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Irish Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
All HSE ambulances remain in service following investigations into fires in two of its vehicles
Fires that broke out within days of each other in two new ambulances operated by the HSE may have been linked to problems in the auxiliary battery systems in the vehicles, an inspection has found. On Tuesday, the HSE said the affected vehicles had been inspected and reminders on vehicle safety checks had been issued to operational staff. All National Ambulance Service (NAS) vehicles remain available for service. An urgent inspection by technical experts identified a potential issue involving auxiliary battery systems 'in a limited subset' of NAS vehicles. READ MORE Last month, two ambulances operated by the NAS caught fire. One was destroyed in Castlebar, Co Mayo. The other fire happened in Tullamore, Co Offaly. The HSE said all necessary safety inspections into the two vehicles had now been completed. 'These incidents involved one emergency ambulance and one community paramedic response vehicle, both of which were unoccupied at the time and resulted in no injuries,' it said. 'Following an urgent assessment by technical experts, a potential issue involving auxiliary battery systems was identified in a limited subset of NAS vehicles. 'As a precaution, a comprehensive inspection programme was immediately undertaken in collaboration with vehicle and subsystem suppliers.' The HSE said the ambulance service was fully committed to safety and would continue to monitor this issue. The Irish Times reported last Saturday how the two vehicles that caught fire were different makes, models and types, but an initial technical examination had 'identified a possible issue'. Following the incidents , the HSE established a serious incident management team to look at the issue. It said at the time that a recently commissioned emergency ambulance was destroyed by fire while parked adjacent to the ambulance station in Castlebar in the early hours of June 21st. Then last Thursday, a new community paramedic response vehicle awaiting entry to service went on fire in a commissioning facility in Tullamore. 'Neither vehicle was in use at the time, no patients were affected and no staff were injured,' the HSE said.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
HSE launches urgent inquiry after two new ambulances catch fire
The HSE is carrying out an urgent investigation into why two new ambulances suddenly caught fire in recent days. The two vehicles were different makes, models and types, but an initial technical examination had 'identified a possible issue', the HSE said. The matter is 'now being urgently explored in further detail with vehicle suppliers', it said. It is understood the investigation will look at potential common links between the two ambulances. The HSE said a serious incident management team was established after the fires, which took place last Saturday and last Thursday. READ MORE However, it said ambulance services for the public were not affected. The HSE said a recently-commissioned emergency ambulance was destroyed by fire while parked adjacent to the ambulance station in Castlebar, Co Mayo, in the early hours of last Saturday, June 21st. On Thursday, June 26th, a new community paramedic response vehicle awaiting entry to service went on fire in a commissioning facility in Tullamore, Co Offaly. 'Neither vehicle was in use at the time, no patients were affected and no staff were injured,' the HSE said. 'In line with health and safety requirements, all staff on duty have also been alerted to the two known incidents, requested to remain vigilant and reminded of current fire safety, vehicle evacuation, and incident reporting procedures,' it said. National Ambulance Service (NAS) operations to the public are 'unaffected by the current precautionary measures, which will remain under constant review', the HSE added. The NAS has 437 patient-carrying vehicles, including emergency and critical care ambulances and intermediate care vehicles. The HSE said all NAS vehicles are subject to a crew inspection at the commencement of each shift, as well as a safety inspection every eight weeks. [ Ireland's Community First Responders: Making the difference between life and death Opens in new window ] It said all vehicles were constructed in line with the relevant national and EU standards, were serviced and maintained in line with manufacturers' guidelines and are replaced after five years or 350,000km. It said all staff receive training in fire safety and vehicle evacuation procedures. Last year a HSE internal audit of the national ambulance fleet found that the budget allocation for last year was 50 per cent less than the service requires. It identified that some emergency ambulances were being kept in service outside the recommended usage of five years, with 66 ambulances listed as five or six years old.
