Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG by Donie

AIB improves its loans approval rating to 90% for SME’s in Ireland

   

AIB sanctioned a further 3,000 or so loans to small businesses last month, pushing its approval rate for lending to the sector to more than 90%.

Brendan O’Connor — AIB’s head of business banking — told delegates at yesterday’s Small Firms’ Association (SFA) annual luncheon in Dublin, that reports of the main banks not being open for business is a fallacy.

“Please do not be put off by what you read, or hear, in the media or by what someone else tells you. Do not be put off by the myth — and it is a myth — that if, for some reason, you do apply for a loan and are refused that, somehow, that puts a black mark against your name for all time on the bank’s blotter,” he told delegates.

Mr O’Connor yesterday said that between January and the end of September, AIB processed 25,113 SME credit applications, with 23,040 being approved.

“I genuinely believe we make good balanced decisions when we are given the chance to do so. The numbers bear this out. Of the more than 80,000 credit decisions we have made since the Credit Review Office was established, only a little over 100 have been appealed to that office.”

In his address, Ian Martin SFA chairman said while progress has been made, “increasing credit availability from banks to SMEs remains critical to small business survival and growth”.

He said business costs cannot be increased any further, the Government should simplify measures to support job creation, and the issue of late payments needs to be tackled.

He noted the results of a recent SFA survey which showed that as much as 40% of the association’s members were unaware of the prompt payments legislation; only 9% had used it, and just 4% had been successful in getting paid after using it.

Mr Martin said that the matter needs to be urgently addressed.

“The good news is that there are still almost 200,000 small firms in Ireland, with on average 12,000 new businesses setting up each year.

“Collectively, we employ 655,000 people — more than half the private sector workforce. And the message is that we can do more, be more successful and employ more people; if the Government allows us to get on with the job by creating the right conditions for us to trade,” he said.

Thousands of women get breast cancer treatment they do not need

  

Women will get more information about the risks and benefits of breast cancer screening after a UK review found some suffered unnecessary treatment.

Breast-Check, the free cancer screening programme, will look at the information provided to women in light of the findings.

The independent review in the UK showed that for every life saved by the checks, three women had unnecessary treatment, such as surgery, for cancers that would never have been fatal.

A panel of experts led by University College London professor Michael Marmot concluded that screening prevented about 1,300 deaths per year in Britain.

But it also leads to about 4,000 women having treatment for a condition that would never have threatened their lives.

A spokeswoman for the Irish version of the service, Breast-Check, said: “Breast-Check welcomes the outcome of the  breast screening programme review, and the finding that it is vital to give women information that is clear and accessible before they go for a mammogram so that they can understand the potential harms and benefits of the process.”

The Breast-Check spokeswoman said that between February 2000 and September 2011, it provided 800,452 mammograms to 362,701 women and detected 4,917 breast cancers.

She said that last year Breast-Check developed a fact sheet on the benefits and limits of breast screening and also non-invasive cancers.

Women receive two information leaflets by post in advance of their appointment, which advises that women of any age can get breast cancer, but that the risk increases with age.

It points out that not all breast cancers can be found by a mammogram, that some women may find the mammogram painful, and that some non-invasive cancers will be found by screening.

Cancer charities here have stressed that women should still get screening.

This was echoed by charity Cancer Research UK, which commissioned the review.

The review, published in the ‘Lancet’ medical journal, found that a woman who took up the invitation to have the breast X-ray had a 1pc chance of being overdiagnosed.

These overdiagnosed women have had a tumour identified but it would never have caused them harm.

It means they would be sent on for treatments such as surgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy which would have side-effects.

The problem for doctors is that they have no way of knowing if the tumours pose a life-threatening risk.

The advice to women is that on balance they should go ahead with screening.

Women who would like more detailed information can freephone 1800 45 45 55 or visit the Breast-Check website

The PSNI launch a new probe into the Enniskillen bombing

     

Police in the North have launched a new investigation into the Remembrance Day bombing at Enniskillen, it was revealed today.

