Latest news with #VHI
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Your money questions – My health insurance plan is now €3,700 for a year. Can I do better than that?
Q I am due to renew on the VHI Advanced Care Extra Day-to-Day scheme, which is costing €3,762 for the year. I want to keep full cover for major orthopaedic and ophthalmic procedures in private hospitals. Can I do better than this?
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Women's Mini Marathon 2025: Everything you need to know including start time, entry points and bag drops
More than 28,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Dublin as part VHI Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin this weekend. The largest all-women's event of its kind in the world is celebrating its 43rd year with women ranging in age from 14-93-years-old taking part. The first road race took place in 1983, with 9,000 women taking part. Since then, 1.1 million women have entered. What time is the event? The race will start at 12.30pm on Sunday, June 1st in Dublin. Bag drop areas will open from 10.30am. What is the course route? The 10km race will begin on Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin 2. From there, runners, joggers and walkers will continue on Leeson Street Upper before going on to to Morehampton Road, and making their way on to Donnybrook Road. READ MORE After passing UCD, they will head on to Stillorgan Road, Nutley Lane, Merrion Road and past the RDS. The final stretch runs from Ballsbridge, on to Pembroke Road before finishing on Baggot Street Lower. © Vhi Womens Mini Marathon Can I still take part? Both the physical and the virtual races are completely sold out, but supporters are welcome. Where should I collect my number? If you do not yet have your number, you can collect it on Saturday, May 31st between 10.30am and 5pm from the Hilton Conrad Dublin on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin. All entrants will have a timing tag embedded in their race number. Numbers should not be covered in anyway, and they are non-transferable. It is advised to bring safety pins with you to attach your number to the front of your shirt. People taking part must put their contact details and medical information on the reverse side of their race number. To gain entry into the correct start area on race day, for timing purposes and to get your medal after completing the race, you must show your official race number. Participants Laura Derkin, and Jo Derkin after the 2024 Vhi Women's Mini Marathon. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Do taking part in the Dublin race the only way to get involved? The mini marathon has taken place virtually since 2020. The virtual race begins at 9.30am on Saturday, May 31st and runs until 9.30am on Monday, June 2nd. You can complete the 10km at any time across the two days. Where do the waves start and where can I leave my belongings? There will be five bag-drop locations where you can leave your belongings before the race. Entrants are asked to bring their own clear reusable bag to store their belongings. The White and Pink waves will enter through the junction of Pembroke Street Upper/Leeson Street Lower. The bag drop for this wave will be at the entrance point on Fitzwilliam Square. The Blue wave will enter through the junction of Hume Street/Stephen's Green and bag drop is at the entrance point on Baggot Street. The Green wave will enter through the junction of Herbert Place/Mount Street Crescent (near the Pepper Canister Church) and the bag drop will be after this entrance point on Mount Upper Street. If you are in one of these four waves, you must be there by 12.00pm. The Yellow wave will enter through the junction of Merrion Square West/Merrion Square North and the bag drop point is after this entrance point on Merrion Square South. The Orange wave will enter through the junction of Hume Street/Stephen's Green and the bag drop will be after this entrance point on Baggot Street. If you are in either of these waves, make sure you are there by 12.15pm. If you do want to carry your belongings on the course, keep in mind that your bag cannot be larger than A4 in size and may be searched. Large bags, backpacks or suitcases are not allowed at the event. Are there any traffic restrictions in place? Yes, some temporary road closures will be in place. Herbert Street will be closed from 8am on Saturday, May 31st until 7pm on Sunday, June 1st. From 4am to 7pm on race day, Herbert Lane, Pembroke Row, Fitzwilliam Street, Merrion Square, Stephan's Green, Baggot Street will be closed. Some road closures will be staggered throughout the day. A full list of road closures is available on the mini marathon website . Participants from Ormeau Running Club in Belfast during the 2024 Vhi Women's Mini Marathon. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile How can I get to the event? Event organisers are encouraging participants to use public transport such as Dublin Bus, the Luas (to St Stephen's Green) or Dart. Due to engineering works, there will be no train service between Connolly and Dún Laoghaire, with Rosslare services running to Bray. Direct bus transfers will be in place. Further information is available via the Irish Rail website . If you plan to drive, there is restricted car parking around the city centre and road closures mentioned above. Accessible parking is available for badge holders. Merrion Square North is a drop-off location only. If you are travelling by coach, parking will be available at the NTA Coach Park in the Docklands. Can I run for a charity? Yes, you can. An estimated €230 million has been raised for charities since the race began in 1983. If you have plans to fundraise, you can sign up with iDonate at registration or you can fundraise independently by getting in touch with a charity of your choice. What is the course route? The 10km race will begin on Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin 2. From there, runners, joggers and walkers will continue on Leeson Street Upper before going on to to Morehampton Road, and making their way on to Donnybrook Road. After passing UCD, they will head on to Stillorgan Road, Nutley Lane, Merrion Road and past the RDS. The final stretch runs from Ballsbridge, on to Pembroke Road before finishing on Baggot Street Lower. What if I need a drink? Water will be available at the start and finish areas as well at about 2.5km and at the 8km mark, with toilets close by. You can also bring a bottle of water that can be refilled at the refill hydration station. The 'Lapee,' a women's urinal, will also be making its Irish debut at Merrion Square South so you can beat the long toilet queues. The Order of Malta First Aid stations will also be dotted along the course. What is the weather forecast? This weekend is expected to see highs of 17 degrees Celsius. The sunshine will be accompanied by breezy conditions and scattered showers. You may want to pack a poncho in with the sun cream. Anything else? There are no pushchairs, scooters, baby carriers or pets allowed on the course for health and safety reasons. Bands and dancers will provide entertainment on the day. Everyone who completes the race will receive the 2025 VHI Women's Mini Marathon finisher medal.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Former health minister pushed for greater flexibility on CEO pay
Publicly-owned companies which do not rely on the State for funding should have greater freedom in setting pay rates for their top executives, former minister for health Stephen Donnelly told a government-appointed review of remuneration last year. Mr Donnelly said while some form of policy was necessary regarding chief executive remuneration in the commercial State sector, 'a strong case can be made for those bodies which do not have recourse to the State for funding to be dealt with in a different manner to reflect this'. In a letter to the Senior Post Remuneration Committee (SPRC) the then minister said: 'Perhaps such bodies could be permitted to offer an increased level of basic pay to their CEOs. Or the rules pertaining to the current headroom in pay required between the CEO and the next highest executive (usually held to be 10 per cent) could be altered.' SPRC chairwoman Maeve Carton had written to ministers, including Mr Donnelly, inviting them to make submissions regarding remuneration in commercial State companies that came under their auspices. READ MORE [ VHI swings back to profit as premium prices rise Opens in new window ] [ The Irish Times view on Irish health insurance Opens in new window ] Mr Donnelly said that as minister for health, VHI was the only commercial State company in his area. He said while it did not require State funding and operated in a competitive and commercial marketplace, VHI remained 'a valuable asset in State ownership'. 'Therefore I, and by extension the State, have a duty to ensure that it is not hindered in any meaningful way from carrying out its permitted activities in the highly competitive market in which it operates. 'The recruitment and retention of very highly qualified and skilled individuals, including at CEO level, is undoubtedly one of its main priorities and the provision of appropriate remuneration should reflect this.' He noted that VHI was the largest non-life insurance company in the State, with gross earned premiums in 2023 of €1.684 billion and over 1.2 million customers. It required a 'specific calibre of CEO', he said, who can successfully manage a company of its size and complexity. 'The applicable remuneration should reflect this,' he wrote. 'The new VHI (group) CEO role has changed to a large extent in recent years. In addition to being regulated by the Central Bank, it is now organised in a group structure with a number of growing subsidiary companies. It is an increasingly complex organisation that has expanded into the provision of health services as well as providing private health insurance.' VHI accounts for 2023 showed the annual basic salary for its chief executive officer was €287,000. In 2022, the insurer told a Government-appointed independent review panel that restrictions on pay and pensions were adversely impacting its ability to compete and grow. 'VHI is experiencing significant risk in recruiting and retaining colleagues based on State remuneration restrictions when benchmarked against industry equivalents. It has experienced difficulties in attracting and retaining senior staff. Remuneration restrictions mean that we are competing for the same talent that others are competing for without the same restrictions. It is vital for the long term sustainability of VHI and to allow us execute our business strategy that we are able to attract and retain the people we need to run and develop the business.' Last month following the report of the SPRC, the Government signalled it would update rules to allow a 'market rate' to be paid to chief executives in commercial State companies.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Valhi: Q1 Earnings Snapshot
