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EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you should know with your morning coffee.
1.# WEATHERWATCH: Met Éireann has issued a severe weather warning for the country, advising that winds could hit up to 130 km/hr in some areas – with coastal areas in the north and north-west facing violent storm-force winds. A separate gale warning has been issued for all coastal areas and on the Irish Sea.
2. #SUMMIT: EU leaders are travelling to Brussels this evening to begin a two-day meeting of the European Council, during which ways to save the union’s single currency will be considered. France and Germany are pushing for the establishment of a common fiscal government for the eurozone - however States remain divided on the issue.
3. #ECB: The European Central Bank is expected to make a further cut to interest rates today: while there has been some speculation of a 0.5 per cent cut, most analysts believe it will be closer to 0.25 per cent.
4. #CUTS: The Government is expected to officially acknowledge its u-turn on disability benefit cuts later today. Meanwhile, Catholic bishops are urging the Government to reverse the cuts on child benefit and the fuel allowance scheme, saying that the measures target large families, the poor and the ill, RTÉ reports.
5. #HIT AND RUN: The funeral of 14-year-old Conor Hickey, who died in a hit-and-run traffic incident in Dublin last week, is to take place in Cabra today, RTÉ reports. Gardaí have repeated their appeal for the driver of the car involved to come forward.
6. #CAOLAN MULROONEY: A post-mortem examination conducted yesterday has confirmed that Cork student Caolan Mulrooney, whose disappearance sparked a wide search across the city last week, died of head and torso injuries consistent with a fall, the Irish Independent reports. His death has been classed as a tragic accident.
7. #EBS: Staff at EBS are to ballot for strike action after being informed they will not receive an end-of-year payment - equivalent to a month’s salary - this December. The payment was denied as the new owner of the institution, AIB, is forbidden to grant bonuses under the terms of it bailout agreement with the State. However, staff have argued that the payment is not performance-related but an annual payment that is specified in employees’ contracts.
8. #CHINA: Wang Ziq, a Chinese woman identified as a gangland ringleader, has been executed in China for forcing hundreds of women into prostitution in Chongqing. One of her accomplices, a 35-year-old Filiipino man convicted of drug trafficking, was also executed – despite a clemency appeal from President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines.
9. #PUSUKE: The world’s oldest dog has died in Japan: Pusuke, born on 1 April 1985, was recognised as the oldest dog living by the Guinness Book of Records last year, the Telegraph reports.
The Shiba-mix breed had reached the age of 26 years and eight months. Puske’s owner told reporters that she “would just like to thank him for staying alive so long.”
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Delighted staff at EBS Arnt getting ridiculous bonuses, Back to reality like the rest of the country.
If only it applied to the top aswell
Try reading the comments on the article about the ebs ” bonuses” and you will see it’s their actually pay which they worked for, not a bonus !
@JeasusBigBalls – You should read some of the staff comments in the story below to see exactly what is going on here.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ebs-cancels-christmas-bonuses-for-staff-299445-Dec2011/
Seems like this isn’t a ‘bonus’ payment that the headline makers and management of EBS are spinning it to be.
It’s not a bonus, but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good rant by an anonymous poster.
But Managers and Senior Managers (what’s the difference?) are still getting their bonuses. Another example of frontline staff being hit while those who cocked up get rewarded.
nail on the head Martin
the christmas bonus was just that, a bonus, and of course it was a god send and much needed! But it comes down to bare facts, this is pay for work completed, an incentive to do better at the job with this company, withholding payment is wrong. As Martin said previous, the big boys are getting theirs , and for all the wrong reasons. Good luck to the frontline staff.
I don’t understand why the EBS staff should get an end of year payment equivalent to a month’s pay, whether or not it is a bonus, when Social Welfare recipients got their Christmas bonus firstly cut, and then removed a few years ago. Why can’t we get THAT reinstated?!
Christine, you’re comparing apples and oranges. Read the explanation in the thread I linked to above and don’t just comment for the sake of it. Inform yourself and then you’ll understand.
Social Welfare Christmas bonus wasn’t performance related either, but it was certainly welcomed and budgeted for by all recepients!
I’m an ex-employee of EBS……. & the “bonus” was no such thing! Your gross annual salary was divided into 13 instead of the 12 & you were given the double payment at the end of the year. It was an enforced saving scheme imposed by the Society. It was not performance related, it was not given in good faith by the company, it was infact the remainder of the agreed salary. I think they have treated the staff so bad. These are not Managers or highly paid staff who can hide in their offices & close their doors on the public opinion that all bankers are the same. These are front line, low paid staff who rely on their incomes (like every other person in Ireland). I think its disgusting that they are being treated like this & the fact that the bank see’s fit to offer a loan to cover what is in effect their salary just adds insult to injury. The staff have my full support & not just because of my connection with the Society. I like most people am angry at our current economic state, I think high level banking excutives along with Government officals should be held accountable for what they have done to our Nation. By this I mean legal prosecution & and be stripped of any financial entitlement i.e., pensions etc., I think its discusting that members of the last Government can sit back with their “pot of gold” provided by the public & watch the carnage knowing they will never experience the hardship that most of the general public is enduring.
Good Luck to the front line staff of the EBS!!!!
I cannot get into any of the links, It says down for maintenance.
Hi John. Thanks for your comment. There doesn’t seem to be a problem on our end – are you reading from a computer or a mobile device?
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