Wicklow wait on fitness report
Saturday, January 31, 2004
The Garden County have delayed naming their side to face Waterford as they await a fitness report on a number of players.

Manager Hugh Kenny, who will be anxious to reverse the trend of the past number of seasons, is hoping that both Adrian Foley and Paddy Dalton will be able to take up their places for this vital opening game.

Foley who was sidelined with a slipped disc is expected to be fit, as is also Dalton who had been out with a bad damaged ankle he sustained in a recent challenge victory over DIT.

[Source: http://hoganstand.com]

Tough test for Wicklow in Aughrim
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Following the facile though not overly impressive win over Louth last weekend the hurlers of Wicklow face a sterner test on Sunday (1st) when they entertain Carlow probably in the County Grounds of Aughrim.

Games between Carlow and Wicklow are usually close and competitive and advantage is inclined to rotate between the two. Wicklow will be anxious to keep their record breaking Kehoe Cup record of three wins in a row intact. Despite a Kehoe win over the neighbours last year, Carlow turned the tables shortly afterwards with a convincing 3-9 to 1-8 win in the league.

There appears to be an amount of “settling” yet to do with this Wicklow team. Jonathan O’Neill for instance is no longer available and the experienced Don Hyland has only recently returned from Australia. On the positive front, Graham Keogh, who had been out injured has returned to the side and made an appearance last week in Drogheda.

[Source: http://hoganstand.com ]

Wicklow drivers wait one year for tests
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has failed to tackle the massive driving test backlog more than a year after he pledged a crackdown on provisional licence holders, Fine Gael Transport Spokesman Denis Naughten TD said today (Thursday).

"The driving test system is a shambles. Only one in five applicants for a test have managed to get an appointment, and the average waiting time is a staggering eight months. Drivers in Gorey and Wicklow have to wait an entire year.

"The responsibility for this mess lies at the Minister's door. Thirteen months ago he announced a clampdown on provisional licence holders, but has done nothing to tackle the chronic delays in the driving test system. It's ludicrous to target provisional licence holders when they cannot even apply for a full licence in the foreseeable future. The driving test system is crying out for root-and-branch reform.

"The national situation really is chaotic: 119,569 people have applied for a driving test. Minister Brennan admitted in the Dáil this week that only 21,631 of these have managed to get appointments.

"In spite of having 13 months to formulate a policy Minister Brennan will not, or cannot, explain how he plans to reform the driving test system and introduce a structured driver training programme. These two fundamental issues must be addressed before any new legislation is enforced. But the current travesty is throwing up all sorts of other problems:

· Many driving tests are abandoned because of traffic congestion. · In one instance a driver was not allowed to sit the test because of the design of their 'L' plate.
· Some drivers have to wait so long for a test in order to obtain their third provisional licence that they are driving without a licence at all.
· The system is so inflexible that Minister Brennan admitted to me that 13,226 applicants are not available to be tested.

"The high number of provisional drivers on the roads is due largely to the 43% driving test failure rate: 1,394 people flunk the test every week. This is because:

1. Driving instructors are not regulated, and many of them may not have taken a driving test at all. A large number could potentially pass on poor techniques.
2. The driving test result sheet does not explain why the test was failed, nor does it indicate which areas need improvement. In short, learner drivers learn nothing about their driving technique.

"Brennan has proved himself incompetent in most areas of Transport policy, but to leave this problem lying for 13 months is inexcusable."

Euro News from Leinster MEP Avril Doyle
Thursday, January 29, 2004
'ON THE RECORD AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN STRASBOURG'
January 2004 Plenary Session

The Irish Presidency: "Europeans - Working Together"
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, T.D. addressed the European Parliament to outline the objectives of the Irish Presidency of the EU over the next six months. Mr. Ahern said the theme of "Europeans - Working Together", captured the vision of the people of the EU working as a partnership, striving together to achieve common goals and objectives.
Speaking during the debate, Mrs. Doyle highlighted that the fact that Ireland now held the Presidency of the European Council and the Presidency of the European Parliament demonstrating the fact that it was possible for small countries to rise to the top. Mrs Doyle questioned the Taoiseach on the Lisbon Strategy- the EU's plan to make Europe the most competitive economy in the world by 2010. Stating "that time was running out", she wanted to know which concrete actions the Irish Presidency intended to take to reinvigorate the EU economy. Mrs. Doyle pointed out that the gap between US and EU's economic performance had been growing since the adoption of the Lisbon strategy in 2000. More had to be done to help Small and Medium size Enterprises (SME's), who at present employ two-thirds of the European Workforce, including reducing red-tape and bureaucracy. She also called on the Irish Presidency to press Russia over the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.


Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Across Europe.
MEPs debated the Commission's proposals for mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The proposed directive aims to replace 15 existing ones covering different professions, with a view to clarifying and simplifying the rules to facilitate the free movement of qualified people between the Member States. The directive will cover the range of regulated professions, from architects and engineers to doctors, nurses, pharmacists and vets.
There are a number of changes proposed compared with the existing rules, including greater liberalisation of the provision of services, more automatic recognition of qualifications and increased flexibility in the procedures for updating the Directive.
Speaking on the debate in Brussels this week, Mrs. Doyle said "this ambitious and wide-ranging directive, is very much in line with the agenda set out in the Commission's action plan for skills and mobility. However, it comes with a health warning. The promotion of liberalisation and mobility must not be achieved at the expense of public health and consumer protection. On this count I welcome the maintenance of a clear separation between the two existing regimes for the recognition of professional qualifications: the sectoral regime covering seven regulated professions and a general regime. It is important for the more stringent set of rules to apply to the provision of services for sectoral regimes. We must highlight the areas where the degree of public risk warrants a prior check on qualifications for the first provision of services. In addition, we must ensure that the list of specialities included in the proposal is comprehensive enough to ensure due recognition and regulatory protection is accorded to emerging disciplines, such as medical oncology - the whole area of the research and treatment of cancer".


Aid to Iran after the Bam earthquake
Parliament adopted a resolution on EU aid to Iran following the Bam earthquake. The House welcomed the ?2.3 million already allocated by the Commission to cover the most urgent humanitarian needs, and the support given by the international community in general. There was also a welcome for the decision of the United States to ease restrictions to assist relief activities for earthquake victims. MEPs called on the Commission, Member States and others to provide more aid to help relief operations and contribute to the transition from emergency relief to recovery initiatives. They asked on the Commission President and the Irish Presidency to visit Bam as soon as possible to express their solidarity with the victims.

Situation in Burundi - MEPs condemn murder of Monsignor Michael Courtney
MEPs expressed their shock at the brutal murder of Irish man, Monsignor Michael COURTNEY, the Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, in a road ambush on 29 December 2003. As well as condemning the murder, MEP's paid tribute to Monsignor Courtney's quiet and effective work to help the peace process. Parliament noted that while suspicions point to the FLN, the only rebel movement which has not laid down its arms, this group has denied responsibility and, for the first time, has now stated its willingness to to opening negotiations for peace.

The next Plenary Session in Strasbourg is from the 9th-12th February.

Council must "clean up its act" on levies, says Roche
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Cllr. Eleanor Roche has called on Wicklow County Council to "clean up its act" insofar as development and planning levies are concerned.

"Wicklow County Council has, for years, been levying charges on planning permissions. In 1997 levies on houses ran up to £5,000. Recently levies of in excess of 20,000 have been levied on individual housing developments. Even more substantial levies and development charges have been placed on commercial and industrial developments in the county", Cllr. Eleanor Roche said.

"The system of levies operated by Wicklow County Council has some very disturbing and unacceptable features:

- The levies in Wicklow are amongst the highest in the country
- There is no system in place whereby the representatives elected by people are given a regular account of how much money has been collected in levies or where the money is being spent.
- There is no way of telling that the levies are actually spent for the purposes for which they are raised and, perhaps most disturbingly of all there is evidence of unexplained inconsistencies as to the charges levied from case to case.

