Merging into the mainstream? An empirically based discussion of the potential erosion of competitive advantage in a restructured Irish credit union movement

Credit unions are key constituents of the financial services landscape in Ireland. Currently, the movement comprises mostly small-medium, local, autonomous credit unions. Restructuring is viewed as a means to ensuring viability and achieving economies of scale and scope. Debate has focused on the advantages of restructuring without due concern for its negative consequences. We argue that the competitive advantage of community-based credit unions is inextricably linked to their geographical scale and the implications of restructuring for competitive advantage must be considered. Using qualitative data obtained through interviews with borrowers in seventeen community-based credit unions, we construct a typology of factors influencing members’ decisions to borrow from credit unions during a time when credit was widely available and marketed aggressively by the conventional banking sector. We conclude that non-bureaucratic, member-centred systems and relational factors tend to outweigh material considerations in members’ decisions to borrow from credit unions. Moreover, both sets of factors relate not only to the movement's ethos but also to the ‘connectedness’ or sense of ‘the local’ experienced by credit union members. In the context of a restructuring agenda dominated by mergers and amalgamations, there is a need to guard against the erosion of the movement's unique, community-embedded competitive advantage

The potential impact of credit unions on members' financial capability: An exploratory study

This study evaluates the role of credit unions in building financial capability among members. The research found that most credit unions are engaged in some form of financial education in the community, although some are restricted to what could be described as low-commitment activities. A few individual credit unions and, to a lesser extent, networks of credit unions, have pioneered innovative schemes targeted at members of the community who are financially vulnerable due to low levels of financial capability. In a two-phase survey of new members, most individuals did not report that the credit union had a significant impact on their financial behaviour; however, they did highlight some key features of credit union business practice which help them to manage their finances. Finally, we argue that credit unions need to remain cognisant of their original goal of ensuring financial inclusion for all, particularly in the context of economic recession, which is likely to stimulate demand for financial capability-enhancing measures. However, it must be remembered that credit unions are only one element in any financial capability strategy for society and other players such as MABS, Government, regulators, banks and the educational system must also play their roles. It should also be remembered that financial capability is only one strategy, albeit an important one, to tackle the broader problem of financial exclusion. Other approaches must include regulation of the banking sector, the whole issue of income adequacy, and the removal of barriers to access for true participation in financial services starting with the development of basic bank accounts. Hence, any discussion of financial capability should sit within this broader context

Credit unions and community in Ireland: Towards optimising the principle of social responsibility

In Ireland, credit unions appeal to a broad socio-economic spectrum and have become integrated into the mainstream financial services market. As many credit unions seek to provide services comparable to conventional banking institutions, they risk eroding their distinctive co-operative ethos. A key differentiating characteristic of credit unions is concern for community and social responsibility. In a business climate where many consumers question the societal and/or environmental impact of businesses, credit unions enjoy a distinct competitive advantage. Despite this, the role of credit unions in promoting societal wellbeing has received limited attention in academic literature. In order to capitalise on its unique competitive advantage, and fulfil its objective of social responsibility, the credit union movement must develop approaches to optimising and assessing how it impacts on communities. Based on research conducted in 40 credit unions, this paper explores the key benefits accruing to communities through intentional and incidental societal impacts. It offers some suggestions for the range of instruments that credit unions can use to optimise the principle of social responsibility. It argues that the impact of credit unions on their communities cannot be left to chance but requires management through the identification and definition of social goals and through periodic assessment of the credit union's success in meeting its targets

The regulation of cellular CD23 gene expression by Epstein-Barr virus latent proteins in immortalised cells

