Internet users warned about Revenue scam

Revenue today warned Internet users of a bogus email that lures people into sending personal financial information.

The scam first popped up in March with fraudsters contacting their victims claiming they are owed a tax refund and asking for credit or debit card details and date of birth, reports breakingnews.ie. “The email appears to have issued again today,” a spokeswoman said. “This email did not issue from Revenue. The Revenue Commissioners never send emails which require customers to send personal information via email or pop-up windows.”

Revenue asked anyone who receives a suspicious email to forward it to webmaster@revenue.ie.

(Click on above image to view the bogus email received today by Irish County News)

Minister Killeen Welcomes Pledge Of Support For Undocumented Irish

Minister of State Tony Killeen T.D. has warmly welcomed a pledge by a Congressional Delegation to support the case of the undocumented Irish in the United States.

The Chairman of the “Friends of Ireland,” Congressman Richie Neal, today offered the group’s support to the case of the undocumented and pledged to further assist efforts to foster economic relations between the US and Ireland. Mr Neal made his comments during bi-lateral talks between the Friends of Ireland Congressional Delegation and an Irish Parliamentary delegation.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “The status of the undocumented Irish remains an issue of the highest priority for me and one that I have raised at Government level both in Ireland and the US on numerous occasions. Indeed, I have previously met with Congressman Neal in Washington and am delighted that he has again offered to support the case of the thousands of undocumented Irish.” The County Clare Deputy added: “Many Irish people have settled in the USA but, unable to return home, they have been separated from their families and their homes for many years. I am particularly pleased that the Friends of Ireland Congressional Delegation have pledged their support to this important issue. The group’s commitment to advance the case of undocumented is very important and much appreciated".

This week’s bi-lateral talks centred on the case of the undocumented Irish in the US, the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, Ireland-US relations, International Fund for Ireland and the World Financial Crisis. Commenting during his visit to Ireland, Congressman Neal said: “The need for a strong relationship between Ireland and the US is now more important than ever. The Friends of Ireland Congressional Group has a long tradition of cultivating and supporting links between Ireland and the US, and during our meetings with the Ceann Comhairle, Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Party Leaders we have undertaken to continue this support. We have also agreed to advance the case of the thousands of undocumented Irish in the US. Many of these people have made lives for themselves in America and contribute positively to the communities they live in. We feel a way must be found to accommodate the needs of this group of people.”

The Friends of Ireland is a group of United States Congressmen, which promotes Irish interests in the US Houses of Representatives and helps to foster trade and cultural links between Ireland and the US.

Supermarket deliveries threatened by Kildare protest

Deliveries to Centra and Supervalu stores across the country could be disrupted by a protest being held at distribution centre in County Kildare.

Hundreds of angry farmers have descended on Musgrave distribution centre in Kilcock today in protest at the prices they are being paid for their produce.

The IFA says supermarkets are forcing farmers to sell them milk, meat and vegetables below the cost of production in a move that is putting their livelihoods at risk. Farmers have responded by blocking the entrance to the Musgrave centre, which distributes to Supervalu and Centra outlets around the country.

In-store tobacco advertising ban to be enforced from tomorrow

A ban on the display and advertising of tobacco in retail stores will come into effect tomorrow.

Tobacco will now be placed in closed plain containers behind the counter.

Vending machines in pubs will be token operated and within the sight of the bar manager, reports RTE.

Wolves sign Wexford striker

Wolves have made a statement of intent ahead of their return to the Barclays Premier League by signing sought-after Wexford born striker Kevin Doyle.

The Republic of Ireland frontman has been brought in from Reading for an undisclosed fee, although reports this morning suggested he would cost Wanderers a club-record £6.5m.

Bus Eireann cutbacks talks underway

Management and unions at Bus Eireann are today engaged in talks at the Labour Relations Commission in a bid to resolve a dispute over the company's cost-cutting plans.

A planned strike over the €30m cutbacks was deferred last week after the Commission invited both sides to discussions. Bus Eireann wants to shed up to 320 jobs and alter the working conditions of employees.

