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 Childrens Hospital For Dublin It seems, according to the news today, that the new National Children’s Hospital is to go ahead at the Mater University Hospital Campus, Eccles St. in Dublin 7. It beggar’s belief that this project that claims to be the new National Children’s Hospital to serve all of Ireland is going to be situated right in the centre of traffic-congested Dublin. What about the 3/4 of the population of Ireland that doesn’t live in Dublin that this hospital claims it will serve?
Well, that’s our tough luck, it seems.
The new Children’s Hospital Dublin-centric location is going to cause all sorts of problems for people living outside of the capital. A long transit time with a possible sick child would be a nightmare for parents to endure. Traffic congestion in Dublin would only add to a parent’s anxiety and then there is the parking issue. All these point’s combine to make a possible journey to the Children’s Hospital a nightmare of those people who do not live in Dublin.
It seems to me that the term ‘National’ in National Children’s Hospital is just a buzz-word, as it appears that there is nothing national about it. Indeed, their own website seems to have an identity crisis, it is called the New Childrens Hospital. Even on their homepage, I quote;
“there is unanimous agreement that there is an urgent need for capital investment in children’s healthcare infrastructure in Dublin.”
Hmmm, nothing about it serving the whole of Ireland then.
“The Children’s Hospital of Ireland will also include an ambulatory and urgent care centre at Tallaght which will provide out-patient, day-care and emergency care services primarily for families in the south-side of the city.”
Good news for Tallaght, but what about the rest of the country?
Hospital Location Controversy
The location of the National Children’s hospital was called into question by Philip Lynch in 2010 as chairman of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. He proposed a different location for it on a green field site outside of the M50. This new location made a whole lot of sense at the time as it would have been;
- substantially cheaper to build there
- have good road and rail links
- would better serve the whole country and not just Dublin.
However, he was summarily sacked for just proposing the idea. In March this year, Philip Lynch went on the radio to make the case that the proposed city centre location for the new hospital would be inaccessible and have severe parking difficulties. He described the proposed city centre location as a “cul-de-sac” and that the decision to locate the hospital in the city centre as “political” [link]. He further claimed that the city location was only chosen because;
“a deal was done on the [Mater] site….by an eminent politician”
So don’t believe the hype, the new National Children’s Hospital is not national at all.
In the words of Charles Dickens ( A Tale of Two Cities) – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.”
What a week folks. Accusations of “attempted assassination,” – the unveiling of a possible political FF “Bag Man,” – a terrorist just barely in from the cold – a few overpaid self styled celebrities promising “all kinds of everything,” – a government politician who refuses to understand something when his salary depends upon him not understanding it – a highly regarded honest, generous, gutsy elderly gentleman, and all competing for the last remaining well paid job left in Ireland today.
Following weeks of interviews, the successful applicant was eventually decided today by his employer, the Irish people, voting by a record 1,007,104 votes. Now the last remaining job in Eire, thank God, has deservedly gone to the honest, generous, gutsy elderly gentleman, Mr Michael D Higgins. My congratulations you will do us proud.
To those whose curriculum vitae’s did not come up to scratch, take heart in the lyrics of “Love On The Rocks” composed by the great singer, songwriter, Neil Diamond:-
“First, they say they want you, How they really need you.
Suddenly you find you’re out there, Walking in a storm.
When they know they have you, Then they really have you.
Nothing you can do or say, You’ve got to leave, just get away.
We all know the song.”
 Mr Thomas Cooke Mr Thomas Cooke, a Tipperary Dairy and Beef farmer has been appointed to the board of Teagasc by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Simon Coveney TD.
Mr Cooke is based in Renaghmore, Grange Barna, Thurles, Co Tipperary, and is also a member of the National Council of ICMSA and a former chairman of the ICMSA’s dairy and rural development committees.
Currently Mr Cooke is Chairman and founding member of the Irish Wind Farmers’ Cooperative Society (Meitheal na Gaoithe). Active in many other community organisations, he is Chairperson of Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development Ltd. Thomas is also the ICMSA spokesman on renewable energy and represents the independent wind energy development sector on the government sponsored “Renewable Energy Development Group,” which is a national body with advisory functions to government on the renewable industry generally.
