Work & Lfie Issue No 14 by Roisin nolan

THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

ISSUE 14 • SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

A DIFFERENT BEAT Read how IMPACT is helping education and community integration projects in Dublin’s inner city.

PLUS CROKE PARK’S FIRST YEAR LOW PAID UNDER THREAT DIT CAMPUS VISION LIBRARY STARS

ALSO INSIDE DRESS LIKE KATE MIDDLETON. CHANGE OF CAREER. SUN, SEA, SANGRIA AND SAVINGS. DODGY DIVAS. STAYING YOUNG. MOVIE BLOCKBUSTERS. SUMMER SALADS. TOUR DE FRANCE. ALL THE NEWS. LOTS OF PRIZES.

www.impact.ie

In this issue

work &life – Summer/Autumn 2011 COVER FEATURES

REGULARS

MORE REGULARS

EDUCATION REGENERATION NIALL SHANAHAN on Dublin Institute of Technology’s investment in jobs and education.

Archaeologist RUTH JOHNSON tells us about a Viking excavation in Dublin.

LOW PAID UNDER THREAT BRIAN FORBES explains why wage minimums must stay.

YOUR CAREER

INNER CITY SUPPORT IMPACT’s inner city fund is helping hundreds of kids and their communities.

Win Win Win…

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF

TRAVEL & TRIPS

SPORT KEVIN NOLAN cycles through an A-Z of the Tour de France.

Look at the options again and that foreign holiday might start to seem more affordable says MARTINA O’LEARY.

BOOKS STEPHEN WALKER’S true tale of the Irish priest who saved Jews from the Nazis.

KAREN WARD on how to feel young and healthy as your body gets older.

MARTINA O’LEARY meets some extraordinary staff who are putting their library at the heart of a Limerick community.

MUSIC Diva status is being thrown around like gongs at the Grammies.

FASHION Can our presidential candidates develop BARACK OBAMA and KATE MIDDLETON’S effortless fashion style?

LIBRARY STARS

AT THE MOVIES MORGAN O’BRIEN looks at this summer’s crop of blockbusters, sequels and remakes.

32 20

GREEN FINGERS Enjoy your summer garden and start the prep for next year with JIMI BLAKE.

A successful career may mean changing employer or even occupation says ISOBEL BUTLER.

CROKE PARK DELIVERS BERNARD HARBOR reports on the deal’s first successful year.

IMPACT PEOPLE

NEWS

37 HEALTH REFORM 37 COMMUNITY SECTOR CUTS 38 WATER PRIVATISATION 38 SELLING STATE ASSETS 39 MINIMUM PAY 39 CIVIL SERVICE REDEPLOYMENT

FOOD MARGARET HANNIGAN finds there’s a lot more to salad than limp lettuce leaves.

Win a copy of Stephen Walker’s new book.

Win €50 by answering five easy questions.

Tell us what you think and win €100.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 1

THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS

work&life Regeneration sensation JIMI BLAKE’S gardening column is all about enjoying your garden as it enters full bloom this summer and he’s got his green fingers around some garden-fresh salad leaves too. But that’s not the limit of the regeneration theme in this issue of Work & Life. In these days of capital spending cuts and abandoned community projects, NIALL SHANAHAN’S article on Dublin Institute of Technology’s new Grangegorman campus describes a welcome investment in education and jobs in a depressed inner city community. Just the sort of thing unions have been calling for. Meanwhile, MARTINA O’LEARY visits IMPACT members in an impressive new library, which has become a community hub at the edge of Limerick’s Moyross estate as another major redevelopment initiative starts to reap dividends. TRISH O’MAHONY asks if our presidential candidates can develop BARACK OBAMA and KATE MIDDLETON’S effortless fashion style while simultaneously looking normal. And there’s also a regeneration theme in our careers column where ISOBEL BUTLER advises on how to develop your career in a changing employment landscape. And we have a short report on IMPACT’s financial support to community development projects in the neighbourhood of its Dublin head office. There’s more good news in BERNARD HARBOR’S special report on the first successful year of the Croke Park agreement. Public servants are confounding the critics as they make savings to get us out of the hole dug by banks and property developers. Meanwhile, IMPACT member RUTH JOHNSON tells us about her exciting work down another hole – the recent archaeological excavation in Dublin’s Temple Bar. Great stuff. MARGARET HANNIGAN also takes up the salad theme in this issue’s food column while MARTINA O’LEARY checks out some cheap summer sun. And take time to acquaint yourself with Stephen Walker’s fascinating new book about the Irish monsignor who masterminded a huge operation to help Jews escape the Nazis in world war two. You can win a copy too.

IMPACT trade union IMPACT trade union has over 63,500 members in the public services and elsewhere. We represent staff in the health services, local authorities, education, the civil service, the community sector, aviation, telecommunications and commercial and non-commercial semi-state organisations. Find out more about IMPACT on

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

www.impact.ie

Work & Life is produced by IMPACT trade union’s Communications Unit and edited by Bernard Harbor. Front Cover: IMPACT has supported young musicians from O’Connell School Drummers, who performed at the recent launch of the union’s 2011 grants fund for Dublin’s north inner city. Photo by Conor Healy. Contact IMPACT at: Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. Phone: 01-817-1500. Email: rnolan@impact.ie. Designed by: O’Brien Design & Print Management. Phone: 01-864-1920. Email: nikiobrien@eircom.net. Printed by Boylan Print Group. Advertising sales: Frank Bambrick. Phone: 01-453-4011.

Unless otherwise stated, the views contained in Work & Life do not necessarily reflect the policy of IMPACT trade union. Work & Life is printed on environmentally friendly paper, certified by the European Eco Label. This

Work & Life Magazine is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports the Office of the Press Ombudsman. In addition to defending the freedom of the press, this scheme offers readers a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they may have in relation to articles that appear on our pages. To contact the Office of the Press Ombudsman go to www.pressombudsman. ie or www.presscouncil.ie.

All suppliers to Work & Life recognise ICTU-affiliated trade unions.

That was then… 30 years ago

STRANGE WORLD

Celebrating public services LAST JUNE saw the launch of an extraordinary global trade union campaign. Extraordinary because it’s a public service campaign featuring organisations representing workers in both the public and private sectors. Launched by the Council of Global Unions, an umbrella group that brings together international trade union organisations that represent unions in particular sectors, the worldwide Quality Public Services: Action Now campaign aims to advance quality public services through cross-border solidarity action.

Capturing the mood of the times, Ghost Town by The Specials spends three weeks at number one in the UK charts. On 8th July, 29-year-old Joseph (Joe) McDonnell dies following 61 days of hunger strike in Long Kesh prison. He is the fifth person to die on the hunger strike.

Private sector union federations were keen to participate because their members are suffering from attacks on the scale, scope and quality of public services in countries from the American mid-west to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and South America. And Europe too.

50 years ago

Unions across the globe celebrated public service day on 23rd June with campaigns ranging from providing books to public libraries in Durban in South Africa to antiprivatisation campaigns in Thailand. Italian trade unions celebrated the national referendum victory that halted water privatisation. In one of a number of cross-border initiatives, USA teachers’ leaders, whose members in Wisconsin have been stripped of their collective bargaining rights, met the independent Egyptian unions whose transitional military council has banned strikes and sit-ins – even though the union-led strikes were instrumental in bringing down the Mubarak regime. Here in Ireland, and motivated by the ongoing media attacks on public servants and their work, IMPACT added to its campaign of defending public servants. We produced a new YouTube video, which showcases the diverse contributions that public servants make to Irish life. You can check out the IMPACT video at www.impact.ie.

The heavy handed arrest of Leroy Alphonse Cooper on 3rd July 1981 in Toxteth, Liverpool, sparks nine days of rioting. One person is killed, hundreds are arrested and several fire-damaged buildings are demolished. Toxteth unemployment rates, among the highest in Britain, were exacerbated by the advent of container shipping in Liverpool docks, which reduced demand for dockside labour. The clashes come a few months after similar events in Brixton, London.

On 31st July 1961, Taoiseach Seán Lemass applies to Ludwig Erhard, President of the Council of the European Economic Community, for Irish membership of the EEC. Britain applies for membership ten days later. Two weeks later, construction of the Berlin wall begins, restricting movement between east and west Berlin and forming a clear boundary between western and eastern Europe. On 16th September Atlantic Hurricane Debbie makes landfall at Dooega on Achill Island, and tracks across County Mayo. It remains the only known tropical cyclone to make landfall in Ireland, where it caused 11 deaths and heavy storm damage across the country.

100 years ago

On 21st August 1911, Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, is stolen from the Louvre in Paris. Among the suspects questioned were young Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The painting is missing for two years and presumed lost forever before Italian Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia is caught trying to sell the painting to the directors of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The painting is exhibited in Italy and returned to the Louvre in 1913. Peruggia is hailed as a patriot for attempting to return the painting to its country of origin, but served six months in jail for the theft. Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members

IMPACT people

Digging deep for Dublin Dublin City Council archaeologist Ruth Johnson recently oversaw the excavation of the development in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square, which unearthed material dating to the 14th century. Tell me about yourself I’m from Yorkshire and have been working in Dublin City Council for ten years. I worked in the National Monuments Service for a year and was Curator of Dublinia before that.

Photography: Conor Healy

What got you into this line of work? I’m from a place in Yorkshire near a Roman town where there were fields with monuments everywhere. We were always finding things: Roman tiles, old wells, medieval beads, pottery. I found it fascinating. People had lived here a couple of thousand of years before and you could still find traces of them. What’s the job like? It’s a great job. The role has changed to meet the changing economic environment. When I started in 2001 it was the height of the development boom and my job was primarily about planning and development. I oversaw excavations all around the city. It’s not a role that’s going to make you popular with developers, but the law is the law.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

From 2008 until earlier this year, I did a lot of work on the Transport 21 rail projects. A key task for the next few years is to collate and disseminate the information collected during the boom years. I will continue advising the Council on all archaeological matters, especially in relation to Council flood and drainage works, but also on small projects like graveyard management. What’s the most exciting dig you’ve worked on? I worked on a testing excavation with Lindzi Simpson on a small patch of green at Christ Church cathedral. Lindzi identified the western boundary of the original Viking dú, dating to the ninth century. We also found evidence of the original four courts, which were in the grounds of the Cathedral after the Reformation. How important is the work? It’s not life or death but it’s a mark of your society to record the past. It shows that we respect and understand our culture and ask ourselves questions. I think that’s very important. The citizens of Dublin and the people I work with in the council do have great pride in their stories, their history and their culture. It gives us a sense of identity, uniqueness and selfawareness. People are currently reassessing their values, due to the recession. u

“It’s not life or death but it’s a mark of your society to record the past. It shows that we respect and understand our culture and ask ourselves questions. I think that’s very important.”

Tell us about Meeting House Square We already knew there was some interesting archaeology there because large 14th century timbers were discovered earlier. So excavation of the site was made a planning condition when Temple Bar Cultural Trust applied to develop four large rain umbrellas there. Alan Hayden, who directed the site, uncovered a natural limestone outcrop forming an island where the Poddle River merged with the Liffey. This was a pivotal point; the reason why the Vikings settled in Dublin. He found a trace of what we think is a 14th century dock or quayside and evidence of habitation on the island. There appears to be a boat slip carved into the limestone at the very base level. This was the access point to the river in the middle ages. He found huge amounts of maritime materials, shipbuilders timbers, material they used to fix boats, the

retired from the colliery and my parents were both teachers. But it eviscerated the community we lived in. I was close to all my grandparents. They had a big influence on me. My maternal granny was a real Yorkshire woman, strong and stern but very loving at the same time. Just happy times. What do you do to relax? I love horse riding. I love taking the horses to the beach or to the 15 acres in the Phoenix Park. I’m not bothered about the weather. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. What are makes you happy? My two kids. They are interesting and funny and never fail to surprise me. I also love to write. I’ve written books on history. I really don’t have the time at the moment, but I know I’ll come back to it again. What makes you laugh? I’m quite slapstick and silly things make me laugh. Vic Reeves. It doesn’t have to be clever and sophisticated. It just has to be funny. What about music? I trained classically and played the clarinet with a wind ensemble, sang with the choir and did music theory. I love everything from pop, indie, world music, jazz, blues and ragtime. I love Lyric FM’s magic carpet. I love opera and, when I was a teenager, Pink Floyd. Who would you like to have a dinner date with? One of the Viking kings of Dublin. As long as he was on his best behaviour! Favourite movie? Fargo. What really annoys you? Bad manners. There’s no need for it.

actual nails, rope, clinkers. He also got a lot of beautiful floor tiles. In Ireland you would only get them in religious buildings and they could be associated with a church where the Dame Street AIB bank now stands. Tell us about your childhood A major event was the miners strike when I was about ten. It didn’t directly affect my family, because my granddad had

What advice would you give to your 18 yearold self? Be more confident and don’t accept other people’s evaluation of you. It’s very easy to be put in a pigeon-hole and told ‘this is who you are and what you are worth.’ Just believe in yourself and trust your instincts.’

