Sweet Greens, Eamon?
Minister denies ‘snooze’ during Tuam apology
GREEN Party leader Eamon Ryan has denied dozing off during the Taoiseach’s Dail apology to the survivors of Mother and Baby Homes.
A video still of the TD was widely shared on social media in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s State apology speech broadcast by RTE and on Oireachtas TV.
The 15-minute speech was broadcast internationally as the damning findings of the Mother and Baby Homes commission of inquiry went global.
At one point during Micheal Martin’s delivery, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan can be seen with his head tilted to one side and his eyes shut.
Social media commentators were quick to condemn the minister, who they claimed had been caught sleeping on the job for a third time. However, a spokeswoman for Mr Ryan denied any suggestion he had nodded off at the National Convention Centre.
She added: “Minister Ryan listened carefully to the entirety of the State apology made by the Taoiseach in the Dail on Wednesday.
“He fully supports his party colleague Minister O’gorman in the work he and his department are doing to address the terrible wrongs that occurred in the Mother and Baby Homes.”
In July, the Green Party leader issued a statement saying he “deeply” regretted “nodding off” during a Dail vote on workers’ rights.
The TD was spotted catching some shut-eye during an amendment vote to a Social Democrats’ workers’ rights bill in the Convention Centre.
Oireachtas TV captured the moment the party leader’s name was called on twice before politicians woke him.
Ryan later told RTE Radio One’s This Week In Politics it was a “moment of human frailty”.
The Dublin Bay South TD said: “I nodded off briefly, but I voted, I think I was one of the few party leaders who were there.
“But I regret it deeply, it was a moment of human frailty but that’s something I regret.”
In September, he was accused of falling asleep in the Dail for a second time - but this was found to be inaccurate.
A video showed Mr Ryan with his head tilted downward with his eyes apparently shut.
But a wider shot showed him looking down at his mobile phone.
Mr Ryan listened carefully to the entire apology SPOKESWOMAN YESTERDAY
FROM heating bills to Wifi, the cost of working from home during lockdown is all adding up and most of us are out of pocket.
But just what are we entitled to from our employers and how best should we manage our finances during these uncertain times?
Consumer expert Sinead Ryan shares her top tips on how best to weather the pandemic storm.
1. Heating costs
Employers can opt to pay employees up to €3.20 per day for working from home, tax free, to cover utilities like heat, light and broadband. However, a worker cannot insist it is paid to them – any work tools given to workers (e. g. ergonomic chair, printer, laptop, etc) are free from benefit in kind, unlike a company car.
2. Wifi or phone allowance
Broadband was included in the list of utilities in Budget 2021 – added to the traditional heat and light. (Allowances for phone bill vary from company to company).
3. Computers and other equipment
If it’s your own equipment you’re using, and there are repair costs, that would be between you and your employer – you wouldn’t claim any tax relief from Revenue. I’d urge all workers not to use their own equipment, for GDPR and safety reasons apart from anything else. It’s worth pushing back with employers on this. Anyone selfemployed can deduct maintenance and repairs as a taxable expense.
4. Should there be an allowance for work disruption?
If young kids are under your feet, have we as parents got rights in terms of less working hours ? Aha. Should there be? Yes! Are there? No. Being a parent gives you no rights in employment, except for those relating to maternity, paternity and parental leave, or medical appointments. Babysitters aren’t tax deductible and neither are creche fees. The latter has long been promised but nobody has done anything, though the Government will point to the successful ECCE scheme – not much use when creches are closed. 5. The difference between public and private
companies’ entitlements?
State employees have long-negotiated allowances for everything from shift work to commuting to overtime. Private sector workers do not, except where these already exist. Covid-19 hasn’t changed that, and neither has Working from Home legislation. That said, most people are poor at claiming tax reliefs and deductions they are entitled to – and there are dozens. You can claim back most reliefs over four years (medical, pension contributions, workwear, etc) and it’s worth up to €1,600. Visit citizensinformation.ie or revenue.ie.
6. Is there any advice you would give to people working from home in terms of efficiency and productivity?
Be disciplined. Use diaries and lists for everything. There’s great satisfaction in crossing things off. If you’re lucky enough to have a home office, close the door while you’re working and only come out for breaks as you would in an office. Clean your desk each night – even putting stuff into piles for the next morning – it’ll help you sort through it quicker. Be ruthless with your bin or shredder. And claim all you can – every little helps and keep all receipts.
Sinead Ryan is the presenter of the Home Show which airs on Newstalk on Saturdays at 9am.