A Bigger Boat
by Niall Shanahan
 
"Yes, the tornado riding the melted-glacier smoke storm is alarming, but it's creating the perfect natural filter for this sunset." #NewYorkerCartoons
"Yes, the tornado riding the melted-glacier smoke storm is alarming, but it's creating the perfect natural filter for this sunset." #NewYorkerCartoons

The Irish front pages lean toward the end of Covid restrictions later this week (NPHET meets today to discuss what should happen next), while the UK front pages continue to cover the aftermath of the death of MP David Amess on Friday.

 

The Indo reports today that just one in 10 people working from home have claimed tax relief on their expenses, worth more than €10m, while online news outlet The Currency, reports on Ryanair's legal action against Fórsa and IALPA.

 

The Irish Times reports that litter in Ireland’s cities has worsened to levels “not seen in 10 years,”  while the Climate Change Advisory Council is to issue its key recommendations to the Government in the coming days. The HSE is asking parents to have their children avail of the free flu vaccine this winter, and Pilita Clark has some thoughts on the imperative to disconnect from work.

 

The Sundays

 

In the Business Post yesterday, it was reported that Fingal County Council has received financial compensation from developers in lieu of providing green spaces in new residential developments. The same paper has a report on low pay, racism and abuse endured by migrant workers in the Irish fishing industry

 

The Dublin People reports that, nearly a decade after bin collection services were (disastrously) privatised in the city, a campaign is growing for Dublin City Council to take back control of the provision, as the city spends in excess of €1 million a year dealing with illegal dumping. Fórsa is represented on the council's Waste Collection Service Subcommittee, established to discuss and explore the possibility of the local authority retaking ownership of the service.

 

Will Goodbody writes on the RTE website that the wind down of wage supports "will be full of risks and dangers", while the Business Post reports continuing staff shortages in the hospitality industry, and these are the issues exercising the Sunday Times editorial.

 

Fearghal O'Connor in the Sindo continues to track developments in the ongoing acrimony between management at the IAA and its air traffic control staff. He reported yesterday that members of Fórsa's ATCO branch committee have been threatened with potential dismissal as the row escalates, and that they could face charges of gross misconduct.

 

O'Connor reports that the IAA has previously accused the committee of intimidating controllers into not cooperating with a controversial overtime call-in system. Last week we learned that Kieran Mulvey has been brought in to mediate on this one. Elsewhere in the same paper, O'Connor reports that an “emotive” row over outstanding pay increments for airport staff at Dublin and Cork has been referred to the WRC.

 

Zen

 

I picked up today's Zen moment from the BBC's news website, a story about a new play about the famously troubled production of Spielberg's 1975 classic Jaws. The stage play is about the working relationship between the three principal actors (Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider, pictured) which is about to transfer to London's West End. The full story is available by clicking the image above.

 

Jaws is one of my all-time favourites, and I watch it again at least once a year. If you haven't seen it, it depicts the tensions and calamities that occur when authorities and corporate vested interests disregard a serious piscine public health hazard in favour of the local economy, and how public servants and low paid gig workers are ultimately called upon to solve the problem. Here's one of my favourite clips.

 

Have a lovely week.

 

Niall

LikeLike (1)