Interview by Martina O’Leary l

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members

Regeneration The ancient garden of Grangegorman, in the heart of Dublin's north inner city, has begun its transformation into a vital new education hub. NIALL SHANAHAN looks at a vision of Dublin's future, and talks to some of the people who are bringing that vision to life. AT the heart of Dublin City, tucked quietly between the buzzing confines of the North Circular Road, Phibsboro and Stoneybatter, about a kilometre from the city centre of Dublin, lies the site of a future college campus set to change to face of the capital’s education landscape. Grangegorman has a long history The Houses of Industry for the poor were established there in the late eighteenth century. In 1810 the Governors of the House built a separate institution to house mentally ill patients. The Richmond Asylum was designed by Francis Johnston and opened to patients in 1814. Only the southern range of the original quadrangle remains standing today, doubling as the GPO in the feature film Michael Collins, which was shot on location there in 1995. At its peak the hospital housed more than two thousand patients. In the 20th century, significant changes to the care of people with mental illness saw a gradual move away from large institutions.

NEW LIFE IN TH The DIT is one of Ireland’s largest third level institutions, and was established as an autonomous institution in 1992. The Institute provides a range of applied, professional and technological programmes from apprentice to postgraduate level, including masters and doctoral research activities for over 20,000 students. Nearly 20% of the student body comes from outside Ireland.

A new home IMPACT represents a large portion of almost 2,000 staff working at DIT, an institute which has been subject to rapid change and increased demand both as a result of a booming economy and the recession which followed. DIT is four colleges, spread across 39 buildings on 30 sites in the city centre. As the student population has grown, the Institute developed a need for a single, central campus that integrated its colleges and services. 6

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Grangegorman was identified by DIT as an ideal location for a unified campus. The big attraction was the site’s capacity to accommodate all of DIT activities in a traditional city centre location. The Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) was established in 2006 by the Government and is the statutory agency tasked with the redevelopment of the site. The new campus will include education, research and health facilities co-located with industry, business incubation and community enterprise. The health requirements will take up about 15% of the site, including a state of the art mental health facility which is already under construction; the first crane to go up in central Dublin for about three years is about to tower over the €1.5 billion development.

Heritage There are seven protected buildings, all of which date from the 19th century or earlier. These buildings, which include the iconic clock tower on Grangegorman Road, will be fully ‰

and red line and continue on to Broombridge in the north of the city.

Employment Crucially, the new campus is also expected to be a significant project in terms of generating employment. The CSO has predicted direct employment on site will be 2,337 over the next six years, while a construction industry study predicts that off-site and on-site employment during construction would reach 4,743 employees. Michael Tomney is a senior porter with the DIT and is on the Grangegorman Development Committee. Michael’s excitement about the project is palpable. In particular, he is keen to emphasise that the Grangegorman site will create employment and generate significant social and commercial activity in this ancient quarter of the city. “It is, by any standards, a huge project, with great employment potential, as well as potential for regenerating the local area” he says. He sets out the scale of the task for existing staff. “When you look at the range of support staff involved, managers, porters, maintenance, technician and administrative staff, it is a considerable mix of people and skills, and we are spread all over the city. Right now we are working to a plan which will see many staff being retrained and upskilled in order to deal with the core business of the new campus.

A bird’s eye view of the future.

“Grangegorman will have students living on campus for the first time in the history of DIT, and there will be a range of retail, hospitality and other services arising from the presence of a resident population. For example, there will be on

E ANCIENT CITY restored and refurbished. The target date for completion of the full project should see DIT fully installed on the Grangegorman campus by 2016. There will also be new arts, cultural, recreational and public spaces, a primary school, public library and children's play spaces on the site. The planning part of the process is still ongoing. A draft planning scheme for the site was submitted to Dublin City Council in April. Planning approval is being sought for a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), which is an integrated planning process that considers all of the necessary utilities, transport and buildings involved in the project. The process includes a statutory public consultation, so the application, including public comments, will be considered by Dublin City Council at the end of July. In addition, plans are also in progress for the transport and infrastructure that will serve the site. In May the GDA made its oral submission to the An Bord Pleanala Hearing on a proposed LUAS Line which would link up the existing green

campus security, waste management and centralised storage facilities among other services which will be new and specific to the campus. That means existing staff will be working in a new environment, responding to the different needs that arise, and that is where the retraining will play a significant role.”

Croke Park Michael says that for IMPACT members working for the DIT, the next few years will see significant changes, but he is very positive about what that will mean. He says that there are no plans to make any staff redundant in the transition as most, if not all of the existing staff will be needed on the new campus. The Croke Park agreement also plays a significant role in this context, allowing for redeployment to the new site without any threat of compulsory redundancies as the current DIT sites prepare to make the transition to Grangegorman. “The Government has stuck with the commitment to the capital project, which, in these difficult times is a real vote of ‰ WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 7

Regeneration

confidence. But it’s well placed; the construction and the completed campus will generate significant activity in the surrounding area.”

Vision

by the move to the central site. “The big challenge is moving from 39 different buildings to one single campus. That means restructuring and reorganising our work. We’ve done a lot of work behind the scenes, including the establishment of a working group, looking at best practice on other campuses and how services are provided, and benchmarking those that best suit the new campus. A lot of the information is actually available online, so that has enabled us to look at a huge number of campuses across the UK and the US.

The architectural firm for the development, Moore Ruble Yudell, have set out a bold plan to open up the site, in a bid to transform what it they describe as a ‘bucolic landscape, or a garden within the historical core of the city’. Central to their vision is the large sports area, with all of campus life extending ‘like fingers of a hand’ from this central arena.

“For example, six examination offices will be rolled into one central exam office, and you need to look at how best this will work in providing the service. That is why we have involved staff representatives as we look at each area that requires reorganisation. Everything from waste management to maintenance, security and administration services have to be considered.”

This is complimented by the commanding position the site has, overlooking the city. This will allow, for example, the on-campus student accommodation to take in views of the sports area and the city landscape right up to and including the Dublin Mountains. This approach also allows for the student accommodation to be spread or ‘woven’ through the campus rather than, as is traditionally the case on other campuses, set aside from the other buildings, providing a better quality environment and exploiting the potential of the site.

David says that there is a growing level of ‘buy-in’ from staff of the DIT to the changes necessary to achieve the transition to the new campus. “Any resistance to change is part of human nature, but throughout the DIT organisation, there is a very positive attitude to the move. We have been working on interim arrangements to achieve what will be a very gradual transition up to 2016”. David says there needs to be a singular vision, what he calls a ‘one DIT’ approach to achieve this.

This will include incorporating existing listed buildings and mature trees within a landscaping scheme that will have a strong focus on pedestrianisation. Even the building methods and materials will seek to limit environmental impact, using low energy methods as much as possible.

Currently, DIT sits on 11 acres of space, with no sports or recreational facilities. That is very small compared to community colleges around the country. Ultimately, the move to Grangegorman has enormous education, academic, research and business advantages. But, as David points out, “The bottom line is that it will be a fully integrated facility, with greater opportunities both for students and staff.”

The last Programme for Government approved about 20% of the funding, and 40% of the funding is to come from the sale of DIT properties. The rest will be commercially generated.

David Spring is part of the management team at DIT, and his main task is to manage the change process made necessary 8

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

And for this ancient quarter, a new beginning l

Special report

Croke Park proves it’s no Greek tragedy It’s official. The first year of the Croke Park deal has been a success. But there’s a long way to go yet says BERNARD HARBOR. “IT ISN’T working. It can’t survive. We can’t afford it.” Like the chorus in an ancient Greek (or, in this case, modern Irish) tragedy, the critics of the Croke Park agreement continue to chant comment as they idly watch the efforts and actions of others who are trying to work through the mess. But drama depends on surprises and it looks like this particular chorus will have to adapt to a sudden change of script. Because the first annual review of progress under Croke Park shows that, not only is the agreement working, but it’s out-performing the 2011 savings targets aimed at eventually get the public finances back on track. The review undertaken by the national Croke Park implementation body, which has an independent chair plus union and management representation, said the deal had facilitated payroll savings worth almost €290 million in the year to April 2011 – almost 30% more than originally projected. These savings, which will be sustained and increased with additional reforms in future years, are vital to underpin the Croke Park commitment of no compulsory redundancies or further cuts in public service pay and pensions. Most of the savings came from a 5,349 reduction in staff numbers, a more rapid contraction than originally planned. The report also shows that a 5.2% cut in overtime costs, rationalisation, and other work practice changes helped ensure that

the agreement comfortably exceeded the €223 million target for payroll savings this year. The report estimates that, by the end of this year, public service payroll costs will have fallen by 15.5% from their 2009 peak. And it says Croke Park has ensured that this had not impacted adversely on services.

Reputation Despite the staffing fall, some services expanded as thousands of staff have been redeployed – many of them across functional boundaries. The report also acknowledges changed work practices and highlights the significance of sustained industrial peace, which it says is contributing to the restoration of Ireland’s international reputation. It also identified at least €275 million worth of non-payroll savings in the first year of the Croke Park deal. These arose from greater efficiencies, work reorganisation and better use of resources including property rationalisation, procurement, and reduced purchasing costs. And the report gives examples of costavoidance initiatives worth almost €86 million, further evidence of “solid and measurable progress” on improving public services under Croke Park. u

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members

Special report “The agreement provides the mechanism to secure the active co-operation of staff to the changes needed to ensure the significant ongoing reduction in numbers do not adversely impact on services.” National Implementation Body report.”

The report cites many examples of reforms delivered in different sectors. These include the introduction of shared services and procurement initiatives in health, local authorities, education and the civil service. And we’ve seen changed working hours in medical labs, centralised medical card processing, changes in the management of sick leave, and the elimination of civil service bank time. The report also notes plans to introduce a single student grant scheme and says 19 agencies are currently being amalgamated or restructured, while many organisations are rationalising their offices across the country. IMPACT welcomed the report as an acknowledgement that public servants had delivered what they’d promised when they accepted the agreement last spring. IMPACT deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan said the report confirmed that Croke Park had made a very strong start, despite criticism from some commentators and economists in the wake of the State’s requirement to borrow from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.

On course Some of the savings achieved in the first year of the Croke Park agreement:

Annual payroll savings

€290 million

Non-payroll efficiency savings

€275 million

Costs avoided

TOTAL

€86 million €651 MILLION

“The report confirms that this element of Ireland’s understanding with the IMF, EU and European Central Bank is delivering as promised. This also underpins the Government’s commitment that there will be no compulsory redundancies, or further cuts in public service pay and pensions, so long as we keep delivering the savings and reforms outlined in the agreement,” he said.

Significant The union also acknowledged that significant further changes must be delivered after the implementation body called for “more urgency and ambition” in the implementation of additional changes required to maintain public services

SUMMER AUTUMN 2011

Brendan Howlin: Paying your wages with borrowed money

as further significant expenditure and payroll savings are achieved. “While confirmation of the substantial savings achieved is welcome, the review also clearly indicates the scale of the challenge facing IMPACT members and other public servants in the remaining three years of the Croke Park agreement. IMPACT members understand and accept the challenge and they have demonstrated a determination to rise to it,” said Kevin. The implementation body’s call for more urgency matched comments by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin who, in May, told over 400 IMPACT conference delegates that he wanted standardised working hours and leave arrangements across the public service. Describing existing arrangements as “traditional but over-generous,” he said he expected negotiations to result in new maximum and minimum leave entitlements for existing personnel, with lower arrangements for new entrants. Mr Howlin said the public service reform programme and the forthcoming review of public spending would mean difficult years ahead as his Government sought to deal with a public spending crisis bequeathed by the last administration. “This year, our country will spend €18 billion more than it will earn. To put it bluntly, the State is paying your wages and my wages with borrowed money - a situation that would not be sustainable for any employer,” he said. He said Ireland was facing difficult years where savings would have to be secured from all areas of public activity. “There is simply no scope for wasteful expenditure, lax management, or the preservation of old priorities just because they happen u

Photo: Dominic Walsh.

Nothing changes SOME MIGHT say the radical reforms of working arrangements in medical laboratories have been cited as examples of Croke Park progress too many times. But union official Stephen O’Neill, who led IMPACT in the implementation of the changes, says it’s a prime example of how public service reform is now being done differently – thanks to Croke Park. “We keep hearing that nothing has changed in the public service. But if our critics seriously want reform rather than just cuts, they ought to be looking closely at this example, which couldn’t have happened without the agreement,” he says. The reform introduced extended working hours for staff at vastly reduced cost, through a major shake-up of hours and premium payments. “The cost savings and a better service are the immediate prize. And the deal has prevented the threat of privatisation. But the way this was done also represents a radical departure in the way we do public service reform,” says Stephen. He makes the simple point that, although the change leaves many IMPACT members substantially out of pocket, there was never a threat of industrial action or non-cooperation.

to be embedded in old spending lines. The services delivered should be those that are most needed, not those we have always given,” he told IMPACT delegates. But he recognised the contribution of public servants and reiterated the Government’s position that it would honour the Croke Park agreement so long as it continued to deliver savings and reforms. “I strongly believe that public servants will meet, indeed surpass, this challenge. I believe that we can fully restore public confidence in, and public support for, the public service,” he said.

