Family Carers asked to put their life story on the line

Family Carers throughout Ireland are being invited to put pen to paper and compose a poem as part of Caring for Carers Ireland’s annual nationwide poetry competition.

Stena Line Ireland team confirmed for world’s longest junior stage event

Setanta Sports will be providing coverage of the 2013 International Junior Tour of Ireland cycling race in County Clare from July 2-7.

Irish landmarks ‘craftbombed’ in the name of art

A nationwide art campaign got underway across the island of Ireland over the weekend with everything from police stations to statues “craftbombed” to mark the start of Voluntary Arts Week, an annual celebration of the amateur arts and crafts. 

World Rugby’s oldest trophy lands in Northern Ireland

The oldest trophy in world rugby arrived in Northern Ireland today as part of a tour of Ireland and the UK ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.

Carers Welcome Publication Of Strategy

Caring for Carers Ireland’s, which represents 109 carers groups across Ireland, has welcomed the publication today (Thursday, 19 July 2012) of the country’s first National Carers Strategy by Minister For Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, Kathleen Lynch, T.D.

New Website For Irish Weather Enthusiasts

Ireland’s first dedicated weather news and long range forecast website, Irish Weather Online has been launched. 

High Profile Speakers Confirmed For National Tourism Conference

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny, Aer Arann chairman Mr Padraig O Ceidigh and F.A.I. Technical Director Packie Bonner will join tourism interests from across the island of Ireland at the National Tourism Conference, details of which were announced today.

The Clare Tourist Council - in conjunction with Clare County Council – will host the 22nd annual conference at The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, County Clare, from 25-27 November.

The annual event will be attended by hundreds of tourism industry officials and members of Local Authorities, County Enterprise Boards, partnerships, and all public and private bodies involved in the promotion of tourism on the island of Ireland.

This year’s conference, entitled “Achieving World Class Tourism”, also will see some of Ireland’s leading tourism operators pledge their support for the Cliffs of Moher’s bid to be named one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’. The iconic County Clare landmark was shortlisted in July 2009, along with 27 other sites, from over 440 participants representing over 220 countries.

Speakers scheduled to address the conference include: Aer Arann chairman Mr Padraig O Ceidigh (The Importance of Access); Gerard Dollard, Director of Services Clare Co Council and Ennis Town Manager (Raising the Bar – The Role of local Authorities); Geraldine McGahey, Chief Executive, Larne Borough Council (Learning from the advantages of networking: The Pathway to Success); Samantha Williams, Cantata Project Coordinator, Denbighshire County Council (Developing an authentic tourism experience); and Bodil Alver Moen, Lillehammer Kommune, Norway (World Class Tourism: The Importance of Exchange Programmes, from Inside and Outside the E.U.).

The Football Association of Ireland (F.A.I.) will also be represented at the conference as it prepares to hold its own annual conference in County Clare next summer. Former goalkeeping international and current F.A.I. Technical Director Packie Bonner will address conference delegates on the issue of “Football in Clare: The Key to Success”, while F.A.I. delegate from Clare Jim Madden will speak about the importance of networking within clubs.

Commenting on the upcoming conference, Mr. Flan Garvey of the Clare Tourist Council said: “The interest shown in this year’s event indicates the very real commitment among all tourism agencies and operators to participate in a unified approach to addressing common issues facing the sector. Tourism has been hit badly by the downturn in the economy and it can only survive and prosper if operators in the sector exchange ideas and collaborate.”

Mr. Garvey noted that the conference has in previous years attracted tourism representatives from all over Ireland to Ennistymon to share their views on the best way forward for the sector.

“For over two decades this event has promoted the benefits of adopting a collaborative approach to developing tourism on the island of Ireland. The Clare Tourist Council is committed to engaging with tourism providers and promotional agencies throughout the island in reinforcing the country’s status as a domestic and international tourist destination alike. All political parties, including Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party, will also be participating in the event in the best interests of developing tourism”, he added.

Next month’s three-day conference will include the presentation of the Clare Tourist Council Tidy Towns Awards, sponsored by Fitzpatrick’s Supervalu Supermarket in Ennistymon, along with a site visit by delegates to the nearby Cliffs of Moher.

