DOCSLIB.ORG

Dáil Éireann

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dáil Éireann Vol. 701 Wednesday, No. 1 3 February 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 3 February 2010. Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 1 Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 7 Visit of Foreign Delegation …………………………… 18 Order of Business ……………………………… 18 Arbitration Bill 2008: Order for Report ……………………………… 37 Report Stage ……………………………… 37 Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) ……… 48 Ceisteanna—Questions (resumed) Minister for Finance Priority Questions …………………………… 52 Other Questions …………………………… 64 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 73 Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) ……… 74 Private Members’ Business Gangland Crime: Motion (resumed) ……………………… 110 Adjournment Debate Job Creation ……………………………… 134 FÁS Training Programmes ………………………… 137 Flood Relief Works …………………………… 139 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 145 DÁIL ÉIREANN DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL OFFICIAL REPORT Imleabhar 701 Volume 701 Dé Céadaoin, 3 Feabhra 2010. Wednesday, 3 February 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Leaders’ Questions. Deputy Enda Kenny: These are very fretful times for families in this country. When the Taoiseach came to power in May 2008 the number on the live register was 202,000. The Central Statistics Office will release the comparable figure this morning at 11 a.m. for January 2010. Will the Taoiseach inform the House of what that figure is? The Taoiseach: The January live register will show an increase, as it has done every year for the past ten years. The headline total will be 436,900, reflecting five weeks activity. The month on month increase will be 13,300 or 3.1% and the year on year increase will be 110,600 or 33.9%. The year on year increase has fallen again in January, having declined from the peak of 194,700 reported in June 2009. The month on month increase is almost two thirds less than the 36,300 increase reported for January 2009, which also reflected five weeks activity. However, the figure for January 2010 is still the second highest January increase on record. The standardised unemployment rate for January is expected to be 12.7%, up from 12.5% in December 2009. When seasonal factors are taken into account the live register for January is estimated at 434,700. This is a month on month increase of 8,000 or 1.9% since January 2009 and a year on year increase of 110,000 or 34% since January 2009. As the Deputy will be aware, the live register does not refer simply to the level of unemployment. The number of unemployed who are drawing five days a week is 279,000. 1 Leaders’ 3 February 2010. Questions Deputy Enda Kenny: Those are devastating figures. Following on the Exchequer returns yesterday, they are a litany of despair from a Government that has failed to put any plan or strategy in place to deal with this situation. There is no point in drifting onwards and looking back in six months to see what might have happened. It is apparent from the Exchequer returns yesterday that every tax is down, but leaping out of those figures is the decline in VAT. The reason for that is, first, consumers have less money to spend, but they are fearful of spending money because no plan, strategy or hope is being given to them by Government. Governments can make things happen. The Government must do something. For instance, it could examine the reality of literally thousands of retail outlets around the country that are barely hanging on. I predict that at the end of the first quarter several thousand more of them will be closed unless the Government does something. For instance, it could introduce the concept put forward by Fine Gael of a national recovery bank, which would introduce a new stream of credit into the economy that would allow for jobs to be retained, new jobs to be created and businesses to stay open. The Government could do that. It could consider the proposition put forward by Fine Gael of NewERA, a national economic recovery authority, which we reckon would create 100,000 jobs across the country in communications and renew- ables; jobs for engineers, graphic designers and farmers right across the country. The Govern- ment could do that. It could offer people a plan, hope and strategy to show that it is able to do something about a situation that is a litany of despair and disaster. A total of 60,000 young people under the age of 25 have left the country. If the valve of emigration was not open the real figure for unemployment would be more than 500,000. Those young people are gone. They are in Australia, Canada, America and Britain. They are doing jobs for which they are completely over-qualified because the Government has failed to put any plan or strategy in place. It is clear from the evidence that the Government’s economic plan, banking plan and stimulus have failed. What does the Government propose to do about that? Deputy Timmy Dooley: What is Fine Gael proposing? Deputy Kenny is undermining confi- dence every day. Deputy Enda Kenny: This is the end of the first—— Deputy Dermot Ahern: Deputy Kenny is being negative. An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Kenny should be allowed to speak without interruption. Deputy Enda Kenny: That is fine until one talks to the despairing parents and young people who see no hope coming from a Government that has no plan in place. I am offering the Taoiseach assistance in terms of an economic recovery authority, NewERA, and a national recovery bank to get new credit flowing into the system. If the Government is serious about making things happen it needs to change its ways and bring about a stimulus and an injection of Government action so that people all over the country will have some hope or confidence that the Government is in control of the economy and that it is not drifting endlessly, where all they hear is talk of further tax increases, levies and pay cuts. There is despair and depression all around. Deputy Timmy Dooley: Is that Fine Gael’s manifesto? Deputy Enda Kenny: Thousands of people are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel but they need hope and confidence from a Government that has no plan in place. Deputy Noel Dempsey: People have no confidence in Deputy Kenny. 