Author Archives: Administrator
FF Conference on CAP this weekend
Fianna Fáil wil be holding a National Conference on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Saturday 9th March, in the Red Cow Moran Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin 22. Registration will open at 10:30am and the Conference will commence at 11:00am. We look forward to seeing you at the Conference, where you will have a chance to put your views forward on this important issue. Check back later for further details or register your interest in attending at www.fiannafail.ie/agricultureconference.
Calleary criticises ‘discriminatory’ changes to student grants
Mayo Fianna Fail Deputy Dara Calleary has said any changes to the assessment for third level grants must not discriminate against farming families and self-employed workers. Deputy Calleary has said the conflicting reports from Ministers about plans to include capital assets in the means-testing for student grants are causing great distress among farming and self-employed families. “This is a huge issue for families who are running their own business, be it farming or otherwise, and are extremely worried about how they will afford to put their children through college,” said Deputy Calleary. “Two years into the term of this Government, and these families still have the threat hanging over their […]
Read MoreFF alarm at Government Incoherence on Croke Park 2
Fianna Fáil Jobs Spokesperson Dara Calleary TD has expressed his alarm at what he described as Government incoherence on the updated Croke Park deal. His comments come after a day of contradiction and confusion on the part of senior Government ministers on whether different and better conditions would be available to the members of unions which remained within the Croke Park negotiations. Deputy Calleary commented, “The Government’s message on Croke Park this weekend has been all over the shop. We have seen the farcical situation of senior Government Ministers openly contradicting one another on what’s the strategy and the accuracy of Government inspired newspaper stories. “In a carefully leaked and […]
Read MoreSt. Mary’s take two national awards
Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary has extended his congratulations to St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, on their success at the National Newspapers of Ireland Press Pass Awards which were announced at a gala function in Dublin last week. Deputy Calleary said, “As a public representative for Ballina I was very proud to learn that St. Mary’s Secondary School had not one but two national winners, Sinead Kenny and Helen Mcloughlin, in this very prestigious competition. “This was a very worthwhile Transition Year Project and I commend St. Mary’s for the manner in which they approached the competition – it really is a remarkable achievement to have taken home […]
Read MoreCalleary slams latest attack on people with disabilities
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has described the axing of the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Scheme as ‘yet another savage attack on people with disabilities’. Deputy Calleary has appealed to the Government to reverse this ‘scandalous cut’, which will result in a 20% reduction in income for up to 5,000 people with disabilities. According to the Fianna Fáil Deputy, there are many people with disabilities living in rural areas in Mayo who are heavily dependent on both of these schemes and will be badly hit by this cut. “The fact that Fine Gael and Labour can justify this disgraceful decision shows just how out of touch they have become. They […]
Read MoreMayo Stages Rally a big boost for Ballina
Mayo Fianna Fáil T.D. Dara Calleary has expressed his satisfaction that the 2013 Mayo Stages Rally is returning to its natural base in Ballina. The Rally, to be held in Ballina and surrounding areas on March 10th, was launched in Hotel Ballina last weekend and is expected to attract 1000s of visitors to the North Mayo capital. Deputy Calleary said, “I am delighted that the Mayo Stages Rally is returning to Ballina this year. I attended the official launch of the event last weekend in Hotel Ballina and I was really taken by the overwhelming enthusiasm that prevailed at the event. “This event is a timely boost for the business […]
Read MoreStealth cuts for farmers on mountain land
Mayo Fianna Fáil T.D. Dara Calleary has joined his colleague Éamon Ó’Cuív T.D. in condemning cuts introduced by the Minister for Agriculture on farmers who farm cattle rather than sheep on mountain land. Under the previous Government, a rule was introduced whereby farmers farming mountain land received €109.71 on the first ten hectares of land as compared to €95.99 for the rest of the land. However following questing from Deputy Ó’Cuív, it has now emerged that cattle farmers in mountain areas will only receive €95.99 per forage hectare on the first ten hectares of land in 2013, thus reducing payment to these cattle farmers by €137.20 per annum on the […]
Read MoreTV Licence fee must be reduced
The imposition of a new Broadcasting Charge on every household in the country must result in a reduction to the current TV licence fee. The Government recently announced that every home in the country will have to pay the new broadcasting fee even if they don’t have a TV. “This proposed charge must not be a cover for the Government to raise more revenue. Any extra finance gathered from the charge must be redistributed and used to offset some of the cost of the licence fee for consumers,” according to Fianna Fáil T.D. for Mayo Dara Calleary. “Technological advances in recent years now means that TVs are just one medium […]
Read MoreFF welcomes R&D funding but warns of more hype than substance
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has expressed concern that the latest Research & Development announcement is yet another case of more spin than substance from the Government. “The research funding announced today is certainly welcome and the teams involved are to be congratulated on the excellence of their work,” said Deputy Calleary. “But unfortunately as with everything to do with this Government, there is less substance to this announcement than the hype created by the Ministers involved. All but the smallest of those due to receive ‘new’ funding are existing centres that have received funding from the State for some time, and are just coming to the end […]
Read MoreLight on substance, heavy on spin
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Dara Calleary has described the Action Plan on Jobs 2013 as a another lost opportunity that does not do enough to give hope to the 14.6% of people unemployed. Deputy Calleary said: “429,000 people are looking to this plan for hope and I’m afraid they will be sorely disappointed. “This government was elected on a promise to create 100,000 jobs but the cold reality of its own projections is that they only expect the number of people at work to grow by 18,000 by the end of 2015. “This Action Plan is all about spin and lacks the fundamental reforms needed to […]
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