As a new member of the Council I have, from day one, been greatly disturbed by the arbitrary manner in which levies in Wicklow have developed and escalated in the last few years. What is particularly unacceptable is that the levies in Wicklow have sky-rocketed at the very time when Wicklow County Council has received more money from Central Government than at any time in its history. The two things simply do not add up. There is no reason why planning charges in Wicklow should be four or five times higher than similar charges in Wexford or Carlow.

Shortly Wicklow County Councillors will have the opportunity of changing the system dramatically and I am calling on the Council to introduce a new system which is transparent, accountable and which delivers a much lower level of planning charge in Wicklow.

In future levies should be:

- Set by elected representatives who are answerable to the people.
- Should be set at a uniform rate and established in public.
- Should be used for specific infrastructure and social developments in the areas of the county where the levies are raised. Greystones, for example, has for years been one of the areas that has provided huge amounts of cash in levies, rates and other charges to Wicklow County Council but has never received its fair share of the expenditure.
- Funds collected in levies and planning charges should be lodged in a separate account which would make it clear how much money has been raised in levies, the area of the county from which the levies and charges have been raised and which would give much a greater control on how Council management uses the funds".

Cllr. Roche added, "No business would be allowed to conduct its affairs in the same manner as Wicklow County Council. The residents of Co. Wicklow have, for years, been paying the highest rate of planning levies and development charges and have not had a clear indication as to where the money goes. It is surprising that Councillors and in particular some long-term Councillors who have lived with the current levy system without any complaint are now resisting the proposed changes.

When this matter comes before the Council shortly I intend proposing that there should be a substantial reduction in the level of charges on housing. If Wicklow County Council were to set its levies at the average of the levies charged in the adjoining counties of south Leinster it would be possible for the Councillors to reduce the level of levies by up to half. The defenders of levies will of course immediately suggest that this will mean a cut in services. Not so. The Council is being funded a higher rate by Government and by the taxpayers of this country than every before. If the Council wants to effect economies it should start looking at its over-elaborate administrative bureaucratic structures. Considerable savings could be effected by introducing even small improvements in productivity in the manner in which the Council does its business", Cllr. Eleanor Roche said.

Maritime Exhibition by Greystones Artist at Signal Art Centre
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Tuesday the 17th of February 2004 marks the opening of an exciting new exhibition of Maritime themed Paintings by Greystones Artist, Gina McKenna-Burns at the Signal Art Centre in Bray.

A graduate of the Crawford School of Art, Cork, she has participated in many shows both at home and abroad including the R.H.A. Annual Exhibition three years in succession. This new show is her third solo venture and marks her first major exhibition since returning to Ireland from the U.K.

Gina says: “I have always been fascinated by the sea and it’s magnetic power over us mere mortals. I never fail to feel completely re-energised after spending some time by it’s shore. Whatever the weather, the marine environment maintains it’s fascinating lure. I strive to bring my inner visions to life so that what stirs me may perhaps touch others too.

The Exhibition which is a must-see for all who love the sea, runs until Saturday 28th February.

For all enquiries call the Signal Art Centre at 01 2762039.

Wildlife conference to be held in Arklow
Thursday, January 29, 2004
THE only all-Ireland wildlife conference will be held at the Arklow Bay Hotel, Co Wicklow, from March 11-13, 2004.

The theme this year is 'Land for Birds' and will look at managing reserves for birds and other wildlife in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"It's an extremely interesting conference for its subject matter as much as its networking opportunities,'' said Stephanie Sim, of the RSPB.

Mary Coughlan to play at Tinahely Arts Centre
Thursday, January 29, 2004
On Thursday, 12 February, the Irish blues diva, Mary Coughlan, will appear at The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow. Her concert will begin at 8.30 pm.

Tickets are 12 euro, 9 euro concessions. Booking on 0402-38529.

"Moving" - photographs by Padraig Grant at The Courthouse Arts Centre
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Wexford photographer Padraig Grant will exhibit a new selection of black and white selenium prints at the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, opening with a reception on Sunday, 13 February, from 3 to 5 pm. Titled "Moving", these works explore the inherent capacity of a photograph to convey motion. Denis Collins, Artistic Director of the Wexford Arts Centre, will open the exhibition, which runs to 12 March. Open hours are Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays 1 to 5 pm.