2 Leaders’ 3 February 2010. Questions Deputy Enda Kenny: In respect of 436,000 people on the live register, what is the Govern- ment’s intention in terms of providing a stimulus to create jobs and give some confidence to people all over this island who are in absolute despair at what the Government is mumbling and talking about for the past 18 months? The Government’s record of an increase in unem- ployment from 202,000 in May 2008 to 436,000 now speaks for itself. It is a disaster. Deputy Dermot Ahern: Deputy Kenny cannot even answer a straight question. The Taoiseach: Deputy Kenny’s accounts of despair are not where the people are at. They recognise that the country is being led in the right direction by taking the necessary—— Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: The Taoiseach is deluding himself. Deputy Paul Kehoe: Who is the Taoiseach talking to? Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: He must be in the “head shops”. Deputy Paul Connaughton: The Taoiseach can dream on. An Ceann Comhairle: The Taoiseach should be allowed to speak without interruption please. The Taoiseach: Regaining our competitive edge is essential to protect jobs and to grow jobs in the future. Driving forward with enterprise, exports and employment is the only way forward, but the stabilisation of the public finances is an absolute prerequisite for that. This country is doing that. It is being referred to both at home and abroad as the right way forward to deal with the situation we are in. It is important to point out also that it is only by regaining competitiveness through the reductions in cost that have taken place and which will have to continue, and support from Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, that we will go forward. FÁS has brought forward employment actions plans. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: We know all about them. The Taoiseach: People are referred to the FÁS employment action plan and 60% of them leave the live register. Of 70,000 referrals, 50,000 came off the register. We have to continue with the increased training and supports we are providing. More than 128,000 people received them in 2009 and will do so again in 2010. The bottom line is the Government wants to make sure we regain competitiveness in this economy. That is the process by which the economic recovery will come and all the negativity and attacks from the Fine Gael leader will not change that. Deputy Enda Kenny: That is the reality. Deputy P. J. Sheehan: The country will change the Government.. Deputy Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach does not seem to get it. Ever since the budget, one cannot turn a radio or television or open a newspaper but there is somebody from Fianna Fáil telling us that we have turned the corner and that recovery is about to happen. I wish that were the case but there is little sign of it. Yesterday’s Exchequer figures do not show many signs of recovery, even though they were for the two months leading into Christmas when there should have been an improvement. Today’s unemployment figures show that almost 440,000 people are on the live register. According to the redundancy figures, 319 people have lost their jobs every day this year.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A March of Moral Panic?: an Examination of Reaction to Crime in Ireland in March 2006
    Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin Dissertations Social Sciences 2007-10-01 A March of Moral Panic?: An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006 Robin Maginn Technological University Dublin Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/aaschssldis Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Maginn, Robin: A March of Moral Panic?: An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006:Masters Dissertation. Dublin, DIT, October 2007. This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Social Sciences at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License A March of Moral Panic? An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006 A thesis submitted to the Dublin Institute of Technology in part fulfilment of the requirements for award of Masters (M.A.) in Criminology By Robin Maginn October 2007 Supervisor: Claire Hamilton Department of Social Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology Declaration I hereby certify that the material submitted in this thesis towards the award of the Masters (M.A.) in Criminology is entirely my own work and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than part-fulfilment of the award named above. Signature of candidate………………………………………………………………….. Date……………………………………………………………………………….......... Abstract Moral Panic is a concept that examines disproportionate reaction towards an event or persons. In March of 2006, several events occurred which provoked strong reactions from the media and from politicians.
