Thurles Information » Politics

EU Grant Aid Decision Could Help Boost Employment

George — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:20:53 +0000

Ireland's Mid West Region

A significant investment boost for the Mid West Region comes on foot of a decision by the European Commission to allow grant aid to help boost employment. Such aid had been phased out two years ago.

This revised European Commission decision on Regional Investment rules could help create employment opportunities in the mid-western region.

The recent decision means that a large company locating to the mid-western region, which covers Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, will now be able to get grant aid of up to ten per cent of the value of their intended investment, and thus help enterprise agencies to create and attract jobs in the area.

Certainly Grant aid acts as a strong incentive when companies are thinking about locating to an area and this together with language, education, low corporation tax rates, skills, physical and digital infrastructure, does determine a firms investment decisions, when they sit to consider and compare rival locations.

Property Options To Interested Companies In Thurles

Tipperary Technology Park is a fully serviced park with a Business Incubation Centre and quality manufacturing and office accommodation options. Thurles is readily accessible by road, rail and air. It is located on the main Dublin – Cork railway line and just 6km from the main Dublin – Cork motorway. Shannon International Airport has daily direct flights to the US, UK and Europe. International companies in Thurles and the surrounding area include Taro Pharmaceuticals and Procter & Gamble. The town is also well served with a robust broadband telecoms network where a choice of carriers ensure competitive prices and high quality service for all users. Thurles is home to two 3rd level colleges, St Patricks College and the Tipperary Institute, latter a college with an enrolment of over 700 students, with two of the Institutes departments being Business Development and Information / Communications Technologies.

For further information please contact: Brian Keating, Development Manager
Address:Tipperary Technology Park, Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland
Tel.: +353 (0) 504 29300 Fax.: +353 (0) 504 29305.

The decision to restore regional aid to the whole mid-west region goes beyond the recommendation in the Report of the Mid-Western Task force which sought aid for a number of business parks in the region.

This decision now puts the much neglected mid-western region in the same position as the south-eastern region, which covers Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford and South Tipperary, where State aid for large investment projects is already allowed.

Infrastructure Investment – And The Award Goes To Dublin

George — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:16:01 +0000

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has stated, with not so much as a blush, that the Government’s revised €39bn Capital Investment Programme will lead to 270,000 jobs being provided between now and 2016. However, overall spending on infrastructure is being cut by up to 40%, when compared to the 2007 National Development Plan.

Announcing his plan, the Taoiseach confirmed that Metro North and the €2.5bn Dart Underground will go ahead in Dublin.
Nice one Dublin, and whilst we accept that investment of this kind is welcome, using current estimates, we must keep in mind that it costs €200,000 to construct a simple bus stop.

We continue to over developed and over balance our east coast, while neglecting most of the rest of Ireland. It seems that despite the country being in ruins, Dublin must continue to be nurtured, and rural Ireland must “Eat the crumbs which fall from the masters table“, (Matthew 15:27). In rural parts of Ireland you can damaging your car by taking a short drive on our roads, but we are told there is no money to repair them. In Dublin there is a Railway service, there is the Luas, there is a Bus service, there are Taxi’s, but now they require an Underground as well. Dublin does not need an Underground, Thurles does need a ring road, but it would appear that Fianna Fail are borrowing to buy the next election and the gullible Irish electorate will fall for it again, if there are three successive declines in the unemployment figures in late 2011 and early 2012.

There will, we are informed, be more capital investment in Water Services which really means “lets get those water metres in place, and get our €350 minimum from every household, in water charges, to prop up the City of Dublin, County and Local Councils“. This whole plan fails to realise that people can only spend money if they have it. Soon 80% of all incomes will disappear in stealth taxes before each taxpayer is allowed to pay the “candle maker” and the “shoe maker”.

Stealth taxes crept in during the boom years with National Car Testing Centres (NCT) in 2000, then Waste Charges, then a tax on electrical goods to cover disposal costs without providing, in a lot of cases, places to dispose these cast offs. Then came Parking Charges, then Water Charges, which were paid only by the few before being abolished. Next came NRA Toll charges and now we are preparing for Water Charges once again. Soon it will be the air we breathe, which will be deemed necessary to have filtered. What has the government done with our taxes – PRSI no longer covers health – Road Tax and Fuel Tax no longer cover road repairs – We are embarrassed into giving donations to assist under funded Charities and Children’s Hospitals – Criminals are no longer punished because we have no prisons to put them in and you can’t even get a passport to leave this God forsaken, greedy, corrupt State, because Unions have ruined our Civil Service.

