Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív, TD today announced that GENBAND, a leading developer of Internet Protocol (IP) infrastructure and service solutions, plans to establish its International Headquarters and Business Services Centre in Galway, which represents an €8 million investment by the company that will create more than 100 new jobs. GENBAND’s decision is supported by the Irish Government with the aid of IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency).

“We’re very pleased that the global leader in VoIP and next generation networking solutions has decided to locate its international headquarters here in Galway,” said Minister Ó Cuív. “On behalf of the Irish Government, we welcome GENBAND to Galway and appreciate that they recognize our region’s reputation as a leading technology hub. GENBAND’s role in transforming telecommunications networks through IP perfectly aligns with Ireland’s status as a Smart Economy. We look forward to supporting GENBAND as it develops its operations here.”

The Galway facility will create new employment positions in finance, supply chain management, customer support, software development, HR, legal and administrative activities.

“The establishment of our international headquarters operation in Ireland represents a critical component of GENBAND’s continued global strategy and growth,” said Charlie Vogt, President and CEO, GENBAND. “Ireland’s breadth of high-quality, skilled human resources made Galway an ideal setting for our expansion, particularly when combined with the region’s competitive cost structure and leadership as a telecommunications corridor. We look forward to being a part of the Galway community and would like to thank the Irish Government and IDA Ireland for their support, which enabled this expansion to come to fruition without delay.”

Barry O’Leary, IDA CEO said, “GENBAND’s investment is very significant for Galway and builds on the excellent telecommunications expertise available in the region.   Ireland is experiencing strong growth in international IT services which is contributing significantly to Ireland’s impressive export performance. Of the 72 investments made by IDA this is the 25^th investment involving 100-plus jobs that has been made by IDA in 2010 and    IDA is delighted to welcome this telecommunications leader to Galway and looks forward to supporting their continued global expansion.”

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, TD also welcomed the announcement by Genband saying, ‘This investment shows that Ireland is very much open for business and that our enterprise economy remains vibrant. Ireland continues to meet the requirements of global corporations to run international operations.’

About GENBAND
GENBAND is a global leader of IP infrastructure and service solutions, helping fixed, mobile and cable service providers around the world evolve communications networks through IP innovation. The Company offers market-leading Switching, Networking and Service solutions, with products deployed in over 600 customer networks spanning more than 80 countries.  GENBAND is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and has operations in 50 countries. To learn more, visit us on the web at www.genband.com .

GENBAND, the GENBAND logo and icon are trademarks of GENBAND.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith T.D. today (3rd November 2010) announced that global insurance and reinsurance provider, Global Indemnity plc, is to establish an IT development operation in Cavan through its subsidiary, Global Indemnity Services Ltd., creating 30 high value jobs over the next 5 years.  Global Indemnity Services will employ a wide range of technical staff to provide IT development for the Company’s policy administration and finance functions.  The investment is supported by IDA Ireland.

The release follows Global Indemnity’s recent announcement that it had completed its redomestication to Ireland and anticipated opening an operational office in addition to its administrative headquarters in Ireland by the end of the year, with the initial focus being IT development. 

Minister Smith, welcoming the announcement, said “Today’s announcement is excellent news for the North East region and Cavan in particular.  Global Indemnity is an established global insurer and reinsurer and is a welcome addition to the area.  The Company’s decision to locate in Cavan is an endorsement of the attractiveness of the area to global investors.  The availability of local talent, its position within the North East region and its proximity to Dublin with the recent opening of the new M3 motorway are all major factors contributing to the attractiveness of the area.  I would like to thank Global Indemnity for offering such excellent employment opportunities to the people of Cavan, and can assure the Company that it has my full support into the future as it develops its operation here.”

Larry Frakes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Indemnity plc said: “Ireland is an excellent locale for our headquarters with a supportive environment and infrastructure from which to conduct an international business.  Our decision to locate IT development operations in Cavan is based on the availability of a highly skilled local workforce, excellent IT infrastructure, and the access Ireland provides us to EU markets. Global Indemnity Services will play a major role in strengthening our European presence.  We look forward to developing the operation with the support of IDA Ireland.”

Barry O’Leary CEO, IDA Ireland added: “Ireland has a strong reputation as a leading location for global insurance companies, with over 15,000 people employed in the industry here.  Global Indemnity is an excellent addition to this cluster.  IDA Ireland looks forward to working closely with the company as it establishes its operation here.”
 