The Clare Tourist Council hosted its first national tourism conference, entitled ‘The Tourism Explosion - Implications for Ireland’, in 1989. Subsequent conferences have addressed a wide range of tourism issues like ‘Tourism for the ’90s’, ‘Tourism & the Environment’, ‘Let Tourism work for You’, ‘Keeping up with Changing Times’, ‘The Role Played by Local Authorities in Tourism’, ‘Positioning Tourism - Quality or Price”, “Promoting Co-operative Tourism Marketing”, and ‘‘Promoting Partnership In Tourism: 21 Years Of Progress”.

Deadline Extended For Isover Ireland Building Awards

The deadline for submitting entries to the Isover Energy Efficiency Awards (EEA) has been extended until October 11th.

The inaugural awards scheme is being targeted at building professionals including architects, engineers, builders and developers across Ireland who have built new and renovated buildings that have been built with a very low energy demand.

A €10,000 prize will be presented to the overall winner of the Irish finals who will go forward to represent Ireland at a European Awards ceremony in Madrid in May 2011. The winner will also be profiled in the internationally-distributed Isover ‘Best Of’ book.

The awards scheme acknowledges the considerable shift within the Irish construction industry towards energy efficient building design, explained Mr. Kieran Holohan of ISOVER Ireland.

Mr. Holohan explained that the awards will celebrate Ireland’s most energy efficient renovation and new construction projects, both in the residential and non-residential sectors.

He added: “The ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards reflect two environmental issues that are at the very heart of our core objectives - protection of the environment in the face of climate change, and enhancing the quality of and physical comfort in the buildings where we work and live.”

Mr. Holohan pointed out that much of Ireland’s existing building stock continues to consume a considerable amount of energy for heating with significant emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels.

“New building regulations coupled with a change in consumer behaviour and attitudes has led to a significant increase in the number of renovation and construction projects embracing energy efficient design.

“Not only will this new awards scheme honour those who have excelled in the energy efficient building sector but it will also allow scheme participants to exchange and share knowledge and experience in the field. ISOVER Ireland is confident that this will help to highlight the importance of improving the energy performance of our buildings and, subsequently, the inhabitants' quality of life”, concluded Mr. Holohan.

The adjudication panel includes leading Irish experts in the field of green design and construction, namely Tomas O Leary, Passive House Academy Ireland; Jeff Colley, Editor of Construct Ireland and winner of the 2010 Green Leader Award; Jay Stuart RIBA, Sustainable Design Consultant; and Zdenka Debartoli, International Market Manager Building, ISOVER.

Projects entered in the competition must be fully completed by December 2010 and not more than 5 years old. Closing date for entries is Monday October 11th 2010. The Irish awards ceremony will take place in December 2010.

For more see www.isover-eea.com.

The Big Freeze Set To Return To Ireland

All indications are that Ireland is set to see a return of bitterly cold conditions from the colder continent early next week.

Daytime temperatures are likely to be in low single figures by midweek and will struggle to rise much above freezing during daylight hours by the end of next week. Present indications are that the cold spell will last for at least five days before the Atlantic restores milder weather over the country.


Local authorities throughout Ireland will be keeping a close eye on the weather situation over the coming days and will be hoping to avoid a prolonged wintry spell that will put further pressure on salt and gritting stocks. Snow is likely at times but sharp to severe frosts can be expected.

Munster To Team Up With Connaught For Aviva Stadium Opening

The first game to mark the opening of the redeveloped Lansdowne Road will be held on August 7 next and will see a composite Leinster/Ulster team face a Munster/Connacht selection, the IRFU announced today.

"To mark the opening of the Aviva Stadium, the Irish Rugby Football Union today confirmed that the first game to be played in 2010 will be an historic rugby match between two composite provincial teams," reports breakingnews.ie. Leinster and Ulster were the first representative teams to play in the old Lansdowne Road nearly 133 years ago on December 16, 1876. Both provinces were also on hand to play the final game in the stadium on New Year's Eve 2006, when Leinster beat Ulster 20-12 in the Magners League.

The game will form part of the provincial preseason calendar. The Aviva Stadium will also play host to some of the top teams in world rugby during the Guinness Series in November next year. Ireland is scheduled to play four internationals for the first time during that period against World Champions South Africa, followed by games against Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

Northern Ireland Confirms Three More Swine Flu Deaths

Northern Ireland's Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said he is terribly saddened to hear of the three latest swine flu related deaths in the region.

A second child from a school in Derry has died after contracting swine flu. Five Foyleview (left) pupils have now contracted swine flu, reports RTE News.

A 62-year-old man has also died in a hospital in the North. He was confirmed as having swine flu but it was not the cause of death. A third patient with swine flu and other complex health issues has also died in hospital.

