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 Church of Ireland schools are small by virtue of the fact that they serve small communities. With present cuts to small schools, Church of Ireland children face losing their schools and their chance to receive an education through their religious ethos.
Batt O’Keeffe, following “unpublished legal advice,” supposedly from the Attorney General, decided that grants for Second level Protestant schools ‘could not continue,’ in 2009. Failure to fund same allowed O’Keeffe to save €2.8m each year, by regularising what he called “an anomaly…whereby Catholic fee-charging schools were not getting certain state grants that were paid to others.”
This imaginary anomaly, discovered by O’Keeffe, had been first recognised and introduced by the late great Donagh O’Malley when he was establishing free education. Mr O’Malley saw the obvious need to give extra funds to minority Protestant schools, in their catering for dispersed communities, while allowing them to continue charging fees. In turn this enabled these schools to distribute a large portion of this State Aid, through grants to underprivileged students.
O’Keeffe’s move struck directly at the disadvantaged and ignored a long-standing commitment by governments to support a dispersed community, which could not access suitable free schools. It was also identified as a step backwards in respect of achieving a more pluralistic educational system. Church of Ireland schools have themselves always been models of pluralistic schools. They have successfully, harmoniously and inclusively accommodated pupils of multiple religious faiths and/or those seeking an alternative to schools under the patronage of the majority faith, for decades.
First let us see what Fine Gael stated while in opposition in 2009, beginning with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny: “Protestant schools are being ‘got at,’ and we recognise the special position that the Protestant Church has in our society’ and I wants for that position to be maintained.” Well they are now being ‘got at,‘ again, and perhaps North Tipperary Fine Gael TD Noel Coonan might like to take that message back to Mr Kenny and Minister for Education Mr Ruairi Quinn.
Our national TV channels appear to have dismissed as insignificent, the news today, that nine Church of Ireland Bishops strongly criticised cuts to small schools, the latter which they state will have a major and destructive impact on Protestant communities right across the country of Ireland.
Continue reading Church Of Ireland Bishops Criticise School Cutbacks
 Once upon a time there were three little pigs that left home to seek their fortunes. Before they left, their mother told them “Whatever you do, do it the best that you can, because that’s the way to get along in this world.”
The first little pig built his house out of straw because it was the easiest & warmest. The second little pig built his house out of sticks. This was stronger than a straw house. The third little pig built his house out of bricks.
Then one night the big bad greedy wolf, who loved to eat fat little piggy’s, came along and saw the first little pig in his house of straw. He said “Let me in, Let me in, little pig or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!”
Ok, the rest is storybook history, known to all.
Recently a real live greedy little wolf, named Phil Hogan announced that he was going to blow our houses down. Well not blow down exactly, it was worse than that, he intends to place a tax on our buildings, and charge a tax on a basic human God given right, namely our water supply, which he and others before him have continuously poisoned for years.
This little Fine Gael Wolf, on being refused by the ‘great unwashed,’ has begun imitating Fianna Fail tones reminiscent of the late Charley Haughey:-
- If we do not pay he will access our bank accounts and remove €100 plus interest.
- He will force employers to deduct it from our wages, pensions and Social Welfare payments. (Would this breach the Croke Park agreement?)
- His latest Nazi bullyboy tactic; he has instructed Councils to send out teams of officials to knock on doors to threaten and intimidate us. (Obviously German IMF officials, over coffee, told him their version of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, carried out by SA storm troopers and civilians.) By next weekend do not be surprised if offenders, who fail to comply with his demands, are instructed to wear house shaped badges, sewn unto their outer garments; The Red house shape for non compliant politicians, liberals, communists, trade unionists, social democrats, socialists, Freemasons, and anarchists. The Green house shape for non compliant professional criminals. Blue for emigrants. Pink for sexual offenders, homosexual men, zoophiles and paedophiles. Purple for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Black for the work shy, the members of the travelling community, the mentally ill, prostitutes, lesbians, drug dealers, beggars and alcoholics. Yes Nazi Germany & Phil would sort out this country, given half a chance.
When his storm troopers come calling soon, how are you going to defend your actions? My advice is reply using the words, of Minister Phil Hogan himself, when he was asked in 2009 to take a 10% pay cut on his estimated €200,000 salary & expences. Quote: “My personal circumstances don’t allow that at the moment.” Of course if you can’t remember these words, quote the words of the three little pigs, “Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin.”
 Thurles Courthouse where Fine Gael will be taking some of us shortly. A threatening Minister Phil Hogan is about to take you to court, lock you all in jail, gain access to your bank accounts and made withdrawals. If you do not have a bank account he will deduct his ill advised household charge from your pay, pensions and social welfare payments and ‘pigs will fly,’ Minister.