Padraig Grant has photographed 5 continents over a span of 19 years. In 1990 Dublin's Gallery of Photography showed his photographs from Sudan, and in 1992 his Somalia pictures.

In 1996 his collection of pictures from Africa, made 1989 to 1994 in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Zaire, was on view at the Granary Theatre, Cork, and in Wexford.

In 1992 the Wexford Festival Opera presented his work "Retroscena" which was a behind-the-scenes look at the 40th opera season. In 2001 the Opera commissioned him to document their 50th season. A book resulted: "A Remarkable Festival" with an introduction by Colm Toibin. The Exhibition Fifty from the Fiftieth was shown in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Dublin and in Wexford Arts Centre in 2002. The collection is now on permanent exhibit at the Theatre Royal in Wexford.

Grant's photographs from Mexico were shown in the Wexford Arts Centre, Clotworthy Arts Centre in Antrim, as well as in Kilkenny. A BBC arts reviewer said of this show that his images are "poetic rather than polemic".

In 1999 his exhibition "This Must be the Place" was presented and featured photographs made over a six months period in New Zealand. Padraig's most recent travels have been to the Middle East and the exhibition "One Month in Iran" was shown at the Wexford Arts Centre in December 2001.

Grant's work has been published in book format as African Shadows (House of Munn 1994) and as editorial illustration in the Irish Times, Sunday Tribune, New York Times, Sunday Times (London) and Spotlight magazine (Germany) among others.

Knife found in investigation of Bray man's murder
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Police investigating the murder of a Bray man in Mountjoy prison have discovered a blood-stained make-shift knife, it emerged today.

A forensic team is also studying blood-stained clothes which have reportedly been recovered from Mountjoy prison.

Alan Green, 30, from Co Wicklow, was serving a nine month sentence for drugs possession when he was stabbed once in the chest yesterday in his cell on the prison’s B-wing.

He was taken to the nearby Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead less than an hour after the attack.

The murder scene remains sealed off as detectives interview the 100 inmates who had access to the landing when the incident took place.

They must be granted a Section 42 warrant from the District Court before suspects can be arrested from the prison for questioning.

The make-shift knife, known as a “shiv” in prisons, is believed to have been found hidden in a cistern in a toilet area.

Shivs are made from a sharpened piece of metal with tape wrapped around the end to act as a handle.

A post-mortem confirmed that Mr Green died from a single stab wound to the heart.

His body was discovered at lunchtime yesterday as prisoners collected their midday meals.

In the two hours directly prior to that there would have been a lot of movement around the prison as inmates received visits or attended classes according to a prison service spokesman.

John Lonergan, the governor of Mountjoy Prison, condemned the murder as an act of brutality and savagery. Mr Lonergan apologised to the man’s family and said he accepted the system had failed in its duty of care.

He confirmed that the prison would be conducting its own internal investigation alongside the garda probe.

The murder is believed to be the second in an Irish prison in living memory.

Labour to Launch South Wicklow Local Election Candidates
Thursday, January 29, 2004
The launch of the Labour candidates for June's Local Elections in South Wicklow and Arklow Town Council will be held this Friday January 30 at 6pm in the Royal Hotel in Arklow. It will be the first official outing for the newly elected Labour candidate for Leinster in the forthcoming European Elections.

A postal ballot taken from 1700 Labour members throughout the region will decide the Leinster candidate. The two candidates are Peter Cassells and Peter Ward. The winning candidate will be announced on Thursday January 29 in the Arboyne Hotel in Navan.

Present at the Local Election candidates launch in the Royal Hotel in Arklow will be the Labour Party Deputy Leader, Deputy Liz McManus, as will candidates Kevin Ryan, Sinead Burke, Bernie O'Halloran, Tom Byrne and Councillor Nicky Kelly.

Bray Emmets Notes by John Smith
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Congratulations to Bray Emmets u16 ladies footballers who are now County champions, after a great win against their old rivals, An Tochar, in Kilmacanogue, last Saturday.This was a replay, which was drawn before Christmas. They won well this time, and you could see the results of all the hard training over the holiday period, as they have certainly improved since their last game.

