Politics « Thurles Information

Hypocrisy Flourishes In 33rd Dáil.

Why do people vote for politicians they know to be liars?

Sadly, some of those involved in politics, for some unknown reason, develop a certain agility as liars and hypocrites.

The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word ‘hypokrites’, which means “a stage actor”, “a pretender”, “an interpreter from underneath”.

Stage actors in ancient Greek theatre houses always wore large masks to identify which character they were playing and so they “interpreted their play from underneath” their masks.

A hypocrite is easily recognised by their preaching one thing, and doing the exact opposite.

Using the video hereunder, watch possibly the two biggest hypocrites currently in our 33rd Dáil, taking up office space in Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
I refer to of course Irish Fianna Fáil politician Mr Darragh O’Brien and Irish Green Party politician Mr Malcolm Noonan. Both men can be viewed reading from what is known in the trade as an “idiot sheet”, while acting without masks in the video recording.

Here in Co. Tipperary, we have become very good at identifying hypocrites. Same daily preach similar phony sanctimony as contained in this video, while dabbling in self-serving politics, and who operate both inside and outside of Dáil Éireann.

In the video shown above, we watched as both named individuals claim to follow expressed moral rules and principles, while displaying sanctimonious affected superiority and false virtue posturing.

First, let’s question Mr Darragh O’Brien’s statement: “Heritage Ireland 2030 celebrates the diversity of Ireland’s heritage and the value placed on it by so many. It recognises the fundamental importance of heritage to our society, to our wellbeing and to our economy.
The Strategy is built around a vision for Ireland’s heritage, in all of its forms, built, natural, cultural, linguistic tangible and intangible, being at the very centre of local and national discourse, valued by all and cared for and protected for future generations”.

So Mr O’Brien, explain to the people of Thurles, why was the 176 year old, Great Famine Double Ditch, removed from Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary earlier this year?
We had made contact with your party colleague Mr Jackie Cahill T.D and current government supporter Mr Michael Lowry T.D.
Surely, they must have discussed the importance of this rare piece of heritage with you; they being elected Co. Tipperary representatives anxious to benefit the slow and ever dwindling economy of their own home town of Thurles.

Moving on and trying not to ‘snigger’; let’s question the videoed statement of possibly the biggest hypocrite of all, Irish Green Party politician Minister Malcolm Noonan.

“The three themes of Heritage Ireland 2030 are “Communities”, “Leadership” and “Partnership”. – Published in statement by Minister Malcolm Noonan.

So why did it take two years Minister Noonan, for your office to reply to our emails?

“To protect and restore our species and habitats including peatlands to conserve and enhance our built heritage and monuments all of us must work together – Government, communities, stakeholder groups and citizens”. – Published in statement by Minister Malcolm Noonan.

So why did it take two years Minister Noonan, for your office to reply to our emails?

“We all have an active role to play as custodians of our heritage, not only for ourselves but for future generations too, and that is a core element of Heritage Ireland 2030.” – Published in statement by Minister Malcolm Noonan.

So why did it take two years Minister Noonan, for your office to reply to our emails?
Why did you allow the removal of the Great Famine, 176 year old, Double Ditch, YOU having been warned by us of its proposed destruction 2 years previously?

“Likewise, the right of everyone to engage in heritage is recognised in the strategy putting citizens and communities at the heart of how we manage it.
Our heritage is coming under all sorts of pressures largely brought about by our own actions and often inaction.
Climate change and biodiversity loss [E.G. Lady’s Well Walkway, Thurles] will be a key focus of Heritage Ireland over its lifetime, as we increase our ambition to restore nature and make our built heritage and monuments climate resilient.
Thanks are owed to the many people who gave so generously of their time and ideas in shaping Heritage Ireland and its vision.
Our shared hope is that we see real benefits for all as we work together to achieve this vision”. Published in statement by Minister Malcolm Noonan.

Finally, Minister when are you going to arrange ‘to restore’ this aforementioned piece of Thurles heritage?

Funding Approved For Flood Mitigation Works At Holycross, Thurles.

The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr Patrick O’Donovan, has announced the approval of Tipperary County Council’s application under the Office of Public Works’ Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under this scheme, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has approved funding of €77,400 to construct a new, 315-metre-long surface water storm drain, including manholes, chambers and civils works, with outfall to existing open drain at Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works back in 2009.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW, having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio.

Works that are normally the responsibility of the local authorities will generally not be considered for OPW funding. Where such works would also mitigate the risk of flooding to properties, partial funding may be considered by OPW.

The Local Authorities must be satisfied that the works will not have a significant impact on flood risk elsewhere.

The commencement and progression of any works, for which funding is approved, is a matter for each Local Authority concerned.

