Category: Ireland Posts

Controversial MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have initiated defamation proceedings against RTÉ.

Lawyers for the outspoken politicians filed papers with the High Court on Monday but have yet to reveal what specific programme or comments the cases relate to.

Last month, the duo were two of just 13 MEPs who voted against a European Parliament resolution condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Wallace and Ms Daly said they could not support it because it also stated support for NATO and called for weapons to be sent to Ukraine.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/meps-mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-sue-rte-41545192.html

The Irish Department of Transport has directed ports to refuse entry to Russian-registered vessels in light of the country’s military attack on Ukraine.
Effective next Sunday, this decision will impact ships, yachts and recreational craft registered under Russia’s flag.

It will also affect vessels that changed their registration from the Russian Federation to another state after the start of the Ukraine conflict on 24 February.
The ban forms part of the EU’s fifth package of sanctions against Russia for its Ukraine offensive.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish-ports-to-deny-access-to-russian-registered-vehicles-1288825.html

APPLICATIONS FOR THE basic income for the arts pilot scheme opened from 1pm this afternoon. The scheme is being run by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and will examine the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers.

Payments of €325 per week will be made to 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers who will be selected at random and invited to take part.

Culture Minister Catherine Martin has allocated €25 million as part of Budget 2022 to the scheme, which aims to stem the flow of creative people out of the arts sector.

It’s envisaged that the income support will encourage creative arts workers to focus on their craft without having to enter into employment in other sectors to sustain themselves.

SEE MORE ON THE SCHEME AND HOW TO APPLY:  https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/basic_income_arts.html

Are you an Artist? (Drawing the Dole doesn’t count)!

The new Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme opens for applications tomorrow, 12nd April 2022 and will close on 12th May 2022.

Under the scheme, artists and creative arts workers can get a guaranteed weekly payment of €325 – while still earning more from their artistic endeavors.

2,000 eligible artists will be selected at random for the pilot scheme which will run over 3 years, from 2022 to 2025.

SEE MORE ON THE SCHEME AND HOW TO APPLY:  https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/basic_income_arts.html

Opposition to a ban on the sale and distribution of turf due to be introduced in September by the Minister for the Environment is mounting in Kerry and other areas, where thousands of households depend on turf for winter fuel.

Independent TD for Roscommon-East Galway Michael Fitzmaurice said the language “distribution and sale” was reminiscent of cannabis or cocaine distribution.

It would prohibit people from giving turf they had cut to an elderly neighbour for instance, he said on Radio Kerry.

Fine Gael Councillor Michael Foley, from Ballylongford in the Listowel electoral area, said households in north Kerry were “totally reliant on turf” and the ban, announced in April and due in September, “does not amount to a just transition” as required.

“We rely on turf, myself included. Just to cut it off like that is the straw that will break the camel’s back,” Cllr Foley said on Radio Kerry on Monday.

SEE  FULL STORY:  https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/minister-eamon-ryan-to-ban-sale-and-distribution-of-turf-41541705.html

THE DÁIL APPROVED Ireland’s first-ever carbon budgets last night, setting a limit on greenhouse gas emissions the country must stay under to reach important climate targets.

A motion to approve the budgets passed through the Dáil without a vote, which was deemed unnecessary because of a lack of opposition.

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.thejournal.ie/carbon-budgets-pass-dail-5732308-Apr2022

A VAT reduction on fuel is “not possible” following engagement with the EU Commission, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil. This comes after weeks of engagement with the Irish Government and the EU Commission to see if it would be possible to cut VAT on fuel down from the current 13.5pc to help with the spiralling costs of living.

He told Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty in the Dáil during Leader’s Questions that his proposals to cut VAT are “not possible – In terms of your proposed solution, which you asked us to consider, which is reducing VAT, of course we will consider that, but currently it is not possible…”

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.independent.ie/news/vat-reduction-on-fuel-not-possible-tanaiste-leo-varadkar-41530197.html

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has this morning said that Dr Tony Holohan’s secondment to Trinity College should be paused to allow for greater transparency.
It emerged earlier this week that Dr Holohan was stepping down as the country’s Chief Medical Officer to take up the role as a Professor of Public Health Strategy and Leadership at TCD in July.

However, speaking to RTÉ in Helsinki this morning, Martin said that process should be paused.
“There has to be transparency. There has to be good process and procedure. I don’t see this just as a human resource issue or a personnel issue in its own right, which I can understand.

“In my view, you know, it should be paused. There should be a reassessment as to how the objectives that are behind this can be realised in a better and more transparent way.”

SEE FULL STORY: https://www.thejournal.ie/tony-holohan-secondment-paused-taoiseach-5733360-Apr2022

A regular query around this time of year is: “Is Good Friday a Bank Holiday?” The answer is yes, Good Friday is a Bank Holiday – i.e. it’s a holiday for banks (and some other businesses). However, it’s NOT a statutory Public Holiday. The terms “Bank Holiday” and “Public Holiday” are commonly confused, and as a result, when someone refers to the Easter Bank Holiday they could be referring to either Good Friday or Easter Monday. Most Bank Holidays are Public Holidays however this isn’t the case on Good Friday.

There is no entitlement to Public Holiday pay on Good Friday and there is no obligation for employers to give their employees the day off unless it is part of an agreement (e.g. ERO). On the other hand, Easter Monday is a Public Holiday and employees have Public Holiday entitlements such as a paid day off.

This year, Good Friday falls on 15th April 2022.

You can read about public holidays and your entitlements at: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/public_holidays_in_ireland.html