Discomfort is clear as increasingly personal data belongs to private entities such as Facebook and Google

Reach Insights Press Release

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11th February 2019

Discomfort is clear as increasingly personal data belongs to private entities such as Facebook and Google

64% believe it is wrong for companies to use personal data in targeted advertising

Only 16% of people are comfortable with how much of their personal data is possessed by Facebook and Google

93% want to see more education for young people about how their data is used online

In recent years companies like Facebook and Google have come under increased pressure to be more transparent about the ways in which they store and make use of data belonging to users of their services.

To understand more about how people in Ireland feel about how their data is used by major tech platforms, iReach has conducted a nationally representative survey of 1001 people. The results clearly demonstrate the apprehension felt about how personal information is stored and used.

Only 16% of respondents are comfortable with how much of their personal data is possessed by Facebook and Google, with 58% instead who are unhappy at this situation.

A rather substantial majority of 64% believe that it is wrong for companies to use personal data to target people with specific advertisements online. This figure is even higher with those aged over 55 years old, 75% of whom disagree with using data for this purpose.

Furthermore, 49% of those asked are not familiar with Facebook’s use of categories, which are created based on user data as well as interests and user engagement with content on the network. Overall 60% did not know that these categories existed and only one in four people feel comfortable that Facebook creates these lists.

93% of people would like to see more education for young people about how social media platforms and other companies use their data. Of this group, 73% believe that this education should take place in school, whereas 65% want greater restrictions on how companies like Facebook and Google are allowed to use information about their users.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 24^th January and the 31st January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Are you familiar with categories on Facebook?

Did you know that these categories existed?

How comfortable are you with Facebook creating lists of categories for individuals based on user data stored by the site?

To what extent would you agree with the following statements: It’s wrong for companies to use personal data to target people with specific advertisements online, I am comfortable with how much of my personal data is possessed by companies such as Facebook and Google.

Do you think that more should be done to educate young people about how social media platforms and other companies use their data?

Which of the following do you feel would be effective in doing so: More education in school focused on how personal data is used online; A greater effort from major social networks and tech companies to be more transparent about what they use personal data for; A government initiative on online safety aimed at young people; Greater restrictions on how companies such as Facebook and Google are allowed to use information about their users; Influencers or celebrities encouraging young people to take their online safety more seriously. 

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

As Prime Minister Theresa May visits Northern Ireland, results point to strong opposition for No Deal Brexit

Reach Insights Press Release

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6th February 2019

As Prime Minister Theresa May visits Northern Ireland, results point to strong opposition for No Deal Brexit

77% see the reintroduction of a hard border as the worst possible outcome

One in two people in Ireland expect their day to day life to be directly impacted by a No Deal Brexit

Extension of Article 50 seen as most likely scenario (37%)

35% believe Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit

With the March 29^th deadline fast approaching and Britain moving closer and closer to exiting the European Union, people in Ireland remain highly skeptical about Brexit and the potential fallout that may accompany it.

Following an amendment to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal agreement last week that renewed pressure on the Irish backstop as a solution to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, this skepticism is demonstrated in a nationally representative survey carried out by iReach of 1001 people.

An enormous 77% of respondents view the reintroduction of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as the worst possible outcome of Brexit. Unsurprisingly this figure is even higher at 87% for those answered from the Ulster/ Connacht region. 

Furthermore, one in two people believe that should Britain exit the European Union without any deal whatsoever, this will have a direct impact on their everyday lives.

37% of people in Ireland see an extension of Article 50 as the most likely scenario at this point in the Brexit process. This would allow negotiations to continue beyond March 29^th. At 28% No Deal is the next most expected outcome of Brexit.

However, at only 9%, No Deal also remains the least popular potential outcome for people in Ireland. It is no shock to see that No Brexit at all on 48% is by far the most favoured possibility, with little support for Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement (10%).

44% of people in Ireland believe that the European Union have been helpful to Ireland during the Brexit process, with 35% who feel that the Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 24^th January and the 31st January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

What do you now see as the most likely outcome of Brexit?

What is your preferred potential outcome of Brexit?

To what extent would you agree with the following statements: The Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit, A No Deal Brexit will have a direct impact on my day to day life, The reintroduction of a hard border would be the worst possible outcome of Brexit, The EU has been helpful to Ireland during the process of Brexit.

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

People in Ireland almost certain that large scale job automation is coming, but less sure of the consequences

Reach Insights Press Release

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28th January 2019

People in Ireland almost certain that large scale job automation is coming, but less sure of the consequences

Only 16% see no threat to employment in Ireland as advances are made in technology

55% view job automation as positive for the Irish economy

However, around 3 in 4 believe automation will increase unemployment

A recently conducted study by iReach has found that people in Ireland are almost certain that developments in technology will see job automation continue to rise in prominence. However, the nationally representative survey of 1001 people found that no such certainty is apparent when considering the consequences either positive or negative of such automation.