The 1,000 euro prize in Bray Emmets lotto draw, which was held in the Ardmore Bar, on Satruday last was won by their popular Senior footballer, Dara Gaskin. This weeks draw will be in 0'Driscolls Seaside Bar, Strand Road, Bray, (Jackies) at 9pm this Saturday. Do try to be there.

Tickets are going very well for Bray Emmets dinner dance, on St. Valentines night, 14th February, in the Royal Hotel. Tickets are limited to 200, and it is important that you book you place without delay. Tickets are 35 euros, and are available from Christy Maloney 2860395, or Liz Lee 2861730.

Bray Emmets Senior football team are going on a cultural tour of Geordie land, and will be based in Newcastle this weekend. I am sure that Dara Gaskin will be under severe pressure to spend some of the 1,000 euros which he won in our lotto. It is a well deserved break after the long season.

The last of the coaching seminars, which have been organised by Conor Johnson, will be held in the Villa Pacis, (beside the Queen of Peace Church) next Tuesday evening, at 7.20pm. The theme will be "planning for success in sport" It will focus on training plans and evaluation, performance anlayisis, and season planning. It is great value at only 2 euros.

Bray man murdered in Mountjoy jail
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
A 30-year-old Bray inmate at Mountjoy jail has died after he was stabbed in a cell.

The man has been named as Mr Alan Green, from Bray in Co Wicklow. Mr Green was serving a nine-month sentence for possession of drugs.

Mr Green was taken to the Mater Hospital after being stabbed in the chest on the jail's B landing just after midday. Gardaí have opened a murder investigation.

The Governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan, has condemned the murder as an act of brutality and savagery. Mr Lonergan accepted that the system had failed in its duty of care to the young man and his family.

He apologised for that failure, and conveyed his sympathy to Mr Green's family on their loss.

Mr Lonergan also said such deaths were extremely rare in the prison system, and that he did not believe that the murder was connected to any staffing issues.

Wicklow Greens call for stronger enforcement of Litter Action Plan
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Following yesterday's meeting of the Water and Environmental Services Committee of Wicklow County Council, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has called for stronger enforcement of the Litter Action Plan for Wicklow. The Plan includes anti-litter initiatives such as providing skips to local community groups organising clean ups, the Wicklow Confidential LoCall Litterline, a pilot recycling scheme by Greenstar waste collection company and the proposed opening of large recycling centres in Bray and Greystones.

Councillor de Burca raised concerns about the way in which the Litterline was operating. She informed council officials of complaints she had received from members of the public about the lack of response to litter information given to the Litterline. "The Litterline has been operating now for several years" says councillor de Burca. "I believe it should be evaluated to see just how effective it has been in helping to tackle the litter problem in the county".

The Green councillor also expressed her concern at the negative rating given to the town of Bray recently as part of a national survey. "We are being told that Bray is the dirtiest town in Ireland" she says. "How effective can we say a Litter Plan has been if this is the impression that outsiders have of the major town in the county"? Councillor de Burca has called for a properly resourced anti-Litter Campaign for Bray that would learn from the experience of other
towns like Carlow which found itself in a similar position several years ago. "We need a concerted action plan, involving businesses, voluntary groups and Bray Town Council in order to tackle this growing problem" she says. "If we suceed, everybody benefits, particularly those who live in the town and those who are running businesses here".

Green Party Local Area spokesperson, Caroline Burrell, expressed her satisfaction with the introduction of a pilot recyling scheme by Greenstar. However, she is concerned that the recyling service will not be rolled out quickly enough to the rest of Bray. "Greenstar has announced that it will extend the pilot scheme to a further 800 homes in Bray" she says. "Surely all of the teething problems have been ironed out now after the pilot phase.? How long will the rest of the households in Bray have to wait before they can avail of the same doorstep recycling service?"

A new poetry group for Wicklow Town
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Following the success of their poetry readings in Wicklow library and wider afield, Wicklow Writers have formed a group dedicated to the writing of poetry. The group, aptly named Wicklow Poets, is open to those interested in writing all forms of poetry. 'We wish to attract both established and budding poets in the area, who will work together in a friendly workshop environment,' explains Carol Boland. ‘We hope that the established writers will share their knowledge with those less experienced among us,' she adds.

