'Your Country, Your Call' panel announced

The judging panel that will select winning proposals in the “Your Country, Your Call” competition has been announced.

The judging panel that will select winning proposals in the “Your Country, Your Call” competition has been announced.

The competition already has more than 4,000 proposals. It is the brainchild of President Mary McAleese’s husband Dr Martin McAleese and is seeking two ideas that will help secure prosperity and jobs for Ireland. The winners will receive cash prizes of €100,000 each and development funds of up to €500,000 for each project.

Former EU commissioner David Byrne will chair the panel, which comprises John Bell, head of the consumer policy cabinet at the European Commission; Tim Cody, Accenture Ireland; Mary Davis, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia; Paul Kerley, Norkom Technologies; Damini Kumar, European Ambassador for Creativity and Innovation; Pádraig Ó Céidigh, businessman; and Amanda Pratt, creative director, Avoca.

Proposals involving new models for doing business, or identifying a new industry or service, or a new way of developing an existing business, are sought. The closing date is April 30th.