Indian Firm Creates 100 Jobs In Derry

An Indian-owned call centre company is creating 100 jobs in Northern Ireland, it announced today.

Firstsource already employs around 1,000 at its base in Derry reports RTE. It also employs up to 400 in Belfast.

It is the latest round in a constant expansion by the company which a year ago employed just 600 in Derry.

Killeen Welcomes Major New Package On EU Fisheries Control

Mr Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today agreed a comprehensive fisheries control and inspection framework at the Fisheries Council.

Speaking in Luxembourg, Minister of State Killeen said: “My priority at Council was to secure measures that will give our fishermen confidence that there is real intent and the necessary tools in place that will address illegal fishing in the waters around our coast. These measures will help to deliver the level playing field on control that is necessary to rebuild fish stocks and protect the livelihood of our coastal communities which are fully dependent for their future on healthy fish stocks fished sustainable by all operators in our waters”.

Discussions on the new measures will overhaul the existing regime for fisheries control continued late into the night. The package of measures was finally agreed following intensive negotiations by Minister of State Killeen to ensure that Ireland's priorities and concerns were fully taken on board.

Minister of State Killeen continued: “I welcome these new measures which I believe are not a threat to Irish fishermen who have already moved substantially to a culture of compliance. As fisheries are a common resource it is vital that all operators from all EU fleets respect the rules. We must rebuild our fish stocks by implementing conservation measures and tackling illegal fishing by fleets in our waters which is the major cause of the decline in our fish stocks and quotas. With this package, we have now a better opportunity to stop the cycle of decline and secure a sustainable profitable future for our industry”.

The urgent need for a new control regime in European fisheries was clearly set down in a Court of Auditors report on data collection and control and enforcement under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Court concluded that weaknesses in fisheries controls jeopardised the proper functioning of a fisheries management policy based on catch limitations. The objective of the new control regime is to address in a comprehensive way the shortcomings identified and modernise the delivery.

The new Regulation introduces a new and common approach to control, from net to plate. It will cover every stage in the process that sees fish caught, landed, brought to market and sold. Harmonised standards for inspection activities and procedures will help deliver uniform implementation. This new approach will make use of modern technologies and risk analysis. It will introduce systematic and automated cross checking of data collected at the catch, landing and sale stages, to make it easier to spot attempts to break the rules. These measures will be backed up by a comprehensive traceability system, so that all fish and fisheries products, whether imported or produced in the EU, can be tracked throughout the market chain.

Minister of State Killeen said: “I am satisfied that here early this morning we have delivered a strong and effective new regime that will support the accurate recording of fish catches and detect and help prevent infringement of conservation rules. For the first time the EU has moved closer to harmonised sanctions with the introduction of a 'penalty points system' to address persistent offenders against the rules. Those offenders will have their fishing licence suspended and eventually permanently withdrawn.”

“ I am satisfied that we have agreed a package of measures that will promote a level playing field across the EU and will foster a culture of compliance”, the Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare concluded.

Dissident Republicans Admit Derry Shooting

A dissident republican group calling itself Republican Action Against Drugs has admitted shooting a man in Derry last week.

The 27-year-old was dragged from a house by a masked gang on Wednesday and taken to the Bogside area, where he was shot in both legs. reports breakingnews.ie.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for as spate of similar attacks in city over the past year.

EU Agriculture Ministers To Discuss Supports For Dairy Market

Junior Agriculture Minister and Fianna Fail T.D. for Clare, Tony Killeen has welcomed the decision of the European Union’s Agriculture Ministers to meet on October 5th next to discuss the introduction of additional measures to support and stimulate the dairy sector.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister of State Killeen reiterated his call on the EU Commission to increase the level and scope of export refunds and to continue to apply all available market support measures. He said: “I recognise that the Commission has been quick to deploy aid to private storage, intervention and export refunds to support the sector to date. However, the fact is that these measures, while stabilising the market, have proved insufficient to lift the market, and we now need to act on the proposals from a large and growing number of Member States.”

“Ireland, for its part, recently joined a number of other nations in pledging support to a set of detailed proposals to support the sector”, added the Clare Deputy.

Acceptance Of Lisbon Treaty Will Aid Irish Economic Recovery Says Killeen

Junior Minister and Clare Deputy Tony Killeen has said that Ireland's acceptance of the Lisbon Treaty in the upcoming Referendum would greatly assist Irish economic recovery and ensure that the country remained at the centre of Europe.

