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Created: 26 November 2011

Last Updated: 05 January 2016

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Bob Tallent

The Synergy Group

24^th November 2011

So you want to invest in new technology, bring your costs down and deliver a much better product and turnaround time frame. Normally speaking you would go to your bank with a business plan. But guess what? As a normal business it seems that neither the banks nor indeed the government or State agencies want to know.

Let me start by saying that I have a problem with the Government, Enterprise Ireland and County Enterprise Boards mainly, who, and in some case only, support High Potential Start Ups (HPSU’s).  According to the EU stats, 85.3% of all businesses in Ireland employ less than 10 people (micro business) and a very small percentage of those are HPSUs.

The AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund is made up of €22 million - €20m from AIB and €2m from Enterprise Ireland.  The Fund is managed by ACT Venture Capitalists and is designed to help entrepreneurs create companies that can lead in international markets.

The fund was set up as part of the bank recapitalisation process and has already invested €2 million in five companies:

• Storyful.com, social news website; (How is this site that much different from dpnlive.com, I hear you ask)
• Swerve, gaming software development company;
• Barracuda FX, financial services software company;
• Biosensia, UCD-based medical diagnostics company.
• The fifth company has yet to be announced

The AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund expects the investment in these first five companies to create 92 jobs over the next five years.

As part of the bank recapitalisation with AIB four specialist seed capital funds have been established, with Bank of Ireland contributing the bulk of the €124 million they have available to invest.

The investments made by the new Fund will focus on developing high-growth, export-oriented companies in emerging sectors such as Digital Media, Internet, Software, CleanTech and Medical Devices.

My problem here is that there is no mention of the ‘normal’ business that also needs support.  What about our industry?  What about printers who need to invest in order to survive, who need to re-skill, who need to go after new markets?  What about printers who have to use modern machines in order to provide the home market efficiently and effectively?  Where is the help for them?

Brendan O'Connor, Head of Commercial Banking, AIB, said: “The fund is an important element of AIB’s seed capital capability and the Bank now has facilitated the creation of €75 million in funding making it the largest seed capital provider in the country. With today’s announcement, it means AIB is facilitating, on average, one new investment per month in equity capital for fast growth and high potential Irish owned businesses, supporting the creation of new jobs across the country."

“If we are to turn this country around and create a new economy which can support the levels of employment we need, central to that will be dynamic Irish companies,” Minister Bruton said. “That is why a key part of the Government’s jobs plan is to target policies at sectors where Irish companies have the capacity to break into export markets and grow quickly to create jobs. ICT, financial services and life sciences are sectors where Ireland has a long record of success in attracting multinational companies, but the challenge now is to convert that into success also for Irish companies."

Copyright © 2011, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved

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Written by Administrator

Category: Uncategorised

Created: 19 November 2011

Last Updated: 05 January 2016

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Written by Tony Judge

Is Ireland really a democracy?

Let’s have a look at our system.

Who really calls the shots?

PERMANENT GOVERNMENT

The Civil Service! Most civil servants appear to be unaccountable. They certainly are not elected by the people.

Take City and County managers for example! At a stroke they have decided that some council’s will no longer collect domestic waste and yet their very own environment web site states that part of their role is “to encourage recycling and collect waste”. Is this not an obvious breach of their role? This decision cannot be changed by the Councillors - the people have elected!

THE UNIONS

Also unelected, they have tied us into expensive and unworkable agreements. The Croke Park agreement, for example, protects public service jobs no matter what the cost. Who gave them this right? Not the people!

Another Union decreed that that our politicians became the highest paid bunch in the world. This was only addressed in the current recession. However most of the old perks are still there.

Another Union has decided that the Government pensions be set at incredible amounts, especially for ex-Ministers. They also made sure that no matter how much we protest these figures cannot be changed due to some contract law clap trap. Even an ex Minister who served a term in prison is getting a pension of over € 90,000 per annum!

THE MEDIA

They have no role in Government but their opinions can help sway the outcome of any election. Our recent Presidential election is an example of this. This is not an executive role in Ireland, but the media ran a very bitter campaign.

