A round-up of today's other home news in brief
Shop workers agree to defer pay increase
Trade unions representing some 75,000 retail workers have agreed to defer a pay increase due to be granted to their members later this year for a further 12 months.
Siptu and Mandate yesterday concluded negotiations on the increase with the Joint Industrial Council for Retail, Grocery and Allied Trades, which was initially seeking to defer the pay rise for 18 months. The 2.5 per cent increase was to commence on October 31st.
A spokesman for Siptu said the council indicated it would not seek any deterioration in the pay and conditions of workers going forward.
He added that the deferral would be considered in future negotiations on pay.
Meanwhile, campaigners gathered at the Dublin headquarters of employers’ group Ibec yesterday to protest at proposed pay cuts for workers in the quick food sector.
The Quick Food Service Alliance, which represents companies such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway, is taking a constitutional challenge to requirements that they pay staff double time on Sundays and public holidays.
Socialist Youth, which organised the protest, said the constitutional challenge was an attempt to attack young workers and use the recession to drive down the rates of pay they receive.
42% of men never use sun protection
Some 42 per cent of men in Ireland never use any sun protection, new research has found.
Carried out among 1,000 adults by Millward Brown IMS on behalf of the the Marie Keating Foundation it also revealed 70 per cent of Irish people are using sun protection that is too low.
The foundation has urged people to be more careful in the sun, pointing out that over 5,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Ireland every year. The survey also found one in five adults had used a sunbed even though these emit up to 10-15 times more harmful UVA rays than the midday sun.
Man stabbed in city centre street
Gardaí are investigating a stabbing on Parnell Street in Dublin city centre which left a man in a serious condition in hospital last night.
The 31-year-old was involved in an altercation with another man which resulted in him receiving a stab wound to the neck. The man was taken to the Mater hospital, where his condition was said to be serious.
Gardaí said the attacker fled in the direction of Marlborough Street and Summerhill and they appealed to the public to help.
He is described as in his late 20s and about 6ft to 6ft 2 in height with a tight haircut. He had a pale complexion, was clean shaven, and wearing a light-coloured top and knee-length shorts.
Anyone with information can contact Fitzgibbon Street Garda station on 6668400 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
US chef will not face charges
The American chef charged in connection with the theft of sensitive security documents from a PSNI base seven years ago is not now to face charges.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said yesterday the test for the prosecution of 41-year-old Larry Zaitschek was no longer met and a fair trial could not be achieved.
The decision, criticised by unionists in all parties, followed confirmation by the PSNI chief constable that new information had been made available concerning the former employee at Castlereagh station in east Belfast.
Sir Hugh Orde said the new information would not be disclosed.
The theft of files from Castlereagh on St Patrick’s Day 2002 was one of the most serious security breaches and led to the rehousing of police officers and others and a review of security costing millions.
Mr Zaitschek, who left his young son and wife for the US after the break-in and robbery, has denied any involvement in the crime.