About Global Indemnity plc  and Its Subsidiaries
Global Indemnity plc (NASDAQ: GBLI), through its several direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiary insurance and reinsurance companies, provides both admitted and nonadmitted specialty property and casualty insurance coverages in the United States, as well as reinsurance throughout the world.  Global Indemnity plc’s five principal divisions include:
United States Based Insurance Operations:

Penn-America, which includes property and general liability products for small commercial businesses distributed through a select network of wholesale general agents with specific binding authority;

United National, which includes property, general liability, and professional lines products distributed through program administrators with specific binding authority;

Diamond State, which includes property, general liability, and professional lines products distributed through wholesale brokers and program administrators with specific binding authority;

CompGlobal, which provides workers’ compensation insurance.

International Reinsurance Operations:

Wind River Reinsurance Company, Ltd., a Bermuda based treaty and facultative reinsurer of excess and surplus lines and specialty property and casualty insurance.

For more information, visit the Global Indemnity plc website at http://www.globalindemnity.ie  
Forward-Looking Information
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The types of risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company are set forth in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

D&B, the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, has increased its recruitment drive in Ireland. D&B Business Information Solutions Limited (DBIS) has already employed 40 people in highly skilled roles in Sandyford, Co. Dublin following the establishment of a strategic business centre earlier this year. Today’s announcement means the company will create 150 jobs in Dublin by 2011 rather than the original 100 previously announced. Positions currently being recruited by the company include researchers, software developers, analysts and support staff.

This follows the company’s announcement that it would undertake a two-year strategic technology investment program to strengthen its commercial data and rebuild its technology platforms to meet the emerging needs of customers.  The project is being supported by Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister O’Keeffe said the extra jobs showed investor confidence in Ireland’s capacity to recover was strong because the Government is pursuing the right policies for a return to economic growth in the near term.  “D&B’s decision to ramp up its recruitment drive shows confidence to hire and to invest is returning to the economy and our high-calibre graduates are exceeding the expectations of global market leaders.”

“I was very encouraged by a recent meeting I held with met senior members of the DBIS team and today’s announcement aligns well with Government policy to position Ireland as the top European location for innovation-led knowledge-intensive global business services.  The company’s decision to locate a strategic centre in Dublin and recruit for more positions endorses our global standing in the international services sector and prospects for economic recovery”, said Minister O’Keeffe.

Walter S. Hauck III, Senior Vice President, Technology and Chief Information Officer said “DBIS is using leading edge technologies that will allow a new D&B suite of products to be delivered to customers quickly and efficiently.  This project is of major significance and commercial importance to D&B and forms an integral part of the future strategy of the corporation. The Dublin centre will focus on and deliver the next evolution of our technology strategy, delivering maximum value to customers around the world.”

IDA Ireland CEO, Barry O’Leary said “In recent years Ireland has been building a growing and diversified business services cluster particularly in the operations, analytics and technology areas.  IDA’s Horizon 2020 highlighted the growth in business services as a key area of opportunity for Ireland.  D&B is a world leader in business information solutions and its recent decision to locate a strategically important part of its global operations in Ireland which is now significantly larger than originally envisaged, is very welcome indeed.”

About Dun & Bradstreet® (D&B)

Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE:DNB) is the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, enabling companies to Decide with Confidence® for 169 years. D&B’s global commercial database contains more than 165 million business records. The database is enhanced by D&B’s proprietary DUNSRight® Quality Process, which provides our customers with quality business information. This quality information is the foundation of our global solutions that customers rely on to make critical business decisions.

D&B provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of customer needs globally. Customers use D&B Risk Management SolutionsTM to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability; D&B Sales & Marketing SolutionsTM to increase revenue from new and existing customers; and D&B Internet SolutionsTM to convert prospects into clients faster by enabling business professionals to research companies, executives and industries. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com.

For information on recruitment opportunities please contact
Premier Group, Tel: +353 (0) 1 665 2222 or Email: dnb@premierjobs.ie

The Irish Times reports that Dublin-based business technology provider Origina is to invest EUR1.1 million in developing a cloud computing service, creating 10 new jobs. Part of the funding will be put towards collaborative research with universities to design the service. The company also plans to seek up to EUR2 million in additional external funding over the next 12 months to support further infrastructure investments and a move into other markets, including the UK. The service is due to be launched later this year in Ireland, followed by the UK early in 2011. Origina will provide ‘infrastructure as a service’.

With the establishment of a new operations centre in Dublin Google is to create 200 jobs here in Ireland immediately.

The new Dublin-based operations centre will be focused on the search engine giant’s location-based products including Google Local and Google Maps.

These new jobs will bring the number of people employed in Dublin by Google to a total of 1700.

“Dublin is rapidly becoming the multilingual internet capital of Europe and Google is proud to be leading the charge on this and further increasing our presence here,” said David Martin, director, Geo Operations for Google in Europe.

