The weeks leading up to Christmas were about the worst possible time to release any sort of strategic report. Along with festive preoccupations, people turned their attention to headlines dominated daily by economic doom and gloom and banking crises.
So an excellent report from the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) slipped under the radar for many people. It deserves to be read and considered, especially right now, as the Government struggles to find a constructive way forward out of an economic morass.
The report by the institute’s researcher Johnny Ryan, entitled The Next Leap: Competitive Ireland in the Digital Era – which can be downloaded from www.iiea.com – is well-considered, concise, and sets out some key tasks needed to build now towards the next phase of economic growth. Read More
Courtesy: Irish Times
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Mayor of South Dublin County Council launches new Dublin Mountains Partnership website and newsletter.
Wednesday 21st January, 2009: Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Marie Corr today officially launched the Dublin Mountains Partnership website and newsletter at an event in the Big Picture Multi-Media Exhibition Space, Tallaght.
The Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) has been established to improve the recreation potential of the public lands in the Dublin Mountains while balancing recreation with the other key objectives of the various land owning organisations. The DMP members are Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and the Dublin Mountains Initiative.
One of the many initiatives in the partnership ten year plan is to provide more and better information on recreation in the area. The new website www.dublinmountains.ie provides information on events, sites, trails and how to access them, maps, conservation work and the promotion of better behaviour through the Leave no Trace programme. The newsletter ‘Viewpoint’ is another way to create awareness of the work and objectives of the DMP and to outline progress made to date, and report on events held in the area.
Speaking at the event, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Marie Corr said: “The website will improve information and ensure all visitors and users are well informed about opportunities for responsible recreation in the area”.
Also speaking at the event, Bill Murphy, Chairman of the Dublin Mountains Partnership said: “The new Dublin Mountains Partnership website is about giving people the tools necessary to access the forests and trails in the mountains for outdoor recreation and to use the public lands in a responsible and sustainable way”.
ENDS
For further information: Karen Woods, Recreation Manager Dublin Mountains Partnership, karen.woods@coillte.ie ; 01-2011187 or 087-0507022
The Dublin Mountains Partnership (DMP) has been established to improve the recreation potential of the public lands in the Dublin Mountains while balancing recreation with the other key objectives of the various land owning organisations. The DMP members are Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and the Dublin Mountains Initiative.
One of the many initiatives in the partnership ten year plan is to provide more and better information on recreation in the area. The new website www.dublinmountains.ie provides information on events, sites, trails and how to access them, maps, conservation work and the promotion of better behaviour through the Leave no Trace programme. The newsletter ‘Viewpoint’ is another way to create awareness of the work and objectives of the DMP and to outline progress made to date, and report on events held in the area.
Speaking at the event, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Marie Corr said: “The website will improve information and ensure all visitors and users are well informed about opportunities for responsible recreation in the area”.
Also speaking at the event, Bill Murphy, Chairman of the Dublin Mountains Partnership said: “The new Dublin Mountains Partnership website is about giving people the tools necessary to access the forests and trails in the mountains for outdoor recreation and to use the public lands in a responsible and sustainable way”.
ENDS
For further information: Karen Woods, Recreation Manager Dublin Mountains Partnership, karen.woods@coillte.ie ; 01-2011187 or 087-0507022
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
3 launches social networking phone
The world's first fully integrated social networking mobile phone has been launched in Dublin by 3. INQ1 is specifically designed to make social networking and internet communications as easy as making a phone call or sending a text.
The INQ1 integrates Facebook, Skype and Windows Live Messenger access with and a host of other social networking utilities. In addition, the phone offers integrated RSS feeds, free Skype-to-Skype calling and unlimited free instant messenger capabilities.
Robert Finnegan, Chief Executive of 3 in Ireland said: "The INQ1 represents the first mass market device to respond to radical shifts in communication. 3 is embracing the social networking trend by offering our customers the most sociable phone on the most sociable network." Read More
Courtesy: RTE News
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Global IT giants work to bring 21st-century teaching to schools
Cisco, Intel and Microsoft have banded together to develop new assessment approaches, methods and technologies for measuring the success of 21st-century teaching and learning in classrooms around the world.
The assessment research and development (R&D) project spearheaded by Cisco, Intel and Microsoft has received the support of major international assessment organisations.
