Friday feeling
by Hazel Gavigan

Planned industrial action due to take place yesterday by IALPA members at CHC Helicopters in a dispute over rostering arrangements at the Irish Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue services was postponed. This received coverage in the journal.ie which you can read here.

 

After news emerged that around 6,000 women will have to be re-tested for cervical cancer as their initial samples expired before they could be examined, the Tánaiste has now revelaed that the HSE has known about these repeat smear tests since last November. 

 

In other health news, the planned industrial action by the INMO and PNA is still set to go ahead next week with the HSE estimating around 15,000 people will have hospital out-patient appointments rescheduled as a result. 

 

Trade unions, including Fórsa were seeking €6.6m to compensate workers for losses arising from the closure of a pension scheme at the Central Remedial Clinic. However, the Labour Court dismissed the request as 'not realistic.'

 

Yesterday, Fianna Fáil and the SDLP announced a planned “partnership” and said they're developing joint policy proposals on Brexit and uniting Ireland's people. Speaking in Belfast, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood both hit out at Sinn Féin and the DUP saying that they "took us from a situation where there was genuine public enthusiasm about devolved government, to one where the public has grown cynical about institutions”.

 

After 47 years of a zero-VAT rating being applied to vitamins, minerals and fish-oil supplements such as Omega 3, the Revenue Commissioners will impose 23pc VAT on these items - and health food stores and pharmacies are expected to pass it on. The Irish Health Trade Association claims it could threaten 25 businesses with closure and put 1,800 jobs at risk.

 

And finally, today's Zen is the trailer for a documentary I caught during the week. Fyre, the Netflix original, tells the story of the supposed greatest music festival of all time. Planned to take place on a private Bahamian island (previously owned by Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar) it doesn't all quite go to plan and after lie upon lie, disaster ensues. Social media had an enormous role to play in the eventual outcome and it just shows how easily society are duped by what's fed to them on Instagram. If you don't get a chance to watch it, this article gives a pretty good rundown of the events. 

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