Tag Archives: Deputy Joe Carey

CLARE Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway said he has no immediate plans to run as an independent candidate if he is not selected as one of the party’s candidates at their Dáil selection convention this Friday night. Speculation has been rife that the Ennistymon-based Senator might run as an independent if he is not chosen on the ticket. However, Senator Conway is confident that he will get a chance to run for Fine Gael at the next election and feels he should be added as a third candidate, if he is unsuccessful at convention. Asked if he would run as an independent candidate, he said, “No one can predict the future. Running as an independent is a situation I wouldn’t countenance. I have no immediate plans to run as an independent. “I believe my performance over the last few years, my proven vote-getting record and my geographical position makes a strong case for why I should be part of the …

IF Fine Gael were to re-run its 2011 three-candidate electoral strategy in Clare with the same candidates, it would equate to “political stupidity”, according to Senator Martin Conway. That time the party held its two seats, which will surely be the limit of its ambitions for the next election, which is due within nine months, but the North Clare man said he must be included on the next ticket. Senator Conway said, “I don’t anticipate at this stage that I won’t be a Fine Gael candidate. If I wasn’t going to be a Fine Gael candidate, I’d expect to have been told at this stage, as a sitting member of the Oireachtas. I’m working on the basis that I’m going to be a candidate. North and West Clare always had a TD over the years and now that there’s a Sinn Féin candidate [Noeleen Moran] in Ballyvaughan and most likely a Fianna Fáil candidate in Miltown [Michael McDonagh], it would …

It has been confirmed that a new €80 million scheme aimed at rejuvenating urban and village centres is soon to be rolled out. Deputy Joe Carey received confirmation of these plans in reply to a recent parliamentary question, which he tabled to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly. The Fine Gael TD said, “There is a clear need in my view to provide funding to improve streetscapes and public space infrastructure similar to that previously provided for under the Urban & Village Renewal Scheme. “Many town and village centres, streets and recreational areas throughout County Clare are screaming out for an injection of funding. The introduction of this scheme is welcome news. I look forward to Clare County Council identifying appropriate projects and to successfully drawing down much needed funding to improve our town and village public space infrastructure.”

SEVERE and sudden hailstorms are affecting the M18 more than most other roads, are all but impossible to forecast and have led to accidents on the route, according to the National Roads Authority (NRA). Clare TD Joe Carey raised concerns about the Crusheen-Gort section of the route in the Dáil and he subsequently received a letter from programme and regulatory manager of the NRA, Gary Carey. The NRA official stated, “There would appear to be a particular problem associated with hailstorms along the M18, which seem to be more frequent along this route than at other locations throughout the national road motorway network. “It was such a hailstorm on January 13, 2015, which resulted in skidding accidents and the closure of the road for a time by An Garda Síochána. “It is worth noting that some of the hailstorms recorded had such intensity that at one point they caused the road surface temperature to drop by approximately 5oC in a …

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has today (Wednesday) outlined his position in relation to the current proposed offer from IAG for a takeover of Aer Lingus. “The issue of the IAG proposed takeover is complex, in that the best interests of the taxpayer must be balanced against long-term strategic regional development and connectivity. We have consistently stated that as a Government we will not rush to sell our minority shareholding unless the market conditions and terms of the sale were favourable to our stated policy interests. As an island, it is crucial we maintain and grow our aviation links given that 80% of passenger movements in and out of Ireland are by air. Coupled with this, Aer Lingus has long been of strategic and economic importance to Ireland, supporting significant numbers of jobs and in the top 50 of Irish employers. “As a Government we have considered and discussed carefully all aspects of this proposed takeover. As a County …

The new Companies Bill passed in the Houses of the Oireachtas last week will ease the burden of red tape for Clare business people and simplify many existing company law requirements, according to local TD, Joe Carey. The Bill, which is the largest substantive piece of legislation in the history of the State, has now been sent to the President for signing. “The passing of the new Companies Bill through the Oireachtas is great news for entrepreneurs and business owners in County Clare as it will significantly ease the burden of red tape on small business,” said Mr Carey. It is estimated that 200,000 SMEs and 12,000 start-ups every year will be able to substantially reduce the costs and time associated with establishing and running a company, as a result of this Bill. “The vast majority of companies in Ireland are private companies limited by shares and for that reason they will be placed at the centre of the legislation. …

The prospect of opening up the Chinese beef market  will be of benefit to Clare farmers, according to Deputy Joe Carey. “The largest ever Irish agri-food trade mission to China, led by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, has resulted in a major break through for Irish beef producers,” the Clare Fine Gael TD said. Following two years of technical engagement between the Irish Department of Agriculture and their Chinese counterparts, it has been agreed that a formal inspection team from China will visit Ireland next month to advance the arrangements. “The Irish beef industry will have a golden opportunity in December to showcase to the Chinese delegation our world class beef product. The potential here for Irish farmers is enormous. For example, demand for beef in China is expected to rise by one million tonnes over the next five years. Along with a potential spin off for beef farmers, we are also looking at access to the Chinese market for sheep meat, …

Recent CSO job creation figures represent a vindication of the Government’s decision to retain the 9% VAT rate for tourism services, the scrappage of the air travel tax, the separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA and the creation of the Wild Atlantic Way, according to Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey. Over 8,000 of the 31,600 jobs created nationally in the last twelve months were in the hospitality sector. The Clare deputy said the reduction of VAT on tourism services from 13.5% to 9% has had a direct and significant impact on job creation. “Here in County Clare we have also seen huge benefit from Government policies in this sector. The creation of the Wild Atlantic Way is opening up aspects of our coastline to increased tourist numbers, with the Cliffs of Moher set to break the one million visitor number mark for the first time this year. Passenger numbers are up at Shannon with increased routes and destinations. “The reduction …