Tag Archives: Pat Breen

ENNIS Councillor Mary Howard has joined the race to receive the Fine Gael nomination at the party’s convention to decide its general election candidates, saying, “I’ve proved myself”. The councillor joins sitting TDs Joe Carey and Pat Breen and Senators Tony Mulcahy and Martin Conway in seeking the party’s nomination on September 11. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Councillor Howard said the decision to seek nomination is something that she has been thinking over for some time. “I’ve been mulling it over in my mind, I love what I do and I see my future within Fine Gael. I absolutely love my job within Clare County Council but I thought now is the time to put my hat in the ring. “I believe that I’ve proved myself over the last six years. I’ve worked hard and I have been very involved in my community. A lot of people have asked me would I go forward and when you hear that …

A date has been set for the Fine Gael convention to select candidates to run for the General Election in Clare. The convention will take place on September 11 in Ennis, with the county’s two sitting TDs, Deputies Pat Breen and Joe Carey, likely to receive the nod. Senators Tony Mulcahy and Martin Conway have both said they will seek the party’s nomination. Clare County Councillor Mary Howard may also seek to have her name put forward. Senator Mulcahy was on the ticket in the 2011 General Election but was not elected, while Senator Conway had expressed his desire to run for Fine Gael on that occasion but was not selected as a candidate. “In 2009, I topped polls in local elections with a significant surplus. I wasn’t running in the subsequent General Election, even though a senior cabinet minister living seven miles away from me had said he would not be running, so it left a vacuum. Fine Gael …

CLARE’S five Government Oireachtas members are divided over the possible implications of the decision to press ahead with the €1.4 billion sale of Aer Lingus to International Airlines Group (IAG). Furthermore, Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley has added a twist to the debate in claiming the Irish Government might have no option but to sue IAG if the Aer Lingus Heathrow slots are sold. Fianna Fáil said it will table a Private Notice Question in the Dáil on Thursday, in a bid to suspend the proposed vote to sell off the national stake in Aer Lingus. The move follows the emergence of a report prepared by aviation consultants Nyras for Aer Lingus, in which the company sets out a range of cost reductions across the airline, including a proposal to outsource part of aircraft maintenance to Eastern Europe. The Government is recommending the sale of the State’s 25.1% stake, worth €335million, in Aer Lingus to IAG and put a motion to …

THE Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were welcomed as they arrived in Ireland by Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes, CEO Neil Pakey, Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Clare T.D. Pat Breen and Deputy Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Joe Cooney. Ms Hynes said that she took the opportunity to congratulate them on the birth of Princess Charlotte earlier this month. “We were delighted to welcome the Prince and Duchess here to Shannon and it was another very important day for us at the airport. Prince Charles was very relaxed and was looking forward to his visit. “He was very friendly and warm. He was only here for a brief time on arrival but I did get to congratulate him on the birth of his granddaughter Princess Charlotte. He was like any grandfather, very proud. He said ‘that’s so kind; it’s wonderful that it’s a girl’.” Prince Charles also noted in the conversation his …

China’ Premier Li Keqiang received a warm welcome at Shannon Airport on Sunday at at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland. Premier Li and his wife Professor Cheng Hong were greeted on arrival by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan; Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes; CEO Neil Pakey, Irish Ambassador to China, Paul Kavanagh,;Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland Jianguo Xu and Deputy Pat Breen. Premier Li, accompanied on the visit by eight Chinese government ministers, travelled on to Headford to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny on at local farm. Later they had a series of meeting at Ashford Castle. f Minister Noonan said, “It’s a very important visit because Premier Li is on the way to an extensive visit in South America and as part of that they have decided to stop over in Ireland. We are particularly pleased that he has chosen to stop over in Shannon. “We would also like to …

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pat Breen visited Qatar this week where he delivered a key note address to the economic conference in Doha. He is also attended a series of high level meetings with the region’s key political and business leaders. One of his first meetings was with the Qatari prime minister and Deputy Breen noted,“The one-on-one engagement with the prime minster of Qatar was valuable opportunity to raise a number of areas of mutual interest to both our countries. PM Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani raised the opportunities for greater trade between Ireland and Qatar. He also referred to the visit of Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD to the Gulf State last year. At a separate meeting with the Director of European Affairs at Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, I raised the possibility of resuming trade in Irish beef, and he agreed to push this issue with his veterinary officials in the coming weeks.” Deputy …

A new bilateral agreement between Ireland and Turkey giving fifth freedom rights for air cargo services, will pave the way for airlines like Turkish Airlines to have pick up rights for cargo at Shannon. In announcing the initiative, chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, Pat Breen said this represents a significant boost, both for Shannon Airport and the wider region. “This is new era for bilateral relations between Turkish Airlines and Shannon Airport. Turkish Airlines, who already operate services into and out of Dublin, have recognised the potential for development at Shannon Airport. The airline has also been using Shannon Airport as a refuelling stop, which has been going very well. “I have been heavily involved with discussions with Turkish Airlines and has been working closely with the Shannon Airport Authorities and the Turkish Airlines. I met Dr Temil Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines in Ankara in order to explore the opportunities for services into Shannon. My understanding from …

Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pat Breen has urged Clare students who intend travelling to the United States on J1 visas this summer to pack a copy of the new guide. Produced by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,the new guide for J1 visas was officially launched by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan. “The J1 Visa Programme provides a wonderful opportunity to Irish Students to work and travel to the United States. Over the years, the programme has made an enormous contribution to the enhancement of Irish/America bilateral relations. Over 8,000 students have applied for the programme this year and Ireland sends more students on this programme than any other country in the world. Many students from Clare have travelled to the US on J1 ‘s and more are planning to travel this summer. The majority of …