https://youtu.be/1YWo_TYHLe0 Denis Naughten has announced that he will not contest the next General Election, which is due in 2025. I have decided, for both personal and professional reasons, after giving 26 years of my life to national politics that now is the time to step back and explore new opportunities. I want to thank the people of counties Longford, …
Families should check eligibility for Back to School allowances
Families who are on social welfare including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, who have not received a letter from the Department of Social Protection regarding their eligibility for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, to check if they can avail of the scheme. The scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of school …
Meat plant problem was brought to the attention of authorities months ago
Just three months ago, I was criticised for highlighting Covid-19 problems within the meat industry. https://denisnaughten.ie/2020/05/13/fundamental-flaws-in-covid-protections-in-meat-industry-must-be-addressed-naughten/ Those in authority were more interested in tacking the man than addressing the fundamental problems that were occurring right across the meat processing sector. The risk posed within the sector arose due to the close quarters within which people work & live, the atmosphere for survival and transmission of the virus …
Naughten seeks a ‘Kerrygold’ brand for beef
Denis Naughten has called for the establishment of a distinctive brand for Irish grass fed suckler beef – similar to Kerrygold – that could attract premium prices on key overseas markets. “Our Irish suckler beef is being sold as minced meat rather than maximising the price for premium cuts like fillet steak,” stated Denis Naughten. “And in reality, the situation is …
Naughten secures 25% cut to hospital injury units charges
Denis Naughten has just received confirmation that the charge for people attending hospital injury units across the country is to be cut from €100 to €75 in the coming days on foot of a proposal the Roscommon Galway TD put forward last month. Denis Naughten proposed in the Dáil that in order to better utilise injury units in hospitals which …
€470,000 Boyle funding to link town with Lough Key – Naughten
Local towns in Hidden Heartlands secure €2m Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the allocation of €470,000 to link King House, the Pleasure Grounds, Boyle Abbey and the Lough Key cycleway with a new walkway. The investment will not only improve the existing walkway along the Boyle River but also see an upgrade of the Pleasure Grounds in Boyle …
New back up air ambulance service for Roscommon Town – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has confirmed that a new back-up air ambulance service is to be based beside Roscommon University Hospital from next week. The service, which is to act as a back-up service to the Air Corps to facilitate training of its staff, will see Irish Community Rapid Response base an air ambulance helicopter beside Roscommon University Hospital for 4 …
Naughten tells Dáil, pause must be pressed on planned demolition of Shannonbridge & Lanesboro power stations
Before any decision is made on the future of the power plants themselves we must fully evaluate the possibility & potential of operating our current peat powered plants with 100% biomass. If the plants were supplied by 100% local biomass crops which facilitated a move away from beef production; it would reduce agricultural emissions by 600k tonnes of carbon each …
VAT exemption for food supplements
The Finance Minister has stated that he must introduce a VAT rate for food supplements because they are not foods: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-11-05/132/#pq_132 At the Finance Committee, I’ve questioned that argument
Roscommon Garda Divisional HQ
Prior to the decision made by the Garda Commissioner to downgrade Roscommon Garda Divisional Headquatters I contacted the Minister for Justice and also raised the issue at the Justice Committee with the Commissioner. I’ve now received a reply from Minister Flanagan: GardaDivisionReply And here is what I said previously to the Commissioner: