Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Taking the next step with education
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement of the Education Open Day on Friday 9th November at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan. “If you are wondering what to do next or thinking about going to college or returning to education, this open day is the ideal opportunity to receive valuable information and advice on the next steps, including guidance on CV/s, careers and rights and entitlements”. All the top Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology will be at this event and on the day attendees will be able to meet and chat with the Colleges and Institutions, find out about all the courses they offer; discover the special HEAR and DARE entry routes for eligible candidates and find out about the CAO application process.
Taking the next step with education
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, today (Wednesday) welcomed the announcement of the Education Open Day on Friday 9th November at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan.
“If you are wondering what to do next or thinking about going to college or returning to education, this open day is the ideal opportunity to receive valuable information and advice on the next steps, including guidance on CV/s, careers and rights and entitlements”.
All the top Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology will be at this event and on the day attendees will be able to meet and chat with the Colleges and Institutions, find out about all the courses they offer; discover the special HEAR and DARE entry routes for eligible candidates and find out about the CAO application process.
“If you are wondering what to do next or thinking about going to college or returning to education, this open day is the ideal opportunity to receive valuable information and advice on the next steps, including guidance on CV/s, careers and rights and entitlements”.
All the top Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Technology will be at this event and on the day attendees will be able to meet and chat with the Colleges and Institutions, find out about all the courses they offer; discover the special HEAR and DARE entry routes for eligible candidates and find out about the CAO application process.
Friday, October 26, 2012
EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT: The Bellewstown Bridge
EMERGENCY ROAD CLOSURE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT: The
Bellewstown Bridge - Closure is due to structural concerns about Bellewstown
Bridge.
Emergency Road Closure: Bellewstown Bridge
The L-56172-0 Road has been closed to through traffic at Bellewstwon bridge. The emergency closure is necessary due to structural concerns regarding Bellewstown Bridge. The road will remain closed as a precautionary measure until further notice.
Meath County Council would like to thank road users for their cooperation.
Alternative Route:
North Bound Traffic – Take the L-5617-10 eastward, at the next crosswords turn left onto the L-1615-0, head north along this road until you reach the R-150-109, this is the end of the diversion
South Bound Traffic – Travel in an eastwardly direction along the R-150-109, at the next junction turn right onto the L-1615-0, heading south along this road until the reach the next crossroads at this point turn right onto the L-5617-0, travelling in a westwardly you will reach the junction of the L-56172-0, this is the end of the diversion.
Emergency Road Closure: Bellewstown Bridge
The L-56172-0 Road has been closed to through traffic at Bellewstwon bridge. The emergency closure is necessary due to structural concerns regarding Bellewstown Bridge. The road will remain closed as a precautionary measure until further notice.
Meath County Council would like to thank road users for their cooperation.
Alternative Route:
North Bound Traffic – Take the L-5617-10 eastward, at the next crosswords turn left onto the L-1615-0, head north along this road until you reach the R-150-109, this is the end of the diversion
South Bound Traffic – Travel in an eastwardly direction along the R-150-109, at the next junction turn right onto the L-1615-0, heading south along this road until the reach the next crossroads at this point turn right onto the L-5617-0, travelling in a westwardly you will reach the junction of the L-56172-0, this is the end of the diversion.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Daly needs to get her facts straight about JobBridge success
Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) called on Clare Daly to get her facts straight in relation to the success of the JobBridge programme which has seen over half of those who completed the programme gain paid employment. Deputy Daly’s remarks in the Dáil on Wednesday (October 24th) claiming that ‘not too many people’ had gained employment are wholly inaccurate.
“Deputy Daly should do her homework and get her facts straight about JobBridge and the amount of people who have found gainful employment on completion of the programme. Misleading the public is irresponsible and demonstrates a preference for spouting incorrect information simply to bolster their populist profile.
“The clear facts are that JobBridge has been a highly successful initiative. Since its introduction in July 2011 by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, a total of 11,246 have taken part in JobBridge and there are currently 5,145 people currently participating in the programme. An Indecon report published this week shows that 52% of those that completed JobBridge are currently in paid employment since finishing their internship; 51.6% of non-graduate interns have secured employment; and 89.3% of interns felt that JobBridge had given them new skills. The findings of this report clearly show that JobBridge has achieved its goal of getting people off the live register and into gainful employment.
“These figures clearly show that more than ‘a few hundred’ people have gained employment as claimed by Deputy Daly. I cannot understand where she got her figures from and how she can stand by them when an independent review clearly highlights how successful the programme has been. I hope that Deputy Daly will pay more attention to the facts as they stand in future.”