During the year, Carol plans to invite established poets to read and discuss their poetry with the group, and to facilitate workshops on poetry related matters, such as how to improve your poetry through the use of various writing techniques. Group performance readings are also planned for those wishing to take their poetry to the public and, further along the line, the poets will work towards the publication of a Wicklow Poets collection.
For those who wish to join this stimulating venture, the group meets once a fortnight on Monday evenings at 8 p.m. upstairs in Phil Healy's, Wicklow Town, and the first meeting is on Monday,12 January. The format of the fortnightly gathering will include various exercises to reach the inner poet and, most importantly, time to workshop members' poetry. The alternative Mondays will complement the expanding Wicklow Writers group, who will concentrate on short stories and novels.

More information on Wicklow Writers and their new group can be found on their web site at
<a href="http://wicklowwriters.tripod.com.">http://wicklowwriters.tripod.com.</a> or by contacting Carol Boland on (0404) 61693

Occupiers Liability Act 1995 gives protection to farmers against hillwalkers, say Greens
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
The Green Party has entered the ongoing debate about access for hillwalkers to farmer's lands by drawing attention to the Occupier's Liability Act 1995 . According to the Greens, this Act was introduced as part of a process of reforming the Occupiers Liability Act 1961, and involved consultation with the ICMSA, the IFA, county councils and recreational users.

Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca claims that for the first time, this Act defines a 'recreational user' in law, whereas previously these people were regarded as trespassers. She points out that this Act also clarifies that there is a 'voluntary assumption of risk' on the part of hillwalkers if they walk across a farmer's land and get injured. The only exception to this situation is a case where a 'reckless disregard' is shown by the farmer towards recreational
users - for example where a farmer fails to erect signs warning of dangerous machinery in the area.

"Since this Act was introduced only one legal action against a farmer has been successfully taken" says de Burca. "This was in Donegal about six months ago and the case is being appealed at present to the Supreme Court". Councillor de Burca believes that farmers and hillwalkers must co-operate with one another to try to resolve the issue of access to land for recreational purposes. She points to the example of the Wicklow Uplands Council which she claims provides an excellent mediation service, bringing landowners and recreational users together to solve
difficulties which arise.

"The core issue really is trust and a willingness between various parties to co-operate and possibly reach a compromise" says de Burca. "No one is suggesting that a farmer should have to tolerate unlimited access to his land or any threat to his means of earning a livelihood. But where established walkways exist, and hillwalkers are prepared to treat the farmers property with respect, I believe that the Occupier's Liability Act 1995 gives enough protection to the farmer to allow others to access his land."

Funding will boost safety & infrastructure of Wicklow's roads
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Minister Dick Roche has welcomed the 2004 allocation for non-national roads in county Wicklow as a "boost to infrastructure in the county, make our roads safer, and ensure that Wicklow maintains it status as an attractive location for businesses to locate".

Roche said, "In today's announcement, Wicklow has again continued to receive high levels of funding. In 2004, the investment in non-national roads will increase to €10.7 million. This is an increase of €561,000 on the 2003 allocation, and a huge €7.4 million increase over the 1996 allocation under the Rainbow Government.

There is particularly good news for residents of Wicklow Town, where a substantial €2.5million is being allocated for the town's Relief Road and Port Access Road. Other roads which are going to particularly benefit from this allocation is the:
Kilcoole-N11 Link Road
R747 in Kiltegan
L9742 Coolafunshogue Bridge
L4309 in Dunlavin
St. Lawrences Rd in Wicklow Town
R752 in Rathdrum
R755 in Roundwood.

Town Councils around Wicklow have also secured an increase in spending for non-national roads this year. Bray Town Council will receive €550,000, a 5% increase over last year. In 1996, when the Labour/Fine Gael Rainbow Government were in power, Bray received just €222,204.