Thomas also owns the company Biogas Environmental Tipperary East Ltd – B.E.T.E. and he is currently in the process of developing a biogas plant on his farm.
Mr Cooke will replace outgoing Mr Joe Fitzgerald on the board.
 Vote for me in next General Election I believe it was Ben Franklin who coined the phrase “Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.”
I use the word “Gombeen,” more than most when it comes to describing some politicians. So to be fair to these gombeens, I think I should explain my use of this regular apt descriptive adjective.
The word gombeen is a pejorative Hiberno-English term used in Ireland for a shady, small-time “wheeler-dealer” politicion or businessman who is always looking after his own needs, rather than the needs of those they interacts with on a daily basis. The term originally referred to merchants who exploited the starving, during the Great Irish Famine, by selling goods on credit at ruinous interest rates. Todays term “gombeen,” has been enlarged to express a broader description, best conjuring up pictures of those who pretend to look after the needs of their constituents, while really attempting to gain kudos for their next election campaign.
Allow me to give you an example of political gombeenism. As you read further, (and I hope you will) I want you to consider the costs involved in sending this letter, e.g. PR Secretaries wages, Politicians time, Paper, Envelopes, Dictation time, Stamps, Computer services and Telephone calls to local radio stations etc.
Having added up all this unnecessary expenditure, of course you may take the view that my case study of Mr Alan Kelly, TD’s exploits, are creating jobs and driving consumer spending, but remember in the age of fast Broadband, Skype, Email, Twitter and Facebook, you, the taxpayer, may feel that you have just paid for unnecessary modern day political gombeenism.
See a letter recently posted to households resident between Molly Gorman’s Cross and Seskin Boreen, from Mr Alan Kelly, TD. (Click on letter, top left, to see full resolution image.)
Google Maps are not even aware of the presence of Molly Gorman’s Cross, but for the benifit of my readers and Mr Kelly, TD, it is a “bóithrín,” and like the word “gombeen,” it is an anglicised, Hiberno-English term, normally meaning a narrow, rural road in Ireland.
This road epitomises “Forgotten North Tipperary,” from a political point of view. The narrow passageway has its hedgerows kept neatly trimmed each year by passing motorised vans, cars and trucks who break off all attempts by briar’s to hold hands across this forgotten way.
This forgotten narrow passage (Referred to as a road) is unique in other ways also. Unlike the R639 (Formally the old Dublin To Cork main road, prior to the building of the M8 ) from Urlingford to Longfordpass, which has a speed limit of 80 kilometers, this stretch of road referred to in Mr Kelly’s letter, was overlooked by the NRA, with regard to speed restrictions and therefore is enjoyed by local boy racers, because of its sharp bends, which allow vehicles travel legally at 100 kilometers.
Yes there is something you can do for your constituents Mr Kelly, stop wasting our money on self promotion and organize the NRA to place speed limit signs on this dangerous “bóithrín.”
When you are finished that little job, Thurles would like your department to investigate where you can get the €48million for our Bypass. Think of it as a stills photographic opportunity or maybe RTE will send down a camera to record you cutting a red ribbon.
Thirty years ago we had Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope today, thanks to gombeen politicians, we have no jobs, no cash and here in North Tipperary no hope.
 As you are aware, the European Union play a crucial role in deciding various water policies, ranging from flooding to water purity.
The EU now want to know your views, your concerns and your ideas on all issues relating to water, its supply, its pricing, its cleanliness and flooding.
To this end, a public consultation will take place at the Clonmel Park Hotel, Poppyfields, Clonmel on Friday, 21st October 2011 between 9.30 am and 1.00 pm.
Speakers from the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Public Works and others will be joined by the members of the European Parliament for the South Tipperary constituency, namely Seán Kelly MEP and Phil Prendergast MEP.
To book your place, phone (01) 6057900 or e-mail epdublin@europarl.europa.eu.
This event will be followed by lunch.
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