DUP MLA Arlene Foster said a fresh inquiry had been opened after detectives were given new information about the IRA atrocity 25 years ago.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said: “The Enniskillen bomb was an act of horrific savagery. It was motivated by nothing other than a desire to kill and maim. It was indiscriminate. Young and old were injured. It was targeting innocent people.”

Eleven people were killed and 63 others were injured when the no warning bomb ripped through the Co Fermanagh town on November 8, 1987.

A 12th victim school principal, Ronnie Hill, spent 13 years in a coma and died in 2000.

No one has ever been convicted in connection with the massacre, among the worst of the Troubles.

Ms Foster claimed police were following an active line of inquiry.

The development follows the completion of an investigation by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET).

The report has not been published however, details have been handed to the PSNI serious crime squad for further examination.

Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the bombing. A memorial service will be held at the scene on Thursday for the survivors and relatives of those who were killed. First Minister Peter Robinson is expected to attend a service at St McCartin’s Cathedral also on Thursday.

Ms Foster added: “Twenty-five years after the explosion, someone somewhere knows something about the perpetrators. Someone knows where the bomb was made, how it was transported and who planned the attack. This wasn’t executed by one of two people. A team of people were involved.”

A breakthrough in the investigation would provide hope for the families seeking justice, she said.

Ms Foster added: “As has been demonstrated with Gerry McGeough being convicted of the attempted murder of my colleague Councillor Sammy Brush decades after the event, there is always time for justice.

“Anyone who can bring any information to the police should do so. Perhaps in 1987 they didn’t feel able but as they watch the victims and relatives on Thursday I hope they will be moved to help the police with the investigation.”

In a statement the PSNI said: “The Historical Enquiries Team has concluded its work on the deaths which were caused at the Enniskillen cenotaph bombing in 1987.

“Staff have updated the families on the HET work and will formally hand over to the PSNI’s serious crime branch who will assess the potential for further work to be progressed.”

Hairy Irish males required for Movember Moustache Action Prostate Cancer campaign

   

Let’s face it, men are known to be more indifferent towards their health, especially when compared to the efforts of women, who proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness, understanding and funding for support of male health issues, like prostate cancer, lag significantly behind causes such as breast cancer.

The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in Ireland and around the world are numerous and complex and this is primarily due to a lack of awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed to the reluctance in men openly discussing the subject due to longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude. Men are less likely to schedule a doctors’ appointment when they feel ill or go for a check up, therefore reducing the chance of early detection and effective treatment of common diseases.

Almost 8,000 Irish people so far have registered to take part in the Movember campaign, which begins today.http://ie.movember.com/

  Com’on Ladies do your bit for Prostate Cancer Awareness 2012

Ireland’s fifth Movember campaign today issued its now annual call for men to grow a sponsored moustache in aid of Action Prostate Cancer.

Female participants are asked to take part too, by encouraging the men in their lives to volunteer and support the cause.

  So far this year, Irish volunteers have raised €46,000. All funds raised go towards supporting Action Prostate Cancer, an Irish Cancer Society initiative.

Last year, 15,000 Irish people took part, raising €1.7 million. Globally 854,000 men have participated to date, raising €92.4 million.

Ireland’s Movember organiser Neil Rooney is hopeful of setting a new record for participants this year. “Historically, Movember has experienced solid growth every year and we hope that this year will be the same,” he said.

 “As well as raising much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society’s initiative, Action Prostate Cancer, Movember continues to create conversation around the issue of men’s health.

As a result, talk becomes action and men are becoming more and more aware of their own health.” Mr Rooney added it was never too late to take part in the campaign, as people register throughout the month.

Leinster and Irish player Jamie Heaslip takes part each year. He said the campaign allows men to talk more openly about their health.

“I’ve been doing Movember since 2007. I grew handlebars and it looked absolutely disgusting and I got a load of abuse from my family and friends, but it was worth it to get people talking about men’s health and awareness around it,” he said.

Ireland is currently in sixth place on the list of countries that have raised the most money so far. To register for the Movember campaign, visit ie.movember.com.