94% of respondents believe that large scale job automation will occur at some point in the future, with 46% predicting this eventuality will come to pass in the very near future.

When thinking about the impact of job automation on the productivity and prosperity of the Irish economy, 55% view it as a positive, with those who view the impact as a negative slightly further back at 45%.

A mere 16% see no threat to employment in Ireland as advances are made in technology, with 63% of respondents who feel that technology has created more jobs that it has destroyed.

Nonetheless, this positivity does not extend to future forecasts, as 76% believe that job automation will contribute to a rise in unemployment and for further 71% being solely dependent on machines in manufacturing is very dangerous.

The leading forms of technology and automation that people in Ireland are most used to encountering are ATMs (91%), smartphones (80%), self-checkouts (80%), automated telephone calls (76%) and online check-ins (74%).

63% do not believe that the idea of machine concierges and receptionists will become a phenomenon in the Irish hospitality industry. 56% also predict that this “robotic” way of running a hospitality business will not become a threat in Ireland, with the top cited reason that a high level of customer service trumps a robot, as people want the personal touch (61%).

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 10^th January and the 17^th January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Do you believe that job automation is something that will occur on a large scale in the near future?

Do you believe that job automation is positive in terms of productivity and prosperity in the Irish economy?

Do you consider advances in technology and job automation as a threat to the employment rate in Ireland?

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements: Job automation is an inevitable phenomenon/ Job automation is very beneficial for quality and safety of work/ Being solely dependent on machines in manufacturing is very dangerous/ Job automation will contribute to a rise in unemployment/ Technology has created more jobs than has destroyed them.

Which of the following technologies have you used before?

Do you think the idea of machine concierges and receptionists instead of humans in hotels will become a phenomenon in Ireland in the hospitality industry?

Do you think that this “robotic” way of running hospitality businesses will become a threat?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Despite Ministers’ criticism of checkpoints, new legislation aimed at drink drivers overwhelmingly welcomed by people in Ireland

Reach Insights Press Release

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23rd January 2019

Despite Ministers’ criticism of checkpoints, new legislation aimed at drink drivers overwhelmingly welcomed by people in Ireland

79% agree with clamp down on drink driving

Women and older people most conscious about the risks of driving the morning after drinking

28% believe the government should supply households with breathalysers

A nationally representative survey of 1001 people carried out by iReach has found that people in Ireland agree strongly with the Gardaí clamping down on drink driving. At the end of 2018, new legislation on drink driving came into effect, under which all drink drivers receive a driving disqualification. Over the last week, the tighter drink driving laws have been criticised by Ministers with the increased prevalence of Garda checkpoints the focus of the condemnation.

The new laws remove the possibility of some drink drivers receiving penalty points instead of this disqualification and are backed by an enormous 79% of respondents.

However, there is far less enthusiasm about Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae’s suggestion that the government should supply every household in the country with same breathalyser devices as used by the Gardaí. Just 28% of those asked expressed support for the idea.

According to the study, just 5% of people in Ireland own a breathalyser. 61% say they don’t own a breathalyser because they don’t need one, a further 20% don’t own one as they don’t drink with 15% who say that breathalysers are too expensive.

 A mere 9% of people do intend to buy a breathalyser in the near future.

There is a notable difference between demographics when considering the risks of driving the following day after drinking. Women (78%) and adults over 55 (81%) are more conscious than men (68%) about the dangers of driving the day after drinking.

Almost one in three males in Ireland were not conscious about the risks of drinking over Christmas and then driving the next day.

Additionally, 17% of males think they have been over the legal limit while driving over the last three years, compared with 12% of females. 

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 10^th January and the 17^th January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Do you believe the government should supply every household around the country with breathalyser devices?

Do you own a breathalyser? Why not?

Do you agree with the Gardaí clamping down on drink driving?

Did you find that you were more conscious about drinking over Christmas if you were driving the following day?

Over the last three years do you think you have been over the legal limit while driving?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Significant majority of people in Ireland support the planned strike by Irish Nurses and Midwives

Reach Insights Press Release

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17th January 2019

Significant majority of people in Ireland support the planned strike by Irish Nurses and Midwives

64% back strike action scheduled for the end of January

An enormous 87% believe the Government could do more to recruit and retain Nurses and Midwives in Ireland

Women more supportive of planned strike action than men

With Irish nurses and midwives planning to strike later in month as a pay dispute with the Government rumbles on, iReach has conducted a nationally representative survey of 1001 people to understand what people in Ireland make of the situation. The findings demonstrate the great level of sympathy the public have for nurses and midwives, as well the widespread feeling that the Irish Government could do more to make their working conditions more favourable and attractive.

