Tag: nationwide

Coimisiún na Meán rolls out nationwide campaign on the importance of reporting harmful content online

Coimisiún na Meán has this week launched a new nationwide campaign raising awareness about harmful content online and how to report it, as well as information available to assist the public on Coimisiún na Meán’s website www.cnam.ie. The campaign aims to raise awareness of people’s rights under Ireland’s Online Safety Framework, particularly regarding the protection of children and young people, and will roll out nationally across radio, print and social media. This campaign is supported by the Department of Health.

The campaign will include a series of short videos for users – encouraging them to report harmful material they might encounter online, including cyberbullying and the promotion of eating disorders, self-harm and suicide as well as dangerous challenges. It will also aim to strengthen the public’s understanding of the importance of reporting such content to platforms. Coimisiún na Meán has information on its website on how to report and what to do if you are not happy with a platform’sresponse to that report.

Speaking on the launch of the new campaign, Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Commissioner Niamh Hodnett said: “There are obligations on platforms under the Online Safety Framework to protect the safety of children online and to restrict content which impairs their physical, mental or moral welfare. Our strategy is to focus on key outcome areas which include children, public safety and public health. We are happy to partner with the Department of Health on this important campaign and I’d like to thank the Minister for Health for her support and interest in these issues.

“We want to remind people that they have rights under our Online Safety Framework, and empower them to report harmful content. Harmful online content is never acceptable. We would encourage anyone who encounters it to report it first to the platform where they see it. For how to report and what to do if you are not happy with the response you get, please visit our website www.cnam.ie.”

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said: “Some online spaces contain harmful, inappropriate or illegal content. This campaign, which highlights the importance of reporting such content, will strengthen understanding and empower people to report it where they see it. We have seen the challenges faced by children and young people as they engage with digital environments and I will shortly publish the Final Report of the Online Health Taskforce which contains a comprehensive framework to help tackle these challenges.”

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “Keeping us safe online, in particular, keeping our children and young people safe online is a top priority for me. Don’t stay silent if you see something harmful, inappropriate or illegal online. You can report it to the platform and you have options if you’re not happy with the outcome, Coimisiún na Meán is here to help and support you. We can help each other and our children stay safe by using our voice and exercising our

right to report.”

The campaign will be supported by extensive new website resources, including the How to Report guides and parents’ information pack.

McDonald’s Ireland Introduces Irish Language Ordering Nationwide

McDonald’s Ireland has announced the nationwide rollout of Irish language ordering across its self-service kiosks in restaurants throughout the Republic of Ireland. Following a successful trial period in McDonald’s Westside Shopping Centre, Galway in January of this year, customers across the country can now place their orders as Gaeilge, making the iconic McDonald’s experience more inclusive and accessible for Irish speakers.

This initiative is part of McDonald’s Ireland’s ongoing commitment to embracing and celebrating Ireland’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. The introduction of the Irish language option will allow customers to seamlessly navigate the menu, customise their orders, and complete transactions in Irish at the touch of a button.

At the launch of the Irish Language Kiosks on Shop Street in Galway, Dáithí Ó Sé said: “It is fantastic to see McDonald’s supporting the Irish language at this level. This initiative gives people the opportunity to use the language naturally in their daily lives, which is so important for the future and development of Irish. This is a great step forward for Irish speakers and for the wider community in Ireland.”

Commenting on the launch, Aaron Byrne, Franchisee of McDonald’s Westside Shopping Centre in Galway, said: “We are thrilled to introduce Irish language ordering to our self-service kiosks nationwide. The overwhelmingly positive response from our Galway trial highlighted the demand and enthusiasm for this initiative. As a brand that is deeply rooted in Irish communities, we are proud to support the Irish language and provide our customers with the option to engage with us in the language of their choice.”

The trial in Galway saw strong uptake from customers, reinforcing the importance of language accessibility and McDonald’s commitment to evolving its customer experience to meet the needs of local communities. The nationwide rollout to McDonald’s 95 restaurants in the Republic of Ireland ensures that Irish speakers, learners, and those passionate about the language can enjoy a seamless and fully immersive experience in McDonald’s restaurants across the country.

