THINGS WE LEARNED:
#SICK LEAVE: The government has welcomed proposals from the Labour Court to halve the sick leave allowances of public sector workers. Workers will now be entitled to seven days’ uncertified sick leave over two years and not one year, while from 2014 they’ll only get full pay for three months instead of the six they’re currently allowed.
#HSE: Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has suggested he wasn’t too thrilled to learn of Cathal Magee’s departure from the HSE through the media instead of through the formal channels. RTÉ says Gilmore told reports it was ‘regrettable’ that he had only heard of the departure on the radio. Enda Kenny says he only heard after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. Magee handed in his notice on Friday.
#AMBULANCE: Staying with the health service, the National Ambulance Service has said this evening that an ambulance service last November – which could not arrive in time to save a teenager’s life after a car accident – had followed all the correct protocols, and sad the survival rate for the injuries the victim sustained is approximately zero. Local groups had blamed the closure of Roscommon Hospital’s emergency ward for her death.
#CHILD BENEFIT: Opposition parties and lobby groups alike have united to resist the IMF’s proposal that child benefit should be means-tested. Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, charities and interest groups have various reasons for opposing the plan – which the government says is merely a recommendation.
#SYRIA: China and Russia have again vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council proposing further sanctions against Syria – placing the future of the UN’s supervision mission in doubt. The veto has been condemned by western countries who say they are ‘appalled’ at the stance of Moscow and Beijing in refusing to take action against Bashar Assad’s regime.
THINGS WE LOVED:
THINGS WE SHARED:
(Dusti Romano/Youtube)
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