If only enough people, or more of the right people, would share a little more of their time or expertise for the common good, how many of our economic and social challenges would be overcome? For example, if enough people spent a couple of hours cleaning up litter at the weekend, the country would be transformed within weeks. If enough people did a little bit of tourism promotion, visitor numbers could be multiplied. If community volunteerism was to see a phenomenal growth – so many social problems could be greatly eased, or disappear altogether. And what if highly skilled entrepreneurs where to lend a hand to struggling new businesses , helping start-ups steer the right course with a little invaluable advice. Of course, while many people’ do their bit’, we barely scratch the surface relative to what could be achieved if we got the population at large motivated to volunteer for the common good. This proposal is about deliberately and systematically motivating volunteerism and More...

We have great hope when we see our Irish soccer team play abroad, but great disappointment when they lose. We have great players both on Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland teams, but both are not good enough on a World cup stage as individuals teams. There should be only one international soccer team in all of Ireland, like the rugby and you see the success that has proven, we work better together. Our international team is our representation of our people, the Irish, to the rest of the world, it shows the winning confidence of our people to the international community, and it also inspires confidence in our own people on all levels of our society.

Our future is in our own hands. The focus and purpose of my proposal is for Ireland to become the world Leader in fostering Entrepreneurship in thought, word & action by 2020. As part of this vision we have the opportunity to unite our people – family, friends, students, graduates, unemployed, active pensioners, public sector and private sector to focus our collective energy on putting money back in our pockets. This plan is about building a compelling future for young and old, for creating economic renewal and taking control back. The wealth of Ireland, and indeed the wealth of every country rests on the shoulders of entrepreneurial activity. This plan is about people from all walks of life coming together to find ways to put more money back in their pockets – What would a modest extra 5,000 Euro per year do for you in 2010 and every year going forward? My plan is about creating this opportunity for all who are willing to step up and be true Entrepreneurial Heroes of our n More...

Our future is in our own hands. The focus and purpose of my proposal is for Ireland to become the world Leader in fostering Entrepreneurship in thought, word & action by 2020. As part of this vision we have the opportunity to unite our people – family, friends, students, graduates, unemployed, active pensioners, public sector and private sector to focus our collective energy on putting money back in our pockets. This plan is about building a compelling future for young and old, for creating economic renewal and taking control back. The wealth of Ireland, and indeed the wealth of every country rests on the shoulders of entrepreneurial activity. This plan is about people from all walks of life coming together to find ways to put more money back in their pockets – What would a modest extra 5,000 Euro per year do for you in 2010 and every year going forward? My plan is about creating this opportunity for all who are willing to step up and be true Entrepreneurial Heroes of our n More...

Currently Ireland probably ranks somewhere in the middle tier of developed economies in terms of the standards of care we provide for our ageing population. This proposal identifies an opportunity which exists to establish Ireland as a Centre of Excellence for Ageing internationally, thereby not only improving the standards of care enjoyed by our ageing population but also creating significant employment and inward investment opportunities for a number of sectors of our economy. If successful, the proposal has the potential to benefit communities throughout Ireland by building on industries and relationships where we have already established strengths internationally, by utilising existing infrastructure and by re-deploying existing resources to address key gaps/weaknesses in the supports and services which exist within the community for those growing old. The vision is to achieve standards of Excellence which other countries will aspire towards and to do so in such a way that creates More...

Currently Ireland probably ranks somewhere in the middle tier of developed economies in terms of the standards of care we provide for our ageing population. This proposal identifies an opportunity which exists to establish Ireland as a Centre of Excellence for Ageing internationally, thereby not only improving the standards of care enjoyed by our ageing population but also creating significant employment and inward investment opportunities for a number of sectors of our economy. If successful, the proposal has the potential to benefit communities throughout Ireland by building on industries and relationships where we have already established strengths internationally, by utilising existing infrastructure and by re-deploying existing resources to address key gaps/weaknesses in the supports and services which exist within the community for those growing old. The vision is to achieve standards of Excellence which other countries will aspire towards and to do so in such a way that creates More...

The challenge is to put all of the people claiming benefit to work. Every individual has talent and currently that talent, ability, drive and determination is being lost. The consequences of not going out to earn a living have far reaching consequences. There is much that can be achieved; one of many challenges is to clean up the country. Each county would have it’s own work force. He we can call upon many people who have management experience to organize and project manage the operation. The plan is to ultimately have everyone who is on benefit on this scheme, to create employment for all. The opportunity for people to regain any dignity that may be lost, to show those peoples’ talents are recognized, to show that people are valued and that people care about each other. A challenge that will inspire a nation Paul Matthews

THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT IRELAND IN THE WORLD, AND THE SEVENTY MILLION PEOPLE WORLD WIDE WHO ARE IRISH IN ANCESTERY OR HOLD IRISH PASSPORTS. MUINTIR CHANGES THE WAY WE BRAND IRELAND AND IRISH GOODS AND SERVICES, IT PROMOTES A CULTURAL SHIFT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT BEING IRISH BY BIRTH OR ANCESTRY, WE ARE A MIXTURE OF VARIED SETLTERS, VIKING, FRENCH, , WELSH ENGLISH, SCOTTISH, JEWISH, FLEMISH, IN THE PAST, AND IN RECENT TIMES, A NEW POPULATION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THAT MIX. OUR INDUSTRIAL AND CRAFT PRODUCTS ARE EQUALLY DIVERSE, AND MUINTIR TWINES THIS DIVERSITY INTO A NEW GLOBAL MARKET AND IRELAND SHOWCASE. IT’S A TWO WAY MARKETPLACE –COMPANIES OWNED OR STAFFED BY THE IRISH ABROAD WOULD HAVE AN EQUAL PLACE WITH INDIGENOUS COMPANIES, LEADING TO NEW LINKS, LEARNING AND PROFITIBILITY. ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES TO EMERGE FROM THE ATTENDEES AT THE GLOBAL IRISH ECONOMIC FORUM WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF IRISH CULTURE TO THE IMAGE OF THIS COUNTRY ABROAD.…. AS WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE IRISH CULTURE AND More...

I propose an investment fund that would invest in small and medium enterprises by way of loans and/or part ownership. Despite the downturn on our economy there are still many people who have cash to invest and are looking for a return on this. There is also a great level of pride among the people of Ireland who want to do their part in restoring the economy and helping their fellow citizens. With this initiative, ordinary people can invest their money in the fund. The fund will then lend to qualifying enterprises which show a sustainable business plan and create jobs. Each applicant would be reviewed by a credit approval board. The review process would be very tightly controlled to ensure that only high potential SMEs qualify: for example those who were already successful and want to expand but are curtailed by lack of lending from banks, or new enterprises with innovative ideas who can’t get investment through usual channels due to the downturn. The government can play their p More...

This proposal is simple in concept and easy to implement. It is profound in its implications as a framework for changing our society for the better. The results will be instantaneous and pervasive. Grant everybody in the country an equal monthly supply of points for awarding to others. Young and old, rich and poor, establishment and marginalised, citizens and visitors, everybody included equally. Points might be awarded to another for helping someone to cross the road; for putting out somebody’s bin; for being pleasant on the phone; for being courteous on the road; for being a good boss; for providing great service; for cleaning up your neighbourhood; for helping in amateur sports; for helping a friend (or a stranger) in need; for doing a job above and beyond the call of duty. The list is infinite. The proposal can flourish in tandem with the existing essential commercial and material world. It’s like having a parallel currency alongside the existing monetary one only with this one More...