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THE HOUSES OF the Oireachtas has awarded a contract worth up to €300,000 to a taxi firm who will drive staff home from Leinster House if they are required to work late hours.
The contract, which was advertised in February, will see staff shuttled home if their duties force them to stay in work after 10pm – a regularly common requirement given the Dáil’s usual timetable.
The Irish Times reported that a total of 435 employees would be entitled to use the service, which has been a longstanding service in Leinster House given the Oireachtas’s “duty of care” to its employees.
The Oireachtas spokesman told the paper that the value of the contract would depend on the frequency with which it was used, though the maximum amount payable under the tender is €300,000 excluding VAT.
Proposals for Dáil reform being pushed by the government could mean that the service is used less frequently, however.
Though the Dáil currently sits until after 10pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, new proposals would see Tuesday’s sittings brought forward from 2:30pm until earlier in the morning.
The typical three-day week is also set to be extended to include Fridays too, meaning it is less likely that staff will be required to work the longer hours.
Some staff at Leinster House can typically work until the early hours compiling the official transcript of parliamentary proceedings and records of parliamentary questions.
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How to you go paperless and avoid electronic stuff at the same time?
Karl shoots and scores
I often want to go a day without electronics but the urge to Google something check Facebook or even check the Journal always prevails!
Some good advice there Ciara.
Been struggling to ease off the electronic stuff for the last 2 weeks.
Had no idea of the hold this stuff has over me.
Saying that, I read this on the journal!!
Sounds great…………… in theory!
I destroyed a smart phone by accident about a month ago and I’ve gone back to an antique phone, no apps or internet. It’s been bliss since.
I particularly appreciate the advice to drop multi-tasking as I’ve long felt we were being sold a pup with that particular piece of corporate BS!
Not good for thejournal.ie to be suggesting going electronics-free days!!
Here’s some additional tips for a carefree happy and less stressful life.
1. Stop paying your rent or mortgage – you’ll be amazed at how much money you can save
2. Cancel that pesky direct debit for the iPhone or mobile bill , you’ll easily save enough in 3 months to be able to afford that 100 euro property charge you keep putting off
3. Don’t go into work , it’s full of distractions and annoying people that makes your day more stressful
4. Be sure to leave only your mobile number with employers and banks who may want to call you and interrupt your more harmonious life
I like the sarcasm. That said there’s actually a strong philosophy being developed which urges people to minimise their wanton consumerism, their excessive borrowing and become more independent to enjoy the best the modern world has to offer without being a slave to the rat race….
Gave up using the Internet and mobile phones a week ago, so far so good.
How did you read this and post that then? Share your secret please!
They’re obviously using the paper edition of TheJournal ;-) http://jrnl.ie/400860
We adore chaos because we love to produce order.
Is this not a bit contradictory? Switch off yoir email notifications and then receive your bills by email?
Bills don’t HAVE to be paid straight away, you usually have a week or so to sort them out. Turn off the email notifications, check email once a day and make a note (diary or otherwise) to pay when due.
BOOM!
Had to laugh at tip 6. Sounds a bit harsh Ciara!
Shes just too nice to say DUMP LOOOOOOSERRRRRRRRRRRRRS :)
Shes right…
Was nodding “sensible, sensible..” until I got to this one. It is indeed a euphemism for “dump losers” and is depressingly common advice in so many articles that it’s become very acceptable. It’s even seen as healthy, being called a friend detox and other names.
It’s depressing, and a bit appalling. As far as I know, I’d have thought having friends was good for you and you never know when your positive buddies might feck off and the sad loser might be there for you when you need them.
That’s not to say frenetic social activity is good for us or that it isn’t useful to take a step back and avoid getting sucked into other people’s drama. And by “friends” I mean people you actually know, not “friends” in the facebook sense.
im currently in the process of scanning all my personal files and WinZip’ing them with a password into a gmx mail account, each one stashed in its own folder category ie medical, banking, receipts and so on, by scanning and emailing them to myself I’ve managed to remove about 20 manilla folders each 4 inches thick, the joy of tearing up my files afterwards is wonderfully therapeutic. try it
I am s Conlon by marriage . They are very controlling people. I don’t have a voice I’n my home.
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