Other News In Brief

Several Drug Seizures As Electric Picnic Gates Open

Gardaí say they made a number of drugs seizures "within minutes" of the Electric Picnic gates opening on Thursday.

Early access was granted to the festival site in County Laois ahead of the music getting fully underway today.

Writing on Facebook last night, gardaí in Laois-Offaly said the substances taken from concertgoers include Ketamine, LSD and MDMA.

It is not yet known whether any arrests were made, however those attending the festival are reminded that any seizures "will have consequences for the individual".

SF Demand Govt Engagement With Meat Industry

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has called on the meat industry to engage with farmers and address their concerns.

Carthy also called on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to intervene to ensure meaningful talks begins as soon as possible and that he demand that the industry halt their unhelpful legal actions, in order to "stop wasting time and money in the courts".

Speaking as meat companies continue to seek enforcement orders for injunctions against farmers who are picketing their factories, Mr Carthy said: "The meat industry needs to back off the farmers who are simply trying to protect their livelihoods. The prospect of farmers being jailed for protesting for better conditions is akin to imprisoning other workers for going on strike - those days should be over.

"Instead of wasting time and money in the courts the meat companies should instead engage with farmers and address their concerns in a meaningful manner.

"Minister Creed should intervene immediately and ensure that meaningful talks, that address the core issue of the price paid to farmers for their cattle, begin as soon as possible.

"By all accounts the previous talks process was farcical - we need a process that addresses the lack of transparency, the un-competitive practices and the arbitrary rules of the factories. The end result must be a better price system for our primary producers."

Union Welcomes Decision On Discriminatory Rental Property Advertising

Fórsa trade union has welcomed the outcome of an adjudication at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) concerning online advertising for rental properties.

The WRC decision found that Daft Media Limited was 'vicariously liable' for online adverts, with likely implications for other Irish platforms hosting discriminatory content.

The decision follows a three-year long legal action by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) against Daft Media Ltd's publication, online, of discriminatory rental adverts on its property website daft.ie.

The adverts included terms directed towards prospective tenants, which read "rent allowance not accepted, "suit family or professionals only", "would suit young professionals" and "references required".

The case was taken by the IHREC under section 23 of the Equal Status Act after it identified a number of adverts that discriminated on the grounds of housing status, the grounds of age and also family status.

Welcoming the decision, Fórsa's head of equality Andy Pike said the decision vindicated the rights of prospective tenants: "We are especially pleased to note the inclusion of a prohibition on adverts stating that prospective tenants on rent supplement or other benefits will not be accepted by landlords.

"This highlights the risks faced by those on low incomes, who due to discrimination on the grounds of economic status by Landlords, may be at more risk of homelessness."



(JG/MH)