Once again taxpayers money continues to be wasted by Tipperary County Council. The most recent wanton waste can be viewed at Bowes Corner, west of the town. (See image hereunder).
Note, Chinese granite stone has been laid around the ESB metal standard and a new Belisha Beacon pole; (no fault of the contractor), undertaken on the instructions of highly paid engineers and overpaid consultants.
It would appear that engineers and consultants have both failed to keep up to date on guidelines laid down by the National Transport Authority with regard to the basic principles governing universal access. (Note again the picture attached.)Universal access principles mean the avoidance of obstacles and impediments for people with disabilities; thus ensuring that adequate width and clearance is provided to enable them to have unimpeded access to pedestrian facilities. Imagine the confusion these obstacles, at Bowes Corner, will cause to a blind person using a guide dog, or a disabled person using a mobility power chair device.
the Chinese granite stonework will now have to be ripped up, the metal standard shifted and all financed by the stoically patient and long-suffering taxpayer.
Placing the cart before the horse.
Tipperary County Council and their officials within the Thurles Municipal district continue to “Place the cart before the horse.”
Recent developments within Thurles are now seen by local residents as superficial. Take the half developed upgrade to Liberty Square for example. Yes, it has the veneer of development. Certainly things look nicer around the town, but have failed totally to have a really deep and meaningful impact. Traffic congestion is worse. The nightmare, that is traffic, would have been substantially alleviated with a Ring Road/Bypass, and consumers would have been attracted to shop on our Liberty Square and other areas in our town centre, rather than, as it is now, avoiding Thurles altogether, because you can’t get through its increasing congested streets.
The removal of parking from the square and elsewhere, has not incentivized locals to pay for parking in car parks, instead they are heading to find the free parking readily available at Thurles Shopping Centre, Lidl and Aldi; choosing convenience and practicality over notions that are better suited to large city centre life.
The developments applied to Liberty square and surrounding streets are great in theory, but in practice ask yourself “Are they meeting the needs of a rural town, it’s business and consumers?” A central square with spaces for pedestrians and eating outside is lovely, but in reality, seem more appropriate to Dublin City and places that have an efficient and well established public transport network. Pedestrianised streets; reduced parking, together with wooden picnic benches, latter for 8 weeks of the year, were never a priority for Thurles; the Thurles Ring Road/Bypass was; same now not expected to be included in any National Development Plan at least until 2030, if ever! We may welcome the half provided, aesthetic improvements to Liberty square, but many of us would have waited for those, and taken a Ring Road/Bypass first. Things have and are been done in totally the wrong order!
Unfortunately, the real people making decisions don’t walk the streets of Thurles town, nor appreciate what we need, to develop it, based on our unique rural needs; the Ring Road being a long standing local priority, and proving yet again that our two local resident politicians have absolutely no clout.
We, residing in Thules, have watched helplessly as almost 2.4 kilometres of Hedgerow in the past 20 months was removed in the town, during the nesting season, with local Municipal District councillors highlighting such removals on social media, in an effort to give the impression that they are hard at work benefiting their electorate.
Despite every effort to call a halt to this wanton destruction, our best exertions fell upon deaf ears both locally; at the National Parks and Wildlife Service and at government Ministerial level, [exempli gratia, Ministers Mr Malcolm Noonan and Minister Mr Eamon Ryan.]
We have watched helplessly the removal of a 150 meters long, 50 year old mature Whitethorn hedgerow, situated east of Lidl supermarket, in the recently constructed new town centre area; the destruction at the walkway on ‘Lady’s well’; and the now totally destroyed historic “Great Famine Double Ditch” at Mill Road, in the town.
Members representing ‘Hedgerows Ireland’, latter a non-profit organization formed to protect against hedgerow removals, has now rightly claimed that such continuing removals could change the Irish landscape, beyond all current recognition.
It is no secret that Ireland’s hedgerows host a rich ecosystem, acting as Irelands rain forestwithin which some two third of our native birds use to roost, nest and feed.
Currently, to our shame and the shame of our present collision government; Irish current rules regarding any hedge removal, facilitate the eradication of half a kilometre (.62mls) of hedgerow, without any environmental assessment or scrutiny. Some 95% of all applications for hedgerow removal are approved, thus eradicating a huge pollinator and wildlife reservoir, not to mention an area supporting massive carbon storage.
Sadly, their calls; to quote a line from William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, will be “More honoured in the breach than the observance.”
Quote – Former British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair.
The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris, has today, noted the decision by the UK Government to establish a Statutory Inquiry on foot of the judgment in the Belfast High Court.
Minister Harris said: “What happened at Omagh was an unspeakable and brutal act of cruelty. The terrorists who carried it out had simply no sense of humanity and they displayed a complete and shocking disregard for life itself. It is they who carry responsibility for this brutal act. We will never forget those who lost their lives, those who were injured and the families whose suffering for their loved ones continues. The Irish Government is deeply conscious of the enduring suffering and hardship that survivors of Troubles-related attacks bear. The Government has always sought to acknowledge and address the legitimate needs and expectations of victims’ families and survivors of Troubles-related attacks. It is the case, of course, that a number of reviews/investigations have previously taken place in this jurisdiction with regard to Omagh. I will be discussing today’s announcement with my Government colleagues and we will, of course, consider what further action is required on our part, in response to the UK Government’s decision to establish an inquiry. I look forward to receiving further detail on the proposed UK Inquiry as it becomes available.”
