April 2012
45 posts
State paying for university staff children's...
It has been revealed that hundreds of university staff have had their children’s college fees paid by the State. Full-time staff who were given permanent contracts before the end of September 1992 are entitled to have their children educated for free. General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, Michael Jennings, has said this perk is no longer available for new staff.
President Higgins kicks off US visit
President Michael D Higgins is in New York today as his first official visit to the US kicks off with a reception for the Irish community at the Consulate General of Ireland in the city.
During his visit President Higgens will meet with Mayor Bloomberg as well as visiting the 9/11 memorial.
Deadline for postal registration for Fiscal Treaty...
Students and others living away from home and intending to vote by post in the Treaty Referendum must register to do so by close of business on Wednesday. The Referendum on the Fiscal Treaty is being held on Thursday, May 31. Registration forms are available at City and County Council offices.
Pedestrian remains in critical condition following...
A man remains in a serious condition in St. James’s Hospital in Dublin today, following a collision early yesterday. The pedestrian, who is in his 20s, was injured when he was hit by a car at the Palmerstown junction on the at about 2am yesterday morning. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
150 jobs announced for Galway
Good news on the job front today as computer networking company Cisco announed 155 new jobs at its research and development facility in Galway.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the Cisco facility in Oranmore for the announcement of a €26m investment.
Up to 180 people are already employed at the electronics and communications plant.
AIB agree to take part in talks with Priory Hall...
AIB has agreed to take part in talks with the residents of the Priory Hall apartment complex in North Dublin. The residents, who were evacuated from their homes last year over fire safety concerns, are attempting to negotiate with their mortgage lenders. However, a number of other banks and the Irish Banking Federation have so far seemed hesitant to engage in mediation. Dublin City Council is...
Pregnant teenager refused place in school
Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has today called on the principal of a Munster secondary school to apologise to a girl who was refused admission. The teenager was twice denied a place in the lay-owned Catholic ethos school - firstly in 2009 because she was pregnant and secondly on the basis of being a single mother.
The Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan has launched an...
Peats reopens it's doors
Dublin electrical chain store Peats World of Electronics has re-opened its doors today.
Earlier this month, the company went into liquidation resulting in the closure of 11 shops and the loss of 78 jobs.
But today, up to 37 of those jobs have been saved, and the firm is re-opening with a bumper sale for customers.
Fire breaks out on Fenian Street
Two people have been hospitalised with smoke inhaliation after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Dublin city centre last night.
Fire units were called to the scene at Alexandra Court on Fenian Street at around 4am last night after the fire broke out.
The fire was brough under control shortly after and no one was seriously injured .
Shortage of vital medicines is putting patients at...
The Irish Pharmacy Union has claimed that the health of some patients is being put at risk by a shortage of vital medicines.
The warning was issued at the union’s conference, which is being held in Galway this weekend.
The Department of Health has been called on to ensure that an adequate supply of vital medicines is constantly available to minimise threats to patient safety.
Household protests continue
Protests against the controversial household and water taxes took place outside the offices of Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe and Labour’s Joe Costello.
Anti-household charge campaigners are accusing the Government of making pensioners feel bullied.
Irish girl to address UN conference
15-year-old Joanne O’Riordan from Cork, who was born with no limbs, will travel to the United Nations in New York today to address the International Telecommunication Union conference.
Joanne is to give a key note speech on how technology has helped her advance her life through both education and the social environment around her.
Proposals to introduce smoking bans in parks and...
The Irish Cancer Society is welcoming proposals by the Health Minister Dr James Reilly to introduce a ban on smoking in parks and on beaches. Opening the Irish Heart Foundation’s Council on Stroke in Dublin on Friday, Minister Reilly said he did not want children to regard smoking as a normal practice. ‘Areas where we would expect lots of children to be present, as in our public parks and...
Peats to reopen two stores
25 jobs at Peat’s World of Electronics are to be saved after it emerged that two of its 11 stores are to reopen.
Peat’s reopened its Rathmines store today and will open its flagship store on Parnell Street on Saturday 28 April.
Meanwhile it was announced today that 100 new jobs are to be created in the technology industry.
12 year sentance for manslaughter
A 31-year-old man who attacked another man in a road rage incident has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter.
Construction worker Raymond Bates died in hospital after being beaten with a hurley in Dublin in September 2010.
Karl Donohue and Mr Bates got into an argument at a junction near Sandymount in Dublin on 26 September 2010.
Mr Bates fell into a coma and died four days...
€14m funding announced in replacing prefabs with...
77 schools around the country have been given the green light to replace rented prefabs with permanent classrooms.
Today’s announcement is valued at more than €14 million, and is part of a €35 million initiative aimed at replacing one third of all rented prefabs in 2012.
