Compiled by Laura Slattery.
Quote of the Week
"The society's best interests are not being served by this type of self-serving and self-destructive behaviour."
- former EBS chairman Brian Joyce sums up in a 2006 memo what everyone is now thinking.
The Numbers
100 millionNumber of iPods sold by Apple since they were launched in November, 2001. No figures are available for the number of iPods that have suffered fatal technical problems.
€2,844Average bonus paid to secretarial and administration staff in 2006, according to consultants Inbucon Ireland.
Compare with . . .
€17,550The average bonus paid to executive staff the year before.
Six millionThe amount of sick days "lost" to small businesses in 2006, according to the Small Firms' Association, giving a total absenteeism cost of €757 million a year. One more duvet day per worker could be the tipping point for the economy.
Good Week . . .
Ryanair:Not only did a record one million passengers brave plastic seats over the Easter period, but chief executive Michael O'Leary said he was ready to bring the no-frills service to the long-haul market within four years.
Equitable Life policyholders:A draft EU report said the British government should compensate policyholders following its weak regulatory handling of the insurer's collapse.
Beatles fans:Beatles tracks will soon be available to download via services such as iTunes now that a long-running royalty dispute between the band and record label EMI has been settled.
Bad Week . . .
EBS Building Society:Breakdowns in communications and trust, "seriously deteriorating" corporate governance . . . the contents of 2006 memos leaked this week did not paint a happy picture of life on the EBS board. Independent director Cathal Magee also complained of corporate bullying.
Employers with labour shortages:The new work permit and green card system for foreign nationals is taking 45 working days to process, according to Deloitte.
Mobile phone operators:A European Parliament committee has proposed a 40 cent a minute cap on roaming charges- currently roaming charges can be as high as €4 per minute.
Spin of the Week . . .
A "stock-taking meeting"
- US trade representative Susan Schwab doesn't expect any breakthrough during four days of trade talks with global leaders in New Delhi.
