Tag Archives: Anne Rabbitte

A MAN who threw dried cow dung at two TDs attending a public meeting in Gort last week has refused to apologise.  The meeting took place at O’Sullivan’s Hotel in Gort on January 4 to air public views on the recent grant of planning permission for a biogas plant close to the town centre. The gathering of around 400 people launched a fundraising campaign to mount a legal challenge. Since the meeting, more than €60,000 has been raised and legal representation secured.  The throwing of dung at Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte and Deputy Ciaran Cannon generated national headlines over the course of the last week, and a Garda investigation is underway. The incident prompted the reissuing of safety guidelines to Oireachtas members and a national debate about the security of public representatives. Farmer Joe Baldwin declined to speak to The Champion but told RTÉ’s Liveline he did not believe he had anything to apologise for. He denied any intention to …

A CLARE mother whose son was diagnosed with Autism has spoken about the “life-changing” effect of access to respite and residential services. Mary Nolan whose son Liam has availed of RehabCare respite services for more than 20 years, was speaking as a new regional service offering up to 1,200 respite bed night opportunities for children and adults with severe and profound disabilities in the Mid-West region opened in the county. The new regional respite and residential service, which will support more than 100 adults and children, was opened on Friday in Clarecastle by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte. Carrowgar is operated by RehabCare, the Care division of the Rehab Group. This service will support children and individuals with severe/profound learning difficulties, accompanying physical disabilities, complex medical and healthcare needs, and those who may have additional sensory impairments. The HSE Mid-West funds this new service to provide much-needed respite breaks for children and families responding to …