News Thread for all ES related

foreign wrote: »

Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dublin-8/An-Garda-Siochana/167613868000?ref=share

wrote:

Healthcare facing €100bn in Budget cuts
on 08/11/2009 10:21:55


The country's healthcare bill is reportedly facing cuts totalling €1bn in next month's Budget.

A report in The Sunday Business Post also claims that the Garda pay and overtime bill is in line for a reduction of €100m, as negotiations on the Budget reach a crucial phase.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is due to publish his pre-Budget report this week.

Minister Lenihan is expected to spell out the scale of the crisis facing the country next year if dramatic measures are not taken in the Budget.

wrote:

Garda Association to ballot members on strike action
on 07/12/2009 11:15:32


The Garda Representative Association is to ballot its members for industrial action.

The group, which represents over 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí across the country, is holding a press conference this morning to outline its plans.

Gardaí are barred by law from striking, so this action will put them in direct conflict with the Department of Justice.

Up until now, the GRA has insisted it would not partake in industrial action like they did when the "blue flu" hit in 1998.

Meanwhile, the public services committee of the Congress of Trade Unions will meet later.

It follows the collapse in negotiations with the Government on how to cut €1.3bn from the public sector pay bill.

foreign wrote: »

Traffic corp will still do their own duties including speed checks.

These mobile cameras will only be positive if they are actually used in accident black spots on not on motorways / dual carraige ways at 9am on sunday mornings.

If they are seen regularly in accident black spots people will accept them, if not then they will be seen as revenue generators for the government.

Strange that the contract was finally signed during an economic crisis or is that just conincidence?

11 units of Dublin Fire Brigade and three aerial fire fighting vehicles attended the scene at St James's Gate this afternoon.
The two firefighters are stable condition at St James's Hospital. It is understood that they may have come into contact with ammonia.

The fire broke out in a storage building for empty containers at the lower end of the brewery near the Victoria Quay entrance at 12.10pm.
Repairs were being carried out on the roof of the building, which was partly made of felt.
The area in question was not in regular use and was successfully evacuated. It is believed significant damage was caused to the building.
In a statement, Diageo said production continued elsewhere on the site throughout the incident.
Services on the Luas Red line between Blackhorse and Smithfield are now running as normal following earlier disruption.
Gardaí and Diageo have both launched investigations into the cause of the blaze.

wrote:

A police officer was seriously injured when a bomb exploded under his car in the North today. A police officer was seriously injured when a bomb exploded under his car in the North today.

He had just driven off on his way along Milltown Road in Randalstown, Co Antrim, when the device went off.

Police said the officer was in a serious condition in Antrim Area Hospital.

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene.

The attack happened just miles from Antrim town, where last March Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, were shot dead by the Real IRA at the gates of Massereene Army barracks.

Assembly member for the area and Alliance party leader David Ford said he was outraged at the attack.

"The people behind this bomb have no policy and strategy except to cause death and disruption," he said.

"It is absolutely despicable that someone who works to protect the public has been subject to such a sickening attack on his life.

"I am outraged that a very small number of people still believe that using violence will achieve anything. They are seeking to drag us backwards into the dark days of the troubles.

"The community will need to stand united, just as the community stood united following the murders (of two British soldiers) nearby at Massereene barracks last year. I am confident that the community will do so.

"I would urge anybody who has any information about this attack to contact the police. These people must be stopped to allow this country to continue to live in peace."

Democratic Unionist MP for South Antrim William McCrea said he understood that the injured officer was a Catholic.

"I earnestly pray he will be restored to health and strength," he said.

The chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Barry Gilligan, condemned those responsible.

"I understand that the officer has been taken to hospital and our thoughts are first and foremost with him and his family," he said.

"This was an attempt to murder and those behind this attack cannot be allowed to succeed in bringing any further terror to our community.

"I would urge anyone with information on this incident to pass it to the police."

Northern Ireland Security Minister Paul Goggins condemned the bombing.

"This vile attack will sicken people across Northern Ireland," he said.

"I applaud the work the PSNI are doing to make our towns and cities safer. That work is in stark contrast to those who tried to murder this officer.

"Those who planted this device are to be condemned and anyone with information should bring it to the PSNI so that those responsible can be brought before the courts."

Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin said the attack was reprehensible.

"First of all, I wish to extend my hope for a full and speedy recovery to this young PSNI officer and his family," he said.

"I unambiguously condemn those responsible for placing this device on the officer's car and call on them to desist from this activity."

Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan said: "Unfortunately, we are here again - standing at the scene of a murder attempt on a member of the PSNI. A man has been seriously injured and the community traumatised by the proximity of this attack.

"It is disgusting that, once again, we are witness to an attack on an off-duty officer.

"Each and every time an incident of this nature occurs, we are taken back to the dark days of the past.

"However, while those who carried out this despicable act are intent on undermining the stability of Northern Ireland, majority will clearly indicates that it is they, and not the police, who are unwanted within this society."

SDLP South Antrim Assembly member Thomas Burns added to the voices of condemnation.

"The scene of this attack is not all that far from Massereene Barracks.

"At the time of last year's attacks, all the people of the North made their views absolutely clear. Across all parties and shadows of opinion, they condemned them utterly and called on the armed dissident groups to stop their murderous activities.

"We want no more murders, no more shootings, no more bombs."