DONEGAL MAN SPLASHES THE CASH TO TELL POLITICIANS HE’S ‘AD’ ENOUGH!

February 13, 2016

A Co Donegal man has taken out an advert in his local newspaper telling politicians not to call to his home during the general election.

Colm Friel said he is so angry at the Government that he has dug deep into his own pocket to warn them to stay away from his home at Gortnalaragh, Termon.

Colm paid the cash for the advert which will appear in the Tirconaill Tribune newspaper up until the general election on February 26th.

The half-page advert shows a picture of Colm with the headline ‘No Canvassers – No Candidates’

The article then reads “Colm Friel, Gortnalaragh, Termon, wishes to advise Election Candidates and their Agents not to visit his home for the duration of the General Election between now and polling day, Friday February, 26th, 2016.”

But despite taking out the advert, Colm has revealed he is still being plagued by canvassers.

“We’re still getting them at the door so I’m tempted to put up a sign which will really tell them how I feel and exactly where to go,” warned Colm.

Colm said he has lost complete faith in the Government after he returned from America to look after his 84 year old brother James who suffers from dementia.

Colm revealed that because he moved in to the family home to look after James, his brother lost both his living alone and fuel allowance.

Although James gets three half hour visits from home helps each week, James is almost €30 a week poorer off since Colm became his unofficial carer.

As well as losing his €7.70 a week living alone allowance, James has lost his €20 a week winter fuel allowance.

Colm added “If I had not moved in with James, he would have had to move into a nursing home and that would have cost the Government an awful lot more money. They are just not in touch with the real lives of people.”

Article Donegal Daily Feb 12, 2016

Buncrana Together

We have deliberately omitted the last couple of lines in the original article. We do not see their relevance or appropriateness. It is ironic and insensitive to have a politician comment on Mr Friel's plight and his frustration at the Irish political system and politicians in general.

Boycott four key points - Paul Murphy responds to Irish Water's late payment messages

February 12, 2016

Paul Murphy, Anti Austerity Alliance TD, has responded to late payment messages from Irish Water and argues against misinformation and rumours.

Irish Water is sending these out at a fierce rate now. Who do you think is paying the bill for all these threatening texts?

Having failed to get more than 50% to pay the water charges, with no mechanism to take the money off people, they are reduced to fear, fear and more fear. Texts, phone calls, threatening letters – it’s all they have to persuade people to pay.

We have to get the message out – don’t panic and don’t pay.

Four key pieces of information:

1. Yes, in July 2016 if water charges still exist, they will add an extra €30 or €60 as a penalty to your bill if you haven’t paid. But they can’t get it off you anymore than they could get the almost €200 that most people owe now!

2. They can’t deduct water charges from wages, social welfare or pensions. Despite all the scaremongering out there, and despite its repetition by some people who oppose water charges but who don’t support the boycott, they cannot take it off us.

3. The only thing they can do is when people owe €500, they could start a court process, which involves two court cases, which eventually could result in an attachment order. But the court services themselves have said they would be completely clogged up if they go down that road. If we stick together and don’t pay, this court action can’t break non-payment, like it couldn’t break it in the 1990s, when non-payment won.

4. If water charges remain, they will jump to an average of €500 per family when the cap is lifted in 2019. An average adult (based on using 148 litres per day, which is a Department of Environment figure) will owe €200 a year. Just look at the green bin charges – we know if they get it in, it will only go up and our water will be privatised.

Massive Meath Windfarm Rejected

February 8, 2016

The North Meath Windfarm Group announced in their facebook page on Fegruary 5, 2016 that An Bord Pleanala rejected plans for a massive American owned windfarm in County Meath.

"The American Developers of the massive Emlagh Wind Farm, have failed to get Planning Permission. Bord Pleanala Inspector's recommendation for a Grant of Permission, was overruled by a majority vote of An Bord Pleanala 4-2"

Mr John Callaghan from the North Meath group said in November 2015 "There is no place in Meath that is not under threat from Wind Farm development, not even the Town of Navan. Meath County Council are now considering an application for a 93 metre tall 1500kilowatt Industrial Wind Turbine to be located less than 1000 metres form Navan Hospital.
The Promised Wind Development Guidelines that might have provided protection have been postponed until after the Election.

See An Bord Pleanala's full report here Case reference PL 17.PA0038

Emlagh Wind Farm plans rejected.

Article from the Meath Chronicle Feb 5, 2016

Plans for the controversial 46-turbine Emlagh Wind Farm development in North Meath have been refused by an Bord Pleanala.
Element Power had sought permission for the construction of three wind farm clusters of up to 46 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of up to 169 metres and associated turbines foundations, hardstanding areas and drainage.
An oral hearing into the application held in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, last Summer lasted for five weeks with submissions from 117 individuals and groups.
The inspector who conducted the oral hearing recommended that planning be granted for the development in his report but the board voted by a majority of 4:2 to refuse permission.
The Board’s decision was made having regard to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the policies and objectives of the Meath County Development Plan (noting the lack of a Wind Energy Strategy in the Plan), the need to treat wind farm development in the area with particular sensitivity given the proximity of the development to a large number of houses located in the open countryside and within a network of existing villages at Moynalty, Carlanstown, Castletown, Lobinstown and in the nearby town of Kells.

Other considerations included the location of the proposed development in an area with a history of settlement and an associated legacy of places and features of cultural importance from many historical periods, the character of the receiving landscape, the scale, height and number of the proposed wind turbines, the submissions received in relation to the proposed development and the report and recommendation of the inspector.
The Board stated: “It is considered that a wind farm of the scale, extent and height proposed would visually dominate this populated rural area, would seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity, would interfere with the character of the landscape and would not be in accordance with the overall development objectives of the Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019.

“Furthermore, it is considered that the proposed development would not align with the Wind Energy Development Guidelines as this guidance document did not envisage the construction of such extensive large scale turbines in an area primarily characterised as a hilly and flat farmland landscape and in such proximity to high concentrations of dwellings. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
“In deciding not to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to grant permission, the Board considered that, notwithstanding the provisions of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, and other national and European Union policies in support of renewable energy development (including wind), the impacts of this very large development on the substantial local residential population, and the impacts of the proposed development on landscape and cultural heritage, would not be acceptable in this location. The Board further considered that the number and height of the proposed turbines would significantly exceed the landscape’s “medium potential capacity” to accommodate wind farm development as set out in the Landscape Character Assessment of the Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019.”
The decision has been welcomed by Senator Thomas Byrne, Cllr Darren O’Rourke and Deputy Helen McEntee.