Grassroots

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

A few months ago I wrote that a week is a long time in politics, the old saying, but for Fianna Fáil and in particular Fianna Fáil Councillors, TDs and MEPs this month has been a long time.

South Mayo’s independent voice

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

“Seven doesn’t go into six” is Independent Councillor Harry Walsh’s clear observation on next year’s local elections. With the redrawing of the boundaries for next year’s local elections, the Ballinrobe area came out of it looking like they could be the big looser in the terms of representation. With the purging of the Ballinrobe electoral area from the map and it being subsumed into the newly redrawn Claremorris area, it brings an end to ten years as single electoral entity. “We do feel hard done by and the area as a whole should feel hard done by because we have lost a lot of our natural hinterland in this redrawing and we are now being consumed into a very large geographical area in the county. My main concern is of course for the Ballinrobe area as a whole, but my home area of around Shrule and Kilmaine went for seven or eight years without a councillor before and it’s important that an area like that has representation.”

Cracking the whip, for a few more months

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

“Perhaps I should have ran for the county council before when I was a bit younger, but I have enjoyed my four and a half years so far and I’m looking forward to seeing out the last few months.” With the official news breaking this week that Fine Gael party whip Paddy McGuinness would not be running for re-election, it brings to an end the public life for a second time of the popular County Monaghan native. McGuinness, who had stepped away from public life before after a number of terms on Castlebar Town Council, was tempted back into public life when Enda Kenny came calling before the last local elections. “I had come in to do a job last time around and I was very tempted to stay on, but I had made a decision before that I would be doing one term and I had to stick with it.” The job as McGuinness saw it was to help the party grow and bring them all together as one for the term of the council which, for the most part, he has done very successfully.

Ring outlines dangers of drugs and alcohol to Islandeady youths

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Speaking at the launch of the No Name Club in Islandeady, Castlebar, Fine Gael spokesman on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Ring indicated that the new National Drugs Strategy should incorporate alcohol.

Kiltimagh Sewerage Scheme discussed with Gormley

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

A delegation from County Mayo, led by the Cathaoirleach Councillor Joe Mellett, met with the Minister for the Environment John Gormley in Dáil Éireann recently.

O’Mahony accuses Flynn of failing Mayo schools

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has highlighted the effect of Government budgetary cutbacks on schools in the county before the Oireachtas Education and Science Committee.

It’s disgraceful that people are being forced to emigrate - Kenny

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny TD has reminded anyone wishing to partake in the United States Visa Lottery that the deadline is fast approaching. The official deadline for applications is Monday December 1. A total of 132 applications from Ireland were successful for the 2009 Visa and anyone who is successfully selected in the 2010 Visa Lottery should expect to receive notification in May/June 2009. The website for accessing the application form can be downloaded from http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ and instructions are provided on how to partake in the lottery.

Flynn welcomes HSE campaign on elder abuse

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

A campaign to highlight the issue of elder abuse launched by the Health Service Executive has been welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Beverley Flynn.

Calleary welcomes changes to the proposed travel tax

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has welcomed the changes to the proposed travel tax as confirmed by the Minister for Finance last Friday in the Finance Bill.

Sinn Féin oppose CAP reform

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

Sinn Féin North West EU Candidate Pádraig Mac Lochlainn hascriticised Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith for capitulating on the issue of increased modulation during the current CAP reform discussions. Cllr Mac Lochlainn reiterated Sinn Féin’s opposition to increasing the amount of modulation on farmers’ payments, noting that in effect the increase amounts to a cut in the Single Farm Payment putting further pressure on farm incomes.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said “The farming community is still reeling from the array of savage cuts in agriculture contained within the Government’s 2009 budget, and its affects will hit hardest farmers in the west of Ireland. The suspension of the Young Farmers’ Installation Aid programme in tandem with the same fate for the Early Retirement Scheme has been a massive blow to the farming community. Those seeking to enter the farming sector and older farmers wishing to make way for the next generation have both been failed by this budget. In addition cuts to the Disadvantaged Area Aid and Suckler Cow Welfare Schemes will result in almost halving the existing supports to the states most vulnerable low-income farmers.

Small towns in Mayo hit once more – O’Mahony

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

The decision by Permanent TSB to close their agencies in Swinford, Ballyhaunis and Crossmolina is another body blow for small Mayo towns, said Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony.

Carty welcomes €170m CAP Health Check

Fri, Nov 28, 2008

The CAP Health Check negotiated for Ireland by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, will deliver some €170 million to Irish farmers over the next five years.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.