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Extra.ie
16-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Four people injured after fire at restaurant in Wicklow
Gardai are investigating after four people were injured in a fire at a Chinese restaurant in Wicklow yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). The incident took place at Benny's Chinese Restaurant on Castle Street in Bray at around 3.30pm when what has been described as a 'small explosion' occurred at the salad bar area of the premises. A number of people, thought to be four, were injured and taken to hospital. 15/07/25 Four people have been hospitalised following a fire at a Chinese restaurant in Co Wicklow, Benny's Chinese Restaurant on Castle Street in Bray. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Its understood the injured had all sustained burns to their arms and were treated in hospital. In a statement, Wicklow County Council said, 'An incident occurred earlier this afternoon at Benny's Chinese Restaurant on Castle Street in Bray. Four people were injured and have been taken to hospital. 'The area has now been sealed off until the area is safe.' Lower Dargle Road in Bray was closed for a time to allow investigations take place. Four people have been hospitalised following a fire at a Chinese restaurant in Co Wicklow, Benny's Chinese Restaurant on Castle Street in Bray. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Gardai and emergency services attended the scene and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Local Sinn Féin TD John Brady, posting on his Facebook said 'Hope everyone is ok following the serious incident in Little Bray this afternoon. 'The area is now sectioned off with a large number of emergency services at the scene. Please God there are no serious injuries'.
Irish Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Thirteen Leinster House broadcast workers will have to sign on for dole next week
The Dáil Public Accounts Committee is to review the contract for video and audio coverage of Oireachtas proceedings as it emerged that 13 of the broadcast unit's employees will have to sign on for the dole for the summer recess. Sinn Féin's John Brady , who chairs the committee, said they will call in the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, which has responsibility for running Leinster House, when proceedings resume in autumn 'with specific focus in relation to broadcast workers in the Oireachtas'. Last month more than 160 TDs and Senators, including four Ministers of State, signed a letter to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. They cited a 'compelling case' for it directly to employ the 10 full-time and 20 part-time professional broadcast workers providing the coverage, 'given the extremely concerning working conditions and pay issues'. They called for a value-for-money review of the contract. The Ministers of State included super junior Minister Hildegarde Naughton , Jerry Buttimer and Neale Richmond of Fine Gael along with Fianna Fáil 's Niall Collins . READ MORE The workers are among a team of 10 full-time and 20 part-time employees of an outside contractor who broadcast live feeds of the Dáil, Seanad and 28 Oireachtas committees and oversee the archiving of all feeds. A new contract for coverage is set to go for tender in the coming months, with the current contract held by Pi Communications, which provides a similar service to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The company was selected by the Oireachtas in 2011 as the private contractor to provide the service following a competitive open tender and it has been reappointed twice. The contract operates on a pay-per-public-minute of broadcast, which means the company receives no payments during recess periods. In a statement Pi Communications said: 'We are aware of a lobbying campaign by some part-time employees involved in the Oireachtas contract who wish to become full-time civil servants and who have engaged in ill-informed criticism of their employment terms to further that objective. 'For the avoidance of doubt, rates of pay of all part-time staff supporting this contract are regularly benchmarked against industry norms and their total earnings are proportionate to the overall work undertaken throughout the year. 'All staff have pension entitlements, receive sick leave and sick pay. They are also free to work on other projects or for other employers and most do. ' No complaints or concerns have been raised by any Pi Comms staff involved in servicing any other contract we support, illustrating that this is a policy and not Pi Comms matter.' Salaries of Pi Comms part-time employees are said to be equivalent to full-time roles of about €40,000 to €60,000 at entry level and the company has said workers benefit from attractive bonus arrangements and paid leave. But one employee set to go on the dole, who did not wish to be identified, claimed there was no bonus schemes in place for their group, adding that 'paid annual leave is a legal requirement, not a discretionary benefit and is only calculated at 8 per cent of hours worked'. A freedom of information response from the Oireachtas finance unit to employees revealed a total payment to Pi Communications from January 1st, 2011, to June 9th, 2025, of €28.77 million including VAT. This included 'the purchase of hardware and equipment on behalf of the Houses of the Oireachtas'. Siptu , which represents the 13 affected employees, has been contacted for comment.