The results also indicate that support and sympathy for nurses and midwives is significantly higher among women rather men in Ireland.

64% of respondents support the nursing strike, though interestingly, support is far higher among females at 71% than it is with males, at just 56%. Additionally, 27% of males oppose the strike whereas only 11% of females disagree with the planned action.

65% of the overall population believe that is unfair that nurses are paid less in comparison to their healthcare counterparts, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Yet, once again there is a discrepancy in the level of sympathy for nurses and midwives between males and females. 71% of females felt that the pay conditions of nurses are unfair with the figure for males substantially lower again at 59%.

On the question of whether the Government could do more to recruit and retain nurses and midwives in Ireland, a rather emphatic 87% of those asked believed that more could be done. It is notable again that female respondents (90%) are more demanding than males (83%) in looking for action from the Irish Government.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 10^th January and the 17^th January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Do you support the Nursing strike?

Do you think it’s fair that their pay is less in comparison to their healthcare counterparts, such as Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists?

Do you agree the Government can do more to recruit and retain Nurses and Midwives in Ireland?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

As Facebook faces more questions over the security of user data, 44% of young adults feel overwhelmed by social media

Reach Insights Press Release

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16th January 2019

As Facebook faces more questions over the security of user data, 44% of young adults feel overwhelmed by social media

Almost one in two people delete or restrict social media posts that could negatively impact them later

42% hide posts from family members

The rise of social media has ensured that we are more connected than at any time in history. Yet, in the aftermath of new revelations in late 2018 about Facebook’s malpractice in sharing user details with other tech firms without their consent, it is fair to say that public confidence in the security of their data with major social media networks is ambiguous at best.

A recently conducted nationally representative survey of 1001 people carried out by iReach demonstrates the pressures felt by young Irish adults as a result of their usage such social media platforms.

In Ireland, 79% of the total population are social media users, with usage of those aged between 18-34 far higher at 87%. Nearly half of young Irish adults say social media is the first thing that they check in the morning, whilst 44% are overwhelmed by the drama of social media.

Similarly, 44% of young people (18-34 year olds) feel under pressure to post content that makes them look good to others and get a lot of comments and likes.

Almost one in two people delete or restrict social media posts that could negatively impact them later, with 42% of 18-34-year olds hiding content from family members.

Somebody creating too much drama (50%) is the top cited reason for unfollowing a person on social media, followed by bullying of other users (41%) and posting too regularly (36%) as the most common gripes.

Special occasions (53%) along with family and friends (41% and 38%) are the most commonly posted about topics on social media, with the main reasons for using social media keeping in touch with friends and family (78%), staying up to date (59%) and getting news (58%).

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 6^th December and the 13^th December and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Do you use Social Media?

What do you use Social Media for?

Please state to what extent you agree or disagree with each of the following statements: Social Media is the first thing I check in the morning; I can feel overwhelmed by drama of Social Media; There is pressure to post content that makes me look good to others; There is pressure to post content that will get a lot of comments and likes.

What do you post about on Social Media?

What are your reasons for unfollowing someone on Social Media?

Do you ever do any of the following on Social Media? 

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

January viewed as the most depressing month of the year

Reach Insights Press Release

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9th January 2019

January viewed as the most depressing month of the year

Bad weather (72%) and dark mornings and evenings (71%) to blame

Around one in two people in Ireland feel low and deflated in January

With the Christmas holidays having come and gone for another year and 2019 well underway, the Winter Blues or ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ are often cited as reasons for feeling a little down at this time of the year. To understand more about the Winter Blues and Irish Winters, iReach has recently conducted a nationally representative survey of 1001 people.

January (56%) is seen by an enormous margin as the most depressing month of the year. There is an interesting variation between age groups as 60% of 18-34-year olds chose January compared with only 46% of those over 55.

72% of people who selected January as the most depressing month did so because of bad weather, with dark mornings and evenings (71%), returning work (42%), a bad financial situation (41%) and taking down Christmas decorations (40%) as the top five reasons for disliking January.

November (16%), February (10%) and December (10%) follow as the least popular months of the year.

As for disliking Winter in general, poor weather and lack of natural light stand out as the main themes. 57% of respondents dislike Winter because of the shorter days, with dark mornings on 56% and the weather at 55% following close behind.

For adults under 34, 51% feel low and deflated in the wake of the festive period, with only 29% of those aged over 55 feeling the same way.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 13^th December and the 20^th December and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Do you usually feel deflated and low when you return to work in January in the wake of the festive period?

Which is the following reason for your Winter Blues after the Christmas Break?

Which month do you think is the most depressing month of the year?

Why did you choose January?

What do you dislike about Winter?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com