Bogmen still ready for Strike Action

Trade unions at Bord na Móna (Ireland's state-owned national peat company) have deferred plans for strike action after a meeting with the management this morning. All workers will now be balloted this Thursday on new proposals from the company.

A picket was placed on some of Bord na Móna's production sites early this morning, but the industrial action has now been lifted until the ballot is held on Thursday in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

The workers at the Bord na Móna peat bogs in counties Offaly, Westmeath and Longford had already voted in favour of strike action three weeks ago.

The dispute concerns some proposed changes to the payment system for the company's staff who are mainly harvesting the peat that is burned in three ESB power stations in the Midlands.
Without regular supply from the nearby bogs, the Edenderry, Shannonbridge and Lanesborough power stations would run into difficulties and might have to shut down if the strike action lasts for a longer period of time.

Revenue Commissioners recover € 24 Million

The latest list of Irish tax defaulters shows that 111 individuals and companies have made settlements with the Revenue Commissioners and paid them more than € 24 million in back taxes and penalties.

One building company, Condron Concrete from Tullamore, Co. Offaly (home county of Taoiseach Brian Cowen), has paid the Revenue Commissioners over € 8.1 million in owed tax, interest and penalties.

This is the largest recorded settlement since the Revenue Commissioners began to publish the names of tax defaulters.

However, it is only a drop in the ocean compared with a tax deficit of € 8 billion for 2008 (see yesterday's entry below) and the vast sums squandered by the senior management of FÁS out of their annual budget of € 1 billion.

As much as it is right for the Revenue Commissioners to go after tax dodgers in the private sector, it is a telling sign of double standards that wasters of large sums of taxpayers' money in the public sector are getting away with it. And if they are forced to resign - like Rody Molloy - they go home with their pockets full of good-bye money and will enjoy a princely pension for the rest of their lives.

This two-tier system with one law for the government and its minions, and another for the rest of us, needs to be abolished. One would hope that the Revenue Commissioners would support such an overdue move.

The Emerald Islander

Farmers protest against Fianna Fáil in Co. Offaly

While more than 8000 teachers and parents protested in Donegal town today against cuts to the education budget (see my earlier entry below), the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) demonstrated outside the Tullamore Court Hotel in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, where Fianna Fáil were holding their National Councillors' Forum Annual Conference.

Around 200 Fianna Fáil county and city councillors from around the country gathered for this meeting and had to pass the gauntlet of the angry farmers, who displayed banners, placards and a small flock of miniature plastic models of cows and sheep in front of the conference hotel.

ICSA's angry protest was directed against recent cuts in the agricultural budget, and especially against a reduction of support schemes for small farms, which affects mostly people farming in the west and north-west of Ireland, where they raise cattle and sheep.

The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and three other government ministers were addressing the Fianna Fáil meeting, and it has been reported that especially Brian Cowen gave "a rousing speech" to his party members.
This is probably quite necessary, as the current unpopularity of the Irish government worries many Fianna Fáil councillors, particularly in light of the up-coming local elections next year.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Mary Coughlan, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe and Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith also addressed the meeting and then faced the councillors in a questions-and-answers session, especially over the details of the controversial 2009 Budget.

However, in their usual arrogant way neither the Taoiseach nor his ministers had any time for the protesting farmers and showed no concern for their problems. I am sure the farmers - and not only those who were present today in Tullamore - will remember this when they cast their votes in future.

The Emerald Islander

More Protests against Education Budget Cuts

More than 4000 teachers protested against cuts in the education sector in Tullamore, Co. Offaly (home county of Taoiseach Brian Cowen) this afternoon.

According to he Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), which represents primary school teachers in Ireland, many teachers and parents from counties Offaly, Laois, North Tipperary and Kilkenny took part.

One of the organisers said that Fine Gael TD Olwyn Enright (right) was the only national politician who was willing to speak at this demonstration, which marched through Tullamore to O'Connor Square, where the speeches were given.
Parents, principals, and representatives of boards of management were among the speakers addressing the protest meeting.

The education cuts were also raised at the annual conference of the National Parents Council for primary schools in Athlone, Co. Westmeath this weekend.

Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe (left) was listed in the conference agenda to open proceedings this morning.
But cowardly as the government is these days, he backed out at the last moment and did not address the meeting. This led to strong expressions of anger and disgust from delegates.

Elsewhere, a protest against the suspension of the cervical cancer vaccination programme has taken place in Dublin. That rally was organised by the Feminist Open Forum, and it is expected that more protests will follow.

Meanwhile there is utter silence from the government, and especially from Batt O'Keeffe. When he was appointed by the new Taoiseach Brian Cowen as Minister for Education in the Cabinet reshuffle in May, there were some hopes for improvement in the Department, since O'Keeffe is himself a former teacher. But as it turns out, he is one the most arrogant and ignorant holders of this post in years and a complete poodle to Brian Cowen. And - as he has shown today - he is the same kind of coward as his master.

By law and by right TDs and ministers are accountable to those who elect them - the people of Ireland. But ever since the disastrous introduction of the 2009 Budget on October 14th (see my entry of that day) almost the whole Cabinet has gone into hiding and refuses to face the facts and the people.

How on Earth can they ever again expect our trust and votes...?

The Emerald Islander