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 It is with deepest sympathy we report the sudden death of former South Tipperary Fianna Fail Minister and MEP Mr Noel Davern.
The former Teachta Dála (TD), Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Farmer, Publican, and Company Representative died today (October 27th 2013) aged almost 68 years, (Dec 1945 – Oct 2013).
Noel Davern was born in Cashel, South County Tipperary, the son of Michael Davern, latter whom himself was also a TD between 1948 and 1965.
He was educated at the Christian Brothers School (CBS) Cashel, Co Tipperary, and later at the Franciscan College, Gormanston, in Co Meath.
Mr Davern was a former Minister for Education and later a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.
In the 1979 European Parliament election he was elected as an MEP for the Munster constituency. He failed to contest the 1981 Irish General Election choosing instead to concentrate on his European career, but lost his seat at the European Parliament during the 1984 European Parliament elections. Mr Davern was once again elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1987 General Election.
Mr Davern is survived by his loving wife Anne Marie and their three children Don, Marc and Davina.
Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.
 The current construction and development of a 40 megawatt wind farm at Bruckhana in Co Tipperary progressed a step closer today when it was officially launched on behalf of Bord na Móna by Labour Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
Bord na Móna last year had selected several acres of cutaway peat-lands for the construction and development of this new wind farm, located on the borders joining the Counties Kilkenny, Laois and Tipperary and between the villages of Templetuohy, Thurles, Co Tipperary and Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, latter known generally to local residents as Templetuohy bog.
Bord na Móna have been involved in peat production operations at this site since the 1950’s and parts of the bog still remain in active peat production. This new development is named after one of the local townlands namely ‘Bruckhana’ latter which is included in this site where the current construction of these turbines are now being progressed.
When fully operational this wind farm will greatly improve the geographical distribution of wind energy facilities emerging nationally and will contribute to bring a more balanced input of wind energy to the National Grid thus supporting the Government’s 40% required EU target for electricity power generated from renewable energy sources.
“Speaking at the launch the Minister stated; “Ireland has a challenging EU renewable energy target to meet by 2020, which includes meeting 40% of our electricity demand from renewable sources. We are now making progress to meet this target, and with the development of renewable generation of this scale at Bruckhana we will eventually see, when it is complete, how crucial it will become to maintaining the rate of build necessary to achieve these set EU targets.
Ireland is fortunate to have some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe. Not only will the exploitation of this clean, sustainable, indigenous resource allow us to break our dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and reduce our harmful emissions, it also holds the potential for Ireland to become an exporter of renewable energy, with its attendant economic benefits for the country.
Yesterday I launched the first stage of a consultation process on the Renewable Energy Export and Development Framework. The approval of any proposed large scale renewable energy export projects must await the putting in place of this framework. I recognise the significance of the announcement Bord na Móna has made here today, regarding their Clean Energy Hub. I urge them, and all other prospective developers, to now fully engage with this consultation process.”
The Minister also called on developers to communicate fully, the local and national socio-economic benefits flowing from investment in their projects and to examine how best they can deliver on community gain.
 Severance payments made to our politicians are now to be abolished, under a Bill which was published by the Public Expenditure Minister Mr Brendan Howlin at lunchtime today.
On a day when more than ten thousand senior citizens, known as “The Grey Brigade” and a small number of younger demonstrators have held a rally outside Leinster House in Dublin protesting against cuts to Medical Cards, Prescription Fees and Job Seekers Allowance, this decision by the present Government, now makes good the promise to end the “golden handshake” payments to retiring Ministers.
Introduced in 1992, under this scheme, TDs departing senior Ministerial Office received a once off payment of nearly €90,000 over a period of two years, while Ministers of State received a somewhat smaller payment.
The reason behind such payments was to help cushion the reduction in salary between being a Minister and ordinary TD. This payment was treated separate and cast no reflection on future individual pensions for these Ministers and members of the Oireachtas.
This published Bill will also make adjustments to the Party Leaders allowances, paid to political parties. Parties will now have to report to the public ethics watchdog, SIPO, telling them how their funding is spent.
 Templemore Garda Training College It was Garda Commissioner Mr Martin Callinan who told an Oireachtas Justice Committee in November 2012 last, that he would not like to see his Garda Force sink below 13,000, before new recruitment resumes.
Current natural wastage through Garda retirements runs between 250 and 450 per year, thus signalling that Garda numbers will fall below 13,000 before any new Garda recruits can take up postings late next year or in early 2015, since all new recruits are required to complete a 32 week period of training before being posted to selected stations.
In realistic terms this would indicate that if new recruits are not sought to begin their training immediately or within the first three months of 2014, then it would be early 2015 by the time they could be granted station posts, thus reducing Garda numbers to several hundred personnel below the specified required 13,000.
It was expected that the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter would use the latest ‘Budget 2014,’ to inform this country of his future plans for such recruitment. However while Budget 2014 appears to grant a commitment to resuming Garda recruitment, it failed to indicate a specific date regarding the lifting of any current staff embargo.
