Senator Malcolm Byrne has called for the new Office of the Gambling Regulator to be in Gorey. The North Wexford public representative was speaking in a Seanad debate on forthcoming gambling legislation.
SENATOR MALCOLM BYRNE
Senator Byrne recalled that in 2007, the then Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, promised that the planned Office of the Gambling Regulator would be in Gorey!
“The legislation has been delayed a long time but as part of my contribution in the Seanad on Friday on regulating gambling, I urged that the Office, once established, would be based in Gorey. The necessary office infrastructure is already in place in the town and would be an ideal home for the new regulator,” Senator Byrne told Wexford Local.com
He pointed that the legislation deals with all aspects of gambling in Ireland and will focus on ways to tackle gambling addiction.
It is being steered through the Oireachtas by Junior Minister James Browne and his Fianna Fáil colleague added that he would hope that “Minister Browne could deliver on Michael McDowell’s promise of 14 years ago!”
Revenue Officers at Rosslare Europort detained 13 COVID-19 rapid test kits. The kits, which originated in China, are unauthorised for use in the EU, including Ireland, and were discovered when an Irish registered van which had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France was stopped and searched.
Seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and smuggling. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
More Wexford householders can now benefit from Irish Water’s free leak repair service following approval by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to extend the scheme that helps reduce leakage and safeguard water supplies.
The First Fix scheme is a key element of the national Leakage Reduction Programme which is addressing the serious problem of leakage in Ireland’s water network. The scheme provides customers with support in identifying and fixing leaks. Irish Water offers a free leak investigation and, when a potential leak has been identified, a free repair to a leak detected on an external supply pipe on the customer’s property.
Since its introduction in 2015, the First Fix scheme has resulted in savings of 155 million litres of water every day, enough water to supply 450,000 homes a year. To date more than 87,000 investigations and 60,400 leak repairs have been completed. The changes approved by the CRU this week will open the scheme to customers who were not included in the original scope, including those without a water meter. As a consequence up to 600,000 more customers nationwide will now be able to benefit from the service.
Irish Water’s Customer Strategy and Capability Manager Geoffrey Bourke said; “We are making steady progress by replacing old water mains, fixing leaks and upgrading our water network as part of the Leakage Reduction Programme.”
Following the completion of the CRU review of the First Fix Free scheme, Irish Water will work with the Regulator and our delivery partners to implement the recommended changes, including; Unmetered domestic customers can now avail of the scheme.
Domestic customers with usage above 213,000 litres per annum will be prioritised for leak investigation under the First Fix Scheme; An Internal Stop Valve is no longer needed for a customer to be eligible; Some mixed-use customers will now be eligible; Properties with a shared service connection will now be eligible; and Customers no longer need to be registered with Irish Water to avail of the scheme.
Full details of the First Fix Free scheme can be found at www.water.ie. Customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1850 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.
Irish Water working with Wexford County Council partners, contractors and others to safeguard the health and well-being of both staff and the public and to ensure the continuity of critical drinking water and wastewater services. Irish Water would like to remind people to follow the HSE COVID-19 advice and ensure frequent handwashing.
Point-to-point action today (Sunday) took place at Fairyhouse where rider Luke Murphy and handler Denis Murphy each recorded a double.
DENIS MURPHY
Runwiththetide was the four lengths winner of the four-year-old mares race for the Monbeg Syndicate and Sean Doyle. A fifth winner of the season for rider Luke Murphy.
First time out Hidden Heroics won the four-year-old geldings maiden race for owner/handler Denis Murphy, The Ballagh, by two and a half lengths with Jamie Codd showing good form ahead of the Punchestown Festival this week. This was Denis Murphy’s 230th winner in his 15 years of training point-to-pointers.
Denis Murphy managed a double when Loughderg Rocco was best by 12 lengths in division one of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. A double on the day for rider Luke Murphy.
The Wexford senior hurling team returned to the Ferns Centre of Excellence for a squad session following Covid-19 restrictions earlier this week and the shock news for supporters was the announcement that Paudie Foley, (26), All-Star nominee in 2019, is not expected to be part of the Wexford panel for the coming season.