Only EBV-infected B lymphocytes which express the B cell activation marker CD23 are capable of establishing immortalised cell lines. Epstein-Barr virus determined nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2) is essential for EBV-induced growth transformation (Cohen, et al, 1989) and can specifically upregulate CD23 gene expression (Wang, et al, 1987). The regulation of CD23 gene expression is likely to be an important factor in EBV-induced B cell growth transformation. The cellular CD23 promoter and EBV TP-1 promoter have previously been shown to be transactivated by EBNA-2 (Wang, et al, 1991, Le Roux, et al, 1993). Studies have also shown that while EBNA-3A itself has no effect on the TP-1 promoter, it can repress EBNA-2-mediated transactivation in a B cell background (Le Roux, et al, 1994). Homologies have been shown between sequences present in the EBV TP-1 EBNA-2 responsive element and other functionally similar sequences which are found in the CD23 promoter region. The purpose of this study was to explore the regulation of CD23 gene expression by the EBV latent proteins EBNA-2 and EBNA-3A. The most common reporter gene used in transfection studies is CAT (chloramphenicolacetyl transferase), usually assayed using a radioisotopic method. To obviate the need to use a radioassay, an alternative reporter plasmid was constructed and tested in a range of cell backgrounds. This construct consisted of the CD23 promoter cloned upstream of the PAP gene (placental alkaline phosphatase). The assay involves a colorimetric reaction, and is a simpler and cheaper reporter assay (Henthorn, et al, 1988). In order to identify relevant sequence modules in the CD23 promoter, deletion mutants of CD23CAT were constructed for use in co-transfection assays with plasmids encoding EBNA-2/3A. A strategy based on using the nuclease BAL 31 was designed to create nested mutations. Fragments of the CD23 promoter including the EBNA-2 responsive elements were also amplified by PCR for cloning upstream of CAT

Attitudes towards prisoner-to-prisoner bullying and the association with prison environments: Examining the components.

Purpose: The research aims to examine attitudes towards prisoner-to-prisoner bullying, further considering the association between attitudes and characteristics of the prison environment thought to promote prisoner bullying. Methodology: Questionnaires were administered to 423 adult male prisoners and 195 correctional officers from three prisons in Canada. Participants completed the Prison Bullying Scale (PBS) and the Prison Environmental Scale (PES). Findings: Convergence in attitudes between prisoners and officers were noted although staff were more likely to consider bullies to be skilled, whereas prisoners were more likely than officers to feel that victims of bullying should be supported. Associations between attitudes supportive of bullying and environmental characteristics likely to promote prison bullying were found primarily among prisoners; the strongest predictors of such attitudes were poor relationships (e.g. prisoner to officer; prisoner to prisoner). Research implications: The study highlights the importance of the social aspect of the prison environment. It further provides an outline of two measures that could have utility in evaluating interventions designed to reduce prisoner-to-prisoner bullying. Originality/value: The study is the first to examine attitudes in a combined sample of prisoners and officers and focuses on the role of the wider prison environment. It also utilises a sample from three prisons as opposed to focusing on a single establishment

The Impact of a Values-Based Supply Chain (VBSC) on Farm-Level Viability, Sustainability and Resilience: Case Study Evidence

peer-reviewedThe ‘Agriculture of the Middle’ (AotM) development paradigm emphasises that in order to survive, family farms must transition from a supply chain approach to a values-based supply chain (VBSC) approach, involving amendments to both product type and actor dynamics within the chain. This paper presents a qualitative case study of a beef co-operative integrated to a VBSC. We use an analytical framework of viability, sustainability and resilience to analyse impacts at farm-level. Our analysis highlights a number of positive effects on farm-level viability, sustainability and resilience. These benefits stemmed largely from improvements to market orientation, price stability, and members’ capacities in responding to problems. However, the autonomy of the co-operative was challenged by VBSC chain members, which impacted negatively on the stability of the co-operative

Performance of the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for Screening Exposed Patients in a Hepatitis C Outbreak Investigation

During a nosocomial hepatitis C outbreak, emergency public clinics employed the OraQuick HCV rapid antibody test on site, and all results were verified by a standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Of 1,157 persons, 1,149 (99.3%) exhibited concordant results between the two tests (16 positive, 1,133 negative). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 94.1%, 99.5%, 72.7%, and 99.9%, respectively. OraQuick performed well as a screening test during an outbreak investigation and could be integrated into future hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak testing algorithms

Men's sheds and the Sustainable Development Goals: Local responses to global challenges

Purpose of the report: In 2019 the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) was designated a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Champion by the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. This report evaluates the effectiveness of community-based men’s sheds on the island of Ireland as agents of social and environmental sustainability and identifies potential to develop this role. Recommendations are offered for consideration by men’s sheds across the island. As an academic study, the key novel contribution is the finding that men’s sheds in Ireland in addition to supporting social sustainability, are also already engaged in activities that support environmental sustainability. There is scope to further develop their role as champions of environmental sustainability in their communities. While men’s sheds have received significant attention from researchers interested in their role in health, wellbeing and social inclusion, their current and potential role in environmental sustainability has been largely absent from the academic literature on men’s shed