There is no stimulus in this plan for indigenous, innovative companies rather it’s the same old problems complimented by same old wasteful solutions. Perhaps there will be jobs created in the construction industry, with, for a brief period, some spin off in services, but what happens after that? A well connected few people will once again make a lot of money at the taxpayers expense. The government’s inexplicable attachment to construction interests is written all over these plans. It would have been much fairer to have small local projects given this funding. Repairs to local roads, school building, development of tourist infrastructures, which would immediately bring about much needed confidence to our local economies, while employment potential in the short term would rapidly increase.

One of the biggest capital spending Government projects in Dublin presently has been contracted out to foreign companies who will not employ Irish workers, choosing instead to employ foreigners who accept cheap rates and are prepared to reside in sub-standard accommodation for the duration of their stay. This does not stimulate our economy and these people because of low pay will not be obliged to contribute tax.

Progress with IT and Broadband have in the past been deliberately curtailed here in Ireland, to support Telephone Companies – “those damned peasants will use Skype and Google Mail to communicate for free, if you give them broadband, so lets stick our hands directly into their stupid pockets and steal as much cash as possible from them, before Europe begins to govern our ridiculous pricing programme.”

It would now appear that all prayer books will have to be reprinted to correct a spelling mistake in the Marriage Ceremony. New version will read “Till debt us do part.”

Is it just me, or do others have similar views? Your comments please.

Dublin – A Plague On Your City Says Rural Ireland

George — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:32:55 +0000

Dublin! Dublin! Dublin! everything appears these days to be centred in and around Dublin. A plague on our Capital city say the dwellers from “Beyond the Pale.”

It now appears that this city formally known as “The Pale” is being promoted as a place for “Fun and Craic” in a new solo run using €1 million of our Tourism campaign funding.

"The Pale"

The word “pale ” (An Pháil) derives ultimately from the Latin word palus, meaning a stake, used to support a fence and from this came the figurative meaning of boundary and eventually the phrase “beyond the pale” as something outside the boundary of an area from Dundalk to Carrickmines Castle, Dublin known today as gullible “Rural Ireland.”

Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin TD said that this new radio and online campaign by Tourism Ireland would be seen by an audience of over 12 million, British tourists. She correctly states that Britain is the largest single source market for visitors to the island of Ireland and provides more than half of all visitors to the island. This campaign will involve direct marketing and social media initiatives, as well as promotions with tour operators and air and sea carriers. It will capitalises on the British market and intensively promote Dublin to the British holidaymaker.

Frank Magee of Dublin Tourism states: “The capital city attracted 1.5 million visitors from Britain last year, which resulted in five million bed nights, but losing its market share in Britain. Dublin has been the driver in Irish tourism, bolstering the Irish figures in recent years and there’s a realisation that if Dublin doesn’t do well, Ireland doesn’t do well.”

What a load of verbal diarrhea Mr Magee. Ireland’s false reputation of being an expensive holiday destination is spread by Tourists who spend too much time in Dublin drinking €3.50 cups of coffee served by staff who do not speak English .

Come on down to Tipperary folks if you want a holiday offering value for your money. Thurles is the ancestral home of your head of state, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and it is here you can experience friendly relaxation, carefree fun and craic, your children can run wild and run free, the air is clean and you can find your car still parked where you left it the night before.

It would appear rural Irish taxpayers, for far to long, have been the silent and subservient suppliers of ‘money on demand’ to support Dublin tourism, so let us keep things in perspective remembering that in 2009 the Irish Hotels Federation represented almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses throughout the whole country, which in turn employ over 59,000 people. It seems only proper that those beyond the Pale should like their fair slice of the tourism promotion cake.

How Much Money Was Spent Promoting Our Capital City Dublin In The Past Ten Or So Years?

€5m for “The Monument of Light” or “Spire Of Light” erected in O’Connell Street, better known by the names: ‘The Spike’, ‘The Stiletto in the Ghetto’, ‘The Erection at the Intersection’, ‘The Poker next to Croker’ and ‘The Stiffy in the Liffey’. At the time of its erection on O’Connell Street in 2003, the Spire Of Light was described as “self-cleaning”, but Dublin’s city council now concede that its maintenance cost €205,000 last year and will increase to at least €218,000 this year, and thats before they pick up a discarded chip bag.