However, the company has agreed to suspend implementation of the cuts pending the outcome of the latest talks.

Minister Killeen Meets EU Commissioner Joe Borg

In a meeting with European Commissioner Joe Borg at today’s Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for fisheries, outlined for the Commissioner the current issues facing the industry.

Minister Killeen commented: “I highlighted the current problems where we are again seeing rising fuel costs at the same time as the price of fish at the quayside is falling for many of the important stocks including hake and prawns.” He said that the economic viability of the fishing sector had again come into question. The Minister continued: “Ireland would like to put back on the table its submission for an emergency aid package for discussion with the Commission. These proposals, based on a restructuring package for the fishing fleet & involving the provision of additional EU funding are now needed to assist the industry. I asked that in the current circumstances we reconsider the need for an EU funded package of measures. I also asked that the EU Commission ensure that imports of fish into the community respect all appropriate rules & that we do not increase the volume of fish imported at reduced or zero tariff levels.”

Minister Killeen raised issues in relation to the Cod Recovery Plan in the Irish Sea and in the North West. He asked for changes that would maximize the available fishing effort for the Irish fleet by allowing Ireland to choose the reference years to be used to establish the effort for each individual fishery. The Minister also asked for other practical changes to the rules that would help alleviate the impacts on the fleet particularly in the North West and in the Irish Sea.

Redundancy deal for DHL workers

SIPTU members at DHL have voted by 93pc in favour of the redundancy terms negotiated over the weekend.

The package involves six weeks pay per year of service and some additional regular allowances have been incorporated in the calculations, reports businessworld.ie. The package is inclusive of statutory redundancy entitlements.

Employees also have the option of becoming Service Partners with DHL in locations where depots are closing, such as Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford.

Staff walkout threat at 19 Tesco stores

Strike notice was today served on 19 Tesco stores around the country amid claims some workers have had more than €100 knocked off their wages.

The Mandate trade union maintains a dispute around the company breaching an existing agreement regarding reduction of workers hours has caused the industrial action, according to breakingnews.ie. Its Tesco members voted 95% in favour of strike action, which will start on Thursday July 2. Two more days of walkouts are planned for Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10.

The stores affected are: Arklow, Ashbourne, Bloomfield, Carlow, Crumlin, Gorey, Greystones, New Street in Killarney, Longford, Naas, Navan, Newbridge, Omni, Poleberry, Rathfarnham, Roscrea, Roxboro, Tralee Manor, and Wicklow.

Irish Government Seeks Additional Support For Dairy Farmers

The continued weakening of the Irish dairy market has led to increased efforts by the Irish Government to exert pressure on the European Commission to provide every available support to farmers.

That’s according to Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen who noted that without such support the current deep crisis in dairy markets would continue to badly affect dairy farmers’ incomes. Minister Killeen said, “Farmers across the EC, and farmers in Ireland in particular, are facing very severe difficulties in making ends meet. Prices are historically low and while the Commission has made every effort to stabilise the situation, there is no real sign that a recovery is in sight. I share my colleague and Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith’s concern that the market continues to show resistance, and price returns to dairy farmers in Ireland are now at levels that threaten the very viability of many farm enterprises”.

Minister Killeen said that the Irish Government has been to the forefront in pressing the Commission since last November for the activation of market measures, with some considerable success. He continued, “The Government will continue to seek further steps that may assist in reversing the downturn and stimulating the market further. This includes prolonging the intervention purchases of butter and skimmed milk powder, and the private storage scheme for butter beyond their normal closing dates in August. I believe that the role that private storage plays in particular, but intervention too, are such that their continuation after the normal end dates will be crucial in evening out the supply/demand curves and preventing further market turbulence at a time when supplies would otherwise hit commercial markets”.

Wexford man settles High Court action

A 23 year old man who suffered catastrophic injuries in a road traffic incident has settled his High Court action for a sum believed to be €850,000, reports the Irish Times.