Specifically, OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development] and the International Association of the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) have expressed interest in using the evidence-based and verifiable output of the 21st-century skills assessment to inform the development of the next versions of PISA and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), their respective international benchmarks. Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
The assessment research and development (R&D) project spearheaded by Cisco, Intel and Microsoft has received the support of major international assessment organisations.
Specifically, OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development] and the International Association of the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) have expressed interest in using the evidence-based and verifiable output of the 21st-century skills assessment to inform the development of the next versions of PISA and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), their respective international benchmarks. Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
Robots in battle to boost IT and maths skills in Irish schools
Irish students are programming robots that will fight it out in a competition organised by search giant Google and PC maker Lenovo to elevate maths skills in Irish schools and colleges.
Irish secondary students will compete against each other in the national final, which will be held on 12th March.
The thinking behind the SchoolBots Competition is student participation in computer games programming can help boost interest in mathematics and should be used to help reinvigorate the subject at second level.
Speaking at yesterday’s regional finals of the annual SchoolBots computer programming competition for second-level students at Tipperary Institute, Dr Liam Noonan, from Tipperary Institute’s ICT department, said students can improve their mathematics results by applying theory from text books to fun projects such as game programming.Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
Irish secondary students will compete against each other in the national final, which will be held on 12th March.
The thinking behind the SchoolBots Competition is student participation in computer games programming can help boost interest in mathematics and should be used to help reinvigorate the subject at second level.
Speaking at yesterday’s regional finals of the annual SchoolBots computer programming competition for second-level students at Tipperary Institute, Dr Liam Noonan, from Tipperary Institute’s ICT department, said students can improve their mathematics results by applying theory from text books to fun projects such as game programming.Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
South Dublin County Council confers the Honorary Freedom of the County on Ken Egan
Mayor Marie Corr on behalf of the Members of South Dublin County Council conferred the Honorary Freedom of South Dublin County on KEN EGAN, local born Olympic 2008 boxing silver medallist .
The Mayor hosted a Civic Reception in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Tallaght on Monday 12th January 2009 at 6.30pm. The eventhonoured Kennys high profile achievements as an amateur boxer, including winning 8 National Senior Championships and winning a silver medal at Light Heavyweight at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. The Mayor and members of the Council extended their congratulations to Kenny on his achievements to date and wished him well in his pursuit of further honours.
The Honorary Freedom of the County of South Dublin County is the highest honour the County can award to a person. It is awarded to those who achieve great levels in a particular discipline.
This award follows the passing of a resolution to confer this prestigious honour on Ken Egan by the Members of the Council at a meeting of South Dublin County Council held on 13th October 2008.
Courtesy: SDCC
The Mayor hosted a Civic Reception in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Tallaght on Monday 12th January 2009 at 6.30pm. The eventhonoured Kennys high profile achievements as an amateur boxer, including winning 8 National Senior Championships and winning a silver medal at Light Heavyweight at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. The Mayor and members of the Council extended their congratulations to Kenny on his achievements to date and wished him well in his pursuit of further honours.
The Honorary Freedom of the County of South Dublin County is the highest honour the County can award to a person. It is awarded to those who achieve great levels in a particular discipline.
This award follows the passing of a resolution to confer this prestigious honour on Ken Egan by the Members of the Council at a meeting of South Dublin County Council held on 13th October 2008.
Courtesy: SDCC
Monday, January 12, 2009
Google shows off early version of Chrome 2.0
Following the full release of its Chrome Web browser in December, Google has made available an early test version of Chrome 2.0, which overhauls the way the software handles HTTP and adds functionality such as auto-complete in fields.
Released quietly via Google's Chrome developer channel, the early access code has an updated version of the Webkit developer engine and new network code to provide a cross-platform implementation of the HTTP protocol.
The new version, build 2.0.156.1, also implements auto-complete in text fields, a feature rival browsers have had for some time. Read More
Courtesy: RTE News
Released quietly via Google's Chrome developer channel, the early access code has an updated version of the Webkit developer engine and new network code to provide a cross-platform implementation of the HTTP protocol.
The new version, build 2.0.156.1, also implements auto-complete in text fields, a feature rival browsers have had for some time. Read More
Courtesy: RTE News
A warrantless abuse of privacy
NET RESULTS: When it comes to abuse of privacy, where Britain goes, Ireland tends to follow. That's why we should be worried - very worried - about developments across the Irish Sea that emerged as the year rolled over into 2009.
