Building bonanza for jobless Irish
ONE of the most favoured destinations for the latest wave of Irish emigrants, Australia, is on the cusp of a building boom following the devastating floods, according to this year’s Grant Thornton International Business Report.
It said demand for skilled labour in the Australian construction industry is set to increase in the coming months as communities begin to repair the damage caused by recent natural disasters.
Flood, fire and cyclone crises in Australia are estimated to have damaged over 30,000 homes, and cost the economy billions.
According to the ESRI, nearly half of the 60,000 Irish people who emigrated last year went to Australia and New Zealand.
Another 40,000 people are expected to leave Ireland in the next 12 months.
Apple rolls out new pay media service
APPLE is launching a long-awaited subscription service for magazines, newspapers, videos and music.
Apple’s service allows it to keep 30 per cent of customer payments to any publisher with a presence in its App Store, including blue-chip brands such as The New York Times, Netflix Inc. or Rhapsody, the popular music service.
Publishers can set the price and length of a subscription. They can also offer subscriptions through their own existing websites, but would be required to offer those same terms to anyone signing up through Apple.
Publicans call for overhaul of rates
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents 4,500 pubs throughout Ireland, today called for reform of the commercial rates system.
It said it believes the commercial rates system is punitive, is a heavy burden on businesses throughout Ireland and is costing jobs in the current climate.
“The commercial rates system may be a major income stream for local authorities but it is not calculated in a fair and even-handed way or in a manner that encourages small businesses to operate,” said Gerry Mellett, president of the VFI.
“Local authorities seem to be oblivious to the fact that the relentless pursuit of small businesses is leading to significant job losses and will result in less rates being collectable as these businesses go out of existence. Authorities should be seeking to find a system that takes account of ability to pay and is based on reality.”
