The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has welcomed the proposals to increase wages for students’ nurses and midwives. The proposals are to come into effect on March 1 after joint efforts of SIPTU nursing the Department of Health, PNA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, independent facilitator Sean McHugh, HSE and INMO, with supporting research by USI. The USI found that 93% of student nurses have thought about emigrating when they qualify. USI are hopeful that this number will decrease once the pay increases come into effect. Student nurses and midwives are currently paid below the minimum wage at a rate of €6.49 an hour. “USI welcomes the action by the Government to relieve the strain on financially crippled student nurses,” Kevin Donoghue, USI president, said. “I read about one nursing student who was paid just €374 after tax for working 114 hours in three weeks, which equates to a mere €3.28 an hour. This change in the …

Independent General Election candidate Ann Norton says the HSE should “admit its failings” over its decision to downgrade Ennis and Nenagh General Hospitals in light of its apology over the weekend in relation to overcrowding problems at University Hospital Limerick. Councillor Norton was speaking ahead of an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme on the overcrowding crisis in Irish hospitals, which airs at 9.30pm tonight (Monday). The long time campaigner for better health services said that the “hellish” overcrowding crisis at UHL can only be resolved through a breakdown of the “top heavy” management structure within the HSE as well as the upgrading of Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals to ‘model three’ facilities. “The high patient fatality rates and overcrowding problems are simply down to the poor management of our health services by a Health Service Executive that places greater value on maintaining a top-heavy management structure than the welfare

With General Election 2016 polling day fast approaching, Thinkhouse, the youth communications agency, has published highlights of an in-depth study around ‘Youth + Politics’ in Ireland today. The research was conducted by The Youth Lab, Thinkhouse’s insights and trends division, and it reveals the views, attitudes and influential factors that will shape how today’s 18-35 year olds respond to the forthcoming election. Following are some of the key findings: Young people more active than ever On the back of a successful Marriage Equality Referendum campaign last year, young voters are more engaged than ever. 92% of those surveyed are registered to vote, with 83% saying they plan to vote in the upcoming election on 26th February. This projection would be a huge increase on the 70% turnout figures for the 2011 General Election. Lack of true leadership in political parties When asked which of the party leaders they liked best, the vast majority (45%) reported that they did ‘not like …

Clare 0-18 Wexford 1-11 Clare justified favouritism in this round 2 Allianz division 1B hurling league tie at Innovative Wexford Park this afternoon but there were a number of anxous moments before the Banner side emerged with a merited win. Greater experience and a higher level of fitness proved key ingredients for Clare who finished strongly, outscoring their opponents, 0-9 to 0-1 in the final twenty minutes. It was anybody’s game with the scores level with just four minutes remaining but Clare hit four points in three minutes to seal victory and keep their unbeaten run this season going. An injury hit Clare faced a strong wind in the opening half having been forced to make three changes in personnell from the side which beat Offaly in the opening round a week earlier. Colm Galvin and Darach Honan were ruled out due to injury while Peter Duggan was unavailable due to suspension. Into the side came Ballyea’s Jack Browne and …

HAS there ever been such excitement outside 11am mass in Kilbaha on a stormy Sunday morning in February? An Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Kilbaha and Carrigaholt where he canvassed mass goers inside the Little Ark church in Kilbaha before the congregation concentrated on what their parish priest, Fr Michael Casey, had to say. An Taoiseach also met with a range of some startled locals outside the church. They were somewhat taken aback to be met by Deputy Kenny and a sizeable media presence. [doptg id=”102″] An Taoiseach and his entourage left before the ceremony started and were met minutes later by a large crowd inside the pavilion, which was buffeted by incessant wind and rain, at Loop Head lighthouse, where Mr Kenny’s grandfather served as a lighthouse keeper. While at Loop Head lighthouse, the Fine Gael leader stressed his belief that while the economic recovery has not reached everybody in the country, he feels that the current government are in …

THE HSE is being asked to explain why it has not appointed a paediatric surgeon in the Mid-West, despite a suggestion to do so, following the death of a two-year-old Clare child more than a decade ago. The call has been made by Clare Independent General Election candidate Ann Norton, who said the family of the late Shannon Canny from Kilkishen feel “let down” by the health service over its failure to act on the suggestion. Councillor Norton, who manages the Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic in Barefield, said hundreds of Clare children have to travel to Crumlin Children’s Hospital and Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin for surgical procedures, despite the “presence of a supposed Centre of Excellence in the Mid-west”. An inquest into Shannon’s death on January 7, 2005 found that she died from tissue necrosis due to complications of the twisting of the bowel. According to Councillor Norton, “In the aftermath of the inquest, Professor Pierce Grace, a …

Ennis Players celebrate the life of world-acclaimed playwright, Brian Friel, with a production of The Loves of Cass Maguire on its 50th anniversary. It is poignant that the Players are performing this play in the year of Brian Friel’s death and the Players believe they were the last amateur drama group in Ireland to receive a written license from Friel to perform the play, just two months before his passing. Glór Theatre – from Wednesday, next to Saturday, February 27 – will be the venue for the latest production of the award-winning Ennis Players. Allen Flynn, director, explained, “This is a very powerful play, both humorous and sad, but ultimately uplifting. Friel’s play deals with identity, the notion of truth and communication and how memories, both public and private, enable us to ride the highs and lows of life. “Throughout the play, images from the past flood into Cass’s head and the story unfolds when, after 51 years in America, …

Scariff Community College 7-14 Claregalway Community College 0-0 Scariff Community College proved much too strong for Claregalway Community College in the All-Ireland junior C camogie championship semi-final played at Whitegate this Saturday afternoon. [doptg id=”101″] In very difficult weather conditions, the East Clare side dominated from the outset and had two goals registered inside the opening two minutes. Centre forward Ciara Doyle was in sparkling form for the winners and finished the game with a tally of 4-9, 2-4 coming in the opening half. It was 3-7 to 0-0 at the interval, the winner’s third goal coming from full forward Aoife O’Brien. In fairness to the Connacht champions, it must be pointed out that they had a quarter final tie just forty eight hours earlier and this, clearly, had taken its toll. Three points in as many minutes at the start of the second half from Ciara Doyle killed off any slim hopes of a fight back by the Galway …