IEP: The IE Professional No.198 4/28/99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ======================================================================= THE IE PROFESSIONAL _______________________________________________________________________ Issue No.198 April 28, 1999 Circulation: 14,664 ======================================================================= http://www.emigrant.ie/ The IE Professional is a free weekly newsletter from the publishers of the Irish Emigrant. Please forward copies to anyone who you think may be interested. They can automatically add themselves to the distribution by sending mailto:listserv@listserv.iol.ie with "subscribe iepro" as the only text in the body of the message (ignore the quotation marks). ======================================================================= Supported by Ireland's leading banking group, Allied Irish Banks plc, (AIB Bank) http://www.aib.ie For further information send mailto:dermot.e.burke@aib.ie ======================================================================= CONTENTS BUSINESS NEWS: - IMI conference in Killarney - First step in flotation of Telecom Eireann - Gateway first-quarter profits up 31% - Young Business Woman of the Year finalists announced - Sean Melly resigns as chief executive of MCI WorldCom Ireland - Icon now listed on Irish stock exchange - First quarter profit increase of 38% at Elan - Shortages of computer staff expected in future - Five bids lodged for Cablelink - Institute of Chartered Accountants investigations on hold - Eircell and Esat launch new joint service - Oral-B to recruit 150 new staff for its Newbridge operation - RDS announces 14% rise in profits - Sun Microsystems to remain at East Point Business Park - Xilinx reports record fourth quarter results - Informix to create 100 new jobs - announces strong first quarter - Strong second quarter results for Visio Corporation - Baltimore win new contracts - Microsoft's "knock knock" operation goes nation-wide - ICL-Microsoft to create 225 new jobs in Belfast - Correct web address for Priority Data Systems - SmithKline Beecham to establish R&D plant in Cork - Additional funds for In-Company Research, Technology and Innovation - Great Southern Hotels to show 20% increase in profits - Lotus Dublin supplying release 5 of notes to Europe, Mid-East, Africa - Smithsonian Institute honours Department of Social Welfare - Lotus accredits Clear Systems with prestigious training award - enba chooses Trinity as its supplier of Sun Microsystems solutions FINANCIAL: - Exchange rates - Dublin closing prices - Leading Companies - Leading Multinationals in Ireland - stock prices ACADEMIC: - First ENIAC computer programmers speak at UL - QUILL centre opened at Queen's University - Socio-economic factors continue to influence health - Link between milk and Crohn's disease investigated at QUB - UCAS figures show slump in applications - Speakers announced for Galway Millennium Lecture Series - IR75m high-tech third level investment announced - Honorary life membership for President at Queen's GAA - UU opens new incubator unit for science companies JOB ADVERTISEMENTS: - The High Skills Pool, Dublin: May Recruitment Fair - SmithKline Beecham, Cork: Development Chemists Chemical Process Engineers Development Laboratory Chemists Analytical Development Chemists/Scientists Occupational Hygienist Accountants; Recently Qualified or Part-Trained - Dublin City University, School of Computer Applications: Senior Lecturers/Lecturers (4 Posts) Analyst/Programmer III (2 Posts) Analyst/Programmer II School Manager - Nortel Networks: Software Developers Deployment/Support Specialists Customer Service Product Engineer Customer operations test engineer. - Microsemi, Ennis: Senior Analog and Mixed Signal IC Designer European Field Applications Engineer, Continental Europe based - PostGEM/Ireland On-Line, Dublin: Operations Manager - Major Sales Division, Dublin: General Manager - Virtual Access, Dublin: Telecommunications Software Engineers - Collins McNicholas, Start-up in West of Ireland: Call Centre Manager EDUCATION PROGRAMMES: - University College Cork: MSc course in Information Theory, Coding, and Cryptography > > > > > > > > > BUSINESS NEWS < < < < < < < < < IMI CONFERENCE IN KILLARNEY - Many of the leading figures in Irish industry assembled in Killarney for the Irish Management Institute's annual conference last weekend. They were addressed by the Taoiseach who used the occasion to make it clear that the Government wasn't so intent on reaching a new national pay agreement to replace Partnership 2000 that it would accede to outrageous pay demands. Mr Ahern said that he would only negotiate on "what is right for the economy". He also argued that continued economic growth was dependent on the speedy development of roads and other areas of infrastructure. FIRST STEP IN FLOTATION OF TELECOM EIREANN - On Thursday every person in the country listed on the electoral register received a letter from Telecom Eireann offering the opportunity to register an interest in purchasing shares in the company in the next few months. All that means is that those who reply will receive further information whenever it becomes available. Since then the unions and the Government have been at loggerheads over the issue of worker directors. Currently two Telecom staff members are elected to the board by their colleagues. When the company is privatised it is not envisaged that this practice will continue, much to the annoyance of the trade unions. While both sides express optimism that a compromise can be reached, it seems that the issue will have to be resolved before the flotation takes place. GATEWAY FIRST-QUARTER PROFITS UP 31% - Gateway reported that first quarter net income increased 31% to $99.6m, compared with $75.9m in the first quarter of 1998. Turnover was up 22% to $2.1bn. During