Search Results for 'Toni Bourke'

Road safety officers across the country have their work cut out for them given the state of the country’s roads after the recent bouts of snow and frost and the lack of money in the public purse to remedy the problems.

Ireland’s political landscape is about to enter a new era. Political change is coming fast, and at last the people of Ireland know when they can finally have their say on which political party or parties are best served to lead this country through these tough economic times.

Hasn’t the good weather been fantastic? A welcome dose of vitamin D. The warm feeling of the sun’s rays on our freckled skin. A light breeze reminding us that it’s still April. But generally it’s been a nice teaser of what could be in store if the weather gods are in our favour this summer.

This week the country has been rocked by how much more than originally estimated it is actually going to cost the taxpayer to bail out Anglo Irish Bank. The National Asset Management Agency has started taking over toxic loans for half their original value. Quinn Insurance is under financial investigation and the company have warned that 5,500 Irish jobs are being threatened by the appointment of administrators, and the numbers on the live register crept up again in March after a slight fall in February. On a brighter note, public sector management and unions have reached an agreement in relation to public sector pay cuts with no further cuts promised until after 2014 provided certain cost-saving measures are met. Actually, it’s not so bright after all because teaching unions, and more than likely a few others, look set to reject the deal. Imagine the mess the country would be in if private sector workers had the same mechanisms to reject pay cuts which were thrust upon them. They took it on the chin and realised they were lucky to have a job when friends and colleagues were being made redundant.

One Mayo man who can’t be accused of being afraid of hard work is Dara Calleary. He is certainly going to be put to the test now.

There are 111 children in care in Mayo through no fault of their own. These are the most vulnerable people in our society and they have been failed. There are myriad reasons why children find themselves in care, but when they are let down by their carers, it’s like they have been neglected all over again.

The fact that only 30 odd people, including seven or eight local councillors, turned up to the head shop protest last week raises some important questions.

The fact that only 30 odd people, including seven or eight local councillors, turned up to the head shop protest last week raises some important questions.

XxxAs the Pirate Queen gets ready to depart from Ballinrobe, the town and surrounding areas know that what they witnessed in the Ballinrobe Community School hall, if they were fortunate enough to do so, was simply stunning.

Did George Lee think he was going to be catapulted onto the front bench of Fine Gael without earning his stripes? Obviously he did. This whole debacle raises questions of the undoubted ability of celebrity candidates earning votes but then truly understanding what it takes to serve in public life.