Michael Hennessy Cullen of Garycullen, Saltmill, Co Wexford, had brought the action against Wexford County Council over an incident that occurred in August 2005. The council had denied liability and alleged the young man failed to have any proper regard for his own safety and denied there were loose chippings.

Yesterday, after talks between the sides, Richard McDonnell SC, for Mr Hennessy Cullen, told Mr Justice John Quirke the case had been settled. The settlement is without admission of liability.

Royal Institute announces shortlist for Architectural Awards

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland has announced a shortlist of 35 projects for this year’s Irish Architectural Awards.

The awards will be presented next Monday June 22nd at Farmleigh.

10A Grangegorman Villas - Odos Architects
A House - FKL Architects
St George's Church & St Thomas's Insertion - Clancy Moore Architects
Arás na hÓidhreacha, Former Bishops Palace - OPW
Ballyfermot Leisure & Youth Centre Project - McGarry Ní Eanaigh Architects
Café /Bar on Deal Pier - Niall McLaughlin Architects
Coady House - Boyd Cody Architects
Country House, Morna Valley, Balearics, Spain - De Blacam & Meagher
Domus House, Rathmines - Donaghy & Dimond
Dwelling at Maytree - Odos Architects
Eurocampus/French School Dublin - A2 Architects
Extension to Ellenvale - Catriona Duggan & Achim Gottstein Architects
Hazelwood School - GM & AD Architects
Irishtown Health Centre - A&D Wejchert & Partners
Jigsaw - McCullough Mulvin
Lake House - Clancy Moore Architects
Landscape Room - Lid Architecture
Leixlip Garda Station - O'Brian Beary Architects
Library, Abbeyleix - De Blacam & Meagher
Light House Cinema, Smithfield - Dta Architects
Midland Regional Hospital at Tullamore - Murray O'Laoire/Brian O'Connell Associates
Origami House - Jane D Burnside Architects
Precast House, Howth - FKL Architects
Spa & Leisure Building, Hotel Europa - Gottstein Architects
St Michael's House Swimming Pool - Michael Collins Associates
St. Georges Church - Joseph Doyle Architects
Tallaght Zip & Plaza - Seán Harrington Architects
Thomond Park Redevelopment - Murray O'Laoire Architects/AFL Architects'
Timberyard Social Housing - O'Donnell & Tuomey Architects
Tesco Tramore Eco-Store - Joseph Doyle Architects
Ulsterbank - Consarc Design Group Ltd
University Of Ulster Belfast Campus - Todd Architects
Victoria Square - BDP Architects
Wexford Opera House - OPW & Keith Williams Architects
York Street Social Housing - Sean Harrington Architects

Second SF Councillor resigns from party

The Sinn Fein party is facing somewhat of a crisis tonight after the second Councillor in an many weeks resigned from the party.

New Ross Town Councillor John Dwyer announced today he was resigning from the party. Mr Dwyer is a former General Election candidate who lost his seat on Wexford County Councillor at the recent local elections.

Sinn Féin general secretary Dawn Doyle issued a statement this morning describing the move as disappointing and urging him to "return his seat to the party". Sinn Féin also adopted a similar stance last week when Dublin City Councillor Christy Burke resigned from the party.

Banville and Earley win GAA monthly awards

Kildare footballer Dermot Earley and Wexford hurler Stephen Banville have been named as the official GAA Players of the Month for May.

Earley has been honoured for his role in Kildare's victory over Offaly in Portlaoise in May. Banville was a key figure in Wexford's Leinster championship win over Offaly at Wexford Park two weeks ago.

Wexford Garda faces prison sentence

A Wexford-based Garda faces up to five years for making a false statement that she had been attacked in a taxi on her way home from a night out, according to the Irish Independent.

The Garda, 25-year-old Niamh O'Connor with addresses in Rathnure in Enniscorthy and College Park Avenue, Ballinteer in Dublin, pleaded guilty this year to making the false statement at Donnybrook Garda Station in December 2007. She has since been suspended from duty.

Judge Katherine Delahunt will hand down sentence on the 9th of July.