    [Show full text]
  • Sunday Independent
    gjj Dan O'Brien The Irish are becoming EXCLUSIVE ‘I was hoping he’d die,’ Jill / ungovernable. This Section, Page 18Meagher’s husband on her murderer. Page 20 9 6 2 ,0 0 0 READERS Vol. 109 No. 17 CITY FINAL April 27,2014 €2.90 (£1.50 in Northern Ireland) lMELDA¥ 1 1 P 1 g§%g k ■MAY ■ H l f PRINCE PHILIP WAS CHECKING OUT MY ASS LIFE MAGAZINE ALL IS CHANGING, CHANGING UTTERLY. GRAINNE'SJOY ■ Voters w a n t a n ew political p arty Poll: FG gets MICHAEL McDOWELL, Page 24 ■ Public demands more powers for PAC SHANE ROSS, Page 24 it in the neck; ■ Ireland wants Universal Health Insurance -but doesn'tbelieve the Governmentcan deliver BRENDAN O'CONNOR, Page 25 ■ We are deeply suspicious SF rampant; of thecharity sector MAEVE SHEEHAN, Page 25 ■ Royal family are welcome to 1916 celebrations EILISH O'HANLON, Page 25 new partycall LOVE IS IN THE AIR: TV presenter Grainne Seoige and former ■ ie s s a Childers is rugbycoach turned businessman Leon Jordaan celebrating iittn of the capital their engagement yesterday. Grainne's dress is from Havana EOGHAN HARRIS, Page 19 in Donnybrookr Dublin 4. Photo: Gerry Mooney. Hayesfaces defeat in Dublin; Nessa to top Full Story, Page 5 & Living, Page 2 poll; SF set to take seat in each constituency da n ie l Mc Connell former minister Eamon Ryan and JOHN DRENNAN (11 per cent). MillwardBrown Our poll also asked for peo­ FINE Gael Junior Minister ple’s second preference in Brian Hayes is facing a humil­ FULL POLL DETAILS AND ANALYSIS: ‘ terms of candidate.
    [Show full text]
  • Crisis and Change in Ireland (ARI)
    Area: Europa ARI 79/2011 Date: 28/4/2011 Crisis and Change in Ireland (ARI) Raj Chari* Theme1: The 2011 Irish election must be placed in the context of both the economic and the political crisis that preceded the vote in order to examine its results and consider Ireland’s future in Europe. Summary: After years of economic growth during the ‘Celtic Tiger’ boom, Ireland fell into economic decline as a result of its financial crisis in 2008. Ireland’s fall can best be understood as home-made, fuelled by speculation and lax regulation of the financial sector. In the context of this economic and financial crisis, Ireland then suffered a political crisis in which the Fianna Fáil (FF) government coalition lost legitimacy, prompting an early election on 25 February 2011. Unsurprisingly perhaps, a new coalition government comprised of Fine Gael (FG) and Labour came into being as a result. A major issue to be addressed by the new government relates to the renegotiation of the interest rates on the EU/IMF bailout agreed in December 2010. However, what remains unclear is how much this new government’s hands are already tied and whether or not the EU seeks to renegotiate the terms of the deal. Analysis: The Economic and Political Context For almost a decade before 2008, the ‘Celtic Tiger’ gained the attention of the world: after being a laggard in the EU economy throughout much of the 70s and 80s, from the late 90s Ireland was one of the fastest-growing EU economies and represented a model for growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Journalism, Politics and the Celtic Tiger Journalists
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DCU Online Research Access Service Chapter 8 Declan Fahy A limited focus? Journalism, politics and the Celtic Tiger Journalists dominated the 2009 end-of-year bestseller lists with books castigating Ireland’s financial and political elites for causing the financial crisis that would eventually claim the country’s economic sovereignty. In The Bankers Shane Ross criticised bank executives and regulators for their close relationship that facilitated years of reckless property speculation, while in Who really runs Ireland? Matt Cooper laid out the elite nexus of bankers, developers, politicians and media owners that he argued allowed a thriving economy to overheat. In Ship of Fools, Fintan O’Toole traced the entwined Irish histories of economic mismanagement, political corruption and financial fraud that combined so disastrously in the crisis. In Follow the Money, David McWilliams described a panicked Irish government amid the 2008 global financial meltdown, as then finance minister Brian Lenihan, eating garlic to stay awake, paid a late-night visit to the columnist’s house for advice. In Anglo Republic, Simon Carswell forensically examined the succession of high-risk financial decisions by Anglo Irish Bank executives that forced the government to guarantee bank debts and deposits. These books unflinchingly laid out the national systemic political and financial failure that found apt symbolism, among international media, in the half-finished ‘ghost estates’ that littered the Irish countryside. 