Fianna Fáil’s fate

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

The decline in Fianna Fáil’s popularity since last June is unprecedented in the history of the party. The recent TNS/MRBI survey has tracked that support for the party has dropped from 42 per cent to 22 per cent over the past eight months. The leader’s satisfaction rating has declined from 52 per cent to 24 per cent. This presents an alarming prospect for all party members, supporters and especially candidates in the forthcoming local and European elections.

Ballinrobe comes eighth in all-Ireland unemployment league

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

At a recent meting in Ballinrobe, Fine Gael candidate Michael Burke addressed the difficult business climate in the area and the effect this is having on employment prospects.

The recent release of the Central Statistics Office live register figures show that in the period from February 2008 to January 2009 the number of unemployed in Ballinrobe increased from 393 to 858 (a staggering 118 per cent increase). Most of these jobs have been lost in construction, retail, and service industries. Seventeen shops have been forced out of business in the town with a resultant loss of local jobs. The figures also show that there are 147 people under the age of 25 on the live register in Ballinrobe — people whose legitimate hopes and aspirations have been shattered by the gross incompetence of people who were well paid to plan and guide the fortunes of our people.

Ballinrobe comes eighth in all-Ireland unemployment league

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

At a recent meting in Ballinrobe, Fine Gael candidate Michael Burke addressed the difficult business climate in the area and the effect this is having on employment prospects.

Public servants must pay- while top artists go free

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

The Fine Gael spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Michael Ring has called for a review of the Artists’ Tax Exemption in light of the burden being carried by all other workers. Deputy Ring went on to say: “We are now in very difficult economic times, we can no longer expect exemption for artists, some of them making a lot of money. They should now pay their fair share to the economy like everybody else. I am calling on the Minister for Finance to immediately review this scheme and make a swift decision on this.”

Following a recent Dáil question the Finance Minister Brian Lenihan revealed that over the period 1994 to 2005 a total of €273.9 million has been written off by Revenue Commissioners on the tax exemption scheme for artists since the scheme was introduced.

McHale encourages young people to register to vote

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

The youngest declared candidate in the Claremorris electoral area, Gerard McHale, has encouraged all of those who will be 18 years of age or older on June 5 to register to vote prior to the June election.

Grassroots

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Fine Gael’s high hopes of Castlebar dominance

With the pace of local events beginning to pick up noticeably, the dust is finally starting to settle on what the list of runners will be in the Castlebar area for the county council elections. Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael began to mould their teams this week, but with the caveat that further additions to each panel might well be expected before the white flag is raised in the first week in June.

PPS numbers should be linked with electoral register

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Westport Sinn Féin Town Councillor Dave Keating has called on the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, to incorporate PPS numbers in the register of electors application process. Cllr Keating renewed his call after a Dáil report showed major discrepancies in the electoral register in Mayo.

Fine Gael selects ticket for Castlebar electoral area

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Fine Gael has selected a four man ticket to contest the seven seats in the newly expanded Castlebar electoral area in the Mayo County Council elections this June. The incumbent councillors Henry Kenny and Cyril Burke will be joined on the ticket by Castlebar Town Councillor Eugene McCormack and Mayor Kevin Guthrie.

i102-104 ladies are doing it for themselves

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

The saying may go sisters are doing it for themselves but i102-104’s female presenters have proven that they have the wow factor with growing radio listenership figures.

Jim Higgins calls for a stand alone Lisbon referendum

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has called for a properly prepared for, stand alone referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

RSA seeks views of truckers on work time rules

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Bus and truck drivers including operators are being asked by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for their views on planned changes to their working time rules. The changes are being proposed by the EU and apply to any drivers and travelling staff using buses and trucks which are fitted with tachographs.

No conviction for mother whose children escaped from seatbelts

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

A Dublin woman had charges for having two children without seatbelts in the car she was driving struck out at Claremorris District Court this week, but she was still convicted and fined for not wearing a seatbelt herself while driving.

E-paper

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