Omagh Bombing Saturday August 15th 1998
At around 2:30, three phone calls had been made warning of a bomb in Omagh, using the same codeword that had been used in the Real IRA’s bombing in Banbridge, two weeks earlier: “Martha Pope”. “There’s a bomb, courthouse, Omagh, main street, 500lb, explosion thirty minutes.” The caller claimed the warning was given on behalf of “Óglaigh na hÉireann,”[Irish – “The Defense Forces of Ireland”.]
The Omagh bomb exploded on August 15th 1998, killing 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins and injuring 220 other people. In 1989, a then recently-formed dissident republican group, calling itself the ‘Real IRA’, claimed responsibility for the bomb and in a statement, confirmed that its targets were “commercial” while offering an apology to the victims.
In 2002, a dissident republican Mr Colm Murphy, aged 49, was found guilty of plotting to cause the Omagh bombing.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army’s Quartermaster General Mr Michael McKevitt, in protest allegedly founded and became leader of the Real IRA in 2003. The latter was found guilty of directing terrorism between August 29th 1999 and October 23rd 2000 and being a member of an illegal organisation, here in the Irish Republic.
In 2009 a judge in a civil trial ruled that Mr Michael McKevitt, Mr Liam Campbell, Mr Colm Murphy and Mr Seamus Daly were all liable for the Omagh bombing. They were ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the 12 relatives, who had taken a civil case.
Mr Liam Campbell and ‘Real IRA’ leader Mr Michael McKevitt, took their case to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the civil trial in Belfast High Court, had been unfair. Both cases were rejected. Mr McKevitt was officially released from prison in March, 2016, and died on January 2nd 2021, at the age of 71 years, following a six year battle with cancer.
In 2020, a Fermanagh and Omagh District Council committee passed a motion opposing the extradition of Mr Liam Campbell to Lithuania, regarding their allegations that he was part of an operation to purchase guns and explosives for the ‘Real IRA.’
At least one family member, of an Omagh bomb victim, now resides in Co. Tipperary.
* Intention to enact Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 swiftly, to allow for body worn camera pilot this year. * Use of body-worn cameras will protect frontline Gardaí and deter criminal activity. * Strengthened powers to be introduced around CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software.
The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD, today introduced legislation in the Dáil to allow for the use of body worn cameras and other crucial modern policing tools by An Garda Síochána.
Minister Harris said the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022, which was taken at second stage today, will significantly strengthen the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle crime and protect national security.
The use of body worn cameras will also be hugely important in helping to protect frontline Gardaí as they do their duty in keeping people safe.
Minister Harris hopes to enact the Bill as soon as possible to allow Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to pilot the use of body-worn cameras later this year, prior to their widespread roll-out.
The Bill is in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which was published in 2019, and is a priority action in Justice Plan 2022. It is part of a suite of legislation being introduced by the Government to reform An Garda Síochána.
Among the central elements of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 are:
Allowing for recording from body worn cameras, helicopters, aircraft, Garda dogs, drones, mobile devices and tablets.
Extending the powers governing Garda use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to help prevent crime and prosecute those involved in criminal activity.
Providing powers for An Garda Síochána to access third party CCTV on a live-feed basis to support them in carrying out their function, subject to strict guidelines and oversight.
Placing a statutory obligation on the Garda Commissioner to prepare Codes of Practice, which will be submitted to the Minister for Justice for approval, regarding the operation of recording devices and CCTV
Work is already underway on these codes and they will address standards to be applied, confidentiality, security, storage, access and retention of data.
The Department of Justice has engaged extensively with An Garda Síochána, Garda oversight bodies and strategic partners, during the preparation of this Bill, as well as the Office of the Data Protection. Commissioner, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
Minister Harris said: “The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. This means providing An Garda Síochána with the tools to fight crime in a modern era and to protect our frontline Gardaí as they do their duty. Policing services across the world have gained significant benefits from the introduction of these technologies and people will have seen their effective use in fighting and solving crime in other jurisdictions. I firmly believe that our Gardaí must have the same tools as their colleagues in police services across Europe and around the world. I am confident that body worn cameras will play an important role in improving Garda front-line capabilities and in ensuring the accurate recording of incidents. Garda use of this technology will be primarily for the investigation, detection, prevention and prosecution of criminal offences, the safeguarding against and the prevention of threats to public safety and public order, and in matters relating to the security of the State.”
The Minister added that body worn cameras are also hugely important in protecting Gardaí, as well as being a key investigative tool. Under the Bill, body worn cameras must be visible on the clothing of the Garda member and have a light showing when they are recording. The Bill also contains a broad definition of recording device to ensure the legislation is future proofed.
