Latest news with #SarahO'Reilly
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Govt urged to 'save the industry' and put more support in place for farmers
Government is being urged to "save" the agricultural industry and put more financial support in place with "less red tape, rigmarole and bureaucracy". Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly, who sits on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Fisheries, said she believes recent jobseeker payment figures published could be "an underestimate of the numbers leaving" the agriculture sector. She said that for many, farming "was not just a source of income, but a way of life - an occupation handed down from grandparent to parent to child over the years". "Government policies have been incredibly anti-farmer and anti-rural over the last few years, with threats to cull the herd, the Mercosur trade deal and carbon taxes creating huge worry on farms across the country," O'Reilly said. O'Reilly said that often, the money offered to farmers if they sign up to certain schemes "is not worth it". "The delayed ACRES payments, the codology that is 'rewetting' the bogs, all pose a huge threat to the farmer and to his or her ability to make any profit," she said. "All our young people are gone to Australia or Canada, and farms are being abandoned, planted or sold." She said Irish produce is "second to none" on many fronts. "We need to save the industry. There needs to be more financial support put in place - less red tape, rigmarole and bureaucracy," O'Reilly said. "The government needs to stop treating farmers like second-class citizens; they need to recognise that farmers are some of the most decent and astute businessmen and women in the country. "But, government policies particularly around the environment, TB, taxation and issues like that are driving them into debt." Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary recently the number of people who applied for Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit who listed their previous employment as farming in each of the past 10 years. The minister in response published figures on the number of claims made by individuals where the employment immediately prior to the claim commencement was in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. These figures show the number of recipients at the end of each month in the specific year who had an employment in the sector immediately before the jobseeker's claim started, a Department of Social Protection spokesperson explained. In June 2025, the relevant figure was 268, compared with 451 in the same month last year. "It is possible that that recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit are still engaged in farming on a part-time basis," the department spokesperson told Agriland. "Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance are payable where a person is working for up to 3 days every week and where they satisfy the other conditions of the scheme. "In the case of Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, a person can be engaged in subsidiary employment which is work that could ordinarily have been followed by the person in addition to their usual employment." To qualify as subsidiary, the total remuneration or profit from the employment should not exceed €7,500 on an annual basis, or, €144 on a weekly basis, the department said. "Alternatively, if a person has at least 117 employment contributions paid from employment at class A or H, in respect of the period of three years immediately preceding that day, or in respect of the last three complete contribution years immediately preceding that day, then no earnings limit is applicable," the spokesperson added. The Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, introduced in March 2025 and based on earnings from work before a person became unemployed, was not included in the June 2025 figure of 268, and this would increase the number to 375, the department said.
Irish Examiner
04-08-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
New HSE data enumerates deaths, disability, and severe harm due to scan errors
Mistakes in reading medical scans have led to deaths, disability, or severe harm to patients at HSE hospitals, new data has revealed. Figures from the HSE show there were a total of 193 such cases; 24 classed as major or extreme, 67 moderate, and 102 considered minor in the period from 2020 to 2024. According to the HSE's own standards, major or extreme incidents include deaths and disability, but also take in adverse events or incidents leading to severe harm such as 'permanent lessening of bodily, sensory, motor, physiologic or intellectual functions resulting in long-term incapacity or disability (loss of limb, blindness, brain damage)' or an extended length of stay in hospital greater than eight days. It can also mean a significant complication or significant permanent disability impacting a person's ability to manage their normal daily routine in the same manner as before. In total, 34 of the category 1 and 2 cases warranted a review, with 15 of those serious enough to warrant recommendations aimed at improving patient safety. Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly said the figures are a 'source of worry for patients'. 'The idea that so many scans are being misread or misreported in our hospitals is a source of worry for patients. Here we have the HSE openly admitting to us that some of these mistakes likely led to death or disability. Some hospitals in the country are struggling to deliver timely diagnosis and treatments due to outdated machines and equipment. This must be addressed urgently as lives hang in the balance. 'I will be raising this issue in the Seanad when it resumes and a key question I will be asking is whether all patients who were victims of these mistakes have been informed about the mistakes — if the cervical check scandal taught us anything it is the importance of open disclosure and transparency between the health service and patients.' In the HSE response, Majella Daly, assistant national director at the National Centre for Clinical Audit, said errors and discrepancies in radiology are 'uncomfortably common' but that this does not mean medical negligence. 'Errors and discrepancies in radiology practice are uncomfortably common, with an estimated day-to-day rate of 3-5% of studies reported, and much higher rates reported in many targeted studies. Nonetheless, the meaning of the terms 'error' and 'discrepancy' and the relationship to medical negligence are frequently misunderstood. 'Discrepancies between radiology reports and subsequent patient outcomes are not inevitably errors. Radiologist reporting performance cannot be perfect, and some errors are inevitable. "Error or discrepancy in radiology reporting does not equate to negligence. Radiologist errors occur for many reasons, both human- and system-derived.' The HSE response goes on to say that while the National Radiology Quality Improvement (NRQI) Programme 'encourages quality improvement through system-wide feedback and education it does not deal with individual reporting radiologists or individual patients /scans, as personal data is not collected'. The HSE said it commissions the Royal College of Physicians to provide a Specialty Quality Improvement Programme in Radiology (NRQI) programme which provides a 'structured, national framework for peer review, audit, and quality assurance across 48 public and voluntary hospitals participating in the programme'. 'Regular departmental meetings are held to discuss discrepancies, share best practices, and promote a culture of learning to mitigate the occurrence of discrepancies in reports.' Last year, the State Claims Agency (SCA) paid out €210.5 million in medical negligence related to clinical care cases.
