|
|
- Government Department reporting on 2020 procurement shows that there was a low level of inclusion of green criteria in Public Procurement.
- This represents an opportunity to significantly increase the public spend on goods and services that include green criteria. The EPA will work with Government Departments to progress this work in 2022 and beyond.
- Many Government Departments are currently working to address this by including green criteria in their procurement processes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its first report on the use of Green Public Procurement by Government Departments. Under the Climate Action Plan, lead responsibility was assigned to the EPA to report on Government Department Green Public Procurement (GPP) activity annually, starting in 2020.
In response, the EPA has compiled the first report on GPP activity by Government Departments.
The report – which is for 2020 – shows that, of the total reported spend of over €322 million on contracts over €25,000, only 17% (approximately €53 million) included green criteria.
The reported spend is for Government Department contracts only, and excludes agencies affiliated to those Government Departments. The priority sectors for reporting by Government Departments were: Transport, Construction, Energy, Food and Catering Services, Cleaning Products and Services, Textiles IT Equipment and Paper.
Launching the report Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General), said:
“The purchasing power of Ireland’s government sector has significant potential to reduce emissions and protect our environment while saving money over the full lifecycle of goods and services.
Government commitment to green purchasing sends a powerful signal to the market that the Government requires goods, services and works that make the most positive contribution to our environment and can save money over their full lifecycle. It promotes innovation in the marketplace for goods and services with a reduced environmental impact.
The low level of implementation of Green Public Procurement reported by Government Departments is a missed opportunity to purchase more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works within the marketplace.”
The report sets out recommendations for Government Departments to ensure that they will be able to meet the 2023 requirement in the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ that all procurement using public funds will need to include green criteria.
The report ‘Green Public Procurement: Monitoring and Reporting by Government Departments, 2020 Reference Year’ is now available on the EPA website and presents an overview of the monitoring and reporting requirements of GPP in Government Departments, the process used to collate data, a summary of the findings and recommendations.
The report shows some progress by Departments in actively working to include Green Public Procurement in their processes, as reported in their 2020 Annual Reports.
However, further work is needed to improve the use of and reporting of Green Public Procurement in 2022 and beyond. The EPA will work directly with Government Departments and other stakeholders, including the Office of Government Procurement, to share learnings and recommendations and to support training requirements to ensure the progression of this work. Both guidance and training for the public sector on Green Public Procurement are available from the EPA.
For Further Information Contact: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office, Tel: 053-9170770 (24 hours) or email media@epa.ie.
  
The Belfast Crown Court has ordered the BBC to hand over broadcast and withheld or withdrawn material, to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), from their documentary series about the Northern Ireland Troubles, first broadcast back in 2019.
The material is expected to includes interviews with Rev. Fr. Patrick Ryan, latter a Roman Catholic priest, who told the programme he had maintained a network of Europe-wide contacts, same used to generate arms and money for the IRA.
The priest in question, Fr. Patrick (Paddy) Ryan, now in his 92nd year, was born on June 26th, 1930, in Rossmore, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, one of six children born to a rural farming family.
Fr. Ryan had shown no great interest in politics beyond a hatred for past and present British rule on the island of Ireland; however the Roman Catholic Church and the Pallottine Order would formally suspend him from priestly duties, after he refused a transfer to a Parish Church in England.
Later on, during a trip to Rome in the summer of that same year, he is reported to have informed Italian priests that he hoped that the IRA would bomb the centre of London.
By the Autumn of 1973, he was shuttling back and forth between Dublin and Geneva, opening bank accounts and transferring funding (over £1,000,000) reportedly, granted by his newly acquired contacts within Libyan Military Intelligence in Tripoli.
You can find the full story HERE.
A PSNI lawyer told the court that there were reasonable grounds to believe that same material, currently the property of the BBC was likely to be of use in future terrorist investigations.
Keeping in mind the need to protect the public from terrorist activity; Mr Justice Neil Rafferty presiding in Belfast Crown Court, granted the order allowing the PSNI to access the gathered material.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today, Wednesday 6th April 2022, of Mr Pa Joe Hayes, Ballyduff, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by his parents John and Maisie; the passing of Mr Hayes is most deeply regretted by his loving wife Marie, son Aidan and his partner Clare, brother Toss, uncle Michael (Keogh), mother-in-law Madge (Purcell), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr Hayes will repose at Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Lognafulla, Thurles, on Thursday evening, April 7th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
The funeral cortège bearing the body of Mr Hayes will be received into the Church St. Mary Church, Moyne, Thurles on Friday morning next, April 8th, at 11:15am for Funeral Mass at 11:30am.
For the many persons who would have liked to have attended Requiem Mass for Mr Hayes, but are unable to do so, due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic; same can be viewed online HERE.
NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending Requiem Mass will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]
The extended Hayes 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.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Tuesday 5th April 2022, of Mr Patrick (Paddy) McCormack, Poynstown, Glengoole, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre- deceased by his parents James and Mary-Teresa, brother Seamus and sister Marion; Mr McCormack passed away peacefully at his place of residence, surrounded by his loving family.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his devoted wife Irene, daughters Karen, Paula, Irené, Marie-Therese and Christine, sons P.J. and Francis, his adoring 11 grandchildren, sons-in-law Rodrigo, Michael, Gary and Martin, daughter-in-law Olivia, brothers Eamonn, Noel, Michael and Liam, sister Sr. Catherine, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
Reposing at his residence (E41 P970) on Thursday evening, April 7th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
His body will be received into the Church of St. Patrick and St. Oliver, Glengoole, Thurles on Friday, April 8th, at 11:00am to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am.
Interment will take place immediately afterwards in Fenor Hill Cemetery, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
[NB: Due to Public Health Guidelines, regarding C-19 virus restrictions; those attending Requiem Mass will continue to observe strict adherence to social distancing, face covering, with no hand shaking.]
The extended McCormack 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: House strictly private on Friday morning.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
A 42-year-old Thurles man has appeared at Bandon District Court, charged in connection with the murder of an English national, at his home in west Cork, some four and a half years ago.
Mr Jonathan Ustic, a 51-year-old from Cornwall, was located dead having sustained serious injuries, following an assault at his rented terraced house on High Street in Skibbereen, Co Cork, on September 24th, 2017 last. The father of one, Mr Ustic, had moved to Ireland back in 2005 and had previously lived in Drimoleague and Bantry, Co Cork and in Co Tipperary, having moved from the UK.
Andrew Nash, of Parnell Street in Thurles, Co Tipperary was brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court today, where he was formally charged with the murder of Mr Ustic.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Long gave evidence of arrest charge and caution of Mr Nash. Gardaí are understood to have arrested Mr Nash this morning at 8:05am in Parnell Street, Thurles, before he was removed to Bandon Garda station for questioning.
Detective Sergeant Long informed the court that he charged Mr Nash with one count of the murder of Mr Ustic at 11:32am today adding that Mr Nash had made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the accused be sent for trial by indictment at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
No application was made for bail at the hearing, however the Defence barrister Mr Peter O’Flynn, for Mr Nash said his client was reserving the right to apply for bail in the High Court.
Mr Justice Roberts assigned free legal aid in the case before remanding Mr Nash in custody to appear before Bandon District Court on Thursday April 7th next.
Father of one Mr Ustic had moved to Ireland in 2005 and had previously lived in Drimoleague and Bantry, Co Cork and in Co Tipperary following his relocation from the UK.
|
Support Us Help keep Thurles.info online by donating below. Thank you.
Total Donated 2024: €300.00
Thank You!
Daily Thurles Mass Livestream
|
Recent Comments