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series – The Role Of Communications In Driving Climate Action.

A Must View for all Elected Representatives in Co. Tipperary.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delighted to welcome Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, founder and Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and a Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment.

The public lecture will take place on tomorrow, Thursday 28th, at 7:15 pm at the EPIC Museum Dublin and will also be streamed online.

This lecture forms part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz will consider the role of the public, consumers and political will as an enabler of climate actions.

While there is an ample supply of climate solutions to support the transition to climate neutrality and resilience, sufficient demand has been lacking. Drawing on recent international surveys, including here in Ireland, Dr. Leiserowitz will provide an overview of how changing public beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours can both compel and constrain climate action by governments, companies, and individuals.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General said, “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, a leading international expert on public climate change and environmental beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviour, and also expert on the psychological, cultural, and political factors that shape them.
The EPA has worked closely with Dr. Leiserowitz and his team on our Climate Change in the Irish Mind study. This valuable project will help to understand how Irish people perceive this environmental challenge, and this can fundamentally change how we all communicate on the topic. The findings demonstrate that the Irish people overwhelmingly recognise the threat, feel personally affected by it and want to see real change.”
She further added
“Effective public engagement on climate action is essential as Ireland designs and implements actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all economic sectors by 51% by 2030”.

You can register for this free event HERE. The event will also be recorded and uploaded to the EPA YouTube channel, following this event.
You can also follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #ClimateLecture2022
Further information: Ms Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

Thurles Smart Lighting System Not All That Smart.

Back in September of 2021 we learned through Fianna Fáil Cllr. Mr Seamus Hanafin, (Cathaoirleach Thurles Municipal District council) that Thurles had been named as one of the areas chosen as a pilot for a ‘Smart Lighting Project’.

We were informed that over half a million Euro would be spent on these smart lights (40% of the overall cost) in Co. Tipperary and the aim following this expensive spend was to increase energy efficiency, thus saving money over the long term.

Tipperary County Council Engineers stated that they were convinced that by installing these lights, they would save about 60% of current energy usage; savings probably in the order of about €40,000 a year, to our public purse.

Did the EU sell Tipperary Co. Council a “pig in a poke?“

Well it now seems that these ‘Smart Lights’, here in Thurles at least, aren’t all that smart after all, and same now remain lighting day and night, without someone with the qualifications to turn the switch off.

So far, over the past at least 12 weeks, we have noted that between Thomond Road and Cathedral Street, travelling via the town park, some 15 of these street lights continue to burn the full 24 hours of each and every day.

Public lighting in Tipperary, before the recent 20% increase in energy costs, represented 38% of the council’s entire energy usage.
Now ask yourself, are you the public still happy to leave the public purse strings untied, as Tipperary Co. Council continues to waste our money, through their abysmal, substandard, administration?

Extension Of 5-year Multi Entry Short-Stay Visa Option To Visa Required Countries.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today announced the extension of the 5-year, multi entry, short-stay visa option to all visa required countries.

Announcing the change Minister McEntee stated: “The availability of 5-year multi entry short stay visas to eligible applicants from all visa required countries is a very positive measure. It will enable people who visit Ireland regularly, for business or family reasons in particular, to make one application, which when granted, will then cover travel over a five year period.
This will make travelling to Ireland a more convenient and attractive option at a time when travel worldwide is resuming and our tourism industry, in particular, is reopening following the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.”

Up to now, Ireland has offered 1 year, 2 year and 3 year multi-entry visas, with the option of a 5 year multi-entry visa only available to Chinese passport holders (introduced in 2019). This eligibility has now been extended to all visa required countries.

In general, multi entry visas are only issued to an applicant who has shown a compliant Irish travel history. With the new changes being announced by the Minister today, people who have frequent travel to the UK, Schengen zone, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, and have observed the conditions of those visas will also be able to apply for the option of a multi-year visa (of any duration from 1 to 5 years), even if they have no previous Irish travel history.

A multi entry visa may also be approved for some business travellers, under certain conditions, who have no previous travel history to Ireland.
A multi entry visa permits the holder to travel to Ireland on a number of occasions during the dates shown on the visa.
The standard single entry visa option also remains available.
As with all visa applications, the granting of a multi-entry visa is at the discretion of the relevant Visa Officer.

Prior to this announcement, the majority of short stay visa applicants could apply only for a maximum of a 3 year multi entry visa.

For a person with no previous travel history to Ireland, a multi entry visa may be approved in circumstances where the person:

Needs to travel regularly to Ireland on short visits for business meetings.
While in Ireland on business, needs to travel to another country, returning to Ireland for further meetings, or onward travel, or is travelling to and from another country, via Ireland.

Current visa fees
Single entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa = €60.
Multiple entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa = €100.