A round-up of today's other news in brief
New taxi driver protests likely over licences
Taxi protests are set to escalate following the refusal yesterday of the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to reject a report which recommended against a moratorium on the issuing of new licences, writes Olivia Kelly.
Taxi drivers’ unions yesterday met Mr Dempsey following the publication of an economic review of the industry carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants on behalf of the Taxi Regulator.
The report rejected drivers’ demands for the issuing of new licences to be suspended, and for a new system of regulation for the industry. While it conceded drivers had to work longer hours to make a living it rejected their claims that earnings in the industry had collapsed.
Siptu, The Irish Taxi Drivers Federation (ITDF) and National Taxi Drivers’ Union (NTDU) described yesterday’s meeting with Mr Dempsey as very disappointing.
The unions are to meet this morning to discuss further action on foot of the report.
Call for debate on ‘end of life’ issues
The Irish Patients Association has called for clear ethical and legal protocols on “systematic starvation” in advance of a forum on end-of-life issues to be held today, writes Fiona Gartland.
The Forum on End of Life in Ireland, organised by the Irish Hospice Foundation, aims to develop a vision of how Ireland can address the challenges of dying, death and bereavement.
Man injured in Dublin shooting
A man was injured in a shooting in Dublin last night.
He was shot in the leg at around 9pm in a residential area – Elmdale Drive, Ballyfermot, near Cherry Orchard hospital.
He was taken to St James’s hospital. His leg wounds were said to be minor.
‘Ringfence’ funds for healthcare
FUNDING for Traveller healthcare is being used to “balance the books” of the Health Service Executive (HSE), an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.
During a briefing by Pavee Point to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the organisation’s director, Ronnie Fay, called for funding for Travellers’ healthcare to be ringfenced.
Of a potential €2 million for such funding in 2007 and 2008, €1.8 million was used to balance the HSE books, Ms Fay said.
“This is in our view unacceptable and immoral, given the health status of the Traveller community,” he said.