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.

Junior doctors face longer working weeks

Junior doctors face longer working weeks if a new Labour Court directive is adopted.

The Court has issued a ruling on the working hours of junior doctors, which recommends that their working day and working week should be extended, and which severely limits the opportunity for doctors to earn overtime pay. Junior doctors are currently rostered to work from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday. Any work they do at night and at weekends is considered overtime, reports irishhealth.com.

The recommendation, if implemented, will lead to major savings for the HSE in junior doctor overtime pay at a time when it is trying to cut payroll costs. The IMO is to meet later this week to discuss the proposal and will ultimately ballot its members on it. In excess of €260 milliion per annum is spent on junior doctor overtime.

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.

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.

Two killed in Dublin and Wicklow RTAs

Two people have been killed in separate road crashes in Dublin and Wicklow.

The first happened shortly before 3.30pm this afternoon on the Cardiffsbridge road in Finglas when a motorbike and an SUV collided. The dead man was one of two people on the motorbike. The other man was taken to the Mater hospital with serious injuries.

Meanwhile, in Wicklow a four-vehicle crash resulted in the death of a man in his 30s. The collision, which involved two cars and two SUVs, happened at Mullachagh on the N81 near Hollywood Cross. Source - Breakingnews.ie.

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.

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”.

Special classes axed across country

The response by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe to the appeals by primary schools against the closure of special classes has been “minimalist and totally inadequate”, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said today.

General secretary of the INTO John Carr told the Irish Times the response leaves hundreds of special needs children in dozens of primary schools without the "vital service".

Earlier this year the Minister announced the closure of 128 special classes in 119 schools for children with mild general learning difficulties. More than forty schools appealed the decision to the Minister and today it was announced that only ten of the classes will be retained.

The following schools, who appealed the decision, will have special classes closed:St Anne's NS, Bailieborough, Co Cavan - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's NS, Macroom Road, Coolock, D17 - 1 class to be closed,St Michael's GNS, Arklow, co Wicklow - 1 class to be closed,St Fergal's SNS, Boghall Road, Bray, Co Wicklow - 1 class to be closed,Mary Queen of Angels NS, Ballyfermot, D10 - 1 class to be closed,Sacred Heart School, Sruleen, Clondalkin, D22 - 1 class to be closed,Convent of Mercy JNS, Castleblaney, Monaghan - 1 class to be closed,St Michael's NS, Domincan Campus, Ballyfermot, D10 - 1 class to be closed,Mercy Primary School, Birr, Co Offaly - 1 class to be closed,Virgin Mary Girls & Boys' NS, Ballymun, D9 2 classes to be closed,St Oliver's NS, Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co Kerry - 1 class to be closed,Sc Chaitriona JNS & SNS, Renmore, Co Galway - 2 classes to be closed,Mallow Convent NS, Mallow, Co Cork - 2 MGLD classes to be closed. One class since re-designated as an autism class,Convent of Mercy NS, Kilrush, Co Clare - 1 class to be closed,Mary Queen of Angels NS, Ballyfermot, D 10 - 1 class to be closed,St Catherine's SNS, Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's NS, Bancroft Avenue, Greenhills Road, Tallaght - 1 class to be closed,St Cronan's SNS, Brackenstown, Swords - 1 class to be closed,St Brendan's BNS, Birr, Co Offaly - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's BNS, St Mary's Hill, Monaghan - 1 class to be closed,Sacred Heart SNS, Killinarden, Tallaght, D24 - 2 classes to be closed,St Aidan's NS, Brookfield, D24 - 1 class to be closed,St Brendan's BNS McAuley Road Artane, D5 - 1 class to be closed,St Peter Apostle SNS Neilstown Clondalkin, D 22 - 1 class to be closed,St Kevins BNS Barry Avenue Finglas West , D11 - 1 class to be closed,St Francis' JNS Priorswood, D17 - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's Arklow - 1 class to be closed,St Peter Apostle JNS - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's JNS, Rowlagh, Clondalkin - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's SNS, Balcurris, Ballymun - 1 class to be closed,St Eithne's NS, Edenmore, Dublin 5 - 1 class to be closed,St Helen's SNS, Portmarnock, Co Dublin - 1 class to be closed,Dominican convent Wicklow/Rathdrum Wicklow - 2 classes to be closed.

