Thurles Information

Further Extended Legislation For Pub & Restaurant Outdoor Seating Areas.

Minister Mrs Helen McEntee to further extend legislation for pub and restaurant outdoor seating areas.

Proposed to extend Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 until 30th November 2022.
Provides certainty for licenced premises serving alcohol in outdoor seating areas as summer season approaches.

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee has moved to further extend the operation of outdoor seating areas, as licensed premises look ahead, to the busy summer months.

The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 was first introduced in July 2021, bringing about changes to allow for the sale and consumption of alcohol in relevant outdoor seating areas.

Minister McEntee stated: “Government has today approved my proposal to seek an extension to this legislation for a further six months until 30th November 2022. I will bring the necessary Motions before the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity in advance of 31st May.

The Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 gave much needed certainty to licenced premises during the pandemic, allowing publicans and restaurant owners across the country serving alcohol in relevant outdoor seating areas to operate lawfully.

Alcohol may be sold in the applicable areas until 11pm, which is considered reasonable and proportionate as a nationwide approach for private land outdoor seating areas.

While most of the Covid-19 restrictions have now lifted, I am very aware of how hard our pubs, restaurants and nightclubs have been hit by the restrictions of the past two years.

Many of these businesses are still struggling and it’s important that we give them the assistance they need to thrive as the busy summer season approaches. The extension of this legislation is a key support in that regard.”

The legislation applies where those outdoor seating areas have been permitted by the relevant local authority on public land, such as a path, or where they are on private land abutting the licensed premises, such as an abutting yard, as provided for in the Act.

Minister McEntee added that the forthcoming legislation on licensing laws – the Sale of Alcohol Bill – will help to further support and revitalise the hospitality industry and Night-Time Economy.

The Minister said: “I am committed to enacting alcohol licensing laws that reflect the changing expectations and lifestyles of 21st century Ireland. A modernised licensing system will play an important role in revitalising existing Night-Time Economy businesses.

To this end, my Department is currently working on the drafting of the General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill. This is advancing well, and it is my intention to progress this legislation in the months ahead with a view to enacting it this year”.

EPA Publishes Guidelines On Information To Be Contained In Environmental Impact Assessment Reports.

The EPA has today published updated Guidelines for preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIARs) for projects covered by the EIA Directive.
The Guidelines are a statutory document that should be regarded by those preparing EIARs and the decision makers considering the EIARs.
These guidelines should improve the quality of EIARs, making the overall process clearer and easier to understand and easier for the public to participate.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published ‘Guidelines on the information to be contained in Environmental Impact Assessment Reports’.
The Guidelines are primarily intended to be an authoritative reference to those preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIARs) for projects covered by the EIA Directive.

Clear, concise, unambiguous information is essential throughout these reports. The Guidelines contain the systematic approach, standard descriptive methods and effect descriptions that can be used by developers. This ensures that all the likely significant effects are adequately considered and clearly communicated.

Commenting on the publication of the Guidelines, Ms. Sharon Finegan, (Director, EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability) said: “With increased emphasis on the need for meaningful public participation in decisions relating to environmental issues, it is more important than ever to ensure that information is available to the public in a format that is clear, concise and accessible. The Guidelines should improve the quality of EIARs, make the overall process clearer and easier to understand and should make it easier for the public to participate”.

The Guidelines are a statutory document that should be regarded by those preparing EIARs and the decision makers considering the EIARs.
The Guidelines will assist competent authorities when considering EIARs during the decision-making processes prior to granting/refusing consent. The EPA’s updated Guidelines will result in better environmental protection by ensuring that the EIA process is more clear, accessible, and identifies effects early and accurately.
The Guidelines are available on the EPA’s website HERE.
Contact: Ms Emily Williamson, (EPA Media Relations Office), Tel: 053 9170770, Email: media@epa.ie

New Gynaecological Health Clinic Opens At Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary.

A specialist regional Clinic focused on women’s gynaecological health; located at a new €1.4m extension at Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary, has now opened.

This regional clinic; the first new menopause clinic to be established outside of our capitol city, includes a specialist menopause clinic, which will give women speedier access to such medical services and hopefully cut drastically hospital admissions.

