In brief: School staff vote for action
SCHOOL secretaries and caretakers have voted massively in favour of industrial action because of the 5pc pay cut imposed on them last month.
They are members of the IMPACT trade union, which will consider the 72pc vote in favour of such action. The workers affected are employed by individual schools and VECs. They are not on the Department of Education's payroll but are indirectly funded through grants from the department.
Big buoy to test wave power
A project aimed at harnessing power from waves moved to a new level yesterday when a test buoy was deployed in Galway Bay.
The latest research -- which has secured €4.5m in EU funding -- involves Ocean Energy Ltd and UCC. The massive buoy will test wave energy in the water off Spiddal in Co Galway.
Youth quizzed over stabbing
GARDAI have arrested a youth in his late teens after a vicious stabbing attack left another man hospitalised.
Detectives were questioning the suspect last night after a man in his 20s was stabbed on Thursday night in Newbridge, Co Kildare. It follows a spate of violent attacks in the town. The victim of the latest stabbing was rushed to Naas General Hospital, where he is being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening.
Man dies from lethal cocktail
A young man died from a lethal cocktail of alcohol and drugs after an all-night binge. Christopher Cooke (23) ,of Wellview Green, Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin was found dead in a car in Swords on July 3 last year. He had died of cardio-respiratory failure caused by combined drug toxicity.
The night before he had gone to a 21st birthday party at a pub in Swords, followed by a house party. A post-mortem examination found evidence of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and a large volume of alcohol in his system.
Workers can't get satisfaction
Most workers are dissatisfied with their careers but have no plans to move on and are focusing on keeping their jobs, the results of a new survey show.
The top reasons for dissatisfaction are the lack of promotion opportunities and low wages. The Accenture survey, ahead of International Women's Day next month, found 51pc of women felt they were underpaid compared with 27pc of men.
Irish Independent
