Winter news highlights

04 Feb

Winter news highlights

Small and Medium Food Producers in Ireland called to submit views and drive funding recommendations for the sector before February 11^th 2016

The TRADEIT Network, an EU initiative to drive growth in the SME food producers sector, led by Institute of Technology in Tralee, has called on micro, small and medium food producers in Ireland to share their views and inform a key set of funding recommendations to the European Commission for the sector.

TRADEIT has been engaged in an EU wide consultation with small to medium enterprise (SME) Food Producers since 2013, via 9 hubs, to identify the innovation opportunities, needs and challenges of traditional food based enterprises. The final phase of the project involves the completion of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the sector, which will be presented to the European Commission. More than 150 small Irish food producers have been actively involved to date, 850 in total across 9 EU countries.

Irish micro and SME food producers are invited to input up until February 11^TH 2016 by contacting Professor Brian McKenna, SRIA@tradeitnetwork.eu. The SRIA document may be requested from the TRADEIT website http://www.tradeitnetwork.eu/sria

Panasonic at CES 2016

Panasonic Launches World’s First Official ‘Ultra HD Premium’ TV

Panasonic announced the first LED LCD TV in the world that meets the stringent standards of the UHD Alliance’s new highest ‘Ultra HD Premium’ specification. This means that the inter-industry UHD Alliance (UHDA) group – which is composed of leading film studios, consumer electronics manufacturers, content distributors and technology companies – has assessed the new Panasonic DX900 as meeting a whole range of tough picture performance criteria. This takes in everything from resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) performance to image precision, wide colour gamuts and more besides.

Multiple Sclerosis Ireland encouraged children to keep up the reading as MS Readathon 2015 campaign closes

With almost 500 Irish schools and 459 home-based readers returning donations for MS Readathon 2015, the message from Multiple Sclerosis Ireland to young readers was to keep reading. During MS Readathon reading month as many as 100,000 books were read by children raising funds to support people with MS in their community.

MS Ireland’s 2015 survey of grown up readers revealed that 96 per cent would like to make more time for reading. 4 in 10 of us read to escape and another 4 in 10 read mainly to relax. 17 per cent read to expand their knowledge. 6 in 10 pick up another book immediately after finishing one. Recommendations from family or friends are the biggest influence on what we read for one third, the author is a key factor for 30 per cent, while the mood of a book is most influential for 28 per cent.

Ireland’s favourite place to read is in bed (60 per cent) with the couch in second place (26 per cent) and public transport ranking third (6 per cent). Irish author Marisa Mackle makes sense of this: “The best thing about reading is that you can travel the world and even go back in time without having to get out of bed!

The IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index for Q3 2015 reported a 14 per cent rise in total jobs advertised annually

“Power in the jobs market is returning to jobseekers,” according to Jane Lorigan, CEO of Saongroup.com Ireland, parent company of IrishJobs.ie and Jobs.ie, as the latest Jobs Index from IrishJobs.ie recorded a 14 per cent rise in the total number of jobs advertised annually. Total jobs advertised increased by 2 per cent in the third quarter, July to September 2015 compared with the previous quarter. The Jobs Index is a leading indicator for the jobs market reporting on all jobs advertised, including professional roles.

The annual increase of 14 per cent in total jobs advertised was supported by growth in many industries with graduate jobs up by 15 per cent year on year. Sectors that recorded a rise in jobs advertised in October 2015 compared with the previous year included:

Medical Professionals and Healthcare, up by 50 per cent; Science, Pharmaceuticals and Food, up 45 per cent; Transport up by 40 per cent; Hotel and Catering, up 31 per cent; Production, Manufacturing and Materials, up 22 per cent; Secretarial and Admin, up by 23 per cent; HR and Recruitment, up by 20 per cent; Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, up 18 per cent; IT, up by 11 per cent; and Construction, Architecture, Property and Engineering, up 7 per cent, compared with the same time last year.

In tandem with the Jobs Index, IrishJobs.ie monitors Jobseeker Sentiment surveying more than 1,000 people either in work, currently unemployed or in education/training. 61 per cent of those surveyed, in employment, are confident that the jobs market is getting better, along with 38 per cent of those in education or training. Only 25 per cent of jobseekers, not in employment are positive about the jobs market revealing a significant gap in optimism.

Hasbro’s Christmas List

Christmas has come early to PR Wise as we have been busy pitching Hasbro toys and games to TV producers and Gift Guide editors since August! We are literally surrounded by toys in the office – Star Wars, Nerf, Transformers, Jurassic World, My Little Pony, FurReal Friends, Play-Doh – and not forgetting family favourites like Monopoly and Pie Face.