£300,000 to the Municipal Gallery in Dublin towards its plan to bring the Francis Bacon Studio back to Dublin.

£43,000 to The Island Journey Millennium Concerts, held in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

£700,000 to The Messiah XXI, a modern rearrangement of Handel’s masterpiece, in the RDS, Dublin. I thought the old arrangement was fine.

£100,000; the Millennium Gold Encounter, a gathering of youth leaders from all over the world in Dublin.

£1.5 million for the Millennium Bridge, over the River Liffey in Dublin.

£1.5 million for The River Liffey Boardwalk running 200 yards from O’Connell Bridge to the Capel Street Bridge. A horribly artificial and in no way romantic, peaceful or serene, set of plastic wood coloured boards, that run alongside the river for about 200 yards, where the pavement is dangerously narrow and again built at this obscene cost.

£80,000 for the Tallaght Millennium Plaza in Tallaght town centre, Dublin.

£500,000 for the refurbishment of the front-of -house area of the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.

€167,000 or €550 weekly, for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s make-up for TV appearances in Dail Eareann, Dublin.

€80,000 for Ivor Calery’s imaginary moter fuel and other expenses while living in Dublin.

£250,000 to redevelop arts and theatre facilities in the LarCon Centre, Liberty Hall, Dublin.

£15,000 for the “Dublin 2000-A Celebration”, a 90 minute musical composition in Dublin

£10,000 for the Dublin International Piano Competition; RIAM Concert Series, Dublin.

£35,000 for the Ecumenical celebration for the new Millennium in National Concert Hall, Dublin.

£500,000 for the millennium clock christened “The Time in the Slime” which was mechanically linked to a postcard printing machine on O’Connell Bridge that was supposed to print out the exact time for bystanders, but which only worked briefly before breaking down completely. The short lived Millennium clock was removed from the river, as the slimy water flow problems persisted and maintenance costs threatened to rocket. Ultimately, the clock was broken up, and its glass and metal parts recycled.

€775 million to build the red and green Luas lines in Dublin – while we here in Thurles cannot get a simple ring road to allow daily shoppers into the town.

€300 million to remove 10,300 public servants out of Dublin, which failed miserably. Is’nt it just as well they stayed, otherwise Dublin would be a giant ghost estate.

Then there were the statues : “Anna Livia” in Dublin’s O’Connell Street commonly known as the ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’ or ‘The Hoor in the Sewer’. “Molly Malone” at the bottom of Grafton Street best known as the ‘Tart with the Cart’. The statue of women at the Ha’Penny Bridge known as the ‘Hags with the Bags’ and let us not forget the chimney stack with the new glass lift in Smithfield Village, now better known as the ‘Flue with the View’.

Inestimable funding to tackle the spate of gun murders which, this year, have claimed 17 lives in this ‘Friendliest City in Europe’, and the accompanying Emergency Response Unit covert patrols increased in Finglas and the north inner city to watch drug dealers at work. Question: What do you call a North Inner City Dublin Man? – Answer: The Defendant.

And what about the robberies? Dublin has stolen from rural Ireland over the years to promote their city, the “Derry na Flan Chalice”, the eighth century religious manuscript known as the “Faddan More Psalter”, the “Book of Kells”, the “Ardagh Chalice” and the “Tara Brooch”, and there has not been one police investigation or conviction with regard to any one these robberies.

Listen I could be listing Dublin’s financial handouts at the expense of rural Ireland for the night!

Shannon Region Tourism only spent €108.00 in Tipperary for all of last year and that was for 200 postage stamps @ .54 cents each asking us to part with €1,500 for an small advert in their glossy Tourist Brochure which supports west of the Shannon. Some of us paid and the others just could not afford it and the latter now have become statistics filed in a drawer labeled ” Refuses To Pay Protection Money.”

Now, having stolen everything of value from rural Ireland and spent €1 million this year promoting just Dublin, our National Government based also in Dublin are looking at plans to introduce absurd tolls on National Roads. This, I suspect, is designed to keep unsuspecting and curious tourists back within the precincts of Dublin and away from rural Ireland, while expecting country mugs to fork out hundreds of euro a year per car, just to pop down to our local shop for a loaf of bread and a slice of cooked ham. People who live in rural areas served by national primary routes already pay heavy road tax, fuel tax, income tax, VAT and a myriad of other ridiculous charges all designed to keep Dublin’s Luas running.

Dublin, please note, we, the rural servile yokels can now read and write thanks to the Religious Orders. We realise we can no longer afford to continue to financially support you, and I think it’s time to fence you in again.

Mary Hanifin, as current Irish politicians go, you are the very best, but the next time I see you home in your native Thurles, Co Tipperary, you and I will have to sit and chat about tourism in these forgotten midlands.

Ivor Callely- Is There Something In Our Water

George — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:19:32 +0000

The first occurrence of fluoridated drinking water was found in Germany’s Nazi prison camps during World War 11. The Gestapo had little concern about fluoride’s supposed effect on children’s teeth; one of their alleged reason, according to some scientists, for this mass-medicating of water with sodium fluoride, was to force the prisoners in their concentration camps into a quiet, calm submission.
I now believe that there is too much sodium fluoride in Ireland’s drinking water and I base my belief on the following two reported incidents which leave me very, very confused indeed.

Incident (A) – In 2009 a former treasurer of a GAA club west of Thurles was sentenced to 12 months in prison after stealing almost €100,000 of club funds. The mother of one, when reported to the Gardai, publicly admitted to multiple charges of forging cheques to the value of almost €35,000 and stealing almost €64,000 from the clubs weekly lottery. To correct her mistake, the 49-year-old raised approximately €59,000 from the sale of a house she was due to inherit from her mother.
Imposing a twelve month sentence, Judge Carroll Moran said the offence “goes to the very heart of the proper running of a social club in the community, and the gravity of the offence must be reflected in the sentence passed.”

Note: No confusion here, proper order, well done Judge Carroll Moran.

Senator Ivor Callely

Incident (B) - Earlier this week, a Seanad committee on members’ interests found that Senator Ivor Callely, who is/was according to himself, Chairman of the Oireachtas Human Rights Committee, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Head of the Irish Delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co operation in Europe, a Member and Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, had intentionally committed an act of “a serious and grave nature” by claiming travel expenses from west Cork rather than his home in Clontarf, Co Dublin, thus defrauding the Irish tax payer of some €80,000.

A Co Roscommon man, reported this matter first to the Gardai at Clontarf Garda Station in Dublin. The Gardai referred him to the Clerk of the Seanad, with whom our complainant lodged a written formal report the next day, under Section 8 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995.

Following this complaint, the first public inquiry of its kind into a politician’s expenses claims was entered into and the senator was interrogated for some hours by the Seanad’s Committee on Members’ Interests.
According to the Press this Seanad committee found that the former Dublin North Central TD had intentionally misrepresented his holiday home in west Cork as his primary residence for the purpose of claiming travel expenses. It described this as an act of “a serious and grave nature” done “intentionally” and the Senator “did not act in good faith having regard to all of the circumstances.”

A 20-day suspension only was imposed on the Senator, which represents only two-thirds of the maximum penalty (being a 30-day suspension) available to the Seanad’s committee.

Note: Now here lies my great confusion.

Can anyone answer the following five questions?
(1) Why did the Gardai not investigate the first complaint?
(2) Knowing now as we do the Seanad’s Committee’s findings, why has the Senator not been arrested and the case fully investigated?
(3) Why was Incident (A) treated differently to Incident (B)?
(4) What has happened in this country with regard to equal justice and to the phrase “Noblesse oblige” which generally used to imply that with wealth, power and prestige come responsibility?
(5) Why do the taxpayers of this country remain silent?

To me this offence like Judge Carroll Moran “goes to the very heart of the proper running of what can be only described as a Social Club in the midst of our Irish community, and the gravity of the offence must also be reflected in the sentence passed.”

Personally I am of the belief that our quiet calm submissive attitude in Tipperary is brought on by this mass-medicating of our water supply with sodium fluoride. Perhaps we should notify the Local Council.
God be good to my dear old grandmother, “There are four professionals you must never, never believe,” said she to me, “Whores, Lawyers, Devout Preachers and Politicians.“

Thurles – €97,525 For Centre For Independent Living

George — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:54:24 +0000

In Thurles yesterday, Mr Pat Carey T.D., Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs announced funding of €97,525 under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, for North Tipperary LEADER Partnership to support the Tipperary Centre for Independent Living.

