Members from Irish trade unions, north and south of the border, came together for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) biennial delegate conference last week in Belfast.
Members from Irish trade unions, north and south of the border, came together for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) biennial delegate conference last week in Belfast.
The conference theme was Winning Our Future in Uncertain Times, which ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy addressed in his speech on the first day. In the wide-ranging speech, he spoke about the “casino” housing market and its impact on workers, rising violence and misogyny in public life, recent rollbacks on workers’ rights, and the uncertain economic and political climate.
Underlining the need for legislation on collective bargaining rights, he said: “Workers’ rights aren’t some luxury goods, advancing workers’ rights is vital to advancing the economy. The way to put money in people’s pockets is collective bargaining in the workplace, not by narrowing the tax base, and we have to make sure that happens in the future.”
Over three days delegates debated motions on a range of topics including working time, terms and conditions, surveillance of journalists, AI, and pay. Motions on violence against women saw passionate interventions, with Sally Rees, president of the teacher’s union NASUWT, talking about her own experience of ‘upskirting’ while at work. The international session focused largely on Gaza and the Middle East with delegates denouncing the atrocities committed in recent months.
Fórsa AGS Hazel Nolan
Fórsa brought forward a motion on health and safety, calling for stronger legal protections, better training, and formal recognition of the role of health and safety representatives.
Proposing the motion, assistant general secretary Hazel Nolan warned that unsafe and psychologically damaging working environments are becoming more widespread, and that toxic workplace cultures are inflicting real harm on workers.
She cited figures provided by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) showing that 59% of all work-related ill-health cases in Ireland are linked to stress, depression or anxiety, which comes at an annual cost of €926 million to the economy. She said: “Toxic workplaces, where bullying, misogyny, racism, disablism and cronyism persist, must be tackled by the trade union movement as a health and safety issue.
“Employers cannot be left to self-police the very risks they are often responsible for. Proper scrutiny and action can only come from empowered, independent health and safety representatives, supported by strong trade unions. That means empowering reps to act without fear and giving workers the tools they need to ensure we are safe at work and not suffering harm from work,” she said.
Speaking in a panel debate on organising in Ireland, Europe and the USA, ETUC general secretary Esther Lynch underlined that workers and unions in the EU and the US are putting forward the same agenda and organising to build the trade union movement. She said: “Don’t defend the status quo – it’s letting too many people down”.
Liz Schuler, AFL-CIO president, joined the panel by video link. She told the audience that 90% of Americans under 30 support trade unions and speaking about the current US administration, she said: “There’s nothing scarier to an authoritarian than an organised labour movement fighting back.”
Phil Ní Sheaghdha was elected as president of ICTU, replacing outgoing president Justin McCamphill, who has been in the role since 2022. She is currently the general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and has served as a vice-president of Congress for the last three years.
Speaking after the announcement, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“At a time of grave global uncertainty, Irish workers will need their trade unions now more than ever. As a trade union movement, we need to be clear that we will not accept the erosion and dilution of workers’ rights. This includes the denial of a living wage, paid sick leave, and flexible working arrangements, particularly as we face the looming threat of tariffs and other economic shocks.”
Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan was re-elected as vice president of ICTU, and Jacquie White of the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) was also elected vice president, marking the first time all three ICTU officers are women.
Katie Morgan (Fórsa), Phil Ní Sheaghdha (INMO), Jacquie White (UTU)
Speaking about the term ahead, Katie Morgan said: “As trade unionists we aim to give workers a voice and stand with them as they fight for fairness at work. Congress is a really important body and gives each affiliate union greater power when we stand and act together. Over the next two years we will have plenty of work to do to further build trade union power in Ireland, in order to support all of our members.”
Watch back our video recap of the Civil Service divisional conference.
In this lively recap from the Fórsa Civil Service Divisional Conference that took place at the end of May, public servants speak out on what’s really at stake: flexible work, dignity on the job, and the right to be safe at work.
From tackling the exclusion of neurodivergent workers to challenging the myths of AI, defending hybrid work and arguing for a Four Day Week we hear from youth reps, union leaders, and frontline staff fighting for fairer workplaces, safer conditions, and a real say over how work is done.
