Tag Archives: Tanaiste

A VISION for the future of Ennis will be launched this Friday by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. The much anticipated Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy is, according to Clare County Council, “a bold vision to deliver economic investment and make housing, jobs, amenity and services easier to access for all. The strategy is about building communities and creating one of the best places in the world to live, work and visit.” The strategy has set out ambitious growth targets and proposes the prioritisation of sustainable economic activities that will grow its population on average by 1.6% per annum and deliver an additional 5,000 jobs by 2040. Nine transformational projects have been identified through which the Ennis 2040 vision can be realised. The projects deliver on the concept of the ‘10-minute town’, attracting investment and delivering quality of life. In the implementation of this strategy Ennis will become Ireland’s first Climate Adaptive …

AN URGENT meeting between the Tånaiste and Deputy Joe Carey is expected to take place, to discuss supports for homeowners affected by pyrite and mica.  The Clarecastle-based TD is one of three Fine Gael deputies to seek the meeting, after a briefing on Tuesday night from members of a Working Group set up to review the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.  The group, who are seeking an increase in the grant from 90 to 100% of remediation costs, voiced alarm at comments from the Fine Gael leader this week on controlling the impact on public finances. Following the online briefing, Deputies Carey, Alan Dillon (Mayo) and Joe McHugh (Donegal) contacted Leo Varadkar to ask for a meeting. “In Clare, we are still trying to get access to the scheme,” Deputy Carey said. “I would expect that we will, but the scheme must be fit for purpose and provide the necessary finance. At the moment, the scheme doesn’t do that. As …

BISHOP of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, has asked parish priests and pastoral councils not to set dates for communions and confirmations in the Diocese “for the near future”. It follows confirmation, received by the organisation representing Catholic bishops, that the government’s forthcoming guidance documents will expressly advise against these ceremonies. Writing to parents, priests and schools on Wednesday, Bishop Monahan said that “in view of the letter received from the HSE last week, the strong recommendation of NPHET… and the clear advice from the Taoiseach’s Office, I believe it would be very unwise to celebrate the sacraments in the coming weeks”. The Bishop acknowledged that cancelling these important occasions will be “very inconvenient at such short notice” and he asked for “patience and understanding”, in the interests of public health and safety. The Bishop’s letter also said that: “Because of the vulnerability of the virus situation and the evolving nature of the whole process it would, in my view be best …

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has today announced the appointment of the Tánaiste and two members of Government. Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been appointed as Tánaiste. Heather Humphreys  has been appointed as the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. A first term TD, Josepha Madigan has been appointed as the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. An Taoiseach said, “Appointing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney as Tánaiste will enhance his role in the Brexit negotiations currently underway and will make it easier for him to coordinate the work of other departments with respect of Brexit. “In appointing Minister Humphreys to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, for the first time in seven years the minister will be from outside the Dublin region, and also from the Border. This is particularly relevant in the context of Brexit and also the Government’s commitment to bring more jobs and good jobs to all …

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed the monthly unemployment figures for June published by the Central Statistics Office, showing that the official unemployment rate has fallen from 6.4% in May to 6.3% in June and from 8.3% in June 2016. The statistics also show: On a seasonally adjusted basis 900 fewer people were unemployed in June compared to May 42,100 fewer people were unemployed in June compared with twelve months earlier Commenting on the figures the Tánaiste said, “Once again we are seeing the unemployment rate going in the right direction, with the unemployment rate at 6.3% and a decrease from 8.3% this time last year. It is heartening to see the unemployment rate continuing to decline and we are moving closer to full employment. As Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, I will continue with the Government policies that have proven successful in creating the right environment for continued job growth right across the …

  DURING her visit to Clare recently, Tбnaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton told The Clare Champion that issues relating to the provision of social housing in Clare could be eased if Clare County Council follows the example of their Limerick counterparts and rolls out the Housing Assistance Programme (HAP). During her visit to the offices of The Clare Champion, Barrack Street was closed off to vehicular access, while there was a significant garda presence patrolling the street. Minister Burton was speaking in the context of homeless issues in Kilkee and Lahinch, which were highlighted by The Clare Champion in recent weeks. “We’re approaching this on a case-by-case basis. This is a discussion we want to have with Clare County Council. Along with Jim Lynch, the overall manager of the Department of Social Protection Services in the Mid-West, we would like to see Clare County Council becoming part of HAP,” the Tбnaiste said. “It has been piloted by …

The latest Live Register figures show a continuing reduction in unemployment. There were 358,672 people on the Register in January 2015, a decrease of 40,958, or 10.2%, compared with the same month last year. The unemployment rate now stands at 10.5%, down from a crisis peak of 15.1% but over €i billion is to be invested in a number of measures ensure the downward trend continues. The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, has made clear that the Government’s target is to reduce unemployment to below 10% by the end of 2015, and with this in mind, the following is a short but not exhaustive list of some of the key measures the Department of Social Protection is taking as part of the Pathways to Work and Action Plan for Jobs strategies to speed up the progress on the employment front and help jobseekers return to work. The Action Plan for Jobs, overseen by the Department of Jobs, …