A round-up of other home news in brief
Engineers to picket hospital
A picket will be placed on St James’s Hospital in Dublin by engineers on Monday after a work stoppage yesterday did not bring a breakthrough.
Some seven members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) took part in the four-hour picket and work stoppage in protest at changes in their role.
There was no disruption to the patient service, the hospital said. Electricians will provide emergency cover during Monday’s stoppage.
The protest is over the removal of key duties from electricians, including responsibility for fire alarms being given to security staff. The workers are concerned the dilution of their role will open up the transfer of other duties from electricians.
The union said normal dispute resolution procedures, such as the Labour Court, have not yet been exhausted.
Two arrested after heroin seizure
Two people have been arrested in connection with a drugs seizure in Dublin city centre.
A quantity of heroin with an estimated street value of up to €475,000 was discovered during a raid at an apartment in Smithfield at about 4.30pm yesterday.
A man and woman in their 20s were arrested at the scene.
The two are being held under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Kevin Street and Harcourt Terrace Garda stations.
Cyclist critical following collision
A cyclist is in a critical condition after a collision with a Mercedes car in south Co Dublin yesterday.
The man was hit by the car in Churchtown at about 4.30pm.
The foreign national male was in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital last evening.
The driver of the silver-coloured car has been interviewed by gardaí.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which took place at Braemor Road, Churchtown. Witnesses are asked to contact Rathfarnham Garda station on 01-6666500.
Asbestos killed man 40 years later
A man died of lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos in the workplace more than 40 years ago. James Murphy (83) of St Patrick’s Place, Mallow, Cork, died of lung cancer in Marymount Hospice in Cork city on January 22nd, 2010.
Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the inquest that cancer contracted as a result of exposure to the poisonous substance takes years to develop. She said people were unaware of the dangers of asbestos in the 60s and 70s.
“This can take years to develop, that’s why we are seeing so much of it now. People didn’t realise the dangers back then,” Dr Bolster said.
US embassy visa advice available
The US embassy in Dublin has advised third-level graduates intending to travel to the US that relevant visa information is available on its website at www.state.gov.com. Users are advised to click on the visa section.
Karyn Posner-Mullen, director of public affairs at the US embassy, said: “Visas are issued to appropriate people with qualifications that meet certain criteria.”