DHL staff to vote on job cuts deal

Workers at DHL centres around the country will next week vote on a series of proposals from the firm that could see some of the 320 redundant staff take up self-employed contracts with the courier.

SIPTU today said that the proposals provide for a Service Partner Model which will allow a number of workers being made redundant at the depots in Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford to continue working on a self-employed basis with DHL, reports Businessworld.ie.

Annual Review Highlights Importance Of Agri-Food Sector To Economy Says Killeen

The newly published Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2008/2009 highlights the importance of the agri-food sector to the Irish economy.

That is according to Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen T.D. who pointed out that the indigenous strengths of the sector were evident from the report, which states that the sector accounts for 6.6% of GDP, 8.5% of employment, and EUR8.1 billion in exports.

Minister Killeen said: “The report indicates that Irish raw materials and services account for a significantly higher proportion of expenditure within the food and drink sector (70%) than for the manufacturing sectors as a whole. Moreover, 44% of food and drinks companies are located in the BMW regions compared with 30% of other manufacturing industries. In addition, the report shows that the wider biosector contributes approximately one-third of the net flow of funds into the economy generated by manufacturing exports.”

Double injury blow for Wexford

Wexford will be without both Matty Forde and David Walsh for their Leinster SFC quarter-final clash with Kildare at Dr Cullen Park on Saturday evening.

Forde underwent surgery on a back problem in recent weeks, which effectively could mean that he will play no part in the championship campaign, reports RTE Sport.

Walsh, who missed out on the early part of the national league, has been unfortunate with an ankle injury and is only now easing himself back into training at the moment.

Home Energy Savers Scheme Expected To Create Thousands Of Jobs

Conor Lenihan, TD, Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources today officially launched a nationwide scheme expected to generate thousands of new jobs in the clean-tech sector over the next 6 to 12 months.

The main focus of the Greenloan Home Energy Savers Scheme is to create significant employment opportunities in local communities throughout Ireland by grouping homeowners to avail of large discounts in upgrading their properties.

Over 250 clusters comprising thousands of homeowners in all 26 counties have already been created under the scheme, which was originally piloted in 2008 as part of the pilot phase of the SEI Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES).

See Greenloan.ie

Four nominations for Clare camogie team

Clare, the All Ireland Junior Camogie Champions, have an impressive four players nominated for this year’s Camogie All-Stars ahead of the awards banquet, in association with O’Neills, at Dublin’s City West Hotel on November 8.

Goalkeepers
Susan Earner [Galway] Aoife Murray [Cork] Denise Lynch [Clare]

Backs
Catriona Foley [Cork]Gemma O’Connor [Cork]Mary O’Connor [Cork]Joanne O’Callaghan [Cork]Anne Marie Hayes [Galway]Sinéad Cahalan [Galway]Niamh Kilkenny [Galway]Trish O’Halloran [Tipperary]Paula Buffin [Tipperary]Michaela Morkan [Offaly]Noeleen Lambert [Wexford]Catherine O’Loughlin [Wexford]Mary Leacy [Wexford]Elaine Alyward [Kilkenny]Andrea Fitzpatrick [Dublin]Rachel Ruddy [Dublin]Kate Lynch [Clare]Julie Lagan [Tyrone]

Midfield
Breige Corkery [Cork]Orla Cotter [Cork]Áine Hillary [Galway]Michelle O’Leary [Wexford]Grainne McGoldrick [Derry]Deirdre Murphy [Clare]

Forwards
Jessica Gill [Galway]Therse Maher [Galway]Veronica Curtin [Galway]Rachel Moloney [Cork]Síle Burns [Cork]Claire Grogan [Tipperary]Aoife Neary [Kilkenny]Sinéad Millea [Kilkenny]Ursula Jacob [Wexford]Kate Kelly [Wexford]Eileen O’Brien [Limerick]Jane Adams [Antrim]Tine Hannon [Offaly]Annette McGeeney [Roscommon]Louise Mahony [Laois]Carina Rosengrave [Clare]Áine Lyng [Waterford]Jane Dolan [Meath]