Review and reform Following publication of the implementation body report, Mr Howlin said the comprehensive expenditure review currently underway would look at how all public services were being delivered and consider new ways of achieving Government objectives in the context of public sector reform. “We need to move forward quickly to build on the important progress that has been achieved to date and accelerate the delivery and implementation of urgently needed reform. I look forward to a heightened level of effort and engagement from both public service management and unions in the coming months,” he said. It was a sobering message, despite the success of the agreement so far. But it was certainly not the Greek tragedy that the Croke Park critics had so looked forward to. You can read the full report on www.impact.ie l

“We didn’t even consider it. And, because it was in the agreement, the change was implemented quickly and without fuss. In the past, members would have wanted this put on the long finger and kicked into a lengthy and complicated process. But they’d signed up for the changes because the country’s in a mess and they needed to protect their pay and pensions. So my job was to make sure it happened,” he says. Stephen brushes off criticisms of unions for negotiating a short-term ‘buy-out’ of expensive premium payments. “What we did is common practice in decent private sector companies. For a relatively small short-term cost, the HSE will save millions over the years because our members have taken a hit,” he said. The reform will save taxpayers over €5 million a year while improving services. It’s one of many challenging reforms that IMPACT members are now implementing, often with big changes to their working arrangements, commuting times or even their incomes. Feel free to use it as an example next time someone tells you there’s been no change under Croke Park l Stephen O’Neill

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members

Workers’ rights

Why we need to sav Ireland is in the middle of the greatest economic crisis since the foundation of the State – a crisis caused by a culture of greed, stupid policy decisions and practically non-existent regulation of the financial system. The debate about how we tackle the crisis and who pays for it has been raging for some time. The Minister for Enterprise, Richard Bruton TD – cheered on by a host of employer groups – is proposing that hundreds of thousands of lower paid workers – whose pay and conditions are set by Joint Labour Committees (JLCs), pick up a big part of the tab for the excesses of the Celtic tiger years. Who exactly are we talking about? The workers involved include the chef that cooks the meal on your night out, the retail worker that helps you pick out that perfect suit or dress, the cleaner who makes sure your office is pristine for the next morning and the security guard who ensures everyone has a safe night out. It’s worth noting that the majority of people covered by JLCs are women, working hard to provide for their families in a time when traditional male sectors of employment have collapsed. With over 50% of these workers earning less then €10 an hour, they could hardly be described as overpaid. The last Government, as part of the EU-IMF deal, agreed that an independent review of the JLC system be conducted and they appointed Kevin Duffy, Chairman of the Labour Court, and UCD economist Frank Walsh, to conduct this review. After considering submissions from both employers and employees’ representatives, plus a wide range of other interested and affected organisations, the Duffy-Walsh report unambiguously said that abolishing the JLC system or reducing the wages of low paid workers would not create additional jobs. However, they did make a number of proposals to modernise and streamline the system. The report brought an objective analysis to a very complex area and was broadly welcomed by the trade unions. However business groups have been very unhappy with the findings of the report and have continued to demand the abolition of the JLCs arguing that it will stimulate job creation. It’s worth pointing out that the employers’ groups claims about the job creation potential of wage cuts for lower paid workers have been contradicted, not alone by the Duffy-Walsh report, but also by research which shows that such measures would in fact lead to the loss of a further 10,000 jobs in Ireland. This is because lower paid workers spend almost all their incomes in the domestic economy week in, week out, keeping local businesses afloat. When you add in the fact that the lower paid

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Photo: Courtesy of Mandate Trade Union

Most people who rely on Joint Labour Committees are women earning less than €10 an hour. Brian Forbes of Mandate explains why the protections must stay.

Mandate and other trade unions have fought a strong campaign to ensure that low paid workers are not forced to take unnecessary cuts.

workers are the most vulnerable to price increases in areas such as rent, fuel and heating expenses, the employers’ demands for abolishing the JLCs make no sense at all. However, following intensive lobbying by business groups, Minister Bruton published his own set of proposals for consultation with employers and unions which went beyond those proposed by the independent Duffy-Walsh report. For example, he proposed changes to the premium payments for those people who work on Sundays as well as to the higher pay rates for experienced workers.

Sunday premium If Minister Bruton had his way, Sunday premiums would no longer be set on a sector by sector basis as they are now. Instead it would be up to employers and employees to arrange what extra payments or recognition would be due for working on Sundays. Unfortunately, this system would very much depend on the willingness of employers to act in a fair way. All workers in Ireland – whether they are bus drivers or office workers – are legally entitled to an additional payment for working Sundays. Sunday premiums are a fair and reasonable way of rewarding workers for unsocial hours. So why should the lowest paid, those u

Gxxxxx

e the JLCs

But the trade union movement’s concerns about the Minister’s proposed changes to the JLC system go beyond the fine print of what he is proposing. As Mandate member Leigh Speight, who works in a major British retail chain, said: “The existing system gives workers a bit of protection. It allows workers who aren’t allowed to be in a union a bit of extra bargaining power against their employers. It’s hard to anticipate all of the actual effects of the Minister’s proposals on real workers until they are brought in. By then it could be too late”. The good news is that trade unions have not stood back and allowed Bruton and the employers’ groups to have their way. Unions have campaigned in their own right and through the Coalition to Protect the Lowest Paid, a broad group of like minded organisations including MANDATE, SIPTU, UNITE, CWU, Migrant Rights Centre, the Community Platform, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Poor Can’t Pay Campaign and European Anti-Poverty Network. The campaign has been very successful in garnering column inches in the media and driving widespread public and political support. Indeed, it has been so successful that the Minister seems to be ‘kicking the can down the road’ on the JLC issue until the autumn at least. However, we need to continue to watch this space and ensure that Minister Bruton and his employer allies don’t get away with dismantling a system that has protected and looked after hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers l

Mandate member, Andrew McLoughlin said: “As a full time student, I don’t have the option to work midweek. I might only get one or two shifts a week and therefore the Sunday premium, makes a huge difference to me. I need that money to pay my bills as well as the bread and butter stuff – It’s certainly not used for any extravagances.”

No ‘experienced’ rates Under the Bruton proposals, differences in pay rates for experienced staff would be eliminated. I, for example, in the retail grocery trade, the JLC has set a three-point scale for various types of worker, with the maximum point of the scale being several percent above the minimum. This recognition of the added value experienced staff bring to workplaces would be removed under the Bruton proposals. As Andrew McLoughlin pointed out: “If people can’t look forward to promotions then that Trade unions campaigned successfully to have cuts to the national minimum wage restored. affects their motivation within the job.”

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members 13

Photo: Courtesy of Mandate Trade Union

who rely the most on the Sunday premium be denied this recognition?

Public services MARTINA O’LEARY spoke to IMPACT members in Limerick’s Moyross to find out how a local library can become the heart of a community. LOCAL LIBRARIES across Ireland are hives of activity and these days it’s about much more than books. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Watch House Cross Community library, based in Moyross at the heart of Limerick city’s north side regeneration project. Famous for its huge unemployment problem, almost 30% of Moyross residents leave school by the time they’re 15. Virtually two-thirds of its households are headed by single parents and nearly 44% of the local population are under 25. Yet, before this new facility was built, there was no library service on the city’s north side. Now the community library, organised by Limerick City Council, is supporting lifelong learning, providing information and promoting culture, literacy and a love of reading. “What we have is quite unique. We’re very much a hub of the community. Library staff work in conjunction with the community centre in Moyross and the VEC. A lot of our work is aimed at education, up-skilling and providing people with information. Then they can use one of the community rooms for training courses or meetings,” said Pam Byrne who’s worked here since the library opened four years ago.

The library holds over 30,000 items including books, CDs, DVDs, and audio books. Internet access is provided to all members for up to an hour per day. There are a variety of rooms available free to voluntary and community groups. And there’s a craft room, PC room, exhibition space and language room.

Photo: Kieran Clancy.

“Three hundred books were issued yesterday. That’s a lot of books to get into the community. That’s a lot of people reading.”

"If there's a large group of children I'll take a book and read it to them." Branch librarian Hilary Barry.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Children’s activities, adult education courses and other events take place regularly and the facility is used by people from as far as counties Clare, Limerick and South Tipperary. ‰

Photo: Kieran Clancy.

“You build up a great rapport with borrowers. Four years ago they might have been afraid to take a book. Now they’ve become avid readers and are recommending books for to us to get.”

And the one-to-one approach is working, with people coming back again and again to use the library and its facilities. “Three hundred books were issued yesterday. That’s a lot of books to get into the community. That’s a lot of people reading,” she says. Children and their parents are very much at the heart of Hilary Barry’s work in the community library. She helps run three-week family reading sessions in conjunction with local primary schools. “We encourage parents to come down with their children to a story time with puppets. We do the reading, so it doesn’t put mums and dads on the spot. There’s no pressure if there are literacy problems,” she says. There’s a story time every week plus parent and toddler groups, a monthly junior book club and lots of arts and crafts, especially during the school holidays. The library welcomes classes from primary and secondary schools, particularly a school for autistic children which comes to do arts and crafts. After school you’ll find kids who regularly come to do their homework. “It’s wonderful working here and it’s a resource for the people in Moyross. We don’t have any hard and fast rules. If there’s a large group of children I’ll take a book and read it to them. Lots of mums bring in their children especially on a Friday. The mums have a chat while the kids read and play,” says Hilary.

"What we have is unique." Branch librarian Pam Byrne.

Pam also finds the work tremendously satisfying. “You build up a great rapport with borrowers. Four years ago they might have been afraid to take a book. Now they’ve become avid readers and are recommending books for to us to get,” she says l

There’s also a music room where children can learn and practice music under parental supervision. You can also sit a practice driving theory test, which is proving very popular. Older people can opt for internet classes. “When you have 10,000 books and someone saying ‘I can’t find anything to read’ it’s not because there is nothing there. But it can be a bit intimidating. People who might never have been in a library ask us what to read. We’ll walk around with them, show them what’s on offer and find out what they’re interested in. It’s our job to ensure that when people leave the library they are leaving with something. We need the repeat business, we need to keep meeting our clients’ needs,” says Pam.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 15

Your career

Zigzag careers for the 21st century Images: dreamstime.com

MOORE’S LAW describes how the processing power of electronic devices doubles every 18 months, driving a rapid pace of technological change. This trend is predicted to continue for at least another decade, meaning that today’s students are being prepared for careers that do not yet exist. And those in employment will find that the nature of their work will change. Chief among the changes is shorter job tenure. Today’s workers are likely to have more jobs than their predecessors and this is reflected in ESRI research, which showed a doubling of job mobility in Ireland between 1995 and 2001. The concept of the ‘boundary-less career’ recognises that careers are no longer necessarily linked to a single organisation – or even a single profession. The traditional idea of climbing the career ladder is no longer a useful way of thinking about career progression. More and more people find that their ‰ 16

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Careers are less likely to progress with a single employer as technology, globalisation and longer life expectancy change the world of work. ISOBEL BUTLER has some advice on how to manage your career in the new era.

employers don’t provide a clear career path, and they need to zigzag across a number of different organisations to develop their careers. Another form of boundary-less work is found among those engaged in projectbased work, where individuals collaborate across different organisations and through networks. The current recession has also highlighted how professions, like architects and lawyers, have been particularly badly hit my unemployment, with many forced to consider how they can use the skills and competencies developed in one profession to switch to a brand new field of work. Organisations are also changing. They’re becoming flatter, with fewer middle management positions, more focus on team-working, fewer opportunities for promotion and new sets of skills and competencies. Many individuals have developed a different type of boundary-less career in the form of the so-called portfolio career. First coined by Charles Handy in the 1990s, the term describes how individuals may have a number of parttime jobs or self-employed roles, which combine to make up a full-time occupation.

trends and developments in your professional field and look towards long term training and retraining. Take advantage of all oppor tunities to develop new skills through formal training opportunities, working with more experienced colleagues, participating in projects that help you to develop new skills, and attending meetings and conferences. Know your goals, reflect on them and change them in the light of changed circumstances. Keep learning: Continuous learning is the key to managing your career. The idea of becoming a ‘specialised generalist’ has been mooted as a good approach for the modern workplace. Focus on developing specialist professional skills but at the same time keep up to date the general skills that are required within your field. This means that you have a high level of flexibility and adaptability, which means greater mobility. The new term ‘versatilist’ refers to those who have highly specialised skills but are also willing and able to apply them to new situations, problems and roles. This is the group who is best placed to adapt to the new emergent roles and jobs. Their constant learning, growth and new knowledge gained through experience are a valuable commodity, which enhances their employability.

