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 Seanad Éireann New senators are now paid €65,621 per year and no longer benefit from long-service increments, which have been abolished by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.
However, long-serving senators who were already on increments, prior to Mr Lenihan’s changes, have retained same, meaning they earn €67,634 if they have served between seven and 10 years and €69,647, if they have served more than 10 years.
This gravy train does not end here my friends, well that is according to today’s Sunday Independent, which shows ten senators receiving nearly €500,000 in expenses during the 12-month period Nov.1st 2009 to Nov.1st, 2010.
Tipperary’s three serving members of Seanad Éireann received expenses totalling over €126,800, added to their existing salaries. Tipperary Labour Senator Phil Prendergast ranked 11th highest for expenses claimed of €45,649, while next in line of our county’s Senators was Fianna Fail’s Labhras O’Murchu, coming in at 23rd position with €41,423. His party colleague John Hanafin claimed €39,732, ranking him a mere 32nd highest of the total 61 Senators listed.
First prize went to Newross Co.Wexford’s Fianna Fáil senator Jim Walsh, who received €62,196 and who on the 7th of July 2010, resigned the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party whip, along with Tipperary’s Labhrás Ó Murchú and John Hanafin, in protest at the Civil Partnership bill. Senator Walsh has repeatedly called for a freedom of conscience amendment to the legislation which would by-pass equality legislation, allowing people a religious exemption in providing goods and services to gay couples. In November 2009, Walsh claimed that women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people.
Now don’t we get real value for our money. By the way, has anyone actually seen a Tipperary Senator in recent times?
 The 41st anniversary of the death of the Old IRA leader Dan Breen, a member of the Third Tipperary Brigade of the Old IRA, was marked with a Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Donohill, Co Tipperary, today.
Dan Breen, born 11th August 1894 (Mícheál Dónall Ó Briaoin ) was also a Dáil deputy, who served as a politician and member of Dáil Éireann (Anti-Treaty) from 1923 -1927 and 1932-1965.
Dan Breen and his then comrades fired the first shots which began the War of Independence at Soloheadbeg on January 21st, 1919.
Dan died in Dublin on the 27th December 1969 and was buried in Donohill cemetery, Co. Tipperary.
Breen’s memory will also be honoured with a wreath laying ceremony at his grave, followed by a cultural evening.
 Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil has decided to only run one candidate in the Tipperary North-South Offaly constituency, in next year’s general election following a meeting of the party’s representatives.
Following a party meeting in The Ragg, Thurles, delegates voted by a solitary vote, to put forward only one candidate in the upcoming election expected in February or March 2011.
Delegates debated the issue under two headings: (1) proposal to allow three candidates to run or (2) proposal to allow a single name to be put forward on the party ticket.
The final decision came down to one vote, with the proposal to run one candidate just narrowly being agreed.
This now means that sitting North Tipperary TD, Maire Hoctor, and Fianna Fail county councillors, Michael Smith Jnr and John Hogan, look all set to contest the party nomination at the party’s re-scheduled selection convention on January 28th next.
Despite the fact that the Fianna Fail party is predicted to take a hammering in the up-coming General Election, it is difficult to see North Tipperary without a Fianna Fail representation, given the historical trend in the constituency.
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 Fianna Fáil Cabinet ministers are considering a report on changes to Irish gaming laws. This report has being fast tracked ahead of next Tuesday’s austerity budget vote and will be signed off on, in the last meeting before the Dáil ends for the Christmas holidays.
The controversial report on the licensing of super-casinos has been fast-tracked for circulation to all government ministers and their departments in the last number of days.
A spokesman for the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said that ministers will sign off on the report at the final cabinet meeting, before the Dáil shuts for the Christmas recess.
The Tipperary Venue Project, a proposed €460 million casino, near the village of Two-Mile-Borris in Tipperary, being developed by Richard Quirke, a former garda who currently runs Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium on O’Connell Street in Dublin, is planned to include a 500-room hotel and a new all weather racecourse facility.
To further proceed, this project requires major reform to the present Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956. Major changes to the present Irish gaming laws are now likely to advance the Tipperary Venue project, which has already received local planning permission.
The proposed project cannot proceed further due to legal constraints in the present Irish gambling laws and also an appeal by An Taisce against the projects planning approval, granted by North Tipperary County Council.
The Tipperary Peace Convention Committee have named their nominees for the 2011 Tipperary Peace Award.
The Tipperary Peace Award was first founded in 1984, set up to recognise people in Ireland and across the world, who promote the ideals of peace and peaceful co-operation.
Previous recipients include the late former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist Robert Frederick Zenon “Bob” Geldof, KBE, and former 42nd US President William Jefferson “Bill” ClintonClinton.
Amongst this years nominees are former president and ex-United Nations High Commissioner Mrs Mary Robinson, the Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been recently released from detention, chairman of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and United Nations Special Rapporteur, Dr Sima Samar and the Taiwanese Buddhist nun Cheng Yen. Also shortlisted are the the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza John Ging and the prime minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai.
The Tipperary Peace Convention Committee are expected to consider the nominees over the coming weeks and the winner will be announced on New Year’s Day.
Last year’s winners were the late Senator Ted Kennedy and his sister Jean Kennedy Smith, latter former US ambassador to Ireland.
The 2010 award will be presented, as usual, at a special ceremony in Tipperary town, on a date to be agreed early in the new year.
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