IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 27 September
27-09-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Steering group to prioritise research areas | HSE computer stolen from Ennis hospital
The Irish Times reports that Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe has appointed a taskforce to identify priority areas for research and 'smart economy' Government investment over the next five years. The 17-member steering group will be led by Intel Ireland general manager Jim O'Hara. Known as the Research Prioritisation Steering Group, it will identify up to 20 target areas where the Government should focus its research funding, and report back within a year. O'Keeffe said this year the Government "is investing EUR598 million on academic and commercially focused research and development spread across all Government departments and agencies".
The Irish Independent reports that a computer containing confidential patient information has been stolen from a hospital. Gardai, the HSE and the Data Protection Commissioner are investigating the theft, which occurred at Ennis General Hospital in Clare last week. The desktop computer was taken from an office at the rear of the hospital late last Tuesday night or early on Wednesday morning. It is not yet known how much data relating to personal information about patients was on the computer or whether the machine was encrypted.
The Irish Examiner notes that an Irish-speaking teddy bear has won the top prize in the electronic toy category in the British Pre-school Awards. The teddy bear is the brainchild of the children's toy company Babogbaby Limited, based in Moycullen, Galway. The bear teaches toddlers and children 33 words in Irish.
According to the Financial Times, Alcatel-Lucent's chief executive is insisting the telecoms equipment maker can hit its turnaround targets for 2010 and 2011. Ben Verwaayen told the newspaper that many of the problems surrounding the troubled merger between France's Alcatel and Lucent of the US had been resolved, and held out the possibility of the company issuing a dividend in 2012. Verwaayen expressed confidence that profitability targets would be met, although he acknowledged that some investors could only be convinced by results.
The paper also notes that Europe's top competition watchdog has dropped its early stage probe into policies surrounding Apple's iPhone, after concessions by the US technology group. Joaquin Almunia, the EU competition commissioner, said he welcomed Apple's decision to relax restrictions on development tools for iPhone apps and to introduce cross-border iPhone warranty repair services for EU purchasers. "In light of these policy changes, the commission intends to close the investigations into these matters," the watchdog said.
The Sunday Business Post reports that the Department of Social Protection has turned to online social networking tool Facebook in an attempt to investigate suspected benefit fraud. Although the department has said the use of the site is not "systematic", one woman told the paper that an official had questioned her about her living arrangements and shown her a printout of her Facebook page. The department is said to be using the site to check if those claiming single parent benefits have ticked the box marked "in a relationship".
The same paper reports on a new sponsorship initiative, CauseHere, that helps people connect with social causes and charities in their area. The application can live on other websites, providing a list of 'causes' and events that are happening related to that area. Companies can get involved to help drive sales through sponsorship of events. The application will also help brands with loyalty programmes for customers. CauseHere is expected to launch mid-December in Ireland.
The paper also says that Ulster Bank has launched a banking app for the iPhone aimed at allowing customers to check balances and order mini-statements.
The same paper briefly reports that Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe is seeking expressions of interest from venture capital firms for a State-backed innovation fund aimed at bringing international VC firms to Ireland.
The same paper quotes a European study by HP that says a third of European entities believe they have been the victim of a cyber-attack. More than half said their current budget to help curtail such threats is "inadequate".
The paper also notes the success of IT Alliance , a Dublin-based firm that won export deals worth EUR750,000 in France and Denmark.
The Sunday Independent reports that Eircom is under fire amid accusations that price changes, introduced in July, have caused some calls to increase in price by 320 percent. The telecoms company said the price changes would only increase customers' bills by about 3 percent. The company introduced a connection fee, and also shifted to per-minute billing rather than per-second billing. Business groups are concerned about the effect the move is having, and ISME plans to write to members to warn them of the raised charges.
The Sunday Tribune writes that Dublin secondary school Mount Temple Comprehensive is running a pilot programme that will help lighten the load for students. The school is to receive a shipment of USB keys containing pupils' textbooks and copies, which will allow pupils to read their books and complete exercises on computers in the classroom, and submit homework over e-mail or by printed copy. If successful, the move could be replicated throughout the State's schools.
The paper also reports that a promotional video for the University College Cork branch of Young Fine Gael is being investigated by creators of hit US TV series The West Wing to see if it breached copyright law. The promotional video uses the theme music for the television drama in the background. The clip is currently available on YouTube.
Meanwhile, financial guru Eddie Hobbs has had to move his magazine You & Your Money online. The publication has ceased to print, the Sunday Tribune says, with Hobbs blaming the recession for the move. Circulation fell sharply, he said, and the high cost of renting its Dublin offices also contributed to the decision to move to a solely web-based platform.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 