Latest news with #Forsa
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Oberstown staff member ‘punched in face in unprovoked attack' by young person, union says
A member of staff at Oberstown Children Detention Campus was hospitalised at the weekend following an assault by a young person, according to the Forsa trade union. The alleged incident on Sunday afternoon occurred in the exercise yard of one of the campus's units. The staff member was 'punched in the face several times in an unprovoked attack' and 'had to be taken to hospital where he was X-rayed for a suspected facial fracture', said a union source. The staff source said there were insufficient staffing levels in the yard at the time of Sunday's incident. READ MORE 'This young person has been involved in previous violent incidents on the campus ... They come from a very troubled, traumatic background and to be honest should have had far more intensive interventions far earlier in their life. 'They are probably in the wrong placement now.' The alleged assault comes less than a month after nine staff were injured in an incident involving a young person . That incident, during which improvised weapons were used, resulted in four staff being brought to hospital and a number being signed off work for up to a month, said Forsa. The union source, who works at Oberstown, queried assertions by Minister for Children Norma Foley , whose department oversees the campus, in a written answer to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon last week, where she said the facility was 'not experiencing 'dangerously low staffing levels''. A staff survey conducted by Forsa in the last three months, seen by The Irish Times, found 69 per cent of staff members felt morale was 'low' or 'very low', while 54 per cent said morale had worsened in the previous 12 months. The survey, completed by 120 out of about 175 staff, found 80 per cent felt their workload had increased in the previous 12 months, with 74 per cent saying stress levels had worsened. A separate workplace culture report, commissioned by the Oberstown board of management and published on Friday, found just half of staff felt 'valued as an employee', while 'decision making in the interests of the young people could be improved'. The report, by accountancy firm Forvis Mazars, said 'substantial progress is still required' if the campus is to achieve its 'agreed target culture'. Oberstown's principal objective is 'to provide appropriate care, education, training and other programmes to young people between 12 and 18 years with a view to reintegrating them successfully back into their communities and society', the report noted. However, the centre's 'mission statement lacks clarity regarding the organisation's mandate in returning young people successfully to society' it said. 'While 76 per cent of survey respondents agreed Oberstown is a campus they enjoy working in, just half of staff agreed that they felt valued as an employee,' said the report. 'Cross-campus decision making in the interests of the young people could be improved as observed through focus group discussions. 'In the survey, just 47 per cent of respondents agreed that collaboration was actively encouraged.' On the issue of people development, the report found: 'There is no performance management system in Oberstown, as observed through focus group discussion, documentation review, and the survey where 71 per cent of staff agreed they had never been involved in a performance management process.' Authors found staff felt induction and onboarding systems could be strengthened 'to fully prepare them for their roles'. Just half of respondents agreed they were provided with the necessary information when they joined Oberstown. 'Only 25 per cent of survey respondents believed good performance is recognised at Oberstown and focus group discussions indicated there would be appreciation among staff for more acknowledgment of a 'job well done'.' A Department of Children spokesman said: 'The Department offers its full support to any member of staff who has been injured during the course of their work. As with all circumstances of this nature, these matters will be the subject of internal review. The Department does not comment on operational matters relating to Oberstown Children Detention Campus.' A spokesman for Oberstown said he could not comment on an individual incident, but that the campus 'offers its full support to any member of staff who has been injured during the course of their work'. He said management acknowledged the findings of the culture review, took the findings 'seriously' and were 'committed to acting on them'.
Russia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Germany's AfD to soften stance on migrants
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has softened its anti-immigration rhetoric in a bid to appeal to moderate voters and prove itself capable of forming a government down the road, Bild has claimed. Founded in 2013, the right-wing party has steadily gained in popularity amid the continuing migrant crisis in Germany. It finished second in the federal elections in February, winning 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. In April, a survey by the pollster Forsa indicated that it enjoyed the support of 26% of respondents, ahead of all the other parties in Germany. In an article on Saturday, Bild claimed to have seen a new seven-point policy paper that the AfD's parliamentary group was expected to adopt that same day. Conspicuously absent from the document are calls for the 'remigration' of German residents with a migrant background, as well as an insistence on the 'German guiding culture,' according to the outlet. Bild claimed that the terms had specifically been axed from the party program in order to 'reach more moderate voters,' and 'appear capable of governing by the next federal election' in 2029. Aside from these purported changes, the AfD also reportedly intends to adopt a code of conduct for its lawmakers in the Bundestag. The party's interim goal is to gain ground in next year's regional elections, Bild reported. The media outlet claimed that the updated program calls for an end to asylum-granting to refugees at the border, tougher naturalization requirements and less social welfare for migrants. The party also reportedly seeks to slash taxes, lift a self-imposed ban on the use of nuclear power plants, and restore the Nord Stream pipelines. The conduits, which used to carry Russian natural gas, were destroyed by a targeted underwater explosion in 2022. Berlin has since ruled out restoring them to operation. According to Bild, the right-wingers want Germany's foreign policy to be guided by the motto 'Germany first,' which would presumably entail an end to weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the lifting of sanctions on Russia. In a post on X on Sunday, the AfD Bundestag group revealed that its members had convened for a 'closed meeting' over the weekend to set 'political goals for the coming period.' The party was declared a 'confirmed right-wing extremist entity' by Germany's domestic intelligence agency in May, only for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to suspend the label shortly thereafter.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Majority of Germans want stricter rules on teenage drinking
