A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Deadline on burning vegetation passes after worst year for fires
Farmers have been reminded that yesterday was the deadline for burning vegetation or cutting hedges after the worst year on record for forest fires, writes Seán MacConnell.
Irish Farmers Association farm forestry chairman Pat Hennessy urged farmers to adhere to the restrictions on cutting, burning or destruction of vegetation growing on uncultivated land or in hedges during the nesting and breeding season from March 1st.
Last year “was the worst year in recorded history for forest fires. Over 2,000 hectares of forests were destroyed, of which approximately 1,000 hectares were privately owned,” Mr Hennessy said. This resulted in a significant financial loss for many farmers who did not have forest insurance.
Mr Hennessy advised farmers to insure their forests to protect their investment and to cover the replanting costs. He said a new timber growing Insurance policy had been developed with FBD.
Guide dog event in memory of Maureen Fox
A fundraising drive in honour of a journalist who championed the work of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has been established to honour her legacy.
Former
Cork Examinerjournalist Maureen Fox died at her home in Brittany, France, on December 17th last aged 72. In the wake of her death, her daughter Tanya has established a special fund to help train a newborn guide dog in memory of her mother's work.
A service of thanksgiving in honour of Ms Fox will take place at 2.30pm on March 5th in St Michael's Church, Church Road, Blackrock, Cork.
For further details on the fund, visit guidedogs.ie
Hotel pay dispute to go before LRC
A dispute arising from efforts by two Dublin city centre hotels to pay existing workers at the new lower minimum wage rate is to go to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), the High Court was told yesterday.
On that basis, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy struck out injunctions secured by the hotel operators which imposed conditions on how picketing of the hotels over the row might be conducted.
Pickets were placed by trade union Siptu outside the Davenport and Mont Clare hotels on Lower Merrion Street in a dispute involving five workers who had refused to sign new contracts which would cut their pay by €1 per hour to €7.65. Yesterday, Ms Justice Laffoy was informed the injunctions could be struck out as a deal had been reached by the workers and hotel operators.
The court heard the parties would go before the LRC later this week. The picket at the hotels was lifted on Monday evening.