Weekly news from around the 32 counties of Ireland

 

FERMANAGH

A 54 year old senior civil servant from near Enniskillen who was awarded an out of court settlement by an industrial tribunal in September 2007, is now taking a high court case for harassment against the Cross Border Body Waterways Ireland and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Brian McTeggart had been seconded from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to a post with Waterways Ireland at its Enniskillen All-Ireland headquarters and later became its director of corporate services. The tribunal award arose from an action Mr. McTeggart took against his former employers after lifting the lid on alleged mismanagement and malpractices in relation to the way senior posts had been allocated. Waterways Ireland agreed to the settlement without an admission of liability.

(Source: The Fermanagh Herald)

 

GALWAY

Galway's public hospitals top a national poll for the number of cases of the superbug MRSA last year, according to a report. University College Hospital Galway and Merlin Park combined had 47 cases of MRSA last year. This figure came in marginally ahead of Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, with 45 cases, the Mater Hospital, with 34 cases and St James's Hospital, with 31 cases. But the report warned against comparing hospitals because of the differences in hospital activity, patient numbers and other effects. Nationally last year, 419 cases of MRSA were reported by acute public hospitals, down over 20 per cent on the previous year, when 526 cases were reported.

(Source: Galway Independent)

 

KERRY

Deputy Jackie Healy Rae has defended the right to drive after drinking a pint and a half — or two on occasion — even if his stance means bringing down the government. Arguing that rural life would be obliterated, the Kilgarvan publican lambasted efforts last week by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to lower the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit from 80 mg per 100ml to 50mg per 100ml, part of the forthcoming Road Traffic Bill. This lowering of the limit is set to bring Ireland to a level in line with the vast majority of other EU countries. He added that he would vote against his government on the matter, even if it caused it to collapse.

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