Donie's Ireland news update Thursday

Ireland top of the world for the availability of a skilled workforce

   

Ireland leads the world for availability of a skilled workforce. 

Ireland has topped the world in a number of key competitiveness milestones, according to top-ranked Switzerland-based business school IMD, including availability of skilled labour, flexibility of its workforce, investment incentives and attitudes to globalisation.

In terms of overall ranking, Hong Kong topped the world, followed by the US and Switzerland and Ireland came in at 20th place, up four places from last year.

But Ireland achieved the following key goals that rank it ideal for foreign direct investment (FDI) activity:

1. First for availability of skilled labour
2. First for flexibility and adaptability of workforce
3. First for investment incentives
4. First for attitudes towards globalisation
5. Second for business legislation – openness to foreign investors
6. Second for large corporations that are efficient by international standards
7. Second for adaptability of companies
8. Fourth for corporate tax rate on profit and real corporate taxes

Ireland is the best place to invest in Western Europe

The results come just a week after both Dublin and Ireland were named the best places in Western Europe to invest by international magazineSite Selection.

They also come on the heel of this week’s 2012 Talent Shortage Survey, published by the Manpower Group, which ranked Ireland as the global leader for the availability of skills and the least difficult location, globally, in which to find talent.

In addition to these surveys, the latest International Construction Intelligence report, issued by Faithful and Gould, shows that the index construction cost in Ireland, at 91.3, is less than Singapore (94.8), US/Chicago (100), UK (109.5) and Switzerland (155.2).

“Competition for foreign direct investment is significantly increasing and the availability of skilled labour is, amongst other things, one of the main deciding factors when companies are choosing a location for their overseas investments,” Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, explained.

O’Leary said the fact that Ireland continues to lead the way in availability of skilled labour adds significantly to its reputation as a host for FDI and the outlook for maintaining this position in the future remains positive.

For example, greater availability of computer and software personnel will be a key feature for investors in Ireland over the coming years.

“This is due to the increase in the numbers enrolling in computer, software courses and conversion courses in universities and institutes of technology across the country. Uptake of undergraduate computer courses has experienced a 40pc increase in the last four years, with the first of these additional students, at honours-degree level, coming into the employment market this summer,” O’Leary said.

“IDA Ireland in its strategy Horizon 2020, identifies the strengthening of Ireland’s value proposition as one of its main targets. The excellent rankings of Ireland in these surveys shows that the country’s value proposition as a location for FDI is constantly improving,” O’Leary added.

Household lending in Ireland continues to decline

    

Central Bank figures showed lending continued to decline, but the pace of the decrease slowed.

Lending to households and companies continued its downward trend in April, with loans down by 4 per cent year on year, new data from the Central Bank showed today.

But private sector deposits at Irish-based banks rose for the third month in a row, slowing the annual rate of decline.

Lending for home purchases fell by 2.5 per cent year on year, with consumption and other purposes down by 8.4 per cent. Over the month, household lending fell by €632 million, largely due to a fall in the value of loans for consumption purposes of €394 million.

Companies also felt the pinch, with lending down 1.8 per cent over the year. However, this was a slowdown from the 2.2 per cent recorded in March.

Monthly figures showed loans to companies were €326 million lower in April, reversing the trend seen in the previous month where lending increased by €34 million. Short-term loans, which includes overdrafts, were €155 million higher, but medium-term company loans declined by €428 million, and longer-term loans were down by €53 million.

Irish banks’ borrowings from the European Central Bank were €90 billion by the end of April. Domestic Irish institutions accounted for €77 billion of that figure, a €2 billion increase month on month.

Private sector deposits at Irish-based banks rose for the third month in a row in April, slowing the annual rate of decline.

Data from the Central Bank showed deposits rose by €4 billion in April, with the majority coming from the financial sector. Over the year, deposits fell by 3.4 per cent, the slowest pace since August 2010

“We tend to focus on household and non-financial corporate deposits, which account for three-quarters of private sector deposits. In April deposits in these categories were up a combined €187 million, a very modest amount but positive nonetheless. Non-resident deposits were relatively unchanged in April,” said Goodbody chief economist Dermot O’Leary.

