A threatened strike by administrative staff in vocational education committees (VECs), which would have hit payments of wages to teachers, has been averted.
IMPACT, the union representing the 800 staff involved, is to ballot members on proposals put by the Department of Education and the Irish Vocational Education Committee at a meeting yesterday.
The dispute is over what the union says is the failure of employers to agree adequate staffing to implement a restructuring of VECs.
Tribunal finds in favour of publican
The Equality Tribunal has found that a publican acted "in good faith" in refusing to serve a Traveller because of his concerns about possible "disorderly conduct", writes Carol Coulter.
The case concerned Mr David Sweeney and the Yacht Inn in Sligo. Mr Sweeney was refused service in the pub when he visited it with his wife and another couple. He claimed he was discriminated against because he was a member of the Travelling community.
The publican said he did not discriminate against Travellers, but that Mr Sweeney and two nephews had engaged in disorderly conduct the previous evening and had intimidated other customers who wished to play pool. In the light of the legislation requiring publicans to run an orderly house the Equality Officer concluded there had not been discrimination.
Support called for anti-racism plan
A Limerick group which works with asylum-seekers has called on the Minister of State for Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, to promote cultural respect in Ireland. Doras Lumini wants the Minister to ensure that the forthcoming National Action Plan Against Racism is properly financed and fully honoured. The group is part of Limerick Network Against Racism, which has been holding events during European Week Against Racism this week to highlight the need for the city to remain racism free.
Witnesses sought in Dublin stabbing
Gardaí in Dublin are appealing for witnesses to a city centre stabbing yesterday morning in which a man was seriously injured.
The man, in his early 30s, is believed to have been stabbed somewhere near the junction of Eden Quay and O'Connell Street between 1 a.m and 1.40 a.m.
The victim hailed a taxi and was taken to St James's Hospital where staff described his condition as "stable" last night. Witnesses are asked to contact Store Street Garda station on 01- 6668000.
Sixth man charged over smuggling
A sixth man was charged at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday in connection with a multimillion pound cigarette smuggling racket.
Mr James Murray (43), a lorry driver, from Banbridge, Co Down, was remanded on his own bail of £5,000 and a cash surety of £5,000. As in the case of five men in court last week, Mr Murray was charged with evading customs duty on what was described in the charge sheet as a "significant number of cigarettes". Last week's hearing was told 340 million cigarettes had been smuggled into the UK from the continent.