the quarter Gateway shipped 1,085,000 PCs, a 42% increase from the first quarter 1998. Gateway employs 1,800 people at its facility located close to Dublin Airport, from where it services the European marketplace. A spokesperson said the strong quarterly sales were driven by two key factors: substantial growth in the US and continued momentum in Asia Pacific. YOUNG BUSINESS WOMEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS ANNOUNCED - The five finalists competing for the title of Young Business Woman of the Year Award, which will take place today, have been announced. They are Patricia Gallagher of Hamel Clothing McHales Mill in Donegal; Sabina Braxton of Cloth of Gold, a fabrics company in Kilkenny; Mary Hennessy of Malting Fitness and Racquet Club in Portlaoise; Josephine Cribbin of the Connaught School of Hairdressing in Galway and Michelle O'Donnell of Glasshammer Designs in Sheriff Street in Dublin. SEAN MELLY RESIGNS AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MCI WORLDCOM IRELAND - The Chief Executive of MCI WorldCom Ireland, Sean Melly, announced his resignation with effect from May 31, 1999. The position will be filled by David Hughes, who had previously been Chief Operating Officer at MCI. Sean Melly founded TCL Telecom in 1994, and the company was subsequently acquired by MCI WorldCom in 1997. He played an important role in the early stages of telecommunications liberalisation in Ireland and is regarded as one of country's leading telecommunications entrepreneurs. Mr Melly plans to pursue his private interests elsewhere, but has agreed to remain available as an adviser to MCI WorldCom in Ireland until the end of 1999. ICON NOW LISTED ON IRISH STOCK EXCHANGE - ICON, the Irish clinical trials group with a listing on NASDAQ, was floated on the Irish Stock Exchange on Monday. The group was floated in New York one year ago, at $18 a share, but since then the shares have experienced a turbulent time. In January of this year, the stock was trading at $36.75, but a profits warning issued last month saw the price fall to a low of $10. The shares have made a moderate recovery and are currently trading at $16, valuing the company at approximately $165m. FIRST QUARTER PROFIT INCREASE OF 38% AT ELAN - ELAN Corporation, the Athlone-based pharmaceutical group, announced first quarter profits of $75.1m, a 38% rise on the same period in 1998. Revenues for the first three months of the year increased by 73% to $233.1m, and product sales were up by a 104% to $127.5m. The rise in profits reflects the strong growth in product sales, and increased revenue from research and royalties. Despite what appeared to be good news, ELAN shares dipped, after a recent recovery, and traded at a low of $59. SHORTAGES OF COMPUTER STAFF EXPECTED IN FUTURE - According to the head of Dell Computers' European, Middle Eastern and African operations, Jan Gesmar Larsen, skilled computer staff are becoming increasingly difficult to find in Ireland. Speaking to the Irish Times he welcomed recent Government initiatives to train the unemployed for vacancies in the IT sector, but said that these training programmes are unlikely to solve the problem in the short term and it will take several years before they produce the kind of high-skilled people required by the leading IT companies. Dell has operations in Bray, Co. Wicklow and Limerick, and recently began a recruitment drive in an effort to attract 1,400 people for the next phase of its European Manufacturing Facility in Limerick. Mr Larsen also expressed concern that this was a problem that would face all European countries, due to lack of investment in IT compared with the United States. FIVE BIDS LODGED FOR CABLELINK - What were supposed to be the final five bids for Cablelink were lodged at noon on Friday April 22. The sale of Ireland's biggest cable television company has attracted much attention, both national and international. Cablelink pipes television signals into 360,000 homes in Dublin, Waterford and Galway and the sale of company had been expected to raise in excess of IR360m. The bidders include US cable group NTL; Esat Telecom, in conjunction with Charter Communications; Telecommunications Inc (TCI) in partnership with Independent Newspapers subsidiary Princess Holdings; and two bids from United Pan Europe Communications. UPC chose this strategy as its higher bid depended on it being allowed to extend the level of service on offer. This appears to have prompted the advisers on the sales, NM Rothschild, to ask for further bids from everyone, based on the same set of conditions. According to the Irish Times the two favourites at this stage are NTL and the Esat consortium, and the final price could be in the region of IR450m. INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS INVESTIGATIONS ON HOLD - The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland's internal inquiry into alleged professional misconduct by some of its members is to be suspended until the Moriarty Tribunal finishes its deliberations. The ICAI appointed retired Supreme Court Judge John Blayney to chair the inquiry, following allegations which emerged during the course of the McCracken Tribunal. In an interim report the ICAI says that prima facie evidence of misconduct by some accountants has been uncovered. EIRCELL AND ESAT LAUNCH NEW JOINT SERVICE - Eircell and Esat, the two main players in the mobile phone market in Ireland, have launched a joint initiative for a direct interconnection of their networks for the purpose of SMS. Until now SMS, the short message text service, has only been available between those using mobile phones supplied by the same operator. Now users of both networks will be able to send text messages to both 086 and 087 phones. Esat Digifone plans to introduce a number of new SMS services in the next few months. ORAL-B TO RECRUIT 