Dramatic Reduction in Irish Working Hours Announced

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Thursday October 23, 2003 23:12 by random input

That's right ladies and gents, our overworked elected leaders have finally given the Irish working class what they have long wanted, further reduced working hours...

Well, its true except for the bit about the Irish working class. What really happened was that today, by a majority of 55 to 47 (only one PD bothered to turn up for the vote), Dail Eireann voted to give itself another week's holidays - next week! Yes indeed, our already overworked government have decided that after only four weeks back in parliament, they deserve another break - just weeks before they take their five week Christmas holliers. Uncomfirmed reports suggest that the decision was taken as Ministers are quite dizzy after a month of 'spinning like mad'.

It cannot be denied that our TDs bear a heavy workload these days, what with all those shopping centres and new pubs to open, as well as trying to steer clear of both rush-hour traffic, pedestrians and tribunals.

So while that tax-paying spongers who refuse to pay the bin tax are in jail, their taxes are being used to fund another Dail holiday. I'm sure everyone can see the justice in that.

Mary Harney addressed a concern that has been on the lips of the whole nation today - namely that TDs do not get to spend enough time with their families. She remarked: "TDs were looking forward to spending time with their children, who would be off school next week." Yes indeed, now that the schools are out, TDs can obvioulsy not afford the childcare that the rest of double-income working families must pay for during the school holidays. Of course, it would be economically unwise for all Irish workers to follow their lead in an attempt to spend more time with their children.

One wonders what this will mean for Joe Higgins. Surely the Dail was providing a much meeded diversion from breaking the law. The boredom of the next week may well see him getting up to more mischief and landing himself back behind bars (seriously Joe -and the rest of the bin taxers!- fair play!)

In other news, Clare Daly is looking like becoming a shoe-in in the next Dublin North election (or by-election) given today's "revelations" about the activities of one G.V(ery, very drunk) Wright. I use inverted commas because everyone already knew he was corrupt as fuck!

Oh, and more Job Losses - September 2003 figures up 61% from this time last year. Ms Harney however remained optimistic, saying the "upturn in the global economy" would help out. What upturn?