Tag Archives: Deputy Michael McNamara

PERMISSION from government to resume the sale of animals at marts, under strict new regulations, has been welcomed in Clare. Concerns had been voiced by farming leaders after all marts were shut down last week in response to the Covid-19 crisis. After intensive talks about how livestock trading can continue at a time when hundreds of thousands of animals need to be sold, the Department of Agriculture has agreed to allow marts to resume operations on a limited basis. It is understood that marts will oversee the weighing, buying and selling of animals without crowds being allowed to attend. Each mart will be required to submit operating protocols for approval before being allowed to conduct any business. “Farmers in Clare are under pressure to sell animals on at this time,” said ICMSA County Chairperson Martin McMahon. “We’re a productive county and cattle from here go to the midlands and East and at least if the marts are available to match …

Clare TD Michael McNamara has been formally nominated to contest the next General Election for the Labour Party. At a convention meeting, Mr McNamara told delegates Labour must campaign to remain in Government now that it is in a position not just to mitigate the worst but achieve the best for the people of Ireland and Clare Mr McNamara, who was invited to rejoin the Parliamentary Party last month having lost the whip after voting against the sale of Aer Lingus, retained the support of the Clare Labour Party members and was selected uncontested at Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis on Sunday night. “It is important that Labour remains in Government now that we are in a position not just to mitigate the worst but to achieve the best, because a lot of what we had to do was to try to mitigate the worst and frankly there isn’t a lot of thanks for that,” he told the convention, chaired …

A Clare TD has proposed two amendments to the Marriage Bill (2015) introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday. Deputy Michael McNamara, a barrister, wants to see the legislation amended so as to allow for new civil partnerships to be entered into and to widen the number of people who hold can the role of solemniser. The Bill, as it exists, does not change the status of any existing marriage, or any future marriage between a man and a woman bit instead proposes to remove the current obstacles in legislation that prevent a lesbian or gay couple from marrying. Marriages abroad of lesbian and gay couples will be automatically recognised in Ireland on passing of the Bill. Existing civil partners will have the choice to marry, but may also choose to remain as civil partners all their lives. However, according to Deputy McNamara, if the Bill passes through the houses of the Oireachtas as it is, no new civil partnerships may …

“Explosive” revelations about the work practices of consultants in the Mid-West’s acute hospitals have prompted calls for an independent public inquiry into the running of theatre facilities. A report prepared by healthcare consultants, Meridian Productivity Limited, in 2013 revealed late starts by consultants in all hospitals in the UL Hospitals’ Group was a regular feature that was going “unchallenged” in the majority of cases. It outlined there was no clear definition or means of reporting utilisation of theatres,  excessive theatre overruns in Dooradoyle and last minute communication of theatre list content. It stated there was “poor theatre start and end punctuality” and a transfer of only a “very small amount of procedures” from UHL to Ennis and Nenagh hospitals, which is contrary to commitments given when 24-hour emergency services were removed from those hospitals in April 2009. UL Hospitals’ Group has welcomed the recommendations made in the report, which it said has helped to improve efficiencies in theatres and insists …

Civil marriage ceremonies shouldn’t be organised just to suit regular office hours, according to Clare TD Michael McNamara. “It is no longer acceptable that people wishing to marry in a registry office should be confined to a ‘Monday to Friday office hours’ ceremony,” the Clare Labour deputy said. “Following the historic vote on same-sex marriage at the weekend more people will now be seeking a civil marriage ceremony. I believe we should extend the hours at which a registrar is available to solemnise a ceremony, not just because same-sex couples are limited to a mid-week wedding, but so too are heterosexual couples who do not wish to have a religious wedding ceremony,” he added. “It is only fair that couples can marry at a time and venue of their choosing. People should have the right to marry at the weekend and celebrate this special occasion with family and friends. Currently those wishing to marry in a registrar office, or have …

  Clare Deputy Michael McNamara hopes to run for the Labour Party in the next General Election, despite his expulsion from the parliamentary party. The East Clare TD was the only Coalition deputy to vote against the proposed sale of the State’s 25.1 per cent stake in Aer Lingus to International Airlines Group (IAG) on Thursday. The barrister and part-time farmer remains a member of the Labour Party and says he will still support Labour Party policies during future Dáil votes. He still wants to run as a Labour candidate in Clare at the next General Election, if he is selected at the party’s selection convention. However, if he  doesn’t secure a place on the Labour Party ticket, he wouldn’t rule out running as an independent candidate. The Aer Lingus motion passed by 74 votes to 51 with Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and most other opposition deputies opposing the sale. McNamara was the only government deputy to vote down the …

THE “unacceptable” temporary closure of a rehabilitation unit at St Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital in Ennis was highlighted in the Dáil on Wednesday by Deputy Michael McNamara. The shutdown of this specialised unit on Friday last was raised by Deputy McNamara, after his initial attempt to secure a discussion under ‘Topical Debates’ last week was not allowed. The facility has a total potential capacity of 142 beds, including 22 that are consultant-led and are utilised for the purpose of rehabilitation for appropriately identified patients’ post acute care – medical or surgical. In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, the HSE stressed, “This is not a closure of the rehabilitation unit but only a temporary measure, for the shortest period of time possible and will not affect the patients receiving their rehabilitation care”. The authority pointed out the 14 patients that were transferred into another ward are still receiving rehabilitation. When Deputy McNamara learned about the closure, he was told there …

The new Corporate Crime Bill, drafted by Clare TD, Michael McNamara, will ensure more individuals convicted of ‘white collar crime’ will serve a prison sentence. The Office of Fiscal Prosecution Act 2015 is proposing the establishment of an Office of Fiscal Prosecution, overseen by a Director of Fiscal Prosecution, to investigate and prosecute corporate offences, which cost Irish citizens hundreds of millions of euro every year. Deputy McNamara believes many of these crimes are currently going unpunished. “In 2012, 76,405 theft and related offences were recorded in Ireland, meanwhile just 5,792 cases of fraud and deception were recorded by gardaí. I believe there is a lack of capability to bring culprits of corporate crime and fraud before the criminal courts. “The current level of criminal penalties imposed, particularly fines, does not act as a deterrent against banking offences, corruption, fraud or other so called ‘white collar offences’. Likewise the resources usually available to those charged with these crimes are so …