150 NEW STAFF FOR IT NEWBRIDGE OPERATION - Oral-B Laboratories will create 150 new jobs at Newbridge, Co. Kildare, bringing the total employed at the facility to 560 within two years. The Newbridge plant has just completed a IR23m expansion and recruitment is underway. This development is the result of a very successful R&D programme which has created a new yarn for use in dental floss. RDS ANNOUNCES 14% RISE IN PROFITS - The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) has announced a 14% increase in profits for 1998. The society reported operating profits of IR999k, and says that this increase is the result of an upsurge in new members, combined with the hosting of major concerts and exhibitions. The RDS hosted approximately 40 major exhibitions, two international conferences and four outdoor performances in 1998. Nearly IR6m has been invested in the Ballsbridge grounds in the past five years, and there has been continuing good performance in its rental and events activities. SUN MICROSYSTEMS TO REMAIN AT EAST POINT BUSINESS PARK - Sun Microsystems has selected East Point Business Park as the location for its new 40,000 sq. ft European Software Centre. The company, which recently announced 65 additional jobs, will retain the 26,000 sq. ft unit it already has on the site. The Centre, which accounts for approximately 29% of world-wide sales in hardware, software and services, is currently recruiting software engineers in a move that will see employment numbers rise to 210 people. XILINX REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS - Xilinx Inc., the California-based parent of Xilinx Ireland which employs 150 people in the design, engineering and manufacturing of Field Programmable Gate Arrays at Citywest, Co. Dublin, has announced record results for its fourth quarter to April 3, 1999. Revenue for quarter was up 20% to $184.3m from the fourth quarter of last year. Excluding the impact of a $3.6m one-time charge for in-process technology associated with an acquisition, net income for the fourth quarter was $41.8m, representing an increase of nearly 37% from the fourth quarter of the prior year. Fiscal 1999 revenues totalled $662.0m, up approximately 8% from fiscal 1998. Excluding the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and the $3.6m one-time charge, net income for the fiscal year was $131.8m, up approximately 4% from fiscal 1998. The company's Irish facility, established in 1994 and accounting for 30% of the company's total revenue, is engaged in high level IC design, software development and customer support. (http://www.xilinx.com) INFORMIX TO CREATE 100 NEW JOBS - ANNOUNCES STRONG FIRST QUARTER - Informix Software Ireland Ltd announced the creation of 100 new jobs over the next four years at its International Shared Service Centre at Westgate Business Park in west Dublin. The $2m development involves a strategic expansion of its Software Development Division, which will become the second hub for Informix's Product Engineering Division, and its Shared Services Division which will add responsibility for Marketing Support Operations to its other roles. The company also announced a 22% increase in revenue to $196.6m for the first quarter of 1999. Net income was $7.2m compared with a loss of $386k in the same period last year. Informix has been based in Ireland since 1993 and currently employs 130 people in localisation, production and technical support. (http://www.informix.com) STRONG SECOND QUARTER RESULTS FOR VISIO CORPORATION - Visio Corporation, the Nasdaq quoted software company whose European headquarters are in Dublin, reported second quarter results for 1999. Revenues increased 28% to $51.4m while net income was up 24% to $10.7m compared with net income of $8.6m for the same period last year, excluding a charge for acquired technology, net of taxes, in the fiscal 1998 quarter. Visio (http://www.visio.com) is a supplier of enterprise-wide business diagramming and technical drawing software. The company employs 120 in Ireland in a variety of activities invcluding R&D, manufacturing, localisation, management, customer service, technical support, finance, human resources and administration for international markets. BALTIMORE WIN NEW CONTRACTS - Baltimore Technologies, a leader in e-commerce and enterprise security solutions, has announced UniCERT version 3, the latest release of its Certificate Authority (CA) system. This and other Baltimore products were demonstrated at InfoSecurity '99 in London this week. It was also announced that Baltimore has just signed a Stg500k contract with Britain's Royal Navy, to provide the encryption technology to protect information within its local area networks. The Health and Personal Service in Northern Ireland, part of the UK National Health Service, has also signed an agreement for Baltimore to provide its security technology to implement an infrastructure for secure electronic communications between hospitals and family doctors. MICROSOFT'S "KNOCK KNOCK" OPERATION GOES NATION-WIDE - Microsoft Ireland has announced that, due to the success of its software piracy initiative, "Operation Knock Knock", the programme has been extended nation-wide. The scheme was launched last autumn, and involved test purchases and mystery visits by agents of Microsoft to the premises of over 100 resellers in the Dublin area. The purpose of these visits was to ensure that all retailers were offering fully licensed Microsoft software. While the vast majority acted responsibly a small percentage of those visited quoted unrealistic prices for Microsoft software, and are currently under investigation. ICL-MICROSOFT TO CREATE 225 NEW JOBS IN BELFAST - A new project, the ICL-Microsoft Solution Centre, will create 225 new jobs in Belfast over the next three years. The Centre will be involved in the development of sophisticated computer