As we embark on our journey through 2009 it seems there will be a rocky road ahead.
On a local level Beverley Flynn has already found herself in hot water for receiving a tax-free €41,000 a year allowance for being elected as an independent TD. What’s interesting about this story is the fact that Beverley seems to have been targeted by the more cynical forces in operation in our national media who seem hell bent on bringing down the Flynn dynasty.
Beverley was within her rights to accept the allowance, as stated in legislation, but why was she the only TD singled out in recent media reports for having taking the cash? The argument has been that morally she was wrong to continue taking the money after having being readmitted to Fianna Fáil. And it was her dogged response and determination that she would keep the allowance given these tumultuous economic times that raised the shackles of the public, so this week she rescinded that allowance and it seems that legislation will now be changed.
The Government itself, while still on Christmas recess, has not enjoyed too many good headlines since Brian Cowen took over. His handling of the pork crisis before Christmas was nothing short of a disaster which caused hysteria at home and more importantly has had damaging affects on Ireland’s reputation abroad where signs can now be seen in restaurants “No Irish pork or beef sold here”.
Don’t be surprised also if small to medium businesses shut up shop for a day and take to the streets of Dublin in response to VAT increases. Bringing the budget forward to October has now being viewed as a disaster as the variables have all changed. But hindsight is a great thing.
The Catholic Church is again in hot water over its handling of child protection practices, this time in the Diocese of Cloyne. Bishop of Cloyne John Magee has repeatedly refused to step down despite many commentators stating that his position has become untenable. It has emerged that on two occasions in recent years Bishop Magee misled the State on child-protection practices in his diocese.
2008 was cited as the safest year on our roads since records began with 276 people tragically losing their lives. The earliest recorded figure for road deaths is 1959 when 306 people were killed in road collisions. This is despite the fact that there are now more than eight times the number of licensed vehicles and licence holders in the State compared to 1959.
That doesn’t take from the fact that 276 people are gone. Their families, friends, and colleagues have been devastated by their tragic departures. The road safety message must continue to reach young people, young men especially, who seem to believe they are invincible when they get behind the wheel of a car. It’s hard to celebrate a good year statistically when 276 human beings have been killed, 10 of those in Mayo. Unfortunately Mayo didn’t experience any decreases in road fatalities last year in comparison to 2007 despite the Trojan and tireless work carried out by Mayo County Council’s road safety officer Noel Gibbons.
On the jobs front redundancies are being announced day in and day out, and the time has come for people to think outside the box as to how they will sustain business throughout this recession. One suggestion is that Mayo should develop its unique selling point — tourism — to see us through these tough times and beyond. But statistics released today show that visitor numbers to Ireland fell last year for the first time in seven years. Creativity is definitely called for.
However we get through it, let’s do it with dignity, pride, and maintain respect for ourselves and each other.
Toni Bourke Editor [email protected]