Organisations are becoming flatter, with fewer middle management positions, greater focus on team-working and fewer opportunities for promotion. Be aware of essential skills and competencies. There are a range of essential ‘soft skills,’ as well as the technical and specialist knowledge associated with your own profession. More work will be done in teams, so focus on developing team-working, networking, collaboration and relationship skills. Managers will need new skills for this more collaborative work. Feedback: Manage your performance in your current role and seek feedback from your manager. Discuss what steps will be most helpful to you in your ongoing development. Take the initiative: Seek a meeting if your manager does not come to you to discuss this.

What’s more, we’re living longer. For many of us this may mean working for longer with increases in retirement l Avoid thinking of a career ladder. Instead focus on managing age, a longer and manoeuvring your career across your professional life. middle age and a need to fund a longer l Understand the trends facing your area of work and jobs and more active old age.

FLEXI-TIPS

in general.

So how do you manage your career in this new world and prepare for roles and jobs that may not even be invented yet? Take control: The first step is to take control of your own career planning. Don’t rely on your organisation to provide career opportunities. Be self-reliant, plan ahead and think about what should be the next stage in your career. Focus on maintaining your employability and remember that a career builds over time. Keep abreast of

A combination of skill and proximity leads to greater job security. Develop high levels of skill and seek work that requires a physical presence.

Get a mentor; a more experienced person who can provide guidance.

Reflect on your skills, aptitudes, interests and dislikes. How can they best be used to take the next career steps?

Know your own priorities and use these to develop career goals.

Always seek out development opportunities.

Develop a career portfolio and keep your CV up to date. A career portfolio is more detailed than a CV and can include samples of work, evidence of involvement in projects, awards, acknowledgments, positive feedback on work done, and recommendations. It can be used to apply for a job, to supplement a CV or to open up a career discussion. By keeping it up to date you are always ready to take the next step in your career whether it's a planned one or simply responding to circumstances. Every time you undertake a new project or develop and use a new skill, gather material as evidence for your career portfolio l

Isobel Butler is an independent organisational psychologist who works with people on a wide range of workplace issues including conflict management, dealing with change and solving problems. If there are specific issues you’d like her to tackle in these articles send them in via the editor, Work & Life magazine, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1 or info@impact.ie. WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 17

Photo by Conor Healy.

IMPACT Dublin Inner City Grants

Local kids benefit from the IMPACT fund.

Community IMPACT IMPACT’s Dublin inner city fund is helping hundreds of kids and their communities.

The fund was established after IMPACT member and community worker Fergus McCabe approached former general secretary Peter McLoone six years ago. McLoone passionately supported the initiative through to his retirement last summer.

IMPACT’S SMALL grants fund for Dublin’s north east inner city recently invited applications from community organisations for grants totalling €50,000 in 2011.

Sadly, intercultural and education supports have been among the earliest and hardest-hit casualties of community spending cuts. The IMPACT fund supports many multicultural initiatives and social events that bring Irish and new communities together.

The fund was established in 2006 to support initiatives in education and intercultural development. So far, we’ve distributed over €200,000 in small grants to over 80 projects in the area around the union’s Dublin head office. The initiative has supported everything from music projects, development trips for young adults, soccer coaching, older peoples’ outings, local intercultural events, language and skills initiatives, drugs awareness programmes, homework clubs and local history projects. 18

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

In education, we’ve funded pre-school projects, helped innercity schools with much-needed equipment, and supported adult training and education. The grants are managed with the minimum bureaucracy and local people are involved in deciding where the money goes. This makes it easy to apply for grants, which have ranged in value from €250 to €1,000 over the years l

Looking good

Dressing presidential Celebrity visitors have raised Ireland’s style bar. Can our presidential hopefuls get over it asks TRISH O’MAHONY? THERE’S BEEN plenty to keep Ireland’s style-watchers busy recently. First April’s visit by Prince Albert II of Monaco and his stunning fiancée Charlene Wittstock, followed by the royal wedding. Then the queen’s visit hit a high note, before Barack and Michelle briefly passed through. The style stakes have been set high and, with our presidential election looming and the potential candidates list growing almost daily, I wonder if they’ll be able to impress us before we cast our vote. Stylish Sean Gallagher of Dragon’s Den fame has recently declared his intentions and dapper David Norris is still holding his own, despite the recent furore he’s had to contend with. Do they need style guidance or have they already got what it takes?

Photos: prshots.com

We all know visual first impressions count, but ongoing impressions matter too. So what do Avril Doyle, Mairead McGuinness, Michael D or Pat Cox need to do to stay in the style race?

ut o b a t i s i t ha W : n o t e l d d chain s a Kate Mi h t a h t nce a r a e p p a g, her n i h s a r c s e it store webs s for €70 dresses, st i l g n i her t i g a n i w t t a c y cop s r e l i a t e r and es? t u n i m n i th clothes wi 20

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Common denominator First, let’s find the common style denominator between Barack, Kate Middleton, the queen and Charlene Wittstock. It’s clearly not limited by age, size or season. It’s obviously not restricted by wealth either. Nor is it sensational, shocking or trend-driven. It’s more subtle than that. It’s all about class and consistency. Think of the queen in her white, shamrock adorned gown on the night of the Mansion House gala dinner and see if you agree. She was classy, regal and true to her own style. Think of Barack Obama’s trademark style? Never flashy or flamboyant. Always classy and consistent. According to men’s fashion.about.com he has made his bespoke $1,500 Hartmax suits so popular that the company CEO has started wearing them. I would have thought he’d have been doing that anyway, but there you go! ‰

Main pic: Leather Sequin Jacket £175, Leather Sequin Dress £160, Warehouse • Above: Wrap Lace Trim Dress, £55/€73, Next • Cream Jacket, £59, Marks & Spencer • Julia White Belted Dress, £80/€136, Monsoon • Navy Blue Blazer with White Trim, £29.99/€39.99, TK Maxx • Gold Dress, Jane Norman • Platform Shoes, £59, Marks & Spencer • Skinny Belt, £5, Marks & Spencer • Ni Blue/White Small Puppytooth shirt £59, Grey Marl Blues Spot Tie £39, Austin Reed.

I know it helps that he’s tall and slim and a great clothes hanger, but he doesn’t deviate far from his dark single breasted suits, white shirt and simple blue or red tie. His widespread shirt collar style suits his slim neck, adding width. For casual effect, he just rolls up his sleeves. Overall, a look that can be successfully achieved by the average male.

No supermodel As for Kate, what is it about her appearance that has chain store websites crashing, waiting lists for €70 dresses, and retailers copycatting her clothes within minutes of her appearing in public? She’s naturally pretty, but she’s no supermodel. It’s not just money as she’s proving herself to be fashion frugal. Again, it’s her classic, simple style. She shops in chain stores, as well as wearing designer pieces. She’s not embarrassed being seen in the same outfit more than once. But while we’re busy trying to ‘copy’ Kate she must be busy copying the Queen, who is a fan of upcycling – the ‘in’ word for alterations. Presidential elections aside, what people-watching can we look forward to now that the stylish visitors have gone home? Maybe Will and Kate might call over to visit l

l Kate: Accentuate the waist with little belts. l Kate: Wear tailored pieces and cropped, fitted jackets l Barack: Wear dark, single breasted suits. Team with white shirt and blue or red tie. l Keep your overall look very natural. Less is more these days. l Mix high street clothes with designer accessories picked up at charity events and shops.

Photos: gettyimages.com

Barack Obama’s trademark style? Never flashy or flamboyant. Always classy and consistent.

Stealing Kate and Barack’s style

l If Zara, Warehouse and Reiss are good enough for the future queen, they’re good enough for us. l Go for understated elegance and classic tailoring. It suits every body shape. l Wear a friendly smile. The queen gained lots of new fans with her smiling face. l Invest in the best suit and coat you can afford. l Dress appropriately for your occasion. l Always wear the styles, shapes and colours that suit you best.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 21

Be good to yourself Gxxxxx While in our mind you might still feel 17, the body isn’t keeping up. KAREN WARDS gives some tips on how to feel young and healthy.

Holistic se

WOULDN’T WE all like to have the body of a teenager again? Well, yes but the mind and inexperience of a teenager? don’t think so. How about we keep the wonderful wisdom we have gleaned over the years but also learn how to keep our bodies in good shape? Now that sounds more like it. So how do we do it? Let’s look at body, mind and spirit and take a few simple tried and tested tips.

Body talk Your body is your house just like a snail with its shell. You alone have the responsibility to look after it. Not even the richest person in the world can pay someone to eat or sleep or exercise for them. The more we look after our bodies the easier it is to maintain good health and reap the benefits of looking our best. If you want to shift those extra few pounds then you have a choice. Either start to do the physical work it will take by eating healthier and exercising more or do nothing and stop moaning about it. How many times do we regularly ‘bend the ear’ of loved ones who hear us say this time and time again yet we never take action. They love us anyway so if there isn’t a health risk then perhaps we are fine as we are.

Get moving Three hours exercise a week is ideal though you might decide to do half an hour every day instead. However you do need to do something you like or at least don’t mind doing! There’s no point in joining a gym if you don’t like working out. Mix and match the type of exercise for variety. Perhaps some solo activity which can be very therapeutic with some group exercise for fun too.

Photo: Dreamstime.com

Eat healthy five days a week and treat yourself at the weekend. This is relatively easy to do as most of us have a weekday routine that we tend to stick to at work. Stay with the same good nutritious breakfast, a whole wheat sandwich and healthy dinner. A hot meal in the middle of the day is wonderful so if there are canteen facilities at work, avail of their hard work so you only need to make a lighter meal in the evenings.

xx 22

AUTUMN 2011 SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

If you keep your treats to two meals over the whole weekend, you can thoroughly enjoy them knowing that you have a good balance in your eating habits in favour of your health and weight loss.

Style council Play up your good points with your clothes. If you have a terrific waist but big thighs then wear gorgeous long skirts and high fitting jackets. You don’t have to be a slave to fashion or spend a fortune just pick one thing each season that suits you and accessorise wisely. Men tend to stick to one or two good, well wearing suits but remember to update ties and shirts. If you go for the separates look again introducing a new jacket or trousers each season can update your look easily.

Mind matters Fulfil your wish list now. We all have things we would like to do in life and we always seem to put them on the long finger. Write out the list as a start and weave a holiday or hobby around it. If you are approaching retirement age then plan to visit you relations abroad as a safe and easy way to see the world. Do you ever start your week relaxed and calm but as it progresses find that your brain is a constant whirr of overwhelming thoughts? If you notice this then take a few minutes timeout (the equivalent of a smoke break) and breathe slowly 10-15 times. Our mind is telling us that it is overworking and needs a little rest. Five minutes later, we’ll feel refreshed and ready to continue. Life has its ups and downs. If we can learn u

Gxxxxx

crets of eternal youth from them and move on then we have the chance to move through life gaining wisdom and strength. How many times do we wallow long past the ‘sell by date’ of our misfortunes? Remember if you haven’t moved on there is something wrong and you need to figure out how to work around it. Get help if need be from a good friend or a qualified counsellor.

Write your own epitaph. This sounds a bit drastic but do it light-heartedly. What would others say about you? Does it match what you would like others to say about you? Why not make changes now. Lastly use your beliefs. Whatever your faith or beliefs are, use them. If you pray then listen for the answers. They will often come in the form of serendipity or coincidences or through nature. Ask for help, it’s out there.

Difficult times

Sometimes we are faced with a very difficult tragedy in life which is unbelievably difficult. Then we need to retreat into ourselves letting others help us as we come to terms with what has happened. We need to give ourselves the space to rest and recuperate and receive the kindness of good friends, loved ones and professional help.

I hope these small tips give you some ideas as to how to keep that ‘joie de vivre’ or sparkle in your eye alive. Life is for living and of course it is the feeling inside that matters but changing our external look, ways of thinking and attitude can all help hugely in being as carefree and vibrant as we were when younger but with the wisdom of age. A win/win situation l

Top three tips Here are KAREN WARDS top three tips for a youthful you.

Spirit What excites you, gets you up in the morning? What do you look forward to?. If you can’t think of anything, fine. A clue is some hobby or interest you used to love to do. If you can get all fired up about gardening, travel or a challenge then your days will fly by and the personal satisfaction will be immense.

•

Keep up to date with the latest gadgetry. Learn about Face book, iphones, Skype or whatever the latest buzz is. If you are not particularly good at technology then ask a teenager to help!

•

Read the weekend arts and social sections of the weekend newspapers to keep up to date with the latest trends/interests/fashions in the world. Not necessarily to follow them but to know about what people are talking about.

