Author Archive
Beara-Breifni Walking Trail – Ireland’s Equivalent to the Camino to Santiago
Noel Harrington, T.D., for Cork South West, speaking following the Launch of the Beara Breifne Walking Trail, by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny at The Mansion House last night, (Wednesday 16th May 2013) stated that he was delighted to witness the culmination of years of tireless work come to fruition. The Beara Breifne Way is a walking trail, over 600km in length, running from the Beara Peninsula, County Cork to Breifne, County Leitrim following the line of Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare’s march in the aftermath of the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. The route will make use of the Beara Way; Ballyhoura Way; Suck Valley Way; Miner’s Way and Historical Trail; Leitrim Way; and Cavan Way.
Deputy Harrington, added that “this initiative is a stunning example of communities working and linking together to create what I believe is Ireland’s equivalent to the Camino to Santiago in Spain. Fifty community groups, in 10 Counties, worked with over 240 landowners, the local authorities, the IFA, Failte Ireland, Leader, The Heritage Council and others, to bring this project to the final stage it is at now. This trail will also bring added employment to each area which will in turn boost the local and national economy, and will highlight each area’s heritage and wonderful scenery. I would like to especially thank and congratulate Jim O’Sullivan, Castletownbere, of Beara Tourism, who was involved in this initiative some 15years ago, who saw the vision of what this trail would be for tourism in each area, as well as for Ireland nationally.”
Harrington Welcomes Review of Fiscal Terms for Oil and Gas Production
Oireachtas Committee Report should help encourage future exploration
Fine Gael Cork South West Deputy, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the commitment by the Minister Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, to undertake a review of the fiscal terms for oil and gas production, saying this could go a considerable way to increasing the confidence of the oil and gas exploration industry and attract future investment in Ireland.
Deputy Harrington went on to say that said the report which was produced by the former Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, of which he was a member, has been well received by the Minister and should encourage development in this area.
Bantry General Hospital set to benefit under small hospitals’ framework
New hospital groups represent biggest reform in the history of Irish healthcare – Harrington
Bantry General Hospital set to benefit under small hospitals’ framework
Fine Gael Cork South West has hailed the reorganisation of public hospitals in Ireland as the most significant reform of the healthcare system in the history of the State.
“The decision to group our hospitals into six groups will allow for better management, shared services and the retention of healthcare staff. Under the plan, which was announced today by the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, our hospitals will become safer, our waiting lists will be reduced and we will cut the number of trolleys in our A&E.
“This framework will see Bantry General Hospital; Cork University Hospital, incorporating Cork University Maternity Hospital; Waterford Regional Hospital; Kerry General Hospital; Mercy University Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; Mallow General Hospital and Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital, Kilcreene come together under the South/South West Group. Read the rest of this entry »
Motion re Public Sector Pay + Conditions
Speaking on Motion on Wednesday April, 24th. in The Dail:
Deputy Noel Harrington:
Click to view Dail Debate
I have to wonder what is the purpose of this motion given it is proposed by the last people in this House qualified to say anything credible about public servants and sustainable pay, conditions and work practices – those in Fianna Fáil. The hypocrisy, as I see it, is that the previous Government in dealing with any proposal surrounding public service pay and conditions simply capitulated and threw taxpayers’ money at whatever the issue of the day presented. The complex nature of delivering public service reform while at the same time negotiating fair pay rates for all scales and sectors of the public sector was a bridge too far and too challenging for a Government led by the only self-proclaimed real socialist in town, for too long ably assisted by some of his back-slapping yes-men, some of whom had the temerity to put their names to this motion. Read the rest of this entry »