Today's other stories in brief

Mortgage process 'most stressful'

Forty per cent of first-time buyers find the mortgage application process the most stressful part of buying their own home, according to a survey published yesterday by Bank of Ireland.

Despite falling property prices and worries about a more general economic slowdown, the study conducted by W5 Marketing Intelligence says just one in 10 home buyers is worried about their ability to meet their mortgage repayments.

Nearly two-thirds see home ownership as a basic goal with more than three-quarters of respondents having a "dream home" in mind.

Bank of Ireland director of personal lending Joe Larkin said the research confirmed a "strong underlying demand" for property.

Galway company wins award

Galway company Creganna Medical Devices has won an international award for technology innovation.

It was named as the winner of the medical devices category in the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation of the Year award. The award recognises the technology pioneered by Creganna in the development of three new innovations for minimally-invasive surgery.

Creganna is the Republic's largest indigenous company in the medical device sector, and has sales and manufacturing facilities in Ireland, the US and Finland.

Uniphar to merge surgical units

Uniphar, the pharmaceutical distribution group, is merging its two surgical business units: Whelehan Surgical and Surgicare. The company, which is owned by more than 500 pharmacists, said the merged Whelehan Surgicare entity would provide more specialised support and a broader service offering. Whelehan Surgical was part of the Whelehan Group, which Uniphar acquired in 2004, while Surgicare has been a Uniphar division since 2001.

Applications for Henley MBA

The Irish Management Institute is inviting applications for its Henley MBA, a programme offered in conjunction with UK-based Henley Management College. The MBA is a "post-experience" course based on a mixture of workshops, e-learning and self-study. Classes begin in November.

Use of mobiles on aircraft queried

Communications regulator Comreg is asking the public and industry for their views on the use of mobile phones on aircraft.

Technical studies in Europe show that this is possible in some circumstances. Comreg said that the purpose of the consultation is to explore the regulatory approach needed to facilitate this.