Minister Harris added: “Members of An Garda Síochána are placing themselves at great personal risk and we must support them in every way we can as they do their jobs. Attacks on our brave Gardaí, or attempts to intimidate them, must be utterly condemned, and body worn cameras will be key to ensuring they are protected as they carry out their duties. Body worn cameras are also a key investigative tool. For example, I know from speaking to frontline Gardaí that the first moments after they arrive at the scene of domestic abuse are key to gathering evidence which can then be used to protect the victim and ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
The new Bill will regulate the use of recording devices in public spaces; where An Garda Síochána have a power of entry authorised by law; and in places where they have implied or express permission to be.
Provision will also be made for recording to be carried out from Garda helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and drones – which will be key to tackling organised crime gangs and protecting national security.
Minister Harris continued: “Another key area in the Bill is the new arrangements for CCTV schemes. CCTV schemes are currently dealt with under section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, which will be repealed and replaced. This Bill sets out how CCTV schemes should be managed in the future to ensure that they reflect changes in the law on foot of the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Law Enforcement Directive. This will include an important role for Community Safety Partnerships, which will develop Community Safety Plans, with strong local input. The Bill will also allow for the processing of live feeds of third party CCTV, and the recording of certain calls to and from An Garda Síochána and providing An Garda Síochána with an updated legal basis for the installation and operation of CCTV on Garda premises.”
An Garda Síochána are working on draft codes of practice for, amongst other things, body worn cameras and CCTV, with a view to ensuring they are ready for when the Bill is enacted.
In creating these codes, there will be a number of bodies with whom the Garda Commissioner will have to consult and there will be impact assessments, on human rights and data protection that have to be carried out.
Each code of practice will be submitted to the Minister for approval and once approved, it will be contained in a Ministerial Order, thereby making it a public document.
On the issue of Automatic Number Plate Recognition Data, Minister Harris said it is important for Gardaí to be able to access ANPR Data from the cameras of organisations who are already operating ANPR cameras at strategic locations in the State.
The initial bodies that are to be included are the National Roads Authority (motorway cameras), DAA (Dublin and Cork Airport ANPR cameras) and Dublin Port.
The Minister for Justice may designate other bodies to be included but it would only be of use where an organisation has an extensive network of ANPR cameras in place.
Minister Harris said he expects strong support from across the House for this key piece of legislation, with contains a series of provisions to protect frontline members of An Garda Síochána and help them tackle crime.
“Front-line workers are working under immense pressure, under immense strain and they are extremely courageous. The least we can do is give them the tools, the training and the environments in which they can do that work at the safest possible level”.
Above quote from the lips of Dr Mike Ryan, latter current Executive Director Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (WHO).
For years, University Hospital Limerick has been the most overcrowded hospital in our Irish Republic, with a record of 18,028 patients waiting on trolleys and on trolleys in wards, during 2022, according to reliable figures provided by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), based on their 5-day trolley and ward count.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes – Who shall keep the keepers themselves?
As our elected Tipperary politicians decorate their social media pages; each attempting to associate themselves with greatness, based on the recent personal hard work and well deserved successes of other individuals; e.g. Winners of American Golden Globe Awards, GAA match parish triumphs & Irish BT Young Scientist & Technology award winners; University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and Nenagh Hospital, both medical facilities serving North Tipperary, have during their tenure as TD’s, been left unrepresented; disrespected; ignored and totally neglected.
One would have believed that same of our politicians, if fully awake, would have seen the writing on the wall, when on April 21st last 2022, all records were broken when 126 patients waited on trolleys; the highest ever daily figure since 2006.
In the last 14 days we have listened and read press releases from our politicians, (written by those with lesser authority than themselves), criticizing HSE officials and staff with regards over-crowding conditions at our hospitals.
Do you hear the people sing?
“Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!”
[Extract from song written by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, “Do you hear the people sing?” – Les Miserables]
Meanwhile, a protest held in Limerick city today, organised by the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, together with Friends of Ennis Hospital and groups representing Nenagh Hospital, saw some 11,000 people take to the streets of the city.
Two separate, one minute silences, were observed during the protest; one for to remember the 126 people who were left waiting on trolleys last April, same the highest daily figure ever recorded at the UHL facility; the second in memory of a Co. Clare teenager, Ms Aoife Johnston, who sadly died from meningitis last month at UHL, after allegedly spending a significant period of time on a hospital trolley.
Protesters carried pictures of their loved ones today, latter who were left frightened and nervous due extreme overcrowded conditions, and alas some others who passed away at the medical facility.
Protesters stated they were exceedingly angry and fearful that this overcrowding has been allowed to continue and are seeking a reversal of the decision taken in 2009, under a Fianna Fáil government, to downgrade the 24-hour services at Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary; Ennis Hospital Co. Clare, and St John’s Hospital, Co. Limerick.
Similar smaller protests took place elsewhere around the country today, with protesters sending a similar message to both the Government and the Health Service Executive, stating that they were no longer going to tolerate a health system which has, for far too long, been ignored and mismanaged.
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