Calling all pubs, restaurants, visitor centres, attractions, accommodation providers – Only 2 days to register for Fáilte Ireland’s Covid-19 support fund. If you have incurred costs adapting your business in line with the Government’s sector-specific Guidelines for Re-opening, you may be eligible to receive between €500 and €15,000. Have you registered yet? The €26m COVID-19 Adaptation Fund …
Mother & Baby clarity welcome but we still don’t know what records we are talking about
The clarity that came from the Government last night in relation to mother and baby home records and personal data and its accessibility under GDPR is very welcome. It is important to point out right up until last year the plan was to “completely seal [the records] for a period of at least 75 years following which access to them would be subject …
€500 fine for visiting grave , but you can travel to Belmullet for a prescription
Under regulations introduced by Government the 5km travel restriction has been abolished except for exercise but you can’t visit a graveyard even if it’s next door to your home. But this new law is a complete contradiction to what is presently set out under Level 5 on the Governments website. Because of these contradictions it is now legal to go …
An alternative model for Carbon Taxes
I opposed the increase in the rate of carbon tax earlier this week because I vehemently disagree with the current carbon tax structure as it fails to differentiate between those who can avoid paying this tax and those who do not have any choice but to pay it. This is what I said in Dáil Éireann: https://youtu.be/MG1sdsKdZas While Budget 2021 …
Unfair that Leaving Cert students will get no support for November exam
After having their Leaving Cert exam deferred and then abandoned. After all the confusion with calculated grades and 6,000 student results upgraded due to coding errors. Even though students have not been in school since last March; the 2,820 students who opted to sit their Leaving Cert exam in November will get NO support from the Department of Education. Are …
Update on Covid 19 school transport for 2nd level schools
Dear Deputy Naughten, Further to your representations in respect of the school transport scheme. As you are aware School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. The school transport scheme is carrying more than 98,000 to children to primary and post-primary schools each day with an additional 14,500 children travelling on …
Ballinasloe Swimming Pool
This is an issue that I’m working very closely on with local Councillors Tim Broderick & Evelyn Parsons who are determined, as am I, to ensure that our local pool in Ballinasloe remains open to the public, subject of course to public health guidance. I know that the local Councillors have been engaging directly with Galway County Council on this …
The new Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
I welcome the fact that within 7 days of the passage of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 by Dáil Éireann, it has now come into force: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2020/october/title,151085,en.html However, it is now imperative that the staff & resources are put into the forest licencing system so that applicants and those who have raised concerns get decisions in a timely manner. …
Dying with Dignity
Tonight in Dáil Eireann we had to decide on whether we support the passage of the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020. There were many arguments put up on both sides of this debate regarding what is a complex situation, especially for individuals and families facing chronic terminal illnesses. Having considered the Bill, and having reviewed the Oireachtas Committee Report on the Right …
Taoiseach must get therapists to treat children
This is the third week in a row that I’ve raised the scandal of Speech Therapists, OT’s, Physio’s etc continuing to do contact tracing calls instead of working with children. See my full contribution here and the Taoiseach’s response: And here is my solution to the current problem: Defence forces should return to contract tracing & allow therapists to return …