190 These post-crash books were cutting and critical. But such comprehensive analyses, commentators noted, were mostly absent during the boom years, from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, when Ireland’s economy expanded with unprecedented growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual-Financial-Report-2009.Pdf
    Contents 4 Chairman’s statement 255 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in relation to the Accounts 6 Group Chief Executive’s review 256 Independent auditor’s report 8 Corporate Social Responsibility 258 Additional information 12 Financial Review 276 Principal addresses - Business description 278 Index - Financial data - 5 year financial summary - Management report - Capital management - Critical accounting policies - Deposits and short term borrowings - Financial investments available for sale - Financial investments held to maturity - Contractual obligations - Off balance sheet arrangements 59 Risk Management - Risk Factors - Framework - Individual risk types - Supervision and regulation 106 Corporate Governance - The Board & Group Executive Committee - Directors’ Report - Corporate Governance statement - Employees 119 Accounting policies 136 Consolidated income statement 137 Balance sheets 139 Statement of cash flows 141 Statement of recognised income and expense 142 Reconciliations of movements in shareholders’ equity 146 Notes to the accounts 1 Forward-Looking Information This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Group and certain of the plans and objectives of the Group. In particular, among other statements, certain statements in the Chairman’s statement, the Group Chief Executive’s review, and the Financial Review and Risk Management sections, with regard to management objectives, trends in results of operations, margins, risk management, competition and the impact of changes in International Financial Reporting Standards are forward-looking in nature.These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 1 TOGHCHÁIN ÁITIÚLA, 1999 LOCAL ELECTIONS, 1999
    TOGHCHÁIN ÁITIÚLA, 1999 LOCAL ELECTIONS, 1999 Volume 1 TOGHCHÁIN ÁITIÚLA, 1999 LOCAL ELECTIONS, 1999 Volume 1 DUBLIN PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased through any bookseller, or directly from the GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALE OFFICE, SUN ALLIANCE HOUSE, MOLESWORTH STREET, DUBLIN 2 £12.00 €15.24 © Copyright Government of Ireland 2000 ISBN 0-7076-6434-9 P. 33331/E Gr. 30-01 7/00 3,000 Brunswick Press Ltd. ii CLÁR CONTENTS Page Foreword........................................................................................................................................................................ v Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... vii LOCAL AUTHORITIES County Councils Carlow...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Cavan....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Clare ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Cork (Northern Division) .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Cork (Southern Division).........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • General Election Candidates Who Have Pledged to Protect the Lowest Paid
    GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PLEDGED TO PROTECT THE LOWEST PAID Carlow / Kilkenny Dublin West Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin Paul Donnelly, Sinn Féin John Cassin, Sinn Féin Joe Higgins, ULA Des Hurley, Labour Patrick Nulty, Labour Ann Phelan, Labour Mick Finnegan, Workers’ Party Conor MacLiam, ULA Patrick Nulty, Labour Joan Burton, Labour Cavan / Monaghan Caoimhghin O’Caolain, Dun Laoghaire Sinn Féin Richard Boyd Barrett, ULA Kathryn Reilly, Sinn Féin Ivana Bacik, Labour Liam Hogan, Labour Eamon Gilmore, Labour Clare Galway East Michael McNamara, Labour Colm Keavney, Labour Trevor O’Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin Cork East Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin Kerry North / West Limerick John