Search Results for 'John Gormley'

A number of splinters rippled to the surface in the solidity of Mayo County Council’s united front in the face of Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley’s directions to change the development plan as adopted by the council on May 6 this year.

The news that energy efficient lightbulbs will soon be the only ones on the market and that the ordinary 75 watt bulbs will be the first to go has alarmed many consumers.

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.

People power is back in vogue in Ireland. Last week’s marches on Dáil Éireann by first the elderly and then the youthful brought the nation’s capital to a standstill. These marches were followed up with a 5,000 strong protest outside Leinster House by teachers, students, parents and the concerned average Joe on Wednesday evening.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has asked the delegation from Mayo County Council who will be giving a presentation to the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government next week to meet with him. Fianna Fáil Cllr Al McDonnell revealed the news to a special meeting of the council this week while discussing the presentation the delegation will make to the committee. Cllr McDonnell told the meeting that “just a few minutes ago Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv asked that that members of our delegation meet with him as soon as we are finished giving our presentation to the joint committee”. He continued saying that “he has been a good friend to Mayo, while we have been trying to develop the county there were others trying to stop us.”

For the second time in a little over a week a delegation of elected representatives from Mayo County Council made the long journey to Dublin to put forward the case for the county. This time the delegation were in Dublin to discuss the proposed new sewerage shceme for Belmullet town.

Fine Gael Deputy John O’Mahony has revealed that private and constituency office staff for Government ministers amount to some 200 staff at a cost of at least €10 million. Dep O’Mahony said that the Government’s big talk about public sector reform is undermined by their inability to get their own house in order.

Deputy Phil Hogan has called for increased accountability and more responsibility in local politics.

IFA SAC project team chairman Michael Silke said that the decision by the Minister for Environment John Gormley to allow an extension of turf cutting on 33 designated SAC bogs for 2009 was inevitable given the very strong reaction of bog owners to the planned restrictions of turf cutting this year.

Councillor Catherine Connery has revealed that the Freshford sewerage scheme is ready to go to contract stage.