Irish Times
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Cork to play Dublin in quarter-finals after they overcome Mayo
Goals in each half from Katie Quirke sent Cork into the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they held off a late Mayo fightback in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar. Máire O'Callaghan's early goal set Cork on their way as Quirke struck twice to hold off Mayo. Despite a late rally and a disallowed goal, Cork advance, while Mayo face Leitrim in a relegation playoff. Tipperary never trailed as they beat Donegal by two points at Bansha to book a place in the quarter-finals. Tipperary produced their best display of the season, dominating early to lead 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time. Despite a spirited Donegal comeback, including a Jodie McFadden goal, Tipp held firm, with Aisling Moloney's late free sealing a deserved win. READ MORE Kildare caused a massive upset by knocking Ulster champions Armagh out of the competition at the Box-IT Athletic Grounds to book their spot in the last eight. The visitors were sharper from start to finish and withstood a late Armagh onslaught to complete a famous victory. Armagh were without captain Clodagh McCambridge and Aoife McCoy, but Kildare were full value for their win. Waterford advanced to the quarter-final with victory over Leitrim in Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada. The Deise were made work hard for the win against a battling Leitrim who never gave up. Results: Cork 3-8 Mayo 1-10 Tipperary 0-11 Donegal 1-6 Kildare 1-12 Armagh 1-10 Waterford 6-16 Leitrim 3-4 The draw for the quarter-finals was as follows: Kerry v Kildare Dublin v Cork Meath v Tipperary Galway v Waterford The first team named in each instance will have home advantage – with ties to be played on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday July 5th and 6th. Semi-finals: Winner QF 1 v winner QF 3 Winner QF 2 v winner QF 4 Relegation Mayo v Leitrim Donegal v Armagh The winners of the above relegation fixtures, to be played on Saturday, July 5th at neutral venues, will play Senior Championship Football in 2026. The losers of the above games will play off against each other, with the losers of the final relegation play-off, to be played on Saturday July 12th, relegated to the Intermediate Championship for 2026.
BreakingNews.ie
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Cork's Hannah Looney says more respect must be shown to dual players
Cork footballer and camogie player Hannah Looney says she fears dual players will not continue in the game, as fixture scheduling continues to impact those playing both codes. As the Cork camogie side prepares to take on Clare on Saturday at 2 pm, the ladies footballers face Mayo in Castlebar in a must-win game in the All-Ireland group stages. Advertisement Not the only player forced to make a decision ahead of this weekend, Looney will line out with the footballers alongside Aoife Healy, while Libby Coppinger will play with the camogie side. This is not a new problem for Looney, who has always played both codes. She says more must be done to highlight the challenges facing dual players. 'There was a lot more respect for the dual player. If you look at ten years ago, everything has evolved so much and keeps evolving. 'When I first started, there were male players dabbling in and out of dual, but now it has totally gone out of the men's game, and it seems to be going that way for us too, unfortunately. Advertisement 'It's fine for me — I'm at the latter end of my career — but I do see it's going to be harder. In Cork at the moment, if you had a 17- or 18-year-old breaking into the senior set-ups, I can't see how they could start out on a dual journey the way things are going.' In years gone by, some players have been forced to play two games in one day. Looney says she is disappointed more has not been done about ongoing fixture clashes. 'The bottom line is I feel there's less interest, less respect, and less value, unfortunately. 'Even the fixture clash this weekend — a couple of years ago, there would have been huge uproar about this. You would have had the backing of the media, and you might have had the support of the county boards and managers to try to make a change. But it has just been fail after fail after fail. Advertisement 'Myself and Aoife will play football this Saturday — it's a knockout game for us against Mayo. Libby will be lining out with camogie. Libby is on her way back from injury and is working really hard to get camogie minutes, but she's going to be an absolutely huge loss for us in football. 'It's really frustrating. It's got to the stage where you don't even bother trying anymore.' In camogie, Cork and Looney are chasing history as they aim for a third All-Ireland title in a row. This season, it has all gone to plan for Cork so far, with a league title secured and two wins from two in the All-Ireland championship. Advertisement Having come close before, Looney knows how hard it is to achieve such success. 'The goal is the three-in-a-row, but you've got to get through each training session first before you can even think of anything else. 'You look at Cork camogie teams of the past and the legacies they've left — the inspiration they've given. 'This is an opportunity for us to leave our own legacy because there are huge legacies left before us. The three-in-a-row hasn't been done in recent times, and it's a chance for us to do that. 'I've tried to do it twice before — losing in '16 and losing in '17 — and it took us so long to get back up the Hogan steps. 'If I'm being honest, it's a huge driver for me — the three-in-a-row. It's something I haven't achieved before. If you chat to other players — Ashling Thompson, for example — she'll say it's just the next All-Ireland for her.'