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Met Eireann issue new thunderstorm warning for 5 counties NOW after 10 cattle killed by lightening in ‘freak event'
MET Eireann has extended a four-hour thunderstorm warning that kicks in NOW to include three more counties. The alert warns of "scattered thunderstorms with a chance of hail" and follows reports that 10 cattle were killed on a farm in Co Cavan after lightening struck the earth in a "freak event". Advertisement 2 Five counties have been placed under a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning Credit: Met Eireann 2 Met Eireann warned of scattered thunderstorms and a chance of hail Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The weather boffins upgraded the warning to include The Status Yellow alert, which warns of spot flooding and lightning damage, will expire in all five counties at 6pm this evening. Looking at the forecast ahead this afternoon, Met Eireann said: "Some showers will be heavy and thundery with some hail possible before they become more isolated this evening. Advertisement READ MORE IRISH NEWS "Cool with highest temperatures of 12C to 16C in moderate northwest winds." The weather bosses confirmed it will be dry at first tonight with clear spells. But later in the night, scattered showers will spread across the country from the northwest as temperatures plummet between 4C and 9C. Separately, 10 cattle yesterday died after lightening struck the earth in field in the Butlersbridge area of Co Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive Exclusive The county was under a thunderstorm warning until 6pm yesterday evening. It is understood the cows had taken shelter from heavy rain under a tree in the middle of the field when a bolt of lightning struck the earth, killing the 10 heifers instantly. Maurice Brady, County Chair of the IFA told the Anglo Celt it was "big tragedy" for the farmer, adding: "Hopefully it doesn't happen anyone else." Senator Sarah O'Reilly, who sits on the Agricultural Panel, described the incident as "an unbelievable freak event". Advertisement 'GUTTING' She told the Anglo Celt: "For that kind of an event to happen any person is shocking. "The cost financially and emotionally to a farmer who spends his time looking after his herd, his cattle, his stock. "To go into the field and see something like that must have been just gutting." Meanwhile, Met Eireann has forecast the weather over the next week to be "continuing changeable", but added that it will gradually become milder and more humid over the next few days. Advertisement The forecaster has pinpointed Wednesday as the hottest day of the week, with temperatures possibly reaching 22C in some spots. Met Eireann said: "Wednesday will be a warm, humid and mostly cloudy day with a fair amount of dry weather and some rain or drizzle in places. "Highest temperatures of 18C to 21C or 22C with moderate south to southeast winds."
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Oireachtas broadcast workers call for pay parity and better working conditions
Oireachtas broadcast workers are calling on the Government to end their low-hour contracts and poor working conditions by integrating them into the civil service. The team of around 20 manage the live broadcast of all Dáil, Seanad, and committee proceedings ensuring they are all accessible to the public. However, the team said they are currently being paid half the standard industry rate for comparable roles and are calling on the Government and the Oireachtas Commission to take action to ensure they are "treated with the fairness and respect we deserve". The workers report earning around €12,000 per year. "The Oireachtas sits only about 100 days a year. Outside of those days, we have no income and often rely on social welfare," the group said in a statement. We receive no retainers, paid holidays, pensions, healthcare, or income protection — unlike many public workers in the same building. As they are privately contracted, recesses and election cycles can leave some workers without work for weeks or months, with those who work on committee session having been without work since the general election was called in November until this week. The Oireachtas broadcast contract, worth over €7m, was awarded to Pi Communication in 2020. Aontú senator Sarah O'Reilly told the Seanad that Pi Communications are paid to roster staff, as all cameras and equipment belong to the Oireachtas. The contract with Pi Communications is up for renewal this year and the broadcast workers are calling for pay parity with industry standards, to be integrated into the civil service, "with proper contracts, year-round pay, and access to pensions and career progression". Previous efforts to engage with Pi Communications through their trade union did not result in offers that were acceptable to the workers. "With political will, this can be resolved—quickly and fairly. We uphold democratic transparency every day," the broadcasting team said. It is time we were treated with the fairness and respect we deserve. Ms O'Reilly said that the Government has a duty of care to ensure that workers are treated fairly. "Not only are people being subjected to unfair work conditions but it is costing the Oireachtas and therefore the taxpayer more money to employ these workers through a private contract than it would be employ them directly," Ms O'Reilly said. "There is no point in us standing up and delivering grand speeches on the importance of workers rights when there are people working hard only a few rooms over trying to get by on €12,000 per year." Footage captured by the Oireachtas team is regularly picked up and used by Irish and international broadcasters, as well as by political parties for use on their own social media. It is also archived for public record. The workers raised additional issues that they would like to see addressed including no access to a dedicated HR department as employees of an external contractor, access to just one toilet cubicle for 35 staff members, and lack of access cards for some staff to access areas of Leinster House.
RTÉ News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Thousands attend 'March for Life' in Dublin city centre
Several thousand people have taken part in the annual 'March for Life' event in Dublin city centre. The demonstration gathered on St Stephen's Green, across the road from the Newman University Church around 2pm before marching to Molesworth Street. The crowd then heard from speeches from speakers including Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly.