Watch the video below to hear Civil Service members stand up for forward thinking work, and remind us that rights aren’t given. They’re won.
Fórsa has launched a new helpline for members who have experienced identity theft. The helpline will help with situations such as having a credit card stolen or a bank account hacked.
When identity theft happens, acting quickly is crucial to limiting the amount of damage the thief can inflict upon your finances. The helpline offers immediate assistance so you can stop the thieves in the act and limit the damage.
After you have removed the thieves access to your accounts, you may need help restoring access to your accounts. The helpline can assist you with reissuing stolen or compromised cards and reinstating your credentials.
In the event of legal issues arising following your identity theft incident, the helpline can provide you with assistance on any related issues. This includes potential penalties or fines that may arise following the incident.
Fórsa deputy general secretary, Matt Staunton said “ID theft is on the rise. We’re now seeing more cunning and sophisticated scams online and on our phones, on top of the physical theft of cards.”
He continued, “We want to make sure that our members are well supported if the worst happens to them. It can be scary when a theft happens to you, and it can be hard to think straight. The helpline is there so you can make sure you don’t miss anything, cut the thieves off completely, and help you sort everything out afterwards.”
If you are experiencing identity theft or have experienced identity theft and need support, you can reach our helpline at 0818 252 922.
Our other helplines for members include legal advice, confidential counselling, and home incidents. Details of all helplines can be found here.
Don’t get scammed!
The best way to combat identity thieves is by making sure they don’t get their hands on your personal information in the first place. Their methods evolve and change so remain vigilant! So here is some evergreen advice for keeping yourself safe:
Text scams
Don’t use links you receive in texts. If it’s from someone claiming to be your bank, call your bank’s customer service number if you think it may be legitimate. For An Post or other delivery services check for updates on their website using tracking information or contact the sender.
Phone Scams
Stay calm, scammers will often try to panic you. When you’re panicking, you’re not thinking, and you are less likely to notice important things, like if they are asking you for information they should already have, if they are who they say they are.
As a rule, if someone contacts you claiming to be from your bank, a service provider, the government, An Post, or another similar organisation, do not give them your details, name, age, address, account number, passwords, login details, PPSN, etc. Only ever give details to a number you have called and verified as legitimate from the company/organisation’s website.
Fake invoices
An increasingly common scam, you may receive a fake invoice that looks like it is from a legitimate company. This is likely a phishing scam. If it is with a company or service you don’t use, you can ignore it. If you are worried, you can contact the company’s customer support using information found on their website. Do not reply to the email.
Be mysterious
Never put important details out on social media. Your address, children’s names, place of birth, etc. these can be used by tech-savvy thieves to access your social media accounts, and in scams to access your bank accounts. This includes message board sites like RIP.ie, where it is best to just use your given name when extending your condolences.
Similarly, there are commonly used security questions you should be aware of and be careful not to post the answers to. The name of your first pet, favourite food, mother’s maiden name, favourite colour, and street you grew up on are all commonly used security questions. So, chain memes like “your mother’s maiden name backwards and the last thing you ate is your Star Wars name” may seem fun but could leave you exposed to identity theft.
Be careful at ATMs
This is less of an issue these days as plastic payments take over from paper, but you should still be careful when using an ATM and examine the machine’s casing for signs of tampering before using it. Thieves can place card skimmers inside ATMs and steal your card’s information. Where possible withdraw money from ATMs in bank lobbies which are less exposed to tampering.
No one can be vigilant every second of every day and even the most careful person can get scammed. The important thing is to remember to act fast when it does happen, and our identity theft helpline is there to ensure you can get back to normal as quickly as possible after.
Course participants and well-wishers gathered for the first Skills Academy award ceremony.
Tuesday 24th June was a big day for Fórsa’s Skills Academy. Course participants and well-wishers gathered in Nerney’s Court for the first Skills Academy award ceremony.
Awards were presented to participants from the 2024–2025 academic year who took part in chairs and secretaries training, leadership training, the mentorship programme, and levels one and two of workplace representatives training.