Separately, figures from the Department of Finance showed deposits at Government-guaranteed lenders rose by €2.1 billion during April, or 1.4 per cent, to €151 billion over the period.

These figures exclude the effects of intra-group deposits and also takes into account the deposits held by affiliates outside Ireland.

“Slightly under half of the increase during the month came from the domestic deposit base, with much of the growth in the non-Irish element related to euro weakness,” a statement from the department said.

Deposits in the banks have increased from their 2011 low of €140 billion in June, July and August.

Euro weakness in April “provided an added translation boost for deposits source in the UK,” the department said.

Galway brothel raided in a major Garda crackdown on prostitution

    

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland has warned against complacency as crimes such as organised prostitution, human trafficking, brothel-keeping, and other related sexual violence against women are happening in communities, both rural and urban, throughout the country.

Speaking to the Advertiser in the wake of the biggest crackdown on prostitution in Ireland, spokesperson for the Galway-based group, Clíona Saidléar, commended the Garda Síochána for its collaboration with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in carrying out the raids of more than 140 suspected brothels and “seriously responding” to this crime – some 120 of the raids were located in the Republic with at least one understood to be in Galway. Ms Saidléar further called for the justice system to continue to target the real perpetrators of this crime and to treat the female victims in a “supportive and sympathetic manner”.

The raids were part of Operation Quest, a co-ordinated operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, and took place across both jurisdictions on Tuesday last. The operation commenced at midday and continued into the evening resulting in more than 140 premises being raided. These premises included mainly apartments, flats, and houses, and are believed to have been located in many counties in the Republic including Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Donegal, and Meath; Gardai have not yet released further specifics relating to this while the investigation is on-going.

However, a Garda statement did reveal that Operation Quest focused “on securing convictions against individuals involved in organising prostitution, brothel keeping, and associated offences including money laundering”. The operation involved more than 200 gardai and was spearheaded by members of the Organised Crime Unit based at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, supported by officers from all Garda regions. It is understood that a total of eight people were arrested in the joint operation. In the Republic three people were arrested, a man aged in his 40s and a woman aged in her 20s, and both were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Dundrum Garda Station, while another woman in her 20s was detained at Store Street Garda Station under the same act. A large amount of documentation, cash, mobile phones, and computers were seized during the raids.

The Garda statement went on to read: “During the investigation to date it has been established that prostitution is organised on a cross-border basis and today’s [Tuesday] joint operation was specifically aimed at individuals and groups intent on making profits from vulnerable members of society across the island of Ireland. The policy of An Garda Síochána is to treat women involved as witnesses/victims unless significant evidence comes to light suggesting direct involvement in organised prostitution or brothel keeping. Specific training has been provided to gardai investigating this type of crime who continue to liaise closely with various support groups working in this area.”

Ms Saidlear said that it was vital that the gardai continue to “target the right people” and that a change in law was needed to ensure that women, who are the victims of organised prostitution and human trafficking, “are not criminalised and penalised”. She added that there also needs to be a change in the element of our society and culture that “makes it OK for these women to be treated in this way”, and stressed that there are supports, alternatives, and options made available by Rape Crisis centres to victims.

Man (36) treated for stab wounds and two arrested in Galway

    

Two men were arrested in Galway after a man was stabbed in the city last night.

The incident happened at 9pm at Mallon Avenue, Mervue when a 36-year-old man was injured. He was taken by ambulance to University College Hospital where his condition is described as not life threatening.

The two arrested men are being held at Mill Street Garda

Donie's Ireland news Blog Thursday

New figures show increased demand for MS Ireland services ‘A reflection of our difficult times’

        

New and recent figures issued from MS Ireland show increased demand for the organisation’s services in the first quarter of this year.

