Privatising of Seaweed business concerns politicians

Fri, May 16, 2014

The sale of Arramara Teoranta to a private Canadian company, Acadian, is the first step in the privatisation of seaweed and other natural resources found along the seashore according to Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh. Cllr Conway-Walsh said: “The sale of this public asset jeopardises the harvesting rights of seaweed cutters and those who have used seaweed along the Mayo coast for generations. In spite of protestations from the Government that there was no intention to sell off the State-owned Arramara it is now clear that I and my colleagues, Senator Trevor O’Clochartaigh and EU candidate Matt Carthy, were correct in relaying information to constituents that background discussions were taking place to push the sale through without consultation. Erris Seaweed Action Group will continue to work with the Connemara Action Group and other communities to provide a strong cohesive voice to protect the rights of seaweed cutters and coastal communities.” Cllr Conway-Walsh concluded saying: “There is no doubt that there is great untapped potential along our coast for greater use of seaweed and for job creation by adding value to the potential harvest there. But it will only benefit our own people if that harvesting and processing is controlled by the communities living there by way of co-operatives or some similar community based approach. Sinn Féin is encouraging land owners to check their land folios to establish their harvesting rights and coastal communities to work together to ensure the rights to cut seaweed and benefits arising from processing this natural resource are held by communities using a fair trade co-operative model.”

Council needs money to buy property for jobs — Barrett

Fri, May 16, 2014

"The strong political clout that we have in this county should be focused on providing the funding to acquire NAMA property in Castlebar for industrial production,” said Labour Party Castlebar town councillor and Mayo County Council candidate Harry Barrett.

Holmes calls for take-over of LIS access roads

Fri, May 16, 2014

Independent councillor Michael Holmes has called on Mayo County Council to take charge of semi-private access roads across the county which have been affected by the drastic reduction of Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) funding in recent years. Speaking at a Belmullet Electoral Area meeting last week, Holmes said it was unrealistic and unfair to ask people to pay for the maintenance of certain access roads through their villages and townlands.

Plenty of big names on ticket in Claremorris area

Fri, May 09, 2014

Altogether 12 candidates will contest the Claremorris electoral area on May 23, including seven outgoing councillors, with seven seats to fill.

Who is running in Elections 2014

Fri, May 09, 2014

Nominations for the Local Elections on May 23 closed on Saturday.

Altogether, 61 candidates will contest 30 county council seats across four electoral areas.

Mags Sheehan sets herself a tough task in the Claremorris area

Fri, May 09, 2014

It’s not easy to get elected to the county council.

Plenty of Independent voices on the ticket

Fri, May 09, 2014

A number of the Independent candidates running in the upcoming Local Elections believe voters are disillusioned with what the traditional parties are offering and a swing towards the non-party aligned is on the cards.

Turlough children need a playground — Barrett

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Residents in Turlough have raised the issue of a playground for local children at a community meeting this week, according to Cllr Harry Barrett. The Labour party local election candidate said this week that he was contacted after the meeting to request that the council provide a playground for local children. The meeting was told that there are some 120 children under the age of 12 within a two mile radius of the village, and currently they have no public play facility.

Barrett said: "Residents have raised this issue with me and I intend to raise it with council officials. The Turlough community pays its property tax, like every other area, yet it has no public play facility for the children. I will request a meeting with the area engineer to discuss the way in which this playground can be put on the agenda with Mayo County Council.”

Munnelly welcomes Downpatrick Head funding

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly this week welcomed the announcement that €640,000 is to be allocated to Downpatrick Head, Ballycastle. Downpatrick Head is listed as a discovery point on the Wild Atlantic Way tourist driving route. The allocation of money will improve visitor facilities here.

Tapping of phone calls undermines our justice system, says Chambers

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil Local Election candidate, says current revelations that phone calls going through Garda stations may have been taped only serves to further undermine people's trust in our justice system, and she says, the inquiry into the tapes is going to cost the tax payer dearly.

Holmes calls for immediate release of AEOS payments

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Independent councillor Michael Holmes has called on the Minister for Agriculture to ensure that payments under the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme are made immediately to Mayo farmers participating in the scheme.

According to Holmes, farmers are struggling to manage their farm finances as they wait many months to receive these payments. “I have met a large number of farmers who have been awaiting AEOS and REPS payments for many months,” he said. “They are understandably very frustrated by the situation, particularly as they have been fully compliant with the demands of their environmental management schemes. They have not been furnished with any clear explanation for the undue delay, nor a concrete date when they can expect to receive it. Understandably, they are losing patience fast with the Department.”

Ten questions with.......

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

(1) Why are you running?
Because I believe I can make a difference for the people in the Castlebar area. People are sick and tired of the same faces making the decisions for the town. It’s time to get rid of the "hand shakers".

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