software systems for major clients in the educational, retail and British government sectors. The North's Industrial Development Board will invest Stg#1.1m in the alliance project. ICL currently employs 550 staff in Belfast. CORRECT WEB ADDRESS FOR PRIORITY DATA SYSTEMS - Last week we carried an item about Priority Data Systems, an Irish company with offices in Dublin, London and Boston and which specialises in stand alone and network related PC security issues. The web address accompanying the story was incorrect and should have read: (http://www.prioritydata.com) SMITHKLINE BEECHAM TO ESTABLISH R&D PLANT IN CORK - Pharmaceutical company SmithKline Beecham has announced plans for a pilot R&D plant at its existing manufacturing facility at Currabinny in Cork. The move is seen as of major importance to the Cork site as it reinforces the company's commitment to Ireland. Last October the company announced a major expansion at Currabinny which will lead to the workforce being more than doubled to 600. Recruitment for these positions is now taking place. (See advertisement in this edition.) ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR IN-COMPANY RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION - Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce Noel Treacy has announced that Ireland has been allocated an additional IR2.75m of EU Structural Funds to support In-Company Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI). Since the original scheme was launched in 1994 Ireland has received more than IR140m for R&D. Applications for the funding must be in by April 30 and the money will be dispensed in monthly tranches to qualifying companies. GREAT SOUTHERN HOTELS TO SHOW 20% INCREASE IN PROFITS - According to the Irish Times the Great Southern Group is expected to announce a 20% increase in profits to IR3.5m for 1998. The details will be announced next month when Aer Rianta publishes its annual results. The chain of hotels may be sold off as part of a strategic plan which involves the airports authority privatised. There are eight hotels in the chain, and there is reported to be strong interest from most of the Great Southern's rivals in the Irish market. The results reflect the buoyancy of the Irish tourist industry at present, and strong growth is expected for 1999. LOTUS DUBLIN SUPPLYING RELEASE 5 OF NOTES TO EUROPE, MID-EAST & AFRICA - Lotus Development has announced the delivery of Release 5 (R5) of the Lotus Notes client, Lotus Domino servers and Lotus Domino Designer, the latest version of the company's products for information management, messaging, collaboration and Web application development. Lotus Dublin wil begin supplying the whole of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) from the 28 April. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE HONOURS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE - The Irish Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has been honoured at the Annual Computerworld Smithsonian Institute Medal Presentation Ceremony in Washington D.C. for its pioneering work in addressing the problems of IT compliance with the Year 2000. Compaq Computer Corporation nominated the Department for this award as one of the first large organisations in Ireland to recognise and address the critical IT problems faced by businesses as a result of the millennium bug. Expressing his delight at the award, Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs saw it as "An excellent example of this Government's commitment, as promised in the Action Programme for THE millennium, to ensure that its public administration system is efficient and customer friendly". LOTUS ACCREDITS CLEAR SYSTEMS WITH PRESTIGIOUS TRAINING AWARD - CLEAR System Solutions (http://www.clearsys.ie) has been accredited the highest number of Certified Lotus Instructors (CLI) in Ireland for its outstanding quality of training in Lotus applications. Attaining CLI status indicates that an instructor has reached a significant level of achievement in the technical training profession and CLEAR System Solutions had to demonstrate a high level of knowledge of Lotus products. enba CHOOSES TRINITY AS ITS SUPPLIER OF SUN MICROSYSTEMS SOLUTIONS - Trinity Technology Group views the announcement of its strategic Sun partnership with enba as reinforcing its position as a technology vendor to the financial services sector. enba, which plans to offer Internet-based Financial Services, was launched in February with headquarters in Dublin and is the largest Internet venture capital start-up in Europe. The company was founded by a core management team, which includes Chairman Sir Nicholas Redmayne previously CEO of Kleinwort Benson, as a holding company for Internet financial services ventures. It hopes to attack the UK retail-banking sector later in the year using Internet-only access and offering the same financial services but at lower costs. > > > > > > > > > FINANCIAL < < < < < < < < < - Wednesday's Opening Exchange Rates (Mid-Rate): IRISH POUND Apr 28 Apr 21 Sterling 0.8387 0.8368 US Dollar 1.3577 1.3487 Japanese yen 161.20 159.60 Swedish krona 11.3060 11.3035 Danish krone 9.4396 9.4333 Norwegian krone 10.5301 10.5195 Swiss franc 2.0422 2.0321 Australian dollar 2.0806 2.0796 New Zealand dollar 2.4430 2.4450 Hong Kong dollar 10.5233 10.4497 Canadian dollar 2.0096 2.0083 Exchange rates are updated daily on AIB's web pages - see: http://www.iol.ie/~aibtreas/ccdaily.htm - Euro Interbank Offered Rate (Euribor): - One Month, Offer =2.609 - DUBLIN PRICES (Wednesday 14:00) - Leading Companies: Prices quoted in euros (One euro = 0.787564 punts) Apr 28 Apr 21 98/99 Hi 98/99 Lo AIB 1565.0 1450.0 1870.0 861.0 AngloIrish Bank 278.0 280.0 286.0 153.0 Bank of Ireland 1900.0 1845.0 2110.0 1225.0 CRH 1890.0 1900.0 1900.0 210.0 James Crean 105.0 100.0 209.5 87.0 Elan Corporation 