Straighten Up Ireland Week & World Spine Day

October saw the Chiropractic Association of Ireland run their annual Straighten Up Ireland Week which included World Spine Day on the 16th. This year’s theme focused on ‘Healthy Spine, Healthy Brain’ to highlight the importance of a strong, flexible and balanced spine to keep brains healthy and enhance overall body function and quality of life.

Panasonic at IFA 2015 & New Belfast Store

Panasonic exhibited its latest products and technologies at IFA 2015, in addition to opening a brand new Panasonic store in Belfast. With the annual Panasonic Convention coming up in February, we’re excited to learn about all the new products launching in 2016 – watch this space!

MS Ireland launched the ‘Access to Medicines’ Campaign Handbook for people with Multiple Sclerosis with the Minister for Health

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar announced the launch of the ‘Access to Medicines’ Campaign Handbook produced by Multiple Sclerosis Ireland. The handbook aims to enable people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to access the medicines they need to treat their condition and impact debilitating symptoms including impaired mobility, severe fatigue and cognitive difficulties. It provides practical advice for people with MS on their medical rights and options as well as how to engage with the health system www.ms-society.ie

MS Readathon 2015

The 28^th MS Readathon was supported once again by popular Moone Boy actors David Rawle and Ian O’Reilly, joined by seven year old twins Leon and Mya Russell and their Mum Lucina, who has multiple sclerosis. The self confessed reading enthusiasts encouraged schools nationwide to immerse themselves in books this October and raise vital funds for people with multiple sclerosis in their community. Last year saw over 15,000 children in 450 schools take part www.msreadathon.ie.

MS Readathon’s Irish authors on reading:

“Reading is the perfect way to get lost in your imagination. My favorite books growing up were the famous five series by Enid Blyton, Sweet Valley Twins and the Babysitters Club. Two books that impacted me the most were ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ by Marita Conlon McKenna and ‘The Best Little Girl in the World’ by Steven Levenkron.”

Cecilia Ahern

“Books are my best friends, my dear companions. They let me step outside my own world for a while and see the world though someone else’s eyes… I re-read children’s books all the time. I love ‘The Red Tree’, a picture book for all ages by Shaun Tan as it makes me think about what is important in life. I also love ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ by Judy Blume as it reminds me what if feels like to be a teenager.”

Irish childrens’ author Sarah Webb

“There’s nothing like taking a quiet hour to dip into a book that’s gripping you and disappearing into a whole new world. It’s my ‘me’ time …books are my bag. I’d never leave the house without a book to hand.”

Claudia Carroll

“If you are reading a book that is boring the freckles off you just close it, put it back where you got it and pick up another one. There are so, so, many books out there – go and talk to your librarians and your booksellers. Trust me; there is a story out there that you will love no matter who you are. I intend to re-read one of my favourite books from childhood called ‘Children on the Oregon Trail’ by A. Rutgers van der Loeff.”

Irish childrens’ author Nicola Pierce

Alan Early’s favourite book is: “Matilda by Roald Dahl. This was the first book I read the whole way through by myself so it’s very important to me. I still identify with Matilda and her love of books. And I still wish I had her magic powers!”

“There’s nothing worse than reading a book you really aren’t enjoying. And it might even put you off reading for life, which would be TERRIBLE! So try reading lots of different types of books. You will find ones you love. Trust me.

A good place to start is by looking at your own interests. If you love playing football, try reading a football book. If you’re addicted to video games like Assassin’s Creed, read sci-fi or adventure books.

In my opinion, reading is the best time travelling teleporter in the world. Open the page of your favourite book and you’re instantly transported to a different place and time, into the mind of a different person.”

Irish children’s author Alan Early

“Reading is meant to be fun, so choose the books you enjoy. However, don’t be afraid to stretch yourself, or to try something unfamiliar – you might get a wonderful surprise.

My re-read book is ‘Heidi’. I’ve always loved it. It has a wonderful sense of place.”

Irish childrens’ author Judi Curtin

“Reading is…a magic key to not just a new dimension, but endless, countless dimensions. It’s a time machine, a magic carpet, a rollercoaster and a super-charged starship all in one.

The book I have read and re-read the most is ‘The Lord of the Rings’. I love it because a great book carries you off with it, and no book sweeps me off to another world as effectively and enjoyably as LOTR.”

Irish childrens’ author Matthew Griffin

“Reading is…VITAL. It allows the imagination to realise that there are no limits, and storytelling helps us grow. Reading is something we can do all by ourselves – a brilliant and useful guilty pleasure.”

Pauline McLynn

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