Search Results for 'Bord na Móna'

Fine Gael Mayo TD for Mayo Michelle Mulherin has received confirmation from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, that stipulations can be made to ensure that local workers are prioritised during construction phase in public contracts. Deputy Mulherin has called for this stipulation to applied in the case of the construction of the State’s largest wind energy farm at Oweninny. “I have received confirmation from Minister Howlin in response to a parliamentary question I submitted that there is a mechanism available which could be utilised to give priority to local workers in public construction contracts. I believe this can and should be applied in the case of the wind energy farm at Oweninny,” she said. “In response to my initial proposal that local people be prioritised for employment in the construction of the wind farm at Oweninny, Bord na Móna and Coillte stated that they are prohibited from prioritising local staff because of EU procurement rules. However Minister Howlin’s statement confirms that this is not the case. However Minister Howlin has confirmed to me that the European Commission issued guidance in 2010 that in pursuance of certain social objectives the public procurement process can be used to prioritise employment and training opportunities for young unemployed or long-term unemployed, in a contract for services awarded by these state companies. In the case of the wind farm at Oweninny, it is my contention that such a clause should be used and a derogation sought to provide work for locals who are long term unemployed and for training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.”

Mayo County Council has put forward a recommendation that the operators of a proposed wind farm contribute €10,000 per megawatt of power created to a community investment fund. However all Mayo County Council can do is make a propsal on the figure as the final decision on the ammount will be made by An Bord Planala. The proposed joint venture between ESB Wind Development and Bord na Mona at Owenwinny, Bellacorick is expected to cost in the region of €600 million to construct.

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has welcomed the news that both the ESB and Bord na Mona are to engage in consultations directly with representatives of the various community groups concerned over the proposed development of Ireland's biggest wind farm at Oweninny.

Business leaders representing key players in renewable technology, tourism, arts and craft, and technology came together this week to develop their plans for a new Midlands economy, based on co-operation and innovation.

Four Shell to Sea protesters blocked a Bord na Mona site at Shramore, near Bangor on Tuesday morning, in order to prevent Shell from removing peat from the site.

Some 75 business leaders representing key players in renewable technology, tourism, arts and crafts, technology, and food came together this week in Tullamore to develop their plans for a new Midlands economy, based on co-operation and innovation.

Last weekend saw some 300 business people attend the MidlandsIreland.ie Gateway awards, held in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

I have been watching the progress of Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan with some amusement, and admiration for a number of years. Amusement because of his long running campaign to legalise cannabis, which has to be a no-hoper. He has been convicted on several occasions for possession of the drug, but undaunted, he sent a beautifully rolled cannabis cigarette to every politician in the Oireachtas as part of his campaign, pleading for them to enjoy a smoke, inhale deeply, and support his cause. That man doesn’t know the meaning of ‘no’.

Bord na Móna bucked the trend of loss-making businesses when it announced its annual results this week, showing operating profits of €23 million compared to €23.8 million for 2009. The company, which employs some 2,000 staff nationwide and which closed its peat burning plant in Bellacorick in favour of wind energy development in recent years has now highlighted the development in Belmullet of the biggest onshore windfarm in Ireland as one of the highlights of its ongoing expansion plans.

Bord na Móna will bring its Heartland exhibition to Mayo, celebrating the company’s 75 years from the foundation of the Turf Development Board in 1934 to the present day.