By Sarah Finnan
24th Jul 2023
24th Jul 2023
Your speedy summary of today's must-read stories.
RTÉ could face bill of millions over investigation into employment contracts
RTÉ has not set aside “a specific figure” to cover its costs following a probe of bogus self-employment practices at the national broadcaster. A spokesperson said 134 cases have been examined so far in a Department of Social Protection investigation of the misclassification of workers by RTÉ as self-employed. This happens when an employer classifies a worker as self-employed although they have the characteristics of an employee. It is understood that over 500 contracts are being examined.
Independent.ie
Local politicians call for action over ‘increased sense of threat’ amid far-right protests
Local political representatives say they are facing an “increased sense of threat” from far-right activists over recent months as a result of a growth in agitation around anti-immigration protests. City and county councillors from around the country outlined incidents, from being called slurs including “groomer” and “baby killer”, to direct confrontations during canvasse
The Journal
Nearly 2,500 evacuated from Greece’s Corfu over fires
Nearly 2,500 people have been evacuated from the popular Greek island of Corfu after wildfires broke out, a spokesman for the fire department said. Fires have been raging in the north of the island with 2,466 people evacuated overnight, said Yannis Artopios, but no houses or hotels had been destroyed so far. Corfu and Evia have become the latest Greek islands to issue evacuation orders as Greece battles a series of wildfires. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people have fled wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes as terrified tourists scrambled to get home.
RTÉ
Cork University Hospital chief defends €2.3m spend on management consultants
The chief executive of Cork University Hospital (CUH) has staunchly defended the hospital’s multi-million euro spend on external management consultants, pointing to specific changes for patients in Cork as a result. In an exclusive interview with the Irish Examiner, Limerick man David Donegan also said he is “cautiously optimistic” that this winter’s trolley numbers will be lower in CUH, partly due to projects supported by the external advisors.
The Irish Examiner
Elon Musk reveals rebranding of Twitter as X – and what he wants us to now call a tweet
Elon Musk has unveiled a rebranding of Twitter with a large X logo. The company’s chief executive Linda Yaccarino “tweeted” an image of the apparent new logo beamed on the side of its headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Sky News
Spain’s conservatives miss out on all-out victory as left celebrates
The leader of Spain’s opposition conservative party Alberto Núñez Feijóo has claimed victory in a snap election, but without the result he needed. Even with the support of the far right, his Popular Party (PP) has fallen short of a majority in parliament. The cheers at the rival Socialist camp were just as loud as Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared: “The reactionary bloc has failed.” While both can claim success, Spain is left with an inconclusive result.
BBC News
Today’s forecast
Sunny spells and isolated showers at first today. Scattered showers developing in the east and south this afternoon with the odd heavy one possible there but showers remaining isolated elsewhere. Light to moderate northwest or variable winds with highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, coolest in the northwest. Showers becoming isolated early tonight with many areas dry and clear overnight. Winds becoming light westerly or variable. Rather cool for the time of year with lows of 7 to 10 degrees, possibly lower locally.
Met Éireann