EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #SCHOOL PATRONAGE: A report on changes to primary schools in Ireland has said that there should be no ‘big bang’ approach to altering the patronage of such schools. But the report by the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector says that the increased demand for new forms of multi-denominational and non-denominational schooling should be met and the role of religion should be reduced.
2. #RTÉ: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s investigation into the Prime Time Investigates Mission to Prey programme has found that the programme was unfair and breached the privacy of Fr Kevin Reynolds who was defamed. The Irish Times reports that the standards of journalism have been sharply criticised, by the Authority but RTÉ has said it is disappointed that the unpublished report has been leaked to the paper.
3. #TEACHERS: The three main teaching unions in Ireland are holding their annual conferences this week with debates expected to be dominated by the threat to teachers’ allowances and cuts to education in general. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will address the INTO and ASTI today and the TUI tomorrow.
4. #POVERTY: A new report claims that more than 700,000 people or around a sixth of the population are living in poverty in Ireland. Social Justice Ireland says that the poorest ten per cent of households have an average disposable income of around €210 per week and has criticised the social welfare system in Ireland as “not fit for purpose”.
5. #SYRIA: The Syrian government appears unlikely to abide by a UN-Arab League-brokered peace plan that is due to come into effect today. The deal would see troops withdraw from cities but BBC News quotes US officials as saying that the situation appears to have worsened with the rebel Free Syrian Army continuing to clash with forces loyal to president Bashar Assad.
6. #SHERIFFS: City and county sheriffs have collected over €100 million in a two year period, Department of Justice figures have shown. The figures, reported in today’s Irish Examiner, highlight repayments made on foot of court orders which have required people to surrender goods or property in order to pay their creditors.
7. #NORTH KOREA: Three Asian airlines have said they are making changes to their flight paths in order to avoid a North Korean rocket launch that is due to take place this week, BBC News reports. Authorities in Pyongyang say they plan to launch a rocket that will put a satellite into orbit this week with the latest reports indicating that the satellite will be installed on the rocket later today.
8. #BERTIE: Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s fall from grace continues. The Irish Examiner reports this morning that he is no longer listed with the British agency specialising in public speakers, Speakers’ Associates. Ahern’s listing with the US-based Washington Speakers’ Bureau has also been removed in the wake of the findings by the Mahon Tribunal.
9. #DRIVING ESSENTIALS: A survey of what people keep in their cars has found that almost half of all men keep toilet roll in their vehicle compared to just three per cent of women. The survey for Jervis Shopping Centre also found that 77 per cent of women can’t drive without a pair of sunglasses.
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