The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has reacted coolly to Government plans to let new mums allocate two weeks of their maternity leave to dads. The union federation says there should be an additional two weeks leave for fathers instead, with no change to mothers’ existing 26-week entitlement.

The Labour Court has ruled that HSE West should continue to abide by a local collective agreement on compassionate leave while national negotiations continue on a HSE circular, which has not been agreed with unions. The HSE circular was issued in 2012 to take account of new civil partnership rights, but it also had the effect of supplanting an otherwise superior local agreement in the west.

HSE plans to remove the Dublin ambulance service from Dublin fire brigade, which were reported in the Irish Times week, are unnecessary and wasteful, according to IMPACT. The union says the current service couldn’t be matched by the health authority for excellence or efficiency.

Representatives of library staff are to consider their response to environment department plans to pilot ‘staffless’ libraries at a meeting in Dublin on Monday (24^th March). The department is also considering piloting Sunday opening for libraries.

Ireland needs to change its approach to vocational education and training, including apprenticeships, to establish “parity of esteem” with degree courses, according to Dublin MEP Emer Costello. “Apprenticeships should be made more widely available – including in growth sectors like health care, communications and green technology – and made more attractive, including to girls,” she said.