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The Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) has formally notified the National Ambulance Service (NAS) of planned strike action next month, marking a significant escalation in a long-running dispute with the Health Service Executive (HSE) over pay and working conditions.
Around 2,000 SIPTU members working across the ambulance service in Ireland, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and supervisors, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including full strike action.
The planned industrial action will begin with a 24-hour strike on 12 May, followed by a 48-hour stoppage starting on 19 May and a 72-hour stoppage from 26 May. Further strikes are also scheduled for June.
In addition, a work-to-rule will commence on 11 May, meaning staff will not cooperate with new procedures or changes introduced by management.
The dispute centres on the HSE’s failure to implement recommendations from an independent review published in 2020, which called for updated salary scales to reflect the increased responsibilities and workload of ambulance staff over the past two decades.
According to SIPTU, ambulance personnel now provide a far higher level of pre-hospital care than in the past, requiring additional training, qualifications and clinical decision making. The union argues that despite these expanded duties,including a significant increase in medication administration, staff pay and grading structures have not been updated to reflect these changes.
Tipperary County Council: World Leaders in Revenue Collection, but still Struggling With… Roads.
Tipperary County Council has proudly confirmed that it extracted a tidy €308,112 in parking fines in 2025, proving once again that when it comes to collecting money, efficiency is not an issue.
Fixing roads, however, remains a bold and experimental concept. See in particular Emmett Street, Westgate junction, Barry’s Bridge etc. etc. here in Thurles,
Across nine towns, thousands of motorists were “caught red-handed”, — “embarrassed even”, according to local press reports, having been photographed by traffic wardens, committing the heinous crime of allowing two wheels to exist slightly outside a faded white line or failing to have their hair permed within the 15 minute permitted free time frame.
Thurles, notably, now continues to excel in two key areas:
(1) Generating revenue.
(2) Avoiding pothole repairs.
Of course, as one would expect, Clonmel led the charge with 2,469 fines, followed by Nenagh with 1,346 fines, Thurles (God help us in a town where most car parks were closed in 2025) 1,258 fines, while Carrick-on-Suir tried and failed to catch-up with a mere 1,052 fines.
A further breakdown reveals a more refined vehicle operator:
Tipperary Town: 914 fines.
Cashel: 548 fines.
Templemore: 267 fines.
Roscrea: 256 fines.
Cahir: took the wooden spoon, with a miserable 142 fines only.
Still all admirable figures, if the goal is to run a highly efficient penalty collection service, rather than maintain public infrastructure.
Motorists are charged €40 – €80 for parking offences, rising by 50% after 28 days, because nothing says “public service” like interest rates that would impress a credit card company.
Other highlights include:
♣ €60 for failing to display a tax disc.
♣ In keeping with Health & Safety, No Charge for failing to display a NCT disk.
♣ €150 for parking in a disabled space.
Meanwhile, in Thurles, the surface of Barry’s Bridge is once again disintegrating, bravely demonstrating the council’s innovative “Natural Erosion Management Strategy.”
Residents are reportedly delighted to see their contributions; over €300,000 worth, being reinvested into… somewhere; possibly sending salaried staff on St Patrick’s weekend junkets; but certainly not road surfaces.
A spokesperson, (latter who does not wish to be named), standing carefully to avoid loose flying gravel, stated: “We take great pride in maintaining strict parking enforcement, while also maintaining a flexible, evolving interpretation of the word ‘roadworthy.”
Local drivers have expressed confusion, noting that while their tyres are expected to meet exact legal standards, the road beneath them appears to be auditioning for a gravel pit.
Experts confirm that if potholes themselves could be fined, Tipperary County Council would likely be running a budget surplus.
Until then, motorists are advised to:
♦ Display their tickets correctly facing upwards.
♦ Pay promptly.
♦ Have a suspension system worthy of Dakar Rally conditions▲ when crossing Barry’s Bridge.
{▲The Dakar Rally is considered the world’s most challenging endurance motorsport event, held annually over two weeks in extreme desert conditions.}
Wonder would Tipperary Sinn Féin TDs meet and move a motion of no confidence in Tipperary Co. Council. Ops, sorry, forgot that the Tipperary electorate failed to elect Sinn Féin TD’s, last election. I wonder why?
Yes, here in Tipperary, the fines are fixed – but the roads are anything but.
Minister For Justice, Home Affairs & Migration Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD has stated in a press release issued at 6:28pm this evening that, quote:
“Over the past four days An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with protestors seeking to allow access to critical sites and ensure certain trucks containing fuel, medicine and animal feed were allowed pass through blockades.
Despite the increasingly difficult situation facing people across the country and requests from Government to end the blocking of critical infrastructure, the blockades continued. This is unacceptable.
While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our Republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner.