The Journal
15-07-2025
- The Journal
Four people hospitalised after fire at restaurant in Bray
FOUR PEOPLE HAVE been hospitalised following a fire at a restaurant in Bray in Co Wicklow. Gardaí are currently assisting emergency services at the scene of the fire at a Chinese restaurant on Castle Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. A garda spokesperson remarked that as this is an ongoing incident, there is no further information available at this time. Advertisement However, a spokesperson for Wicklow County Council said that four people were injured and taken to hospital following the fire earlier this afternoon. The spokesperson added that the area has been sealed off until it can be declared safe. Speaking to The Journal, Sinn Féin and Wicklow TD John Brady said he was informed that one of those hospitalised has received 'severe burns'. In a post on social media, Brady described the fire as a 'serious incident' and remarked that a 'large number of emergency services' were at the scene. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Housing Minister confirms 106 social houses planned for Wicklow won't be delivered
A Public-Private Partnership project was set to deliver the homes with a total of 486 due to be constructed at sites in Blessington, Dublin, Kildare and Sligo. Despite calls from local elected representatives to reverse the decision in recent weeks, following a review of the costs associated, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has decided not to proceed with the contract award on a value for money basis. In response to a parliamentary question from Wicklow TD John Brady, Mr Browne indicated the overall costs of the Bundle 3 project were considered too high. 'All sites within the Bundle 3 project have full planning permission and all of them will be delivered by way of alternative procurement and delivery strategies.' he added. A meeting of the Public Accounts Committee last month heard only a contract had been signed with the preferred tender who carry out site investigations. The contract to build the units is a separate process. That requires approval from the Department, which has since announced it will not proceed.
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Dáil committee to scrutinise how Tusla has spent millions on ‘complex litigation'
The Child and Family Agency, Tusla , is facing an investigation by the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over how millions of euro have been run up in legal costs over number of years arising from 'complex litigation' and a protected disclosure. The costs include about €416,000 spent on a report on issues raised in a whistleblower disclosure made to the Minister for Children. The report was later quashed by the courts. Tusla's accounts signal that the State Claims Agency will this year record significant additional costs arising from the same circumstances. The chairman of the PAC, John Brady of Sinn Féin , said the amounts involved represented 'extraordinary levels of expenditure'. READ MORE Tusla told The Irish Times it cannot comment on legal cases. However, some details were provided by the State's financial watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy, and in a governance statement in Tusla's annual accounts for 2024, which have just been published. Mr McCarthy told the PAC on Thursday that he wanted to draw attention to some matters including compensation and legal costs incurred by Tusla and the State Claims Agency in respect of four cases taken against Tusla. He said the compensation payments to the four individuals totalled €799,000, while plaintiff legal costs of €949,000 were paid in two cases and Tusla's own legal costs incurred to date are €1.6 million. Mr McCarthy said the legal costs of the State Claims Agency for these matters are not yet known. The Tusla annual accounts show€848,000 was paid out in legal costs last year as well as €296,000 in legal compensation. The accounts refer to legal settlements and costs relating to 'complex litigation cases' arising from circumstances before 2018. In a governance statement and board members' report, it says a protected disclosure to the Government resulted in Tusla's board engaging an external investigator to look into the matter. The investigator's report was nullified by the courts following litigation. 'Tusla's own costs in relation to this action have amounted to just under €1.6 million to date,' the accounts note. This figure includes €416,000 for the third-party investigation and report. The case was settled after mediation, with Tusla paying €200,000 damages and the State Claims Agency paying an additional €100,000 award to the individual. Legal costs have not yet been finalised, the accounts report notes. A second case, involving 'complex' constitutional and administrative law issues, was settled via mediation with €49,500 damages paid. The other party's legal costs were €870,000, the report says. Separately, the accounts say, two additional separate awards were made through the State Claims Agency to individuals 'arising from the same circumstances'. An award of €309,000 was made in 2025 (legal costs relating to this have not been finalised), while €140,000 was made in 2023, carrying with it a €79,000 legal costs bill. Tusla said it 'does not comment on individual legal cases or specific settlements due to legal confidentiality, the integrity of the process and the rights of the individuals involved'. The agency said a detailed note was provided in its annual report and financial statements. Mr McCarthy said it was for Tusla to provide explanations to the committee regarding the issues involved. The committee said it would seek for Tusla to appear before it in the autumn.