5366.0 5796.0 8070.0 4820.0 FirstActive 375.0 385.0 500.0 285.75 Fyffes 200.0 212.0 269.0 133.25 Galen 716.0 800.0 825.0 502.75 Glanbia 185.0 190.0 453.0 185.0 Golden Vale 118.0 120.0 161.25 99.0 Greencore 380.0 365.0 584.0 266.50 Independent 475.0 470.0 603.0 254.0 Irish Life 850.0 885.0 940.50 507.75 Irish Permanent 1390.0 1430.0 1500.0 873.0 Ivernia 73.0 75.0 119.25 30.50 Kerry Group 1265.0 1280.0 1308.0 914.25 Powerscreen 244.0 228.0 900.0 95.25 Ryanair 830.0 885.0 900.0 108.25 Smurfit Group 237.0 250.0 355.50 80.0 Viridian 965.0 1006.0 1092.0 806.50 Waterford Wedgwood 100.0 89.0 152.0 62.0 ISEQ Overall Index 5300.41 5271.17 5471.61 3924.39 - Leading Multinationals in Ireland - 11.57am ET Wednesday Latest 52-Wk 52-Wk Hi Latest 52-Wk Lo 52-Wk Hi 3COM 26.000 20.000 51.125 Hadco 29.438 17.500 42.000 AT&T 53.875 32.250 64.063 HewPac 79.875 47.063 83.875 AbbttL 51.375 34.875 53.313 IBM 208.125 106.000 215.250 AldSig 58.625 32.625 59.125 ICON 16.000 10.000 36.750 Amat 56.000 21.563 71.625 Infrmx 7.625 3.500 14.000 Analog 36.438 12.000 39.625 Ingrsol 68.125 34.000 68.938 APC 34.750 26.188 55.500 Intel 62.125 32.813 71.813 AppleC 43.938 25.625 47.313 Iona 18.000 13.250 50.750 Artesyn 17.563 11.750 23.250 Isocor 7.750 1.125 12.813 BnkrsTr 90.125 45.000 133.625 J&J 100.000 67.063 103.000 Bausch 81.500 38.063 79.938 LAM Res 32.500 8.375 39.250 Baxter 66.563 51.500 76.000 Lilly 78.250 60.563 97.750 BectnD 38.750 31.500 49.625 Lucent 61.063 26.688 67.000 BosSci 43.250 20.125 44.938 Mlnkrdt 32.063 19.750 36.375 Bmyers 67.813 44.125 69.250 Merck 72.000 55.750 87.375 BriTel 1089s 411.75 718.50 Micsft 83.375 40.938 95.625 Cambrg 14.500 10.625 58.375 Mtrola 77.813 38.375 86.000 CBT 15.750 6.688 63.875 NorTel 69.938 26.813 76.250 Clstica 37.000 10.375 40.750 Novell 22.750 9.250 28.125 C.Cola 68.000 53.625 88.938 Oracle 27.875 12.125 41.125 Compaq 23.938 22.563 51.250 Pepsi 37.750 27.563 43.750 CRBard 53.875 32.438 59.875 Pfizer 118.500 86.000 150.125 Creatv 11.688 7.875 21.688 Philips 86.500 42.000 102.875 Cybex 18.500 12.875 37.000 Quantm 17.500 10.813 29.938 Cypress 10.500 5.500 12.000 Dell 42.500 18.063 55.000 RRDnly 35.813 30.875 48.000 Diageo 46.750 33.000 51.750 SchrPl 51.125 37.938 60.813 DII Grp 30.688 9.875 31.125 Seagte 29.000 16.125 44.250 EMC 114.063 40.188 134.938 SilVall 13.500 6.625 20.250 Emersn 60.938 51.438 66.938 SunMic 62.750 19.188 72.500 Ericsn 26.938 15.000 34.000 Symntc 20.813 8.688 32.625 Fore Sys 33.750 9.250 34.625 Tellab 112.750 31.375 120.250 Gateway 68.813 36.125 84.500 Visio 28.500 14.000 50.875 GenEle 111.188 69.000 117.438 Wall D 14.500 10.125 24.250 GenSemi 7.250 5.750 15.000 WarnerL 67.938 59.750 85.938 Gillet 51.438 35.313 64.375 Xilinx 44.875 14.875 54.375 s=Sterling > > > > > > > > > ACADEMIC NEWS < < < < < < < < < FIRST ENIAC COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS SPEAK AT UL - Kay McNulty, a native of Creeslough in Co. Donegal, and Jean Bartik from Missouri, were two of the six women mathematicians chosen to programme the first ENIAC computer in 1945, and have just begun their first lecture tour of Europe. They delivered their first Irish lecture at the University of Limerick on Monday. The ENIAC marked a crucial step on the road to modern computing and served to convince military scientists and technical experts of the value and practicality of electronic computation. The ENIAC laid the foundations for the subsequent computing and information processing industry that has transformed the world since World War II. Kay McNulty-Mauchly Antonelli and Jean Bartik went on to programme the UNIVAC, the first commercial computer, and have maintained a lively interest in technology right into their 70s. In recent years both women have been recognised as computing pioneers and have spoken widely at universities on the east coast of the United States. QUILL CENTRE OPENED AT QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY - Queen's University opened the world's first Ionic Liquid Research Centre last Tuesday. Based on the model of QUB's successful QUESTOR unit, the QUILL (Queen's University Ionic Liquid Laboratories) Centre will provide a base for university researchers and those working in the ionic liquid field. SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE HEALTH - A survey of lifestyles, attitude and nutrition conducted by NUI, Galway has found compelling evidence which indicates that socio-economic factors continue to influence the health of Irish people. The study showed that 33% of people surveyed ate too much fried food and were more than likely to come from poorer or disadvantaged families. This group was also less likely to eat fresh vegetables and fruit on a regular basis. More than a quarter of men and 21% of women admitted they consumed more than the average recommended safe weekly intake of alcohol. Strong links were also found between social class and smoking which has become so common in young women that they are now just as likely to smoke as their male counterparts. The survey found that nearly 50% of children had smoked by the time they were 12. According to NUI Galway's Professor Cecily Kelleher, targeted health promotion must be implemented to offset these worrying trends. LINK BETWEEN MILK AND CROHN'S DISEASE INVESTIGATED AT QUB - Researchers at Queen's University have begun UK trials to investigate a possible link between commercially pasteurised milk and Crohn's disease. Mpara TB is a bug which can be found in milk and has caused Johme's disease in cows, an illness which has symptoms such as weight loss and diarrhoea similar to Crohn's disease. The three person team is endeavouring to discover if the Mpara TB bacterium could survive the pasteurisation process. Research fellow Irene Grant said both raw and pasteurised milk from UK dairies will be tested but added that, due to the slow growth rate of the organism