IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 9 January
09-01-2009
by Sylvia Leatham
EU investigates Dell's Polish aid | Gardai probe fake U2 tickets website
The Irish Times reports that Government officials are to meet with senior management at Dell on Friday to discuss the company's future strategy in Ireland following its decision to lay off 1,900 workers at its Limerick plant, as reported by ENN on Thursday.
The paper also says that Dell's decision to move its European manufacturing to Poland could reduce the value of Irish exports by up to 6 percent, according to the Irish Exporters' Association (IEA). IEA chief executive John Whelan said Dell, as the largest manufacturer in the State, accounted for about 6 percent of the State's EUR148.2 billion exports last year.
Staying with Dell, the paper also reports that the European Commission has said the company may not be able to receive EUR52 million in state aid for its Polish manufacturing plant. Brussels has ordered an in-depth investigation into a proposal by the Polish government to provide regional aid to Dell to support the creation of new jobs at the Lodz plant. A spokesman for EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes said on Thursday that if the investigation found the aid was illegal, Warsaw could not pay over the cash.
The Irish Independent also reports on Dell, saying the IDA has pledged to pursue the PC maker for any refunds it may be liable for from the EUR75 million it has received in IDA and government grants. Over the last two decades, Dell's Limerick operation has received EUR55 million, while EUR20 million has been given to the plant in Dublin. While the IDA vowed it would pursue the company for any refunds it may be liable for, Dell is insisting it has no liability in relation to the grants and has "met its requirements" regarding its manufacturing facilities.
Back in the Irish Times, the paper reports on the Primary Science Fair, which is part of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition currently running at the RDS in Dublin. The fair includes about 100 primary school science projects, in a range of areas including environmental awareness, controlling floods, recycling and even a study of how to build the best home-made parachute.
The paper also reports on the launch of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as reported by ENN on Thursday.
The same paper says that the Garda Fraud Squad is investigating a US-owned website which has been selling tickets for a U2 concert at Slane Castle that is not scheduled to take place. Both the Garda and the National Consumer Agency have been contacted by Slane promoters MCD in relation to the website, www.globalticketshop.com, which has been selling tickets for a U2 concert on 1 July at EUR310 and EUR425 each. A Garda spokesman confirmed that a complaint had been received and is being investigated.
The paper also says that South Dublin's electorate is to be offered an opportunity to "use technology to make government more efficient" by a candidate who intends to run in the constituency's by-election for a Dail seat. Ross O'Mullane from Rathfarnham is proposing a system of political representation where individuals use an internet-based forum to debate the issues they consider important in their lives. O'Mullane, running as an Independent, has launched a website called www.unitedminds.ie, through which he hopes to make politics more "productive, legitimate and creative" by encouraging greater public participation in the democratic process.
The Irish Examiner reports that texting while driving can be three times more dangerous than being behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. A study by the British Transport Research Laboratory examined the effect of text messaging on driver behaviour by testing the reaction of young drivers aged 17 to 24 using a driving simulator. It revealed that driving behaviour is seriously impaired by writing and reading text messages, with reaction times up to 35 percent slower than under normal driving conditions. In contrast, the reaction time of motorists who drive at the legal blood-alcohol limit is only 12 percent slower, while drivers who have taken cannabis averaged a reaction time that was 21 percent slower.
The Financial Times says that UK consumers are receiving broadband at speeds significantly slower than those advertised by internet service providers, according to a new report by telco regulator Ofcom. One in five households that has been offered a download speed of “up to” 8mbps is getting less than 2mbps, said the report. The 8mbps broadband packages are the most popular -- 64 percent of households with internet access have them -- but Ofcom found the average speed for these homes was 3.6mbps.
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