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18 June 2008
Letters
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| Editorial - Blame game on Lisbon Treaty defeat |
Editorial - Blame game on Lisbon Treaty defeat
The blame game is in full swing in the aftermath of the Lisbon Treaty referendum defeat for the establishment in Ireland. Taoiseach Brian Cowen, T.D. is in Europe this week where he must provide a suitable political response to the other European leaders on the outcome of the defeat. In a personal sense this has been a hugely negative setback to him as he had invested so much personal and political credibility in the outcome. As the new leader of Fianna Fail and Taoiseach he made it crystal clear that he wanted an all-out effort from his parliamentary colleagues and party members to ensure that the Yes vote was got out to win the referendum. It was patently evident in Waterford the party workers were conspicuous by their absence. With just a week to go the opinion polls were showing that the No campaigners were winning the argument. This galvanised the Yes campaigners but their efforts were too little too late.
There was an eerie ...
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| Letters - A mote in the medical eye! |
Letters - A mote in the medical eye!
Dear Editor,
There is a mote in Brendan Drumm's eye. What is needed, he says, is not more hospitals, beds or frontline staff, but an accountable, 'depoliticised' health system.
Accountability? The CEO, who heads a small politburo of advisers, is the 'accounting officer' for a spend of €14 billion: he answers only to a praesidium of 12 ministerial appointees and the Minister. Dail questions take months instead of days to answer.
Transparency? The 2004 Health Act contains several veils. 'Confidentiality' covers 'proposals of a commercial nature or tender': its definition is a matter for the HSE. There is also the burqa of 'clinical judgement', which prohibits queries relating to patient care, and obliges patients to take their complaints to the Medical Council.
No shortages of frontline staff, beds, or hospitals? Ireland's stock of acute public hospitals, beds and doctors falls hug...
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| Gambling away the communion money |
Gambling away the communion money
Dear Editor,
The practise of bringing seven year olds having made their First Holy communion to dog –racing tracks to celebrate their big day is becoming the latest trend. Children in white dresses and veils are now being treated to a night of gambling for their special day.
Out of approximately 800 punters at Shelbourne Park Greyhound stadium last Saturday just over 10 percent were children, either in communion dress or younger being wheeled in, either in buggies or prams.
May is Holy Communion month in Ireland and the traditional visiting of relations by children has been replaced by an introduction to the world of gambling and alcohol. Instead of sweets and a newly –opened children's savings accounts, seven year olds hardly tall enough to reach the counter are eagerly betting on the dogs.
Many an addict was introduced to the gambling world at a tender young age, the Tote at dog...
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| Collective Bargaining & Trade Union Recognition in Ireland |
Collective Bargaining & Trade Union Recognition in Ireland
Dear Editor,
In the debate that is ongoing at present, most people know, but many have forgotten that as far back as 53 years ago, the then Government of Ireland, adopted two very important International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions, which if they had been followed up, as they should have been, would have given us almost all of what we needed, then and now, in the area of Collective Bargaining and Trade Union Recognition. The then Government under Taoiseach John A. Costello and made up of Fine Gael, Labour, Clann na Talmhuain and Clann na Pobhlachta, formally ratified the following ILO Conventions.
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention 1948 (No 87) - Ratified by the Irish Government on 4th June 1955 and applicable to all workers, except the Defence Forces and Gardai.
AND
Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention 1949 (No 98)
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