As part of the terms of our EU-IMF bailout, the Troika had stipulated that Garda numbers were to be reduced to 13,000 by the end of 2012. They were not, rather instead overtime and wages were cut to meet the cost overspill. It was anticipated that while numbers would be reduced close to 13,000, it was never imagined that Gardaí numbers would be allowed to fall below Commissioner Callinan’s required stated level.
In July of this year Fine Gael Justice Minister Alan Shatter stated that it was very important for an organisation like An Garda Síochána, given the demanding nature of policing, to receive a reasonably regular intake of new recruits. He also stated he would be making arrangements with the Public Appointments Service, so that they could do the necessary preparatory work to deal with new applications later this year.
Earlier in February 2013 Deputy Noel Coonan TD warmly welcomed positive news from his Fine Gael colleague, Justice Minister Alan Shatter, that the Government was now to review its position regarding the future recruitment of new Gardaí.
In his statement of February last Deputy Coonan said; “Garda numbers have been reducing, due to the moratorium on recruitment put in place by the previous Government as part of its plan to reduce the strength of the force to 13,000. Our objective, despite the enormous financial pressures facing the Government is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000. At Wednesday’s Cabinet Meeting, Minister Shatter announced the good news that recruitment may recommence as part of a wider determination to ensure that the Garda Síochána, as a body, has the greatest possible resources made available to it, and that it is supported in making the necessary new reforms to ensure that those resources are used to the greatest effect.”
For A Ha’porth Of Tar The Ship Was Lost
Despite cuts in pay, cuts in staff numbers and cuts in overtime, no commitment to future Garda recruitment has commenced, despite the continued diminishing of services to the taxpaying public.
To my knowledge no Troika members were in attendance at the funeral of a murdered Dundalk detective earlier this year, to apologise, seek forgiveness or offer their sympathy to his family.
However, no doubt the huge financial cost now incurred by the State, following this detectives unnecessary death was discussed, yet the moratorium on Garda recruitment continues to be ignored.
 “No Country for Old Men” or Women and indeed youth for that matter, and I am not referring to the 2007 American neo-Western thriller based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name.
I am referring to the Coalition Government’s politically safe budget announced today, which purports to frame the future of Ireland for future Irish people.
Youth Unemployment
The first insults, for young adults attempting to seek employment, came from Labour Ministers for Education and Social Protection, Ruairí Quinn and Joan Burton. “No young person should be able to say at age 19, ‘I’m better off on the dole than going training‘,” Quinn stated. The Minister for Social Protection also defended her cutting of her departments ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance,’ for these same young adults stated “Signing on for Jobseeker’s Allowance on a person’s 18th birthday it’s not the start to adult life that any parent would want for their child. We really have to be more ambitious for our young people.”
Ruairí and Joan obviously believe it is the aim of every young person with a four year University Degree to want to live on €144 a week. If so why have so many emigrated?
Dole payments to young people are now to be slashed by nearly a third, with all those aged 25 years and under and who sign on from January next then to receive just €100 a week, down from €144, while the 25 year old unemployed can claim €144, reduced from €188. All hope of current employment for rural dwellers is Dublin based and the current cost of a rail ticket to attend an interview, averages €50 each return trip.
Noonan and Howlin Set To Risk ‘Grey Brigade Revolt’
Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) on all savings is to rise to 41%, up 7% from 33%, which is estimated to bring in about €95m. (Forget the elderly here, what about those saving in an attempt to get a step on the property ladder.)
The death grant of €850 to help families with funeral costs is to be abolished.
Over 30,000 pensioners over 70 may lose full medical cards and be placed on GP only cards.
Telephone allowance to Pensioners in the household benefit package to be discontinued from January 1st 2014.
Income threshold for medical cards for over-70s are to be lowered.
Excise duty on beer, spirits and tobacco be increased by a 10 cents rise, with wine up 50 cents.
This move is directly targeting older people sitting on cash savings at a time when this Government wants more spending.
Free GP Care To All Under Five Years To Benefit Wealthy
This same Government look now as if they are about to deliver health care reform by extending medical cards to every child under five years, regardless of family income, while at the same time it is rationing discretionary medical cards for many of this country’s deserving patients. In last year’s budget, free GP care was promised to those on long-term illness which then failed to materialise. It is also unbelievable that this Government should again announce extension to free Doctor Care, without any discussion with the same medical personnel expected to deliver on this service.
Not mentioned in “Budget 2014,” was the proposal that the House of the Oireachtas should develop its own house wine with its own “House of the Oireachtas” wine label and that bottles of same could be used for personal use and gifts by politicians. Perhaps this is also why there was no mention of reducing expenses paid to politicians, latter who were paid more than €500,000 during the month of August 2013, a month during which the Dáil did not sit, even once.
TV 3 can now cancel “The Great Irish Bake Off “; sure who will be able to afford French Chocolate Roulade, (a crumble and a bread-based dessert), those Sweet and Savoury Tarts or those Irish tea breads, our elderly have become so used to digesting on a daily basis.
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