Motion on Leader funding passed after lengthy debate

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

A notice of motion by Michelle Mulherin calling on the Ballina electoral area committee to request the Minister for Environment and the Minister for Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to obtain a derogation for Ballina and other towns in the BMW region from the EU in order for them to obtain structural funds under the Leader programme caused plenty of debate at the committee meeting this week. The motion was eventually passed when it was seconded by her Fine Gael party colleague Jarlath Munnelly.

Driving ban for man who failed to produce insurance

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

A Swinford man was disqualified from driving for failing to produce his documentation at Ballyhaunis District Court this week.

Best Journalist award for Ballyvary student

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Twenty-two-year-old DCU student Michael McHale, from Ballyvary, scooped the coveted Best Journalist award, sponsored by the Irish Examiner, at the 3 student media awards. It was judged by Tim Vaughen, the Examiner's editor.

Chernobyl Children’s Project All Art

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

The Westport branch of the Chernobyl Children’s Project is getting ready for a bumper May bank holiday weekend of art and creativity.

Already the group has delivered over 1,200 bricks to the town’s primary schools. The children are getting ready to paint, colour, collage, pastel, design and sticker the special cardboard “Bricks 4 Hope” to help raise €50,000 to build the Chernobyl Project’s Home of Hope in Belarus.

Imprisoned Harrington missed London conference

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Imprisoned school teacher Maura Harrington who was invited to speak at an event in London arranged by a coalition of human rights organisations, was unable to do so because she was still detained in Mountjoy Prison. The event, which took place on Monday, was organised by the remember saro-wiwa coalition to highlight the Wiwa vs Shell trial.

Ninety four Mayo primary schools sowing and growing in national challenge

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

An almighty platoon of young Mayo farmers is homeward bound to learn about the importance of eating their five-a-day. Primary schools in Mayo are cultivating five crops of Irish fruit and vegetables in the classroom for the National Incredible Edibles growing challenge, developed by Agri Aware.

Mellett welcomes decision to keep public payphones

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Eircom has today confirmed to the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Cllr Joe Mellett that a number of payphones in east Mayo will be retained. This comes following numerous representations outlining the gravity of removing the public payphones. The service will remain at Charlestown, Bellaghy, Kiltimagh, Kilkelly, and Foxford for a further 12 months. They have also agreed to retain one of the kiosks at the courthouse in Swinford.

Councillors look to cut parking charges and rates in bid to stimulate business

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Councillors from the Claremorris electoral area questioned the possibility of cutting parking charges and rates in the town to stimulate business during the current economic downturn. Cllr Tom Connolly told a meeting of the local electoral area committee that the argument is being made that the on street traders are at a serious disadvantage because people have to pay to park to use their business while the larger stores like SuperValu, Tesco, and Lidl are at an advantage because they have large sites offering free parking in the town.

Labour’s red rose set to bloom

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Last weekend’s national Labour Party conference in Mullingar set out its platform for the forthcoming elections.

Giving people an alternative

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

With just over two months to go until the polls open and the public get to cast their ballot in the local elections, a new candidate has just entered the race in the Ballina area. This entrant has a long political history in his family and even counts a former Fianna Fáil TD as his uncle, so David Moffatt looks to have a lot going for him already. Except he’s not running on the Fianna Fáil ticket, he has embraced the red rose of Labour and will be his party’s only candidate in the highly competitive Ballina area. Moffatt himself has been involved in the Fianna Fáil party on a local level for a number of years, but his change of allegiance to the Labour party was brought about after Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore impressed him, according to the Crossmolina man. “I’ve been impressed by Eamon Gilmore’s positive message; jobs, his message of change and reform ties in with my thinking about what we need in politics now.”

Higgins welcomes EU Sky Package - cheaper and shorter flights

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has welcomed the Single European Sky (SES) legislative package, which addresses the air transport system as a whole having a direct positive effect on air carriers, the air service industry, air traffic control, airports and the aeronautical industry, and not forgetting passengers.

Government tax on flights already proving disastrous — Kenny

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny TD has expressed his concern at the recent falls in passenger numbers experienced at Aer Lingus and Ryanair and the damage being inflicted on passenger numbers by the air travel departure tax that is proving to be disastrous for Irish tourism and business. Recently, the credit rating agency Standard & Poor declared that the tax would encourage falling numbers of airport users. County Mayo is fortunate enough to have the facility of Ireland West Airport Knock, however, this departure tax may lead to falling numbers at the airport, said Dep Kenny.

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