Deputy Willie Penrose has expressed delight at the decision An Board Pleanala to approve the huge development of land, at Newcastle Wood in Ballymahon Co. Longford, to develop a Forest Holiday Village. Deputy Penrose commented: “This is great for everyone concerned and will be a tremendous boost for tourism in the Midlands Region, and I…

Speaking in Dáil on Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2016: First Stage That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for a minimum percentage of Irish works in radio music programmes and for that purpose to amend the Broadcasting Act 2009, and to provide for related matters. The purpose of this Bill…

Labour Senator Gerald Nash has said he was puzzled by this morning’s news that the Government is abandoning plans to ban TDs convicted of corruption from running again for election to the Dáil. “It seems that, yet again, advice from the Attorney General’s office is being held responsible for a legislative change of heart”, he…

Labour Women would like to voice their support for the Project Arts Centre and street artist Maser in relation to the recent removal of the Repeal the 8th Mural. Sinead Ahern, Chair of Labour Women said: “The mural on the side of the Project Arts Centre in Dublin lasted just 18 days.  In that time,…

It is with great sadness I learnt earlier today of the death of Finbarr Flood.  Finbarr had a distinguished career in sport, business and in the service of the public.  He excelled at everything he did but he wore his success with the humility and modesty that were to be his trademarks.  Among a host…

The Receiver appointed to Lynam’s Hotel in O’Connell Street is seeking to have all the homeless families removed as the hotel is being put up for sale.  It is unacceptable that the sale of property by a receiver should be given priority over the lives of the people living in that property.  The needs of…

When Susan O’Keeffe asked me to read a Yeats poem in public for Yeats 2015 last year (the 150th anniversary of the poet’s birth), I picked Easter 1916. The line that stands out for me is “too long a sacrifice can make stone of the heart”. Our theme today comes from a different line in…

News that the CineMobile, Ireland’s only mobile cinema service has ceased trading is a great disappointment and will result in the denial of a local movie-going experience for the tens of thousands of visitors that it attracted each year. CineMobile has provided an invaluable service to festival goers in places like Galway and Kilkenny, but…