The Consumers’ Association of Ireland  
1966 – 2008.

The Consumers' Association of Ireland is a wholly independent, non-profit,
non-government organisation registered with charitable status. CHY No. 8559.

PRESS RELEASE

Issued 07 November 2008

Consumer Choice goes overboard on gadgets this November, with independent product tests of satnav systems, televisions and the latest mobile phones - including comprehensive results for the new 3G iPhone!  We also advise you on the best health insurance options for growing families, examine whether health screening is worth the trouble and let you in on ways to save by claiming back your tax relief and switching to open source software.

Health Insurance
What to consider when it comes to insuring your most valuable asset - your health. With over 200 different combinations of health  plans available to choose from it’s easy to become confused – and deterred from switching to a better deal. We guide you through the process and take a special look at the options for maternity cover and the benefits available for mother and baby.

Health Screen
Health screening can help identify danger signs before a problem develops. However, not all screening procedures are equal and they can be costly. We explore the issues to help you decide what value screening might have for you.

Tax Relief
If you had money sitting in a bank account somewhere you wouldn’t just write it off and forget about it, but this is exactly what happens if you don’t claim your tax reliefs. We remind you of what you’re entitled to - why not get something back from the Revenue for a change?

The Chicken and the Egg
Consumers face a difficult choice between chicken welfare or cheaper food. We explore the various production systems and compare the prices of chicken and eggs so you can decide for yourself. What is the balance between welfare, price and food quality?

Credit Unions
As the credit union movement in Ireland celebrates its 50th birthday we take a look at how credit unions operate, what they offer consumers and what the future might hold.

Open source Software
Open source software offers consumers an alternative to expensive packages from large companies. But what exactly is open source and where can you find it?

TEST: Satnav systems
Fed up with that old, out of date, torn road atlas? We highlight ten Choice Buys to help you navigate the roads as smoothly as possible.

TEST: Mobile Phones
We bring you lab test results for the iPhone 3G and take a look at  the latest mobile phones on the market. Choosing the handsets with most overlap between operators, as well as the newest and most innovative models, we came up with 13 Choice Buys.

TVs
Televisions have become a lot more complicated than they used to be, so we decided to demystify the jargon, testing 17 LCD flat screen televisions and two plasma flat screens from seven major brands. We also bring you the latest on the digital switchover.

Margaret Brady (Acting Editor, Consumer Choice), Mark Channing (Researcher) and Jenny Harrow (Product Researcher) are available for further comment

For further information, or to arrange an interview with any of the editorial team, please contact the CAI on (01) 497 8600 or cai@consumerassociation.ie.

Editors Notes:-

Consumer Choice is published monthly by the Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) limited, a wholly independent, non-government, non-profit making body.

Consumer Choice’s team of dedicated researchers use their expertise to provide subscribers and members with impartial reporting on household consumer goods, personal finance, automotive, food, health, safety and consumer rights.

Consumer Choice does not carry any advertising. For that reason it can offer readers an unbiased view of all the products and services they review.

Consumer Choice is available through a subscription of €24 per quarter direct from the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, - contact subscriptions at  cai@consumerassociation.ie;  www.thecai.ie or call subscriptions on (01) 497 8811.

Reports in Consumer Choice are based on market research, laboratory tests or user surveys, all of which are independently and scientifically conducted. All reports are produced by the editorial staff. Some material is occasionally drawn from other foreign independent consumer magazines.

ENDS.