• Wear bright, youthful colours to bring a smile to your face and a spring to your step. Karen Ward, Holistic Therapist from RTE’s ‘Health Squad’ and BBC’s ‘Last Resort’ is author of ‘Change a Little to Change a Lot’. www.karenwardholistictherapist.com

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members 23

Page title Travel and trips

A little bit of research and fresh thinking could bring that summer holiday back into budget, says MARTINA O’LEARY. r the Pool fo ach e kids, b lus p , y b r nea all the re creatu rts fo m o c e. of hom

WE’RE FIRMLY in the holiday season and thoughts of sun, sand, sangria and so on are topmost in many minds. But financial realities may make the sun holiday look like a luxury of the past. Having experienced the USA, Italy, France and Lapland in their early years, my two young Celtic Tiger pups, girls aged nine and 12, have very high expectations. And with a looming foreign family wedding, featuring hubby as best man and the kids as flower girls, I took to warning that there may not be the normal foreign family holiday this year.

There was plenty to do with beautiful beaches and the nearby Aqua Splash Park in Torrevieja, which is worth a visit in itself. We took in the Mar Menor, a great Mediterranean beach in Europe’s largest salt water lagoon, in the town of San Pedro. Absolutely beautiful. If you like a fast-paced life, the lively resorts of Alicante and Benidorm are 45 and 90 minutes away respectively.

But friends came to the rescue with an offer of the use of a house on Spain’s Costa Blanca. We grabbed the very kind offer, along with some very reasonably-priced flights, and stayed in the Cabo Roig area. It sits on the Mediterranean coastline of the southern Costa Blanca, between Torrevieja and Campoamor. Handy for both Alicante and Murcia.

Photos: dreamstime.com

The 11-night holiday cost us €2,400 with car hire and spending money included. We travelled in mid-May when there were lots of special offers to be had in the various restaurants and bars. One of our favourite haunts, the Bushwhacker bar, had a three-course meal for €7. And you weren’t ripped off with the cost of the kids drinks. The more up-market restaurants were 24

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

than usual. But it was no great hardship. All the normal boxes were ticked. Pool for the kids, beach and entertainment nearby, really good value for money, interesting places to visit, and not too far from the airport. Plus all the benefits of the creature comforts of home.

good value too. We had a really great meal in the Italian Affair for €60 for the four of us, with a bottle of wine and coke for the kids included. Happy days.

Spain is a vast country with something for everyone. You don’t have to restrict yourself to the south east coast. The Costa de Sol in the south has lots to offer from Nerja, Malaga and upmarket Marbella. The Costa Brava and Costa Dorada are further up the east coast. And there’s Barcelona or Reus with lot of great camp sites.

Different

If camping is your thing, you can book directly with a camping agency or get onto the campsite directly. We have done both over the years. But you need to compare prices.

Granted it was a different kind of holiday, with a little more self-catering

When I say camping, I don’t mean a tent. European-style means a mobile ‰

When I say camping, I don’t mean a tent. European-style means a mobile home or bungalow on a campsite with lots of activities and entertainment.

ains to f barg . Lots o urants a t s in re be had

home or bungalow on a campsite with lots of facilities, activities and entertainment.

Options Times may be hard, but don’t rule out that holiday without weighing up your options in Ireland or abroad. If you aren’t lucky enough to have access to accommodation through family or friends, there are numerous websites where owners hire out apartments, villas and houses. Holidayhomesdirect.ie and Ownersdirect.co.uk are just two worth checking out. It takes a bit of research and it’s a little bit tricker than having the travel agent do it all. But we haven’t used a travel agent for at least five years and it can be much cheaper. Google the area you want to visit to find plenty of rental sites and lots of

bargains to be had. Ask friends and colleagues if you’re not sure about a particular location or accommodation. Or check www.tripadviser.ie or www.tripadviser.com which have great tips and honest reviews. For golf lovers, you can hire an apartment or stay in the local hotel near one of Spain’s many golf resorts. La Torre Golf Resort near Murcia has accommodation from £350 a week in the low season, rising to about £550 at peak times. You could stay in the five-star hotel with three games of golf for just over about £350 in the autumn. Meanwhile, back in Ireland www.discoverireland.ie has lots of good-value options and www.dealpage.ie links you to other sites with special offers. They have some pretty amazing deals. The deals are only available for a limited period, yet some of the savings make it well worth paying up

front. For the purposes of research I found a night in the five-star Druids Glen Hotel in County Wicklow for €99 B&B for two adults and two children. Plus two €25 vouchers for golf or the hotel spa. Take a little time to do your research and you could save yourself quite a bit.

Great deals with a night in to be had b ack in Druids adults Ireland Gle and tw o child n Hotel for t w ren for only € o 99.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 25

In the kitchen

Top ten salad tips 1 2 3 Ingredients must be fresh.

Wash everything carefully, and peel where possible.

Try dressing cut tomatoes separately, before adding to the salad by sprinkling with a little sugar and salt to draw out the juices and add flavour.

If using mozzarella in a salad as opposed to a pizza, it’s worth investing in the more expensive Buffalo mozzarella – melts in your mouth.

5 6

Match the dressing to the ingredients.

Try roasting peppers, garlic and tomatoes, which intensifies the flavours, and using them hot or cold. They can be kept in jars in the fridge for a few days or frozen, so you can make up a big batch.

Use home grown or Irish produce where possible.

8 9 10

Try adding thinly sliced radish to coleslaw for extra colour and a peppery kick. Serve salad as often as possible.

Look at leftover pasta, rice, meat, fish as a basis for a salad lunch.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Salad days We all live in hope of a glorious summer, spent eating lunch and dinner al fresco. MARGARET HANNIGAN is no exception as she tries her hand at some unusual salads.

IT SEEMED appropriate at this merry time of year to write about something seasonal. Something light and full of summery goodness, ripened under summer sunshine – I am forever the optimist – yet refreshing and tasty. Soft, feathery leaves of rocket, Little Gem lettuces with leaves as crisp as a freshly ironed shirt, pungent coriander, velvety basil, lipstick-red tomatoes, baby courgettes, juicy cucumber batons.

farm in northern Germany. Lettuces, tomatoes, and yes, cucumbers are back on the menu, according to official sources. Those of us in thrall to caution will probably continue to wash everything scrupulously, and peel wherever possible – cucumber skin is notoriously indigestible anyway – and perhaps broaden our horizons a little when it comes to the whole salad scenario.

Oops! Back it up a bit there. Ah yes, cucumbers, aren’t they really, really dangerous right now, like actually lifethreatening? Yes, as I write, a desperate war of attrition wages over who put what in their fertilisers, and exactly what vegetables it got into, or on top of, and what should we do about it and, above all, does this mean no more salads? Eek! What about my Ten-Days-To-A-CameronDiaz-Bikini-Body-Diet? Hint: See remarks re optimism above.

All too often, especially when eating out, salad is presented as a sad heap of shredded iceberg lettuce and various leaves combined with some arctic, utterly tasteless tomatoes and weirdly pepperless peppers, with a dollop of generic dressing decanted from an industrial-sized container. Not surprisingly, many regard it as a penance to eat, or something to be parked on the side of the plate and politely ignored. But dear reader, salads have so much more to offer than that and are in fact willing to accommodate almost anything.

Well, panic not. It seems the (very real) danger has passed. The source of the problem has been identified as a crop of bean sprouts produced at an organic

What constitutes a salad is almost entirely up to yourself. They are usually served on the cool side, but are better at ‰

Avocado and orange salad Dressing l

4 tbsps extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs balsamic vinegar

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix ingredients thoroughly and set aside.

Salad l

2 large handfuls of rocket, washed, and shredded a bit if you like

1 large avocado, peeled and stoned and cut into 3/4 inch chunks

2 small oranges, peeled, all white removed, thinly sliced, (or small tin mandarins)

1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced

2 tbs toasted sunflower seeds (optional)

2 tbs thinly sliced basil leaves

(serves 4)

Lay out the rocket and scatter chunks of avocado on top. Then scatter the orange slices on top, followed by the slivers of red onion. Drizzle the dressing over the top, sprinkle with the sliced basil and sunflower seeds if using, and serve immediately.

Butternut squash, pomegranate and feta salad room temperature before any wilting sets in. They can include fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta, meat, fish, pulses, stale bread, nuts, cheese, and occasionally, flowers; but don’t use everything at once or it will look like an outburst of culinary break dancing. That would be the bad kind of break-dancing that gets you laughed off X-factor.

I’m including two recipes. One uses roast butternut squash and the other combines oranges with avocado. See what you think l

Half large squash, peeled and sliced into 5mm half moons

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

Pinch of chilli

Half tsp coriander seeds/ground coriander

Quarter tsp cumin seeds/ground cumin

2 tsp pine nuts, toasted/pecan nuts

150g feta cheese

1 pomegranate, seeds only (reserve juice for dressing)

(serves 4)

* (Use a good handful of juicy cherries if pomegranate unavailable)

Small bunch fresh mint

Dressing l

1 tbsp pomegarante juice

Half tbsp lemon juice

Pinch ground cinnamon

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Heat oven to 200c, drizzle squash with olive oil in a tin. Bash together (in a plastic bag with a rolling pin if you don’t have a pestle and mortar) the seasoning, chilli, coriander and cumin, and toss the squash in the mixture. Roast for 20-25 mins, turning two-thirds of the way through. Remove, and turn onto a serving plate. Sprinkle over pine nuts, crumbled feta and pomegranate/chopped cherries. Whisk together dressing ingredients, season and drizzle over the salad. Scatter over the roughly torn mint leaves. * To remove pomegranate seeds, cut fruit in half, hold one half

with the cut side down over a plate, and bash the upturned part with a soup spoon – the seeds should pop out onto the plate.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 27

Photos: dreamstime.com

When you’ve chosen your ingredients consider your dressing, which should complement the ingredients and bring out the flavours. Usually any recipe you’re trying will also include a dressing, or at least a suggestion – vinaigrette, blue cheese dressing, etc. The dressing is an essential part of the dish and gave rise to the word “salad as it comes from the Latin term for salted – “salata.” So there you have it, something else the Romans gave us, along with ruins, aqueducts, and a fondness for the kind of politics that keeps Silvio Berlusconi in power.

Green fingers

Gxxxxx

Blooming lovely

Geranium ‘Ann Thompson” and Calendula ‘Indian Prince” in full bloom.

If you want beautiful blooms this summer read JIMI BLAKE’s suggestions.

Favourite combination My favourite combination in my garden last summer was Geranium ‘Ann Thompson’ and Calendula ‘Indian Prince’. I had just returned from another trip to India last spring and was

Dahlia australis.

blown away with the Indians’ use of marigolds as garlands for the gods and in general their use of orange and every other vibrant colour. On my return to grey Ireland in February I planned how I could create some of the vibrancy of India in my garden in the Wicklow hills. I used Geranium ‘Anne Thomson’ which is one of my favourite of the hardy geraniums with its dazzling, bright yellow-foliaged and violet flowers from early summer until autumn. Combined with hundreds of orange marigold – Calendula ‘Indian Prince’– it worked beautifully and certainly brought a little bit of India to Wicklow. Be brave with colour and don’t be bothered with rules on colour as it only restricts creativity l

Starting a new border ARE YOU planning to start a new border or dig up that gravel or paving area in your front garden? Now is a good time to plan for next year believe it or not! This winter I removed the car park in Hunting Brook and turned it into a new border. It is amazing how quickly you can get impact from a new border. I had to dig down 1.5 feet – well a mini digger did! I removed the stone and clay and added in lots of well rotted manure and good top soil. The most important part of creating a new bed is to get the soil right. Don’t walk or drive on the soil. I added lots of well rotted farmyard manure and covered this with about 18” of top soil. The plants were planted and after a few months their roots arrive at the manure and jump into growth l

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Photos: Dreamstime.com

Dahlia australis is the coolest plant this year. If you want to impress, this is the plant to grow. My friends at Crug Nurseries collected this beauty in Guatemala in 2001 where it formed a colony of arching stems to at least one metre tall with extraordinary large, single, lilac yellow-eyed flowers 10cm across. This is best grown in a sunny position in soil enriched with wellrotted farmyard manure. This dahlia is exclusively available as a plant or seed on open days at my garden Hunting Brook.

Green fingers

Gxxxxx

Blooming lovely

Geranium ‘Ann Thompson” and Calendula ‘Indian Prince” in full bloom.

If you want beautiful blooms this summer read JIMI BLAKE’s suggestions.

Dahlia australis.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Photos: Dreamstime.com

At the movies MORGAN O’BRIEN surveys this year’s crop of summer blockbusters, sequels and remakes – and points out some promising small-fry alternatives.

YOU MIGHT not know it from the weather but a quick glance at the cinema listings confirms that summer is here. As ever the summer releases are dominated by a familiar confection of crash-bang-wallop blockbusters, plus a mix of sequels, comic book adaptations and remakes. Already this year’s early summer releases have included sequels in the form of the unheralded The Hangover Part 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 4 and the animated comedy Kung Fu Panda 2. And we have comic book adaptations Thor and The Green Lantern and remakes in the form of the much-derided Arthur and the long-forgotten horror Mother’s Day. The coming months see much of the same. While one could be cynical about this apparent lack of originality, unpicking the potential big hitters slated for summer releases can help discern the wheat from the chaff.

