Category Archives: News
Stealth 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 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 […]
Read MoreMayo delegates shine at Ógra National Conference
A young music teacher from Achill, Co Mayo has won the award of best new speaker at the ÓgraFianna Fáil Conference in Sligo at the weekend. Conall MacNamara was one of over 500 young people to attend the Fianna Fáil National Youth Conference in Rosses Point. He contributed to debates on youth mental health, youth unemployment and the future of Fianna Fáil. The two day event culminated in the election of Ógra Fianna Fáil’s first ever directly elected female President. 27 year old accountant from Sligo Kate Feeney will lead the party’s youth wing and take her seat on the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle. Enda Costello from Louisburgh, Co Mayo […]
Calleary welcomes Coveney climb-down on AEOS
Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has welcomed the Government’s climb-down on the Agri-Environment Options Scheme, but has expressed his disappointment that funding for the new scheme has been significantly cut. There was real concern in the farming community when Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney announced that he would not re-open AEOS this year. However following months of pressure, the Minister confirmed to Fianna Fáil in the Dáil that AEOS will be open to new applicants this year, but at a significantly reduced rate. Deputy Calleary explained, “It will come as a relief to many smaller farmers across Mayo that Minister Coveney has now agreed to reopen AEOS. It’s an issue that […]
Read MoreConcerns at Mayo General cuts
Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has expressed serious concern about an escalating crisis at Mayo General Hospital following news of severe cutbacks to frontline services. Deputy Calleary has been informed that the HSE is to close 10 orthopaedic beds and 1 out of 4 of the surgical wards at Mayo General. In addition to this, a further 12 in-patient beds are being downgraded to day beds. All of this is part of the latest round of additional cutbacks sanctioned by the Minister for Health James Reilly. “There is no doubt that these latest cuts will have a serious impact on patients in Mayo and there can be no justification […]
Read MoreAEOS reopened but reduced
The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has caved to pressure from Fianna Fáil and farming groups and has now agreed to reopen the Agri Environment Options Scheme to new applicants. However, he has announced that the new scheme will only be open to approximately 6,000 applicants and the maximum payment will be reduced to €4,000. Minister Coveney confirmed the details in response to questions from Fianna Fáil’s Agriculture Spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív in the Dáil yesterday. “Fianna Fáil welcome the fact that Minister Coveney has finally agreed to reopen AEOS, however it is very disappointing that the scheme will be significantly reduced,” said Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary. “There are 13,000 […]
Read MoreCalleary shock at AIB closures
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has expressed his shock at AIB’s decision to shut down 4 bank branches in Co Mayo. The bank announced today that it is closing 67 branches nationwide, including those in Belmullet, Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Charlestown. It comes on the heels of news that Permanent TSB is also closing its branch in Westport. “This will come as a great shock not just to the staff affected, but also to AIB customers across Co Mayo who prefer to visit their local branch rather than banking online,” said Deputy Calleary. “My immediate concern is ensuring that the workers at these four branches are given every support […]
Read MoreMayo district Garda stations facing downgrade after Shatter review
A number of the garda district headquarters in Co Mayo could soon be facing downgrade and cuts to garda numbers, according to Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice Dara Calleary. The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has confirmed to the Mayo TD that a targeted review of district headquarters is underway. This is in addition to the review of small rural garda stations, which is also likely to lead to more station closures. “This latest review instigated by Minister Shatter will certainly lead to the downgrading of district headquarter garda stations around the country,” Deputy Calleary explained. “Mayo has 6 district headquarters, based in Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar, Claremorris, Swinford and Westport. […]
Crackdown needed on loan sharks
Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson Dara Calleary has called on the Government to crack down on loan sharks who target vulnerable people under financial pressure. Deputy Calleary commented, “I listened in anger today to the extremely distressing story of a caller to RTE’s Liveline who fell victim to an unscrupulous loan shark. This woman and others who tell their stories in public are to be commended for their bravery and honesty. “It t is bad enough that so many people feel they have no option but to borrow money from loan sharks, but the situation where these parasites appear to be above the law has to stop. Loan sharks need to […]