The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s new regulations are intended to further strengthen the building control system in order to improve the quality of buildings into the future.
Comments are invited from industry stakeholders, members of the public and other interested parties.
There is a new guide on how to use the European Health Insurance Card in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, available as an app for smartphones.
It includes general information about the card, emergency phone numbers, covered treatments and costs, how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card. It is available in 24 languages with an easy option to switch from one language to another.
Europe Day 2012 focuses on the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between the Generations.
Celebrations start at 11am in Grafton St. in Dublin and continue with a free open doors event from midday in European Union House in 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2.
There is now a single Workplace Relations complaint form, for all complaints relating to employment law except for equal status.
Complaints about equal status should be sent directly (pdf) to the Equality Tribunal.
The referendum on the Fiscal Stability Treaty takes place on 31 May 2012.
referendum2012.ie gives a general explanation of what you are being asked to vote on. It is published by the Referendum Commission, an independent body, whose job is to explain the referendum as clearly as possible.
selfemployedsupports.ie was officially launched on Thursday 3 May by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, TD.
This website covers social welfare supports, explains tax implications and employment law and outlines other options available.
It provides clear and accessible information on issues such as voluntary contributions, means tests for social welfare payments and entitlements under class S PRSI. It also covers secondary benefits such as medical cards and rent supplement.
A further source of information is the Supports and information for the self-employed (pdf) booklet, first published in May 2011 and updated in February 2012.
You can check whether or not you are registered to vote in the Referendum on the Fiscal Stability Treaty on 31 May 2012 on checktheregister.ie.
If you are eligible to vote but are not registered you ca apply for entry on the supplement to the register of electors and so be able to vote on 31 May 2012.
You can download an application form from www.checktheregister.ie or get it from your City or County Council.
To vote in a referendum you must be an Irish citizen, be 18 years of age by polling day and be ordinarily resident in the State.
The deadline for receipt of completed application forms by the relevant City or County Council is Monday 14 May 2012.
All Social Welfare Offices will be closed on Monday 7 May 2012.
Referendum on the fiscal Stability Treaty:
If you are not on the Postal Voters List or Special Voters List, you can apply for inclusion in the supplement to those lists. You can get the application form from your City or County Council.
Completed forms must be received by the relevant City or Council not later than Wednesday 2 May 2012.
The Bealtaine festival takes place each May, and celebrates the creativity of older people. Over 120,000 people now take part in Bealtaine. From dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the talents and creativity of both first-time and professional older artists.
