Ireland’s Eye - a round of top Irish news stories

A sampling of news from around Ireland

Nix Political Xmas Cards

Laois/Offaly Labor Senator John Whelan has reiterated his call for the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin to ban the practice of politicians dipping into the public purse to pay for their personalized Christmas cards.

Last year alone, the printing and posting of thousands of cards from politicians of all persuasions, including 10 ministers, cost the taxpayer in the region of €150,000.

When Whelan proposed curbing this facility for politicians he was likened to a Scrooge by long-serving Fianna Fail Senator Terry Leydon, who admonished Whelan for his suggestion, saying he would not be intimidated and pledged to dispatch his usual batch of Christmas cards to constituents.

However, Whelan insists that the privilege of having “free” printing and postage is being abused when it is used for the purpose of Christmas cards.

“It’s thoughtless rather than thoughtful and displays no goodwill or solidarity with hard pressed households at this time of the year,” Whelan said.

“There is nothing Dickensian about what I am saying, but for many families we are living in the worst of times rather than the best of times. I earnestly believe that we are adding insult to injury by sending out these indulgent personalized cards paid for out of the public purse.

“I don’t know anyone who prizes receiving a Christmas card from their local politician which they have forked-out for themselves. It’s sort of like pick-pocketing someone and then offering to buy them a drink.

“Like all other politicians this week, I received promotional material from charities like the Jack&Jill Foundation appealing for us to support their charity Christmas cards. I just felt we would be far better off supporting them, or other hard pressed worthy charities instead of sticking the bill for Christmas cards on the taxpayers’ tab.”
- Offaly Express

Gays Support Equality Foe

A Christian demoted by his employer for saying that gay marriage in churches was “an equality too far” should be given his job back and compensated, one of Northern Ireland’s leading gay rights activists says.

Last week London’s High Court ruled against Trafford Housing Trust after it disciplined Adrian Smith for the comment on his personal Facebook page by demoting him to a non-managerial post with a £14,000 cut in salary.

However, due to legal complexities, Smith could only be awarded £98 in damages and the judge said that the case left “the uncomfortable feeling that justice has not been done to him. I must admit to real disquiet about the financial outcome of this case.”

However, despite losing the case, Trafford Housing Trust has refused to reinstate the devout Christian to his former post or restore his salary.

Jeffrey Dudgeon, whose landmark 1981 European court case led to homosexuality being decriminalized in Northern Ireland, said, “I am pleased to hear the result of the case in favor of Adrian Smith. It seemed to be completely needless demotion and attempted dismissal for something quite harmless.

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Nster.com