Mulvihill, Labour Arthur John Spring, Labour Sean Sherlock, Labour Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin Cork North Central Kerry South Jonathan O’Brien, Sinn Féin Marie Maloney, Labour John Gilroy, Labour Ted Tynan, Workers’ Party Kildare North Kathleen Lynch, Labour Emmet Stagg, Labour Mick Barry, ULA Martin Kelly, Sinn Féin John McGinley, Labour Cork North West Catherine Murphy, Independent Des O’Grady, Sinn Féin Martin Coughlan, Labour Kildare South Ann Foley, ULA Jack Wall, Labour Jason Turner, Sinn Féin Cork South Ciaran Lynch, Labour Laois / Offaly Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin Cork South Central John Whelan, Labour Paula Desmond, Labour Joe Leddin, Labour Chris O’Leary, Sinn Féin Ray Fitzpatrick, ULA Cork South West Limerick City Paul Hayes, Sinn Féin Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Féin Michael McCarthy, Labour Cian Prenderville, ULA Jan O’Sullivan, Labour Donegal North East
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Economy and Media Coverage of the European Economic Crisis
    ‘Austerity as a policy harms the many and benefits the few. In a democracy that’s sup- posed to be hard to sell. Yet the democracies most effected by the European financial crisis saw no such democratic revolt. Mercille tells us why. Updating and deploying the Chomsky-Herman propaganda model of the media in a systematic and empirical way, he shows us how alternative policies are sidelined and elite interests are protected’. Mark Blyth, Professor of International Political Economy, Brown University ‘This is one of the most important political economy books of the year. Julien Mercille’s book is set to become the definitive account of the media’s role in Ireland’s spectacular and transformative economic boom and bust. He argues convincingly that critical poli- tical economic perspectives are a rarity in the Irish media and Mercille’s devastating critique painstakingly chronicles the persistent failures of the Irish media’. Dr. Tom McDonnell, Macroeconomist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) ‘The European economies remain trapped in high levels of unemployment while more austerity is promoted as the solution. Yet the media plays a key role in presenting these austerity policies as though “there is no alternative”. This book, with a focus on Ireland, provides compelling evidence on the ideological role of the media in the presentation of the policies favoring the economic, financial and political elites. A highly recommended read for its analyses of the crises and of the neo-liberal interpretation from the media’. Malcolm Sawyer, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Leeds ‘The basic story of the economic crisis is simple.
    [Show full text]
  • Election 1987
    .) ISSUE No. 117 MARCH 1987 PRICE 30p ELECTION 1987 ,... ! Emmet Stagg TD. with supporters at Maynooth Polling Station. Bernard Durkan T.D. with supporters at Maynooth Polling Station Having a Party? . Contact Pat6p O'BpisR . Gatcvlufi Go.btd. "WOODVILLE", PAGESTOWN, MAYNOOTH. PHONE: 286566 Hire all your requirements from us (Delph/Cutlery/Glass/Table Linen etc.) COLD* PLATTERS-* * MEAT· SALADS. DESSERTS. ROLLS OR GIVE YOURSELF A TREA T AND LET US LOOK AFTER ALL YOUR CA TERING - ALL WE REQUIRE IS A BUILDING! how Maynooth is to develop over the " open .1l(l'~~ pub!it'.!l i(l!1 "ilL! \\;I ! Editorial next three years. Now is the time to put I! l' :1 er,lll \ L,IIT\' ,111 \ ' 1ll, l[l'Ii,f, , li bm;il l'd these ideas to the test. There are over ~o it , "dlb jl,( t to th\.' I.t \\"" , d thc I.u :d sixty organisations in Maynooth at the ,l Id t il cd ito,i,t/ jlldgl' !1H'1l1. ;lii, i il d ~,: moment. Many Maynooth people con­ men l is l')' crci,ul by 111 ,' I dilOr i,ti Cl' lll La Feile Padraig tribute to a considerable proportion of rl1:1lt' /.' in order in pI l''-.t'l \'(,.' 1 ill' !n th.' these organisations and do an excellent pcndl'ncl' .lnd b,II,lncl' III ihl.' N('w,"' II ,". Maynooth may not be unique in the job. On the Community Council we need '1 hl' Committec Il',',I Yl', till' I i,~ilt ;" world as one of our globe trotting resid­ people who are not weighed down with ;li ll'l, ,Ibridgl' 0 1 o lll it 11 ;,lt<: I I,, 1 ",I,',iI ents, Seamus Smyth, explains in this commit ments to sixty committees all in it> opinio" l1ligill 1'(' nell'l :hl' New, edition, however we will be unique in meeting on the same night.