MS Ireland is calling on the  government to improve access to treatments for people with MS such as Tysabri and Gilenya. The organisation says that the drugs are “widely available” to MS sufferers in other EU countries and are used to treat relapsing-remitting MS.

Tarragh Donohoe of MS Ireland said that both drugs are considered ‘second-line’ treatment and that if people with MS are not taking those, then it’s likely they’re not getting any treatment at all.

“Tysabri is currently available on hospital budgets, but most don’t stretch to actually cover it,” Donohoe said. Meanwhile, Gilenya has been on the HSE reimbursement list “for months” but has not yet been approved for the scheme.

Donohoe said that MS Ireland believes “people should have as much choice as possible when it comes to their treatment”, but that people with MS should talk to their neurologist before starting any new treatment as the drugs have side effects.

Support: According to its report for the first quarter of 2012, the organisation provided a home visit service to 1,757 people with MS around Ireland (up from 1,524 in Q1 2011).

Over the first three months of this year, 89 people who were recently diagnosed with MS requested a home visit from MS Ireland – up from 72 for the same period of last year. The organisation also provided 234 individual physiotherapy and exercise classes, and 63 counselling and personal development sessions.

MSI’s chief executive Ava Battles says that the increased demand for services “reflects the difficult times people with MS face”.

“In addition to the nationwide impact of reduced income and cuts, people with MS also have to cope with the added expenses of living with a disability, reduced care packages, cuts in housing grants and denial of vital services, benefits and treatments.”

Battles also appealed to the public to help the organisation fundraise for the continued provision of services: “The extra demand on services means we need to fight harder for appropriate funding from the government and work harder to fundraise.”

New vomiting bug restrictions at Sligo General Hospital

  

Sligo General Hospital is restricting visitors in an attempt to stop the spread of the winter vomiting bug.

The Health Service Executive said more patients than usual were presenting with vomiting and diarrhoea, and this led to increased pressure on beds.

The HSE said visiting was permitted only in exceptional circumstances by immediate relatives and only during designated visiting times.

The vomiting bug, while rarely causing severe problems, can be debilitating to small children or older people who are already ill or infirm.

Those affected should drink plenty of fluids, maintain strict hygiene and avoid visiting hospitals or nursing homes.

If symptoms persist, patients are advised to contact their GP by phone before attending the surgery to limit the spread of the virus.

Rising Irish temperatures and rainfall recorded in the past 30 years

 

Ireland’s average temperatures have risen by 0.75 degrees over the last two decades, according to new Met Éireann figures.

The rise has been described as “significant” and in line with projections of a 3-6 degree increase in world temperatures by the end of the century.

Met Éireann’s head of forecasting, Gerald Fleming, said the increases showed there was “no argument” that the weather was getting warmer, but he cautioned against seeing that as a trend.

He said the dispute was whether this was caused by man-made carbon dioxide emissions or simple variability in climate.

The spring and summer months are significantly warmer. The south Leinster and east Munster areas have recorded the greatest average rise in temperatures.

The Irish climate is also getting wetter. Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry recorded the equivalent of a month’s extra rainfall in the 30-year period between 1981 and 2010 compared to the equivalent period between 1961 and 1990.

The west of Ireland is on average 8 per cent wetter than it was in the previous 30-year period.

It will come as no surprise, given the wet summers of recent years, that the average increase in rainfall in July across the country is 15 per cent, a figure which Met Éireann senior climatologist Séamus Walsh described as the “most surprising” of all to emerge from the new data.

July is the warmest month, followed by August and June. The coldest month is January, followed closely by February and then December.

Autumn is warmer in Ireland than spring.

Met Éireann’s climate averages for Ireland are based on 10 million pieces of data collected over a 50-year period dating back to 1961.

The long-term average temperatures of the period 1981-2010 show a 0.5 degree increase in comparison to 1961-1990, which is the baseline for measuring climate averages.

However, when the overlapping years between 1981-1990 are discounted, the difference in temperatures between the periods 1961-1980 and 1991-2010 is 0.75 degrees.