PAUDIE FOLEY (Pic courtesy of The Irish Examiner)
Crossabeg-Ballymurn man Foley started both 2020 Championship defeats to Galway and Clare. He made his debut in 2014 and played a pivotal role in the Model County’s first Leinster SHC success in 15 years two seasons ago.
Top GAA journalist Brendan Furlong, writing in this week’s editions of The People Group Newspapers, quoted manager Davy Fitzgerald, who said; “I spoke at length with Paudie but he had no interest in continuing for another season. You must remember that Paudie also took time out in 2017 before returning to the squad.”
Foley’s decision has also made national GAA headlines.
Gardaí in Gorey seized €215,000 worth of drugs and arrested two men and one woman during a search operation which was conducted on Wednesday as part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Gorey area and several properties were searched.
In one search, Gardaí seized approximately 5kg of suspected cannabis with an estimated street value of €100,000. A quantity of suspected cocaine was also seized with an estimated street value of €40,000.
GOREY GARDA STATION
One man, aged in his 40s, was arrested at the scene and taken to Gorey Garda Station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
In a second search, Gardaí seized cocaine and cannabis and cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €75,000. One man and one woman, both aged in their 20s, were arrested at the scene and taken to Enniscorthy Garda station where they were both detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
Both men have been charged and appeared at a special sitting of Wexford District Court on Friday night.
The woman has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Monageer handler Michael Goff and Pat O’Rourke from Silverspring, Bridgetown, each recorded a double success at Tipperary point-to-point today (Saturday) where seven of the eight races were won by Wexford stables.
Michael Goff got off the mark with newcomer Daily Present winning division one of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden race by four lengths with Joey Dunne in the saddle. Goff’s regular rider Shane Fitzgerald recently turned conditional on the track but the young Dunboyne lad proved an able replacement.
MICHAEL GOFF enjoyed double at Fairyhouse today.
Goff’s double came in division one of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings with Great D’Ange by six lengths with Liam Gilligan, (19), up. Both Goff’s winners ran in the colours of his wife Caitriona.
The O’Rourke family from Silverspring, owner Phyllis, trainer Pat and their son, James O’Rourke in the saddle, also enjoyed a fine double victory. It began with Whatsstoppingyou by a neck in division two of the five-year-old mares maiden and continued with Cosmic Outlaw by one and a half lengths in division four of the maiden race for five-year-old geldings. James O’Rourke has now ridden 70 career point-to-point winners.
Pierce Power from the Hook saddled the winner of the four-year-old auction race. Newcomer Merry Maker by three lengths with Foulksmills rider Shane O’Rourke firmly in control.
Another newcomer Anyharminasking kept the Monbeg Syndicate and Donnchadh Doyle flag proudly flying with a narrow success in the second division of the maiden race for four-year-old geldings. The verdict was ‘a head’ and a victory for Tinahely rider James Walsh.
Mary Ellen Doyle’s Baltimore Stables at Tomgarrow, near Enniscorthy, took the second division of the five-year-old geldings maiden race with newcomer Gandhi Maker by six lengths. A winning ride for Barry Stone from Cleariestown.
Colin Motherway is back in his native Cork after a number of years in the Blackwater area and he saddled Paddy’s Plant to an eight lengths victory in division three of the maiden test for five-year-old geldings. The winning rider was Jamie Codd.
In other Wexford point-to-point news bad luck to Jamie Scallan (24), who has suffered a broken wrist and is expected to be on the sidelines for the rest of the season. The Tomhaggard rider picked up the injury in a first fence fall at Fairyhouse on Saturday week.
Wexford County Council has announced that supported by 3 Counties Energy Agency it has achieved the globally recognised international energy management standard, ISO 50001, becoming more advanced in optimising energy efficiency.
Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council Cllr Ger Carthy said; “This international accreditation energy performance improvement is top of the agenda for the organisation and I commend all involved for the great work done to date.”
TOM ENRIGHT CEO Wexford County Council
Tom Enright, CEO, Wexford County Council said; “We are focused and fully committed to continuously improving energy performance in all our operations. This year will see the completion of an extensive public lighting upgrade resulting in significant energy and operational costs savings. Upon completion approximately 97% of the public lights within the county will have been converted to high efficiency LED technology.”
Carolyne Godkin, Director of Services Wexford County Council paid tribute to the work undertaken by the cross-departmental energy team and the 3 Counties Energy Agency.
Ray Murphy, Acting Chief Fire Officer with Wexford County Council who has led the certification stated that “there is a programme of works about to commence approved with funding support under SEAI’s Better Energy Communities scheme. This will focus retrofitting several of our facilities such as District Offices, Libraries and Fire Stations with a range of measures including insulation upgrades, fabric improvements, lighting upgrades and Solar PV. In terms of transport Wexford County Council has started to introduce Electric Vehicles into the fleet with a current complement of four electric vans and three forklifts.”
The ISO 50001 standard was developed to support public and private sector organisations committed to efficient energy management providing the most robust framework for achieving cost and carbon emission reductions.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has fond memories of Wexford General Hospital and got his first job as a surgical intern there back in 2003, however, he is unfamiliar with current concerns at the hospital.
The Tánaiste was replying to a question from Independent Deputy Verona Murphy during Questions on Promised Legislation in the Dáil on Thursday.
Deputy Verona Murphy and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar
Deputy Murphy said; “In 2016, the Friends of Wexford General Hospital group was told that it would be given funding for an essential MRI scanner for the hospital if the group was able to raise €250,000. The group appealed to the people of Wexford and within 18 months that €250,000 was raised by the people of Wexford. It was by 2018, some 18 months later.”
Deputy Murphy told the House that Paul Reid, chief executive officer of the HSE was asked when Wexford General Hospital would see the promised MRI scanner in place. Mr Reid replied that there was no mention nor provision made for an MRI scanner in the HSE’s capital fund.
“Can the Tánaiste confirm to the people of Wexford that the previous Government, in which he was the Taoiseach at the time, and this Government have not hoodwinked the people of Wexford and that they do not think they can just fob them off? Can the Tánaiste confirm when the MRI scanner will be in place and a timeline for that?,” asked Deputy Murphy.
An Tánaiste replied; “I am a friend of Wexford General Hospital. My first job as a surgical intern was in the hospital back in 2003. I have fond memories of working there. I got a great education there but I also met some really great people. Increasingly, MR is becoming a standard investigation method and it would make sense to have that facility available in every acute general hospital. I do not know what specific commitments were made by this Government and the previous one regarding Wexford General Hospital, so I will have to check. I appreciate, however, that the Deputy is raising an important issue and I will follow up with the HSE and get her a more detailed response.”
Fethard RNLI has received a generous €37,000 donation from Interger New Ross after the company’s staff and management chose the lifeboat station as its Charity of the Year.
Volunteers at Fethard RNLI were delighted to be considered and have been overwhelmed by the amount raised.
Receiving the funds raised from Seamus Hamilton of Interger New Ross, Sarah Bates, from Fethard RNLI’s fundraising branch said: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the staff at Integer. As a charity, Fethard RNLI totally depends on the goodwill of the public to provide our lifesaving service. This significant donation will continue to help us save lives at sea on the Hook Peninsula and on the River Barrow up to New Ross.
SEAMUS HAMILTON from Interger New Ross presenting the ‘Charity of the Year’ cheque to Sarah Bates, Fethard RNLI Fundraising at a socially distant presentation ceremony earlier this week. (Pic; RNLI/Mark Brennan)
“These funds will now go towards providing the essential kit our volunteer crew needs to do their lifesaving work and to helping maintain our lifeboat and lifesaving equipment. The funds will also support our crews training. In the last two weeks alone, 12 volunteers undertook training and were awarded with casualty care certificates.”
Walter Foley, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager added; “Our station has remained operational throughout the pandemic and our volunteers have continued to be on call adhering to additional safety protocols including wearing extra PPE. We are so grateful for this extraordinary donation from all at Integer during a year when our own traditional fundraising activities had to cease due to Covid-19 restrictions. We would like to thank all the staff for their hard work fundraising and their generosity.”
WexfordLocal.com 