Menu
08/11/2019
ESB Workers 'Betrayed'- SF
Sinn Fein has accused the Government and ESB of betraying staff after news two power stations in the Midlands will close.
The Electricity Supply Board confirmed today that two peat-fired electricity generation plants will cease operating at the end of 2020.
It's understood the 80 staff working at Shannonbridge in West Offaly and Lanesboro on Lough Ree sites will be re-deployed or offered voluntary redundancy, with no compulsory redundancies expected.
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment David Cullinane TD today slammed the government and ESB for broken promises to workers and their communities in the midlands, adding that a just transition plan must be put in place before the closures.
Deputy Cullinane said: "The news that the ESB is to close two power stations in the midlands without any alternative arrangements in place is nothing short of a betrayal of the workers and their local communities.
"Both the ESB and the government promised that alternative measures and a just transition would be in place before any decision to close would be taken.
"That, it appears, is now off the table, delivering a devastating blow to the 80 ESB workers affected and the 1,000 Bord na Móna workers who rely in no small measure on the plants.
"The government must convene a Just Transition Task Force as a matter of urgency.
"This must be based on dialogue with trade unions and other stakeholders.
"This task force must negotiate a fair deal for workers and their communities and ensure an orderly and fair exit from peat.
"The people of the midlands need to be part of that transition.
"By his actions so far, it is clear that the Minister is interested only in importing fracked gas for private profit, instead of working to protect the communities most affected by the move to environmental sustainability."
(JG/CM)
The Electricity Supply Board confirmed today that two peat-fired electricity generation plants will cease operating at the end of 2020.
It's understood the 80 staff working at Shannonbridge in West Offaly and Lanesboro on Lough Ree sites will be re-deployed or offered voluntary redundancy, with no compulsory redundancies expected.
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment David Cullinane TD today slammed the government and ESB for broken promises to workers and their communities in the midlands, adding that a just transition plan must be put in place before the closures.
Deputy Cullinane said: "The news that the ESB is to close two power stations in the midlands without any alternative arrangements in place is nothing short of a betrayal of the workers and their local communities.
"Both the ESB and the government promised that alternative measures and a just transition would be in place before any decision to close would be taken.
"That, it appears, is now off the table, delivering a devastating blow to the 80 ESB workers affected and the 1,000 Bord na Móna workers who rely in no small measure on the plants.
"The government must convene a Just Transition Task Force as a matter of urgency.
"This must be based on dialogue with trade unions and other stakeholders.
"This task force must negotiate a fair deal for workers and their communities and ensure an orderly and fair exit from peat.
"The people of the midlands need to be part of that transition.
"By his actions so far, it is clear that the Minister is interested only in importing fracked gas for private profit, instead of working to protect the communities most affected by the move to environmental sustainability."
(JG/CM)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 July 2014
More Than 2,500 ESB Customers Without Power
More than 2,500 ESB customers are without power following outages in the south east and south west. The company has said that some 1,700 customers in the Enniscorthy and Arklow areas have been affected, along with around 900 homes and businesses in the Killarney and Bandon regions.
More Than 2,500 ESB Customers Without Power
More than 2,500 ESB customers are without power following outages in the south east and south west. The company has said that some 1,700 customers in the Enniscorthy and Arklow areas have been affected, along with around 900 homes and businesses in the Killarney and Bandon regions.
09 December 2013
ESB Management And Workers Reach Agreement
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the agreement reached between management and workers at ESB regarding the company's pension scheme. The Dublin Central TD said: "The resolution of the ESB pension dispute is good news for the workers, and indeed for the company's customers.
ESB Management And Workers Reach Agreement
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the agreement reached between management and workers at ESB regarding the company's pension scheme. The Dublin Central TD said: "The resolution of the ESB pension dispute is good news for the workers, and indeed for the company's customers.
19 November 2013
ESB Workers Vote In Favour Of Industrial Action
ESB bank workers have voted in favour of taking industrial action in a dispute over a deficit in the company's pension scheme. During the summer the company paid a dividend of €78 million to the State, despite the company's pension deficit of €1.6 billion remaining.
ESB Workers Vote In Favour Of Industrial Action
ESB bank workers have voted in favour of taking industrial action in a dispute over a deficit in the company's pension scheme. During the summer the company paid a dividend of €78 million to the State, despite the company's pension deficit of €1.6 billion remaining.
15 September 2011
Govt. To Sell Stake In ESB
The Coalition has confirmed that it will sell a minority stake in the State’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It is has been confirmed that the semi-state energy company will not be broken up. But it is not yet clear the percentage of the company to be sold or how much money will be raised.
Govt. To Sell Stake In ESB
The Coalition has confirmed that it will sell a minority stake in the State’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It is has been confirmed that the semi-state energy company will not be broken up. But it is not yet clear the percentage of the company to be sold or how much money will be raised.
29 April 2016
Workers Memorial Day Ireland Honours Construction Industry Workers
A commemorative event was held in Dublin on Thursday, 29 April, to remember the people killed and injured through workplace accidents, to mark Workers Memorial Day Ireland.
Workers Memorial Day Ireland Honours Construction Industry Workers
A commemorative event was held in Dublin on Thursday, 29 April, to remember the people killed and injured through workplace accidents, to mark Workers Memorial Day Ireland.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