First came a New Year's Eve story in the Guardian that home secretary Jacqui Smith will propose the creation of a single giant communications database and the option of outsourcing the storage of all the personal details held under the UK's data retention regime to a private firm.
That means potentially that a single repository - a massive, national communications database - would hold all the details about, though not the content of, everyone's e-mails, phone calls, faxes, text messages and internet use.
The same array of data is retained in Ireland as well, though at the moment, as is the case in Britain, data is retained by the communications providers, not in a central database.
Gathering such a spread of private information into a single database would create a "hellhouse" of personal private data that would not only be vulnerable to security breaches on a massive scale but would prove too great a temptation for law enforcement, according to Britain's former director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken McDonald.
McDonald was scathing in his criticism of the idea. "Authorisations for access might be written into statute," he told the Guardian. "But none of this means anything. All history tells us that assurances like these are worthless in the long run. In the first security crisis, the locks would loosen."
While "security" would be cited as the main impetus for such a database, "the notion of total security is a paranoid fantasy that would destroy everything that makes living worthwhile" and bring an "ugly future", he said. Read More
Courtesy: Irish Times
First came a New Year's Eve story in the Guardian that home secretary Jacqui Smith will propose the creation of a single giant communications database and the option of outsourcing the storage of all the personal details held under the UK's data retention regime to a private firm.
That means potentially that a single repository - a massive, national communications database - would hold all the details about, though not the content of, everyone's e-mails, phone calls, faxes, text messages and internet use.
The same array of data is retained in Ireland as well, though at the moment, as is the case in Britain, data is retained by the communications providers, not in a central database.
Gathering such a spread of private information into a single database would create a "hellhouse" of personal private data that would not only be vulnerable to security breaches on a massive scale but would prove too great a temptation for law enforcement, according to Britain's former director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken McDonald.
McDonald was scathing in his criticism of the idea. "Authorisations for access might be written into statute," he told the Guardian. "But none of this means anything. All history tells us that assurances like these are worthless in the long run. In the first security crisis, the locks would loosen."
While "security" would be cited as the main impetus for such a database, "the notion of total security is a paranoid fantasy that would destroy everything that makes living worthwhile" and bring an "ugly future", he said. Read More
Courtesy: Irish Times
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New business game for students launched
A new online game supported by Microsoft and the County and City Enterprise Boards, aimed at teaching students business skills, has been launched. The Small Business Game, which involves students running a virtual sports shop, teaches key skills such as marketing, finance and stock management.
The Business Game gives students the opportunity to develop enterprise skills in a virtual world.
It will also be closely linked to the Junior Cert curriculum. This means that teachers can utilise the game to give students the opportunity to have their students examine business concepts in a more realistic way. Read More
Courtesy: RTE
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
International connectivity project gets off the ground
A new €30m project that promises to provide faster broadband at lower costs via a direct link to North America, and which will help Ireland attract more foreign direct investment, is to go ahead, said the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD.
Called Project Kelvin, this is a cross-border venture in partnership with the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and is co-financed by Interreg funding from the European Union. Following a tender process announced last July, Hibernia Atlantic has won the contract to construct a fibre-optic submarine telecommunications cable, which will be brought ashore in Co Derry. The company is committed to completing construction no later than March next year and will operate the project until December 2018. Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
Irish users of Facebook double in just one year
THE number of Irish people using website Facebook has doubled in 12 months, new figures show.
The social networking site, founded as a private network for students at Harvard University in the US in 2004, now has 400,000 regular users compared with just under half that amount in January last year.
Most users of the site are over 25 years of age and most are female, an analysis by a Cork-based consultancy shows.
Statistics compiled by Mulley Communications from Facebook's advertising system show that Facebook in Ireland has doubled in size in 12 months, going from just under 200,000 Irish users in January 2008 to 400,980 users in January 2009. It has been a huge explosion, considering that in January 2007 just 7,000 users were registered in Ireland. Read More
Courtesy: Irish Independent
The social networking site, founded as a private network for students at Harvard University in the US in 2004, now has 400,000 regular users compared with just under half that amount in January last year.
