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Breen to chair Joint Committee hearing with Gilmore

Minister Pat Breen

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, chaired by Clare TD Pat Breen, is to hear from Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore on this Wednesday. The meeting will consider the outcomes from Monday’s session of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Luxembourg, where the Tánaiste discussed the on-going crisis in Iraq with his counterparts. Deputy Breen said, “The deteriorating security situation in Iraq has been the source of grave concern to Committee members, particularly in view of the appalling levels of indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians. We note the Tánaiste’s call at the meeting for the Iraqi Government to take a non-sectarian, inclusive approach to curb any opportunities for extremism to thrive. The Committee will have an opportunity to consider the alarming situation with the Tánaiste in detail at tomorrow’s meeting, and the approach that European Foreign Ministers are proposing to take to stem the crisis.” Mr Breen will also meet with the new Iraqi Ambassador to Ireland, Faik Nerweyi, at which …

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Rates cost worry for hoteliers

Hotels and guesthouses are expressing confidence for 2014 according to the latest Irish Hotels Federation’s (IHF) quarterly barometer findings. The barometer of IHF members carried out as the summer season starts shows that some 86% of hotel and guesthouses have expressed an optimistic view for future trading conditions in 2014, with some 72% of respondents indicating an increase in advance summer bookings compared to the same period last year (4% reported a decrease and 24% noted no change). Hotel and guesthouse owners have, however,  expressed renewed concern regarding pressures on their cost base, citing excessive Local Authority Rates being a key issue, with some 81% stating it is having a negative impact on their business. Local Authority Rates are the biggest single cost that hoteliers have no control over and the IHF is calling for a 30% reduction on these rates to ensure Irish tourism’s ability to compete effectively for domestic and overseas tourists. These rates are particularly affecting hotels …

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Top accolade eludes Ennis and Mountshannon

ALTHOUGH the ultimate accolade eluded them, both Ennis and Mounthsannon made the shortlist for final adjudication in Ireland’s Best Kept Town for 2014. At an awards ceremony on the SS Nomadic, Titanic Quarter in Belfast on Tuesday, the county Fermanagh town of Enniskillen was voted the overall winner and in the category of Best Kept Large Urban Centre which also included the towns of Ennis and Kilkenny.   Emly, Co Tipperary won the Best Kept Village category which also featured Mountshannon and Lack, Co Fermanagh.    At the presentation ceremony, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley paid tribute to each of the category winners and also to the other towns that had been nominated for awards. He said, “Being nominated for the awards represents an achievement in itself, and is reward for your efforts in the SuperValu TidyTowns and the Best Kept competitions.  These competitions continue to demonstrate the great pride that …

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Dáil protest on ‘rent assistance’

The Housing Action Group is calling on Minister Jan O’Sullivan to suspend the Housing Bill until “confusion and unwanted stress” surrounding the Housing Assistance Payment ( HAP) scheme is removed. The group is to stage another protest outside the Dáil at 5.30pm this Tuesday when the Bill resumes for debate and final voting. Gwen Connell, spokesperson for the group, said the provisions in the Bill were “well hidden” from the public until highlighted by the group only last Tuesday. Since then, the HAG had been inundated by people currently on council waiting lists worried about losing their place on the list. “The reckless nature of this Bill now brings fear of homelessness to families who were not directly affected in the past. It leaves families at the mercy of landlords whether on rent allowance, RAS or private renting. “This does not fix the problem of ‘rent allowance not accepted’ as the HAP will be the new rent supplement. What happens when …

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A great fair at Spancilhill

AS usual, they came from far and near for the annual Fair of Spancilhill on Monday, and that was only the horses and ponies, as well as a number of donkeys for good measure. The glorious weather brought out a big number of dealers and buying and selling was brisk throughout the day.  The quality of the animals at the fair was described as being very good and this was reflected in the prices that were achieved. The fair also attracted quite a number of visitors, who were happy to observe  the time-honoured  traditions associated with showing the animals to prospective buyers and the bartering and hand slapping. Judging by the 2014 fair, the event famed in song by Robbie McMahon, has a strong future and will continue as an important part of the heritage of County Clare.

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Chernobyl children arrive for summer break

The first of the annual airlift of children for the  Chernobyl Children International (CCI) touched down in Shannon Airport  on Sunday evening. The children, who come from impoverished backgrounds, institutions and foster homes in the heart of the contaminated Chernl zone will be hosted by Irish families throughout 17 counties in Ireland as part of CCI’s Summer Rest & Recuperation Programme. Despite these challenging times, Irish volunteer host families continue to raise funds locally throughout Ireland to support the children and ensure they benefit from a cleaner environment. Adi Roche, Voluntary CEO, CCI, said, “Despite the difficult economic circumstances many families find themselves in Ireland, our volunteers have opened their hearts and their homes this summer to children who so desperately need our help. “While the Chernobyl accident happened almost 30 years ago the consequences last forever. My heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers who offer hope to live to the children who the world has largely forgotten.” During their stay …

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Feed a family for €5 challenge

A nationwide cookery challenge has been launched by World Missions Ireland as part of a drive to highlight its campaign to provide one million dinners for children in the developing world and promote its many mission projects. Missionary Children is its’ dedicated children’s charity and every cent raised under its fundraising division goes to children’s projects in Africa, Asia and Oceania. Soprano Celine Byrne, GAA sports star Dermot Earley, RTE Rugby pundit Brent Pope and Mary O’ Rourke, former government minister, are supporting the cookery challenge for contestants  to devise a dinner menu to feed a family of six for €5. The entries will be whittled down to just five and a cook off will take place between the finalists in October, the traditional month of mission. Jackie Pallas, national secretary of Missionary Children, said it is one of the huge global injustices that so many people are dying from food poverty every day. “Millions of people are going to bed hungry every …

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O’Donnell says be SMART about college

As the CAO Change of Mind deadline on July1 looms, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is reminded parents and students considering whether to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at third level to visit www. smartfutures.ie. Clare’s All-Ireland hurling final hero, Shane O’Donnell, who is studying genetics at University College Cork (UCC), is an ambassador for Smart Futures and will help Smart Futures highlight the opportunities available to young people in the areas of STEM. Smart Futures is a Government-industry initiative providing access to STEM careers information and role models to second-level students, parents, teachers and careers guidance counsellors in Ireland. At this important time in the education calendar, this online resource will be important for parents looking for information about STEM careers, to help best support their children in making study and career decisions. An online resource for students and parents alike, Smart Futures demonstrates the huge range of opportunities open to post-primary students that study STEM subjects at second and …

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