Category: News from Ireland

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Blow to Economy as Tourists from Britain Desert Ireland

Michael Green

The number of visitors from Britain has fallen by as many as a Million visits since 2007 when 3.7 Million trips from Britain to Ireland were recorded. Six short years ago Ireland was a very different place. The ‘Celtic Tiger’ still stalked the land although his days were numbered. A property market collapse and financial ruin were just around the corner. Britain suffered its own recession too but was spared the carnage caused by the banks that Ireland suffered. Against this backdrop it is perhaps no surprise that visitors from our closest neighbour have decided to opt for sunnier climes. … Continue reading Blow to Economy as Tourists from Britain Desert Ireland

News from Ireland1 Comment

Government ‘Divide & Conqueror’ Strategy to Test the Resolve of Public Sector Unions

Michael Green

A successor to the ‘Croke Park Agreement’ has been finalized that will see cuts of 1 Billion Euro from the Government pay bill. The deal includes pay cuts for all staff, and up to 10% for top-earners, additional hours of work at no extra pay, and reductions in allowances and premium payments. As many as nine Unions have already indicated that they will not support the new deal and are recommending that their membership reject it. The consequences of being outside of the new arrangements are likely to make for a very difficult situation for the Unions. It is very … Continue reading Government ‘Divide & Conqueror’ Strategy to Test the Resolve of Public Sector Unions

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Irish Government Finally Issues Apology to Magdalene Survivors

Michael Green

The Irish Government response to the release of the Report into the extent of Irish State involvement in the now infamous ‘Magdalene Laundries was very poor indeed. Taoiseach Enda Kenny botched the response and unwittingly inflicted more stress and hardship on the victims. The easy and honorable thing to do would have been to immediately apologise to the victims of what were essentially State-Sponsored Labour camps. Instead of apologising Enda Kenny decided that his Government needed more time to examine and consider the findings of the Report. Now, in respect of putting together a proper financial compensation package for the … Continue reading Irish Government Finally Issues Apology to Magdalene Survivors

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Magdalene Laundries Abuses To Be Made Public

Michael Green

The Report by the Committee that was established to investigate the role that the Irish Government played in the abuses perpetuated in the notorious ‘Magdalene Laundries’ is to be published. In the decades that followed the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 and the Republic in 1948 the Catholic Church had tremendous influence in Ireland. It is only since the 1970’s that this influence has declined. Over the last two decades the litany of abuse carried out in institutions by religious orders and sponsored by the State has been graphically exposed. One such institution was the ‘Magdalene Laundry’ … Continue reading Magdalene Laundries Abuses To Be Made Public

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Nurses Set To Claim Victory In Showdown With Government

Michael Green

The recent attempts by the Irish Government to recruit new nurses into the profession at 80% of the usual starting wage has backfired. Nursing Unions have mounted a vocal campaign against the scheme which they regard as an insult to the work done by nursing staff on the front line of the health service. The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) has been forced to extend the deadline for applications after interest in the jobs was reported as being very low. Should the HSE be forced to abandon the scheme all together it will be seen as a victory for the … Continue reading Nurses Set To Claim Victory In Showdown With Government

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Irish Emigration At Highest Level Since The Famine

Michael Green

The tragedy of Irish emigration continues unabated. Over 46,500 Irish people emigrated from Ireland in the year up to April 2012. The rate of emigration is the highest in Ireland since the Great Famine in the middle of the nineteenth century. The devastating recession and austerity measures being imposed in Ireland have made work very hard to come by. Unemployment remains above 14% in Ireland and at over 11% in the Eurozone. Little wonder then that so many Irish citizens are flocking to places like Canada, Australia and America. More than half of the 6,350 working visas to Canada available … Continue reading Irish Emigration At Highest Level Since The Famine