AI - Generated Image A recent survey published on Thursday showed that almost two thirds of Germans think 14 year olds should be barred from drinking alcohol. In Germany, 14-year-old teenagers are allowed to buy and drink a beer or glass of wine. if they're with a legal guardian. In the survey run by Forsa agency and commissioned by the German health insurance company Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH), individuals were asked questions on young people and alcohol. In total, 1000 people aged 18-70 from all over Germany were surveyed. The survey found that just over half of Germans also want the legal age for purchasing beer and wine to rise from 16 to 18. In Germany, the sale of hard alcohol is currently only permitted from the age of 18. Advertising alcohol is a topic that has come up in German politics before, and of those Germans surveyed, 35 percent would prefer a complete ban. A further third of respondents wanted more restrictions. Drinking in Germany, a risky habit? Across Germany, bars, pubs and restaurants are considered important for socializing, often with the involvement of alcohol. Though overall alcohol consumption has fallen in recent years, there are reportedly 1.6 million people living in Germany who have an alcohol addiction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025년 가장 여유 넘치는 농장 게임. 설치 없음 Taonga: 아일랜드 팜 플레이하기 Undo In a survey by Germany's Centre for Health Education (BZgA) in 2024, excessive drinking among children aged 12-17 also slightly increased. Doctors Associations in Germany have long been calling for health policies to reduce alcohol consumption in Germany. Even in moderation, alcohol is not healthy, according to The German Nutrition Society (DGE). They recommend abstaining completely from alcoholic beverages, adding that alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases and liver conditions. For teenagers whose bodies are still developing, the risks can be greater. "The earlier young people drink alcohol, the greater the health risks," KKH psychologist Franziska Klemm explained. What are politicians saying? The health ministers of Germany's federal states have been pushing for a ban on the supervised drinking rule. Katharina Schenk, the health minister for the east German state of Thuringia said recently at a meeting "Alcohol, as a widely consumed drug, poses a significant problem for children and teenagers" The German Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has voiced support for this initiative.
DW
03-07-2025
- Health
- DW
Majority of Germans want stricter rules on teenage drinking – DW – 07/03/2025
Almost two thirds of Germans surveyed support a ban on young teenagers drinking. German health ministers are also in support. In Germany, 14-year-old teenagers are allowed to buy and drink a beer or glass of wine. That's if they're with a legal guardian. However, according to a survey published by Forsa on Thursday, almost two thirds of Germans think this rule should be abolished. In the Forsa survey, commissioned by the German health insurance company Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH), Germans were asked questions on young people and alcohol. In total, 1000 people aged 18-70 from all over Germany were surveyed. The survey found that just over half of Germans also want the legal age of buying beer and wine to rise from 16 to 18. In Germany, the sale of hard alcohol is currently only permitted from the age of 18. Advertising alcohol is a topic that has come up in German politics before, and of those Germans surveyed, 35% would prefer a complete ban. A further third want more restrictions. Across Germany, bars, pubs and restaurants are important for socializing, often with the involvement of alcohol. Though overall alcohol consumption has fallen in recent years, there are reportedly 1.6 million people living in Germany who have an alcohol addiction. In a survey by Germany's Center for Health Education (BZgA) in 2024, excessive drinking among children aged 12-17 also slightly increased. Doctors Associations in Germany have long been calling for health policies to reduce alcohol consumption in Germany. Even in moderation, alcohol is not healthy, according to The German Nutrition Society (DGE). They recommend abstaining completely from alcoholic beverages. Alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases and liver conditions. For teenagers whose bodies are still developing, the risks can be greater. "The earlier young people drink alcohol, the greater the health risks," KKH psychologist Franziska Klemm explained. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The health ministers of Germany's federal states have been pushing for a ban on the supervised drinking rule. Katharina Schenk, the health minister for the east German state of Thuringia said recently at a meeting "Alcohol, as a widely consumed drug, poses a significant problem for children and teenagers" The German Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has voiced support for this initiative.
DW
03-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany updates: Berlin seeks deportation deal with Taliban – DW – 07/03/2025
Germany's interior minister is calling for direct talks to deport Afghan migrants who were convicted of crimes. The German coalition failed to agree on reducing an electricity tax. Follow for more headlines from Germany. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said that needing third parties to negotiate with Afghanistan's rulers, the Taliban, is "not a permenant solution." His remarks represent a shift in Germany's policy of not directly talking to the Taliban. Also dominating the headlines in German media today is the coalition government's failure to reach a deal on reducing the electricity tax. Meanwhile, a new survey shows the majority of Germans want a ban of a rule that allows young teens to drink.A Forsa survey commissioned by commercial health insurance company KKH showed that 65% of Germans were in favor of abolishing a rule that allows young teenagers to drink alcohol. Under the supervised drinking rule, teens as young as 14-year-olds could buy and consume beer and wine if they are with a legal guardian. According to the poll, 52% also support raising the legal age for drinking beer and wine from 16 to 18. The survey included more than 1,000 participants aged 18 to 70 from across Germany. Health Minister Nina Warken has voiced support for an initiative by ministers from German states calling for a ban supervised drinking. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Guten Morgen! We're watching the news in Germany today from Bonn, where the weather has cooled down again after an intense heat wave. Today, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to speak at a banking conference in Berlin, and the foreign minister is meeting with his Chinese counterpart. We'll also highlight in this blog some explainers and analyses from our colleagues across DW.