The event was a celebration of the course participants, with contributions from a number of them. The event was at times raucous, at times earnest, and on occasion touching.
Workplace representative training level one: Majella Murphy, Clodagh Kavanagh, Michael Crowe, Ian Patel,John Buggy, Andrea Somerville, Daniela Abrudan, Declan Foley, Gary Rutledge, James Bradley, Bernie Kelly, Cameron Hourigan, Paul Dwan, Kevin Foley, Jennifer Drohan, Robert Black, Kevin Callinan.
Fórsa vice-president Michael Crowe, head of the training sub-committee, and general secretary Kevin Callinan were on hand to present course participants with their certificates of completion.
In his address, Michael Crowe emphasised the importance of labour representatives having confidence in their workplace, and the vital role that training plays in fostering that confidence. He said, “Thank you all for being visionaries in seeing what we hope will be the future of Fórsa in the workplace, you are leading the change.”
Workplace representative training level two: Clodagh Kavanagh, Majella Murphy, Michael Crowe, Ian Patel, Thomas Madden, Darren St. Leger, Catherine Black, Jennifer Drohan, Garry Whelan, Kevin Callinan.
Kevin Callinan praised the Skills Academy for its work. He said, “I don’t think there’s another union in the country doing the level and standard of training we are doing.” He praised the course participants for stepping forward.
Chairs and secretaries training: Clodagh Kavanagh, Majella Murphy, Michael Crowe, Ian Patel, Sorcha O’Connor, William Mooney, Geraldine Whelan, Gary Guilfoyle, Elain Quinn, Elaine Gallagher, Kevin Callinan.
Director of membership training and development, Fiona Dunne, praised course participants for their time, effort and hard work.
She said, “Workplace representatives and branch officers are the lifeblood of our union and with their knowledge, skills, and expertise locally, the union grows stronger. Training and development programmes provide the information, skills platform, and opportunities to learn and develop key skills to build confidence and capacity to be effective in their role. “
“At the Skills Academy we understand the commitment and dedication our representatives have and what it takes to complete their learning, whilst balancing their work and family life. We hope the presentation of certificates goes some way to showing that appreciation on behalf of the union and members.” continued.
Leadership training:Clodagh Kavanagh, Fiona Baskett, Michael Crowe, Ian Patel, Caoimhín Ó Tuathail, Majella Murphy, Linda O’Sullivan, Kevin Callinan.
A second award ceremony for students of the 2024-25 academic will take place later this year. The winter awards ceremony is set to take place following the November consultative council. More information will be issued closer to the date.
Mentorship program:Denise Knezovic, Jim Doherty, Majella Murphy, Clodagh Kavanagh, Michael Crowe, Ian Patel, Daniela Abrudan, Gary Rutledge, Liam Mullins, Martina McKenna, Kevin Callinan.
Upcoming: Lunch & Learn – Supporting our Pink and Blue campaigns – 1-2pm Friday 25th July – Online
Lunch & Learn will continue on the last Friday of every month through the summer break. The next session takes place on Friday 25th July. Skills Academy will be joined by Eimear Conroy, senior relationship manager with Cornmarket, and Juliette O’Connell, outreach officer with Breast Cancer Ireland, to discuss the Pink and Blue Power Programme, and raise awareness around breast and prostate cancers. Register here. https://forms.office.com/e/hGXm4J0Vvn
Fórsa Induction for new members – Online - Wednesday 13th August
Also continuing throughout the summer, the next Fórsa Induction will take place on Wednesday 13th August. It is a short, informative session designed to unravel some of the mysteries of the union and provide a warm welcome to new members. Register here. https://forms.office.com/e/WeJyZ7pqfg
Register for next semester
Solas training for Dublin and Leinster branches, taking place on Tuesday 2nd September in Nerney’s Court, is now open for registration. Details were emailed to all branches last week and will remain open until the end of July.
Level 2 Workplace Representative Training in Dublin is now open to those who have completed Level 1 or have 2+ years' experience as a workplace representative. It is imperative that those who register commit to all three parts over four dates, as only participants completing all sessions will receive a certificate of completion.
