Search Results for 'cuts'

The furore and acres of media space allocated to the decision on Monday of George Lee to walk away from his cushy well-paid Dublin South seat back into his cushy well-paid South Dublin media job could signal the beginning of the end for the practice of parachuting celebrity candidates into political life when in most cases they are ill suited to the change of role. The psyche of the politician does not sit well with the psyche of the ego-led media world which we inhabit. The cynicism necessary for the latter means that the former cannot be done with any great integrity. Even the few who have made the crossover from media to politicis are still viewed dubiously as ‘hiding it well’ in the new job.

Staff at the Bon Secours private hospital in Renmore will begin strike action on Monday over cuts in pay.

There were further job cuts at Mayo General Hospital this week with unconfirmed reports that up to 15 nurses will not have their contracts renewed and hours have been cut. In an effort to cut costs before the end of the year, to prevent an estimated €2 million overspend, some wards will also be reduced to a five-day week. Staff morale is reportedly very low at the hospital and workers say these budgetary decisions have no regard for patient care.

While the full gamut of sporting emotions may have been sampled, ultimately 2008 will be remembered as the year in which Galway United staged a remarkable rally to avoid relegation from the Eircom League’s premier division.

Mayo clubs and sporting groups will be feeling the pinch of the economic downturn this year with the news that that Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism will not be providing any funding through the sports capital grant programme in 2009. In 2008 at total of 28 groups in Mayo shared in a pot of €1,380,500 in funding for projects which spanned from €2,000 to All Stars Boxing Club in Ballinrobe to €250,000 which was given to the Connacht Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland. In 2007 more than €2.5 million in grants was handed out around County Mayo.

Graiguenamanagh Labour Party councillor, Ann Phelan has accused the government of orchestrating the cut in Early Childcare Supplement payments so that it would not be felt until after polling day on Friday.

It is, after years of coalition with the PDs, Independents and the Green Party, a party without an ideology. Good times robbed Fianna Fáil of its need to prioritise spending, projects, and resources, instead of governing with a plan or policies it just threw money at issues, groups, and troublemakers to keep everyone happy.

A local city councillor is calling for the resignation of Health Minister Mary Harney in the wake of recent reports that further budgetary cutbacks would result in the loss of 60 beds, 126 staff and two theatres at University Hospital Galway.

Dear Editor,

The Government missed yet another golden opportunity to protect jobs under threat in our economy or encourage entrepreneurs to take risks, Fine Gael Senator, John Paul Phelan, has said.