“When you look at long-term averages, 0.5 of a degree is a lot,” Mr Fleming said.

“If you look at what is being said about a rise in temperature by the end of the century, an increase of 0.5 of a degree in a 20- to 30-year period is actually quite significant.”

Overall the country has had a 5 per cent increase in rainfall between the two 30-year periods.

While the amount of rainfall in Dublin has increased by just 2 per cent, there has been a rise of closer to 8-9 per cent in the west of Ireland, with a clear east-west split in a line stretching from Cavan to Waterford.

Mr Walsh said rainfall patterns were prone to variability.

The increases in rainfall may be the result of the wet summers of 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the flood conditions of 2009 which were a once-in-500-years event for many parts of the west of Ireland.

“There is huge year-to-year variability in rainfall,” he said.

“Where you get very wet summers in the noughties, they contributed to the increases in rainfall.

“There is no evidence that there is a change in the extreme values of rainfall. We have looked at that and there are no definite trends.”

Mr Walsh said temperature was a much more stable indicator of climate change.

He said there was a “definite trend” in a decreasing number of frosty days.

Sunshine levels have showed little variability by comparison, though the sunniest parts of the country, along the east and south coasts, have seen sunshine increases of more than 5 per cent in certain months.

Big Focus on eye dangers within diabetes & the lack of awareness?

       

Over 75% of people with diabetes are unaware of a common condition that causes blindness, diabetic macular edema (DME), according to research.

DME is a form of diabetic retinopathy (DR) that causes blindness in adults with diabetes. In Ireland, one person a week goes blind from DR.

Members of Diabetes Ireland took part in the study, and the results showed that 42% of people with diabetes are most worried about eyesight problems developing, over a quarter are concerned with kidney damage and a further quarter with heart conditions.

However, one in four people with diabetes do not go to their annual eye examination, despite the fact that 42% are worried about the development of eye problems. Dr has no symptoms in its early stages, emphasing the need to attend for eye tests.

A public information evening has been arranged for tonight to raise awareness about eyesight dangers for people with diabetes, available treatment for people with DR and highlighting the importance of full eye examinations today* (May 31).

In Ireland there are over 200,000 people living with diabetes and it is estimated that about 30,000 people are undiagnosed.

To reduce the risk of vision loss diabetes must be managed carefully and people should attend all their healthcare appointments including an annual full eye examination said Kieran O’Leary, CEO of Diabetes Ireland.

A number of organisations including; Diabetes Ireland, the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), the National Council for the Blind in Ireland, Fighting Blindness and the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) are hosting the information evening.

*Information Evening: VisualEYES the Risks: Managing Your Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy at 6.30pm, May 31 at the O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel, Dublin 2.

Chlamydia screening campaign not cost effective in Ireland ‘academics claim’

  

A National screening campaign for a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause infertility is not cost effective, academics found.

More than 6,000 men and women last year were diagnosed with chlamydia a silent infection with no symptoms that can remain undetected, untreated, and lead to complications like ectopic pregnancies.

But Ireland’s small population and the strain already on the health service means a screening programme would not be cost effective, researchers said.

Dr Emer O’Connell, consultant in public health medicine, said screening for chlamydia is available in many countries.

“However, some countries such as Australia are reviewing the effectiveness of this measure,” she said.

“In Ireland, due to our small population and the strain already on our health service, a screening programme for chlamydia would not be cost effective because it would be difficult to achieve the necessary coverage levels to reduce the level of infection.”

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported bacterial STI in Ireland, with highest numbers reported in patients in their 20s.

The number of cases has soared from 1,000 in 1997, to 3,353 in 2005, 5,781 in 2009 and 6,008 by 2011 – accounting for more than half of all STIs reported.

As it remains undetected it can spread easily and causes pelvic inflammatory disease in up to 30pc of infected women who are not treated, leading to ectopic pregnancy and infertility.

The chlamydia screening pilot study in Ireland found stigma was often a barrier that stopped young people seeking or accepting an STI test.

