Viatel Technology Group, a digital tech firm based in Dublin, is reportedly leading the bid for BT Group’s Irish division, presently up for sale for the second time in five years. Although other bids have allegedly been made, the identities of those involved could not be confirmed. Joe Brennan provides more information on this topic.
Robert Habeck, the German economic minister, has suggested a sizeable government stimulus package to rejuvenate the country’s stagnant economy and endorse industrially sustainable transformations. Amid a repetitive cycle of recessions, Habeck’s ‘Germany Fund’ proposition would allow the state to supplement 10% of business investments which could be countered against their tax liabilities or be cash-issued if the company isn’t generating profits. Derek Scally shares more insights from Berlin.
A report from the Central Bank of Ireland revealed that the profitability of Irish motor insurance decreased considerably last year, hitting its lowest point since 2017. This was largely due to a rise in the cost of settled claims which amounted to €693 million, a 39% jump, primarily because of damage claims. Without releasing notable reserves allocated for prior-year cases that cost less than expected, the sector would have been in loss in 2023 according to the report. Joe Brennan covers this story.
A recent survey has unveiled that almost half the Irish workforce has faced late payments from their employer or had their salary bracing miscalculations in the last year. Conducted by iVox on the behalf of payroll and HR tech firm, SD Worx Ireland, the survey also found the remuneration is still the primary concern for individuals when deciding their employment. Ian Curran reports on this story.
Karlin Lillington, in her weekly column, shares how both the EU AI Act and the Irish Online Safety and Media Regulation Act of 2022 adopt risk-based evaluations to ascertain the companies and technologies that must shoulder the most regulatory duties. Both legislations highlight potential harm and the ensuing punitive measures but leave the challenging questions of how to handle and define such harm to the companies themselves.
Lastly, considering their high energy consumption and low employment, the necessity for more data centres in Ireland is questioned.
Jason Ward, previously managing director of Dell Technologies Ireland, has returned to his former post following a two-year interval. In addition to his Irish responsibilities, he will preside over Dell’s operations across northern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and the Baltics. Ward’s previous experience includes leading Dell’s enterprise division in the Nordics.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is committed to constructing Starlink, a worldwide communication network reliant on low-orbit satellites. Despite this, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos could soon provide staunch competition. Amazon’s existing control over the internet’s infrastructure through extensive webservices and global data centres could be bolstered by the addition of a satellite constellation. This would allow for powerful, direct connections to Amazon’s infrastructure, eliminating the need for intermediary ISPs.
In Ireland, the commercial property market in Dublin exhibits no signs of recovery from its pandemic-induced slump, a state it’s been stuck in for quite some time. Illustrious Irish TV companies like ShinAwiL, Deadpan Pictures and children’s comedy creators Turnip + Duck have been actively seeking partnerships and deals at the Mipcom television trade event.
Sea-swimming enthusiasm has surged in recent years due to perceived benefits on mood, health, and overall wellbeing. For those averse to cold water immersion, Olive Keogh introduces Soak, a line of wellness products created by Karen Kearney. The range seeks to replicate the therapeutic benefits of the sea, aiding issues like insomnia, low mood, anxiety, and stress.
On a technological front, the appeal of smart locks is evident. They afford unique conveniences like using smartphones as keys, issuing temporary access keys remotely, and revoking access with ease. Fittingly, Ciara O’Brien evaluated the Yale Conexis L2 smart lock, concluding her thoughts in a review.
In a recent study by the Institute of Directors Ireland, it was revealed that 68% of Irish businesses lack a board-sanctioned strategy for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) at work. Additionally, the research discovered that 43% of firms anticipate that cybersecurity will pose the most significant hurdle in the forthcoming year. This is a hot topic that 63% of businesses address frequently in board meetings, as reported by Fiona Keeley.