THE MARKETS

Who are these guys? They forced Papandreou and Berlusconi out of office. These may have been popular events but they certainly were not democratic! Where will this end? Austerity for all taxpayers everywhere!

THE EU

While we elect MEPs, they seem to have no say in the functioning of the EU. We have an EU President, Van Rompuy, who is hardly mentioned. Barroso, the Commission President seems to be the boss. Again, hardly democratic!

So, is Ireland a democracy? Is any EU country a democracy?

{jcomments on}

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Written by Administrator

Category: Uncategorised

Created: 17 November 2011

Last Updated: 05 January 2016

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An Opportunity or Threat for Printers!

Bob Tallent
The Synergy Group
17^th November 2011

Today, the Government announced a new plan for public sector reform. Not before its time, I hear you say. However, believe it or not this offers the print industry an opportunity! Why, because all these plans will create a need for documents to be printed in order to inform staff as well as the public. So maybe you can try to get some of this work? As in all scenarios, opportunities always exist on the other side of the coin. It may be a harsh statement but it’s a fact of life. Have a look at the details-

You can download the public sector reform plan here.  In short, it says:

• Merging of various government agencies and quangos - rationalise 48 bodies by the end of 2012, with a further 46 to be critically reviewed by June 2012
• Number of public service employees will be reduced by 23,500 (to 282,000) by 2015 reducing the overall public pay bill by €2.5 billion
• Decentralisation programme of 2003 to be abolished
• Proposals for standardising annual leave across the public service has been sent to unions
• Plan includes 70 recommendations, including setting up shared services in areas such as HR, payroll and pensions. It includes plans for better use of technology to improve services, reform of procurement processes and changes in the way property is managed
• Reuters news agency says it has obtained documents showing that the Government will increase the top VAT rate by two points to 23% in next month's Budget
• The Government is committed to making budgetary adjustments of €3.8 billion for next year under its EU/IMF bail-out and Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he will not reveal the exact measures until he presents the Budget on December 6
• The Minister also said that the public service reform plans include 70 recommendations and 200 key actions which the government wants taken by the public sector
• Public Services Card will be developed to ensure that citizens have ease of access to a range of services through multiple channels at the beginning of 2012
• A commitment to look at a GovStat initiative which will build on the HealthStat initiative and will be aimed at ensuring that citizens can see how well services are being delivered.
• New single awarding authority for student grants to be set up that will include an online application process for more than 72,000 students
• Online services like first time voter registration and the rollout of fixyourstreet.ie.
• New integrated transport ticketing system has been announced today for the Greater Dublin area (this is separate to the plan)

The plan is focussing on five main commitments:

1. Placing customer service at the core of everything;
2. Maximising new and innovative service delivery channels;
3. Radically reducing costs to drive better value for money;
4. Leading, organising and working in new ways; and
5. Strong focus on implementation and delivery.

You are all aware of the business analysis tool called SWOT.  Strengths and weaknesses are under the control of the company whereas opportunities and threats are outside their control.  This new plan could be factored into the business analysis model for printers.  It could provide either opportunities or threats.  Again, as we all know, the astute business person will find a way to turn a threat into an opportunity.

For example, there will be 23,500 fewer people on the public service payroll.  That means the will be less cash in the system for spending.  Or will it?  These people will be voluntary layoffs (in order to keep within the Croke Park Agreement).  So presumably, they will be close to retirement age, therefore they will have public service pensions, therefore there will be cash flowing.  What it also means is that there will be a lot of skilled people available for work – if they want to work.  Therefore those skills may be usable by printers and suppliers, so you may be able use their services and at the same time get the inside track.

All these plans will create a need for documents to be printed in order to inform staff as well as public.  Can you try to get some of that work?  Indeed can you pre-empt some of it and perhaps form a strategic alliance with other printers who have other resources and equipment, so that you can target specific business.

Check out the new public service card, GovStat, Health Stat, proposed new online initiatives, new integrated transport ticketing system, etc.  Can you find opportunities suitable to you?  They are there, you just have to look.