Ireland Presentation

Submitted by Lauren

60% of Irish inmates below literacy level

Almost two-thirds of prisoners are unable to write or do sums properly, a report revealed. 

The Prison Service needs to take action to better deliver education and skills, inspectors said. 

Chief inspector Michael Maguire urged the Executive to help make improvements.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Trade surplus narrows in December

The trade surplus narrowed by 23 per cent in December as exports fell and imports climbed by 8 per cent. 

Figures from the Central Statistics Office showed exports declined to €7.5 billion, a 9 per cent fall compared with November, as a number of high value products came of patent. 

Imports, meanwhile, rise 8 per cent to just over €4 billion, bringing the seasonally adjusted trade surplus to €3.484 billion for December.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Census finds population growing (Ireland)

The 2011 census results shows the number of Irish residents who were born outside the country has reached a new high of just over 750,000, a 25 per cent increase since 2006. 

Whilst it was thought that many immigrants left Ireland in recent years, the number of non-Irish nationals increased by 124,604 between 2006 and 2011, with the Polish, Indian, Romanian and Brazilian populations doubling in size. 

Overall, Ireland's population has continued to grow strongly with the population reaching 4.58 million, the highest in 150 years.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Irish Economy grew by 0.7% in 2011

The Irish economy returned to growth since 2007, but a slowdown in the final two quarters of the year meant the country was technically back in recession. 

New data from the Central Statistics Office showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.7 per cent. 

However, falling exports and reduced Government spending saw GDP decline 0.2 per cent from the third quarter. 

Gross national product, which excludes multinational firms, fell by 2.5 per cent over the year, and 2.2 per cent compared with the previous quarter.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Hotels must pay royalties, court rules

THE IRISH Hotels Federation has described as “outrageous” yesterday’s ruling from the European Court of Justice that hotels should pay royalties for the broadcast of recordings on TVs and radios in hotel bedrooms. It would result in extra costs being imposed where many premises are already struggling to survive, the federation said in a statement. 

EU law provides for remuneration for those who produce recordings for commercial purposes, but allows for exemptions for “private use”. The court considered whether such broadcasts in hotel bedrooms were private or public use.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

The Irish economy is actually growing even if it doesn’t feel like it

IRELAND’S economy will have grown throughout last year for the first time since 2007, economists have predicted. 

But despite the technical emergence from recession, it will not feel like it for most people as joblessness and emigration continue to haunt the country.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Ireland on course to meet EU waste targets

Ireland is on target to meet most EU waste and recycling targets, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's National Waste Report 2010 published today. 

Under EU legislation, Ireland is required to meet a number of waste management and recycling targets.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Ireland: Calorie count menus on the way

The display of calorie information on menus is set to become widespread in fast-food outlets and cafés across Ireland as part of a new initiative to combat obesity. 

Minister for Health Dr James Reilly today opened a consultation process on the issue, which will canvass opinions on the best way of putting calorie information on menus. And restaurants will have to comply with the recommendations whether they want to or not.

Link (submitted by Lauren)

People ‘went mad’ borrowing during boom

"PEOPLE "went mad" borrowing during the boom fuelling the resulting crisis, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland today. 

He was explaining how Ireland’s economy went from boom to a spectacular bust."

Link (submitted by Lauren)

Build the start-up ecosystem and the entrepreneurs will come

"Dublin’s case to become Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley is ‘come for the money and stay for the supports and networking’ – and it’s working, writes GORDON SMITH 

WAS IT JUST a coincidence that the winners of two Irish technology start-up competitions in 2011 both originated from outside Ireland? Maybe, but in the same year that a €10 million fund was launched to attract international entrepreneurs to these shores, it starts to look like part of a bigger plan."

Link (submitted by Lauren)