COUNCILLORS SAY BRUTON ‘SNUBBED’ THEM

04/05/2015 by borderroamer

CATHAOIRLEACH SAYS COUNCILLORS WERE SNUBBED OVER JOBS FORUM IN CARRICKMACROSS

Michael Fisher Northern Standard Thursday 30th April p.1

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton T.D. with Martin O’Briend CEO Cavan Monaghan ETB in one of the workshops at the Carrickmacross jobs forum Photo: © Michael Fisher

Monaghan Councillors especially Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District members have been snubbed by the Department of Jobs, according to the County Council Cathaoirleach, Councillor Padraig McNally (Fianna Fáil). He was addressing the April meeting of the District Council in Carrickmacross on Monday.

Three government Ministers, Richard Bruton and Ged Nash (Labour), with Heather Humphreys T.D. (centre), and two other Fine Gael Cavan/Monaghan TDs including Joe O’Reilly T.D. (right) attended the regional Action Plan for Jobs in Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

He expressed his disappointment and frustration that he had not been invited to a regional jobs forum held at the Nuremore Hotel and attended by three government Ministers, including the Jobs Minister Richard Bruton T.D. and Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and local T.D., Heather Humphreys.

Minister Heather Humphreys T.D. and Minister Ged Nash T.D. at the Carrickmacross jobs forum Photo: © Michael Fisher

Councillor McNally told the meeting that if there had been a Fine Gael Cathaoirleach of the County Council then that person would have been there, but on this occasion, local representatives had been snubbed. We like to be contacted about such events, he said, and it was very easy to forget that hey were there.

Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, Councillor Padraig McNally Photo: © Michael Fisher

He proposed that the Municipal District wrote to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. saying that in future they should invite elected representatives from Carrickmacross. He said there was not one person present at the jobs forum who could report back directly to the workforce at the Bose factory. It is due to close at the end of next month, with the loss of 140 jobs.

Cathaoirleach of Carrickmacross Castleblayney Municipal District, Councillor Jackie Crowe Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District, Councillor Jackie Crowe (Sinn Féin) agreed that the elected local representatives had been snubbed. He seconded the motion. He said they had had no notification whatsoever about the meeting. It showed that the organisers had no time for them. He was disappointed that even the County Council Cathaoirleach had not been invited. It was not the first time that they had been snubbed and they should express their anger as a Municipal District. It was agreed by the six Councillors present “That this Council writes to Minister Richard Bruton T.D. expressing our disappointment that neither the Muncipal District chairman or the county chairman were invited to the jobs meeting held in the Nuremore Hotel recently”.

Monaghan Councillor Colm Carthy from Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Councillor Colm Carthy (Sinn Féin) said that last month the District had agreed to write to Minister Bruton to request an update on the Bose facility and asking him if he would confirm where he was on organising a replacement for the jobs and employment in the Carrickmacross plant. The Council received a standard letter in reply from a Private Secretary, stating that the correspondence would be brought to the Minister’s attention “at the earliest opportunity”. Councillor Carthy, a former Bose employee, said he was concerned that no elected members had been invited to the jobs meeting held locally. It was a matter of grave concern, as the facility would be closing shortly. He said it had come as a surprise to him that Minister Bruton had visited the area.

COUNCILLORS OPPOSE GAMING OUTLETS

26/03/2015 by borderroamer

Ground floor unit in Carrickmacross proposed for conversion into a private members gaming club Photo: © Michael Fisher

COUNCILLORS CONTINUE TO OPPOSE GAMBLING OUTLETS

Michael Fisher

All six Councillors in the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District have again highlighted their opposition to a proposed private members gaming club in Carrickmacross. A fortnight ago planners in Monaghan County Council put on hold an application by Carrick Gold Mine Ltd to set up a private gaming club in a vacant commercial unit off Main Street, beside the car park at the rear of the Shopping Centre at Drummond Etra.

Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD Councillors PJ O’Hanlon, Aidan Campbell, Colm Carthy and Padraig McNally Photo © Michael Fisher

The applicants said the proposed use of the premises would be for a professionally managed Private Members Gaming Club. It would provide card games like Baccarat and other games like Texas Holdem etc “for groups of dedicated card players”. It would the Club’s intention to have weekly Poker tournaments, some of which would be for local sports teams and associations, according to the letter. The club’s facilities would be open to members only, who must be over eighteen.

Planning officials have requested additional information about a number of aspects and have given the applicants six months to reply to the Council.

