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A day after Enda Kenny stepped down as leader of Fine Gael, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has announced that he will not be contesting the next General Election. A TD for Limerick City, Mr Noonan’s constituency exends into a small area of South East Clare. He is a former leader of Fine Gael. Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to her constituency colleague, saying, “Michael Noonan will be remembered for his contribution to the economic recovery of this country as Minister for Finance, working alongside Brendan Howlin as Minister for Public Expenditure. “He has also made a substantial contribution to Limerick, and as minister I found him to be a constructive and supportive colleague in Cabinet. Concluding, Deputy O’Sullivan said, “We worked together on many issues that matter to Limerick and its people over the years, and I wish Michael well in the future.”

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients can now look forward to “gold standard” testing equipment, previously only available at international specialist centres. All proceeds from the Truck Run 4 Katie fundraising event have been used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit in the Leben Building at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Katie Drennan, who died in February 2015 aged 24, tirelessly campaigned for better services for CF patients in UHL. The Truck Run 4 Katie, which was held in her memory last September, raised more than €120,000. Respiratory consultant Dr Brian Casserly said the new equipment means the hospital is now “operating at an international standard, above and beyond national standards for the treatment of CF patients”. “University Hospital Limerick wants to be the leading light in terms of CF and this is one step in that direction,” he added. CF patients attending UHL can now avail of equipment that provides direct measurement for exercise tolerance and capacity. Previously, …

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny will retire as Fine Gael leader, with effect from midnight on Wednesday. The Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar is the 2/5 favourite to succeed Mr Kenny as party leader, while one time favourite, Housing Minister Simon Coveney is the 7/4 second favourite. Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin is the current 1/2 favourite to be Taoiseach after the next General Election, with Leo Varadkar next at 9/4. In a statement following the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Kenny said, “Last year I indicated I would not lead the Fine Gael party into the next General Election. I will continue to carry out my duties as party leader in an acting capacity, until my successor is elected through the Fine Gael Leadership election process. After 15 years at the helm, including two stints as Taoiseach, Mr Kenny wants the party executive to expedite hand over process by June 2 but stressed that he will …

JOHN Burke is the first Clare man ever to conquer Everest. The Spanish Point hotelier reached the roof of the world this morning. In a facebook post his wife Aoibhín Garrihy wrote, “At 9:45am local time John Burke became the first Clare man to successfully summit Mt Everest. Now hoping for a safe descent ” This afternoon she added, “John has arrived safely back at Camp 4, exhausted but sounding great from the sat phone! More wonderful news in…fellow Irish climber and friend of John, Cian O’Brolchain, also summited Mt Lhotse (8516m) this morning. It’s a great day for Irish climbing” A prayer service for John and his fellow climbers was held in the Armada hotel last night and on the hotel’s facebook page today it posted, “Our MD John Burke has just made it to the top of the world and is the 1st Clareman ever to summit Mount Everest this morning! We are so proud of his achievement …

The Minister for Communications Denis Naughten will be briefing the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action on the international cyber attack incident later this afternoon.The minister will also brief the Cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday). “There have been no further reported incidences of the ‘Wannacry2’ malware in Ireland, beyond the isolated case in a HSE funded facility in Wexford on Saturday. It is still possible that further incidences will arise and a sustained period of vigilance will be required, both in terms of updating and patching software and monitoring equipment,” he said. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis, and remains in close contact with international counterparts and with public and private sector entities in Ireland, both in terms of the dealing with the threat and taking measures to ensure that the impact of any future variants of this malware is limited. The NCSC …

THE Government’s progress on extending the Fair Deal Scheme to Home Care is proceeding at a snail’s pace, Clare Deputy Dr Michael Harty has claimed. The independent TD has, however, welcomed the decision by Helen McEntee, Minister for Older People, to launch a public consultation process at the end of May. “I welcome this public consultation as it is important to seek the opinions of all those who have views on the subject including old people themselves. I also welcome the fact that the department commissioned the Health Research Board to undertake a review of the home care systems that are in place in four other European countries. However, long experience in the health service has taught me that reports upon reports can merely act as a delaying tactic. “I don’t doubt the minister’s assurance that Government considers that a standalone funding scheme, designed for Home Care is needed but I don’t detect any real sense of urgency in her …

Clare 3-13   Limerick 0-12 FOR up to half an hour after the final whistle at the Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening, Clare supporters, the team and management celebrated in an ecstatic huddle. For the first time in 23 years, a Clare minor football team will play in a Munster minor football final this summer. Managed by Seamus Clancy, they produced a superb second-half display, outscoring Limerick 2-8 to 0-2. It took Clare almost four minutes longer than Limerick to emerge for the second half and referee David Murnane almost deafened the 1,007 attendance with his increasingly shrill blowing of his whistle. However, Clare were justified in taking their time at that point. They emerged a different team and immediately took the game to Limerick. Ironically, they did the same thing at the start of the first half and led 1-2 to 0-2 after five minutes. Paudie Kelly deflected home the goal, after it was put on a plate for him by …

Stream 3 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme, which will provide small capital grants to not for profit arts organisations, has been launced by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys. It comes after the minister announced €9 million in funding for regional arts and cultural centres under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme in February, which benefitted 56 organisations and venues nationwide. Funding of €500,000 is now being made available under Stream 3 of the scheme; with individual grants of up to €20,0000 available. Application forms will be available on the Department’s website from next week. Minister Humphreys said, “This funding scheme aims to provide capital assistance to not-for-profit organisations that have a clearly defined arts and culture remit.While the amounts involved are relatively modest, the grants will in themselves make a huge difference to these individual organisations and will be of particular benefit to local cultural centres throughout rural Ireland.”