    [Show full text]
  • Fianna Fáil: Past and Present
    Fianna Fáil: Past and Present Alan Byrne Fianna Fáil were the dominant political prompted what is usually referred to as party in Ireland from their first term in gov- a civil-war but as Kieran Allen argues in ernment in the 1930s up until their disas- an earlier issue of this journal, the Free trous 2011 election. The party managed to State in effect mounted a successful counter- enjoy large support from the working class, revolution which was thoroughly opposed to as well as court close links with the rich- the working class movement.3 The defeat est people in Irish society. Often described signalled the end of the aspirations of the as more of a ‘national movement’ than a Irish revolution and the stagnation of the party, their popular support base has now state economically. Emigration was par- plummeted. As this article goes to print, ticularly high in this period, and the state the party (officially in opposition but en- was thoroughly conservative. The Catholic abling a Fine Gael government) is polling Church fostered strong links with Cumann at 26% approval.1 How did a party which na nGaedheal, often denouncing republicans emerged from the losing side of the civil war in its sermons. come to dominate Irish political life so thor- There were distinctive class elements to oughly? This article aims to trace the his- both the pro and anti-treaty sides. The tory of the party, analyse their unique brand Cumann na nGaedheal government drew its of populist politics as well as their relation- base from large farmers, who could rely on ship with Irish capitalism and the working exports to Britain.
    [Show full text]
  • Ezine Issue 13
    Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch ISSUE 13 AUGUST 2011 / EAGRÁN 13 LÚNASA 2011 News 2 Welcome - Fáilte Donegal Business 7 Education and Learning 10 Social and Cultural 12 Donegal Community Links 15 Message From Mayor Hello everyone, I have just completed my first month as Mayor of Donegal and I must admit it is indeed a wonderful experience and a learning curve. I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve as Mayor of our great County. This County and Country may be in recession but in Donegal we are upbeat, the sleeves are rolled up, our heads are up, and we will dig our way out. Many groups and organisations have come together throughout Donegal to plan for the future and are determined to get this county back on its feet again. had the privilege of addressing more like a sense of reflection mixed I myself have focused on tourism and tourist related activities the recent Donegal County with impatience, questioning how it as my number one priority for my year as Mayor and I hope to I Development Board Annual is that “we have all this information, present you all with some ideas shortly. I would also be grateful Strategy Day in Letterkenny, County all these organisations and support for any ideas you might have to assist me (noel.mcbride@ Donegal on the 18th May 2011. services, all these regulations and donegalcoco.ie) ways of doing things but. ”. We Two things stick out in my memory need to ask if the mix and balance Donegal at the moment is in the midst of our festival season and many successful festivals and events have already taken place from that day’s conversations and of all these resources are right for throughout the county with more to come.
    [Show full text]
  • The Building of the State the Buildingucd and the Royal College of Scienceof on Merrionthe Street
    The Building of the State The BuildingUCD and the Royal College of Scienceof on Merrionthe Street. State UCD and the Royal College of Science on Merrion Street. The Building of the State Science and Engineering with Government on Merrion Street www.ucd.ie/merrionstreet Introduction Although the Government Buildings complex on Merrion Street is one of most important and most widely recognised buildings in Ireland, relatively few are aware of its role in the history of science and technology in the country. At the start of 2011, in preparation for the centenary of the opening of the building, UCD initiated a project seeking to research and record that role. As the work progressed, it became apparent that the story of science and engineering in the building from 1911 to 1989 mirrored in many ways the story of the country over that time, reflecting and supporting national priorities through world wars, the creation of an independent state and the development of a technology sector known and respected throughout the world. All those who worked or studied in the Royal College of Science for Ireland or UCD in Merrion Street – faculty and administrators, students and porters, technicians and librarians – played a part in this story. All those interviewed as part of this project recalled their days in the building with affection and pride. As chair of the committee that oversaw this project, and as a former Merrion Street student, I am delighted to present this publication as a record of UCD’s association with this great building. Professor Orla Feely University College Dublin Published by University College Dublin, 2011.
    [Show full text]