However, 95pc of professionals and 75pc of students would take a test if offered.

Eight out of 10 could inform their current partner if they tested positive for chlamydia, but this rate fell to 55-60pc in the case of telling previous partners.

More than 6,000 people took part in the study, funded by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre and supported by the Health Research Board.

Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, of NUI Galway, said the study shows how to protect the sexual health of young Irish people.

“Given these findings, a national sexual health plan should include primary prevention activities such as sex education, condom distribution and the provision of information on how to seek care for STIs,” he added.

“Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of primary care-delivered chlamydia detection and case management services as part of a national action plan to promote sexual health.”

Donie's all Ireland news Blog Wednesday

‘The Fiscal Treaty’ and 10 areas of dispute between

The Yes and No sides

  

Treaty supporters say it is good housekeeping, while opponents say it institutionalises austerity

A Oireachtas committee report on the fiscal treaty, published this month, has identified 10 areas of dispute between the Yes and No sides in the referendum.

The report, by a subcommittee of the Committee on European Union Affairs, was a compilation of the evidence of 61 witnesses across 24 separate sessions.

It took in the views of politicians, ambassadors from EU states, academics, economists and interest groups.

The report gives excellent, readable summaries of the main arguments of all witnesses.

The areas of dispute identified were:

1. Purpose of the treaty: Supporters said it was good housekeeping and upheld fiscal discipline, while opponents said it protected banks, institutionalised austerity and accepted neo-liberal policies over Keynesian ones.

2. Economic effect: Opponents said it would delay recovery by not allowing investment and growth. Supporters argued it would improve market confidence, create better conditions for recovery, and guarantee access to the ESM.

3. Balanced budget rule: Those in favour said such rules were unavoidable given the size of the deficit, while those against said the treaty ignored the threat of structural unemployment.

4. The debt brake rule: This 0.5 per cent deficit rule will come into full effect in 2018. This rule is not as harsh as it seems, said supporters, while opponents said that if growth is absent it will mean further austerity.

5. European Stability Mechanism: It is a blackmail clause, according to No advocates. It is reasonable to make its availability conditional on adhering to fiscal rules, said supporters.

6. Alternatives to ESM: This involves both the debate on whether or not ESM funding will be available in the event of a No vote and if other sources, such as IMF funds, could be tapped. Some opponents suggested taxes on wealth and property as alternatives.

7. Consequence of Yes: Supporters largely referred to a restoration of confidence and availability of ESM funds; some on the No side said it would mean further austerity and a loss of sovereignty to unaccountable EU officials.

8. Consequences of No: Loss of access to ESM funding would be the first of a series of very damaging and long-lasting consequences, according to proponents. Those opposed said it would allow the Government to force a renegotiation within the EU.

9. Recovery: This area covers measures such as economic stimulus, including federalisation and eurobonds. Views differed on the relevance of the treaty to such measures.

10. Legal issues: This revolved around the existence of a possible veto, which might be achieved by the Government refusing to ratify other EU treaties, including article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

There have been deeply conflicting claims from both sides as to whether or not the article 136 “veto” can be used.

Ireland’s Small firms sector (ISME) are facing ‘wipeout’

   

ISME’s chief executive Mark Fielding (above) said that retailers were being “wiped out” right across Ireland

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (ISME) has warned that the sector is facing “wipeout” unless measures are drafted to deal with huge business costs.

The body was reacting to the latest retail sales figures, which revealed a drop of 2.7pc.

It said that a third of companies are anticipating cutting staff next year.

The sectors that suffered the largest month-on-month drops were hardware, glass and paints (-6.2pc), department stores (-3.6pc), clothing and textiles (-2.9pc) and motor trade (-2.6pc). ISME’s chief executive Mark Fielding (above) said that retailers were being “wiped out” across Ireland due to increasing costs, consumer uncertainty and a deteriorating domestic economy.

Health Minister Reilly to start dismantling the HSE soon

  

The Government has approved the Heads of a Bill that will see the abolition of the HSE Board and the setting up of a new structure of seven directorates for the health executive.

