"Key workers can't afford to buy or rent a home"
Rory Hearne, Social Democrats housing spokesperson, on the government's rent proposals, after emergency legislation passed through the Dáil yesterday evening.
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Irish Independent
38 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
‘It is wrong' – Ceann Comhairle urged to meet Oireachtas broadcast staff working on ‘contract basis'
In a letter, party whip Paul McAuliffe suggested she meet the Oireachtas staff who manage broadcasts of Dáil, Seanad and committee proceedings as soon as possible to resolve their grievances. He said he was writing on behalf of Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members in relation to the workers' pay and conditions and an upcoming contract review for their employer, PI Communications. Political pressure has ramped up for the workers who claim some earn around €12,000 a year and have no income during summer and Christmas breaks. In the letter sent on June 17, Mr McAuliffe said members of the Dáil were asked to sign a petition to support this group of 'essential workers'. 'It seems extraordinary that this group are only employed on a contract basis,' he said. 'It is not as if their work is temporary as it is through their good work that all of the Dáil's deliberations, debate and discussions get communicated to all of the public. 'This is crucial work for every elected representative and goes to the core of our democracy.' He said it is crucial and 'only fair' that their grievances are addressed as soon as possible. Mr McAuliffe told the Irish Independent it is up to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to make a decision, as it tenders for the service, and the ceann comhairle is the chair. 'I believe it is wrong that these staff are not on the same terms as other who contribute to the parliamentary community, including ushers and catering staff,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT A PI Comms spokesperson said it provides a range of video and streaming services to public and private sector organisations of which the Houses of the Oireachtas is one. He said the company is contracted on a pay per public minute model for coverage of live proceedings and can only bill for broadcasts that are capable of public transmission. The spokesperson said all part-time employees in this group have a guaranteed entitlement to a fixed amount of work each full sitting week, certainty of income for their contracted work, and are free to work on other projects or for other employers. He said they earn substantially more than the national living wage, with attractive bonus arrangements, and get paid leave and sick pay. They are eligible to enrol in pension schemes, have collective agreements that are recognised, and are provided with training and other staff benefits, he added. 'Furthermore, all salaries and payments are regularly benchmarked and are commensurate with roles, skills, experience and responsibilities,' he said. He said the company is currently engaged in trade union negotiations with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission. 'We operate in a very competitive sector and are immensely proud of both the service and value we provide our clients and the access, opportunity and supports we provide to our valued staff, many of whom are also engaged in roles for other employers,' he said. 'We are surprised and disappointed that some who have commented on our operations did not first fact-check the accuracy and veracity of ill-founded claims.'
Irish Examiner
41 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Justice minister found out from Labour TD that gardaí had supplied Carlow shooting gun
Labour TD Alan Kelly has told the Dáil that he informed the justice minister of the details of a gun that was supplied by the gardaí in the Evan Fitzgerald case. The 22-year-old was on bail for gun charges when he fired shots in a Carlow shopping centre before fatally shooting himself. It emerged that Mr Fitzgerald was supplied with guns and ammunition by undercover gardaí as part of a controlled operation. Speaking under Dáil privilege, Mr Kelly said that under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the garda commissioner must inform the justice minister about any major issues, before asking: "Why did the garda commissioner not brief the minister for justice on the details of this case and the facts that there was an undercover operation and that the guns were supplied by An Garda Síochána?" He added: "More important, is it appropriate and right that I, as a member of the opposition, had to ring the minister for justice about this and inform him about it? Is it correct that I had to tell him to go to the garda commissioner to ask him about the full details of this case? "Would we have ever known the full details of the case considering what was said in court on March 4 last year? Would we have ever known the full details if I had not to ring the minister for justice on June 3 in relation to this?" Responding, Tánaiste Simon Harris extended his sympathy to Mr Fitzgerald's family, but described it as a "complex case". "Obviously, I am not privy, nor should I be, to when the garda commissioner does or does not use the provision in the act. That is a matter between the commissioner and the minister, but I understand the minister for justice has sought further information from the garda commissioner on the case." A spokesperson for Mr O'Callaghan confirmed that Mr Kelly had rang him on June 3. The minister then made contact with the garda commissioner. Appearing before the Oireachtas Justice Committee last week, Drew Harris confirmed that the guns Fitzgerald had purchased from the dark web were part of a "controlled delivery" operation. "I would say that controlled delivery is very sensitive police methodology," Commissioner Harris said. "We use it for both organised crime and for our terrorist defence." Mr Harris said Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, had looked into the issue. "They have since examined the investigation file that was submitted by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to the DPP, and they've responded that they have no further action that they wish to take in pursuance," he said.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Justice Minister says key document relating to plan for IPAS centre at Tipperary hotel will be ‘quashed'
Today at 11:34 The Justice Minister has told the Dáil that Tipperary County Council will now have to 'figure out' what to do next, after it was revealed that inaccurate information on a key document could invalidate a contract to house asylum seekers at a landmark hotel. Fine Gael TD for South Tipperary, Michael Murphy, told the Dáil on Wednesday that the decision by Tipperary County Council, announced on Tuesday, not to contest a judicial review of the Dundrum House Section 5 declaration, substantiates his 'genuine concern' around the IPAS contract given to a 'proxy company' only incorporated in January this year for this site.