Martin said that the Dublin operations centre will take care of its location-based services for the pan-European market and will be developed as a centre of excellence.

“Google Maps displays so much more than the geography of a place, and now incorporates rich data from thousands of sources in different languages from across the world and also includes local business listings.  This operations centre will help to manage these data sources to give Google Maps users even more local information than before,” he added.

Martin explained that the decision to open a European centre for its location-based service was due in part to the fact that increasing proliferation of smartphones and uptake of Google’s own Android operating system meant that more and more people are using Google Maps, its free Sat Nav service for Android, Street View and so on, and the aim is to provide information that is as accurate and up to date as possible.

“The operations centre will be based in Eastpoint Business Park and plans to be fully operational this year. Google is working with local staffing partners CPL and Manpower to recruit and potential employees will be expected to graduates with one or two years experience in their field and strong IT skills,” said Paul Sweetman, director of ICT Ireland.

“This investment by Google highlights the strength of Ireland’s ICT sector, proving Ireland continues to be the location of choice for major multinational corporations.

“The ICT sector is leading Ireland’s Smart Economy with seven of the top ten global ICT companies having a major presence here. In addition to the 200 jobs announced by Google today, over 2,000 new jobs in the ICT multinational sector have been announced since January 2010. In 2009, the indigenous software sector grew by 6pc in export value.”

Dublin, Friday 30th July 2010 – IDA Ireland CEO, Barry O’Leary welcomed the expansion of Kellogg’s European Headquarters in Swords, Co Dublin.  The company, which is the world’s leading supplier of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, is creating 50 high value positions bringing total employment at the Dublin centre to 250.

Kellogg’s set up its European Headquarters in Dublin in 2005, with the support of IDA Ireland.  Kellogg’s Headquarters in Dublin includes service functions such as Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain Management, Legal, Finance, HR, Corporate Affairs and Nutrition. 

Welcoming today’s announcement IDA Ireland CEO Barry O’Leary said “Kellogg’s decision to deepen its commitment to Ireland is a very welcome development demonstrating that even in difficult economic times the positive experience of Foreign Investors in Ireland is such that they will continue to grow their businesses and enhance their strategic standing within their parent corporations. This announcement by a leading global brand like Kellogg’s in their European Headquarters is a significant vote of confidence in Ireland’s international reputation and standing as an excellent investment location.”

“The winning of the original investment in 2005 was of key strategic importance as it helped Ireland establish its reputation as a European Headquarter location for MNCs.”

He added “The company chose Ireland as its European base in 2005 over stiff competition from other locations. Ireland won the investment because we have the skills that the company needs to operate successfully in Europe, including a well educated workforce and a pro business environment.  On behalf of IDA, I look forward to working closely with Kellogg’s as it continues to develop its operations in Ireland.”

About Kellogg:
With 2009 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods. The Company’s brands include Kellogg’s(R), Keebler(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Eggo(R), Cheez-It(R), Nutri-Grain(R), Rice Krispies(R), BearNaked(R), Morningstar Farms(R), Famous Amos(R), Special K(R), All-Bran(R), Frosted Mini-Wheats(R), Club(R) and Kashi(R). Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit the Kellogg Company web site at http://www.kelloggcompany.com.

For Further information:
IDA Ireland
Thomas McEvoy, Press Manager, Tel: 01 603 4255, Mob: 087 7426684
Gillian Kelly, Press Officer, Tel: 01 603 4190

The Irish Times reports that many organisations have scrapped or curtailed IT projects in light of the downturn, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey of Irish chief information officers. One-third of those asked said planned or initiated projects in their organisation had been cancelled in the past year. Two-thirds also reported a reduction in the scope of other projects. Eighty percent of respondents said this kind of cost-cutting was their biggest challenge as they tried to maintain service levels and innovate. Ninety-five percent of CIOs also reported that a business case was now required before any significant investment was made in IT. However, a third of organisations did not follow this through to see if the promised benefits were actually realised upon completion.

The Irish Times reports that Taoiseach Brian Cowen has announced the appointment of a board to oversee the Government’s new EUR500 million innovation fund. The fund is intended to support enterprise development and job creation. The scheme is to begin in September, with the State investing EUR250 million over five years, a sum which will be matched by private sector investment. The fund will be overseen by an advisory board chaired by Damien Callaghan of Intel Capital.

Dublin-based software company is to establish a centre of excellence in Newry, Co. Down, to support the development of products based on Microsoft’s Silverlight internet media platform. The STG700,000 investment will be assisted by Invest Northern Ireland. The Newry operation will focus initially on developing software using Silverlight, which enables streaming of high quality video, animation and interactive features online. Softedge expects the move will create 15 new jobs over the next three years.