Making the announcement, Minister Carey said: “I am very pleased to be here in Thurles today to announce substantial funding for this Centre. I am aware that this Centre provides excellent services to people with disabilities all over Tipperary. Funding from the LEADER programme is vital for facilities such as this, for community groups and individuals in rural areas all over Ireland.”

The main service implemented by the Tipperary Centre for Independent Living is the provision of Personal Assistants to persons with significant physical disability. The personal assistant assists the disabled person in many ways. At present, over 30 physically disabled people are benefiting from this invaluable service.

Projects funded through LEADER partnerships are varied and include diversification into non-agricultural activities, support for business creation, encouragement of tourism activities, basic services for the economy and rural population, village renewal and development, conservation and upgrading of rural heritage, training and information.

Government Fail To Provide Vetting Procedures For Summer Camps

George — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:17:15 +0000

Enda Kenny

Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny, has questioned the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, regarding the number of applications being processed and the length of time being taken for such processing, by the Garda Central Vetting Unit.

In 2009, the Garda Vetting Unit, which is based here in Thurles, dealt with some 246,194 applications, however at present it is taking between 10 to 12 weeks to process current applications.

Garda vetting, for the Youth Work Sector, was formally introduced in September 2006, following protracted negotiations and a campaign seeking such vetting for these organisations. The Garda Commissioner approved a policy whereby An Garda Siochana should conduct Garda vetting in respect of all persons, 16 years of age and over, who had substantial and unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults.

Deputy Kenny stated:

“The waiting period of 10 to 12 weeks is having an impact on many constituents throughout the country, where they may urgently require their application to be approved in a more timely fashion. A significant number of parents are quite concerned that many Summer Camps this year, who cover a wide variety of interests, are being operated without personnel having been suitably vetted before gaining access to children. This is now an area that requires immediate priority, in the interests of children’s welfare.”

Yesterday We Were Campaigning But Today you voted

George — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:08:07 +0000

While walking down a rural road one day, a well known Tipperary Teachta Dála figure is tragically trampled under foot, during a domestic stag hunt and gets killed. His soul gently soars up to ‘Heaven’ and is met by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

‘Sir ,welcome to heaven,’ says St. Peter. ‘ Now before you settle in, it seems there is a slight problem. We seldom see such a high profile official such as yourself around these parts and to be honest we’re not quite sure what to do with you.‘

‘No problem, just let me in and inform God I have arrived,’ says the Tipp TD.

‘Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from God already. He suggests that perhaps you should spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where you would like to live for all eternity.‘

‘I’ve already made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,‘ says the TD.

‘I’m sorry Sir, but we have our rules.‘ And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator marked ‘Hell’ and he goes down, down, down to Hell.

When the doors open our TD finds himself in the middle of a rich, green race course. In the distance is the Galway Tent and standing in front of it are all his old deceased friends. There are Bankers, Developers, Gamblers, Members of the Horsey Fraternity, County and Urban District Councillors and other politicians who previously had dealings with him.

Everyone is in splendid evening dress. They rush to greet him, shake his hand, and begin to reminisce about the good times, when brown envelopes were a daily ritual, and un-vouched expenses were the order of the day, courtesy of stupid gullible tax payers. Chauffeur driven Mercedes take them to play a leisurely game of golf and then they later dine on lobster, caviar and champagne at the clubhouse. Also present in their midst is Lucifer himself, who appears to be a very friendly, quick witted fellow and who mixes well with all assembled. They are having such a good time that before our TD realizes it, his 24 hours is up and it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves goodbye, while the elevator rises up, up, up and the door re-opens at the entrance to ‘Heaven’ where St. Peter sits behind reception waiting for him.

‘Now it’s time for your visit to ‘Heaven.’ said he.

So another 24 hours pass with our TD joining a group of very contented souls happily sailing about from cloud to cloud, playing their harps and singing. Our popular TD has a relaxed time here and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

‘Well, then, you’ve spent a day in ‘Hell’ and another in ‘Heaven’, now please choose where you would like best to be, for all eternity.’