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Cinema goers will have a mixed bag of sequels to choose from. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (1st July) is the third instalment in the bafflingly successful series, the experience of which is akin to watching a child play a very loud and expensive version of Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots. More promising is the final part of the Harry Potter series (15th July), which has evolved into both a darkly textured fantasy story and an engaging narrative of adolescence. ‰

For younger viewers, Pixar reprise the characters from 2006’s Cars (22nd July). While it’s not a thoroughbred in the Pixar stable, this sequel should have enough to entertain. Roberto Rodriguez revives his Spy Kids series (19th August), which will hopefully mark a return to the cartoonish fun of the thoroughly enjoyable initial instalment. On the comic book front, Captain America: The First Avenger (29th July) is part of the ongoing construction of the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe,’ which also comprises Iron Man, The Hulk, and Thor. The characters will feature together in a crossover film, The Avengers, in 2012. How contemporary audiences will respond to Captain America’s brand of Pax Americana is questionable, although the world war two setting makes the socio-political context somewhat less fraught. A less prominent comic book title, Cowboys and Aliens, arrives on 19th August with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford starring. The film, whose title is self-explanatory, has promise with director Jon Favreau showing good form in the genre having previously helmed the enjoyable Iron Man series. August also sees more familiar titles with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (12th August), a de facto prequel to the original Planet of the Apes series, which features James Franco as a scientist who creates apes with human intelligence. Meanwhile, Conan the Barbarian (19th August) should be familiar to anyone who grew up in the 1980s. In this instance, the former looks more promising than the latter. Retro fans will be further served by the release of The Smurfs (12th August) although, judging by the trailer, the film appears to have a somewhat peculiar reliance on scatological humour. A more contemporary television series making a switch to the big screen is Channel 4’s celebrated sitcom The Inbetweeners (19th August). This potentially difficult transition may not be helped by the film’s retreat to the well-worn narrative of sending television characters off on holiday. Finally, where would we be without horror remakes? While more memorable titles, such as Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th, have been previously excavated, this summer sees some less well-known films undergoing revision. Guillermo del Toro produces a remake 1970s TV movies Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (26th August) with Katie Holmes as a woman terrorised by demons in her new home, while Colin Farrell and David Tennant feature in a fresh version of the 1980s comedy-horror Fright Night (2nd September) about a teenager discovering his neighbour is a vampire l

There is an alternative… Beyond the multiplex blockbuster fare, a number of other potentially interesting films are also set for a summer release. Larry Crowne (1st July) Tom Hanks directs and stars in this comedy drama about a man who returns to college and falls in love with his professor, played by Julia Roberts.

The Guard (8th July) An Irish-based black comedy featuring Brendan Gleeson as a Garda who teams up with an FBI Agent (Don Cheadle) to investigate drug smuggling.

Tree of Life (8th July) Starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, Terence Malick’s long delayed meditation on the meaning of life won the Palme D’Or at Cannes and has received strong critical praise.

Hobo with a Shotgun (15th July) Rutger Hauer stars as the titular hobo with a shotgun in this exploitation film about a man who takes the law into his own hands.

Cell 211 (15th July) Hard hitting drama about a prison officer caught in the middle of a riot. A success in its home country of Spain.

Super 8 (5th August) JJ Abrams directs this coming-of-age tale about a group of young friends who discover an alien is behind a series of strange events in their home town.

The Skin I Live In (26th August) Positively received at Cannes, Antonio Banderas stars in Pedro Almodóvar’s suspense thriller about a plastic surgeon experimenting on the skin of his female prisoner. WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 31

Play it loud

Is there a voting-age Diva in the house? She’s not a diva until she has some years under her diamante belt, according to RAYMOND CONNOLLY.

I RECENTLY met some friends for a few drinks in the immediate aftermath of a Take That concert. Admittedly it’s not the first time that alcohol and this column have crossed paths, but I would urge readers not to believe that they are co-dependent. I hadn’t been at the concert myself. Instead I’d opted to support the Dublin hurlers, so I arrived into the company in fine mental fettle. But my descent into the usual level of indignation didn’t take long. You know the sort of thing. What does Jason Orange do apart from posing and dancing? I prefer live acts that actually play instruments. Personally, I wouldn’t go out to my back garden to see them. (Notwithstanding the fact that Take That are unlikely to choose Finglas as a venue in any future world tour).

Enlightened Later the same night, an opportunity for a more enlightened musical argument presented itself. This time the subject was the ‘Diva’. Diva awards and platitudes are handed out far too easily these days. Once you get your Grammy award you’ll find your Diva certificate in the post. Witness the likes of Adele, Katy Perry, Rumer, Rihanna and co being referred to as Divas.

Boy bands have always annoyed me. New Edition, New Kids on the Block, East 17, Boyzone, Aaargh! The concept could probably be traced back to the 1950s and The Ink Spots, or at least The Monkees in the 1960s.

According to The Diva Digest (and they say no research goes into this column – editor) Divas are “women who are past their mothering time and have some serious life experience behind them.” Adele quite clearly fails to meet this criterion, having introduced us to her unlucky in love angst at the tender age of 19.

One could argue that the earliest form of boy band music took place in the form of the acapella barbershop quartets. Could there be anything worse than heading in for a short back and sides, realising that your hairline is beginning to recede, and

Despite my normal opposition to things populist, I admit I bought the album 21, based on the swelling tide of opinion that it was a classic. I even told the small remaining number of my friends of its virtues. ‰

But my comments couldn’t dampen the genuine excitement of people who had witnessed the Take That extravaganza.

Photos: gettyimages.com

at the same time having to contend with four smiling amadáns warbling Jeepers Creepers into your left ear?

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

My opinion may have since changed, but what hasn’t changed is the fact that I am right. Adele has described her own sound as “heartbroken soul.” Rolling in the Deep is categorised as a revenge tune. Revenge at such a tender age? Imagine what it’ll be like when she reaches her forties. Old testament style retribution I would guess, And, I must confess that my enthusiasm for Adele dropped alarmingly when I discovered that she was from Tottenham. It’s only a matter of time before she’s doing Chas ‘n’ Dave covers.

Diva platitudes are handed out far too easily these days. Once you get your Grammy award you’ll find your Diva certificate in the post.

Kissed As for Katy Perry? She kissed a girl and she “liked it.” Down with that sort of thing. This conferring of young female pop stars as Divas is becoming a much too convenient phenomenon. How is it that one careless match can start a forest fire but it takes a whole box to start a camp fire? One angle attributed to the Diva is that of bratty, self-obsessive conceited and rather uppity types who insist on having their own way. Madonna anyone? Of course the female sex does not have the copyright on this classification. Bono anyone? And, as for the usual explanation of the Diva’s remarkable talent: She began singing at the age of four. Doesn’t everybody? Yes folks, I dream of a better tomorrow where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives. And where longevity is seen as an essential ingredient for elevation into greatness. Think Shirley Bassey (despite the huge ‘Memories of Al Jolson’ blip on her CV, which involved painting your face, waving your hands and shouting “mammy”) and her classic delivery of Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever. Now that is Diva. Divas, Boy bands? The same thing I reckon. That’s it. I’m off. As ‘forces sweetheart’ Vera Lynn would say: “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when.” l

Summer 2011 Crossword Solutions See page 46 for the competition winners from Issue 13.

Across: 1. Alone 5. Llama 9. Larch 10. Aired 11. Invited 14. Sodic 17. Smart 20. Deserve 21. Ugli 22. Bags 23. Acetylene 24. Jihad 27. Chute 30. Overdue 32. Syrup 33. Dates 34. Evarice 35. Noted 36. Diary Down: 1. Atlas 2. Oared 3. Ethic 4. Sari 5. Leads 6. Aorta 7. Audit 15. Origami 16. Indiana 18. Macbeth 19. Ringlet 24. Jason 25. Hurst 26. Doped 27. Ceded 28. Ultra 29. Essay

Autumn Solutions (From page 46.) Soduko easy solution

Soduko difficult solution

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 33

From the author

The priest and the Nazi AWARD-WINNING BBC reporter, documentary maker, Westminster lobby correspondent, current affairs show host and novelist. BBC Northern Ireland's political correspondent Stephen Walker’s CV is impressive to say the least. In his 20 years with the BBC in Northern Ireland, Stephen was the first journalist on the scene of the 1993 Shankill bombings and reported many other terrible events for radio and TV. "There have been remarkable days. President Clinton’s visit after the ceasefire, the day after the ceasefire itself, the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, devolution coming with Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley back in 2007," he recalls. Stephen’s most recent book Hide & Seek tells the true story of Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty, who masterminded a large-scale operation from within the Vatican to help Jews and allied prisoners on the run from the Nazis. The monsignor successfully dodged several attempts to capture and kill him and, after the war, his chief adversary Herbert Kappler got life imprisonment for war crimes, including the Ardeatine cave massacre in which 335 people were executed on his orders. Amazingly, O’Flaherty continued his relationship with Kappler, visiting his former rival in prison. Their discussions would become intense and searching and an unlikely friendship grew. After much soul-searching Kappler became a Catholic and was baptised by the Irishman. “I wanted to see Kappler as more than a one-dimensional figure. Unlike many others he was completely honest about his role in the massacre during his trial. It was one of the worst war crimes committed in Italy. “Monsieur O’Flaherty was a wonderful man. As the war began he took a neutral position but became more involved as it went on. There were four things that moved him: His faith, his family, his friends, and the fairway. He was a wonderful golfer,” says Stephen. He insists that the book is aimed at a general audience, but concedes that his publisher may not agree. “It's not an academic book. It’s a fantastic story about war, peace and tragedy. And it shows man’s ability to forgive,” he says l

Book competition We have a copy of Hide & Seek to give away. To be in with a chance to win, answer the question below and send your entry to Roisin Nolan, Hide & Seek competition, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. Entries must reach us by Friday 2nd September 2011. Who wrote Hide & Seek? 34

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Book reviews

Summer reading

Impending doom

THE PROMISE OF HAPPINESS

THE WATER CHILDREN

By Erin Kaye (AVON, £6.99 in UK).

By Anne Berry (Blue Door, £12.99 in UK). WHEN LOUISE McNeill realises in her late thirties that her husband will not agree to having a family, she takes matters into her own hands. She divorces him and has a baby by donor. The book opens four years later as Louise comes home to the beautiful seaside town of Ballyfergus in Northern Ireland to raise her threeyear-old son, Oli, among her own family.

But life is not as idyllic as Louise expected. Firstly she is hurt by the criticism and disapproval she receives about Oli’s conception and the fact that she has chosen to raise him as a single parent. Then she finds conflict between her sister Joanne and her husband, revealing that their apparently perfect family life is falling apart. Meanwhile her younger sister Sian, who is devoted to her ecological ideals, is unexpectedly facing problems of her own with her soul-mate, fiancé Andy. The story explores the changing relationship between the three sisters and the problems and heartache that they face. Constant themes are the role of fathers in the life of a child and the strong support women provide for each other in times of trouble. The narrative also looks at the idea of change being a positive thing, whether deliberately sought or foisted on the person. This book provides much of the standard fare beloved of the readers of women’s fiction. There is the beautiful seaside town with its marina, sea-life, and restaurants as a back-drop. The ecological house, which Louise decides to buy, overlooks the sea and, when Louise realises that she has to work, the offer of a perfect job as marketing manager in the water sports centre is easily secured. And of course there are some attractive men thrown in as well. It is not a demanding read so if you’re looking for escapism in your summer fiction, this could be for you. Kathryn Smith

AT THE conclusion of every get together of my book group, we have to pick a book to read and discuss at the next meeting. This usually leads to a prolonged conversational lull, where sentences tend to begin with “Er” or “Um” and trail off into “ah” or “well.” Often we look at each other and cry plaintively. “But where are all the happy books?” As all too frequently we seem to read only about tragedy, dysfunction, poverty and unspeakable discomfort. For example, the last three books we read were Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, compelling, but various medical events will make your eyes water; Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell, beautiful writing, dreadful family; and Just Kids by Patti Smith about first love, lost love, street life and death. See what I mean? All great books that I’m glad I read, but not ones to send you skipping down the street with a song in your heart. Despite intensive research, I asked my friends over coffee and cake, the only happy book I could come up with was Pride and Prejudice. We read that sometime in our first year. So essentially, the quest for a happy book continues, and sadly, this book by Anne Berry is not going to buck the trend, as approximately 320 out of its 340 pages are depressing. Our four main characters are Owen, Catherine, Naomi and Sean, all of whom have had a watery, life-changing experience of one kind or another. They meet as strangers, in London in 1976, and become a loose group of friends. Fast forward a hundred pages or so, and they’ve collectively unleashed a cataclysmic chain of events, that leaves two of them dead, and two of them rather happy. Still doesn’t qualify as a happy book. Unfortunately, the characters are all so unhappy so much of the time that it’s hard More reviews on page 36 ‰

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 35

More book reviews to be too upset about it. The one-tone narrative is one of book’s biggest weaknesses. The sense of impending doom is pretty much laid on with a trowel. So keen is the author to impress upon us how scarred her characters are by their traumatic experiences, that we never see them as anything other than victims. There’s no light relief, no comic turn, no light to balance the darkness. Ms Berry needs to step back, take a deep breath, and stop trying so hard – and maybe listen to some show tunes now and again. Happy thoughts people! Happy thoughts!

