Police action: Gardai clash, Grace, Tom, and Kitty Fitzgerald, Britain's exit negotiations, Donald Trump's latest developments
In the realm of politics and current affairs, Ireland has been buzzing with a host of significant events and discussions over the past week. Here's a round-up of some of the key stories that have captured the nation's attention.
Police Pay and Strike
Negotiations regarding the pay of Irish Gardaí are ongoing, with the Garda Representative Association (GRA) planning a strike due to a perceived insufficient pay offer. The current situation serves as a point of comparison with the 4.2% pay increase for police officers in England and Wales, as reported by various sources. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is advisable to check official sources like An Garda Síochána or relevant Irish government announcements.
Foster Abuse Case
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been accused of attempting to dismiss a whistleblower in the Foster Abuse case, as reported by the Irish Examiner. John Deasy, under Dail privilege, highlighted details of the case involving a woman known as Grace and another woman, claiming that the limited laws meant to prevent abuse are inadequate.
Brexit Dialogue
The first All Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit took place yesterday. The event, aimed at fostering open dialogue and discussion, saw many arguments and voices find a place to speak out. However, it was noted that it was difficult to come up with solutions to a theoretical problem. The Irish Times' Miriam Lord was underwhelmed by the event, calling it a Great Brexit Speak off, while Elaine Loughlin of the Irish Examiner described it as informative, inclusive, but vague, bordering on bland.
American Elections
Barack Obama weighed in on the upcoming American election, stating that the choice is clear. In a speech, he emphasized that the vote will decide the fate of the world. Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner reported on Trump's wall of support, built on security fears. In a separate report, Victoria White suggested that if Trump wins, it will be due to the fact that over the past 40 years, a cult of individualism has eaten away at the struts of American social cohesion like an infestation of hungry rats.
Other Notable Events
In other news, the main reports in the Independent and Mail news pages focused on the words of Barack Obama yesterday: 'Vote will decide the fate of the world.' Caroline O'Doherty visited Penn State University, where students supporting Trump had built a wall of their own in support of him. The Irish Times' Ruadhan MacCormaic sought out a Hillary supporter website, and described Bill Clinton as combining policy mastery with folksy anecdotes.
As always, stay tuned for more updates and developments as they unfold.