Our TD reflects for a minute, then he answers: ‘Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think Hell would suit me best.‘

St. Peter escorts our TD to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to ‘Hell’.

When the doors of the elevator open he now finds himself in the middle of a dark barren landscape covered with waste and garbage.

All his old friends are present, but now dressed in smelly rags, picking up this trash and putting it in black bags, as more trash falls endlessly on top of them from above.

Lucifer comes over to comfort our TD and puts his arm around his shoulder.

‘I don’t understand,’ stammers our TD. ‘Yesterday I was here and there was a race course and a golf club, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What has happened?’

The devil looks at him, smiles and whispered, ‘Yesterday we were campaigning …… But today you voted.‘

John Kennedy New Incoming Mayor Of North Tipperary

George — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:59:23 +0000

New Mayor J.Kennedy (Labour) with Family Friends.

Labour Party Councillor John Kennedy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary is the new incoming Mayor of North Tipperary for 2010/2011.

Mr Kennedy took over from Councillor Denis Ryan,Fine Gael, Roscrea, at the Annual Meeting of North Tipperary County Council which was held in the Tipperary Institute on Monday 28th June last. His term will run from 28th June 2010 until the next Annual Meeting which will be held in June 2011.

Speaking at the Annual Meeting Mayor Kennedy stated:

“We all know that we are currently going through difficulty times and that the recession is impacting on everyone – families, householders and businesses alike. This creates a greater demand for services while at the same time the resources of the County Council are restricted and the same level of funding is not available to provide these services. During my term as Mayor one of my priorities will be to focus the attention of the Council on doing anything that can be done to create and maintain employment in North Tipperary. We have often debated in the past the need for job creation and called on agencies such as the I.D.A., Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development to ensure that the needs of North Tipperary are met. I will during the coming year be renewing these calls and ensuring that the voice of North Tipperary is heard and that the message goes out that North Tipperary is open for business. In addition we must do everything we can to support our existing indigenous industries and to encourage their further development. There is a challenge to us all to support our own local businesses in every way we can.

The demand for our services continues to grow because of the recession and the numbers on the housing waiting lists are a concern to us all. At the same time the capital funding for the building programme has been seriously reduced. We are all aware of the numbers of vacant houses that have been constructed and which are lying idle across the County. I am therefore calling on the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government to provide a special allocation to allow the Council to purchase these houses for the purposes of taking people off the waiting list. This would have a two-fold benefit in that it would meet housing need quickly without having to go through the protracted procedure of land acquisition and house construction and it would help alleviate the financial positions of developers who are left with these houses on their hands.

While on the question of housing and householders it is appropriate that I also highlight another area which is of huge concern to me and which has also been referred to at previous Council meetings. This is the huge stress and pressure that is on individuals because of their level of debt, whether it be mortgage related or personal borrowing. This borrowing was taken out at a time when the financial position of borrowers was completely different. While acknowledging the need for individuals to take responsibility for their borrowing there is a need for financial institutions to work with borrowers to achieve workable solutions to the spiraling debt problems based on their current resources and changed circumstances. Debt is a cause of stress to so many and this stress is being added to by the approach being taken by many of the institutions. I am sending out a call to financial institutions to work with people and not to increase the pressure that is already such a burden on so many.

The fourth area that I would consider is a priority is ensuring that resources are available at the end of year – both staffing and financial – to deal with the types of situations that arose at the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 as a result weather conditions. We need to be able to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads and that the good work that is done each year through our Roadworks Programmes is not undone by the effects of rain, ice and snow. We need to ensure that roads are treated when and where required. We need to ensure that public water supplies are maintained in severe weather conditions. We need to ensure that problems which arise are dealt with, quickly and effectively. Special funding needs to be put in place to ensure that this can be achieved.

While all areas of North Tipperary will be of importance to me during the coming year, I must mention one particular project which is close to my heart. During the next twelve months I would dearly love to see further progress on the Thurles Ring Road and to see actual commencement of work on the ground for this project which is so important to the people of Thurles.

As Mayor, I will work with everyone in the interests of North Tipperary and it is my intention to ensure that there is honest and open debate in the Council Chamber where everyone has equal opportunity to air their views. We are all elected to serve the people of North Tipperary and we can best serve them by working together for a common goal rather than through political point-scoring.

