Tag Archives: Joe Carey

WITH a range of challenges mounting for Clare, there was disappointment this week, as not only was the county denied a seat at the Cabinet table, there won’t even be a representative from the wider Mid-West Region. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Mary Howard said that while ability should be the first criteria, the lack of West of Ireland representation in the new Cabinet is striking. “The other night, when you looked at the map and there wasn’t a senior minister from Donegal down to Limerick, it wasn’t a nice thing to see. I’m hoping that the west of Ireland will have the majority of the junior ministries now. “It was glaring when you saw there was two ministers in Wicklow, three in Cork, six in Dublin and nothing at all from Donegal down to Limerick.” At the moment the Mid-West’s health services are a shambles, Shannon Airport seems to lurch from crisis to crisis, while there are fears that …

SHANNON Airport will receive €6.1 million in emergency funding in a boost to the airport as it prepares to reopen on a full-time basis next week, Clare TD Joe Carey confirmed this evening. The emergency funding was agreed at a Cabinet meeting in Dublin today. Deputy Carey, who recently convened the all-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group, confirmed Shannon is the only airport to benefit from this funding. The Clare TD said: “This is a hugely welcome development for Shannon Airport, especially in light of recent developments as a result of the pandemic. The airport faces significant challenges, and this funding will provide an important lifeline to Shannon as it prepares to reopen on a 24-hour basis from July 1.” Today’s announcement will come as welcome news as Shannon Airport prepares to resume scheduled passenger operations from next Wednesday. Deputy Carey added: “The return of passenger flights in and out of Shannon is obviously vital for the airport and all its …

Since the call for people to sign up to support the community response to Covid-19 in Clare went out in March, 386 people from across the county have registered to volunteer through the I-VOL app, Clare TD Joe Carey has said. Deputy Carey said: “Volunteers in Clare have been directly linked by the local Volunteer Centres to local organisations responding to Covid-19, conducting a wide range of very important work, from delivering food and medicines to older people who are self-isolating, to volunteering in Covid test centres. “There are also many more volunteers on the ground, helping out family, friends and neighbours. The response to the Covid crisis shows once again what a fantastic resource we have in our volunteers and the wonderful community spirit that prevails here in Clare even during these challenging times,” he stated. Deputy Carey added: “We have always depended greatly on the cohort of volunteers that give so generously of their time and energy year …

HEALTH Minister Simon Harris is coming under pressure to ease some of the Covid-19 restrictions in Clare following official confirmation the incidence of the virus is the second lowest in Munster. According to official figures, Waterford has the lowest number of confirmed cases in Munster on Wednesday with 138 compared to 229 in Clare, 288 in Kerry, 370 in Tipperary, 518 in Limerick and 1,126 in Cork. Even when population is taken into account, Clare has the second lowest incidence of Covid-19 per head in the province. As frustration grows over how many weeks Clare people will be forced to remain in a restrictive national lockdown, Deputy Michael McNamara has presented a strong case for the need to apply a different level of restrictions in different regions subject to public health guidance. New EU guidelines for the control of Covid-19 have proposed that national lockdowns could be replaced by targeted regional measures. However, the new EU guidelines also recommend that …

AS Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil inch closer to government formation, opinion continues to be divided on the merits of a historic coalition. The broad consensus, however, suggests that, in this county, support for alternatives options is in short supply. Both parliamentary parties have been meeting separately to consider a joint framework document agreed by Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin last Tuesday. It is anticipated that mechanisms will then be explored to canvass the views of councillors and grass-roots members. Deputies Joe Carey and Cathal Crowe both suggested that, through consultation, those with reservations could be brought around to the coalition option. “Among Fine Gael councillors there is widespread support, but not unanimity,” said Deputy Carey. “I would say that around 70% favour coalition. People do have legitimate questions and they must be listened to.” Fianna Fáil’s Deputy Crowe said he would emphasising to party leadership the importance of listening to the grassroots. “I have huge support in our party’s negotiating team,” he said. …

Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has urged the thousands of people with holiday homes in coastal parts of the county not to travel to Clare over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Deputy Carey spoke out as extra powers were given to gardai to enforce the restrictions on anyone who is found to be in breach of the Covid-19 public health regulations. It follows reports locally that extra visitors were observed at popular holiday spots in the west and north of the county in recent days. Deputy Carey said: “We love having visitors to Clare, you won’t receive a better welcome anywhere else and the tourism industry is an economic lifeline for many parts of the county. “However, we are living in extraordinary times, and we must do absolutely everything within our power to stop the spread of Covid-19 and to ease the huge pressure on our hospitals and frontline workers. “Gardai will be out in force between now and the …

ALL roads led to Ennistymon last Sunday morning as the counting of just over 60,000 Clare ballots began. Storm Ciara tore along the western seaboard, leaving sections of the N85 barely passable. As political pilgrims queued to cross flood waters south of the Inagh village, the brother of outgoing TD Timmy Dooley came quietly to the rescue. Pat Dooley donned his wellies to check the depth of the water, then led a number of other drivers through. Gales and floods ultimately did little to deter the capacity crowd that poured into The Falls Hotel to witness a drama few could have anticipated. As the ballot boxes were opened, the threads of a new political narrative emerged. Sinn Féin was on course to have a Clare TD for the first time since 1922. It took more than twelve hours, however, to confirm the dominance of newcomer Violet-Anne Wynne. Anticipation of the first count was at fever pitch by 9.10pm. Families and …

FINE Gael TD Joe Carey said he is disgusted by criticisms made by newly elected Clare Sinn Féin TD Violet Anne Wynne of the HPV vaccine and other vaccines. Deputy Carey said Ms Wynne must not be allowed to undo the work of those who promote or advocate the importance of getting the HPV vaccine. In August 2017 Ms Wynne reportedly slammed compulsory vaccination as ‘medical tyranny’, while she defended parents who were critical of vaccination. Responding on Thursday, Deputy Carey said,“I watched one of the most inspirational and bravest people that I ever encountered, the late Laura Brennan from Ennis, spend the last moments of her life campaigning to raise awareness around the critical importance of the HPV vaccine. “Laura did this to ensure other young people would not die. “These comments are a really good example of Sinn Féin ignoring world health policy. “The comments are destructive and extremely damaging as they have been made by an elected …