Tag Archives: Senator Tony Mulcahy

Cratloe Post Office is to remain open for at least another 18 months it has been announced. Senator Tony Mulcahy said he has received confirmation from An Post that the contract for the operation of the post office, which was due to end this month, has been extended until September 2016. He said An Post’s decision is a credit to the work of the local community and the Cratloe Post Office Action Group which have “campaigned vigorously” against the closure during recent months.” He described the extension of the Post Office contract as “a victory for community action.” “I attended a number of meetings in Cratloe and at the GPO in Dublin at which the people of Cratloe outlined the many reasons why the post office should remain open and how its closure would potentially impact the village and surrounding areas. This community approach worked and has served to convince An Post that its plan to not renew the Post …

ANIMALS enjoy more protection under the law than adult victims of domestic violence in Ireland, a prominent Clare politician has claimed. Senator Tony Mulcahy, who previously revealed his own childhood had been destroyed by domestic violence, has called on Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to introduce more stringent penalties against perpetrators of this crime. The Fine Gael Senator made the plea noting that someone who inflicts cruelty on a dog can be fined up to €250,000, or face up to five years imprisonment, while there is far less protection for someone over the age of 18, either male or female, who is a victim of domestic violence. A person convicted in the district court of causing harm can receive a maximum fine of €1,500 or up to 12 months in prison. “If we can introduce law to protect animals, we should be able to protect a man or woman that is being brutalised in their own home,” he said. “Friends of …

Six Clare animal welfare groups are to receive funding totalling €34,700 to assist them in their work next year. The announcement comes as Senator Tony Mulcahy appealed to parents and others to think responsibly when considering giving a pet as a present this Christmas. He also urged people to heed the warnings and advice offered by the animal welfare organisations in this regard. The Clare groups in line for payments include Clare SPCA, Newmarket on Fergus (€15,000); Second Chance Animal Welfare Ltd., Shannon (€9,800); Rover Rescue, Ennis (€3,600); An Cat Dubh Sanctuary, Clounlaheen East, Mullagh (€2,400); Burren Animal Rescue, Rockforest, Tubber (€2,100); and Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Kilrush (€1,800). The ex-gratia payments form part of an allocation totalling €1,867,200 which is being distributed to 142 animal welfare bodies throughout Ireland to assist in their work during the coming year. Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy said this year’s County Clare allocation is almost €2,000 higher than the figure received in …

Payments are beginning to issue from today (Wednesday) to almost 2,800 Clare farmers under the Beef Genomics Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme. The total payout will amount to €1.7 million. Senator Tony Mulcahy, who obtained figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, explained the breakdown – €1,674,840 to 2,354 Clare sucker farmers, as well as €97,070 to 444 Clare sheep farmers. He said the payments would provide a very important and timely boost to support incomes in both the beef and sheep sectors”. The Beef Genomics Scheme was introduced in 2014 and is fully funded by the National Exchequer. The Grassland Sheep Scheme, which will be discontinued in its present form in January 2015, is based on the current EU Regulation governing direct payments in the form of the Single Payment Scheme.

Fine Gael Senator, Tony Mulcahy has said an announcement next week regarding the future roll-out of broadband in Clare will give clarity to rural communities still without access to an affordable high speed internet service. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White will be Doolin on Monday to launch the next phase of the National Broadband Plan. This will include the launch of a map that will show in detail the locations across Ireland that will have access to high-quality broadband by the end of 2016, and the remaining locations, which will require state intervention to provide access to high speed broadband. Senator Mulcahy said the absence of high speed broadband has been a “significant problem” for many rural areas of Clare, and is “hampering job creation”. Senator Mulcahy commented, “Since the announcement of the National Broadband Plan in 2012, the number of companies, such as Eircom, UPC and Sky, offering high speed internet access has increased significantly. …

Clare graduates have been urged to consider a career in the public service, following the Government’s decision to lift the moratorium on public service recruitment. The move will provide new opportunities for graduates and those at the early stages of their careers, according to Senator Tony Mulcahy. “At least 250 graduate positions are to be filled over the next two years. These include 50 graduates in the civil service, 15 specialist economists in the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) and 200 graduates in the wider public service,” explained Senator Mulcahy. He continued:,”Recruitment for some of these positions has begun and details are available on www.publicjobs.ie. Closing dates for receipt of applications are October 28 for the graduate economist competition, and October 30 or the Public Service Graduate campaign.” Senator Mulcahy further ourlined that in addition to opportunities for graduates, interviews for approximately 300 clerical officer roles, which will also be filled over the next two years, are currently underway. …

Community groups and environmental organisations across County Clare are to enjoy a share of €22,000 under the 2014 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund. The fund, which is administered by Clare County Council in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, will benefit 15 local projects and schemes that are seeking to increase local levels of environmental awareness and help communities become more sustainable. Senator Tony Mulchay said, “This fund has supported a wide variety of local projects and schemes down through the years, including community gardens, allotments and compost schemes, rainwater harvesting systems, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions. Each of these projects has helped to further improve the sustainability and physical appearance of the respective communities.” The projects include: – Lorraine Power: Implementing best practice environmental projects for Tidy Towns groups (€2,500) – Laghtagoona Residents Assoc.: Estate Enhancement Project (€2,450) – East Clare Co Operative: Future of Food – 1010 for 2010 Documentary (€2,450) – …

The move by the Department of Finance to hand sports clubs with bars, or other commercial facilities, a partial exemption on their commercial rates has met with approval from Senator Tony Mulcahy. He received confirmation from Minister of State at the Department, Simon Harris that he will be introducing an amendment to the Valuation Bill, which will give way to the change. “At present sports club facilities are exempt from rates. However, where a sports club has a bar all of its premises are valued for rates purposes including buildings that are purely for sporting purposes. This situation is seen as placing an unfair burden on many local clubs that are a key part of their community,” explained Senator Mulcahy. The Fine Gael senator said, “Under this amendment, community sports clubs will only be liable for rates on buildings that are used for the generation of income. If a sports club’s only commercial facility is the bar then it is …