Westport councillors attend European congress to keep up their fight for retention of town councils

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

A cross-party delegation from Westport Town Council were in Strasbourg this week to attend the 25th Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Fine Gael’s Cllr Myles Staunton, Fianna Fáil Cllr Margaret Adams, and Labour Cllr Keith Martin attended the congress to continue the council’s lobbying for the retention of town councils which are due to be abolished when their current term ends next summer. While the councillors were in Strasbourg the monitoring committee of the Council of Europe published a report on local democracy in Ireland from its monitoring committee, which called on the Irish Government to ensure the subsidiarity principle is better enshrined and protected.

Work of Knock airport study group progressing

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Last Friday saw the latest meeting of the study group that was established earlier this year to examine the future growth options and the long term viability of Ireland West Airport Knock. The board of the airport is pleased with the progress that has been made so far in this process. Managing director of the airport Joe Gilmore said this week that he is “pleased with the progress that has been made to date” and that despite some “initial concerns with the process”, airport directors and regional representatives have “succeeded in convincing the Department of the strong business case for future investment into the airport and the important role other regional airports can also play”. Ireland West Airport Knock has, he said, “proven its capability in the past in developing an impressive international route network with established airline partners and growing passenger numbers to close to 700,000, of which a large component are returning visitors and new tourists for the region, contributing over €120m in annual revenues. This provides a substantial dividend for the region on an annual basis, in addition to the critical role the airport continues to play for business travellers and commuters to the UK”.

Tom Jennings is the Mayo nominee for the Calor Community Champion 2013

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Calor, Ireland’s leading supplier of rural energy solutions, has this week announced the shortlist of nominees for the Community Champion 2013. The all-island initiative is now entering its second year, after an unprecedented response in 2012. Following several weeks of intense nominating, they have received entries from every corner of Mayo. Tom Jennings has been shortlisted as the Mayo nominee for the Community Champion initiative.

Goverment attacking working mothers — Chambers

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Fianna Fáil local area representative for Castlebar, Lisa Chambers, has accused the Government of engaging in a targeted attack on working mothers. This week she raised the issue that €70 million has been taken from maternity benefit in the last two budgets, through a new tax on the benefit this year and a cut in weekly payments next year. She said, “Last year Fine Gael decided to tax maternity benefit for the first time in history. This tax kicked in in July and has resulted in thousands of mothers in Mayo losing up to €2,700 or €450 per month during their 26 weeks maternity leave.”

Newport woman wins Operation Smile volunteer award

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Anne McGovern from Newport received the Operation Smile Volunteer Award for Outstanding Commitment and Volunteerism from the charity at its 10th anniversary ball last month. The event marked a decade of Operation Smile in Ireland and was attended by the charity’s international founders Dr Bill and Kathy Magee, by whom Anne was presented her award.

Calleary questions why Ballina does not have driver’s licence facility

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Ballina-based Dáil Deputy Dara Calleary has questioned why there is no driver’s licence centre in Ballina despite the fact that the headquarters of the Road Safety Authority is located in the town. The Fianna Fáil Deputy said it makes no sense that the RSA, which operates the new driver’s license system, does not allow drivers to get their licences from the Ballina facility.

National Outdoor Pursuits Academy at detailed design stage

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Mayo County Council this week released an update on the National Outdoor Pursuits Academy that is to be built in the town at Lough Lannagh. The update said the academy is currently at a design stage and detailed design documents are being prepared with an expectation that the project will go for tender by May 2014, and that it would be expected the contractor would be on site by the end of 2014. The construction phase of the project is expected to take 15 months with a completion date of early 2016 foreseen.

Major boost for IWAK with announcement of three new routes and additional flights

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Passenger numbers at Ireland West Airport Knock are due to exceed 750,000 a year for the first time in the airport’s history following yesterday’s announcement by Ryanair of three new routes from the airport, along with increased flights on its Knock-London services.

Local Government Bill criticised as an attack on local democracy

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has said the Local Government Bill published this week will see more power removed from Mayo communities.

Mulherin welcomes consultation on wind farms

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin this week welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte on the commencement of the first phase of public consultation on the proposed Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework.

Global network for young people calls for uplifting support

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

JCI members in Mayo are calling on people to donate their unwanted undergarments in a massive show of support for a female charity campaign. Leading by example, members are shedding their outgrown or unused bras and these will be distributed to women in developing countries.

Ruane welcomes progress on marriage equality

Fri, Nov 01, 2013

Castlebar Sinn Féin town councillor Thérese Ruane this week spoke out welcoming the news that a referendum on marriage equality is likely to take place in first half of 2015. Ruane has been a strong proponent of the introduction of marriage equality, and in October 2012 she proposed a motion at Castlebar Town Council calling for marriage equality for all regardless of race, religion, or sexuality, which was supported by the council, following which a letter was sent to Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter stating the council’s support for the motion.

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