I also look forward to working with the Manager and staff. We are all aware of the good work that continues to be done by the dedicated staff at all levels throughout the Council while at the same time the limited resources available and the moratorium on recruitment has made it more difficult to maintain current levels of services. As area members we appreciate particularly the work done by the outdoor staff, often in very difficult conditions. We also will have a new County Manager from August. I know that you the members will do what you can to help him settle back in his native County and I look forward to working with him in the future.

There is no doubt we are going through difficult times. We will be facing into adopting a budget at a time when resources do not meet demands and we will have difficult decisions to make however I am confident that we can work together to overcome our difficulties and to use our resources for the benefit of our communities. We have a county that we can be proud of and it is our task to make sure that we remain the Premier County.”

Methinks, Mr Lowry And Horse Dealing Friends Doth Protest Too Much

George — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:49:13 +0000

This following press statement was released from the office of Michael Lowry TD at 7.38pm yesterday evening. Part of this Press Release reads as follows and I will leave our viewers to read between the lines.

Stag Hunting Bill and the “Puppy Farm” Bill

“I have given conditional support to this Government, qualified by the fact that it was dependent on them giving priority to a number of North Tipperary constituency issues whilst also addressing our national economic problems.

Our absolute priority must be the 500,000 people who are unemployed and getting them back to work.

Our priority should be the thousands of young people crippled with mortgage repayments living in fear of losing their homes.

Our priority should be the young people being forced to emigrate and the sick and infirm who are not able to access proper Health-care. These should be the priorities of this Government, not a stag in County Meath.

I do not consider, at this critical time in our nation’s history, that we should be spending Dáil time debating a stag hunting Bill and a “puppy farm” Bill. These Bills do not deserve the priority given them when we all need to be working together to solve our country’s economic problems, the last thing we need is an issue that divides rural and urban Ireland.

Therefore after today’s discussion with John Curran Government Chief Whip, I confirmed that I am not in a position to support this Stag Hunting Bill, which threatens the future of hunting and coursing in Ireland.

In my political career, I have never witnessed such strong and passionate opposition to a proposed piece of legislation. It is not just hunters who have come knocking on my door, but also anglers, gun clubs, coursing clubs and farmers concerned about the future of live exports of cattle. In fact, an entire cross section of rural people in Ireland are frustrated and angry that this is an attack on rural country pursuits and farming.

I represent North Tipperary, a land famous for its long tradition of hunting, coursing, greyhound racing and a county proud to breed the best race horses in the world. It is my belief that it is not appropriate or correct that a small political party can impose its agenda in such a destructive manner on rural Ireland.

As regards the Dog Breeding Bill, the Government will have my support if they agree to the two following amendments.
A) That Groups affiliated to the Hunting Association of Ireland be granted a full and complete exemption from the requirement of the Regulations.
B) That Greyhounds must be removed from the Bill and the welfare of Greyhounds can be addressed by a simple amendment to the Greyhound Act of 1958 to allow that sport and industry to continue its commendable job as regards animal welfare, as it has done so satisfactorily since 1958.

We all agree that we need to address the issue of over breeding of dogs in puppy farms but these two amendments that I propose allows the Minister to achieve his objectives without undermining the Greyhound, Coursing and Hunting industries.

The Taoiseach can continue to rely on my support once Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are concentrating on the priorities that need to be addressed at this time of crisis in our nation.

What Do Youth, Low Paid Workers, Lone Parents, Social Welfare Recipients and Elderly Pensioners Think

Much of what happens in the Dáil these days to the above named, continues to defy their basic understanding, as indeed it does myself.
We read constantly, nay, almost daily, the thieving antics of Fianna Fáil and it’s supporting TDs, who now apparently have realised, for the first time, that they oppose the new proposed Stag Hunting Bill.

Yet, something struck me very forcibly today. That while the Government was handing out untold pain and suffering to low-paid workers, lone parents, social welfare recipients, elderly pensioners, Mr Lowry and Co. continued silently to support the actions of this same Government. Odd don’t you think that he also supported the endless closing of hospitals, the trafficking of billions of taxpayers euros into bottomless black holes, the bailing out of Snake Oil Merchants, Creeps, Spoofers, and those who have condemned us all to total negative equity.