Health Minister James Reilly has said the legislation providing for the directorates will be law by later this summer.

He said the new directorate structure of the HSE will provide a ‘new administrative architecture’ designed to guide the organisation towards the roll-out of universal health insurance (UHI).

Ahead of the legislative changes, the HSE is to recruit new directors for hospitals, primary care, mental health, social care and health & well-being. The other directorates will be shared care and child/family services.

The Department of Health said the new management arrangements reflect the need for greater operational management focus in the delivery of key services and greater transparency about funding, service delivery and accountability.

The new directorates, while representing a radical reorganisation of the HSE, are in effect a temporary structure, as the HSE will eventually be phased out under UHI.

The HSE’s functions are set to be transferred elsewhere as part of the move towards the UHI system, although it is as yet unclear exctly what structures will replace the HSE.

A White Paper setting out how UHI will be implemented is due to be published this year.

It is not clear at this stage what the role of the current HSE CEO, Cathal Magee, will be in the new directorate structure.

3kg Californian sea lion pup born at Dublin Zoo

  

Dublin ZOO is celebrating their recent arrival of a healthy Californian sea lion pup.

Born last week, the male pup weighs around 3kgs. It shares a habitat with his mother, his three-year-old sister Flo and another female called Cassie.

Californian sea lions are born on land and without the ability to swim, so the young pup spent his first days on land with his mother Seanna. She has since been giving him some lessons, and Dublin Zoo staff say that he is already a comfortable swimmer.

Team leader Eddie O’Brien said that the Zoo is thrilled with the pup’s birth. “I’m delighted to say that mum and pup are doing very well,” he said. “Sea lion’s milk is so rich in nutrients and fat that our new arrival will grow very quickly.”

Donie's Tuesday Ireland news Blog

85% of disabled funding in Ireland goes on staff  ‘Irish Government study reveals’

  

A Government study examining how €1.5 billion in taxpayers’ money is spent by disability service providers is expected to show that up to 85 per cent of funding is going on staff costs.

The details of the value-for-money report come as pressure is mounting on health authorities and the Government to find places for up to 700 young people with intellectual disabilities who require essential services when they finish school next month.

Several voluntary service providers say they are “cut to the bone” and have started to turn down requests from parents for vital services for their children.

However, the Government has insisted there is no spare money and has called on service providers to find more efficient and flexible ways of providing services.

The report, due to be published over the summer, is expected to show significant variations in the cost of delivering similar services in different parts of the State.

It is understood to show that staffing costs for providing disability services in Ireland are significantly higher than in other jurisdictions.

Informed sources say it will conclude there needs to be a better mix of skills within the service, with less emphasis on nursing staff and a greater focus on staff who can help people live independently.

This finding could have significant implications for staffing and potentially lead to reallocation of nurses to other parts of the health service that are badly in need of nurses.

These issues, however, will not feature in the report.

The report is understood to propose major changes to the way the sector is funded, with greater emphasis on individualised payments for people with disabilities.

It is also likely to suggest a move towards tendering for services on the part of service providers rather than providing block grants.

Many of these findings reflect those in an earlier report commissioned by the Health Service Executive into outdated institutions, or so-called congregated settings.

It found the numbers of nurses employed meant that Irish staff in disability services were much better paid than their British counterparts, earning an average of €54,000 in Ireland compared with £18,000 (€22,000) in Britain.

It also found major variations in the cost of care, ranging between €46,000 and €385,500 for each resident.

In a separate development, the Government, health authorities and the Brothers of Charity in Galway are believed to be close to an agreement on finding services for school-leavers with intellectual disabilities.

Families of people with disabilities had been told in recent days that there was still no guarantee that children leaving school next month would have a service.

As a result, many parents in Galway – and in other parts of the State – fear they will have nowhere to send their children, many of whom require ongoing support.

However, the Minister of State responsible for disability said yesterday that money had been found within the organisation’s own budget to source a service for school-leavers.

