Tag Archive for Government

Patrick James | June 19, 2009
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Petition To Save Foinse – The Last Irish Language Weekly Newspaper

It has come to my attention today that the Irish language weekly newspaper Foinse may only be in publication for two more editions – on the 21st and the 28th of this month, due to a lack of funding. Some of you may remember my post last year on the future of Lá Nua, the daily Irish language newspaper from Belfast, which sadly has since ceased to exist, again due to a lack of funding. Slowly and little by little, the support for Irish language is being destroyed by this incompetent government, but the problem is that while we hear about the “popular” news items regarding their destructive touch, issues such as the Irish language are sidelined and fail to make front news headlines.

While many of us have mixed feelings about the Irish language, we need to put aside our negative associations and realise that the termination of Ireland’s ONLY remaining Irish language newspaper has a knock-on effect for all of us, whether we speak the language or not. It affects our culture, out national pride and our identity and we should not allow that to be destroyed at the hands of an incompetent bunch of idiots – it is not theirs to ransack and destroy, no more than they have the right to build a major road practically next to the Hill of Tara. We have to ask – if this present government thinks nothing of destroying milestones of our culture, be it national newspapers or heritage sites – WHAT IS NEXT? Clearly, absolutely nothing is sacred to them – except their pensions, perhaps!

Our culture was around long before these imbeciles were and will exist long after they cease. Hopefully our language will do so too, but I don’t share the optimism of others out there in this regard. Without support our language will dwindle into oblivion forever!

SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE FOINSE

Category: Language, The Politic Body | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Patrick James | March 4, 2009
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Recession Ireland: The Twice-Done Country

 irelandtiger1.jpg

So we all know what’s going on in the world with economics and who wants to mention the dreaded R-word again !It’s not enough either that everyone is feeling hard-done-by and World leaders have quite nicely managed to cough things up rightly but it seems to me that Ireland has been done over twice by it’s government…

Not so long ago, all the Irish could hear on the radio and read in the newspapers was THE CELTIC TIGER… The economy was booming and the under-lying message was spend, spend, spend… all was wonderful in our bright green wonderland. So good times come and bad times come and after all that is the way of things. We had our moment in the sun and this is our darker hour, so maybe no one should be all that surprised… and that line of thought might be alright if that was what had happened.

THE TRUTH IS: Our economic prosperity was only for the few, like some sort of elitist joke. Certainly, no one I ever met really benefitted from the so-called Tiger! I know I didn’t catch a glimpse of it or even get a sniff of it on someone else! Neither did we have our cake… nor are we ever likely to eat it!

Category: Something Else, The Politic Body | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Patrick James | May 8, 2008
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Brian Cowen’s Front Row Decided – but can we expect any real changes?

Ireland’s 12th Taoiseach has revealed his first Cabinet, with several changes being made, but when it’s all said and done can we expect any real changes from the man critics have promised to be in for “a tough time in the top job”?

 

Mary Coughlan becomes Tánaiste, while also taking the portfolio of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

 

Brian Lenihan is the new Minister for Finance, while Batt O’Keefe becomes Minister for Education, taking Mary Hanafin’s portfolio. She moves to Social and Family Affairs.

 

Pat Carey becomes Chief Whip, a move which sees Tom Kitt return to the back benches.

 

The new Minister for Justice is Dermot Ahern, while his position in Foreign Affairs is taken by Micheál Martin.

 

Martin Cullen is Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism and Brendan Smith takes Mary Coughlan’s position in Agriculture and Food.

 

Mary Harney retains her position as Minister for Health as does Willie O’Dea, who stays with Defence. John Gormley and Eamon Ryan see no change, remaining in Environment, and Communications Energy and Natural Resources, respectively.

Noel Dempsey, in Transport, and Eamon Ó Cuív, in Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, also stay put.

