Denis Naughten raises the issue of stock market food speculation with Finance Minister in the Dáil, highlighting its impact on farmers and those living in developing countries, while costing Irish families €300 pa http://media.heanet.ie/oireachtas/asx.php?Channel=Dail&Date=20120201&StartTime=06:42:15.000&Duration=00:05:15.000
Cuts to the pupil teacher ratio in small rural schools
Later today the Dáil will vote on cuts to the pupil teacher ratio in small rural schools. I have highlighted this issue over the last number of weeks here and here but I believe that this letter I received from a parent highlights the real problems that parents in rural communities are now facing. Of course these cuts are a …
In light of current finances can the HSE deliver a future for Roscommon Hospital?
If the future of the hospital itself is to be protected then the people of Roscommon need to see HIQA approved services begin to move from Galway to Roscommon at the same speed the HSE moved to close our A & E. We are waiting for the HSE to identify these services and the Consultants who will provide same and …
His work is done!
Just as our country has come full circle in its relationship with Britain, one of the key architects of the peace process slipped away quietly. Garret Fitzgerald, as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the 1970s, was one of the key figures directly involved in negotiating the Sunningdale Agreement, which set up the original power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland. This was …
The First 50 Days
First 50 days under its belt but most of the focus of Government to date has been on the banks. One bank Report after another and none of it good news. The next 50 days have to be different; they have to focus on jobs and implementing a targeted jobs plan. It won’t be easy, but delivering on this within …
Job Shadow Initiative
Today, Shane Doyle was my job shadow as part of the National Job Shadow Initiative. This is designed to give people with disabilities a unique opportunity to get a close up look at the world of work for one day in April each year, enabling them to discover and learn about the skills and education required to compete and succeed …
Aid budget as important to Europe as Africa
EU Commissioner for Development Mr Andris Piebalgs recently addressed the Irish section of AWEPA. This was the first AWEPA meeting of the new Dáil and we had a very informative presentation and Q&A session with Commissioner Piebalgs on the allocation of his €10bn development aid budget. Just under 40% of this went to the African continent as a whole. During …
Time to take a different view of child benefit problem
The confirmation that €15m in Child Benefit is being paid out abroad by the Irish State once again highlights the fact that Irish taxpayers are funding welfare payments to nearly 8,000 children living outside of Ireland. We were told by previous Ministers for Social Welfare that we have to make these payments under “EU rules” and that may very well …
Jobs plan can create and protect employment
With 1000 people a week predicted to emigrate this year alone Ireland urgently needs to create jobs and growth. We saw a total absence of any job creation plan from the previous Government which resulted in an entire generation of long-term unemployed. We urgently need a targeted solution. Fine Gael’s NewERA plan will see an additional €7 billion invested over …
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland
I had a very interesting meeting recently with Steve Orme of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Steve pointed out that 10,000 people/year present to A&E with a brain injury. This ranges from concussion, to road traffic accidents, to strokes. It may even be as simple as falling in the shower. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland provides a range of specialised services throughout …