Cllr Jackie Crowe (SF), Cathaoirleach Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District Council Photo: © Michael Fisher

The March meeting of the Municipal District Council held in Carrickmacross and chaired by Cllr Jackie Crowe heard from District Co-Ordinator Cathal Flynn that because of a loophole in current legislation, there was nothing the District Council could do to prevent the operation of such a club, if the application was approved. Councillor Padraig McNally asked for Standing Orders to be suspended so that he could ask a question seeking additional information, following last month’s decision to write to the Minister for Justice, asking for local authorities to be able to introduce bye-laws that would prohibit gaming facilities, including gaming clubs. He was told that the Council had received a letter from the office of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D., last week. It informed Councillors that the government had approved the general scheme of the Gambling Control Bill in July 2013. The scheme was currently with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, awaiting legal drafting. A copy has been made available on the Department’s website. The letter, signed by the Minister’s Private Secretary, said that upon enactment of this proposed legislation, the Minister would assume the sole regulatory function as relates to all forms of gambling, with the exception of the National Lottery. It was not possible to indicate at this point when the Bill is likely to be published, according to the Minister’s Office.

Cllr Padraig McNally (FF) Photo © Michael Fisher

Councillor McNally said this letter should be circulated to local Deputies and they should be asked to help speed up the process of bringing the Bill through the Dáil, so as to ensure this planning application would come under the remit of any new gambling legislation.

Cllr PJ O’Hanlon (FF) Photo: © Michael Fisher

His party colleague Councillor PJ O’Hanlon said they would do everything in their power through the Council to stop such private members clubs. As public representatives they had a role and a function to represent the views of people on the ground.

Cllr Colm Carthy Photo: © Michael Fisher

Councillor Colm Carthy said a number of local businesses and residents in Carrickmacross had already been in contact with Oireachtas members and they would push the issue to try to get it resolved. Councillor Noel Keelan said their aim should be to try to close the planning loophole concerning private members gaming clubs. Councillor McNally proposed and Councillor O’Hanlon seconded a motion, which was passed unanimously:

“That this Authority writes to our local TDs to ensure the speedy passage of legislation in Dáil Éireann and to seek their support for measures to stop such gambling outlets from receiving consent for planning authorities and court services”.

Cllr Noel Keelan Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Northern Standard

COUNCILLORS DEFEND LIBRARY SERVICE

25/03/2015 by borderroamer

Carrickmacross-Castleblayney MD Councillors PJ O’Hanlon, Aidan Campbell, Colm Carthy and Padraig McNally Photo © Michael Fisher

COUNCILLORS OPPOSE PLANS TO CHANGE LIBRARY SERVICE

Michael Fisher

Moves to amalgamate library services in Monaghan and Cavan by the appointment of a joint librarian will be strongly opposed by Councillors in the Carrickmacross and Castleblayney area. A meeting of the Municipal District Council on Monday discussed a submission received by a Ballybay resident and member of the local library, who expressed her concerns over the issue. She said there was a real fear among members that if the proposal goes ahead then smaller libraries like the one in Ballybay would close. The library service is important to local communities on many levels, she told Councillors, and she asked them to contact Minister Alan Kelly to get him and his department to abolish the proposed amalgamation.

Councillor Padraig McNally said they had been told the only proposal was to share the County Librarian between the two counties. But he said they did not need such a change as they already had a good system in place. He proposed that the District strongly objected to any amalgamation. This was the thin end of the wedge and next thing they would be looking at the fire service, he said. The county had already been stripped of so many services.

Councillor PJ O’Hanlon said this was the start of another service being taken away from the county. Councillor McNally proposed and his party colleague Councillor O’Hanlon seconded a motion:

“That this Municipal District rejects any amalgamation of our library services. Monaghan has a proud record of providing library services and does not need to be linked with any other counties or regions”. It was passed unanimously.

Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) Photo: © Michael Fisher

Councillor Noel Keelan said ‘amalgamation’ was another word for cuts and proposed a motion: “That this District Council writes to the Minister, Mr Alan Kelly T.D., requesting that the proposed amalgamation does not proceed, given how important the Library Service is to the people”. Councillor Colm Carthy seconded and this motion was also agreed.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Jackie Crowe said they were all absolutely opposed to any amalgamation.

The Northern Standard

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Tag Archives: Padraig McNally

COUNCILLORS SAY BRUTON ‘SNUBBED’ THEM

COUNCILLORS OPPOSE GAMING OUTLETS

COUNCILLORS DEFEND LIBRARY SERVICE

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