Irish Rail has announced plans to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and decarbonise its diesel locomotive fleet completely while scaling up electrification and introducing green hydrogen fuel.
The State transport company’s ambitious plan will mean it is cutting its emissions by more than 71,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, while expanding services in line with Government plans to scale up public transport and reduce car dependency.
Its target is to increase rail passenger journeys to 80 million a year by the end of the decade, up from a pre-pandemic high of 50.1 million journeys.
Chief Executive of Irish Rail, Jim Meade said an agreement had been signed with a Latvian company to retrofit a freight diesel locomotive from diesel fuel to hydrogen as a proof of concept “providing a cleaner, cheaper and more practical way to decarbonise the diesel locomotive fleet”.
Dublin, 10 October, 2023
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Funding for Philippines digital transformation
The Philippines Department of Budget and Management says it will boost Public Service allocations for digital development.
The Department’s Budget Secretary, Amenah F. Pangandaman said digital initiatives would be allocated P38.75 billion ($A1 billion) in next year’s proposed National Budget — an increase of more than 60 per cent.
“Technological advancement has given rise to a growing digital economy which continues to create new forms of work, transforming the employment landscape,” Ms Pangandaman (pictured) said.
“It is crucial to invest in the bureaucracy’s digital development. It not only enhances efficiency but also generates quality jobs for Filipinos.”
Manila, 4 October 2023
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‘Alarming’ rise in Bhutan PS resignations
The annual report of Bhutan’s Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) has revealed that the attrition rate among Public Servants has risen to 16 per cent in the past year – figures commentators describe as alarming.
The RCSC report stated that 4,822 officers had left their positions. Of these, 3,413 were voluntary resignations.
In an editorial, the Kuensel newspaper said the “troubling trend raises pressing questions about the sustainability and appeal of a career in the Civil Service and demands urgent reform”.
“When Civil Servants voluntarily exit secure and stable positions in these numbers, it’s imperative to delve deeper into the root causes. Are these departures symptomatic of a broader disenchantment with Civil Service as a viable career path?” the editorial asked.
Thimphu, 6 October 2023
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Cambodia’s Minister for Civil Service has doubled down on recent Government demands that the bureaucracy improve institutional and individual capacity by increasing discipline, professional ethics, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a Leadership and Innovation training course for senior Government officials, Hun Many said these courses would be organised around the country as recommended by Prime Minister, Hun Manet for the better governance of the country.
He commended the Royal School of Administration for developing the training course, which he said was in line with ongoing regional and global development and would meet the pressing needs of citizens and society.
“The quality of leadership needed is vision, skills and character, and it is important for officials to understand the Government’s vision, acquire the capability and talents to carry out tasks and maintain a good attitude toward the work,” Mr Hun Many said.
Phnom
Penh, 8 October 2023
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Workers delay Zimbabwe stadium project
City Council workers in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare are on a go slow that is delaying crucial renovation work on the country’s main football stadium.
It is now unlikely that the stadium, which is in much need of a facelift after years of neglect, will be able to stage matches this year.
The Council workers told journalists that their salaries were too low, and often received late.
One worker, speaking on the condition their identity was not revealed, said salaries were often a month in arrears “and when we receive them they are already depreciated by inflation”.
Harare, 8 October 2023
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Forgotten passport ends Swedish Minister’s trip
It has been revealed that the non-attendance of Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Tobias Billström at a recent European Union summit in Ukraine was because he had forgotten his passport.
Diplomatic sources said officials at the border would not let Mr Billström across, which meant he was unable to board the eight-hour train headed for Kyiv along with his counterparts from other EU countries.
Earlier, Mr Billström's Press Secretary, Anna Erhardt would not confirm why the Minister was not at the meeting, saying there was “a logistical obstacle…other than that we do not comment on details of Ministerial trips".
Sweden was represented at the meeting by the country's Ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Åberg.
Stockholm, 5 October, 2013
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