Gary

Exactly, I never hear this discussed when this topic comes up in the media.

Wasteful Spending, Irrational Policy In order to assist restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, the Government intends to cut VAT in the upcoming budget at a cost of nearly €700 million. There’s one problem: restaurants, cafes and coffee sh...

It is claimed that cutting VAT (cost: €700 million) will help restaurants and coffee shops. Yet, less than 20% of that tax cut will benefit those businesses. 60% will go to fast-food outlets and meals in hotels. This is highly wasteful and inefficient. tinyurl.com/mrkamxrh

Poster for Fórsa’s National Rally for Pension Parity. Large teal text reads: 'NATIONAL RALLY for Pension Parity.' Below in black and pink text: 'Join us in Dublin on Thursday 28th August at 11am outside the Department of Public Expenditure on Merrion Square.' At the bottom, a red banner states: 'PENSION PARITY NOW for School Secretaries and Caretakers.' The Fórsa logo is in the top right corner. A circular badge shows a stick figure holding balanced scales with the words 'Pension Parity in Schools' around the edge.

Want a way to support the School Secretaries and Caretakers Strike?

Join them on their 1st day of strike outside the Dept of Public Expenditure for a HUGE rally.

Thursday 28th August, 11am, Merrion Square. See you there! #PensionParity

Article from the Irish Times, "How much do landlords really earn?"

"We hear a lot about ‘accidental landlords’ making ‘pin money’... The data tells a very different story: in 2022, the average gross rental income from second properties was €133,800, or 85% higher than households without a rental income."

From DCTU FB: www.facebook.com/share/p/179k...

🤖Meme image showing a man hugging a woman from behind, both smiling. The photo is overexposed and appears candid. Text at the top reads: "Worried HR are a bit too close with your boss? Join a union." The meme references a situation involving the CEO of Astronomer at a Coldplay concert, who was involved in a personal relationship with the head of HR

The exact thing happened to farms in the UK, nothing was learned from Brexit.

In landmark ruling, same-sex couple recognized as family by Ukrainian court Ukraine does not currently recognize same-sex marriages or partnerships, and this court ruling may serve as a critical legal milestone in expanding rights for LGBTQ families.

⚡️ In landmark ruling, same-sex couple recognized as family by Ukrainian court.

Ukraine does not currently recognize same-sex marriages or partnerships, and this court ruling may serve as a legal milestone in expanding rights for LGBTQ families.

Union leaders to debate four-day working week A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which begins in Belfast toda...

A four-day working week, pay, remote working and artificial intelligence will be among the topics debated at the biennial conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which begins in Belfast today

Brighten up a Monday morning with a throwback to Dublin and (the banned) Budapest Pride over the weekend!

🤖 A large group of people are gathered at Dublin Pride 2025, smiling and holding colourful flags and banners. The central banner reads "Fórsa" with a rainbow background. Many participants are wearing rainbow accessories such as leis, face paint, and T-shirts supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Behind the group are additional pride flags and banners from other unions. The atmosphere is festive and supportive, taking place on a city street with historic buildings in the background.

Happy #Pride

Long Covid scheme extended after court recommendation The Labour Court has recommended a final extension of the current special scheme for healthcare workers living with long Covid to run up to 31 December 2025, which the Government has now accepted.

The Labour Court has recommended a final extension of the current special scheme for healthcare workers living with long Covid to run up to 31 December 2025, which the Government has now accepted

🤖 A large group of delegates stands together at the 2025 Fórsa Civil Service Conference, holding a teal banner that reads “Celebrating UN Public Services Day – 23rd June.” The banner also features the Fórsa logo. The group is smiling and facing the camera, with many wearing lanyards. Behind them, other attendees are seated at tables in a large conference room, and a presentation screen is visible in the background.

Today is UN Public Services Day. A good reminder that public services don’t run themselves, we do! Decent pay, respect, and safe workplaces shouldn’t be too much to ask. #KeepPublicServicesPublic

🤖 This image shows a group of people holding flags, likely at a public event or protest. The flags prominently display the Fórsa logo, a trade union in Ireland. The individuals are standing together outdoors, with some of them smiling or engaged in conversation. The scene is bathed in bright sunlight, suggesting a sunny day.

✊

Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and Linux Before the Danish government announced its move, Denmark's largest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, had already announced plans to phase out Microsoft software and cloud services. Here's why.

Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for #LibreOffice and #Linux www.zdnet.com/article/why-...

Europe doesn't trust the US government or its tech powers, so its countries are looking elsewhere.

A CAPCHA: "Verify that you're human" Checkmark in the box next to "I stand with Palestine" "Ceasefire Now" as the little logo.

I agree. This is the problem when a significant amount of government TDs are landlords.

Corporate landlord LRC/Jersia/Home Club is evicting long term tenants in Applewood using this loophole.
topevictors.ie/profiles/LRC...

There is also a protest outside the LRC Office on the 5th of June at 1pm on 32 Lower Baggot Street Dublin. Please come along and show your solidarity ✊

Stop Evictions and Ban Corporate Landlords in Ireland I've just signed this CATU petition calling for an end to evictions and a ban on corporate landlords. Will you sign too?

Hi all,
We’re asking people to sign and share this petition ✍️ calling for:

✅ Emergency legislation to close the loophole on evictions for no reason
✅ A ban on corporate landlords who are making people homeless and profiting off the housing crisis.
Link to sign:
tinyurl.com/s458p3h8

Support union school secretaries in their fight for pension parity! ✊

Every bank holiday weekend they do this. It's such flawed thinking

I see, so it comes down to tactical voting to reduce the harm. That's really disheartening and I can imagine it's tough to mobilise activists and voters for that strategy 😕

From a non-brit, what is the leftist alternative to Labour? Is there a party like the Greens that could realistically get into power? If not, is it likely Labour could reform (a new-new-Labour?).

DCU, Ireland’s first formally designated University of Sanctuary, has announced five new scholarships for postgraduate taught Master’s for refugees and international protection applicants who are not eligible for state support.
Find out more here: launch.dcu.ie/42JvTDx

Screenshot of Times article with headline: "Florida may loosen child labour laws to fill gap left by migrants" The article explains a law has been proposed in Florida to allow children as young as 14 to work overnight shifts in agriculture & constraction to make up for lost migrant labour. Yes really.

You truly could not make it up.

You could not.

WhatsApp group of 200 young men created to target woman in her student accommodation, Dáil hears University of Limerick student alleges shouting and bullying behaviour with no remedial action taken by accommodation provider when first contacted

This is disgraceful, but honestly not surprising. How many more women have to be harassed, abused, or killed before our institutions step up? It’s terrifying things are getting worse, and men are being enabled by a culture full of violent misogynistic role models

Immigration is good! It's a good thing. Immigration is not at the root of any of our problems. I'm not prepared to cede that ground, to be honest.

There is no migration crisis in Ireland. We do have a housing crisis and a political ideology crisis where the far right want to blame migration and the government is happy to let them. International protection applicants form less that 5% of migration to Ireland and usually much less than that.

Poetic considering Vance's speech in Munich stating Germans don't have freedom of speech.