Most users of the site are over 25 years of age and most are female, an analysis by a Cork-based consultancy shows.
Statistics compiled by Mulley Communications from Facebook's advertising system show that Facebook in Ireland has doubled in size in 12 months, going from just under 200,000 Irish users in January 2008 to 400,980 users in January 2009. It has been a huge explosion, considering that in January 2007 just 7,000 users were registered in Ireland. Read More
Courtesy: Irish Independent
TALLAGHT has been declared Ireland’s most improved town for tackling litter
Tallaght moves out of the black in national litter stakes and has been declared Irelands most improved town for tackling litter, as opposed to a year ago when it was declared a black spot.
To recognise this achievement, Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL), presented an award to South County Dublin Mayor Marie Corr. Dr Cavanagh described Tallaghts advance towards a clean environment as a spectacular example of the success of the litter league initiative. He said the citizens of that area should look forward to enjoying environs that are on a par with their European neighbours. IBAL said Tallaght was a model for other areas needing to improve their cleanliness ratings. The success stems from South Dublin County Council developing a litter management plan for 2008 which involved a comprehensive and independent litter survey of the wider Dublin area to help identify black spots. Cleansing operations were re-organised, various anti-litter initiatives were established and a grant scheme was organised for community organisations carrying out anti-litter projects. Critically, litter enforcement levels were increased dramatically, with 2,927 fines handed out up to November 2008.
Courtesy: SDCC
To recognise this achievement, Dr Tom Cavanagh, chairman of Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL), presented an award to South County Dublin Mayor Marie Corr. Dr Cavanagh described Tallaghts advance towards a clean environment as a spectacular example of the success of the litter league initiative. He said the citizens of that area should look forward to enjoying environs that are on a par with their European neighbours. IBAL said Tallaght was a model for other areas needing to improve their cleanliness ratings. The success stems from South Dublin County Council developing a litter management plan for 2008 which involved a comprehensive and independent litter survey of the wider Dublin area to help identify black spots. Cleansing operations were re-organised, various anti-litter initiatives were established and a grant scheme was organised for community organisations carrying out anti-litter projects. Critically, litter enforcement levels were increased dramatically, with 2,927 fines handed out up to November 2008.
Courtesy: SDCC
Monday, January 5, 2009
Mobile web browsing on the up
Mobile web browsing is increasing dramatically across Europe, according to the latest report from browser maker Opera.
The firm's State of the Mobile web report for November found that the number of people accessing web pages through a mobile device had risen sharply across Europe, led by Russia and Ukraine. Read More
Courtesy: RTE News
The firm's State of the Mobile web report for November found that the number of people accessing web pages through a mobile device had risen sharply across Europe, led by Russia and Ukraine. Read More
Courtesy: RTE News
Local government sees big picture and uses tech to get closer to citizens
A unique new project based at the end of the Luas line in Tallaght is using multimedia technology to create closer links with communities in south Co Dublin.
South Dublin County Council is to open an inter-active exhibition centre in December, which will allow it to better utilise the latest technologies to connect with the communities it serves – a move which sets it apart from any other local authority in Ireland.
Called ‘The Big Picture’, the three-floor centre is specially designed for the citizens of south Co Dublin, which encompasses the areas of Tallaght, Rathfarnham, Clondalkin/Rathcoole and Lucan/Palmerstown.
“This will be a centre open to the public where visual and relevant multimedia content will be exhibited for public interaction on council developments. The Big Picture plans to bring to life the current public consultation process for new developments and initiatives of South Dublin County Council,” says project manager, Máire Ni Dhomhnaill. Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
South Dublin County Council is to open an inter-active exhibition centre in December, which will allow it to better utilise the latest technologies to connect with the communities it serves – a move which sets it apart from any other local authority in Ireland.
Called ‘The Big Picture’, the three-floor centre is specially designed for the citizens of south Co Dublin, which encompasses the areas of Tallaght, Rathfarnham, Clondalkin/Rathcoole and Lucan/Palmerstown.
“This will be a centre open to the public where visual and relevant multimedia content will be exhibited for public interaction on council developments. The Big Picture plans to bring to life the current public consultation process for new developments and initiatives of South Dublin County Council,” says project manager, Máire Ni Dhomhnaill. Read More
Courtesy: Silicon Republic
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