Classifieds Advertise Archive Subscriptions Family Announcements Photos Digital Editions/Apps
Connect with us

Galway Bay FM News Archives

ESAT ‘deal’ may have cost the city 1,200 jobs

Published

on

Date Published: 24-Mar-2011

BY CIARAN TIERNEY

The controversial decision to award the country’s second mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone in 1995 may have cost Galway at least 1,200 jobs as one of the rival bidders intended to locate its national headquarters in the city.

Following this week’s publication of the Moriarty Tribunal, which found that then Minister for Communications Michael Lowry TD “secured the winning” of the competition for Esat Digifone, it has emerged that Galway was one of the big losers from the process.

North Galway businessman Declan Ganley, part of the Cellstar consortium which lost out to Esat Digifone and Denis O’Brien, confirmed to the Galway City Tribune yesterday that his group had intended to set up their national HQ in the city.

Mr Ganley, who has now called on Michael Lowry to “do the country a service” by resigning his seat in the Dáil, was part of an unsuccessful consortium which included Comcast, RTÉ, Bord na Mona, and CGI Ltd.

“It had been part of our bid that our headquarters would be located in Galway,” he said. “It was anticipated that we would create 1,200 jobs in year one and these jobs would not have been just in the core phone business.

“It was anticipated that there would have been a huge spin-off and there would have been considerable additional investment in the West of Ireland. There would have also been related jobs in Galway in QVC, the shopping channel, which was owned by Comcast, one of the main partners of the consortium. And we were among the early advocates of broadband, which we intended to roll out from our proposed Galway HQ.

“Remember this was in the mid-1990s, when such an investment would have had a really significant impact in Galway. The knock-on effect at that point would have been immense. It would have attracted other businesses.”

The tribunal report detailed payments made by entrepreneur Denis O’Brien for the benefit of Mr Lowry, now Independent TD for Tipperary North, following the awarding of the licence to Mr O’Brien’s Esat Digifone.

Mr Ganley and Comcast are hopeful that the Supreme Court will hear an appeal in relation to the awarding of the licence in the next four to six weeks

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.

Galway Bay FM News Archives

Galway has country’s largest population of young people

Published

on

Date Published: 07-May-2013

Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.

According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.

The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.

However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.

 

Continue Reading

Galway Bay FM News Archives

Call for direct donations to city charity shops

Published

on

Date Published: 07-May-2013

A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.

It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.

However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.

Continue Reading

Galway Bay FM News Archives

Galway ‘Park and Ride’ could become permanent

Published

on

Date Published: 07-May-2013

A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.

That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.

The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.

Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.

Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.

Continue Reading

Trending