Nurses and midwives attending a special delegate conference in Croke Park today are expected to dash Government hopes that ending a two-tier pay- system will quell anger over pay and conditions. The Government announced proposals aimed at improving pay for recent public service entrants, which, it was hoped would persuade groups such as nurses they can secure extra pay without going on strike. Government sources indicated that about 10,000 of the HSE’s 40,000 nurses could benefit from the ending of the two-tier system . At a lunchtime protest yesterday however, nurses said the ending of the two-tier pay system would affect teachers more than nurses, as large numbers of teachers were recruited on lower pay during the recession, but nurses were not. As a result nurses estimated only about 5,000 of them stood to benefit from the Government move.
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy has survived a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in him by 59 votes to 49 after Fianna Fail abstained. All Fine Gael TDS supported the Minister, as did independent alliance and independent ministers. Much of the focus ahead of the vote had been on his Fine Gael colleague, Catherine Byrne, who had been told she would lose her role as Minister of State at the Department of Health if she voted against Mr Murphy. Ms Byrne and Mr Murphy have publicly clashed over plans for the State’s first “cost-rental” housing estate in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore, which is in Ms Byrne’s constituency.
RTÉ reports that the Economic and Social Research Institute has revised up its growth forecast for this year to 8.9%. It said this is due to faster than expected growth in the domestic economy and multinational corporate activity. It also forecasts growth of 4.5% next year, but on the assumption that a Brexit agreement along the lines of the European Economic Area is reached. In its latest quarterly economic outlook, the ESRI says unemployment should average 5.7% this year, falling to 5.1% next year. It estimates housing completions this year at around 18,600 units, rising to 24,500 next year.
The Guardian reports on the UN assembly, and how Trump’s speech drew unintended laughter. Donald Trump urged other nations to reject globalism and embrace patriotism at a speech to the United Nations that was interrupted by derisive laughter from other world leaders. In the course of this address, Trump highlighted the achievements of his presidency, lashed out at enemies and railed against multilateralism in its spiritual home, the UN general assembly (UNGA). In a remarkable moment the chamber broke out in spontaneous laughter at Trump’s claim that “in less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country”. Clearly taken aback, and in a moment of possible self awareness Trump said: “I didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s OK.”
Todays Zen is brought to us courtesy of Portuguese archeologists. A 400 year old shipwreck has been found by archeologists searching Portugal's coast and has been hailed as the"discovery of the decade". The ship is believed to have sunk near Lisbon after returning from India with spices specialists said on Monday. For more information on the find click here.