Arklow Town Council and Wicklow Town Council are also receiving increases this year of 5%. Last year, both Town Councils received €240,000. This year they have been allocated €253,000. This is in stark contrast to the €76,184 each Council received in 1996 from the Rainbow Government, in which our local Labour TD was a Junior Minister," Roche said.

Anger at fines for St. Columcille’s and St. Vincent’s Hospitals
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Liz McManus TD has lashed out at the Minister for Health for the heavy fines imposed by him on two local hospitals.

“I am outraged at the penalties imposed on St. Columcille’s Hospital at Loughlinstown and St. Vincent’s Hospital”, said Deputy Liz McManus. “Out of a total of €4.4m fines that have been levied against hospitals at national level nearly half of the total - €2m – has been levied against these two hospitals located in the East Coast Area Health Board.

“St. Vincent’s is losing €1.2m while St. Columcille’s is losing €871,662. These fines are unfair. In effect millions of Euros are being taken away from these busy hospitals and are being given to Galway and Donegal hospitals.

“I am challenging the Minister for Health in the Dáil to justify his actions. He can claim that these hospitals are being punished for inefficiency. And while we all support greater efficiency I believe the casemix system that is used to measure efficiency may be seriously flawed.

“It may be that older patients attend these hospitals and take longer to recuperate or that the Health Board is not providing sufficient ‘step-down’ beds or not using empty beds in private nursing homes. In effect patients are being penalised and the Minister is ensuring that there will be further cutbacks in services in St. Columcille’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital.

“At a time of such need and pressure, particularly on the Accident & Emergency Services this decision is an absolute disgrace”, concluded Deputy McManus.

McManus calls for safety measures on Enniskerry road
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Wicklow TD and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Liz McManus TD is lending her full support to the demands that safety measures are introduced on the Enniskerry Road that was the scene of a recent tragic car accident where two people lost their lives.

"This tragedy has shocked and saddened everyone in the local community", said Deputy Liz McManus. "It requires strong and immediate safety measures to prevent such a terrible accident occurring again.

"It is bizarre, for example, that while the new N11 dual carriageway has a 40-mile speed limit to control traffic speed there is no such limit on this dangerous road. The surface on the road is also hazardous and a demand for crash barriers was raised by local residents before this accident occurred.

"I know one resident has been seeking safety measures for a long time and took the trouble to write to Wicklow County Council warning them of the potential danger. Regrettably nothing was done. Another resident has stated that over the last five years seven vehicles have had to be assisted out of the river.

"A safe speed limit, improvements in the surface and camber of the road, and crash barriers where appropriate must be provided now to ensure that this hazardous road is made safe", concluded Deputy McManus.

Councillor either incompetent or dishonest or both, says Roche
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
When the question of sand and gravel deposits on the R761, the Greystones to Kilcoole Road was raised recently and when the Council was requested to address the matter an extraordinarily hysterical response was evinced in the public press from Councillor Derek Mitchell. Rather then blame the people who are tracking the sand and gravel onto the road councillor Mitchell characteristically blamed the Government, Councillor Eleanor Roche today said.

Cllr. Roche said, "During the course of his public diatribe Councillor Mitchell made a number of claims which were inaccurate suggesting that he is either dishonest or simply incompetent.

The first point that he made was that only half of the road between the N11 and Greystones was being built and, of course, he blamed the Government. Councillor Mitchell should know as an area Councillor that work is in fact underway on the second section of this new roadway, the connection between Priestnewtown and the N11.

As a local Councillor, Councillor Mitchell must also know that substantial funding has been earmarked for this development in the Governments allocation of funds to Wicklow County Council. In ignoring that fact he is either incompetent or dishonest.

Councillor Mitchell's capacity to operate as a Councillor for the people in Greystones, is more seriously highlighted by the deficiencies of his own arguments. Wicklow County Council is the statutory authority responsible for roads in County Wicklow, not the Government. Under the law as it stands Wicklow County Council is in a position when granting planning permission to specify how the developer or suppliers to the developer should deal with matters such as sand, gravel and mud deposited on public roadways.

