Latest news with #PeterBurke
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Jenny Melia appointed CEO of Enterprise Ireland
Jenny Melia has held a number of senior roles during her career with EI. She is a graduate of UCD with a PhD in Chemistry. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke TD confirmed the appointment. 'I want to congratulate Jenny Melia on her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Ireland. Jenny is a dedicated public servant, who has spent much of her career supporting and fostering the development of the Irish enterprise base through her impressive tenure with Enterprise Ireland, which spans almost three decades,' he said. The chairman of Enterprise Ireland, Michael Carey, said Jenny Melia was appointed after a highly competitive recruitment process. "She has an outstanding track record of providing clear vision and strategic leadership within the organisation, has established deep relationships working collaboratively with key stakeholders from across the ecosystem, and has worked extensively and directly with our client companies,' he said. Employment at companies supported by Enterprise Ireland rose to a record 234,454 earlier this year, and the organisation's new strategy sets out a number of ambitious targets for the Irish enterprise base, including plans to increase exports to €50bn by 2029.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘It's about competitiveness' – Government ‘considering' ChatGPT rollout to schools
It comes as almost three in four secondary school students admit using the technology. The move would follow Estonia, which announced a rollout of ChatGPT in September to 20,000 secondary school students and 3,000 teachers, with another 38,000 students and an extra 3,000 teachers joining the scheme in September 2026. Under the EU's AI Act, Irish teachers are already required to undergo AI literacy training. Senior officials from OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT, met this week with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Enterprise Ministers Peter Burke and Niamh Smyth. Speaking to the Irish Independent, chief financial officer Sarah Friar said that the proposed rollout would be an 'enterprise' deployment, controlled by schools and teachers. She said that Ireland has expressed keen interest in deploying the technology. 'They understand that it's about competitiveness,' she said. 'They're receptive.' A recent Studyclix survey of 1,300 Irish secondary students claimed that 71pc now use ChatGPT or alternative AI software, with almost two in three using it for school-related work. A spokesperson for the Teachers' Union of Ireland said that it had received no consultation to date on the issue and that secondary school teachers would need substantial training before any such rollout. 'While we have no position on particular platforms, our general position on AI has been that every effort must be made to optimise the potential benefits and protect against the risks that it presents to the education system,' the spokesperson said. 'A survey of our members earlier this year showed a growing concern at a lack of adequate guidelines and training on AI.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more A spokesperson for the Department of Education declined to comment. Some Irish second-level principals have expressed concern over AI in schoolwork. Last month, the principal of the Cork city-based secondary school Coláiste Éamonn Rís warned of a 'flood' of AI-generated project work. 'You've got to do reform with consultation and the people you need to consult with are the teachers, because they're the people on the ground,' said Aaron Wolfe. According to OpenAI, 28pc of Irish people now use ChatGPT at least once a week, a figure described by the tech giant as 'low' compared to other EU countries. 'We have an incredible deal with Estonia, where they're putting ChatGPT in for secondary school students,' said Ms Friar. 'The UK government's using ChatGPT to create lesson planning.' The company says that such educational deployments are aimed at making ChatGPT 'as fundamental as the internet' to schools. 'ChatGPT has become a go-to tool for students globally to personalise their education and advance their personal development,' the company said this year when announcing its Estonian school rollout. 'Most ChatGPT users – nearly four in five – are under the age of 35 and the majority of conversations are focused on learning and schoolwork. 'By supporting AI literacy programmes, expanding access to AI, and developing policies to make AI training accessible and affordable, we can ensure students will be better equipped as the workforce of the future.'
The Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Over 300 people losing their jobs as US firm Carelon to pull out of Ireland by end of the year
OVER 300 PEOPLE in Limerick are set to lose their jobs as the IDA-backed health tech company Carelon is to pull out of Ireland by the end of the year. Staff were told at the end of March that the company, which is owned by one of the biggest health insurance providers in the US, Elevance Health, was considering ceasing all operations in Ireland. In a meeting today, company leadership told staff that they are all set to lose their jobs. Some people will have their employment terminated by 1 August, some by 3 October, and finally all contracts will be terminated by 31 December. A representative for Carelon today said that following a consultation process with employees and after 'carefully considering other options' the 'difficult' decision has been made to cease operations in Ireland. 'The process to close operations will occur over the course of the next several months, and we expect it to be completed by the end of 2025. We greatly appreciate the work and dedication from associates in Ireland over the past few years and are committed to supporting them during this time,' they added. Advertisement A staff member who attended the meeting today told The Journal that employees won't receive letters confirming their redundancies, or when their employment is being terminated, until Friday. Previously staff told The Journal that 'hysteria' had broken out amongst the workforce, while they were in the dark about whether they would be made redundant or not, as some were expecting children, some had bought houses, and many came to Ireland from overseas to work for the technology solutions firm, and were now worried about their visas. It's understood that the parent company considered several options including reduced layoffs and rebadging before arriving at this decision. The IDA has provided considerable funding to Carelon since 2021. The agency said at that time that the company choosing Ireland as a site for expansion was a sign that Ireland has become a destination for 'top talent and investment in the healthcare sector'. In the financial year ending 2023, it provided the company with over €832,000 in Government grant money, having given the company over €375,000 the year before. Employees have been told by higher management within Carelon that the company is making this decision in order to reduce the number of sites it operates. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said at the start of May that the Government and the IDA were acting as 'first responders' and were working with Carelon to try and explore options. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Meath and Louth Councils to recieve 300k funding for Home of Halloween project
Over the next three years (2025–2028), up to €300,000 (€100,000 annually) in funding will be invested in the Meath-Louth region to help develop Halloween festivals. The pilot scheme is part of the 'Ireland, Home of Halloween Strategy' which was developed collaboratively by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, and Tourism Northern Ireland. It aims to deliver immersive cultural Halloween experiences that will extend the tourism season into the quieter months of October and November. Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: 'The Home of Halloween strategy outlines a strong vision for positioning Ireland as a 'must-do' cultural tourism experience.' Mr Burke added that the €1.5m investment will bring Ireland's Halloween story to life, – 'It's a powerful way to celebrate our culture and grow tourism sustainably in the shoulder season,' he said. The announcement is especially significant for Meath, which has already played a leading role in developing Halloween tourism through the Púca Festival—first launched in 2019 by Fáilte Ireland and Meath County Council. Rooted in the ancient Samhain tradition, Púca has grown into a flagship celebration of Ireland's ancestral ties to Halloween. In 2024 alone, Púca attracted 49,050 attendees, delivering €7.11 million in economic impact and supporting 174 jobs across the region. The new joint project between Meath and Louth is expected to expand this success, creating a cross-county Halloween experience that leverages shared heritage, storytelling traditions, and historic sites. Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, added: 'We were very encouraged by the strong interest and vision from local authorities, and the successful applicants showed real potential to deliver a season of vibrant, authentic festivals. Building on the Púca festival, this scheme fosters partnerships between councils, tourism businesses, and cultural groups, helping to build a sustainable Halloween tourism offering across the regions of Ireland that will resonate with domestic and international visitors and support long-term tourism development in these five destinations.' Other successful local authorities are Galway City Council, Longford County Council and Westmeath County Council (joint project), Kerry County Council, Fingal County Council.
Irish Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Government announces dedicated unit to support Ireland's 'vital' small businesses
THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has announced the establishment of a new unit to support Ireland's small businesses, which provide 'vital employment and economic benefit across the country'. The Small Business Unit will ensure the needs and issues of small businesses have a dedicated focus within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and across government. As well as helping small businesses access grants and support, the unit's remit will also include implementing Ireland's SME Test. Announced last year, the test seeks to ensure small businesses are given due consideration when new policies are introduced so that they are not disproportionately impacted by regulations. 'Economic benefit' Announcing the establishment of the dedicated unit, Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, emphasised the importance of SMEs to the Irish economy. "Small businesses employ two thirds of our population and keep our local communities and economies vibrant and strong," he said. "Government must recognise this, and ensure we are providing the support that SMEs need to run their businesses successfully and continue to provide vital employment and economic benefit across the country." He added: "Since my appointment as Minister I have put small businesses front and centre of my priorities. "The Programme for Government sets out clearly how the needs of small businesses must have a dedicated focus and are recognised and acknowledged across government. "The Small Business Unit will focus on rigorously implementing the SME Test, to ensure the perspectives of small businesses are considered across government before new legislation or regulation is introduced. "The unit will oversee the simplification of information and access to grants and supports for businesses though the National Enterprise Hub. "It will also ensure the Local Enterprise Offices are properly resourced to help small businesses." SME turnover SMEs accounted for 99.8 per cent of all enterprises and 69.2 per cent of persons employed, according to the most recent CSO statistics on these businesses in Ireland. More than two-fifths (41.5 per cent) of total turnover and 34.8 per cent of Gross Value Added (GVA) was attributed to these SMEs. The establishment of the Small Business Unit comes after the government agreed last month to expedite the development of the Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity. The plan is intended to cover areas critical to Ireland's economic performance, including industrial policy, regulatory burden reduction, infrastructure, energy, trade and innovation. See More: Peter Burke, SME