Immigrant loneliness HAND IN THE FIRE By Hugo Hamilton (Fourth Estate, £16.99 in UK).

Margaret Hannigan

Funny, yet unconventional BURLEY CROSS POSTPOX THEFT By Nicola Barker (Fourth Estate, £8.99 in UK). IMAGINE THAT the Facebook wall of everyone in your community, with all its gossip, thoughts and secrets, was suddenly available for you to read, and you will have some idea of what this book is like. The plot, if you can call it that, has the contents of the postbox in Burley Cross, a small village in Northern England, stolen and abandoned in an alley way. The premise is that practically every inhabitant in the village has written a letter to someone and the private lives of the villagers are exposed as each letter reveals their secrets and thoughts in a series of interlinking chronicles. Each letter is a wonderfully divulging and manic short story, reflecting the different voices of the inhabitants of Burley Cross and the life of the village. There is a letter from a mother to a daughter given for adoption, begging to be left in peace. Another from a kindly neighbour to the son of the person from whom she has inherited a cottage and there are starcrossed lovers whose letters reveal that each loves the other while neither knows the truth. From poverty-stricken families and some very strange sex-therapy, not to mention an offensive, self-absorbed minor celebrity, all human life is here. Yet this is only a snap-shot of what is conveyed here, it’s impossible to describe the full extent of this writer’s observational skills and imagination.

IF THIS book doesn’t win awards left right and centre, then there needs to be a ten-year tribunal run at enormous expense to establish the reason why. As the product of a German immigrant mother and a fiercely nationalistic Irish father, Hugo Hamilton was raised through Irish and German and is uniquely placed to write this story. The main character, Vid Cosic, is a Serbian immigrant in 21stcentury Dublin, a carpenter who’s looking to escape his past and re-invent himself. He meets and is befriended by a young Irish solicitor, Kevin Concannon, whose capricious good humour masks a volatile and dangerous nature. Vid, who is not fluent in our cultural nuances and signals, is not aware of this and probably never fully realises it. Even when Kevin has used and abused him, he clings to their connection, because “at last I had a friend and was beginning to feel at home here, so I couldn’t afford to lose that.” Before long, Vid is working in the Concannon family home and has the confidence of all the family members including Kevin’s estranged father. Add into the mix drug addiction, violence and the heartless judgement of small Irish minds, and the story becomes a compelling and vivid reflection on our recent past. Hamilton’s unusual upbringing, where English was strictly forbidden in the home, must have informed his pitch-perfect characterisation of Vid, particularly the peculiarities of how the Irish speak English. One of the more perplexing is how easily and fluently we swear, especially the F-word. “You have so many different ways of saying it in this country, I’ve given up trying,” and he is immensely careful in his speech, avoiding slang and throwaway sayings for fear of getting it jarringly wrong.

This book is hugely skilful and can be in turns hilariously funny or desperately sad. It is not a particularly easy read as the words flow at break-neck speed but it is worth making the effort to stick with it. An incident seen in one villager’s eyes looks different from the point of view of another and the reader will be astounded by the merciless insight in this very unconventional book.

It’s a classic tale of immigrant loneliness, which beautifully describes the geographical and psychological dislocation that comes of living “in between places, neither here nor there.” Vid is funny and wry, with a warm heart and a brave step, and Hamilton is a gifted writer at the height of his powers. You really should read this book.

Kathryn Smith

Margaret Hannigan

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

Union business

We’ll work for better health IMPACT HAS pledged to work constructively with the Government and health service managers to establish a single-tier health service free at the point of delivery. But it also warned that a fair and high-quality service required adequate resources, good management, and coordination across hospitals, primary care services and the community and voluntary sector. Delegates at the union’s Health and Welfare divisional conference in May backed a motion that said a high quality single-tier system meant service delivery based “primarily on accountable public services rather than the failed agenda of privatisation and outsourcing.” Referring to Government plans to adopt the ‘Dutch model’ of health reform, IMPACT Health and Welfare executive member Martin Bridgeman said there were no simple solutions to the complex problems of health delivery and reform. “No doubt we can learn from the so-called ‘Dutch model,’ which the Government places so much faith in. But the HSE and other experiments leave me very sceptical of easy answers and off-the-shelf solutions to the complex challenge of delivering high-quality and equitable health services. Mr Bridgeman said the health service was still reeling from

“slash-and-burn cuts” in the 1980s, which resulted in a “totally unreformed health system with all its original failings.” He said reform, reorganisation and staff redeployment under the Croke Park agreement held out the possibility of avoiding the same mistakes today, even though budgets and staffing would continue to decline. But it wouldn’t be simple to reform health services in a period of economic crisis. “The constraints of Croke Park don’t provide the optimum background for health reform. But the agreement presents the best available model for getting us through the crisis,” he said. The motion called for a firm commitment to health workers’ rights, including decent working conditions, union recognition, and consultation on major changes. The union said genuine reform required recognition and acknowledgement of the skills, commitment and potential of all health staff, including administrative and support workers. “This is vital to achieving real reforms that genuinely improve value-for-money while maintaining service quality and working towards wider access to services during a difficult economic period characterised by budget and staffing constraints,” it said.

Communities in despair The union’s 30,000-strong Health and Welfare division pledged continued resistance to the cuts and called on Government departments to make specific provision for salary, capital and programme costs when funding community and voluntary organisations. The union estimates that average cuts of between 18% and 20% have Advocate: led to 5,000 job losses in a sector Maeve McCarthy-Barrett. providing services worth €6.5 billion in Ireland’s most disadvantaged communities. This had led to “quiet despair” in communities dependent on voluntary sector organisations, whose staff had taken pay cuts and increased working hours as they tried to keep struggling services afloat. Maeve McCarthy-Barrett of IMPACT’s Cork branch told delegates: “This union must continue to be hard-headed advocates

Photo by: Dominic Walsh

DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES are in “quiet despair” over cuts of up to 20% in funding for voluntary sector organisations, according to IMPACT.

for the people, communities and organisations that have managed, with very limited resources, to create a strong and vibrant sector which supports a strong social economy. Last year budgets for voluntary and community organisations were slashed by an average of between 18% and 20%.” A report commissioned by IMPACT last year estimated that just under 10% of the sector’s entire workforce had lost their jobs. The conference unanimously supported motions calling for resistance to any further cuts in funding in the community and voluntary sector.

Get union news fast IMPACT members can sign up to receive regular emailed news bulletins from the union. Visit www.impact.ie for details. WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 37

Union business IN SHORT Water privatisation opposed Don’t sign IMPACT HAS advised currently-qualified social workers not to register on the statutory social workers’ register, which opened at the end of May. This is because it says the proposed registration fee of €295 a year is too high. Health minister James Reilly has said his department would engage with IMPACT on the issue and the union says qualified social workers should hold off registering in the meantime.

Homelessness campaign

Speaking at the union’s Local Government and Education conference recently, Tara Robertson of the Dublin City branch said the provision of high quality drinking water to Irish citizens was at stake. “The accountability that comes with public ownership commits local authorities to the highest standard of service delivery. We must continue to insist that this high standard is maintained and any attempt to privatise this service must be met with strong opposition,” she said. Tara acknowledged Government assurances that it did not intend to privatise water, but said the centralisation of the service would provide “a neat package which can then easily be sold off for profit.” She criticised the lack of consultation with staff and their representatives and said there was currently no indication that the Government intended to invite unions, councils, user groups or others to input into a consultancy exercise currently underway. Ireland’s 34 local authorities employ over 3,000 staff in the direct provision of water services. They deliver a range of services including installation and maintenance, laboratory testing, water treatment, information and administration. Delegates at IMPACT's Local Government and Education conference.

Photo by: Keith Heneghan

DELEGATES AT IMPACT’s Local Government conference voted overwhelmingly for a vigorous campaign to support people experiencing homelessness. The union said Government policy should aim to end all homelessness and sleeping rough. IMPACT official Ashley Connolly said: "The primary reason large numbers of people continue to sleep rough is that there simply isn't enough social housing available."

GOVERNMENT PLANS for a national water agency could be the first step towards privatisation and poorer quality domestic water, according to IMPACT. The union has called for water services to remain in local authority control to protect standards, and has said it will oppose attempts to remove responsibility for water from local authorities.

Outsourcing costs HEALTH EMPLOYERS are outsourcing services to avoid the Government’s recruitment embargo rather than to save taxpayers’ money, according to IMPACT. The union’s recent Health and Welfare conference backed a number of motions calling for restrictions on privatisation which, it said, often cost taxpayers more than direct public service provision.

Intern warning WIDESPREAD UNPAID graduate internships in the health service could introduce unnecessary risk to patients while exploiting vulnerable young workers and closing off graduate careers to young people from poorer backgrounds. IMPACT has called for a balanced approach to provide young graduates with relevant experience through genuine structured internships. 38

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

No state assets sale IMPACT MEMBERS in commercial state companies have voted to oppose the sale of state assets to the private sector. Speaking at the union’s Services and Enterprises conference in May, national secretary Matt Staunton said that proposals published by the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities, led by Colm McCarthy, would fail to deliver for the state or service users. He said there were only two compelling reasons to sell state assets: Either improve services or raise cash. “In the current economic environment neither of these boxes can be ticked,” he said. Citing the Eircom experience, he said privatisation in Ireland had seen generally poor returns for the public. “Only one state sell-off raised considerable funds, but it has come at a very significant price. The Eircom sell-off netted less than €4 billion. The ‘citizen shareholders’ got their fingers badly burned. The company’s assets were stripped by successive buyouts. And the State has had to reinvest in the rollout of broadband, where Ireland has been left far behind in the international league tables,” he said. Between them, all the other state asset privatisations had netted less than a €1 billion in total, even though they happened when the economy was booming.

Union business SHORT CUTS

ICTU warns on pay regs

THE IRISH Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has warned that dismantling the system that sets minimum standards for pay and working conditions in low paid sectors could lead to job losses and damage Ireland’s economic growth prospects.

Photo by: Keith Heneghan

The unions met with enterprise minister Richard Bruton, who has signaled a determination to change the system of joint labour committees (JLCs) and registered employment agreements (REAs) in ways that will reduce incomes by cutting Dave Wheelan, Offaly branch. premium payments for Sunday working. ICTU general secretary David Begg has urged the Minister not to ignore the recommendations of a recent independent review of the system, which concluded that it should be retained and warned that cutting the wages of low paid workers could have negative economic consequences.

Austerity bombs THE LATEST rise in jobless figures confirms the failure of the austerity programme and proves the need for new Irish and European economic policies. So said the Irish Congress of Trade Unions after new figures showed unemployment at almost 15% – its highest level this year.

Pension judgement IMPACT HAS slammed the judiciary’s attempt to increase the cap on tax relief for large pension pots and urged the Government to reduce the tax relief ceiling to realistic salary levels. The union says any relaxation of the €2.3 million ceiling could also benefit senior managers of state companies.

He said the decision was “extremely pertinent” in light of figures showing unemployment at a new high of almost 15%. "It was claimed that dismantling the JLC and REA system would open the floodgates to job creation. The independent review found otherwise. It was claimed that lowering pay would create jobs. Again the review concluded otherwise.

SNA cuts

"But the review did warn that cutting the wages of low paid workers could have negative consequences for the economy. With demand already down 25% in the last three years that is a path we cannot afford to go down," he said. The review body received 360 submissions with over 90% coming from business lobby groups or the business community. "It would seem strange that the minister would overlook the evidence and take action that could cost jobs. Given the latest rise in unemployment it would seem obvious that Government attention should be on securing jobs, not driving people onto the dole," said Begg.

Redeployment effort urged IMPACT’S CIVIL Service division has called on management to look beyond the strict letter of the Croke Park agreement to ensure that redeployment of specialist staff best protects services as numbers fall to 2002 levels by the end of this year. Under the Croke Park agreement, staff redeployment must initially be done on the basis of volunteers and, if there are too few volunteers, on the basis of ‘last in first out’. But, speaking at the union’s civil service divisional conference in May, IMPACT national secretary Eamonn Donnelly said a more sophisticated approach could be needed in situations where specialist staff were up for redeployment. “The staff protections are there for all grades and must be respected. But redeployment is a challenge that has to be managed, particularly for specialist grades. We may have to look beyond the letter of the agreement to make sure that people with the necessary skills end up in the right posts. Otherwise both staff and services will suffer,” he said. Mr Donnelly said he believed civil service redeployment arrangements could be finalised quickly and called on management to develop a system of ‘resource panels,’ which would identify and explain staff surpluses, pinpoint training needs and facilitate consultation with staff and their representatives. He said significant numbers of staff had already been redeployed between civil service departments. “This is going to accelerate as services are reconfigured, staff numbers fall and state agencies are rationalised or abolished. We need action now to ensure that the redeployment that inevitably follows is fair to staff while getting the best out of them to protect and develop services. It’s no good waiting until the gaps appear before we act,” he said.

