Articles in the General News Category

Comment The tentative beginnings of a return to social and economic activity signalled by the first phase of the Government’s recovery roadmap to take the country out of the virtual lockdown situation imposed by Covid-19 has brought with it a distinct agitation for the pace of progress to be quickened. Different sectors of business unhappy with their place in the recovery queue have been engaged in intense lobbying and various forms of friendly and not-sofriendly persuasion to try to get closer to the starting line. And some members of our caretaker ...

In the following opinion piece, local socialist political activist Paddy Grenham takes aim at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and questions their past and present policy approaches to some of the urgent issues confronting Irish society: Evidence abounds as to the true level of stupidity, greed and hypocrisy among our two main political parties: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. At least they had been our two main political parties since 1927 until the last General Election when Sinn Féin pushed FG into third place on seats and came out ahead ...

A new campaign to assist and encourage the public in taking the actions necessary to ensure that the Government roadmap for the reopening of services and activities restricted because of Covid-19 control measures has been launched by the HSE. A media release stated: “The first phase of the Government Road Map for reopening services and activities was enacted on Monday May 18. Our progress through phases 1-5 will be very much informed by how we continue to adhere to public health guidelines. “The HSE has recently launched a new campaign ...

“It is now the time to put your green fingers to the test and try to grow some of your own food,” was the message to potential horticulturalists in Co Monaghan this week from electricity suppliers Energia and social enterprise GIY. Energia and GIY are combining to give away 1,000 home grow boxes with a total of €45,000 in a new “Get Ireland Growing” initiative. The goal is to “help power a more sustainable future”, according to the organisations. A media release adds: “As well as the herb and vegetable ...

Monaghan County Council was allocated €62,247 under the Covid19 Emergency Fund to provide grants to groups that are participating in the Local Authority led Community Call effort in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The majority of the funding was ring-fenced for grants of €1,000 or less with priority given to organisations that incurred costs on direct delivery of frontline services in the county. A total of 49 applications were received by the deadline and those were assessed with offer under a letter of offer that issued to 40 of the ...

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith has said that any extension of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment should address the fact that those over 66 who were still working weren’t eligible for it. Deputy Smith said: “I have repeatedly raised with the Minister for Social Protection and Employment Affairs Regina Doherty the need for those who are over 66 to be eligible for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment should they meet the other qualifying criteria. “I have encountered…

Sinn Féin Deputy for Cavan Monaghan Matt Carthy has questioned the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, on the steps they have taken to ensure that the re-opening of all sectors will happen in tandem on an all- Ireland basis. In a written reply, Minister Humphreys told him: “The government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The Roadmap sets out ...

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge shock in most people’s lives as we all have had to adjust to very changed realities over recent months. As in any crisis, there are those that are more adversely affected due to their personal circumstances at that time. It is hard to believe that in Ireland in 2020 there are families in danger of going hungry. However, that is the case in some households due to the Covid 19 crisis. Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) is responding to ...

Michael Fisher EirGrid’s annual report for 2019 was published this month. It showed the company had profit before tax of €96 million This is up from €65.8m in 2018, mainly as a result of lower than anticipated costs relating to new DS3 (delivering a secure, sustainable electricity system) services arrangements. The underlying profit was €22.3 million last year, an increase of 19%. The company also confirmed a dividend of €4 million would be paid to the Exchequer in the second quarter of this year, the same amount as the previous ...

Last week saw Pascal Smith Educational officer for Monaghan Education and Training Centre copy over 975 packs of curriculum and wellbeing sheets as well as contacts for parenting support and youth supports in the County. Local Educational welfare officer Maria Kiernan from the Tusla Educational Support Service had identified a gap in support for families without access to online learning and through the CYPSC learning and development group had approached the Director of Monaghan Education Centre, David Mc Cague for support with this issue who submitted an application to the ...