No enforced redundancies in council
Fri, May 13, 2011
The main message from last week’s special meeting of Mayo County Council to discuss the implications of the potential job cuts in Mayo County Council was lost in a war of words and point scoring by the local politicians inside the chamber. At the outset of the meeting, county manager Peter Hynes told the members that there will be no enforced redundancies in the council and that they will be dealing with the issue within the confines of the Croke Park agreement. He did express his regret that the issue became public knowledge through the media and informed that meeting that no member of the council executive was involved in leaking the information. He said the council “will not be discussing the proposals in public with a megaphone”.
Read more ...Man aggressive to Tesco staff
Fri, May 13, 2011
A drunk man who was abusive to shop staff after he was refused the purchase of alcohol was before Ballina District Court this week.
Read more ...Man sped off from accident as gardaí pursued
Fri, May 13, 2011
An 18-year-old man who sped off from a traffic accident in a car which subsequently caught fire was before Ballina District Court on Tuesday for dangerous driving and for failing to stop.
Read more ...Man broke-into doctor’s surgery and hair salon
Fri, May 13, 2011
A Ballina man who stole from a doctor’s surgery and hair salon, and who obstructed a garda, was this week sentenced to detention.
Read more ...Man denies poaching in Ballina river
Fri, May 13, 2011
A Ballina man denied that he was illegally fishing in the Brosna River, as he appeared before the District Court on Tuesday.
Read more ...Tensions heighten over councils’ plans to purchase Imperial Hotel
Fri, May 06, 2011
Political tensions are heightening over the decision by two local authorities to purchase the derelict Imperial Hotel in Castlebar. Fine Gael Minister of State Michael Ring has responded angrily to Labour town councillor Harry Barrett who told the Westport deputy last week to “butt out” of the Imperial Hotel purchase in Castlebar, which has become the centre of political wrangling.
Read more ...What is the truth about our drinking water?
Fri, May 06, 2011
A free event will take place in Castlebar on Wednesday May 11, with water fluoridation expert Walter Graham.
Read more ...Four Corrib protestors arrested for public order offences
Fri, May 06, 2011
Four anti-Corrib campaigners were arrested on Tuesday afternoon after they attempted to block work at the Shell site in Aughoose, Belmullet. However, Shell to Sea criticised the actions of Belmullet gardaí, who claim that cable ties were used in the arrest of one woman and that a male was punched while in Garda custody.
Read more ...Standards in Public Office chairman hits back at council over county manager’s report
Fri, May 06, 2011
The chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission last week hit back at the report of county manager Peter Hynes into its investigation of a complaint made against a member of staff in the council. In a letter sent to Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Phil Hogan, Mr Justice Matthew P Smith, chairman of the commission, said: “In his report, Mr Hynes would appear to misapprehend the position of the Standards in Public Office Commission and the findings and determinations made in the investigation report.”
Read more ...Town park meeting
Fri, May 06, 2011
The Riverdale Court/Knockthomas Residents’ Association will hold a meeting next Thursday, May 12, at 8.30pm in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, to discuss the proposed new town park development.
Read more ...Credit Union encouraging young savers
Fri, May 06, 2011
Credit Union GR8 Savers Week will take place from May 9 to 15. The aim of the initiative is to encourage young people, particularly primary school children, to develop a savings habit in their local credit union.
Read more ...Ballina councillors to write to Minister on housing thresholds
Fri, May 06, 2011
The members of the Ballina Electoral Area are to write to the new Minister of State for Housing, Willie Penrose, to express their concerns about the new income threshold for applicants for social housing. Paul Benson, senior executive officer for Mayo County Council, told the meeting that since March 1 new legislation had been brought in that had tied the hands of the council when it came to the allocation of social housing.
Read more ...