated that labour costs, insurance and Local Authority rates are at the focal point of the problem and the Government must be obsessive about cost competitiveness in context of Brexit. Addressing the Joint […]
The Irish Government recently published its long-overdue National Mitigation Plan on climate change, with more than 100 initiatives proposed to reduce carbon emissions in line with global targets. Amid predictions that Ireland looks set to miss its 2020 targets to reduce emissions, environmental campaigners have expressed disappointment with the Government’s new blueprint
Dublin-based company bookapitch is delivering a web-based solution that makes booking and managing sports facilities easier. Bookapitch is a new online venture that enables organisations like schools, GAA or football clubs to advertise and rent out their sports pitches without spending their time speaking to each and every person making a booking – while allowing
Home owners and businesses in all local authority areas are set to face a significant increase in electricity costs to help pay for new subsidies for renewable energy under an overhaul planned by Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Ireland has to meet demanding CO2 emissions targets by 2030. These changes to […]
Sixty five percent of Enterprise Ireland Client Companies who are not yet exporting to the Eurozone plan to enter the market in the next 12 months. This is according to a survey of Enterprise Ireland client companies attending International Markets Week which shows that the Eurozone is the key region where they see the greatest […]
A Competitive Start Fund (CSF) competition worth up to €750,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland will open for applications to early stage companies in manufacturing and internationally traded services on Wednesday 13 September 2017. This is Enterprise Ireland’s seventh competitive start fund in 2017 and is open to all sectors with a focus on agricultural, […]
Ulster University has launched a €6.7 million cross-border research project, funded by European Union, it aims to develop a range of consumer-owned energy storage resources. The launch of Ulster University’s SPIRE 2 project follows the UK Government’s announcement of a complete transformation of how energy will be generated, stored and used in the future. SPIRE […]
Pityful a rethoric question ran over her cheek When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown Bookmarksgrove, the headline of Alphabet Village and the subline of her own road, the Line Lane. Throw myself down teems with vapour around me, and […]
Building the long-sought M20 motorway linking Cork-to-Limerick motorway could create up to 5,400 jobs and contribute €128 million to the State, a new report says. The report commissioned on behalf of Cork and Limerick chambers of commerce states that the motorway linking the two cities could potentially support 4,000 to 5,400 new jobs, and in […]
Trinity College Dublin is to lead a €12m EU project to transform European cities into smart cities with an emphasis on nature. Major cities are becoming increasingly difficult places to live, with high rates of pollution and limited amenities posing problems as cities struggle to keep pace with expanding populations. However, a new €12m EU […]
Employee motivation levels have increased by 6% over the last year according to accounting and consulting firm Mazars, who published the third annual Employee Motivation Survey. The survey revealed that 87% of employees are motivated in their jobs. Forty per cent of employees are more motivated than this time last year due to changing roles, […]
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten has announced that the mandatory pay-by-weight scheme is to be abandoned and flat fee charges are to be scrapped. The pay-by-weight scheme, which was due to come into place from 1 January, was held up at the eleventh hour last December amid controversy around bin companies […]
We’re all a bit guilty of zoning out during meetings, equally management can be guilty of overkill on the meeting front too. It can be difficult to concentrate the entirety and they can be viewed as an unnecessary distraction, especially when everyone has other important things to be concerned with. New research from Wacom – […]
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the most important event in the traditional music calendar. For many, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the culmination of months of hard work and practice as they compete against fellow musicians, singers and dancers to achieve the recognition of being an All-Ireland champion. For others it is a unique and […]
Smart Dublin and Enterprise Ireland have launched the Three Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) competitions, with up to €600k in funding. Announced earlier this week, the challenges aim to source smart and low cost innovative solutions to tackle illegal dumping, to monitor and predict blocked gullies in high risk flooding areas and to design wayfinding […]
Enabled by ubiquitous connectivity and highly efficient communications systems, remote working is facing less and less resistance. In fact, for organisations who believe in it, remote working is proving to increase performance. But is it right for everyone? And what are the drawbacks? It is now a common practice, no matter what size the […]
With the flow of EU funding set to dry up, and the possibility of a hard border, Irish Waterways navigate uncharted territory. There is considerable uncertainty regarding all matters surrounding Brexit; which in itself presents its own set of challenges. The challenges are especially acute in the Border Region – between Northern Ireland and The […]
As the shadow of a hard Brexit continues to spread political and economic uncertainty across the UK, a deeper concern is growing in Northern Ireland and the cross-border region where EU funding has been the economic lifeblood for decades. Following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union last June, a powerful air of unease […]
Dublin City Council has announced that the Office of the Dublin Commissioner for Startups will be restructured when current commissioner, Niamh Bushnell leaves the office next month. The move by the council means that after a two-year pilot project, there will be no replacement hired for the role. As part of the restructuring plans, from […]
New urban developments can easily be identified by their glassy exteriors and cold utilitarian spaces. However, gains in practical functionality of space can often be to the detriment of play and spontaneity. By Ekaterina Tikhoniouk When we think of play, we tend to think of children. Play is ‘an activity engaged in for enjoyment, especially […]