“Deputy Daly should do her homework and get her facts straight about JobBridge and the amount of people who have found gainful employment on completion of the programme. Misleading the public is irresponsible and demonstrates a preference for spouting incorrect information simply to bolster their populist profile.
“The clear facts are that JobBridge has been a highly successful initiative. Since its introduction in July 2011 by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, a total of 11,246 have taken part in JobBridge and there are currently 5,145 people currently participating in the programme. An Indecon report published this week shows that 52% of those that completed JobBridge are currently in paid employment since finishing their internship; 51.6% of non-graduate interns have secured employment; and 89.3% of interns felt that JobBridge had given them new skills. The findings of this report clearly show that JobBridge has achieved its goal of getting people off the live register and into gainful employment.
“These figures clearly show that more than ‘a few hundred’ people have gained employment as claimed by Deputy Daly. I cannot understand where she got her figures from and how she can stand by them when an independent review clearly highlights how successful the programme has been. I hope that Deputy Daly will pay more attention to the facts as they stand in future.”
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monster energy drinks should be removed from shop shelves immediately
Caffeine-laden drinks should only be available in off licence section of shops
Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has today (Wednesday) called for an immediate removal of Monster energy drinks from shop shelves, following the death of a 14 year old girl in the US who consumed two 24-ounce cans over a two-day period, containing 480mg of caffeine in total.
“Following the news that a fourteen year old girl died after consuming two of the high caffeine cans of energy drink Monster, and that a further four cases are being investigated in the US, I am calling for the immediate removal of these drinks from shop shelves across the country so that children and young people do not have easy access to them. They should instead be sold in the off licence section of the shop.
“I have written to the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter TD, and the Minister for Health, James Reilly TD, requesting that immediate legislation be drawn up to protect our children from these types of drinks. The rise in consumption of soft drinks and junk food in general in this country is extremely worrying, especially among children, and there is an onus on us, as legislators, to ensure that we are protecting our children from having easy access to these types of drinks.
“A typical can of Monster contains 160mg of caffeine which is an obscene amount of caffeine contained in one drink, and there are many more similar such drinks on the market that young people have easy access to. Not only does excess caffeine pose a serious health risk, the sugar and other ingredients in these drinks are extremely unhealthily. With the ever increasing levels of diabetes, heart disease and obesity in this country, it is imperative that we tackle this problem immediately before it gets any worse.”
Monday, October 22, 2012
Doherty welcomes comments from Down Syndrome Ireland on impacts of ‘Yes’ vote in Children’s Referendum
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Monday) welcomed the comments from Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) in relation to the positive impact of a Yes vote in the Children’s Referendum. DSI has launched an easy to read guide on the Referendum, and is encouraging all of its members to get out and vote.
“I was very glad to hear DSI Chief Executive, Pat Clarke, say that there are distinct advantages for children with disabilities and their families if there is a Yes vote in the Children’s Referendum. The Referendum will enshrine children’s rights in the Constitution for the first time. By voting Yes, we will be making a clear statement as a nation that we value all of our children.
“I also welcome the fact that DSI is encouraging all of its members to make their voices heard by voting on November 10th. So far, the public has been responding positively to the proposed changes put forward in this Referendum, with very little opposition emerging. So what is essential at this point is that everyone recognises how important it is to vote. We want this Referendum to pass, and to pass convincingly, to show we are serious about vindicating and protecting the rights of our children.
“A Yes vote on Saturday, November 10th will help to protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, and it will help to support families by underpinning early intervention. It will also address shortfalls in our adoption law, ensuring all children can be treated equally in adoption. I commend DSI for producing this easy to read guide, and for encouraging their members to vote. Political decisions affect us all; so I would encourage everyone to get informed before you cast your vote on Saturday, November 10th.”
“I was very glad to hear DSI Chief Executive, Pat Clarke, say that there are distinct advantages for children with disabilities and their families if there is a Yes vote in the Children’s Referendum. The Referendum will enshrine children’s rights in the Constitution for the first time. By voting Yes, we will be making a clear statement as a nation that we value all of our children.
“I also welcome the fact that DSI is encouraging all of its members to make their voices heard by voting on November 10th. So far, the public has been responding positively to the proposed changes put forward in this Referendum, with very little opposition emerging. So what is essential at this point is that everyone recognises how important it is to vote. We want this Referendum to pass, and to pass convincingly, to show we are serious about vindicating and protecting the rights of our children.
