Other News In Brief

Health Worker Labour Court Hearing Adjourned

A Labour Court hearing aimed at resolving the current dispute involving up to 10,000 health workers and chefs has been adjourned until Wednesday 10 July at 3pm.

SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell, said: "After three days of intensive engagement in the Labour Court the hearing has now adjourned at the court’s request. All the issues of concern that led to 10,000 health workers taking strike action last week were robustly presented by SIPTU representatives."

He added: "SIPTU representatives are satisfied members of the Labour Court have full knowledge of our members grievances over the implementation of a job evaluation scheme and what may be necessary to resolve this ongoing dispute."

Penneys Founder Arthur Ryan Dies Aged 83

Arthur Ryan, the founder of Penneys, has died aged 83.

Mr Ryan opened the first Penneys store on Mary Street in Dublin in 1969 before expanding into the UK as Primark in 1970.

It is understood that Mr Ryan died following a short illness.

Paul Marchant, current CEO of Penneys/Primark said that the firm was "greatly saddened" by the news.

Dublin Air Pollution Is Public Health Risk

The level of air pollution in Dublin is a public health issue, Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys has said.

Senator Humphreys said: "Revelations from the EPA that Dublin air quality has levels of Nitrogen Dioise exceeding EU safety limits is deeply concerning but are not surprising. I personally believe that the report underestimates the level of pollution due to a lack of extensive air quality monitoring in Dublin. We need to examine the level of monitoring which is happening of Dublin air quality.

"Dublin is one of the most congested cities in the EU. There are far too many diesel vehicles on our roads. The highest rates of Nitrogen Dioxide levels were recorded in areas with heavy car congestion. Meanwhile huge parts of Dublin are under-serviced by public transport. These findings show that the lack of public transport does not just contribute to traffic, it is having a detrimental effect on Dubliners health.

"The Minister for Transport is out this morning talking about the government's Climate Action Plan. That plan's primary transport focus involves getting people into electric cars. That is a long term plan which is simply replacing one vehicle with another, and one for which the infrastructure is not yet in place.

"It is time for the Minister to be realistic and work with the infrastructure we have. We could get more buses on the road, and create delineated cycles lanes around the city in a far shorter period of time than we could get everyone in Dublin into an electric car. 

"This government has to take this public health issue seriously and increase Dublin city public transport capacity now."