The words of a well known advert spring to mind, it seems that “animal welfare matters excite parts of Mr Lowry and Co., that human welfare issues and concerns for the poorer members of his electorate cannot reach.” Perhaps Mr Lowry is spending too much of his time in the company of well known wealthy Tipperary horse dealers and those recognised as “the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable,” and less time with those who voted for him to represent them fairly in Government.

Certainly he has been active amongst our youth, mostly raffling Oxygen Tickets to gain access to eighteen year old voters Mobile Phone numbers and Email addresses, so that he can more easily canvas their support in the event that an election should appear on the horizon in the near future.

In the case of stag hunting, the members of this disgraceful profession cannot control where the stag enters their little unspeakable game, the animal is running for his very life, crossing roads, stone walls, jumping barbed wire fences, panicking fields of sheep and leaping in front of motorists on major roads, in his sheer terror and attempt to escape his pursuing enemy.

Do We Not Have Laws Governing The Slaughtering Of Cattle

This stag is tame, not wild, since it has been grown and hand fed in captivity, solely for one purpose – what the followers of this barbaric sport may have what they call ‘fun’. This animal is chased, terrorised, badly bitten by as much as eighty large dogs and finally manhandled by 4 or 5 thugs in their attempts to recapture it. Many of these, ‘Gods Creatures’ die an agonising death as a result of this tormented mauling. Would Irish law or the EU, latter who appear to make all our laws for us presently, permit the slaughter of our cattle herds to be carried out in like manner?

Stag hunting serves no ecological or practical purpose in our societies modern civilised environment, but is still practised in Ireland to provide entertainment two days every week, from October to March, to supposedly grant enjoyment to upper class arrogant thugs, many of whom claim to be christian in belief.

Congrats to John Gormley TD, long may he remain in politics. Michael Lowry, shame on you and those you choose to support in retaining this unspeakable cruel minority sport.

Queen Elizabeth II – Welcome Home

George — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:43:02 +0000

Ireland and the UK have been EU partners since 1973 and both Ireland and the British Isles share a long interlinked history and essentially the same popular culture. It is now high time to move on from the past to a complete normalising of relations between both our countries. It is not surprising therefore that An Taoiseach Mr Brian Cowen has signaled that Queen Elizabeth II will probably make a state visit to this country before the end of next year.

Speaking in London after a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Mr Cowen signaled that the visit would, only rightly, be before the end of Irish President Mary McAleese’s second term in office which regrettably comes to an end next year.

The Taoiseach said that no obstacle now exists to prevent a State Visit to Ireland by Britain’s Queen taking place, and I like the vast majority of Tipperary people fully agree.

As a citizen of a modern, sovereign European state, I have no difficult with the head of state of my nearest neighbour coming over for a visit. She is not only the Head of State of our nearest neighbour, but also our most important trading partner and home to at least a million of our citizens.

This proposed visit is a measure of the long overdue parity of esteem that we as a Nation worked so hard for and achieved in the last 10 to 15 years. To those who voice opposition, I say leave the past to the past, where it rightly belongs and move on.

The very few opponents to her intended visit to this country need to grow up, so come on Ireland, show how far we’ve come and put out your ‘Welcome Mats’. This is a wonderful opportunity for the future of this country. Let us show the world that when it comes to ‘Welcomes’, there is no welcome like an ‘Irish Welcome’.

Already the smart busy tourist attractions like Kerry are ‘sticking their spade in’ suggesting she should visit their natural beauty spots, like Muckross Estate, but when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II comes to Ireland, the most obvious place to take her is to her ancestral home, here in Thurles, Co.Tipperary.

As our readers can observe by clicking on our ‘Family Tree’ picture, (on right of this screen), Queen Elizabeth II not only acquired her christian name, but is also a direct descendant of Viscount and Lady Elizabeth Butler of Thurles (Latter formally Miss Elizabeth Poyntz, daughter of Sir John Poyntz,Bart., of Acton in Gloucestershire, England.) through their eldest son, the Duke of Ormond. The Duke’s daughter, also Elizabeth, married Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl Chesterfield, and their daughter Elizabeth Stanhope married John Lyon, 4th Earl Strathmore. Six generations later in direct line was the 14th Earl Strathmore whose daughter, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married the future King George VI; and these are the parents and grandparents respectivly of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her son Charles, latter heir apparent to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms.

Your Majesty we would love to have you amongst us, here in Thurles, as our guest, even if only for an hour or so.