Before you rush out in a subservient sweat, trembling fearfully in anticipation of a kicking from Minister Phil Hogan Nazi jackboots, let us have a look at just a few aspects of who is going to receive this expected funding, and how they will spend it.
An annual Household Charge of €100 has been introduced in order to fund local services. The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 (pdf) provides for this charge, which is an interim measure and will be replaced in future by a valuation-based property tax. The new charge is separate from, and in addition to, the Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge. So if you own a residential property in Ireland, you are obliged to declare your liability for the Household Charge and pay it by the due date, without question.
I will not bore you about the unfairness of this new ridiculous Tax passed by this Coalition government made up of Labour (Working Man’s Party) and Fine Gael. Suffice is to say that a millionaire, of which many reside in this country, pays €100, as so does a family of five, in receipt of €223 weekly after USC deductions, without a medical card or other insurance. (‘Yes Minister,’ (No TV pun intended) we have collected the evidence and double, double checked it, should you wish to view same at any time, thus confirming that your government is totally out of sync with those who foolishly trusted you with their vote.)
Now let us look at two of the hopeful beneficiaries of this tax in North Tipperary, e.g. Thurles Town Council and North Tipperary Council Co. and ask can Thurles, in particular, be categorised as a “Ghost Estate,” as is the case of people living in certain unfinished housing estates, who can claim a waiver for the years 2012 and 2013, assuming of course we pay our €100 to fix these unfinished projects.
Define an unfinished housing estate Minister?
- Is it an area where the street lighting does not work properly, as is the case in Kickham Street, where over the past 9 months the public street lighting flashes on and off at 3 minute intervals, or like Cathedral Street, where the public lighting burns both day and night?
- Is it an area where wheelchairs cannot travel on footpaths in fear of overturning, and where elderly pedestrians must walk beside moving vehicles on busy roadways to avoid breaking an ankle? I won’t discuss potholes and roads that are reminiscent of gravel driveways and for which I currently pay €3 per day in annual car road tax.
- Is it an area where signposts are so broken and abused that they no longer serve any purpose?
Continue reading Thurles County Tipperary Where Exactly Is It ?
 “Thank you for your warm welcome and for the spirit that has made this such a successful ardfheis.
As we meet tonight, there are people throughout our country who are experiencing very hard times. They are struggling with finding a job, paying their mortgage or losing a loved one to emigration.
The problems facing people are too serious for tired, old political games. I believe that people in public life have a responsibility to chart a way forward and to work to find solutions to the challenges facing Ireland. This party is determined to play a constructive and central role in Irish public life. And our focus is very clear – we will do all we can to promote credible solutions to promote growth and job creation. This government of broken promises must be held to account for its bad decisions. But we will tackle them responsibly.
When something is right for Ireland, we will support it, when it is wrong we will oppose it. Let no one be in any doubt about where Fianna Fáil stands – we believe that politics must be about solving problems not exploiting them. We are a progressive party, which believes that the State can do a lot to help people, but it must also empower them to help themselves. We are a republican party which believes in listening to the people. We believe in showing them respect by not pretending that there are easy solutions to even the hardest of problems.
We are also a party which understands the need for profound change in both our organisation and throughout Irish politics. This is the first time I’ve spoken to an Árdfheis as leader. It’s a great honour and responsibility to hold this office.
Continue reading Fianna Fail Ardfheis Speech By Micheál Martin
 A well known hotelier went to an Office Supplies store here in Co Tipperary. He was in search of an Ink Cartridge for a Computer Printer. Having located the item he then asked the cost. The proprietor replied, “I cannot accept money from you; I’m doing community service all this week.” The hotelier was pleased delighted and left the shop.
When the shop’s proprietor went to open his shop the following morning, there was a ‘Thank You,‘ card and a box of chocolates waiting for him, taped to his shop door.
Later that day, the local Doctor comes in, also in search of an Ink Cartridge, and again, when he tries to pay his bill, the proprietor replied, “I cannot accept money from you; I’m doing community service all this week.” The Doctor was delighted and left the shop.
When next morning, the proprietor went back to open up his store, there was a ‘Thank You,‘ card and a dozen freshly baked scones waiting for him, hanging from his shop door.
Next a TD came in, searching for an Ink Cartridge, and when he went to pay his bill, the proprietor again replied, “I cannot accept money from you; I’m doing community service all this week.” The TD was very happy and left the shop.
The next morning, when the proprietor went to open up, there were twelve Sinn Féin TD’s and Councillors, all lined up, waiting for free Toner Cartridges for their Laser Printers.
This story, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of Ireland and the politicians who run same.
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