Fianna Fáil and the art of shafting your own

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

For these local elections Fianna Fáil launched a new system of selection designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and an end to sitting councillors selecting below par running mates.

No room for Government error in banking policy

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

When historians in 2020 analyse our current politics, the most profound Government decisions will be those relating to our banks.

Fianna Fáil will not be enjoying St George’s Day

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Today is St George’s Day, when the Anglican, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholic churches commemorate the Syrian saint who famously killed a hideous, fire breathing, dragon.

Cracks emerge in FG strategy to win two City East seats

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Fine Gael’s bold attempt to win an additional seat in Galway City East appears to be falling apart at the seams as one of the three candidates in the ward is being accused is failing to fall into line regarding the constituency divide.

Mayor describes school warden appointment as ‘bureaucracy gone mad’

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

City Hall having to write to the Minister for Finance for permission to appoint a school warden is “bureaucracy gone mad” according to the Mayor of Galway Pádraig Conneely.

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Conneely was informed by the council’s director of services Ciarán Hayes that in order to appoint a school warden to St James’ National School in Bushypark, the Galway City Council had to write to the Minister of Finance Brian Lenihan jr for permission.

Weather conditions ‘challenging’ for pilot of crashed Cessna in Inverin

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

An inquest into a plane crash at Inverin which claimed two lives has heard that the pilot would have found weather conditions “challenging”, neglected to weigh his passengers, and did not radio operations staff at the destination airport.

Former mayor Martin Quinn quits politics

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

The former Fianna Fáil mayor of Galway Martin Quinn has announced that he will not be standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming Local Elections and that he is quitting politics.

Mr Quinn was a prominent Fianna Fáil activist for 30 years. He was elected to the Galway City Council for the old West Ward in 1999 and served as mayor in 2000-2001. He lost his seat in 2004, but reamined active within the party.

Tanks for the memories — now the race countdown begins

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

It was only from the ignition of the first metal cutter at the docks on Tuesday that local people could fully engage with the fact that the Volvo Ocean Race is to land on these shores in a little over a month. Only when the first metal was cut to dismantle the massive oil storage tanks, could we fully imagine the enormity of the event that is to visit these shores at the end of next month.

Local volunteers help build seventy eight houses in South Africa

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Twenty one Galway volunteers were part of a 500 person group which took part in a major building blitz in South Africa on behalf of the Niall Mellon Township Trust recently.

Local school building programmes under threat due to €40m slash

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Building programmes sanctioned for more than half a dozen local schools are under “severe threat” due to the slashing of almost €40 million from the school building budget.

Galwayman killed in Indiana as trench collapses

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

A Galwayman was killed in an horrific accident in America last weekend when a 10-foot-deep trench he was digging collapsed on him, burying him under a mountain of soil.

Garda sub station needed for Westside

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Establishing a Garda sub station on the Westside of the city as a pilot project for more community policing will be the top election priority of Fianna Fáil’s Ollie Crowe.

Mr Crowe, who is running in Galway City West, believes their needs to be a more “neighbourhood approach” to policing in the city to supplement the main bases in Mill Street and Salthill. He feels a pilot scheme for a substation in Westside could help in paving the way for setting up more such stations in other areas later on.

GAA stars get behind Goal

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Galway hurlers and GAA enthusiasts are once again backing GOAL’s efforts to raise funds for AIDS-ravaged Uganda.

Pharmacists warn of job losses if HSE cuts reintroduced

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Pharmacists are warning that the medical card scheme could collapse and 5,000 jobs could be at risk nationally if cuts to the payments schemes such as the HSE proposed last year were reintroduced.

Last March the HSE reduced pharmacists’ payments by 24 per cent. However, the High Court ruled these cuts were a breach of contract and payments were reinstated.

Changes to oral exams will save millions

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Rescheduling the orals and practical exams in Irish secondary schools would save c€2 million in substitution fees, keep teachers employed, and protect the 18:1 pupil teacher ratio.

This is according to Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy Eames, who is calling for the orals and practicals to be conducted during holiday time at the end of the fifth year.

Booklet on breaking bad news launched at UHG

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

A new publication aimed at helping staff deliver bad news to patients and loved ones in an “empathetic and respectful” manner has been launched at University Hospital Galway.

Youth mentors wanted in the county

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Big Brother Big Sister, a monitoring programme that matches adult volunteers with a young person aged 10 to 18 years old, is looking for even more mentors to join its team.

McDonnell calls for ‘back to employment’ grant scheme for apprentices

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

A ‘back to employment’ grant scheme for employers who take on apprentices must be included within the Redundant Apprentice Scheme to allow apprentices to complete their apprenticeships.

Oughterard playground moves forward

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

After years of fundraising, the Oughterard Community Playground took a major step forward with a sod-turning ceremony at Corribdale Grounds this week.

Nevin urges action over Doughiska school

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

The temporary location of a primary school at Doughiska, and the appointment of its principal, is of major concern, according to Galway city East FG candidate Barra Nevin who is calling for action to be taken.

Mr Nevin has expressed concern over the delay in the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, announcing the appointment of a principal for the school and designating a temporary location for it.

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