Latest news with #CianO'Callaghan
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Over 2,200 letters sent to hip surgery children as audit nears completion
Over 2,200 children who had hip dysplasia surgery dating back as far as 2010 have received letters regarding follow-up care. It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated that an audit of potentially unnecessary surgeries on children being carried out by Children's Health Ireland (CHI) should be ready 'before the end of next week'. The Irish Independent reported earlier this week that parents whose children had undergone hip surgeries as far back as 2010 have started receiving letters from CHI regarding their treatment. Several letters sent to Development Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) patients and their parents by both CHI and Cappagh Hospital, seen by the Irish Mirror, stated that an 'early recommendation from the audit is that all patients who have had DDH surgery should receive routine follow-up care until the children's bones have fully grown and developed, in line with current best practice'. The letters advised that this was 'not urgent'. Despite being pressed on it several times in the Dáil, the Taoiseach was unable to confirm how many people had received these letters. A statement from CHI and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) yesterday [weds] evening confirmed that 2,259 letters have been sent in March 2025 to parents or patients who may now need follow-up care. A spokesperson said: 'Records from CHI and NOHC indicate that many of these patients are already in an extended follow-up post-op process, and any patient who is not in a post-op review process will receive an appointment for a review in the coming weeks. 'CHI wrote to 1,757 parents of children and young people who underwent any type of hip surgery for DDH in their hospitals, and this group of patients will continue to be monitored to skeletal maturity. 'The letters sent from CHI (dating back to 2010) were based on the age of the children, as children up to the age of 16 years are treated in CHI – the number represents all of the patients who potentially fall within the scope of follow-up to skeletal maturity. 'NOHC wrote to 502 parents of patients who underwent DDH surgery in the hospital, and this group of patients will continue to be monitored to skeletal maturity. 'CHI and NOHC will communicate further with families when the clinical audit is complete and any required additional steps will be taken as part of an Action Plan. 'We recognise the concerns of our patients' families and are committed to expediting the audit process, publishing the findings and implementing any required actions.' In Leinster House, the Taoiseach was accused of misleading the Dáil yesterday [weds]. On Tuesday, he stated that letters 'went out after media reporting of a draft audit report'. In response to queries from Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan in the Dáil yesterday [weds], the Taoiseach stated that he hoped the audit would be completed 'before the end of next week'. He also stated that what had been sent to parents was 'quite a general letter, from what I have seen'. Ms McDonald and Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty accused the Taoiseach of 'misleading the Dáil'. Mr Martin said he had 'no interest in hiding anything' but McDonald insisted that the letters had been sent in response to the audit's recommendations and were not 'general letters.'
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
New laws banning sex-for-rent arrangements to go before Cabinet today
The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Image posed. Photo: Getty Long-awaited laws banning sex for rent will go to the Cabinet today. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will ask the Government to draft, as a matter of priority, laws which he argues would address 'highly exploitative behaviour'. The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'. With regard to sex-for-rent arrangements, the new bill will introduce two new criminal offences: offering accommodation in exchange of sex; and the advertising of accommodation in exchange of sex. The main benefits of these provisions, the Cabinet will be told, include increased protections for vulnerable individuals and the potential to act as a deterrent to landlords or property owners currently engaging in such behaviour. Ministers will be told the proposal supports the Government's broader efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and offers positive potential impacts for gender equality. The laws aim to encompass both tenancies and licence arrangements. The proposed initial penalty is a class A fine, which is up to €5,000. Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan drafted legislation to tackle the practice in March 2022, but it was rejected after pre-legislative scrutiny. A National Women's Council (NWC) report has found students and migrant women were particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Recent research into Ireland's rental market found it creates the 'perfect environment' for the exploitation of tenants, with some landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex. Some women are being forced to accept such arrangements to avoid becoming homeless, the report from the NWC found. The NWC said practice of sex for rent has become a common occurrence. An Irish Council for International Students survey earlier this year found one in seven people had been offered rentals where they share a room – and sleep in the same bed – with people they do not know. All the respondents who received sex-for-rent offers were non-native English speakers and 68pc were female.
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
New laws banning sex for rent to go before Cabinet today
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will ask the Government to draft, as a matter of priority, laws which he argues would address 'highly exploitative behaviour'. The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'. With regard to sex-for-rent arrangements, the new bill will introduce two new criminal offences: offering accommodation in exchange of sex; and the advertising of accommodation in exchange of sex. The main benefits of these provisions, the Cabinet will be told, include increased protections for vulnerable individuals and the potential to act as a deterrent to landlords or property owners currently engaging in such behaviour. Ministers will be told the proposal supports the Government's broader efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and offers positive potential impacts for gender equality. The laws aim to encompass both tenancies and licence arrangements. The proposed initial penalty is a class A fine, which is up to €5,000. Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan drafted legislation to tackle the practice in March 2022, but it was rejected after pre-legislative scrutiny. A National Women's Council (NWC)report has found students and migrant women were particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Recent research into Ireland's rental market found it creates the 'perfect environment' for the exploitation of tenants, with some landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex. Some women are being forced to accept such arrangements to avoid becoming homeless, the report from the NWC found. The NWC said practice of sex for rent has become a common occurrence. An Irish Council for International Students survey earlier this year found one in seven people had been offered rentals where they share a room – and sleep in the same bed – with people they do not know. All the respondents who received sex-for-rent offers were non-native English speakers and 68pc were female.
