The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has refused to release the highly critical report into the Public Services Card (PSC), claiming that it would “not be in the public interest to do so”.It also said making the report public would “have a serious adverse effect on the ability of the Government to manage the national economy and the financial interests of the State”.The department’s refusal appears to be directly at odds with its own minister, Regina Doherty, who has repeatedly committed to publishing the report in full;, most recently last Thursday, when she said it would be released “in the next week or so”. A copy of the report was requested from the department by TJ McIntyre, chair of advocacy group Digital Rights Ireland, under Freedom of Information after Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon made its her adversarial findings known on August 16.In refusing the request, the department cited five reasons, each of … [Read more...] about Department: Not in public interest to release PSC report
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US stocks surge after White House delays key tariffs on China
13 August 2019 • 3:24pm US indices climb sharply on hopes of trade war breakthrough Talks set to proceed in September Delayed tariffs apply to crucial items such an electronics and clothes Read more: Spoofing, Twitter and 'illegal market manipulation': does Burford have a case against Muddy Waters? US stocks surged on Tuesday afternoon after a US decision to delay or cancel some of its impending tariffs on Chinese exports rekindled hopes of a trade war truce. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all rose sharply on the announcement, converting low gains into an almost-immediate rally of more than 1.5pc each. The Office of the US Trade Representative said tariffs would be cancelled on certain goods because of “health, safety, national security and other factors”, and said a levy on good including “cell phones, laptop computers, video game consoles, certain toys, computer monitors, and certain items of footwear and … [Read more...] about US stocks surge after White House delays key tariffs on China
McConnell pledges vote on 9/11 bill
WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has agreed to call a Senate vote on a bill ensuring that a victims' compensation fund for the Sept. 11 attacks never runs out of money. McConnell made the commitment after meeting Tuesday with a group of first responders. "We want to try to deal with (the legislation) before the August recess," the Kentucky Republican told ABC News, adding that he had a "good meeting" with the first responders and even received the shield of a retired New York City detective who now is suffering from cancer after working for weeks at the World Trade Center site. The meeting came two weeks after comedian Jon Stewart, a longtime advocate for 9/11 responders, offered withering criticism of Congress at a public hearing at the Capitol that was attended by uniformed firefighters and police officers but few lawmakers. McConnell now has "a sense of urgency" about the bill and wants to see it approved before Congress goes on its August recess, said John … [Read more...] about McConnell pledges vote on 9/11 bill
Groningen earthquake damage reports increase, 14 emergency cases
A shored-up house in the village of Leermens. Photo: Hardscarf via Wikimedia Commons The number of damage reports following last week’s earthquake in Groningen has gone up to 2,875, the government’s registration agency TCMG has said. Most of the reports come from Groningen province itself, but a handful have come from nearby Drenthe. Of the total, 82 reports were for an ‘acute, unsafe situation’, such as a shift in support beams or collapsing walls and in 14 cases, emergency action has been taken, the TCMG said. Last Wednesday’s quake hit 3.4 on the Richter scale, making it one of the strongest on record. The quakes are caused by the ground settling following natural gas extraction. The government decided at the end of last year to phase out the use of Groningen gas by 2030 but officials are still in dispute about compensating people for the damage caused to their property and the cost of shoring up buildings. Earlier this week, the Dutch mining … [Read more...] about Groningen earthquake damage reports increase, 14 emergency cases
Damage reports reach 840 as two minor quakes hit Groningen
A condemned and shored-up cafe in Zeerijp. Photo: Graham Dockery The northern province of Groningen was hit by two more minor earthquakes in the early hours of Thursday morning, according to the KNMI seismology station. The quakes, which measured 0.9 and 1.1 respectively on the Richter scale and took place at a depth of three kilometres, came in the wake of a much stronger quake on Wednesday. The number of damage claims following Wednesday’s quake, which hit 3.4 on the Richter scale, has since gone up to over 840. Thursday’s quakes takes the total number for May up to 14. The quakes are caused by the ground settling following natural gas extraction. The government decided at the end of last year to phase out the use of Groningen gas by 2030 but officials are still in dispute about compensating people for the damage caused to their property and the cost of shoring up buildings. DutchNews.nl has been free for 12 years, but now we are asking our readers to help. Your … [Read more...] about Damage reports reach 840 as two minor quakes hit Groningen