Kathleen Lynch insisted that no additional money was available for voluntary service providers this year, unlike last year, when €10 million in emergency funding was sourced for school-leavers.

“I think we have a fairly good solution for the school-leavers in Galway, but I’m equally saying that we need to have longer-term plans to deal with school-leavers,” she said.

“We have found money within the Galway service, and feel it will resolve the problem, but this is not a new problem. We know in advance how many school-leavers there will be and what services they require.

“We have to look at new ways of delivering services,” Ms Lynch added, “and that could mean putting services out to tender.”

Boots pharmacies in Ireland cuts prescription drug prices

   

The country’s biggest pharmacy chain has reduced the price of 10 most expensive prescription medicines by an average of 25%, saving some patients nearly €300 a year.

Boots Ireland says its price cuts will take effect from this Friday.

It says annual medicine bills for people living with chronic conditions such as asthma or cardiovascular disease who are not eligible for the medical card scheme will benefit most from the reductions.

A person living with asthma has a typical monthly medicine bill of €94.65. This will now drop to approximately €70.43, a 26% decrease, representing an annual saving of up to €290.64.

A typical person living with a cardiovascular condition such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may see their medicine bill drop from €77.88 to €65.92, a 15% decrease, representing an annual saving of up to €203.88, according to Boots.

The pharmacy chain has ended the practice of adding a 50% mark-up to the cost price of a drug and an additional dispensing fee, and replaced it with a new single €7 professional services fee added to the cost price of a drug.

Ireland’s Energy Minister Pat Rabbite is to push for green energy deal with Britain

     

Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte (has got a halo) is to meet his British counterpart Charles Hendry to begin talks on a deal

Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte, will begin talks with his opposite number in the UK government next month on a deal that will open up the market for large-scale electricity exports to Britain.

Mr Rabbitte launched the Government’s renewable energy strategy today and confirmed that the Republic’s long-standing target of meeting 40 per cent of its electricity needs from green energy will be met.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Rabbitte also said that he will be meeting UK energy minister, Charles Hendry for negotiations on an inter-governmental agreement that will allow the export of electricity generated from wind and other renewable sources can be exported to Britain.

Britain has already signalled that it is interested in importing renewable electricity from the Republic as demand for energy there is growing while it needs to reinvest in its current fleet of power plants.

Mr Rabbitte pointed out today that exporting renewable electricity to Britain requires an inter-governmental agreement.

In the medium- to longer-term, the minister said that the Republic could ultimately export as between 6,000 mega watts and 7,000 mega watts to Britain, as much electricity as is consumed every year in the Republic itself.

Ireland’s retail sales for April down by 1.5%

  

The volume of retail sales fell by 1.5 per cent in April as hardware, department store and textiles businesses struggled. 

The volume of retail sales fell by 1.5 per cent in April as hardware, department store and textiles businesses struggled.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that core retail sales have fallen in volume by 2.7 per cent so far this year, and 1.8 per cent in value.

The CSO said that when motor trades were excluded, the volume of retail sales decreased by 1.8 per cent in April and by 3.8 per cent in the year to date.

Lobby group Retail Excellence Ireland said that poor weather conditions had slowed sales in April. The fact that Mother’s Day occurred in March had further sharpened the year on year decline, it added.

“Retail owners are hoping to see more favourable sales levels over the coming weeks and months,” Retail Excellence Ireland chief executive David Fitzsimons said.

He said he hoped a Yes vote in the fiscal treaty referendum would increase consumer confidence and that a further boost was expected from Ireland’s participation in the Euro 2012 football championships.

The April figures erase the small gains made in the sector in February (up 0.2 per cent) and March (0.6 per cent).

Sales of hardware, paints and glass fell most sharply in April (down 6.2 per cent); followed by sales in department stores (down 3.6 per cent); clothing, footwear and textiles (down 2.9 per cent); and the motor trade (down 2.6 per cent).