The new clinic is designed to improve women’s health through a new model of care through the HSE’s National Women’s and Infants health programme, and is expected, later this year, to provide a specialist fertility service, which will be consultant-led.

The clinic at Nenagh will provide ambulatory gynaecology services, including ultrasound and biopsy services, pelvic ultrasound, diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy on site, following all referrals by area GP’s, while improving immediate access to diagnostics and treatment.

It will also provide services to teenage girls and adolescents who experience difficult gynaecological conditions in their teenage years.

Nightmare On Friar Street.

As we are all aware a nightmare is really just a most unpleasant dream that causes strong emotional responses from our minds. Not only does it cause, typically, great fear, but also often great despair, anxiety and even inordinate sadness.

Well between ourselves, and please let this conversation go no further; I had a nightmare last night that left me waking up, drenched in sweat, while shouting “Jackie, where is the half million Euros”.

**Massive hole continues to grow on Friar Street in Thurles**, **Co. Tipperary**.

From what I can still clearly recall, there was a massive hole in the street at Bowes Corner on Friar Street here in Thurles; that was causing a lot of accidents, damage to vehicles and worst of all, deaths.

The Cathaoirleach of Thurles Municipal District Council held an emergency meeting with the more intelligent people on the council, to discuss a possible solution to this most worrying of developments.

One councillor suggested parking an ambulance next to the hole, so that whenever any such accident occurred in the future, the victim could be quickly transported to our majorly overcrowded University Hospital in Limerick, to repose on a trolley, possibly reducing at least a few of the rising fatalities.

Another councillor suggested that there could be a scenario on any GAA match days, where a multiple collision could occur, thus while one ambulance is busy transporting a victim on the 90 mile round trip to Limerick, other victims would be left stretched on our dodgy footpaths. He suggested putting ten ambulances near the hole instead of just one.

A third councillor wisely interrupted and raised his concerns about the prices of petrol and wages for paramedics; pointing out that building a new hospital, next to the hole, would actually cost less in the long term.

Yet another councillor suggested that the assembly were being over dramatic, and with the poor quality of hurling emerging from Tipperary clubs this season, the idea of multiple collisions was the “stuff of unnecessary panic”.

To avoid a plenary session, which would have allowed councillors to spend time working in smaller groups and taking an informal approach to problem solving, with lateral thinking; the Cathaoirleach of the Thurles Municipal District Council interrupted his convened assembly.
He tells them that such solutions are all far too expensive, and instead he suggests that the hole be filled-in immediately and another one dug in front of Limerick hospital to save money.

With no chance of sleep now returning to my weary bones and with the sun coming up over the ridge of Killough Hill, I quickly took a cold shower, got dressed and headed with all haste for Bowe’s Corner.

Yes, thanks be to the Almighty God, I can now confirm it was all a complete nightmare. The nine month old crater still remains fully intact and getting bigger by the day.

Ah, sure I’ll have to stop eating and exercising just before bedtime and avoid those naps in the middle of the day.

Death Of Jim Kent, Formerly Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary.

It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death on Sunday, 15th May 2022, of Mr James (Jim) Seamus Kent, Templeogue, Co. Dublin and formerly of Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Kent passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at his place of residence.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his wife Margaret (Peggy), immediate family Eileen, Seamus, Fiona, Ann-Marie, Eamonn and Joseph, adored 12 grandchildren, daughters-in-law Margo and Karen, son-in-law Garrett, brothers Seán and Liam, sisters Phyllis, Eileen, Marie, Ann, Nuala and Geraldine, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Kent will repose at his home on tomorrow evening, Tuesday, May 17th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
His body will be received into the Church of St. Jude the Apostle, Rossmore Rd, Templeogue (Willington) Dublin 6W, to further repose for Requiem Mass on Wednesday morning, at 11:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Newlands Cross Cemetery, Ballymount Road, Dublin 24.

For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mr Kent, but due to distance or ill health are unable to do so, same can be viewed online HERE.

[NB: Due to C-19 virus fears; those attending will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]

The extended Kent family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to a charity of your choice.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.