Other courses taking place in September will be opened throughout July for registration and will be sent to branches as per our procedure so branches should keep an eye on their email accounts during the summer.
Fórsa members will be participating in the next national demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 19th July.
All members who wish to take part in the demonstration are encouraged to join the Fórsa delegation that will be marching as part of the trade union bloc.
There will be a coffee morning in Nerney’s Court from 12pm for members to meet and get to know like-minded union members.
The delegation will leave Nerney’s Court at 12.30pm to join the trade union bloc, gathering outside Mandate’s offices across the road from the Gate theatre on Cavendish Row. Members are welcome to join the delegation at Nerney’s Court or meet directly outside Mandate.
The march will begin at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm and finish outside the Dáil on Molesworth Street/Kildare Street.
According to demonstration organisers, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the demonstration will call for immediate sanctions, the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill including a ban on services, and the end to the state’s complicity through the central bank’s facilitation of the sale of war bonds and the transport of arms through Irish airspace.
If you would like to become more involved with Fórsa’s Palestine demonstrations or would like to receive regular updates on the union’s activities in this area, contact campaigns@forsa.ie.
BDS training portal
For members looking to become more informed on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Trade Union Friends of Palestine (TUFP) has launched a BDS training portal.
Trade Union Friends of Palestine is a cross-border collective of trade unionists who seek a lasting and just peace guaranteeing the freedom and human rights of Palestinians.
Fórsa official and chair of Trade Union Friends of Palestine, Paul MacSweeney, said: “The portal is intended to ‘train the trainers.’ It is there to give people all the information they need to become a leader on BDS, both in their union and in their workplace.”
The portal contains help with writing BDS motions including examples of motions passed by other unions, and a wide variety of reports and other information to explain BDS to colleagues who may only have a vague idea of what it entails.
Paul said “We know everyone is deeply frustrated seeing men, women, and children being killed and starved. Boycott gives you the power as individuals to show you don’t accept this.”
He continued: “Having the right information is crucial to being effective in any action. It can be difficult to know what falls under BDS and how best to target certain services that do, the portal is there to help give anyone who wants to take action.”
The Trade Union Friends of Palestine portal can be found here.
A list of the companies which fall under BDS boycotts can be found here.
The LPT phone service will no longer be outsourced. Additional staff will be hired, and payments will now be taken by Revenue staff directly.
Following negotiation by the clerical and executive grade branches in Revenue, the entirety of the Local Property Tax (LPT) phone service has been brought in-house, effective from 1st July.
Previously the service had been outsourced. To support the move, additional staff are being recruited and the LPT phone service is also being enhanced with new IT capabilities. This will allow Revenue phone agents to process payments over the phone from callers who wish to pay their LPT directly, which was previously a key reason the service had been outsourced.
Union official Donna Mooney said: “It’s a big win for the union to have this service brought back in-house. Public services should be provided by public servants.”
She continued: “Up to 70 temporary clerical officers (TCOs) will be hired for this, and they will have proper training and understanding of the LPT system. This will improve the service members of the public benefit from when they contact Revenue.”
This will be a busy year for staff in the LPT branch as Government have confirmed that 2025 is to be a year in which property owners will be required to revalue their properties for local property tax purposes.
The revaluation date is 1st November. Plans are currently in motion that will see staff from elsewhere in the division and from some other divisions being temporarily reassigned to support the LPT branch.
In the weeks around the revaluation date, management have stated that it may be necessary to restrict annual leave for staff working in the LPT branch, between October and December.
Revenue partnership official for clerical officers Noreen O’Flynn advised members to contact their local reps if they have any concerns about this. She said: “The workload at this time is very high, which is why restrictions on leave are sometimes put in place, but it’s really important to make sure conditions like flexi leave are protected. If you have any concerns at all, make sure to raise them now with your local rep.”
Fórsa has secured a pay-out in excess of 8,000 euro for a member who had been underpaid for taking on additional higher-grade duties.
Fórsa has secured a pay-out in excess of 8,000 euro for a member who had been underpaid for taking on additional higher-grade duties.
