Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry pictured here with protesting farmers outside the ABP beef processing plant in Nenagh, North Co.Tipperary.
Independent Tipperary TD Mr Michael Lowry has called on all parties involved in the escalating beef dispute, to find a resolution to this current impasse, which is creating havoc within the entire beef industry.
Taking to Thurles.Info this morning, Mr Lowry stated, “I fail to understand why the recent beef forum did not fully address the central issue; which was and remains the increase in price for beef producers. This ongoing saga is and always was, an issue regarding underpayments to these primary producers”.
“It is not sustainable to expect beef producers to continue to operate at a financial loss. It is also unethical to have a small and select group of processors controlling the beef producing industry, while creaming excess profits. There needs and must be, not just fairness, but equity and balance in relation to the distribution of profits within the industry,” continued Mr Lowry.
“I have requested the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Michael Creed, to again intervene in this crisis and to find a more equitable and indeed a final solution to this most contentious of farming issues. There is no doubt that beef producers are currently in a loss-making position and this situation cannot be allowed to continue. This current stance is not sustainable and its continued consequences are causing severe hardship amongst the farming community.” Mr Lowry concluded.
Meanwhile, farmers are maintaining their presence outside of meat plants here in Co. Tipperary, with unofficial protests resuming today at the ABP plants in both Cahir and Nenagh; despite the granting of High Court injunctions yesterday, against those farmers protesting.
It’s confirmed, they have vanished into thin air as if by magic. Yes, all five gates guarding the entrance to St. Patrick’s cemetery have disappeared.
Making solid metal objects vanish has never failed to spark a sense of wonder in the hearts of simple rural dwellers.
Where did they go? Were they stolen by Dublin criminals, to be carted back to the nation’s capital, using high speed cars pulling flat trailers; to be sold off by the thief, anxious to fund his next heroin fix? Should local Thurles Gardaí be notified?
St. Patrick’s cemetery was first consecrated on May 11th, 1928, by Most Reverend Dr. J.W. Harty, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel & Emly. (See history link HERE.) Since that date, some 91 years later, the gates to this cemetery have received no more than one coat of paint, adequately reflecting the current overall attitude that exists within Thurles, under the current governance of Templemore / Thurles Municipal District Council and their officials.
Hold on a second; is there a chance here that perhaps Thurles Municipal District Council officials may have demanded their removal; same mortified and red faced, in the knowledge that €90.00 is now required for planning permission to currently erect a headstone on previously purchased graves?
One wonders why recently elected local town councillors haven’t been busy on Facebook in search of credits or did perhaps officials fail to inform them of the removal?
Speaking of Facebook, we did note that one councillor was “calling” for a “Sensory Garden” for the town at their last meeting. Sure wouldn’t St. Patrick’s cemetery make a lovely Sensory Garden, now that the gates are gone hopefully for repair or for scrap and eventual replacement!
Michael Lowry TD – Funding of €162,000 secured for structural work at Scoil Chormaic, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Independent TD Deputy Michael Lowry has confirmed today that following successful representations, he has secured significant funding to undertake essential building work required at Scoil Chormaic, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
This special education School in Cashel has 222 pupils currently enrolled.
Following representations Mr Lowry has now succeeded in securing €162,000 through the Department of Education School Building Unit to replace a defective roof on a classroom building, within the educational facility.
For the past few years the roof in question has continuously leaked, causing disruption and inconvenience to both teachers and pupils attending.
A contractor has now been appointed and work is expected to commence on the structure in the coming weeks, with the project expected to be fully completed by the end of September 2019.
Pictured outside the offices of the Department of Education, Dublin, are Ms Catriona Farrell(Deputy Principal of ‘The Monastery’ CBS, Tipperary); Ms Siobhan Verdon(St Michael’s Junior Boys NS, Tipperary); Ind. Dáil Deputy Mr Michael Lowry(TD); Ms Ide Mooney(St Michael’s Girl’s NS Tipperary); Ms Louise Tobin(St. Joseph’s Primary School, Tipperary) and Mr Eoghan Breathnach(Gaelscoile Thibraid Arann).
Yesterday was indeed a significant day in the long running campaign seeking additional resources for five Tipperary primary schools. However, a package of support measures has now been agreed, same to be implemented at the beginning of the upcoming September term.
In a statement today Deputy Michael Lowry stated that he was delighted that his representations over the past number of months, on behalf of the above named schools, has now finally resulted in a most positive outcome.
Deputy Lowry stated, “I wish to complement the management and staff of the schools for their perseverance, tenacity and their commitment to the educational needs of their pupils”.
The newly negotiated support program is an interim package and Mr Lowry is confident that the data supplied by the schools boards, will substantiate the schools inclusion in the next round of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) system.
This revised DEIS programme will be selected and announced during November 2019, for implementation in September 2020.
“I am delighted that these prolonged exchanges and discussions between the schools and the Department of Education have reached a satisfactory outcome”, concluded Mr Lowry, “and I wish to thank in particular the Minister for Education Mr Joe McHugh for his personal interest in facilitating discussions with senior officials in his department”.
As the Beef Plan Movement progress their protest plans outside various beef plants around Ireland; yesterday the Tipperary Chairman of the movement, Mr Joe Trehy, was removed to hospital following an incident outside an ABP Food Group factory, at Kilcommon More (North), Cahir, in Co. Tipperary.
Mr Trehy was hospitalized having been hit by a Jeep and trailer, latter trying to enter the meat factory, where a peaceful protest by Beef Plan Movement members and farmers had been taking place, since Monday last. Mr Trehy, who complained of back and neck injuries, is understood today to be recovering satisfactorily.
The Beef Plan Movement and farmers speak of frustration and aggression after, over two weeks on from their Beef Plan’s protest outside parliament buildings at Leinster House in Dublin, the group state that there has been absolutely no correspondence from the Agriculture Minister Mr Michael Creed TD; his assistant Mr Andrew Doyle TD or any Department official.
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