Sad and sorry news this week with the announcement to staff at Mayo General Hospital that 150 of its temporary workers are to lose their jobs from September, while the ESB has admitted cutting off supplies to a shocking 900 households per month. Despite having already endured two years of misery since the economic crisis first took hold, this fresh new onslaught suggesting things will continue to get much worse before they get better, is enormously draining. There are some - though they are few and far between - who are happily weathering this recession well and even capitalising on it - having carefully covered their bases in time - and good for them. Indeed, 80 per cent of existing businesses in Ireland today that have managed to stay afloat and successful through these difficult times were actually set up during previous recessionary times - because, apparently, recession equals opportunity for new business.
At least an RTE report from London during the week provided a heartening picture of a busy jobs’ market with newly qualified accountants enjoying particular popularity. One new graduate outlined having five interviews in one week allowing her to pick and choose an employer, with those in management seeking new recruits lauding the great work ethic and productivity of Irish workers. It has been quite some time since we as a people have heard such praise in regard to the value of our education system and our willingness to work, therefore this return to form is all the more welcome. With London preparing for its hosting of the 2012 Olympics the city is also providing badly-needed work opportunities for those in the construction sector - although one telling comment from a building company owner in relation to Irish electricians expecting too much pay and unwilling to work after 1pm on a Saturday - reveals the lesson still has not been fully learned - that having any work at all right now is an absolute blessing.
Back to the electricity supply cut-offs and the spotlight this revelation shines on real-life Ireland right now, you wonder just how much longer those in political power can go around with their blinkers on. Cutting off electricity supplies not only affects lighting but also heating, meaning that little children in homes around the country will spend this winter in cold rooms depending on natural light from outside to see. This is the stuff of the Dark Ages. How can such a thing be happening 10 years into the new millennium?
To see Ireland move backwards in this way is nothing short of devastating. Possibly the worst part of the ESB bombshell was the news that current cut-off ratios are actually 25 per cent up on the norm, ie, electricity is being cut off to homes in Ireland on a continual basis anyway. Financial experts maintain that this sorry state of affairs is due to people putting their heads in the sand and shoving bills under the carpet while the walls close in around them. In other words, they are in denial - and with little opportunities of a get-out clause on the horizon, why would they not be?
Not surprisingly emergency and voluntary support workers also reported this week that €100 million in funding has been spent so far this year, and despite calls for more aid money abroad for devastated Pakistan, appeals for further charitable help and financial help at home are also certain to rocket.
Having to focus on the negative instead of the positive for yet another week is the unfortunate reality of the times we are living through. Further cut-backs, job losses, budget hikes, or platitudes about keeping positive will only hammer the nails in deeper. With the holiday season coming to an end for the sad summer of 2010 - the summer we dared not be happy - or at least be seen to be happy - what we really need now are genuine words of hope and some concrete work action.