Increases were recorded in sales of fuel (up 0.5 per cent), electrical goods (0.4 per cent) and other goods (up 1.7 per cent).

Small business group Isme said the figures were “shocking” and confirmed that consumers were still cutting back when it came to spending in shops.

“More than three quarters of retailers are stating that the very viability of their business is under threat, with a third of them expecting to reduce staff in the next year,” Isme chief executive Mark Fielding said.

“The excess capacity, reduced consumer spending and rising government influenced costs in retail, is placing the industry in crisis. The biggest costs to retailers, such as inequitable commercial rates, unrealistic rents and uncompetitive labour costs must be tackled as a matter of urgency.”

Brendan O’Carroll ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ wins a Bafta comedy award

   

Brendan O’Carroll, said: “All we wanted to do was make people laugh and it seems to have worked.”

They were joined by some of the biggest names from the small screen, including Holly Willoughby, Dominic West and the cast of Coronation Street who posed for pictures and signed autographs on a blazing hot day outside the Royal Festival Hall by the Thames in London.

The ceremony, hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain, is one of the biggest showbusiness events of the year.

Substitute host O’Briain told the audience he was only there because he sounded “exactly the same” as Graham Norton who hosted Saturday night’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest.

The first award, for a drama series, was presented by The Wire star West and Emilia Fox, with the actor having to pass autocue duties to Fox when he forgot his glasses.

The award went to BBC3 show The Fades which was cancelled recently by the corporation.

Scriptwriter Jack Thorne said he was “amazed and shocked” and put his success down to the “lucky socks” he was wearing.

Newsreader Kate Silverton then presented the single documentary award to BBC2’s Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die – the best-selling author’s examination of euthanasia.

Pratchett, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, thanked the BBC for “allowing us to tackle this rather strange subject for a documentary”.

The award for new media went to Psychoville and Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle picked up the comedy programme gong.

The award for news coverage was presented by Clare Balding to Channel 4 News for coverage of the Japanese earthquake.

The award for single drama went to Channel 4’s Random and the current affairs gong was given to BBC1’s Panorama: Undercover Care – The Abuse Exposed.

The factual series award went to BBC3’s Our War which followed British troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

BBC1’s Mrs Brown’s Boys won the situation comedy category, beating competition including Rev and Fresh Meat.

Its star, Brendan O’Carroll, said: “All we wanted to do was make people laugh and it seems to have worked.”

The international award was handed out by actress Vicky McClure and actor Sam Claflin to Danish political drama Borgen.

Actor Timothy Spall presented Monica Dolan with the supporting actress Bafta which he described as the gong for “Best Upstager”.

Coronation Street scooped the award for soap and continuing drama.

Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, accepted the award.

The award for supporting actor went to Andrew Scott who played the villainous Moriarty in Sherlock. – (PA)

A DNA chip can diagnose early bowel cancer

 

 A DNA chip can identify colon cancer quickly and reliability according to new research.

HOW IT WORKS:

Proteins control the processes in the body – both healthy and pathological processes. Instructions on how to build these proteins can be found in their DNA: all proteins are encoded by certain gene segments, some longer, some shorter. To make a protein, body cells first copy the corresponding segment of DNA. This copy – the messenger RNA (mRNA) – is subsequently translated into a protein. Each mRNA molecule thus corresponds to a specific protein. Analyzing the messenger RNA in the cell can thus yield information on the proteins formed – and thus on the processes in the body targeted by the cell.

The study used DNA chips to analyse thousands of different genes in the body. It was found that the chips can tell if genes are cancerous or not with 95% accuracy.

Seven genes were found to make up a biomarker for colon cancer, and by using a mathematical model and a DNA chip, colon cancer can be detected.

In Europe only 42% of people with colon cancer survive and worldwide it is the third most common type of cancer.

Early diagnosis has a key part to play in reducing death amongst people living with colon cancer.

Thirty-one tumours of colon cancer and 33 tumour-free samples were analysed by researchers from the Technical University of Madrid and the University of the Basque Country, Spain.