Search Results for 'Deputy'

The Minister for Environment and Local Government John Gormley has come in for sharp criticism from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny regarding payments to Mayo County Council for funding under the housing aid grants administered by local authorities. The situation is so dire at present that Mayo County Council does not have the financial resources to continue approving grants leaving many people without the necessary funding to carry out essential repairs to their homes.

Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael Deputy James Bannon said this week that a concerted effort must be made between the NRA and local authorities to improve the visual impact of our roads in the Midlands.

The whole of County Mayo was shocked this week following two stabbing incidents in the space of three days which saw one man killed and a garda require emergency surgery. Gardaí have arrested people in connection with both incidents, the first which took place in Westport on Sunday last at 1am, when a garda was stabbed. A youth has appeared in court this week in relation to those charges.

Labour TD for Westmeath/Longford, Deputy Willie Penrose, has raised the issue of the Government’s decision to close the District Veterinary Office (DVO) in Mullingar with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Brendan Smith.

Workers with medical cards are being reminded that they are exempt from the income levy which was introduced in last year’s budget.

Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary has hit out at a number of posters put up by Coir, the anti-Lisbon Treaty group, which have appeared in the towns around the county in the last week.

“Law and order is on the verge of breaking down in the county,” according to Swinford councillor Joe Mellett, while Belmullet councillor Gerry Coyle said that “thugs should be put behind bars”. These were just some of the indignant comments made by councillors at Monday afternoon’s county council meeting after a motion was put forward by Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke for the council to call on the Minister for Justice to provide more gardaí in Mayo, to fight the ongoing crime and anti social behaviour.

Mayo Deputy Michael Ring, Fine Gael spokesperson for community, rural, and Gaeltacht affairs, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food and the Government to reintroduce some of the schemes cut back previously to help support Irish farmers.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has contacted the HSE regarding the centralised processing of medical cards and GP visit cards. In its response, the HSE have confirmed that its 2009 Service Plan will see these services being centrally processed at the Primary Care Reimbursement Services in Finglas. However, the response also stated that the HSE will not close any local offices that currently process medical card applications and will continue to provide information and assistance to clients about their entitlements. Nonetheless, this will involve a reassignment of existing human resources within the HSE.

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of gardai who have decided to retire from the force. In reply to a Dail question tabled by Deputy Paul Connaughton, the Minister for Justice stated that the retirement numbers were 184 in 2007, 259 in 2008 and a dramatic increase to 351 up to September of this year.