results may take a year to process. UCAS FIGURES SHOW SLUMP IN APPLICATIONS - The latest figures from the University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) in Britain has shown a sharp drop in applications from mature students and from southern students. Northern Universities believe the downturn is due to the scrapping of tuition fees in the Republic coupled with the British Government's introduction of fees. Cross-border applications fell by 22.3% while it looks as though mature students have been discouraged by the expense of returning to college. In addition international applications have fallen by more than a third. The NUI-USI convenor, Maurice Dickson, has called on the Department of Education and the Assembly to "urgently review how we can promote lifelong learning without condemning students to even greater debt". SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR GALWAY MILLENNIUM LECTURE SERIES - NUI, Galway president Dr Fottrell has announced the speakers who will participate in the NUI, Galway Millennium Lecture Series. In addition US First Lady Hilary Clinton they include: UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson, May 20; Senator George Mitchell, July 8; Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, September 16. The celebrations marking 150 years of student enrolment at NUI, Galway will be celebrated with a gala banquet at the University on October 30 with Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, as guest of honour. IR75M HIGH-TECH THIRD LEVEL INVESTMENT ANNOUNCED - The Government has announced a IR75m educational investment which will help combat the current skills shortage. Unveiling the scheme Education Minister Micheal Martin said, "There is overwhelming evidence that the massive demand on the education system to ensure a sufficient output of young people with skills in the technical areas is set to continue", adding that his department was committed to maintaining Ireland's place "at the front of technological developments worldwide". The money will be used to create 3,000 degree places and a further 2,400 places for technicians. Between 600 and 1,000 places will come on stream at the start of the new academic year in October. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP FOR PRESIDENT AT QUEEN'S GAA - Queen's University GAA club conferred honorary life membership on the President and her husband Martin at a ceremony last weekend. Mrs McAleese, a former pro-vice chancellor at the university, is an avid GAA fan and said in her student days at the University she had been one of the clubs "most vocal supporters". She thanked the club for honouring her in such a unique way and said it was both a "personal pleasure and an honour" for herself and her husband. UU OPENS NEW INCUBATOR UNIT FOR SCIENCE COMPANIES - The University of Ulster has opened a new Incubator Unit at its Coleraine campus. The unit will provide a base for start-up companies in the health sector and is supported by the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU) and Coleraine Borough Council. The University's pro-vice chancellor for Research, Gerry McKenna, welcomed the new initiative which is estimated will cost Stg250k, "The unit has the potential to make a significant contribution to the diversification of the local economy....it will also help keep high quality graduates in the area and increase the attractiveness of Northern Ireland for inward investors". > > > > > > > > > JOB ADVERTISEMENTS < < < < < < < < < THE HIGH SKILLS POOL The High Skills Pool are hosting their May Recruitment Fair in the RDS Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 on Sunday May 9th from 1Oam to 6pm. About 35-40 companies will be recruiting hundreds of personnel. Some of the companies attending include: - Intel - NatWest - Fore Systems - Berlitz - Hewlett Packard - Boston Scientific - Eircell - Isocor - Motorola The High Skill Pool, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4, Ireland email hsp@iol.ie http://www.highskillspool.ie ======================================================================= SMITHKLINE BEECHAM SmithKline Beecham is a world leader in the field of human healthcare. With a history of research dating back to 1830, SmithKline Beecham currently invests $1.4 billion a year in Research and Development and employs 58,000 people in 130 countries world-wide. The new range of SmithKline Beecham products - particularly those for the treatment of depression, diabetes, ovarian cancer and heart disease - are proving to be effective and innovative, leading to a growing demand for their supply. Established in 1975, SmithKline Beecham Cork currently employs upwards of 300 people and is a strategic plant within the world-wide SmithKline Beecham corporation. The plant has a strong record in the development and manufacture of the active ingredient of medicinal products. SmithKline Beecham Cork recently gained corporate approval for a major five year expansion programme. This programme incorporates a Research and Development Pilot Plant and Laboratories in conjunction with strengthening its manufacturing capacity. The combination of new technology inherent to this expansion, coupled with state of the art manufacturing, heralds a unique and exciting chapter for SmithKline Beecham Cork which values and rewards innovation and commitment to continuous improvement in its team-based organisation. We now wish to recruit the following: - DEVELOPMENT CHEMISTS - S91 - CHEMICAL PROCESS ENGINEERS - S92 - DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY CHEMISTS - S93 - ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENT CHEMISTS/SCIENTISTS - S94 - OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST - S95 - ACCOUNTANTS; Recently Qualified or Part-Trained - S96 Applications are also invited for Qualified Accounting