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Government focuses on tenants over landlords in rent crisis moves
It's been almost a decade since rent pressure zones (RPZs) were introduced to curb sharp spikes in rent and cap increases at 2 per cent or the rate of inflation, whichever is the lower. Initially they were confined to Dublin and other big cities but have since been extended across the State, to 24 of the 31 councils, and 111 of the 166 local electoral areas. Castlebar, Co Mayo, and Tullow, Co Carlow, were the latest to be added to the list in May. After a three-hour-long meeting of leaders last night, it was decided that a proposal be put at Cabinet today that RPZs would be extended to the whole country. READ MORE As well as Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris , the meeting was attended by Minister for Housing James Browne, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. Pat Leahy reports it was also confirmed that landlords would not be allowed to reset rent between tenancies, unless tenants have left voluntarily or have breached the tenancy agreement. In other words, a notice to quit will not be sufficient to allow a rent review. As the report states : 'Housing advocates had warned the Government that allowing landlords to reset the rent between tenancies would result in many tenancies being terminated by the landlords in order to increase the rents.' The import is that the extension of the RPZs plus the new clause on rent review will be seen to favour tenants rather than landlords. For the first time also, landlords will be classified according the number of properties owned. At present, all landlords are treated the same regardless of how many properties they own. Now, smaller landlords will be categorised as such if they own three properties or less. Here is Pat Leahy's analysis of the proposed changes. 'Modest' increases in local property tax from 2026 There is also another big property-related article in The Irish Times this morning setting out the expected increases in local property tax (LPT) from next year. There has been an increase of over 20 per cent in property prices since 2021, the last time changes to LPT were made. The report has a preview of a memo Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is expected to bring to Cabinet this morning: 'Fearing substantial hikes in tax bills, the Government is expected to change the way the tax is calculated in advance of the next date for revaluation on November 1st of this year.' The implications are that houses valued at under €240,000 will see their LPT bill increase by only €5 a year. Properties valued between €420,000 and €525,000 will see increases of €23, still relatively modest. At the top tier there will be more substantial hikes. Those with properties valued between €1.995 million and €2.1 million will pay an extra €389 a year. Israel war bonds to be debated again in Dáil The last week in May in the Dáil was dominated by an intense debate over the role played by the Central Bank in authorising for the European markets bonds that have been issued by the state of Israel. The Government has argued it is a technical process that has fallen on our Central Bank to do for Europe and that Ireland has never bought bonds. The Opposition has said the bonds are war bonds and the State or its institutions should have no part whatsoever in dealing with the bonds. A Sinn Féin Private Members' Bill to effectively stop the Central Bank from dealing with them was defeated in the Dáil, but not before two Government TDs, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, voted with the Opposition. Now, after the week's recess, the same issue is being debated in the Dáil this week, on foot of a Private Members' motion being tabled by the Social Democrats. The four big Opposition parties have combined again to back it and held a press conference on the plinth. Part of the strategy is to put more pressure on Government backbenchers to abstain or vote against an issue where not all are comfortable with the Coalition's position. There are more details of the motion here . Best Reads Fintan O'Toole focuses on a statistic that shows that some students sitting State exams this week went to bed hungry last night . We should be mortified, he writes. Eoin Burke-Kennedy writes that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has predicted another surge in corporation tax. Joe Humphreys's great Unthinkable column asks should we be quite so smug about Trump's tariffs? Playbook The Cabinet meets this morning with a big agenda, including Government concern over what retaliatory tariffs the EU will impose on the US; almost 500 new places in higher education to address key shortages of health and social care professionals; a new incentive scheme to retain air traffic controllers in the Air Corps; and a new antiterrorism Bill. Full details are to be found in this preview of the meeting . Dáil 14:00: Leaders' Questions 14:34: Order of Business 15:04: Bills for Introduction: Taxes Consolidation (Rights of Performers and Film Workers) (Amendment) Bill 2025 – First Stage 15:10: Taoiseach's Questions 15:55: Government Business: Statements on Housing 19:27: Private Members' Business (Sinn Féin): Motion re Urgent action on vacant Council Housing 21:27: Parliamentary Questions: Oral – Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Darragh O'Brien 00:03: Dáil adjourns Seanad 14:30: Commencement Matters 15:30: Order of Business 16:30: Government Business: Statements on Breast Cancer Services 18:45: Private Members' Business: Motion re Insurance Reform 20:45: Seanad adjourns Committees 11.30: Artificial Intelligence Research Ireland: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 12.05: Comhchoiste na Gaeilge An Plean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge 2024-2030 15.00: Housing Discussion on the Report of Housing Commission 15.00: Justice Engagement on Policing Matters 18.00: Arts, Media, Communications Prelegislative Scrutiny of revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill
