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 At yesterday’s Municipal Tipperary County Council meeting, Thurles Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) Cllr. Seamus Hanafin stated; “The news of 300 new jobs recently announced for Nenagh by the US financial technology company First Data was indeed very welcome, particularly in light of the recent news of 126 job losses at the C&C Borrisoleigh plant; the some 350 job losses at Lisheen Mines, near Moyne and the expected closures of all Xtra-Vision stores in the county, latter which was announced only earlier this morning.”
Cllr Hanafin went on to state that the 300 promised jobs by ‘First Data’ in Nenagh was the first new ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ to arrive in North Tipperary in the past 20 years.
Cllr Hanafin stated; “This new investment now signalled a real awareness in current IDA Ireland’s thinking and I hope this same change of attitude will go on to deliver yet more jobs into Co. Tipperary into the near future.”
The Cathaoirleach had been to the fore in arranging for IDA Ireland to attend a ‘Work Shop’ last July at The Anner Hotel, Thurles and had been verbally critical, on a regular basis, of IDA Ireland’s neglect in respect of their middle Ireland policy. “However I am happy on this occasion to give IDA Ireland credit; where credit is observed as being justly due,” stated Cllr Hanafin.
The Cathaoirleach also acknowledged the work of Mr Joe MacGrath, C.E. Tipperary Co. Council whom he stated was; “Tireless in his efforts to get this new badly needed investment of the ground.”
Cllr Hanafin stated that he would now be examining specific ‘site-ready’ locations across Co. Tipperary in the coming months, which could be deemed, for the most part, ready, easily available and accessible, for other future foreign or domestic investment.
Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has lost his legal challenge against the Moriarty tribunal’s decision not to award him full costs for his participation.
In his challenge in the High Court Mr Lowry had claimed the decision was ‘discriminatory’, ‘disproportionate’ and ‘unfair’.
In a statement issued a short time ago, following the findings against him, Mr Lowry stated; “Naturally I am disappointed at the judgement given today in the High Court. Having had an opportunity to consider the full judgement with my legal team, they have advised me that I should appeal the decision on a number of substantive grounds and they are already preparing an appeal of this decision to the Court of Appeal.
No matter what way the Court decided today, this case is one that was always going to be brought by either side to the highest level for final decision and determination.
As I have already stated, I have never accepted the findings issued by the Moriarty Tribunal, as they were not grounded on any evidence or facts presented throughout the length of its sittings.
It is very concerning that the judgement today erroneously claims that the Tribunal had made a finding that I had been engaged in bribery and perjury. The Tribunal never made and could not have made any such finding and it is a matter of the gravest concern that such a damaging claim has been made. In fact the Tribunal itself in its very submissions in this case accepted that no such findings were made or could have been made. This is an issue which will be subject to a vigorous challenge in the appellate court.
Despite the disappointment of today’s ruling, my legal team are confident that the Court of Appeal will acknowledge and recognise that I co-operated with the Moriarty Tribunal over the many years it ran: that it is unfair and unconstitutional to deprive any person who has been subject to this process of the right to have their legal costs discharged where they have been incurred in dealing with inquiries: that it is discriminatory to grant full costs on the one hand to those who have obstructed and deceived the Tribunal and yet limit costs to someone who gave it full and unlimited access to their lives.”
 As part of a national day of protests against ‘Water Charges’ and ‘Austerity,’ a rally will take place in Co. Tipperary this afternoon; the venue Sarsfield Street, Clonmel, beginning at 2:00pm.
The Labour Party, supposedly a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland, was originally founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William O’Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress.
Today’s Tipperary protest is part of a sustained campaign planned for the weeks coming up to the General Election. Same will include further demonstrations on the last Saturday before the, as yet to be announced, General Election date, believed to be February 26th, 2016.
Of course ‘Water,’ a natural occurring product, like ‘Gold’, has now become one of the most profitable commodities in the world. In Britain, private water companies including private equity consortium’s, in 2013, made profits of some €2.81bn, paying over €2.55bn to their shareholders. It is reckoned that every £100 spent in Britain on water charges today, between £20 to £30 in profits goes directly to those companies involved.
Link between ‘Water Charges’ and ‘Austerity.’
Over recent times the current Labour government, which have propped up Fine Gael over the last 5 years, appear to have forgotten the words of their original founders in Clonmel, County Tipperary; which claimed that unless an Irish Socialist Republic were set up, Ireland would be ruled through greedy capitalists, greedy landlords, and greedy financiers.
In 2015 the present Irish Coalition Government gave €405m in tax break to the top 17% of Irish earners, thus widening the gap between the poverty and wealth of our citizens by some €1,003 in just two years. During this same time period, voters should remember that Tipperary’s Labour Minister Alan Kelly, so ambitiously in awe of personal power, demanded that householders, including the unemployed, low earners, disabled and old age pensioners, must pay €271m in extra water charges, regardless of their financial ability.
‘Right 2 Water’ spokespersons correctly point out that ordinary households are being asked to pay 78% of the bill for water, despite only using 10%. Some 90% of Irish water consumed is used by corporations and agriculture, latter two most responsible for the pollution of our natural occurring asset, while just 10% is being used by households. Households on the other-hand are being asked to take on-board 78% of Irish water costs.
Persons who still believes that Irish Water is about conservation should seriously ask themselves the following question, “Why is the present Irish Government steadfastly refusing to hold a referendum which would safeguard Irish water ownership into the future, thus retaining same in the hands of Irish people?” “Have we not been forced to sell off enough of our Irish family silver?”
Today a series of rallies, will be held in over 30 locations across Ireland; organised by the Right2Water Campaign.
There is no denying the published, dismal Live Register CSO figures (Check for yourselves using search criteria All Ages, Both Sexes,) at the end of December for both North and South Tipperary, each carefully checked and shown separately hereunder.
Yes we are aware that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment, but they are most certainly a strong indication of Urban and Rural trending.
Live Register by Age Group, Sex, Social Welfare Office and Month – North Tipp.
Within the last two weeks 700 jobs were announced by Tipperary’s Mr Alan Kelly TD, Minister for ‘Privatising our Irish Water’. Some 400 construction jobs were announced in Silvermines village and 300 at US multi-national First Data in Nenagh town.
It has taken this government almost 5 years to create not even one job and now 6 weeks before a General Election the sky has opened and it’s raining jobs, with more extensive flooding expected.
When will these Tipperary jobs materialise?
Silvermines:
This Silvermines Hydro Electric Power Station project employing 400 construction workers will begins with a detailed feasibility assessments and consultation programme with the local community before moving to an 18 month to two year planning process later this year. Jobs therefore not expected before 2019 with most of the skilled workforce needed already employed by the European construction and technology companies involved.
Nenagh:
The US multi-national First Data premises is expected to open around March 2017 and to employ 300 workers, but obviously not before their opening date 2017, despite the promise that recruitment will start late this year in 2016. Like most long term promises made by multi-national companies the numbers expected to be employed rarely meet their forecast targets or indeed those who dream of a secure job in the future.
By the time any of these jobs are available or even at the recruitment stage, another flock of graduating students will be ready and available in the Tipperary market place.
Live Register by Age Group, Sex, Social Welfare Office and Month – South Tipp
For those of our readers who feel that I write from a negative or political prospective, let’s examine the facts, but first examine the figures shown above.
652 Jobs announced in South Tipperary last year (2015) as follows:-
September 2015 – 200 new jobs for Clonmel at Eishtec.
August 1st 2015 – 300 new jobs long term in Cashel at US generic drugs giant Amneal Pharmaceuticals;
July 2015 – 152 jobs at ABP Food Group in Cahir.
What “Recovery” has Labour & Fine Gael to date introduced into Ireland?
Yes “Recovery” is under way if you are prepared to ignore that half of our economic growth is pedestalled on very questionable profit shifting by Multinational Companies.
Yes “Recovery” is under way if you are prepared to ignore that some 105,000 of our children have been pushed into long term poverty and deprivation, and yes numbers continue to grow for those forced to live in emergency homeless accommodation.
Yes “Recovery” is under way if you are prepared to ignore the fact that at least 300,000 people were forced to emigrate since 2010 to date.
Yes “Recovery” is under way if you are prepared to ignore that funds in relation to housing Regeneration Projects were abandoned; Public spending was cut on Community Development Organisations; Public Rural transport; Education; Flood Defences and you surely can’t ignore our present Health Care Services.
Even if 2,000 jobs were to be announced tomorrow for Co. Tipperary; thanks to TD’s Mr Kelly, Mr Coonan, Mr Hayes, the IDA and other government agencies, the truth is infer-structurally, we do not have even a shed to offer them, nor a pot for them to piss in.
Yes Ireland and rural Ireland in particular, are both definitely in “Recovery Mode”.
Independent TD Michael Lowry. On Friday night last, outgoing Independent TD. Deputy Michael Lowry launched one of the most successful political campaigns ever witnessed in the rural town of Thurles.
Met Eireann’s M/s Joan Blackburn had forecast severe frost with temperatures dropping as low as minus five degrees on Friday night: promising it to be coldest in the Midlands. As we headed eastward towards the Dublin Road from Thurles town centre, my car’s on-board external thermometer read minus three.
Joan Blackburn was right.
As we approached the gates of our destination, well before time, a parking attendant politely informed us that there was ‘no room at the Inn‘. “Try your luck parking in one of the nearby housing estates”, the helpful attendant advised. Having eventually found a parking spot, we walked back to our originally targeted destination; the Anner Hotel. The three car-parks were truly over subscribed; each parked vehicle heavily covered in a coating of fragile white crystallized frost. Nowhere were buses to be seen. Buses are normally used to transport “Rent-a-Crowd,” for important political events, as we had observed were undertaken by the Tipperary Labour Party for their recent Political Launch. For this event also, unlike the Labour Party candidate, no four man cordon of armed police were deemed necessary.
The parking attendant was right.
 A sudden rush of warm air met us as we entered the Anner in Thurles, latter now a jewel in the crown of Irish Mid-land Hotel accommodation. Despite the freezing weather outside, the interior of the building was warm and not surprisingly, bursting with people. We attempted to make our way slowly towards the bar area; friends, casual acquaintances and total stranger were everywhere evident.
Valerie O’Reilly (Unicorn PR & Communications Ltd) had ventured to made the treacherous slippery 152.5km (95ml) journey from Dublin, thankfully arriving safely. Having given birth to a beautiful baby girl just three short months ago, she was back working, engaged once again in her professional duties. Readers will remember the “storm in the teacup” back in January 2015, when the Dublin Media were having their bad news week after Xmas. Some malicious opposition colleague stalking the hallowed halls of Dáil Éireann had located a note intended for Taoiseach Enda Kenny. It was identified as being penned by Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry. The note which did reach the Taoiseach’s desk, later mysteriously turning up in the hands of Dublin Media – The Sunday Independent. The contents of the note had stated that Valerie was “A woman, bright, intelligent and not bad looking either.”
From the picture shown above left, I believe most people would agreed with his statement.
Michael Lowry was right.
From the size of the crowd now already gathered and those still entering through the hotels exterior portals, it was obvious the carefully arranged original 350 seats provided, would prove to be insufficient. Professional sound and vision technicians (Star Systems) had arrived earlier in the day, insisting on erecting two large format digital TV screens, to broadcast into the hotel’s Bar area and front Foyer. Those who failed to get seated moved back to the comfort of these areas, to view proceedings on same digital screens.
Star Systems were right.
When signatures were counted it was obvious that the crowd exceeded even TV3’s ‘Tonight with Vincent Brown” show; same confirming some 612 bums were on seats for the 2016 political campaign launch by the Independent TD. Those I recognised as having attending had, braving the weather, travelled from Clonmel, Ballylooby, Bansha, Cahir, Ballyporeen, Carrig-on-Suir and Cashel in the South of the county. His previous loyal constituency of North Tipperary saw his supporters appear from Upperchurch, Kilcommon, Nenagh, Roscrea, Templemore etc.; with those fearful of travelling on the existing road conditions, flooding his office with emails, apologising for their absence.
 Just a portion of the crowd, representing all ages, attending Michael Lowry’s political launch 2016 in the Anner Hotel Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Friday night. Some 11 speakers addressed those assembled; discussing topics such as Sport, Education, Agriculture & Food, Special Education, Health, Youth Affairs & Old Age. From the floor came discussion from various sporting personnel and other supporters, including words of good wishes from the well known and much loved rural radio character and commentator Johnny Luby, who had spent the earlier part of the evening writing a poem especially to mark the occasion; supplied hereunder.
Michael Lowry – Tipperary’s Finest Son. A Poem by Johnny Luby ©
“I’ve wrote a few lines, it won’t take long, I’ve constructed a poem, for I can’t sing a song.
Its about wishing ‘Young Lowry’ the very best, as we know it’s going to be a tough test.
For years Lowry has represented Tipperary North, and they say up there he’s a very fine sort.
And now we welcome him in Tipperary South, we’ll be canvassing hard; he can have no doubt,
There are good contestants in his field, but to all of them we will not yield.
The Handicapper has given us top weight, but Lowry has two words for them – WORK RATE.
To take nothing for granted these days is true, but every vote is vital, that I tell you.
But if we can at all we’ll get No 1, for Michael Lowry – Tipperary’s finest son.”
Likewise, Johnny Luby was right.
The 5 piece band “Strings & Things,” struck up their contemporary Irish folk sound, as proceedings ended; with those attending slowly moving, together with Lowry, to where light refreshments of tea & coffee together with finger food and a chat were readily available and on offer.
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