Speaking today Minister Quinn said, ‘Too many of our children and young people spend their school days in rented...
300,000 homes will be unable to have a water meter...
A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment has said around 300,000 homes will be unable to have a water meter installed during the initial roll-out of the scheme. However, the department expects that figure will be much lower as the scheme continues and that the exact number will be a matter for Irish Water. It comes following reports that a third of Irish homes will have to take to pay...
Largest settlement in personal injury in State...
The largest settlement in a personal injury case in the history of the State was agreed at the High Court yesterday when €11.5m was given to a ten-year-old boy from Galway.
Cullen Kennedy suffered injuries in a car crash in 2008 that left him permanently confined to a wheelchair.
Cullen was being driven to school by his mother Margaret Kennedy in May 2008 when the car crossed the centre of the...
Irish academics work longer hours than European...
Irish University lecturers work longer hours than their European counterparts, according to a report discussed today at the Irish Federation of University Teachers conference. According to the research, Irish academics work 50 hours per week compared to the European average of 48 hours. General Secretary Mike Jennings, said the perception that Irish academics work short hours are unfounded.
Ratifying forthcoming Fiscal Treaty vital for...
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said ratifying the forthcoming Fiscal Treaty is “vital” for Ireland’s future. Mr Kenny said passing the referendum is crucial if Ireland is to experience the growth and job creation necessary for its economic recovery. He was speaking in Dublin Castle yesterday at the second and final day of the European Ideas Forum.
Enda Kenny said that the...
Dublin U-21 team reach finals
Dublin beat Cork in the All Ireland under 21 football semi-final by a score of 3-11 to 0-14.
Dublin will play the winners of the Cavan-Roscommon game taking place this evening.
Family travel to US for life saving treatment
The family of a one-year-old Dublin boy, who was born with an incomplete oesophagus is flying to the US next week for emergency treatment.
One year old Sergio O’ Connor was born with an incomplete oesophagus which means he cannot eat, drink or swallow.
He will travel to the Boston with his parents on Monday morning at 10.30am and the first surgery should take place within 10 days.
...
Troika back in town!!!
Representatives of the Troika- the EU, the ECB and the IMF - are due back in Dublin today to meet ministers for their sixth review of the Government’s implementation of the bailout deal. During their visit the Troika will review the Government’s progress on selling off bank assets, the sale of State companies and the introduction of water charges.
Households will have to pay for their own water...
TANAISTE Eamon Gilmore, continued to insist today that no pricing has been worked out for water meters. Despite the revelation that homeowners face an annual €40 standing charge for 20 years just to cover the cost of water meters. However, after a weekend of controversy over contradictory government statements, Mr Gilmore stuck to the line that “proposals for pricing have not yet been worked out”...
Thomas Street Revamp plan
A plan to reverse the “blight, dereliction and vacancy” of one of Dublin’s most historic streets will today be published by the Dublin Civic Trust. The Thomas Street: Improving the Public Face of an Historic City Centre Street plan aims to better the appearance of the street through the restoration of its historic buildings, the promotion of indigenous businesses and the development of visitor...
Central bank buys Anglo headquarters
It is being reported that the Central Bank could end up paying as much as €70m to finish the half-built former Anglo Irish Bank in Dublin after it agreed a deal to buy the notorious building yesterday. The Central Bank bought the HQ from NAMA for an estimated €8m. The building, considered by many as a tombstone for the Celtic Tiger, was to be used as Anglo’s new headquarters.
Delta emergency at Dublin Airport
A passenger’s mobile phone plugged into the shaving socket in an airplane toilet sparked a panic and an emergency landing at Dublin airport. The Delta 767 en route from Istanbul to New York JFK landed after the pilot requested permission to make an emergency landing due to concerns about activity in the cabin. Gardai said nobody was hurt or arrested as a result of the security alert,...
No action yet to be taken on South Dublin TD over...
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has said Fine Gael has yet to make a decision on whether disciplinary action should be taken against party TD Olivia Mitchell in the wake of the Mahon Tribunal report. The report showed that deputy Mitchell received an “inappropriate” payment from lobbyist Frank Dunlop. Ms Mitchell strongly disputes the tribunal finding, which has been referred to an...
International Space Station to pass over Ireland...
There is a good chance that you can watch the International Space Station tonight as it passes over Ireland so long as the clouds stay away.
Astronomy Ireland chairman David Moore says that the Space Station will be the brightest object in the sky tonight and should be visible at around 10.30.
The spacecraft will travel over Ireland until the 24th April.
47% of Householders left with less than €100...
A new survey published today by the Irish league of Credit Unions reveals the financial pressues of Irish Householders.