“A Yes vote on Saturday, November 10th will help to protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect, and it will help to support families by underpinning early intervention. It will also address shortfalls in our adoption law, ensuring all children can be treated equally in adoption. I commend DSI for producing this easy to read guide, and for encouraging their members to vote. Political decisions affect us all; so I would encourage everyone to get informed before you cast your vote on Saturday, November 10th.”
Friday, October 19, 2012
Action on securing financial redress for pyrite homeowners welcome
Fine Gael Meath East Deputy, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the action taken by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, to ensure that financial redress is secured for the owners of the homes that have been affected by Pyrite.
“Minister Hogan has given the stakeholders involved in the pyrite scandal, that has devastated countless homeowners across the country, ten days to provide a solution which will see financial redress being awarded to the homeowners affected.
“The Minister has given those at the centre of this controversy every chance to bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. By clearly stating that he will impose a levy to deal with the financial fall-out of the situation if the relevant stakeholders do not come together and get things sorted, the Minister is putting the onus on the stakeholder to work things out. And fast.
“The stakeholders, including the developers and quarry owners, have been dragging their feet on this issue for too long now. This comes at the expense of the homeowners, many of whom paid over inflated prices for their houses, buying as they did during the boom.
“It is time to let people get back on with their lives. If in ten days’ time a financial solution to sourcing the necessary funds to carry out remedial works is not resolved, the Minister will take matters into his own hands by impose a levy. This will ensure that a system of redress is properly in place, with or without the agreement of stakeholders.
“Minister Hogan is currently finalising the terms of reference to establish the Resolution Board and to provide the relevant stakeholders with these details. It is in everyone’s interest to come to the table and to bring this sorry saga to an end. The people of Meath and beyond have suffered enough. If adequate redress is not forthcoming, Government sanctions to deal with the matter certainly will.”
“Minister Hogan has given the stakeholders involved in the pyrite scandal, that has devastated countless homeowners across the country, ten days to provide a solution which will see financial redress being awarded to the homeowners affected.
“The Minister has given those at the centre of this controversy every chance to bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. By clearly stating that he will impose a levy to deal with the financial fall-out of the situation if the relevant stakeholders do not come together and get things sorted, the Minister is putting the onus on the stakeholder to work things out. And fast.
“The stakeholders, including the developers and quarry owners, have been dragging their feet on this issue for too long now. This comes at the expense of the homeowners, many of whom paid over inflated prices for their houses, buying as they did during the boom.
“It is time to let people get back on with their lives. If in ten days’ time a financial solution to sourcing the necessary funds to carry out remedial works is not resolved, the Minister will take matters into his own hands by impose a levy. This will ensure that a system of redress is properly in place, with or without the agreement of stakeholders.
“Minister Hogan is currently finalising the terms of reference to establish the Resolution Board and to provide the relevant stakeholders with these details. It is in everyone’s interest to come to the table and to bring this sorry saga to an end. The people of Meath and beyond have suffered enough. If adequate redress is not forthcoming, Government sanctions to deal with the matter certainly will.”
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A Yes vote will help bring about a culture that hears the voice of children
Speaking after the shocking story of ‘Maggie’ on RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime programme this evening (Thursday), Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, said that the upcoming Children’s Referendum will help bring about a cultural change to ensure children are seen and heard.
"It is essential that we have a Constitution and a culture that hears the voice of children. This Referendum is a key opportunity for Irish people to come out and make a statement in support of children; children who have been abused and children who have been ignored.
"If we vote Yes to this Referendum, we will be making a clear statement that children have Constitutional rights that must be vindicated by the State. A Constitutional change of this nature would be a clear direction to legislators, the judiciary and everyone who works with children on behalf of the state that we must protect and cherish children in Ireland.
“This Referendum alone will not address all of the issues affecting children, and it is just one part of the Government’s Programme for Change for Children. But the provisions set out in the Referendum will help to support families, ensure the safety and welfare of children at risk and ensure child protection services can respond proportionately to child protection concerns.
“For too long, children have gone unheard in this country. We can change this on Saturday November 10th. I am urging people to make sure they come out and vote.”
"It is essential that we have a Constitution and a culture that hears the voice of children. This Referendum is a key opportunity for Irish people to come out and make a statement in support of children; children who have been abused and children who have been ignored.