DALLAS (AP) — DALLAS (AP) — Valhi Inc. (VHI) on Thursday reported earnings of $16.9 million in its first quarter. The Dallas-based company said it had profit of 59 cents per share. The maker of titanium dioxide pigment posted revenue of $538.6 million in the period. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights ( using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on VHI at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Jane Shortall: ‘If I feel like dancing in an outfit, I know I have chosen well'
The energy and dynamism of dancer Jane Shortall is palpable the minute you meet her. Restless, bright eyed and usually dressed in camouflage sweatpants or bright leggings and bra tops, she radiates good health. When we meet in a Dublin cafe she is evangelical about dance and its benefits. 'I'm good at motivating people and helping women get their mojo back through dance,' she says. 'When we dance, listen to music, squeeze in playtime and have more fun, we are more inclined to dress up and feel better mentally and physically.' Shortall is a motivation coach on film and TV, and her recent work was on the second series of Netflix's Wednesday , from director Tim Burton , filmed in Ireland last summer with Joanna Lumley, Jenna Ortega and Catherine Zeta Jones . 'I had to help the actors, referred to as 'outcasts', move like monsters and creatures,' she says with a giggle, brandishing her arms wildly and making faces. Today we are discussing the kind of clothes she likes to wear when dressing up to go out, as distinct from what she wears at dance classes. When teaching, 'I love big and baggy, sloppy, oversized tees and baggy bottoms. I like scruffy,' she says, laughing. When going out, 'I dress in what makes me look good and feel confident, and if I feel like dancing in an outfit, I know I have chosen well.' READ MORE Her target audience for her ConfiDance classes are women 'who want to have fun, want to dance. I make the classes fun and easy to follow, so people are energised by the music and the whole social experience. We start with a warm-up, always to music, and they learn a routine'. Her classes have attracted many who make the journey to the Stillorgan venue from around the country. Shortall started dancing at 19 after leaving school in Mount Anville in Dublin and moving to the US. 'I wanted to be in the movies. There was no such thing as drama or the arts as a career choice then and I didn't want to follow the norm. I was noisy and showy-off at school.' It was in the Bronx in New York that she first encountered breakdancing, hip-hop, free-spirited street dancing 'that comes from the heart', and was immediately captivated. She points out how it later became a phenomenon embraced by singers like Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. Back in Ireland in the mid-1990s, she started teaching this style of dance in Digges Lane in Dublin. Then, with a J1 visa, she moved back to live in New York for three years, attending classes in the city to further her interest and expertise, teaching herself. Contacts made there at that time included leading stylists for singers and music artists. Her big break was with Canadian country pop singer Shania Twain , helping her with stage presence and a music video involving Irish dancing. When she returned to Dublin, Shortall's career developed quickly. Her events and workshops were sponsored by VHI for three years from 2005 to 2008. 'Trained dancers came to me to be inspired – all this before YouTube and I was jam-packed,' she says. 'There is a whole style that goes with any kind of dance – if you feel you look the part, you act the part so how you present yourself will enhance your performance. How you look, how you walk, how you dress, how you present yourself to the world is how you communicate.' Vintage dress, €38, from Om Diva: 'I want to dance the tango in this' Black fringed short dress, €80, Siopella Dress by Tim Ryan: 'I have worn this to weddings and parties over the years with flats or heels' Jersey denim jeans, €80, Lennon Courtney, Kilkenny Design Centre. Vintage gold top, €45, A Store Is Born Simone Rocha layered skirt €780, and bow-tail easy T-shirt, €235 The outfits she has chosen to wear in these pictures to express her own style are the clothes that make her feel confident when dressing up to go out. They include everything from a Simone Rocha pink tutu from Havana to an inexpensive tulle skirt from Dance World, with a thrift shop buy and vintage slip dress (to do the tango) among the other looks. 'Like a lot of women now, I buy less, mostly from vintage and online as well as wearing favourite dresses bought way back.' In her opinion, 95 per cent of what makes a grown woman stylish 'is not just clean-cut, classic clothes, good grooming and proper reading glasses, but the way she wears the clothes, her posture and how she holds herself when dressed up.' Dance, of course, improves posture and helps with flexibility, conditioning and mobility, as well as being a good mood-booster. In that sense, Shortall is her own best advertisement. Spring ConfiDANCE classes start on Friday, May 9th, in Glenalbyn in Stillorgan, Co Dublin for six weeks, 10am-11.30am, €25. The Sisterly Summer Solstice Dance Party is on Saturday, June 21st, 1.30pm-3.30pm at Dublin Studios, Montague Lane, Dublin 2. For information and bookings see . Photographs: Barry McCall, Anastasia Redko; creative director Maeve Staunton; make-up Tara McHugh