Among the findings, it reveals that 47% of householders are left less than €100 disposable income at the end of each month after paying their essential bills.
New proposal for National Children's Hospital
A 50-acre site in Swords in Co Dublin has been proposed as the location for the new National Children’s Hospital.
The Broadmeadow Healthcare Group has proposed building the hospital alongside a maternity hospital and an adult teaching facility on a greenfield site at Lissenhall.
The original plan at the Mater Site was rejected in February by An Bord Pleanála as the proposed 16 floor...
Households will have to pay for their own water...
The Taoiseach has confirmed that households will have to pay for their own water meters, but this charge will be kept to the ‘absolute minimum’.
Mr. Kenny was reacting to weekend reports suggesting that meters would cost households around €300.
The cost has yet to be determined by the regulator.
Up to 350 new jobs to be created
Good news on the job front today with the announcment of up to 350 new jobs. One hundred new healthcare jobs are being created in Dublin with the opening of a new 200-bed facility in Whitehall while up to 250 new jobs are to be created in Limerick within the IT sector.
Irish architects win London hospital project
Ireland’s largest architectural firm Scott Tallon Walker Architects have been appointed architects on a large scale hospital project in London for clients University College Hospital London (ULCH). The firm will be working in conjunction with Edward Williams Architects and Tsoi Kobus and Associates. It is thought the project is worth 250 million pounds sterling. The facility will deliver...
Tallaght bank clerk shot on doorstep
A 32-year-old bank clerk was shot three times in the legs last night when he answered his front door at Corbally Green in Tallaght. Gardaí in Tallaght are appealing for witnesses. It is thought the incident could have been a case of mistaken identity.
Consumer prices on the rise
In the latest figures released from the Central Statistics Office today showed prices have risen by an overall 2.2% in Ireland in the last 3 months. Sectors hit are education, transport, alcohol and tobacco. Education costs rose by 9.4%, while furnishing, clothing and recreational activities dropped in price.
Electrifying €500 million investment
Eirgrid, Ireland’s electricity transmission firm will invest 500 million euro in developing the national grid. The upgrade will ensure long term security of electricity supply and will be good for economic growth. Chief Executive Dermot Byrne has said the firm have a blank canvas and will be meeting with the Irish Farming Association in coming days to discuss issues effecting farmers. The...
100% overtime for employees in Rathdown council
Some employees at Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council are being paid up to 100 per cent in excess of their basic salaries in overtime. The figures list the top 10 overtime earners at the local authority last year, and indicate that the take home annual pay of several employees was boosted by between 60 and 90 per cent when their overtime payments were taken into accounts. Councillor Horkan said...
Peats to close
Peats World of Electronics has become the latest victim of the recession. The store opened in 1934, and has announced today it is to seek a liquidator with the loss of 75 jobs. Staff were told yesterday, 11 stores will close with immediate effect. The company blamed high rents and online shopping for the closure.
Fines for Hospitals with delays
A struggling hospital faces a fine of 1.2 million euros, for having patients on waiting lists for more than a year. It was one of ten hospitals that were yesterday sent fines of 25,000 euros for every patient who was been waiting for treatment since March the 31st last year. A spokesman for Health Minister James Reilly, said that operating under new management could see the payment suspended on...
Man charged over cannabis haul
A man has appeared in Blanchardstown District Court charged in connection with a major cannabis seizure. Aaron Dunne, 37, of Hawthorn Terrace, Drogheda was charged with four offences under the misuse of drugs act. Gardaí from the National Drugs Unit and Customs Officers seized over 800kg of cannabis herb and cannabis resin in raids in Dublin and Kildare on Friday night. Mr Dunne faces charges...
More households liable for household charge
The National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis has stated that there are actually more homes liable for the Household Charge than the Government has estimated. The Local Government Management Agency believes that around 1.6 million householders must pay the €100 levy
Decline in hospital waiting lists
New official figures show that the number of people waiting longer than 12 months for hospital procedures has declined. The Department of Health attributed the reduction in recent weeks to the introduction of a new regime of fines for hospitals whose waiting lists are longer than 12 months. Under this system hospitals with patients who are waiting longer than 12 months for procedures will face a...
Unemployment reaches lowest level in 15 years
New figures show that unemployment in the euro zone has reached its highest level in almost 15 years with more than 17 million people out of work. Economists expect job office queues to grow even longer later this year.
Gardaí call for further restrictions on sex...
A group of Garda sergeants is calling for further restrictions to be introduced on sex offenders living in the community. The annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors will today vote on a motion urging the Minister for Justice to tighten regulations designed to monitor sex offenders. Under the proposals, people on the sex offenders’ register would have to supply...
