Shannon Airport
I questioned Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary about Shannon Airport and its potential for further growth.
Autism supports
Autism supports to children and adolescents exist in theory but when parents in Clare seek them for their children, they encounter a wall of bureaucracy and no supports.
Legalising drug use in Ireland
Drugs need to be legalised and possession decriminalised by the Dáil to take this lucrative trade out of the hands of brutal thugs without delay.
McNamara highlights Ennis radiography service concerns with HSE
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara says he has received assurances from the UL Hospitals Group that the radiography service at Ennis Hospital will continue to operate at full capacity, despite almost half of the approved radiographer positions for the Clare facility remaining unfilled.
Read MoreUniversity Hospital Limerick overcrowding
Chronic and persistent overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick is not being addressed.
Mercosur trade deal
The Mercosur trade deal can be concluded by the European Commission, by-passing the people in member states and their parliaments, the Taoiseach suggested today (insofar as he answered my question).
Pay rates for PhD students
Despite lip service to the importance of science in the Dáil last night, poor funding of PhD students in Ireland continues.
Retained fire fighters
I called for the ongoing crisis in the Retained Fire Service in rural communities across Ireland to be addressed.
Funding boost for Kilrush
I am delighted to learn that €3.5m has been allocated for the redevelopment of a vacant building on the marina in Kilrush into a new Maritime Training Centre.
I have raised this project repeatedly with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and her officials, and I have engaged locally with Cllr Ian Lynch and Clare County Council project officer Brian McCarthy. This project will establish Kilrush and West Clare as an important maritime centre on the west coast of Ireland.
Maternity Benefit in Ireland
The low rate of Maternity Benefit in Ireland, which I raised today and previously in the Dáil, looks set to be increased substantially so that it will be linked to a woman’s pay before going on leave.
Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience
Since the closure of the youth hostel in Mountshannon, the village and East Clare more broadly has fallen far behind the growth in tourism on Clare’s west coast. A new project, centred on the iconic Inis Cealtra / Holy Island and led by Clare County Council, seeks to put Lough Derg back on the tourism map.
The ACRES Co-operation Project
The Taoiseach confirmed that farmers in places such as the Burren or the hen harrier areas of Slieve Aughty should not be paid less under the new agri-environment scheme, ACRES, than under its predecessor. The question remains whether anything will be done to remedy this.