Your Evening Headlines ‐ 17/11/2014
Good evening. Here are your headlines at the end of the day.
1. Sligo Protest
A crowd of water charge protesters have gathered outside the Sligo Park Hotel as a welcoming committee for Taoiseach Enda Kenny who is attending an event there tonight.
Over 180 people have signed to the event organized by Right2Water, the umbrella group for water charge activists, on Facebook. Organizers have stressed that tonight is to be a peaceful action after the events of last Saturday.
Earlier today, the Taoiseach had described the events on Saturday as tantamount to a kidnapping, referring to Tanaiste Joan Burton having been trapped in her car for two hours by a mob of protesters.
Writer – Leandro Pondoc
2. 1916 Website Offline
The official website for the government’s 2016 commemorations of the 1916 Rising has been taken offline for the moment, stating that an overhaul to deal with “outstanding issues” is to come.
The website is reportedly going offline to address issues apparent on its launch last Wednesday wherein the Irish text on the website had been made through Google Translate. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said what was published was merely “holding text” had been published by mistake and correct text will be added soon.
The official government celebrations for the centenary of the 1916 Rising are being headed by the Minister for Arts & Heritage Heather Humphreys who, according to a spokesperson, ordered the site be taken offline to address all issues.
Writer – Leandro Pondoc
3. Actavis Buyout
The Dublin‐based pharmaceutical firm Actavis is reportedly in talks to buy out the Botox maker Allergan, creating one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Over $66 million in cash and shares are to be paid for the rival company who also has many interests in Ireland. The merger is estimated to create a company with over $23 billion in sales turnover by next year.
Allergan’s main European office is in Dublin, employing 800 staff on a plant in Co. Mayo. While it has fended off buyout attempts from other firms such as Valeant and Shire, the boards of Actavis and Allergan has given the go-ahead for the deal.
Writer – Leandro Pondoc
4. JobBridge
A woman has been awarded €5000 for not being allowed to do a job bridge internship.
Noreen McQuaid was excluded from joining the scheme because she was in receipt of a one-parent family benefit. The woman brought her claim to the director of equality tribunal on May 16th under the equal status acts.
The equality officer Valerie Murtagh, ruled in favor of the woman and found that she was indirectly discriminated against based on her family and civil status.
Writer – Marissa Doherty
5. Prisoner Release
Fianna Fail have said that they believe prisoners are being allowed out on temporary release in order to relieve overcrowding in prisons.
The statement comes as latest figures released, show that on the 3rd of November there were 608 prisoners on temporary release across the country. Those on release include people convicted of homicide, sex offences and drug offences.
Minister Frances Fitzgerald defended the system stating there has been a 20 percent decrease in the number of prisoners in custody since the government came to office three years ago.
Writer – Cora Lanigan