While working as a storeman for An Garda Síochána, the member had been asked to take on additional clerical officer duties without amending their pay to the clerical officer rate for that work.
While the employer claimed the situation was only temporary, lasting no longer than 6 months, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that the situation had lasted far longer.
On appeal to the Labour Court, it awarded the member a payment of unpaid wages equal to a four-and-a-half-year period, at a rate of 36.77 euro a week, amounting to just short of 8,200 euro.
Fórsa official Paul Moyer said, “this was a clear case of underpayment. There is a rate of pay for clerical officer work and that needs to be paid to anyone of a lower grade doing that work.”
He continued, “These kinds of cases are bread and butter to us. If an employer thinks they can get away with having workers work to a higher grade and not compensate them fairly for that by paying the going rate, we’re here to tell them otherwise. Any member who is asked to take on additional duties at a higher grade should seek advice from their local branch and also get the employer to put in writing what they will be paid.”
A Higher Executive Panel (HEO) in Revenue, open since 2022, has now been fully exhausted, with all successful candidates offered a promotion.
A Higher Executive Panel (HEO) in Revenue, open since 2022, has now been fully exhausted, with all successful candidates placed on the panel offered a promotion.
A commitment to attempt to exhaust the panel was obtained in negotiations last October, when Revenue had tried to advertise an open HEO competition. Fórsa made it absolutely clear that it is opposed to any across the board opening up of HEO competitions.
At that time, the Fórsa executive grades branch in Revenue reacted swiftly to defend the existing internal promotion pathway for civil servants, arguing that staff with the skills and talent needed for the roles were already working in Revenue. The successful outcome of that dispute included a written commitment from the employer to maximise the existing internal HEO panel.
Assistant general secretary Úna Faulkner said: “Without members’ tenacity and persistence we wouldn’t have achieved this outcome. Local knowledge allowed us to flag teams and locations where HEO promotions hadn’t taken place, so we were certain that there were roles that needed to be filled. This vindicates our position that the skill base needed for HEO roles is already in Revenue and clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when workers and their colleagues stand together.”
Chair of the Revenue executive grades branch Pat Murtagh said: “This is a great result for the branch. The exhaustion of this panel had been one of the branch’s priorities during negotiations on the HEO Tax Specialist competitions. Last August there were 31 people left on the panel, by February that was down to 18.”
“At that stage we were informed by management that there was little scope left for promotion from this panel, due to preferred locations. However, we stuck with the task in hand and our tenacity eventually paid off.”
Des Ryder, Revenue executive grades partnership official, said: “This is of real benefit to the members who have been promoted, and for those who may now wish to fill the new vacancies created at the Executive Officer level. Our members in Revenue are dedicated staff who want to stay working as civil servants, so protecting internal recruitment pathways for them is very important.”
Fórsa’s school secretaries and caretakers will begin indefinite strike action for pension parity on Thursday 28th August 2025, at the start of the new school term.
Fórsa’s school secretaries and caretakers will begin indefinite strike action for pension parity on Thursday 28th August 2025, at the start of the new school term. Letters of notice have issued to affected school employers and school management bodies.
Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of indefinite strike action in their ongoing campaign for pension parity. The ballot saw 98% of voting members support the move, with a turnout of over 81%.
Fórsa represents more than 2,300 school secretaries and 500 school caretakers working in primary and secondary schools across the country. The ballot follows years of campaigning to secure access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, from which school secretaries remain excluded, despite being placed on the Department of Education’s centralised payroll since 2023. School caretakers are fighting for access to the same terms and conditions as previously won by secretaries, and for pensions.
Chair of the school secretaries branch, Luisa Carty, thanked members from across the union for the solidarity and support they have shown so far. She said: “Every community has a school at its heart and school secretaries and caretakers are the heart of those schools. We give so much to our communities and we’re so grateful for the support being shown to our campaign.”
David Hearne, chair of the school caretakers branch, urged members from other divisions to sign the petition and to come along to rallies when the strike action begins. He said: “The more people who stand with us the stronger the message the government will get. So, when you see the secretary and caretaker from your school on strike, please support them.”