Minister of State Killeen noted that the scale of the current economic challenges could only be tackled by countries working more closely together. He continued: "We need an efficient and reformed EU to help us. Europe has listened to the Irish people and has given new guarantees on all of the main issues from last year. The Treaty is subject to these legal guarantees. Bearing in mind that in over 50 years the EU has fully honoured every one of many similar guarantees, we can be sure that voting Yes to Lisbon is a vote for economic recovery in both Ireland and Europe. No is the vote for Ireland taking a step away in a new and more uncertain direction".

Commenting on the legal guarantees received from the EU in June, Minister of State Killeen pointed out: "Voting Yes will ensure Ireland retains its Commissioner. A No vote will mean current rules remain, which means the loss of automatic Commission membership immediately. In 2008, 80% of people were concerned about this issue. It has now been addressed."

"Voting Yes will enhance Ireland's ability to attract investment. The people who invest in Ireland and support hundred of thousands of jobs say that confidence in our position as a Euro-positive country matters a lot for them. Only a Yes will help maintain confidence at this difficult time. Voting Yes is also good for workers and social protection. The Treaty is based on the idea of enabling both growth and social protection, building on the Union's role as the great protection of workers and consumers", he added.

Minister of State Killeen said that Ireland needed a reformed EU to tackle the economic crisis. "A Union frozen in the past is of no use to anyone, but a Union that is more dynamic and effective is essential for our future. A more efficient EU is to our benefit. We also need to send a strong signal to our EU partners and to international investors that we are a fully engaged EU country. Ratifying Lisbon will send this vital signal", he concluded.

Poundland To Create 200 Jobs

More than 200 jobs are to be created across Northern Ireland with the arrival of a discount retailer which sells everything for £1.

Poundland announced today it will open six stores in Northern Ireland by Christmas, creating a total of 210 jobs reports RTE. The first store will open in the CastleCourt shopping centre on Belfast's Royal Avenue on 8 October.

Meanwhile, Asda announced it will create 400 temporary jobs in Northern Ireland to help cope with the Christmas shopping rush.

Minister Killeen Reports On Current Milk Super Levy Situation

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Tony Killeen TD, has announced that based on estimated milk deliveries as submitted by milk purchasers for the period up to 31 July 2009, Ireland is 6.73% under quota when account is taken of the butterfat content of milk deliveries during the same period.

Minister of State Killeen said that the rate of super levy for the 2009/10 period is EUR0.2783 per kilogram EUR0.286565 per litre). The milk super-levy and milk quotas were introduced in 1984 marking the first major changes to the CAP since Ireland's entry to the EEC. Sheep and sucker cow numbers increased as a result.

Ireland’s milk quota position is published on the Department’s website (http://www.agriculture.gov.ie) under ‘Publications’, followed by the relevant year.

20 jobs to be created by Magherafelt firm

Heating and building specialists H&A Mechanical Services expects to take on around 20 new employees after being appointed as a manager of the government’s Warm Homes Scheme.

Following a successful tendering process, Magherafelt-based H&A and Bryson Charitable Group were appointed the scheme managers by the Department for Social Development. The Warm Homes Scheme is the Department’s primary tool in tackling fuel poverty.

Agri-Food Sector Needs Support Of Irish Retailers

The viability of the agri-food sector is dependent on the commitment of the Irish retail sector to sourcing and providing a comprehensive range of familiar domestic products and brands.

That is according to Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen who this week said that the concentration at retail level has fundamentally changed the balance of market negotiating power in the food chain. Acknowledging that this was not an issue confined to Ireland, Minister of State Killeen added: “This is one factor behind the declining share of retail prices passed to agricultural producers. The Department has been working closely with the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, and her Department on the details of a Code of Practice in this area, which will have as its key objective the need to achieve a balance in the relationship within the retail trade.”

The Clare T.D. explained, “The Irish Agri-food is Ireland’s most important indigenous sector, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout every county in the country, at both producer and processor level. I, along with my Department colleagues, will continue to impress upon large retailers the benefits of continuing to support, source and make available as wide and comprehensive a range of Irish products as possible.”

“While it is important that consumers continue to get value from retailers, it should be pointed out that a fair return to suppliers and producers is essential to the maintenance of thousands of Irish jobs and the survival of primary producers. The importance of a sector that supports, directly and indirectly, 230,000 jobs cannot be overstated. Furthermore, the sector has the potential to accelerate the country’s economic recovery”, he concluded.