"If we vote Yes to this Referendum, we will be making a clear statement that children have Constitutional rights that must be vindicated by the State. A Constitutional change of this nature would be a clear direction to legislators, the judiciary and everyone who works with children on behalf of the state that we must protect and cherish children in Ireland.
“This Referendum alone will not address all of the issues affecting children, and it is just one part of the Government’s Programme for Change for Children. But the provisions set out in the Referendum will help to support families, ensure the safety and welfare of children at risk and ensure child protection services can respond proportionately to child protection concerns.
“For too long, children have gone unheard in this country. We can change this on Saturday November 10th. I am urging people to make sure they come out and vote.”
Fuel poverty and disconnections
Fuel poverty and disconnections were raised in the course of two topical
debates, one on fuel allowances (Dail Eireann, Debates, 20th September 2012,
70-72) and the second on ESB disconnections policy (25th September, 61-4).
First, Aengus O Snodaigh (SF, Dublin SC) raised the delay to 8th October of the
fuel allowance for number of claimants. Already that year, the fuel allowance
had been cut 16% in value and the season by six weeks, a cumulative cut of 35%,
with electricity and gas allowances cut 25% and 20%. This was a huge cut to a
pensioner who lived in poverty – the fact that they got an allowance at all
meant that they had been means tested as living in poverty.
This was a huge amount of money for people who did not have disposable money to make up the shortfall and moreover, the Commission for Energy Regulation had just approved a hike in electricity and gas prices on top of these cuts. He asked the minister to reverse this delay, which affected up to 60,000 people.
Responding for the government, the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, told him that 400,000 customers received the allowance at a cost of €214.3m in 2012. What had happened here was that there was an unfortunate erroneous payment, for which he apologized, of one week to jobseeker allowance claimants in April, €20 a client at an overall cost of €1.2m. The department was obliged to recover all overpayments and was doing this by delaying the fuel allowance for this group by one week.
Aengus O Snodaigh told him that his constituents would tell the minister exactly where to shove his apology. It was getting colder and this was about pensioners who did not have the additional €20. People would have planned on having that €20 to pay for fuel. In addition, 120,000 gas and 83,000 electricity consumers were in arrears and that was the scale of fuel poverty and people’s inability to pay.
Regina Doherty (FG, Meath E) raised what she called the ‘shocking statistics’ of disconnections. Last year, 11,733 customers had their electricity cut off, 81% being families. 70,000 customers were more than 60 days in arrears. ESB Networks had told her that on average 300 families in Dublin were being disconnected. To get back on, they had to pay €89 for disconnection and €89 for reconnection. What directives should the minister put in place to show more compassion to struggling families who were being cut off in far too high numbers? she asked. In Britain, energy suppliers were obliged to offer some social energy tariff to give discounted electricity bills to customers in need. The government should step in to ensure that no one was cut off because of a genuine inability to pay. Cutting off energy to families genuinely trying to meet their commitments should not be an option. Pay-as-you-go meters were not available to those already in trouble. Bord Gais had just appointed 90 new debt collectors: we were focussing our energy on the wrong places and we needed to be more compassionate.
Responding, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte expressed his concern about any level of disconnection. The code of practice holds that if consumers install a pay-as-you-go meter or if they enter a payment plan, they will not be disconnected. The meters were available, but we needed to improve the rate of take-up. As for the costs of disconnection and reconnection, instead of the consumer bearing the full cost, these were now shared equally. The regulator was consulting with groups such as MABS and the Society of St Vincent de Paul on the challenges of so-called debt-hopping. In October last year, the regulator introduced a process of debt flagging to address arrears in an upfront manner so as to prevent further debt and reconnection and the pay-as-you-go system was being rolled out throughout the country.
Regina Doherty questioned whether the code of practice was actually working, granted that 300 families were being cut off in Dublin every week, which seemed to be suggesting that 300 families chose to be cut off rather than use a meter. This made no sense. She suggested that it was not working. She asked were they genuinely offered meters or the opportunity to pay their debt over a longer period. Would the government ask the regulator to reconsider the figure of €89 for the luxury of being cut off and the €89 charge to have it restored? It was outrageous for those already in considerable distress. There was no family in the country having its electricity turned off that was not in distress. The minister told her that the supply company was supposed to offer such a person the option of a meter rather than disconnection.
This was a huge amount of money for people who did not have disposable money to make up the shortfall and moreover, the Commission for Energy Regulation had just approved a hike in electricity and gas prices on top of these cuts. He asked the minister to reverse this delay, which affected up to 60,000 people.