Andy Pike, Fórsa’s head of education, said the result sends a powerful message: “Our members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action because they believe in pension equality. These are dedicated professionals who are essential to the smooth running of our schools. They deserve the same pension rights as their public service colleagues.”
Andy said the ballot reflected growing frustration at the State’s continued refusal to extend pension parity, despite the significant progress made in standardising pay, contracts, and payroll arrangements for school secretaries. Similar pay arrangements for caretakers are expected to be finalised this year.
He added: “The 2023 agreement was a landmark in recognising the value of school secretaries’ work. But without pension provision, it remains incomplete. Fórsa has always maintained that pension justice is a vital element of achieving full equality.”
The 2023 agreement followed a prolonged campaign by Fórsa, which included strike action by school secretaries in January 2020, with strong support from teachers, Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and parents in school communities.
Fórsa has advised the department that it remains available for engagement should the department wish to discuss the terms under which Fórsa members can be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
Andy added: “We urge both the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to re-engage with Fórsa to secure a fair and equitable resolution.”
Members march in Dublin Pride, and union shows solidarity with the fightback against anti-LGBTQIA+ crackdown in Hungary.
The afternoon of Saturday 28th June saw the streets of Dublin bloom in a riot of colour as revellers gathered for the annual Dublin Pride parade. A momentous occasion this year as the city celebrated ten years since Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote.
To add to the occasion, members marching under Fórsa’s banner did so for the first time under the auspices of the LGBTQIA+ Network, established in February of this year.
There were high spirits in Nerney’s Court that morning, as members met for a light breakfast before making their way to O’Connell Street.
The Fórsa contingent joined over 12,000 people representing more than 280 organisations taking part in the parade, with thousands more packing the pavements from start to finish along the route from O’Connell Street to Merrion Square.
Also in attendance were leaders and representatives of parties from across the political spectrum.
Speaking at the festivities, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected the rise of anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments across the world. He said, “Our goal is to build a society in which LGBTQIA+ people can live safe, inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives in an accepting and compassionate Ireland.”
Cathal Kelly, a member in the civil service division and a former editor of Gay Community News (GCN), marched with Fórsa this year. A veteran of Dublin Pride going back to his first march in 1993, Cathal sees union participation in Pride as more than just a celebration.
He said, “Members of my community across Europe have known about and often directly felt the danger from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for many years. But less attention has been paid to dangers closer to home. When the Fórsa conference last year decided to set up an LGBTQIA+ network, a handful of delegates shared some shocking and brave testimonies of harassment, aggression and intrusion that LGBTQIA+ members of Fórsa still face today, in our workplaces and in broader society.”
Fórsa will be taking part in Transgender and Intersex Pride in Dublin on Saturday 12th July, Cork Pride on Sunday 3rd August, and Galway Pride on Saturday 16th August. Members can register their interest in attending any or all events here.
All members welcome to show up on the day for Transgender and Intersex Pride on Saturday 12th July. Meeting at Dublin City Hall on Dame Street at 1.45pm.
Stand up, fight back: Budapest Pride
While members were making their way into Dublin, Fórsa official Aisling Cusack was already on the streets of Budapest in defiance of the Orbán regime’s Pride parade ban.
Aisling travelled to Budapest to represent Fórsa as part of the European Public Services Union (EPSU) delegation, hosted by the Hungarian union VDSZ, marching side-by-side with trade unionists from across Europe in support of Hungarian LGBTQIA+ people facing the repression of an authoritarian state.
She said, “Trade unionists in Ireland have a proud history of fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights and equality both in the workplace and in society. It’s incredibly important that our solidarity does not stop at our island’s borders. Our solidarity must extend to all those facing the threat of persecution because of who they are.”
In March of this year, the Hungarian Parliament voted in favour of a bill that effectively banned Pride events in Hungary. The bill, proposed by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, builds on their previous 2021 anti-LGBTQIA+ law. The law in question has been compared to the UK’s infamous “Section 28”, prohibiting the promotion or portrayal of homosexual or transgender people to minors, effectively eradicating queer lives from the public sphere.