Source: RTÉ.ie

Category: Something Else | Tags: , , , , , ,
Patrick James | April 24, 2008
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VRT – Co2 Emissions Poll… Eco-Intitiative or Motorist Burden?

CO2 Emissions have become a major concern, in particular for motorists, with the new VRT (Vehicle registration Tax), based on a car’s carbon emissions. In a bid to address the environmental effects of vehicle’s, all new cars registered from 1 July 2008 will have their motor tax rate based on the CO2 emissions level. A detailed list of vehicle emissions’ ratings is available from vrtireland.com. This will see many people buying cars with a lower emissions rating in order to avoid the higher tax brackets, but are cars with lower emissions any friendlier to the environment.

While lowering the motoring carbon footprint is the responsibility of each individual, does buying a car with low emissions really mean you are easing the burden on the environment… or are we getting an unbalanced perspective with car buyers being made scapegoat. In some instance a vehicle may have low emissions, but a high carbon footprint as a result of production, materials used or just by the car manufacturer’s neglect of its corporate responsibility to the environment. The production of a car alone can offset the benefits of lower fuel consumption and emissions, if manufacturer’s neglect their corporate burden.

The new VRT is a great idea and should in theory reduce the effects motoring has on the planet, but if we want real change, is it not time the Irish government and governments in general place a corporate burden to produce eco-friendly car, firmly on car manufacturers? I believe, that if there was a manufacturer’s tax placed on car makers (based on emissions & overall carbon footprint) and the companies required to foot the bill, we would inevitably see an earnest attempt towards more eco-friendly vehicles.

Do you think that, the Irish government should place a corporate burden on car makers to pay a tax based on CO2 emissions? Who should be held accountable for a car’s effects on the environment? I would appreciate if readers would take a moment to complete the CO2 emissions ‘micro poll’ (Below) and let me know what you think!

Useful related links: CO2.ie Blog / vrtireland.com / Sustainable Energy Ireland

Category: Eco-Driving | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Patrick James | February 25, 2008
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Tara destruction… Government on road to ruin

tara1.jpgThis week an Irish Post poll showed more than 80 per cent of respondents were in favour of halting all construction of new roads around the historic site. In one of the largest responses ever received more than 3,000 people took part. That opposition has been mirrored in previous petitions and online message boards opposing routing a motorway past this historic archaeological treasure.

Against this background the Government’s intransigence smacks of nothing more than sheer bloody-mindedness. It seems Ministers are determined not to be seen admitting they made a mistake. But there is little doubt that the route chosen for the new M3 motorway is a mistake of colossal proportions. It is akin to Britain’s Department of Transport deciding to re-route the M4 motorway so it passed close to the world famous stone circle at Avebury. To make matters worse the Irish Government could have easily ordered the route of the M3 to be altered to ensure it avoided the Hill of Tara but chose not to do so. Instead they decided it was worth risking the destruction of one of the world’s most important archaeological sites for the sake of so-called progress.

Source: Tara Watch

Category: Eco-Sphere | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Patrick James | December 31, 2007
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The Unwanted Gift!

aids__1.jpgThis morning I spent some time just flicking through various channels (mostly music) and one thing really struck me: The number of scenes of men and women, in pop videos, portrayed in what could be described as an openly sexual manner. It set me thinking… Does anyone remember AIDS? Not so long ago there were several campaigns on TV, warning people about AIDS and the dangers of Risky Sexual Behaviour. AIDS has not gone away… just the information! Rogue pregnancies are not the only result of unprotected sex, AIDS and some very nasty STDs are on the increase. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are affecting more and more men and women. Sadly, for several people, the festive season will have brought with it the unwanted gift. Research findings and some very useful information are available from both The Well Woman Centre and The Well Man Clinic, two organisations that no doubt witness a rise in numbers attending for treatment, after the holidays. The good people in both centres are doing a good job, but it’s now time that the Irish Government took an active role in warning people about the dangers.

Category: Something Else | Tags: , , , , ,