Other News In Brief

Online Passport Renewals Service Given Adult Literacy Award

The Online Passport Renewals Service has been awarded a National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) award for 'Plain English in the Digital World', the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, has announced.

Welcoming the award, Tánaiste Coveney, said: "We would like to thank NALA for presenting the Passport Service with an award for 'Plain English in the Digital World'. It is a great achievement as the website was competing with so many deserving agencies. Using plain English is extremely important to the Department to help provide the highest level of customer service. It is crucial that we can reach all our citizens online through clear, accessible English."

All Irish citizens can now renew their passports online from anywhere in the world, with the cohort of adults eligible to apply through the channel also being expanded. In addition, the cost of renewing a passport online is cheaper than alternative methods and the requirement to have photographs witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána has been removed. The ability to apply for a Passport Card for children has also been introduced.

The NALA award follows recognition at the CX Impact Awards in 2018, where the Passport Service won the 'Impact in Digital' award.

Labour Court Recommendations In Nurses Dispute

SIPTU members in health and other public services will engage in consultation on the implications of the Labour Court recommendation arising from the claims submitted by the nursing unions, according to the Union's deputy general secretary, John King.

Mr King said: "We have noted the statement by the Government that the proposals outlined in the Labour Court recommendation are consistent with the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement. We will give careful consideration to the detail of the recommendation and will be consulting widely with our members in the health division and others across the public service in local government, education and state bodies. SIPTU representatives will also be meeting with the Public Service Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the coming days to discuss the recommendation."

New Regional Enterprise Plan For Dublin Launched

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, together with her colleague, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, have launched a new Regional Enterprise Plan for Dublin, during an event at the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC).

During the launch event, Ministers also announced a €10 million redevelopment and expansion of the GEC site.

The redevelopment and expansion at the GEC incubation centre has been part-funded by her Department's Regional Enterprise Development Fund to the tune of €3.2m.

The Regional Enterprise Plan for Dublin is one of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans, which are designed to support enterprise growth and job creation in all regions.

Speaking at the Guinness Enterprise Centre, Minister Humphreys said: "The collaboration in evidence here at the Guinness Enterprise Centre is a great example of what these new Regional Enterprise Plans are fundamentally about. The Plan for Dublin sets out a number of key strategic areas where regional stakeholders, working together, will provide a basis for future enterprise development and job creation that is sustainable in the longer term."