One last laugh
by Hazel Gavigan

Pay for the country's top civil servants should be reviewed given an ongoing difficulty in attracting talent despite earning €200,000 and more a year, the Public Service Pay Commission has found. It has been revealed that the Commission received submissions from various stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

 

A UK immigration tribunal has ruled that anyone born in the North of Ireland is considered British until they renounce their citizenship. Emma DeSouza argued that this is contrary to the Good Friday Agreement whereby it states a person from the North can identify as Irish, British or both - however, the ruling was in favour of the UK Home Office. Ms DeSouza and her husband will appeal the judgement, fearing it could have huge implications for so many post-Brexit.

 

Recent figures from the CSO confirm that less than half of workers have either an occupational or a private pension. Head of Life and Pensions with Aviva, Richard Jones says that these findings show a worrying disconnect between the pension people expect in retirement and what they are actually investing now to prepare.

 

More emergency service staff are taking sick leave due to poor mental health as data for fire, police and ambulance services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland shows the number of staff who took time off due to mental ill health rose by a third between 2014 and 2018.

 

Royal Mail is facing its first national postal strike in a decade after staff voted overwhelmingly for action. The dispute between workers and the firm is over job security and terms and conditions of employment. More than 97% of votes by members of the Communication Workers Union in the backed a strike.

 

And finally, today's Zen is a prank played by a Dublin man with a very dark sense of humour. I came across this video on Twitter a few days ago after it went viral of a group of mourners receiving a message from beyond the grave. Shay Bradley passed away last week after a three-year battle with cancer and decided to use his funeral as an opportunity to give everyone one last laugh.

 

LikeLike (2)