Yearly Archives: 2014

Meanwhile, back home, Newstalk reports…

SIPTU says a company creating 400 jobs in Dublin needs to say whether it’s going to rehire some staff it’s already laying off.

Pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb is creating [400] jobs at a new manufacturing plant at Cruiserath in north Dublin.

1,000 jobs will also be created during the construction phase at the biological medical company – expected to be completed in 2018.

However, the news comes only eight months after the company said it would be closing a separate plant on the same site, with 130 workers being let go.

Company that announced 400 jobs is already laying off 130 people (Newstalk)

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He’s back, baby.

‘Neur we to judge?

Ronan on verge of Nama exit backed by $20bn US fund (Tom Lyons, Irish Times)

Previously: Rooney, Ronan, Rosanna And Glenda: That Weekend Love Rectangle In Full

That Kind Of Week

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Get your laughing gear around that, lads.

You still have time to make The Designer.

Tom Melby, of Clippers Ireland, writes:

“To mark the 15th year of Movember I created this infographic. To date, 1.9 million men worldwide have donated their upper lips to help fundraise and raise awareness for Prostate Cancer while, globally, more than €215 million has been raised.

Clippers Ireland

 

My Photos Mikegibbdon

(Top) Mike Horn, (below) Pascal Donohoe and Niall Gibbons

 

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Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons was left bemused when an American radio host asked him: “I don’t want to put you on the spot here, Niall. I want to find out, there are no plans for Ireland deciding to leave the UK, are there?”

The question was asked on CRN Talk Radio’s What’s Cookin’ programme [in September], a coast-to-coast programme which is broadcast to 250 stations and cable networks across the United States.

Mr Gibbons and Minister for Tourism Paschal Donohoe were on the show promoting the launch of Ifest Boston, a promotional event for Irish tourism in Boston.

Co-presenter Mike Horn asked the question. Mr Gibbons decided not to offer him a history or geography lesson, but instead decided to focus on promoting Ireland.

“(That’s)an interesting question,” he replied. “Ireland is a destination in itself. We are encouraging people to jump into Ireland. It is very much a standalone destination.”

Again? US radio host wants to know if Ireland plans to leave UK (Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times)

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Ger Kenny Art writes:

“I’ve decided to make good use of my Irish Water application with an oil portrait of James Connolly. I won’t be handing a cent to Irish Water as I have already paid for the water in my taps through my income tax, PRSI, USC and the levy on motor tax. I’ve heard the arguments ‘we need to pay for water and improve the infrastructure’ and ‘all the other countries pay for water’ – well, why wasn’t the infrastructure upgraded from our tax money over the years? Why wasn’t it upgraded at the height of the Celtic Tiger when we had a surplus in the budget? Strange, isn’t it, how water quality, conservation and infrastructure wasn’t an issue at the height of the boom when the country was rolling in cash. But, now when we don’t have a penny, it’s on the agenda. We were ordered to setup Irish Water by the Troika for one purpose and that’s to collect a tax to pay the bondholder. If a politician gives any other reason, then they are a liar.”

“This government continues to ignore the people and have any dialog with us but I think now most people have had enough and are starting to do something about it. I chose James Connolly as he would never have put the needs of financial institutions or bondholders ahead of the needs of an Irish citizen. Connolly would never have taken from the pockets of the most vulnerable people in society to top up the over flowing pockets of some faceless bondholder. I only wish that we had a man like Connolly to lead us today.”

Ger Kenny Art

Thanks Ronan