Talks take place today between ministers and Corrib community groups

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív have announced that community representatives from Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile will meet with representatives of Royal Dutch Shell in Dublin today (Friday March 20).

Refurbishment of Hollymount Garda Station way down the list

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

The refurbishment of the house attached to the Hollymount Garda Station is placed at number 42 on a prioritised list on the Garda Accommodation Programme, according to Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony.

Connacht people spending more on drugs

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

People who buy prescription drugs in Connacht spend an average of €79.46 on these treatments each month, according to the Teva Cost of Medicines Index. This is 28 per cent higher than the national average of €61.77.

Kiltimagh based asylum seekers complete driver theory test

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

In trying economic times when financial constraints prevent many projects from getting off the ground, it is refreshing to see how some groups are refusing to sit back and accept that there is nothing they can do.

Leadership starts within…

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

In my company, Celtic Bookmakers, we employ 300 people. Our payroll is our most significant overhead. We were spending more than €7 million annually on pay.

To survive the recession we had to cut these costs by up to 25 per cent. As managing director and chairman I realised the best way to provide leadership was to take a pay cut myself. I decided I would draw no salary from the company in 2009. Hence I write for the Galway Advertiser group.

The new kid on the block

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

“Everyone tells me I’m going to enjoy it, but it’s a daunting task. Well I’m in for it now and I’m looking forward to getting out there.” Michael McLaughlin is no different than any first time candidate hitting out on the campaign trail, nervous about going knocking on people’s doors, people he knows personally and professionally for years, and putting himself in front of them asking them to give him their number one this June. The 31-year-old married father of two is best known as a photographer around the county, based in Westport, the town of his birth and his home since he came back after college to set up his own business, and it’s because of these traits that he believes he is the perfect man to represent the people of his home town. Not that it was at all planned at first, “I was talking to Peter Flynn one day and asked him how was he getting on with the campaign himself, he then suggested that I should run for the town council myself, which was a bit of a shock. I told him to let me think about it and the more time I took to think about it the more it seemed like the right thing to do, so I let my name go forward to the nominating convention and was nominated for the Town Council so here I am now.”

O’Mahony embracing technology with new website

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has launched his own website — www.johnomahony.ie. Following on from the success of his texting service initiative and his pre-election slot on You Tube, the Mayo TD has now decided to launch his own dedicated website.

Fine Gael hypocrisy on third level fees - Ruane

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Sinn Féin councillor Thérèse Ruane has described the actions of Fine Gael spokesperson Brian Hayes and his party colleagues as “utterly hypocritical” with regards to the reintroduction of third level fees.

Medical card decisions to be made by HSE in Dublin - Barrett

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Decisions on the sanctioning of medical cards is to be transferred to the HSE in Dublin, according to information received by Labour councillor Harry Barrett.

Cllr Barrett has found out that a decree is to be handed down by the HSE at national level to transfer within the coming weeks, for decision-making on medical card applications and other demand-led schemes, from primary care units around the country, to a central HSE facility in Finglas, Dublin.

REPS 4 delay disgraceful says Holmes

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

Independent councillor Michael Holmes has hit out at the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, for the delay in making REPS 4 payments to farmers, stating that the hold-up was simply unacceptable. He said that many farmers submitted their completed application forms more than a year ago and still have not received payment. He also denounced the Minister’s current policy of ‘drip-feeding’ REPS 4 payments.

Start up of Home Energy Saving Scheme questioned by Ring

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

The Government has been lashed over its handling of the Home Energy Saving Scheme. The broadside has come for the Fine Gael spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Michael Ring, who said details of the scheme should not have been announced until it was ready to be implemented. The green light for the scheme was given at the beginning of February but householders cannot apply until later this month.