Most Irish towns are litter free

The number of litter-free areas around the country is at an all-time high, according to the latest survey by the Irish Business Against Litter organisation.

The group says that more than two-thirds of towns inspected as part of the survey were found to be free of litter.

Wexford is ranked as the cleanest town ahead of Ennis, while Athlone and Mallow were the only litter blackspots. Arklow is also described as seriously littered.

Wilson masterclass helps Westmeath see off Micko's Wicklow

Westmeath 0-16 Wicklow 1-10

Fergal Wilson bagged six points, as Westmeath claimed an extra-time victory over Wicklow at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

Wilson fired over two points in the second period of extra-time to ensure victory in this thrilling encounter, reports RTE Sport. A Dean Odlum 34th-minute goal had given Wicklow a 1-03 to 0-04 half-time lead in normal time.

The sides finished level at the end of normal time at 0-11 to 1-08 with Wilson sending over a 72nd-minute equaliser. However, Westmeath were strongest in extra-time to book a semi-final spot against Dublin.

Kerry Foods to close Wicklow factory

Kerry Foods has announced plans to close its factory in Glenealy, Co Wicklow, with the loss of more than 70 jobs.

The closure will take effect by the end of September.

Breakingnews.ie reports that workers at the plant were informed that production will be transferred to three other facilities within the group.

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.”

Man to appear in court over Wicklow murder

A 23-year-old man will appear before Arklow District Court this morning in relation to the shooting dead last month of French national Charles Sinanapayen in Bray, Co Wicklow.

Mr Sinanapayen (32) was shot in the head on May 29th last at the apartment he shared with his partner in Richmond Hill, Fassaroe.

Mr Sinanapayen was killed when he went to the window of his apartment to investigate a disturbance. The Irish Times reports that he was shot by somebody on an external stairwell. Two men were spotted fleeing the scene and getting into a car. Mr Sinanapayen died from his injuries at Beaumont Hospital at 2am on Monday June 1st.

Wicklow man scales Arctic peak

An Irishman has climbed the Arctic’s highest mountain in aid of a health support charity.

Myles Campion (42), Delgany, Co Wicklow, has recorded the first Irish ascent of the 3,693m peak Gunnbjornsfjeld in Greenland. According to the Irish Times, the mountain is also the highest in Greenland and was discovered in 1930. It was first climbed in 1935.

Mr Campion set out on his ascent late last month with Scottish climber Bill Roberts and Greg Slingerland from South Africa.

Mid East counties record highest increase in jobless figures

The mid-east counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow recorded the highest proportionate increases in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the past year, Central Statistics Office figures show.

During the year to May, there has been an unadjusted increase of 195, 115 joining the Live Register, a rise of 96.7 per cent, reports the Irish Times.

The CSO said all regions showed significant annual increases with the largest percentage rise recorded in the mid-east region which saw the numbers signing on jump 117.6 per cent.

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

WICKLOW – Whatswhat Plans 50 Jobs In Bray Operation

Whatswhat.ie, a Wicklow based online business directory, has announced that it is to create 50 new jobs.

The firm says rapid growth in web traffic had enabled the company to undertake a significant expansion programme. The firm now plans to recruit ten area managers and 40 area sales agents in locations around the country. Entirely self-financed, Whatswhat.ie has grown organically to the point of now having over 60,000 Irish companies listed on its site. Web traffic is running at around four million visits per month. Businesses pay an annual subscription fee of €100 to be listed on the site.

Contact whatswhat

CLARE, WICKLOW, GALWAY, DUBLIN – Apache Creates 85 Jobs

Apache Pizza is to create 85 jobs and open three new stores in Ireland over the next 12 months.

The pizza chain opened a new store in Galway earlier this month and another three are on the way for Ennis in County Clare, Greystones in Wicklow and Balbriggan in County Dublin. Apache Pizza has 40 outlets across the country and employs 750 people.

Contact Apache Pizza Ireland