IMPACT’S LOCAL Government and Education division has voted to resist any further cuts in special needs assistant numbers. Cuts in 2010 have left schools with fewer SNAs working fewer hours. Frances Griffen of IMPACT's Dublin City branch told delegates that supporting SNAs meant union members were vindicating the rights of children with special needs, their fellow pupils, and the teachers who work with them.

Pilots settle THE IRISH Airline Pilots’ Association, a branch of IMPACT, has settled a dispute with Aer Lingus management at the Labour Relations Commission. The outcome avoided industrial action in a dispute over pilot shortages and rosters.

Sky rights DELEGATES AT IMPACT’s Services and Enterprises conference voted to reject as ‘unnecessary and unworkable’ Fine Gael proposals to limit industrial action rights for Irish air traffic controllers. IMPACT branded the proposals as unnecessary and unworkable and said there had been almost no strike action by Ireland's air traffic controllers in the history of the State. The union says the proposals would not protect Irish business and travellers from the effects of more frequent strikes in continental Europe.

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 39

Sport

Tour de France Photo by Roger Viollet/Getty Images

From the Alpe d’Huez to Eric Zabel, all you need to know about cycling’s premiere event, which takes place throughout July. KEVIN NOLAN provides the ultimate beginners (or indeed bluffers) guide.

is for Alpe d’Huez , one of the legendary mountains of the Tour de France. Also for Alberto Contador, the winner of the Tour de France in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

is for Boardman, as in Chris Boardman, the English cyclist who wore the yellow jersey on three separate occasions during the Tour. He shot to fame by winning the prologue of the 1994 Tour in the fastest time ever recorded.

is for Classification jerseys. Yellow is worn by the leader of the general classification. The winner of the first Tour did not win a yellow jersey but a green armband. The green jersey is awarded for sprint finishes, and polka dot for ‘King of the Mountains’.

is for Doping scandals. Accusations of doping in the Tour are as old as the event itself. One of the most infamous of recent times was the Festina scandal of 1988. French customs arrested Willy Voet (team assistant) of the Festina team for the possession of narcotics, EPO, growth hormones and amphetamines.

is for (Martin) Earley and (Shay) Elliott. Dublin native Earley entered eight Tours, completing five. The Tour high for the Clonsilla man was winning the 157km stage from Labastide-d’Armagnac to Pau. Fellow Dub Elliott was an Irish road-racing legend. He was the first Irishman to wear the yellow jersey after winning the stage into Roubaix in 1963. He held it for three days. It was another two decades before another Irishman, Seán Kelly, led the Tour.

is for Floyd Landis the American who was stripped of his Tour title glory in 2006 for a doping offence. In 2010 he alleged that many other top riders, including Lance Armstrong, were guilty of the same practices.

Belgian racing cyclist Eddy Merckx during the 1969 Tour, which he went on to win.

is for Greg Lemond. ‘LeMondster’ was the first American to capture the coveted yellow jersey in 1986. The following year he was shot in a hunting accident and was unable to race but returned to the Tour in 1989, winning it dramatically in its final stage. He successfully defended his crown in 1990.

is for Hinault, as in Bernard Hinault, nicknamed Le Blaireau (the Badger) because of his ferocious competitive nature and will to win. The Brittany native won the Tour on five occasions – 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985.

is for Ireland and (Miguel) Indurain. The Prologue and the opening two stages of the 1998 Tour took place in Ireland. The 1998 Tour was won by Marco Pantani aka ‘The Pirate’, nicknamed for his shaven head, bandana and ear-rings. Spain’s Indurain won five consecutive Tours between 1991 and 1995 – the first to accomplish such a feat.

is for Joop Zoetemelk. The Dutchman placed second in the Tour a record six times, winning it in 1980. u

Nicolas Roche, son of Stephen, will head the Ag2r La Mondiale team this year. 40 SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011

A-Z K

is for Kelly. Waterford’s Seán Kelly was the dominant Classics rider of his era. He won the green jersey in the Tour on four occasions – 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1989 – but never triumphed outright in the Tour. Nevertheless Kelly had a glorious career which included victories in a Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, and the Paris-Roubaix Classic among many others. K is also for Kraftwerk, who devoted a whole album of music in homage to Le Tour. The ultimate soundtrack.

is for (Stephen) Roche. 1987 was the year of Stephen Roche when he became the second cyclist only to capture the Triple Crown of Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Championships. For his career defining moment, look up ‘Roche-Delgado La Plagne 87’ on YouTube.

is for Sylvere Maes. Belgian Maes was twice winner of the Tour – ‘36 and 1939. His victory in ’36 came just a year after his younger brother Romain had triumphed into Paris.

is for Time Trial. The Tour starts with the Prologue – a short individual time trial with the winner claiming the yellow jersey for the first official stage the following day.

is for (Jan) Ullrich. The 1997 winner of the Tour. He also finished second on five occasions and third once.

is for (Richard) Virenque who won the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey on seven occasions. Also for Mont Ventoux, the ‘Bald Mountain’ or the ‘Giant of Provence’.

is for (Roger) Walkowiak. Walkowiak was the unfancied rider who triumphed in the 1956 Tour, without taking a single stage.

is for Nicolas Roche, son of the legendary Stephen. Though born in France he was educated at Blackrock College. Nicolas has competed in the Tour twice, finishing 23rd in 2009 and last year in 15th place overall.

Stephen Roche wearing the yellow jersey in 1987.

is for (Luis) Ocana. The Spaniard was the shock winner of the 1973 Tour, winning six stages along the way as he took full advantage of the absence of Eddy Merckx to ride to glory.

is for Paris. The 2011 tour takes place between Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 24th July, finishing on the ChampsÉlysées in Paris. The 98th Tour de France is made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres.

is for Queen! It is reckoned that rock band Queen’s 1978 single Bicyle Race is Freddie Mercury’s tribute to the Tour having enjoyed a holiday in France during the month of July the previous summer.

is for Le Tour’s 10th anniversary (1912) which covered a tortuous 5,289 kilometres (3,286 miles), much longer than this year’s riders will face. The winner, Odile Defraye, was the first Belgian to win the Tour and was only invited to join Alcyon’s all-French team at a later stage for publicity purposes.

Photo: gettyimages.ie

is for (Eddy) Merckx, aka ‘The Cannibal’, considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of all time. Merckx won 34 Tour de France stages including six stages in 1969 and 1972, and eight stages in 1970 and 1974. The Belgian won the Tour on five occasions between 1969 and 1974.

Photo: gettyimages.ie

is for Lance (Armstrong). Lance won a record seven Tours (1999 to 2005 inclusive), and finished third in his 2009 comeback. In October 1996 he developed testicular cancer which spread to his brain and lungs. He underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumors. On his return to the peloton he was a transformed man.

Photo: gettyimages.ie

Sean Kelly in 1989, Tour de France.

is for Yellow (Jersey). Eddy Merckx holds the record for the rider who has worn the yellow jersey most often – 96 days over his career.

‘Le Blaireau’ Bernard Hinault, five times winner of Le Tour.

is for (Erik) Zabel. German Zabel holds the record for points jersey victories in the Tour – with six consecutive victories between 1996 and 2001 l

Work & Life: The Magazine for IMPACT Members 41

Win Win Win

win0

S UD OKU

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the digits 1–9. There is no maths involved. You solve it with reasoning and logic.

€

Prize quiz Just answer five easy questions and you could win €50. YOU COULD add €50 to your wallet or purse by answering five easy questions and sending your entry, name and address to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life prize quiz, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. Send your entry by Friday 2nd September 2011. We’ll send €50 to the first completed entry pulled from the hat.* You’ll find the answers in this issue of Work & Life. 1. How much money has the Croke Park deal saved? A. Not enough B. More than you can shake a stick at C. €651 million 2. Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty’s Nazi nemesis was: A. Adolf Hitler B. Herbert Kappler C. Charlie Chaplin 3. A. B. C.

Barak Obama’s suits cost: €1,500 a piece A fixed proportion of the US deficit €1,000

4. The archaeological dig in Temple Bar revealed: A. A sixth century hen party B. Viking gold coins C. A 14th century quayside 5. In his latest film Brendan Gleeson stars as: A. A teacher B. A trade union official C. A Garda The small print* You must be a paid-up IMPACT member to win. Only one entry per person (multiple entries will not be considered). Entries must reach us by Friday 2nd September 2011. The editor’s decision is final. That’s it! 42 42

SUMMER/AUTUMN 2011 SPRING 2011

Easy

win

Difficult

Across 1. Ulster county of lakes and little hills (5) 5. Iberian country (5) 8. Component or essential part (7) 9. Malediction (5) 10. Their roles, particularly in the U.S., are mainly political (5) 11. Fabled monsters; symbol of Wales (7) 14. Odds on a race course (5) 17. Home of the dead in ancient Greek mythology (5) 20. A mountain in Kerry (7) 21. St. Paul's name before his conversion to Christianity 94) 22. ---- I'More, 16th century Laois chieftain (4) 23. One of the many poetic names for Ireland (4,5) 24. Reptile (5) 28. Small insect (3) 30. Buddhists' state of beatitude (7) 31. First President of the GAA (5) 32. Long for (5) 34. Sir Walter Scott romance set in Saxon England (7) 35. Founder of the rugby football, William Webb ----- (5) 36. Pertaining to the Eternal City (5) Down 1. Repeating series (5) 2. Stanza (5) 3. Require (4) 4. Mixture of smoke and fog (4) 5. Put by, hoard (5) 6. Totted up (5) 7. Face members containing nostrils (5) 12. A river in the language of Wales (4) 13. Ancient Turkish emperor (7)

€

PRIZE CROSSWORD 1

8 9

10 11

20 21

22 23

26 30

31 33

34 35

Crossword composed by Sean Ua Cearnaigh

15. May be used to describe an unprincipled person (5) 16. Golfers require this to get out of bunkers (7) 18. East Turkish mountain where Noah's ark finally came to rest (6) 19. Liverpool soccer club are their local rivals (7) 24. Grass-like plants found mainly in bogs and marshes (6) 25. Heavy iron block used by blacksmiths (5) 26. This Clare siege gave its name to a coil dance (5) 27. Julius Robert von -----, 19th century German physicist (5) 28. Sound or symbol announcing danger (5) 29. This will be familiar to carpenters (5) 31. Weathercock (4)

Win €50 by completing the crossword and sending your entry, name and address to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life crossword, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, by Friday 2nd September 2011. We’ll send €50 to the first correct entry pulled from a hat.

Winners!

The winners from competitions in the summer issue were:

Crossword: Martin Regan, Forest Service. Book Competition: Helen Whyte, Cork.

Quiz: Pauline Brady, Westmeath. Survey: Marian Fogarty, Limerick.

Lots more competitions to enter in this issue!

Your view

n i w100 €

How do you like Work & Life? WE HOPE you enjoyed this issue of Work & Life, the magazine for IMPACT members. We want to hear your views, and we’re offering a €100 prize to one lucky winner who completes this questionnaire.

Simply complete this short survey and send it to Roisin Nolan, Work & Life survey, IMPACT, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. You can also send your views by email to rnolan@impact.ie. We’ll send €100 to the first completed entry pulled from a hat.* And don’t forget, we’re also giving prizes for letters published in the next issue. See page 21.

The survey

4. What were your least favourite articles? 1 __________________________________________________ 2 __________________________________________________

1. What did you think of the articles in the autumn 2011 issue of Work & Life ? Excellent

Good

Okay

Bad

Awful

Comments ________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 2. What did you think of the layout, style and pictures in the autumn 2011 issue of Work & Life?

3 __________________________________________________ 5. What subjects would you like to see in future issues of Work & Life ? 1 __________________________________________________ 2 __________________________________________________ 3 __________________________________________________ 6. What did you think of the balance between union news and other articles? The balance is about right

I want more union news

I want less union news

Excellent

7. Any other comments? ______________________________

Good

__________________________________________________

Okay

__________________________________________________

Bad

__________________________________________________

Awful

__________________________________________________

Comments ________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 3. What were your favourite three articles?

Name ________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

1 __________________________________________________

Email ________________________________________________

2 __________________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________________

3 __________________________________________________

IMPACT branch ______________________________________

The small print* You must be a paid-up IMPACT member to win. Only one entry per person (multiple entries will not be considered). Entries must reach us by Friday 2nd September 2011. The editor’s decision is final. That’s it!

WORK & LIFE: THE MAGAZINE FOR IMPACT MEMBERS 43