Business
Galway couple doing their bit for cleaner air – in quest for new eco car
A Galway couple are among four pioneers chosen to take part in the Operation GIY Nation campaign launched last March in association with Renault Ireland and GIY (Grow it Yourself) Ireland.
The four are participating in an eco-adventure, growing their own food and driving Renault’s Fluence Z.E. electric car for the next three months.
The winner, who will be chosen by a panel from GIY Ireland and Renault Group, will not only walk away from the adventure armed with new life-skills and lots of healthy, home-grown produce – they also get to keep their Renault Fluence Z.E.
The pioneers are Gary Guilfoyle of Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath; Keith McGreal of Castlebar, Co.Mayo; Rachel Coffey of Dalkey, Co. Dublin and Móna Wise from Claregalway, who is currently on work placement at the Connacht Tribune.
Each pioneer was chosen for their enthusiasm for growing their own food, and for their interest in driving an eco-friendly electric vehicle and their ability to promote their challenge through blogging and social media.
“We were delighted to be chosen for this project,” said Móna Wise.
“The four kids are all at the age where they are learning more about the environment at home and at school. We already raise chickens, ducks and turkeys for the table and this year each of the kids have all been assigned small growing projects in the garden.
“They are all grumbling about all the weeding they have to do but are delighted to watch their vegetables thrive, and show great enthusiasm when it comes to eating what they grow.”
Móna, a full time student of the MA in Journalism at NUI Galway, and her husband Ron, a baker at Morton’s of Galway, plan on focusing their efforts on the huge costs savings this car will give them, especially during the summer months.
The cost of a full charge for the electric car is only two euros and this allows for a drive of 80km to 100km per charge.
“There is certainly a feel-good factor about driving this car,” admits Ron.
“We would all like to think we do our share for cleaner air and driving an electric vehicle like the Renault Fluence ZE is an excellent opportunity. Aside from the huge cost savings, it is a pleasure to drive and we have made several trips around the county already testing the range and speed of the car.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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