In addition the local authority has various legislative powers available to it under the Roads Act 1990 to prevent the danger from sand gravel and mud deposited on public roadways. Councillor Mitchell seems to be either ignorant of, or willing, to dismiss the statutory powers available to the council on which he serves. Sections 13 of the 1993 Act makes it an offence for a person
to deposit material on a public road where such action constitutes a hazard or a potential hazard to road users. Further powers are available to the County Council under Section 76 of the 1993 Act to ensure that soil and other materials are prevented from falling on the public road and becoming a hazard or a nuisance.

Rather then whinge as he inevitably does about central government responsibilities it really is time that Councillor Mitchell as an elected representative from the Greystones area ensured that the Council on which he serves itself observes the law and prevents the type of problems which were high-lighted on the Greystones to Kilcoole road.

Passing the buck is an all too frequent activity in Wicklow Local Government. This is why Wicklow has made so little progress is a number of areas. People are elected to the Council to take charge of the position and to ensure that the Councils comply fully with their statutory responsibilities. It is about time that Councillor Mitchell grew up and accepted that as an elected representative of the people of Greystones he has a responsibility to ensure that in the Council on which he serves uses the laws which are available to it to prevent hazard of nuisance on the public roads in and around the Greystones area. It is bizarre that Councillor Mitchell is evidently unaware of either the fact that the second part of the road is going ahead, the fact that Government has provided significant funding, the fact that Wicklow County Council has in recent times received more funding from central Government than from any Government in the history of the State and most importantly in the matter of mud and dirt deposited on the road the fact that is a statutory responsibility of the local authority to deal with the issue.

It really is time that Councillor Mitchell grew up and accepted the responsibilities that go with elected office. Calling a fellow Councillor names because she has demanded that the County Council fulfil its responsibilities is not the standard that the people of Greystones expect from its elected representatives.

Bray Emmets Notes by John Smith
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Bray Emmet's development officer, Conor Johnson has been very busy over the holiday period organizing some coaching and training seminars, through the National Coaching and Training Centre at U.L. Last Tuesday evening there was an excellent session which was intended for players, and gave them good advice on diet, and drink, when preparing for sports.

Next Tuesday 20th, looks at all types of fitness, and there will also be a session for female players. The session for female athletes will be of particular interest to the ladies footballers, and camogie players, and their management, and indeed parents of players or potential players, who would like information on the benefits of being involved in sport.

The final session on Tuesday 27th, examines the preparatory needs of both players and managers/ coaches and what is required for success on the field. Players, and people involved in team management will certainly get a lot of ideas from this.

All players and managers should endeavor to attend the last two sessions. With the playing season soon starting everybody can benefit from what is offered. They are being held at the Villa Pacis, which is in the grounds of the Queen of Peace Church, in the Vevay. Each session starts at 7.25pm, and the admission is E2.

Christy Maloney and his team have also been busy. They have organized Bray Emmet's annual dinner dance, which will be held in the Royal Hotel, on February 14th, (St. Valentines night). Tickets which will be limited to 200, are available from Christy. More particulars will be posted on the web site, at brayemmets.com

Bray Emmets Notes by John Smith
Sunday, January 4, 2004
It could have been fixed, we might be accused of fixing it, but it was all above board, and I can vouch for that, as can over 50 club members, and a host of other people, who witnessed the event. I refer to Bray Emmets club lotto draw, last Saturday evening, at the Vevay Inn, where the Chairman, Liam McGraynor was the lucky winner of the 1,000 euro prize, with ticket number 037. This draw seems to favour well known, and active Wicklow G.A.A people, as Peter Keogh, was the winner the previous week. Next Saturday's draw will be at the Olde Bray Inn, at the bottom of the Main Street, at 9pm. Do come along, and see how it is done.

Bray Emmets management committee meeting which was fixed for next Tuesday night has been cancelled, due to some key people being on holidays. It will now be held on Tuesday week, 20th, at the usual venue, St. Cronin's school.

I told you last week that Bray Emmets needed to generate some funds for the day to day running of the club. As usual in the club, people are trying to remedy the situation, and work is in progress. P.J Cunningham, (he of recent lotto fame) informs me that together with our vice chairman, Paul Talbot, plans are being made for a big fund raising event. More information about this later.