Reports estimate upwards of 200,000 people took part in Budapest Pride, in a stark rebuke of the Orbán government’s latest attack on LGBTQIA+ rights.
Aisling said, “We marched for freedom, for democracy, and for love. Orbán attempted to silence LGBTQIA+ identities and ban the pride protest, but the right to protest can never be taken away just because the government doesn’t like the message.”
There were significant concerns for the safety and wellbeing of participants prior to the parade, with fears that a large scale far-right counter protest would turn violent, or that mass arrests of parade participants would take place.
Describing the atmosphere on the day Aisling said, “That morning, I could feel a sense of tension in the air all across the city, but as the parade start time neared and thousands gathered at City Hall together, there was a huge feeling of determination and defiance among the crowds.”
She continued, “The Hungarians I spoke to were grateful for the international support. Many were also really surprised that so many Europeans showed up in solidarity. I think it was really important that we let them know, no matter what their government throws at them, ‘you are not alone.’”
The Galway Rape Crisis Centre offers training to build staff awareness and improve workplace reactions when incidents occur.
Fórsa branches and members can now organise training sessions provided by the Galway Rape Crisis Centre (GRCC) on sexual harassment in the workplace.
The sexual harassment training aims to create a workplace culture where individuals feel supported to report incidents and to equip management and their teams with the skills to identify and respond appropriately to sexual harassment.
The training also outlines support pathways, both internal and external, on options available to staff who might be dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace.
Susan Costello, head of development at the GRCC and Fórsa member, encouraged people to think about how the training could benefit their workplace and to get in touch for more information.
She said: “Practical training can make a real difference to building a supportive culture where workers feel safe.”
This training is delivered by experienced, trauma-informed facilitators from GRCC and can be adapted to an organisation’s size, sector, and policies. It includes real-life case examples, discussion and Q&As and is available in-person and online.
The purpose of the training is to help organisations meet their legal obligations, strengthen staff awareness by providing clear guidance on identifying and responding to sexual harassment in the workplace.
According to the Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work 2022, an employer is legally responsible for harassment suffered by employees in the course of their employment unless they take reasonable, practicable steps to prevent it, to reverse the effects of it, and to prevent its recurrence.
This training contributes to creating a healthier, more respectful workplace culture while promoting a safer working environment for all.
Investing in sexual harassment training is a crucial step towards fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. It supports an organisation's compliance with the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 and builds staff confidence and workplace trust.
When individuals feel safe and supported, they are more likely to perform at their best, collaborate effectively, and contribute to the overall success of an organisation.
If you would like to arrange a training session for your branch or organisation or if you have any other query, please contact education@grcc.ie or visit https://galwayrcc.ie/education-training/
Through this public consultation, you have an opportunity to share your personal story, helping to draw lessons that will guide future national responses.
COVID-19 reshaped lives worldwide, and everyone in Ireland felt its impact, though each experience was unique. The independent COVID-19 evaluation has been tasked with getting to grips with the diverse effects of the pandemic era. Through its public consultation, you have an opportunity to share your personal story, helping to draw lessons that will guide future national responses.
Chaired by Professor Anne Scott, the evaluation panel has been tasked with compiling a comprehensive, independent report. Its goals include providing a factual account of how Ireland planned for and managed the pandemic, identifying lessons learned, and recommending principles and processes to strengthen future decision-making for crises of this scale.
The evaluation panel will submit its final report to the Taoiseach within 12–18 months, possibly issuing interim reports if immediate improvements are identified. Its recommendations will draw on all findings and best practices to shape guiding principles, ensuring Ireland is better prepared for future emergencies.
Fórsa will submit a response on behalf of members, highlighting how members went above and beyond to serve the public during the pandemic. We are also encouraging anyone who wishes to contribute themselves to do so.
The evaluation is eager to reach as many people as possible, and it has asked trade unions to help raise awareness and encourage participation in the public survey. Please consider passing this on to members, colleagues, or anyone interested in contributing.
Details on how to share your experience are available here.