Irish Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Russian oligarch might approve ‘unjustifiable housing tsar salary'
The Government was accused of double standards in exchanges where they were accused of paying 'tsar' salaries that would please a 'Russian oligarch'. Opposition politicians criticised Ministers over potential increases in salaries for the heads of 30 semi-State bodies while mounting 'a despicable attack on low-paid workers' in the Dáil on Wednesday. Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan made the accusation after the Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to implement recommendations made by the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee . This would lead to pay reviews and possible salary increases worth tens of thousands of euro for chief executives of almost 30 commercial State bodies. READ MORE But Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there had been an ad hoc approach to salaries for the past 10 or 20 years and it was 'important to create a framework for how chief executives are paid in the semi-state sector'. The exchange follows an attack earlier by Labour leader Ivana Bacik , who said the appointment of a 'housing tsar' at an 'extraordinary and unjustifiable price tag' of €430,000 was a price that 'might be approved of by a Russian oligarch'. She said it was 'clearly putting Fine Gael noses out of joint' following reports that Tánaiste Simon Harris heard in the media about the proposed appointment of National Asset Management Agency boss Brendan McDonagh , when he believed it should have been discussed in advance by party leaders. Ms Bacik, who accused the Taoiseach of failing to deal with homelessness, claimed the Housing Activation Office was a 'new policy shrouded in secrecy' and claimed the Government had a 'flying by the seat of your pants' strategy. She said it was unacceptable for its chief executive to earn €200,000 more than the Taoiseach. But Mr Martin insisted the new agency 'is not a secret. It was in the programme for government.' Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald , referring to the proposed salary of the head of the new agency, said the 'nearly half a million euro to take up the responsibilities of the housing Minister is cracked'. She called on the Taoiseach to 'come to his senses' and asked if he was on a 'solo run' because 'your friends in Fine Gael seem to think you are'. She said the Taoiseach had failed to justify the salary for people 'who can't afford housing or rent'. But Mr Martin said he had dealt with the issue comprehensively and within the public service there were people earning substantial salaries and this had been the case since 1998 with the establishment of the National Treasury Management Agency. Mr O'Callaghan said that 'not content' with a €430,00 salary for the head of the new Housing Activation Office, the heads of semi-states from Horse Racing Ireland to RTÉ are potentially in line 'for massive increases'. He said this was 'despite the fact that these CEOs received a combined €75 million in pay and perks over 10 years', according to a report in Village magazine. He asked 'why does this Government believe that those at the top deserve bumper salary increases while low-paid workers are thrown under the bus'. The Dublin Bay North TD said there were no references 'to economic headwinds, tariffs or global volatility when it comes to gold-plate salaries'. 'While across the country people are struggling to make ends meet, keep their homes heated, their rent paid and their bills from piling up, this Government has mounted a despicable attack on low-paid workers.' But rejecting the accusations Mr Martin said there had been many improvements for low-paid workers. The minimum wage increased over the last number of years, 'and it will continue to increase'. Pension auto-enrolment would be implemented in January and is the 'most significant' development in a generation for low-paid workers. He added that for semi-State agency chief executives it was 'important to create a framework for how chief executives are paid in the semi-State sector' and to move from an ad-hoc approach.
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Now 30 semi-State chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
Social Democrats stand-in leader Cian O'Callaghan said there was a double standard within Government in comparison with the treatment of lower-paid workers. Everyone from the head of Horse Racing Ireland to RTÉ will see salaries soar, Mr O'Callaghan said, "despite the fact that these CEOs received a combined €75m euro in pay in perks over ten years according to one assessment. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers yesterday published the Review of Remuneration of Chief Executive Officers in Commercial State Bodies. The report found that CEO remuneration packages have 'fallen out of alignment with the market', according to a statement from Mr Chambers' office. He said: 'A banded salary structure will be implemented for CEOs ranging from their current salary to the market median of the relevant band. 'In line with the SPRC findings in relation to increased flexibility for Boards, the Boards will propose a point on the banded salary structure ranging from the current fixed point salary to the relevant market median. 'Salary proposals or any changes will be subject to governance and scrutiny with approval required by the relevant Minister, and with my consent. There will be no backdating of any changes to pay. 'I will be writing to my colleagues regarding the operational details of this in the coming weeks.' But Mr O'Callaghan today claimed the Govenrment was boosting the pay of semi-state chiefs without any references at all to "economic headwinds, tariffs or global volatility when it comes to gold plated salaries'. "For those the top, iIt seems these are concerns that are not worth mentioning. Compare that with how people in low-pay are treated, and the Government's shameful decision to postpone the introduction of a living wage." ADVERTISEMENT An improvement in sick leave for ordinary workers has also been put on the chopping block, he said, "and in a triple-whammy, plans to introduce pension auto-enrolment have also been kicked down the road yet again." People are struggling to make ends meet, to keep their homes heated, their rent paid and the bills from piling up, he said. Yet the Government has mounted a "despicable attack on low-paid workers, people should be able to live a full and dignified life and not just scrape by day to day." Prices for goods and services are 42pc higher in Ireland than in other European countries, while there had been a huge increase in inflation since Russia invaded Ukraine, he added. "The cost of living is skyrocketing, and you expect people to get by on €13.50 an hour," he told Micheál Martin. "Why does this Government believe that those at the top deserve bumper salary increases while low paid workers are thrown under the bus?" Mr Martin avoided addressing the pay increases for semi-state bosses, instead emphasising Government progress on statutory sick pay and the minimum wage. The 2022 Sick Leave Act had increased the entitlement from three to five days, he said, while acknowledging that a further proposed increase to seven days had been paused. He said the Government had steadily increased the minimum wage, while a short postponement on auto-enrolment was "hardly trampling on someone's rights."