This development aligns with McDonald’s broader inclusivity and community engagement efforts, reinforcing its commitment to reflecting the culture and traditions of the communities it serves.

The RDI Hub Goes Virtual for Future Members Nationwide

The RDI Hub (‘the Hub’), the world-class innovation centre located in Killorglin, Co Kerry, has announced the launch of a new RDI Virtual Hub RDI hub digital community which will see it expand its offerings to corporates, SMEs, and Start-Up entrepreneurs nationwide.

This innovative new virtual membership offering will build on the significant success of the RDI Hub to date, expanding its sector-agnostic offering to businesses across the country, and giving them access to mentorship, training and events, and advice on available funding supports.

The RDI Virtual Hub offers a curated resource library and one-to-one coaching sessions with a diverse panel of seasoned mentors. Notable mentors include:

  • Hugh Reynolds – Havok and Swrve Founder & ex-Apple’s Special Projects and Uber’s Advanced Technology Group.
  • Jamie Heaslip – Entrepreneur, Angel Investor & Ireland Strategic Growth Lead at Stripe
  • Rose O Sullivan – Strategic Finance Manager at Fexco specialising in commercial modelling, developing pricing strategies and helping startups navigate the complexities of financial management as they scale

Members will also unlock access to a range of exclusive events and growth sessions and find out more about key initiatives such as STEM Passport for inclusion (a programme to help young women from underserved communities find potential career paths in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)  DIBEST (Digital Innovation for Blue Enterprises & Social Tourism), the annual John McCarthy AI Summer School,  and NDRC startup programmes to further their growth ambitions.

This news comes fresh on the heels of the recent announcement that the RDI hub has partnered with Microsoft to deliver a series of AI masterclasses, which will teach members how to best leverage AI to optimise their business’s productivity.

The launch of the virtual hub is the latest in a series of enterprising initiatives offered by the RDI Hub – last June the Hub hosted a mortgage innovation challenge which offered €1 million in grants to stimulate innovation in the provision of mortgages in Ireland. In November last year, the Hub opened its in-house podcast facility which has since been expanded to include a full video recording studio and green screen facilities.

The RDI Hub’s 4th anniversary celebrates 70 new companies and 300 jobs created in the South West

RDI Hub membership has gone from strength to strength and is now home to over 70 companies, ranging from start-ups and SMEs to global companies such as Glencar Construction, Axiota, Interflow Logistics and Vertex. Since 2020, over 50 new products and services have originated from the Hub, enabling the creation of more than 300 jobs.

Success stories to date include Xavatar, which has just launched a first-of-its-kind metaverse-based TV show that will air to over 60 million homes in the US, and Graphite Note, an AI platform that simplifies the use of Machine Learning in analytics by helping business users to generate machine learning models without coding.

Commenting on the success of the RDI Hub to date, Liam Cronin, CEO said:

“Over the past four years, the RDI Hub has created a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship and business growth in the Southwest. Our new RDI Virtual Hub will enable us to expand this innovative spirit worldwide, by bringing together a virtual community of mentors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to share their insights and experience on a much larger scale.”

“We have a diverse range of members, operating across a broad range of sectors including Fintech Smart Manufacturing, Aquatech, Greentech, Sustainability AI, Robotics, and the Metaverse, creating a rich pool of expertise that will benefit businesses hugely when it comes to optimising their operations,” Liam added.

A monthly subscription is available for 35 euro (ex VAT)  per month, with an annual subscription available for €350 (ex VAT).  We are currently in phase one whereby we are onboarding our members onto the portal and plan on making it available to the public in April.

“This marks a significant milestone for RDI Hub as it expands its footprint, providing invaluable support to upcoming companies and entrepreneurs,” said Neil Hosty, CEO, Fexco. By fostering an ecosystem that facilitates growth and scalability, we aim not only to transform Kerry but also to offer new members the chance to connect with like-minded individuals. Through shared experiences and knowledge, we empower innovation—whether in their current roles or as aspiring entrepreneurs.”

The RDI Hub is a not-for-profit Public Private Partnership with Fexco, Kerry County Council, and Munster Technological University and is a €21 million investment, transforming Kerry into a globally connected technology innovation hotspot. It’s one of the regional hubs for the National Digital Research Centre and receives support from the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund.