Revenue officers seized nearly 17,000 litres of beer at Rosslare Europort following the search of an Irish registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Pembroke, Wales, last Monday.
The consignment was seized following routine profiling aimed at identifying alcohol products that may be diverted onto the market without payment of the tax and duties due. The smuggled alcohol had an estimated retail value of almost €66,500 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €31,100.
Investigations are ongoing.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illicit alcohol products in the shadow economy. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
The Mayor of Wexford Cllr Leonard Kelly and the members of Wexford Borough District Council are excited following the unveiling of plans to transform the historic Bullring and Cornmarket areas of Wexford town at an estimated cost of €2.4 million.
The cost of installing a glass roof over the markets area of the Bullring is expected to cost from €300,000 to €400,000.
Other works would include removal of the existing roundabout, the removal of trees and some replanting, automated bollards, patterned paving, street lighting, street furniture and public art.
The next step is to source funding for the project which most likely will be the URDF (Urban Regeneration and Development Fund) 2022 and to progress with detailed designs.
The historic BULLRING in Wexford town is earmarked for a €2.4 million facelift.
The Bullring gets its name from a sport introduced there in 1621. The marketplace dates from 1871 and replaced six thatched houses. Through the ages it has been a rallying place for general elections and political expression. It contains a statue of the pikeman remembering the 1798 Rebellion and a plaque on the wall commemorates the local world heavyweight boxing legend Jem Roche. (Historic tail-piece sourced from The Streets of Wexford by Nicky Rossiter, published in 2009).
There has been a positive welcome for the Wexford PPN Disability Report which was launched by Zoom Link on Monday night by the Minister for State at the Department of Justice with responsibility for Law Reform, James Browne TD, in an hour-long presentation on disability in Co. Wexford featuring many speakers including disability rights activists, the report author and PPN (Public Participation Networks) members.
MINISTER JAMES BROWNE launched the Wexford PPN Disability Report by ZOOM Link on Monday night.
Minister Browne welcomed the Wexford report and said that Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disability in 2018 and the implementation of the convention is a priority for the present government and one of the that pursues where further action is required, and a current public consultation process is under way. “It is hugely important that people from the Wexford PPN will be involved in that public consultation,” stated Minister Browne.
CEO Wexford County Council, Tom Enright, who congratulated the disability sub-committee who produced the report which is based on a lot of research that has been carried out. “I think it is a very good report, it identifies some of the gaps that are there currently in the services, and some improvements can be made, and to some of the services of the Council provides throughout the county.
“It is something that we take very seriously in the Council, providing the services we do to make sure that we do those in a manner that facilitates people with disabilities. We don’t always get it right. And we do our best, but sometimes there can be gaps there, and we welcome this report that can help us to improve the way that we do our business and the way we consult with people with disabilities,” concluded Mr Enright.
Pat Rath, Chair of the PPN Disability Sub-Committee was delighted to see the Report launched and he acknowledged the support of all who contributed and submitted to the Report and he claimed, “it was an achievement from my team of volunteers to pull all of this together in the midst of a lockdown and no administration support since August 2020.”
“The work is based on a consultation event organised by the sub-committee in May 2019 where many concerns were raised, and it became apparent that there were gaps in the representative structure. A huge lack of awareness. So many shortcomings needed addressing and the PPN has already commenced the roll out of disability training. People must learn to be aware and to understand,” said Mr Rath. who pointed out that County Wexford 15.1% or 23,000 of its citizens are recorded with a disability?
The Report carries several recommendations. There were contributions from John V. Carr, Facilitator PPN, Report author Ann Heelan and others.
Master of ceremonies was disability rights activist and Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Disability Advisory Committee Member, Dr Vivian Rath from Kilmuckridge.
Dr Rath summed up the important and significant acknowledgement in hearing the voice of disabled people to ensure that the voices of disabled people are heard at every level. “Disabled people in Wexford don’t want new rights, we just want the same rights as everybody else and equal opportunity to employment, housing and education, just like the rest of the Wexford population,” concluded Dr Rath.
Cllr Andrew Bolger has been prominent in reflecting on water supply problems in Gorey and last week brought to the attention of the Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal Council the almost infamous Fort Road nine-inch pipe and today he raised the matter before representatives of Irish Water.
CLLR ANDREW BOLGER
Cllr Bolger told WexfordLocal.com how he raised his frustration around the two issues being overlooked in the Gorey District. “Firstly, the nine-inch pipe on the Forth Road was put forward for consideration, however, both Wexford County Council and Irish Water deemed it a much lower priority than I had hoped. It burst 14/15 times last year forcing many people in Gorey to go without water while working from home. Some people had to call out plumbers to fix airlocks. This summer will be no different. I feel that the people of Gorey will not accept this, and I think these views are reasonably held. Of course, there will be operational costs of ripping up the road and making repairs. Our local crew always act quickly but I believe they could be carrying out other work.
“Secondly, I raised the issue of waste-water capacity in Camolin village. An issue that has been ongoing for quite some time and will continue to be a problem for quite a while yet. This too is not considered a priority. If you ask the people in Camolin what is the main issue they will tell you it’s the waste water capacity. It is not possible to get planning in the village because of this. The next review is in 2024. A lifetime away for the people of Camolin. The national planning laws seem to want people to be living in villages, well Camolin would be a lovely village to live in but there’s little hope of building there,” concluded Cllr Bolger.
The Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme documents are with the OPW and Wexford County Council, but they are certainly not on the Minister’s desk in Dublin, so there is no point in local delegations to the Minister’s office demanding a signature anytime soon.
The matter rose in a tide of frustration and persistent questions from concerned members at last Monday’s March meeting held with Microsoft Teams in compliance with Covid-19 restrictions. The debate was triggered during the monthly report on the Flood Relief Scheme.
Cllr Jackser Owens told the meeting how he discovered the minutes of the meeting of June 19th 2012 by the OPW when the €45 million contract was signed with Eddie Breen, the then County Manager, John Murphy, the regional manager OPW and Tim Joyce and he felt it was time “for we, as a Council, meet the two ministers Pascal Donohue and Michael McGrath, with a view to getting the project signed off.
CLLR JACKSER OWENS
“The talking has to stop! I proposed last year to meet this Minister – it was turned down by the Council – it was turned down – and we said we would write to the Minister – but I think it is time to speak to this Minister now and ask him face-to-face when is he signing off on the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme? thundered Cllr Owens.
“We need the District Manager to ring him up and look for an emergency meeting because we have been flooded almost twice in the last couple of weeks,” said Cllr Owens who added; “I am asking the Council to meet these people – not to write to them – but to meet them and talk to the Minister and ask him will he sign it and when is he going to sign it because we have nobody to go in and ‘bang that door’ to get it signed.”
Cllr Cathal Byrne was “very disappointed” to learn that the tender process was collapsed by Wexford County Council and re-tendering will happen and contractors will be asked to re-submit their submission of interest.
Larry McHale, Executive Engineer, said the matter raised by Cllr Owens will be a matter for the manager and the Council. In relation to Cllr Byrne’s question relating to the shortlisting of the pre-qualification procurement process for the bridge is split into two parts. This is not expected to delay the project.
Director of Services Carolyne Godkin acknowledged Cllr Owens frustrations. “At the moment I believe we don’t have a timeframe for the scheme confirmation,” Ms Godkin asked, and this confirmed by Mr McHale, who claimed that once the information is received from the OPW – “we expect that to be done by June” – and Ms Godkin suggested that until that happens a meeting with the Minister would not bring a result because he won’t be able to sign in lieu of the information being submitted.
Cllr Aidan Browne said that the impression was given that the project was on the Minister’s desk and was just not signed. “A simple question; Is it on the Minister’s Desk or is it still in County Hall. He cannot sign it if it is not up there! The impression is given that he is not signing it,” asked Cllr Browne.
Mr McHale said confirmation documents were sent to the Minister. He carried out his review as required under the recent legislation and he has requested supplementary information to support approval of the process. “He cannot sign off until he receives our information and reviews it.”
Cathaoirleach Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy said there is very little point in looking to meet the Minister when it is not on his desk for signing and he is waiting for information from us.
Cllr Owens disagreed and spoke about the information going up to the Minister in 2019, however Cllr Murphy told him it had been sent back for further information. “It is not with the Minister now; the ball is in the court of the OPW and Wexford County Council.”
Ms Godkin clarified that the detail would have to be re-submitted to the Minister.
The family combination of John and James Walsh, had a wonderful victory at Wexford today when High Stakes won his fifth race from six starts, and his first on the racecourse, at the special point-to-point flat race card, one of a small number such fixtures introduced by the HRI to facilitate the void caused by Covid-19 and the temporary suspension of point-to-points.
JAMES WALSH
A winner of four point-to-points from five starts since last September, High Stakes (10/11 fav.) was a most impressive winner of the Killinick INH Flat Race. Ridden by James Walsh, son of the owner and trainer John, the seven-year-old bay led and disputed in the early stages and had his 10 rivals off the bridle from the three furlong marker and he soon powered clear in the straight, going on to register an easy 18 length win.
It was a first track success for John Walsh, who has six or seven in training at Prebin, Tinahely. “He is a fair bit of a horse. He is for sale, but we will see what happens. He could go for another bumper now.”
Action got under way with the Lingstown race for colts and geldings and the winner came from the Cappoquin stables of Shane O’Brien in the form of Henry Box Brown (17/2) ridden by Darragh Allen from Kilworth.
All races were named after Wexford point-to-point tracks and the Monksgrange race for colts and geldings over two miles and two furlongs was popular with entries and was run in two divisions.
Michael Kennedy from Inishannon, Co. Cork, saddled Hurlerontheditch (11/1) to win division one with Michael O’Sullivan from Mallow up, holding off the Barry O’Neill/Colin Bowe partnership with Chrissies Diamond one and three-quarter lengths behind.
Harley Dunne from Blackwater was involved in an unusual outcome in division two. He trained the winner, Pull Again Green (8/1) ridden by Shane Fitzgerald and finished runner up on Gris Gris Top for Carlow trainer Aidan Fitzgerald (no relation to rider Shane). The winning verdict was one and a quarter lengths.
Sean Doyle sent out first timer Love Envoi (8/1) in the Ballinaboola mares race which resulted in a success for Tomhaggard rider Jamie Scallan. The runner-up was Miss Tempo from the in-form Waterford stable of Henry de Bromhead. What a championship week he has enjoyed!
The Island race for mares was also divided and run over two and a half miles. The Jenny and Benny Walsh partnership from Tomhaggard were in winning form in the first division. Crossgales Ophelia (6/1) obliged with veteran Benny in the saddle by three and a half lengths. Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell, fresh from a double success at Cheltenham, supplied the favourite, Eyre Square, (5/4 fav.) to gain an easy seven and a half lengths victory in division two. This was a third victory for promising young rider Joey Dunne, (18), from Dunboyne.
It was a fine afternoon, ground conditions were described as “soft, yielding in places, and sadly no spectators due to Covid-19 protocols. Hope you enjoy the highlights courtesy of Horse Racing Ireland. The Tote aggregate was €109,968 compared with €103,118 last year.
There were no crowds to cheer the winners at Cheltenham this year and the record-breaking success enjoyed by the Irish contingent, an amazing 23 victories from 28 races – and numerous placings – tells its own sporting story and a strong Wexford contingent played a major role in ‘the Olympics of Steeplechasing’.
SEAN FLANAGAN
Sean Flanagan, (33), from Robinstown, New Ross, has secured a pilot’s licence recently and not only did he fly over to Cheltenham, but he also flew up the hill to gain his first festival success on Jeff Kidder at the amazing odds of 80/1 by two lengths in the Grade 3 handicap hurdle on Tuesday.
PAUL NOLAN
Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan saddled his third festival winner with Mrs Milner, (12/1) in Wednesday’s Grade 3 Pertemps Network Final. The Master of Toberona Stables previously enjoyed festival success with Noble Prince (2011) and Tony McCoy up, and earlier with Dabiroun (2005) for the O’Gorman family, Kellystown, Adamstown, and leading jockey Nina Carberry.
Jordan Gainford, (20), from Caim who learned his trade with Colin Bowe at Kiltealy, and only joined the professional ranks a few weeks ago, registered the first Cheltenham festival winner on The Shunter, (9/4 fav.) by three lengths in Thursday’s Grade 3 handicap chase. He also rode two ‘seconds’ at the festival, so what a start to his professional career!
SEAN O’KEEFFE
Sean O’Keeffe, (22), from Harveystown, Taghmon, won the last race of the 2021 festival on the Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champ (8/1) in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle. Both Gainford and O’Keeffe came into racing via the point-to-point route and their racing talent began to emerge from the early stages.
The unluckiest jockey was Jonathan Moore from Adamstown. He had five booked rides at the festival, but had to give them all up when the after effects of a fall at Naas on Sunday proved problematic and he conceded his rides on the grounds that he could not do them justice at championship level. Two of them ended up in the winner’s enclosure.
JONATHAN MOORE
Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead won the Cheltenham Gold Cup today (Friday) with Minella Indo, a winner of the MW Hickey Memorial Chase at Bettyville Park last October. Rachael Blackmore, (31), who rode six winners to became top jockey at the festival, was in the saddle for the Wexford win that plotted his path to Gold Cup glory. She changed her mind for today’s Gold Cup and swapped allegiance to A Plus Tard who was runner-up in the big race.
It was a brilliant week for Irish racing and a sledgehammer response to the ‘loose cannons’ who were abusing their privilege of public platform to prematurely predict the demise of horse racing and dance on the stable dunghill for reasons uncalled for! Covid-19 calls on us all to hold off on the celebrations but it allows the positive mental health of satisfaction and pride in our humans and animals in times of achievement against the odds!
There were robust exchanges concerning the delay in completing Gorey Town Park and the escalating cost of the project when members assembled electronically for the March meeting of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held by Microsoft Teams within the Covid-19 guidelines last Tuesday.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Sullivan, who described the situation as ‘a mini-children’s hospital debacle’ pointed out that it was never the intention to hold anybody to the €1.2 million first mooted in 2016, but he added “in 2018 it went up to €1.8 million; in 2019; €2.3 million; 2021, €2.76 million”, and he noted an upward trajectory and was concerned at “where is it going to stop?”
“We are €1 million over-shooting the runway at this stage. Are we stopped at €2.76m?,” said Cllr Sullivan, who added; “Everybody is getting tired at this stage. We only lost from the 27th of March to the 18th of May – that was the official Level 5 lockdown for the construction industry. And work didn’t close again until the 8th of January.”
Cllr Pip Breen said it was anticipated that the Town Park would be completed in October and were assured that planting would be done before the weather broke, but what was promised was not delivered.
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux recalled a chat about an invitation for the CEO to come to a meeting to discuss issues, like the Town Park, He questioned if correspondence had been received and if there is a date set for a meeting with the CEO?
Cllr Devereux felt that some accountability was necessary and an explanation as to how a project escalates from 2019, or a bit further back, by €1 million in a town with a population of less than 10,000 people!
Plans for Gorey District Park are displayed at the entrance. (File Pic; WexfordLocal.com)
Cllr Devereux reminded members that there were issues around the original tender. “This project is about footpaths, open top soil, planting and a pretty limited number of structures, none of which are formidable.”
“If you take it that there are only around 2,000 families in the 10,000 people in Gorey and only a limited number of people will use this park on a limited basis – the cost per person per population of Gorey – shows that the figures are completely off the scale,” concluded Cllr Devereux, who stated that the people of Gorey needs to know what is happening!
Cllr Fionntán Ó’Suilleabháin said that it is a fact that in this country lots of big contracts is seen as public money – easy money – you basically name your price. “That has been the culture in the country with local authorities. We saw it with Courtown Pier Works, the Market House – the initial figure compared to the present figure, there is a massive difference – and there is no reason that the planting in the Town Park could not be going ahead right now!
Cllr Andrew Bolger agreed with his fellow councillors on the Town Park. “If we as county councillors ask for something extra out of Wexford County Council we are told ‘it is not budgeted for’, which we accept, but if a contract is signed at €1.2 million that is allowed to reach €2.7 million of taxpayer’s money it is very disheartening and the councillors frustrations in relation to this project are justified. “We must have accountability on these contracts because we are going to continue to waste taxpayer’s money when all we are trying to do is to give local people somewhere to go for a stroll and use the amenities for something they have already paid through their LPT (Local Property Tax),” concluded Cllr Bolger.
Cllr Donal Kenny agreed with the members. “Over €18 million came down from Dublin to Wexford last week to be divided up and there wasn’t a penny of it came back across the River Slaney,” he added.
Cllr Sullivan summed up the depth of feelings amongst members regards Gorey Town Park. “When you bring it down to layman’s language it is a case of; Start when you like. Finish when you like. Do what you like and charge what you like. Have we a start date, a finish date, a cost, the variable budget – have we all those things in writing from our contractor?
“We need to be told what is going on,” said Cllr Sullivan, while Cllr Mary Farrell agreed that there are many questions that need to be answered.
Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort seized approximately 13,400 cigarettes and 830 grams of tobacco following the search of a Czech registered van at the Wexford port yesterday (Monday).
The illicit cigarettes branded ‘Benson & Hedges Option’, ‘Rothmans’, ‘L&M Red’, ‘L&M Blue’ and tobacco branded ‘Drum’, have an estimated retail value of over €10,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €7,932.
The illegal cigarettes were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Czech registered van that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France. The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of the cigarettes concealed within the load.
A Czech national in his 40’s was questioned. Investigations are ongoing.
The seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and the shadow economy. 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.
Pesticide exceedances have been detected in the public drinking water supply in four water supply areas in Co. Wexford across 2019 and 2020. The exceedance was detected as part of Irish Water’s public water supply monitoring programme.
The River Sow passing through beautiful Edenvale.
The Clonroche, Davidstown, South Regional Supply Scheme and Wexford Town water supply were the supply areas that showed exceedances across 2019 and 2020. Irish Water is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products in the River Sow at Edenvale, Coolree Reservoir and the Owenduff River as well as users in the Clonroche and Davidstown catchment to consider the vulnerability of the water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of this supply to the local homes and businesses in the community.
Pat Duggan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist said: “In Co. Wexford, the exceedance of the drinking water regulations for MCPA, Bentazone, Glyphosate, 2,4-D, Metaldehyde and Triclopyr was dedicated in four drinking water supplies. There were seven detections in 2019 and nine in 2020 across those water supply areas. While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels seen do not represent a threat to public health, it is however undesirable and therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”
WexfordLocal.com 