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OKTOBERFEST, GERMANY’S FAMED beer festival which draws millions of visitors from around the world, has opened in Munich after a two-year pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In its 200-year history, the world’s biggest folk festival has been cancelled just 26 times, mostly due to World Wars I and II but also twice due to cholera outbreaks.
The last time the festival was held in 2019, the 6.3 million guests drank more than 7.3 million litres of German beer.
Munich mayor Didier Reiter kicked off the ceremony by opening a beer keg with a hammer blow and offering the first tankard to the head of the regional government Markus Soeder.
The festival will run until 3 October with no restrictions, and no face masks will be necessary.
Oktoberfest generates about €1.2 billion in income. Beer occupies cult status in Germany and especially in Bavaria, where Munich is located.
Germans are among Europe’s heaviest beer drinkers with an annual average consumption of 84 litres in 2021.
On Friday, the German Brewers’ Federation DBB told the government of the numerous challenges it was facing due to the war in Ukraine, including skyrocketing energy prices and disruptions in the supply chain.
“The government must react … Without speedy state intervention and aid, hundreds of enterprises in the German beverages sector will disappear and thousands will become jobless.”
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So disappointed with Phil. All talk etc. No pay parity. No parity on working hours. I’m hoping she’ll be very disappointed with the voting.
@Catherine Gaffney: 55cc’s of brown envelope’s stat
Nothing we marched or went on strike for, is being addressed or rectified. An entire profession being sold out. Mighty nurses indeed.
From what I hear from the nurses I know they are far from impressed with the deal.
@James O’Donovan: I know that student nurses weren’t even asked their opinion, while the Inmo seem to be on a solo run completely at odds with actual nurses demands over conditions.
They might get a suprise from their members .its a bad deal.I think phil is liam Doran in suprise.all her talk @ the start was just a load of waffle
What about the facts that they are more and more self serving and patients are getting less and less care while they are getting more money?
@Viola Bingham: what” facts” would they be Viola?
It’s a case of one step forward and two steps backwards for nurses, a poor deal full of conditions, many unacceptable.
The nurses will decide, not phil nor the labour courts nor the politicians. And strike again if ye have to. This gov is a disgrace anyway.
What deal did the Nurses get for the people who have to use their departments? I heard a lot about concern for patients during the strike but I see none of it in this deal.
Another sellout by INMO executive.
Nothing has changed. Doran used to waffle for weeks about conditions, the real problem, and threaten strike action,the govt then throw a few bob their way and suddenly a deal is struck. Highest waiting lists ever in Limerick at present and was in A&E in a Dublin hospital this week and it was like a scene from MASH. Phil and Co should step down. I know it’s in their interest to continue to let patients suffer in these conditions as it justifies their existence, IR turbulence, but the nurses should rebel against this shower for selling them out again. Conditions will never improve with this crowd supposedly leading the drive for change.
have your say