An Garda Síochána has commenced operations to allow critical infrastructure to operate, so that people have access to fuel.
I will continue to engage with the Garda Commissioner and my colleagues in Government as these operations continue.
I want to thank the Gardaí and their colleagues from the Defence Forces, for carrying out these difficult duties in such a professional manner.”
We now understand that An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin has convened a Cabinet meeting for tomorrow where an update on ongoing fuel crisis talks, undertaken between ministers and sectoral representatives will be given.
However, the Government has stated that nothing will be announced until protesters end their blockades.
During the first 48 hours of the Easter bank holiday road safety operation in Ireland, over 1,400 drivers were caught speeding, highlighting serious concerns about driver behaviour.
The nationwide operation, led by An Garda Síochána, began at 7:00am on Thursday and will continue until 7:00am on Tuesday, with increased checkpoints and enforcement measures in place.
In addition to speeding: Nearly 170 motorists were caught using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt while 66 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Some of the most serious speeding incidents recorded include:
- 73 km/h in a 50 km/h zone
- 81 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
- 115 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
- 141 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
Authorities, along with the Road Safety Authority, are urging all road users to slow down and remain alert, especially around pedestrians and cyclists.
Why Speeding Is So Dangerous
Speeding is one of the leading causes of road accidents and fatalities. Even small increases in speed significantly raise the risk of serious injury or death.
- Reduced Reaction Time
The faster a vehicle travels, the less time a driver has to react to unexpected hazards—such as a pedestrian stepping onto the road or sudden braking ahead.
- Increased Stopping Distance
Higher speeds dramatically increase stopping distance. This means even if a driver reacts quickly, the car may not stop in time to avoid a collision.
- Greater Impact Force
Crashes at higher speeds result in much more severe impacts. This increases the likelihood of fatal or life-changing injuries for drivers, passengers, and others on the road.
- Risk to Vulnerable Road Users
Pedestrians and cyclists are especially at risk. Even a small increase in speed can mean the difference between survival and fatal injury in a collision.
- Loss of Vehicle Control
Driving too fast reduces control, particularly on bends, wet roads, or in heavy traffic—making accidents more likely.
Final Message
The high number of offences recorded in just two days shows how widespread dangerous driving behaviours remain. Gardaí stress that road safety operations are not just about penalties—they are about saving lives.
Slowing down, staying focused, and obeying road rules can make a critical difference this Easter weekend and beyond.
As unsettled conditions develop, localized wind impacts expected across Tipperary.
Met Éireann’s latest forecast indicates a markedly unsettled and breezy day across County Tipperary, with conditions varying locally between Clonmel, Thurles, and Nenagh as a band of rain clears and strong, gusty winds develop through the afternoon and evening.
Overview – Tipperary Today
According to Met Éireann, the day will begin wet and overcast, with rain clearing eastwards, followed by sunny spells and scattered showers. Winds will increase from the south to southwest, becoming fresh to strong and gusty, before veering westerly later.
Local Breakdown.
Thurles (Mid Tipperary) – Early conditions: Rain clearing around midday.
Afternoon – evening: Frequent showers with sunny intervals.
Wind: Noticeably gusty, especially in open areas.
Key risk: Rapid changes in conditions, calm spells followed by sharp gusts. Thurles sits in a transition zone, experiencing both the clearing rain and strengthening winds.
Clonmel (South Tipperary) – Early conditions: Persistent morning rain, clearing early afternoon
Afternoon: Brighter spells with showers.
Wind: Strong and gusty, but somewhat moderated by more sheltered inland terrain
Key risk: Sudden squally showers bringing brief bursts of strong wind. Clonmel is likely to see more rain early, but slightly less exposed wind than northern areas.
Nenagh (North Tipperary) – Early conditions: Rain clearing earlier than the south.
Afternoon – evening: More persistent showers.
Wind: Strongest inland gusts across the county, due to more exposure.
Key risk: Blustery westerly winds and reduced visibility in showers. Nenagh is expected to feel the strongest wind impacts locally, particularly later in the day.
Peak Impact Window Timing: Late afternoon through evening.
Conditions: Strong, gusty winds Heavy, fast-moving showers, rapid shifts between bright and squally conditions.
Met Éireann highlights that such a pattern brings “scattered showers, some heavy… with gusty winds”, typical of an unstable Atlantic airflow.
Key Risks Across Tipperary:
Difficult driving conditions on exposed routes. Sudden strong gusts, especially during showers. Reduced visibility in heavy bursts of rain. Localised surface water on roads.
Summary: Morning: Wet across all areas. Afternoon: Improving but increasingly windy. Evening: Most disruptive period with strong gusts and showers.
Local variation:
Thurles: Mixed and changeable.
Clonmel: Wetter earlier, slightly more sheltered.
Nenagh: Windiest and most exposed.
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