Technicians to support activities within the Finance Team. For further information about these positions, please see our Web pages after noon (Irish time) on Thursday at . We are a Team Based Organisation and candidates for any of these positions must be good team players and good communicators with a high need for achievement. Please forward your C.V. to: H.R. TEAM, SMITHKLINE BEECHAM (CORK) LTD., CURRABINNY, CARRIGALINE, CO. CORK or mailto:billy.n.lee@sb.com mailto:don.r.hegarty@sb.com ======================================================================= DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY Dublin City University seeks to respond to the challenges being set for higher education by a diversifying industrial sector and changing community needs. Its programmes reflect the current and anticipated needs of Ireland's industrial and commercial sectors, while meeting the most rigorous national and international academic standards. The following vacancies have arisen: School of Computer Applications SENIOR LECTURERS/LECTURERS (4 posts) Salary Scales: Senior Lecturer IR35,286 - IR46,509 Lecturer IR25,714 - IR42,205 ANALYST/PROGRAMMER III (2 posts) Salary Scale: IR25,714 - IR38,846 ANALYST/PROGRAMMER II - Salary Scale: IR21,315 - IR25,714 SCHOOL MANAGER - Salary Scale: IR25,714 - IR35,483 For further information about these positions, please see our Web pages after noon (Irish time) on Thursday at . Application forms and further information may be obtained by writing (on a postcard only) - clearly quoting position reference number, to: THE PERSONNEL OFFICE, DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY, DUBLIN 9 mailto:personnel.applications@dcu.ie Closing date for receipt of completed applications: Friday 21st May, 1999. Further information about the University is available from: http://www.dcu.ie Dublin City University is an equal opportunities employer ======================================================================= NORTEL NETWORKS For a company that began life over a century ago, Nortel Networks have travelled a long way. Today, it's entirely possible that whenever you phone home, send e-mail or surf the net, you'll be doing so courtesy of our technology. We conceive, design, test, manufacture, sell and support a tremendous range of telecommunications and networking technology. Along the way, we have become an integral part of many nations' telecommunications infrastructures. We are at present recruiting for our Galway site which employs 860 people in the development, supply and support of our products, with over 200 Software and Hardware R&D professionals. We offer attractive packages including employee stock purchase scheme, medical insurance, pension, disability and life assurance schemes, a relocation package if applicable, and a continued education and training programme. - SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS - DEPLOYMENT/SUPPORT SPECIALISTS - CUSTOMER SERVICE PRODUCT ENGINEER - CUSTOMER OPERATIONS TEST ENGINEER. For further information about these positions, please see our Web pages after noon (Irish time) on Thursday at . Please apply to: PATSY COUGHLAN, NORTEL NETWORKS, MERVUE BUSINESS PARK, GALWAY Tel: +353-91-733053 Fax +353-91-733264 mailto:patsy.Coughlan@nortelnetworks.com ======================================================================= MICROSEMI Progress Powered by Technology Microsemi is a leader in discrete semiconductors (and now linear ICs) used in the space, medical and communications markets and with sales of $200m. You will find Microsemi components in most satellites, heart pacemakers and mobile phones. We are also in military and commercial aircraft, industrial power supplies and laptop computers. Microsemi has just announced the acquisition of Linfinity, a supplier of linear ICs. Microsemi Europe is based in Ennis, Co. Clare and sells via a network of representatives and distributors throughout Europe, Middle East and India. SENIOR ANALOG AND MIXED SIGNAL IC DESIGNER We are looking for a design leader to help set up and guide a group of analog/mixed signal design engineers. You will have several years IC design experience in one or more of these areas: power management or motor control ICs (e.g. PWM controllers), data communication circuits (e.g. SCSI terminators), display controllers or audio amplifiers. You will be familiar with standard CAD and simulation packages. You will be very comfortable dealing with remotely based colleagues and be able to effectively manage projects to meet deadlines. Your ability to work with marketing and engineering colleagues to define and communicate product parameters will be paramount. You will be based in Ennis and can expect to travel occasionally to corporate HQ in California. Compensation will be commensurate with your skills and the level of the role. EUROPEAN FIELD APPLICATIONS ENGINEER, Continental Europe based With such a diverse range of products and customers, we are looking for an exceptional person, located in continental Europe, to help develop new opportunities in focused markets in Europe. You will probably be a graduate electronics/electrical engineer and will have spent a number of years in sales, applications or design, ideally in telecoms or power supplies. You will work closely with Microsemi Europe and with Microsemi divisions in the USA, with direct customers throughout Europe and with the sales channels. In addition to finding and developing new opportunities, you will be a key technical resource for customers and the sales force. You will be well organised, highly motivated and will be willing to travel extensively. Training will take place in Microsemi divisions in the USA and Ireland. Remuneration packages are structured to attract and retain professionals of the highest calibre. Please send your CV mailto:rfinn@microsemi.com or fax to: +353-65-6822298 ======================================================================= POSTGEM/IRELAND ON-LINE Whizz around the www.world with us PostGEM and Ireland On-Line have 10 years' experience in providing creative Global Communications and Internet Solutions for home and business customers. We listen to our customers to achieve outstanding business results. We listen to our staff too. As part of Ireland's number one communications company, you will expect to have an excellent pay and benefits package and we will work with you to design a training and education programme that supports your personal growth and development. There is also excellent career development potential across the group. To support our rapid expansion, we welcome applications for the following position from people who want to be in a business where the possibilities are endless. OPERATIONS MANAGER Reporting to the Managing Director you will be operationally responsible for the customer facing departments in PostGEM/Ireland On-Line including Customer Care, Systems Operations, Networks, Technical Support and Project Installations. You will have a strong technical background in engineering or IT and an excellent track record in people and process management together with excellent communications skills. As part of the senior management team, you will be expected to have a strategic focus and to be educated at least to honours degree level. Please e-mail or send your CV with a detailed covering to: CIARAN COLEMAN, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, POSTGEM/IRELAND ON-LINE GROUP, ALEXANDRA HOUSE, EARLSFORT TERRACE, DUBLIN 9 mailto:hrm@postgem.ie Tel: +353-1-6768744 Fax: +353-1-6768727 We support and encourage a diverse workplace and therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community. ======================================================================= GENERAL MANAGER - MAJOR SALES DIVISION Brand Leader, Information Technology (Dublin Based) - One of the world's leading IT manufacturers. - Continuous vigorous growth in "direct" sales has created the need for an experienced General Manager to lead a major sales division. - Mature business leader with a broad business perspective, from a fast paced business environment within the multinational IT, consumer financial services or catalogue mail order businesses. - Graduate calibre, preferably with an MBA with strong numerate and analytical abilities. - Creative and independent thinker but committed team player as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This is an opportunity to play a major role, in a truly global business, for an outstanding leader and motivator with vision and a firm grasp of operational and financial detail. Replies to admin@amrop.ie quoting reference JL 0379 or to JENNIFER LEE, A.I.I. LTD., 33 LOWER BAGGOT STREET, DUBLIN 2 cel: +353-1-6149830 Fax +353-1-6149831 ======================================================================= VIRTUAL ACCESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE ENGINEERS Virtual Access was founded in 1996 to develop a new generation of network access equipment that would address the exploding Internet access market. We have a novel approach that enables plug-and-play deployment of complex equipment through central network configuration. The company's strategic software development unit has been established in Dublin, and we are planning a new phase of expansion with a requirement for 15 additional software engineers. This has created vacancies at all levels from well-experienced team leaders through to new graduates. To give you an idea of what we're up to, here is a list of seemingly meaningless acronyms: ARM processors, C, C++, Java, ISDN, xDSL, ATM, TCP/IP, PPP, T1, E1, X.25, FR, NT, IIS, ASP, SQL Server. If that has whetted your appetite then have a look at www.virtualaccess.com and send your CV to: HENRY BRANKIN, VIRTUAL ACCESS IRELAND LTD, UNIT 17, IDA CENTRE, PEARSE STREET, DUBLIN 2 Tel: +353-1-6040107 Fax: +353-1-6705380 mailto:henry.brankin@virtualaccess.com ======================================================================= COLLINS MCNICHOLAS CALL CENTRE MANAGER New start-up in the West of Ireland Exciting opportunity to join a dynamic organisation which is setting up a Call Centre in the West of Ireland. We are looking for: - Call Centre management or supervisory experience. - A highly motivated individual with strong customer focus. - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. - Strong Planning and Organisational skills. - A team player who will lead by example. YOU MAKE THE CALL, WE MAKE THE CONNECTIONS If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career and you have the necessary skills to succeed in a dynamic environment please forward your CV now in strictest confidence to: DERRICK MAY - COLLINS MCNICHOLAS LTD, 3 DEVON PLACE, THE CRESCENT, GALWAY mailto:dmay@tinet.ie Tel: +353-91-519304 > > > > > > > > > EDUCATION PROGRAMMES < < < < < < < < < UCC A one-year MSc course in Information Theory, Coding, and Cryptography will be given in the Department of Mathematics at National University of Ireland, Cork commencing October 1999. The course is open to graduates from degrees with a substantial mathematics component (including Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). Further information may be found at http://maths.ucc.ie/ITMSc.html or by email from Dr Pat Fitzpatrick at mailto:fitzpat@ucc.ie. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The IE Professional Cathedral Building, Middle Street, Galway, Ireland Editor: Liam Ferrie Contributors: Sue Carter, Aileen McGurk Sub Editor: Aileen McGurk Advertising: Denis O'Brien Production: Ruairi Ferrie http://www. emigrant. ie Tel: +353-91-569158 mailto:iepro@emigrant.ie Fax: +353-91-569178 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-05.11.99-23:58:13-22053