Responding for the government, the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, told him that 400,000 customers received the allowance at a cost of €214.3m in 2012. What had happened here was that there was an unfortunate erroneous payment, for which he apologized, of one week to jobseeker allowance claimants in April, €20 a client at an overall cost of €1.2m. The department was obliged to recover all overpayments and was doing this by delaying the fuel allowance for this group by one week.
Aengus O Snodaigh told him that his constituents would tell the minister exactly where to shove his apology. It was getting colder and this was about pensioners who did not have the additional €20. People would have planned on having that €20 to pay for fuel. In addition, 120,000 gas and 83,000 electricity consumers were in arrears and that was the scale of fuel poverty and people’s inability to pay.
Regina Doherty (FG, Meath E) raised what she called the ‘shocking statistics’ of disconnections. Last year, 11,733 customers had their electricity cut off, 81% being families. 70,000 customers were more than 60 days in arrears. ESB Networks had told her that on average 300 families in Dublin were being disconnected. To get back on, they had to pay €89 for disconnection and €89 for reconnection. What directives should the minister put in place to show more compassion to struggling families who were being cut off in far too high numbers? she asked. In Britain, energy suppliers were obliged to offer some social energy tariff to give discounted electricity bills to customers in need. The government should step in to ensure that no one was cut off because of a genuine inability to pay. Cutting off energy to families genuinely trying to meet their commitments should not be an option. Pay-as-you-go meters were not available to those already in trouble. Bord Gais had just appointed 90 new debt collectors: we were focussing our energy on the wrong places and we needed to be more compassionate.
Responding, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte expressed his concern about any level of disconnection. The code of practice holds that if consumers install a pay-as-you-go meter or if they enter a payment plan, they will not be disconnected. The meters were available, but we needed to improve the rate of take-up. As for the costs of disconnection and reconnection, instead of the consumer bearing the full cost, these were now shared equally. The regulator was consulting with groups such as MABS and the Society of St Vincent de Paul on the challenges of so-called debt-hopping. In October last year, the regulator introduced a process of debt flagging to address arrears in an upfront manner so as to prevent further debt and reconnection and the pay-as-you-go system was being rolled out throughout the country.
Regina Doherty questioned whether the code of practice was actually working, granted that 300 families were being cut off in Dublin every week, which seemed to be suggesting that 300 families chose to be cut off rather than use a meter. This made no sense. She suggested that it was not working. She asked were they genuinely offered meters or the opportunity to pay their debt over a longer period. Would the government ask the regulator to reconsider the figure of €89 for the luxury of being cut off and the €89 charge to have it restored? It was outrageous for those already in considerable distress. There was no family in the country having its electricity turned off that was not in distress. The minister told her that the supply company was supposed to offer such a person the option of a meter rather than disconnection.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tattersalls Ireland presents Drive in Movies at Halloween Horror nights
Haunted stables, live actors, Halloween props, grave yards, spooky characters, and a spine chilling selection of classic horror movies
Meath’s newest Halloween haunt, Halloween Horror Nights, drives in to action from October 25th at one of Ireland’s premier country house locations, Tattersalls Country House, Ratoath, Co. Meath.
Guaranteed to scare even the most dedicated Trick-or-Treaters, Halloween Horror Nights promises a truly frightening experience for people of all ages.
Get to grips with Hollywood’s iconic horror movies, while sitting in the comfort of your own car at Drive-In Movies. Park yourself in the best seats of the house for just €20 per car, and hand pick your fright factor with 2 screenings per night to choose from. Wrapping yourself in the sights and sounds of this spooky spectacle, tune the movie audio broadcast on a special radio frequency to drown out the cries of other cinema-goers!
Offering frighteningly good food and some spine tingling scares, the Halloween Horror nights haunted stables is set to be a favourite Halloween destination this October. As darkness falls, witness the Haunted Stables waken the dead with live actors, festoon lighting and spooky happenings to keep you on your toes!
But it’s not just for all you horror addicts; weekend daytime screenings offer a great family day out with family favourite movies on show- all in the unique setting of Tattersalls Country House.
So if you’re looking to get all your scares under your car roof, Drive in Movies at Halloween Horror nights, Tattersalls Country House, Ratoath Co. Meath is the place for you. But Lock your car doors, one of our spooky characters may just want to sit on your back seat!
Tickets are available from the Tattersalls House on 01-8864300 or visit www.tattersalls.ie/movies for more information.
Are you brave enough to Drive-in with us this Halloween?
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