HSE staff face pay delays
The restoration of computer systems in the health service will take “many weeks” following last week’s cyberattack, according to the HSE.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly described it as “an attack on the Irish people, the health system and patients and their families”.
With major disruptions set to continue, the HSE says many emergency departments are very busy and patients requiring non-urgent care can expect significant delays.
Mr Donnelly confirmed the HSE payment system is down and more than 100,000 healthcare staff may not get paid this Thursday as planned.
He said getting the system back up and running to ensure HSE staff are paid is now “an absolute priority”.
Housing tops agenda at Cabinet
Measures to tackle so-called cuckoo funds buying up housing developments from first-time buyers are being discussed at a second Cabinet meeting this evening.
Ministers will consider a range of proposals aimed at increasing the number of properties available to the public, and limiting the amount that can be snapped up by investment funds.
The proposals to tackle investment funds bulk-buying housing estates have been branded “too little, too late” by Opposition parties.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald branded claims that it is not Government policy to support so-called cuckoo funds “absolutely bogus”.
Aer Lingus axes Shannon base
Aer Lingus has announced that it will permanently close its Shannon cabin crew base and lay off Cork crew for three months.
The 81 cabin crew based at Shannon have the options of enhanced severance terms or base transfer to Dublin where possible, while the 45 ground crew will face redundancy.
Aer Lingus has warned of possible further lay-offs after it lost €103 million in the first three months of 2021. This is on top of a €361 million loss in 2020.
Deirdre Morley trial
Deirdre Morley unsuccessfully attempted to poison her three children one day before she suffocated them at their family home, a murder trial jury has heard.
In what the State described in court as “a desperately sad case”, the jury heard that Ms Morley used tape and plastic bags to suffocate the children, two of whom were killed in a play tent.
Vaccine registration
People aged 45 to 49 can register for a Covid-19 vaccine this week.
Those aged 49 can register for an appointment from Wednesday.
People can register for their vaccine by going to vaccine.hse.ie or calling 1850 24 1850.
Almost everyone wants to work remotely
More than 95 per cent of working people in Ireland want to continue with some form of remote employment once the coronavirus pandemic ends, a new survey has found.
The study, carried out by NUI Galway, also found that employees prefer remote working more than managers and team leaders.
