Articles in the Headline Category

Heather Humphreys, MinisterHeather Humphreys, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and TD for Cavan/Monaghan, has encouraged SMEs based in Co Monaghan to apply for the Government’s new €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme. The Scheme was launched for applications yesterday by Minister Humphreys in company with Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. Speaking to the Northern Standard followingfor Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and TD for Cavan/Monaghan, has encouraged SMEs based in Co Monaghan to apply ...

Michael Fisher The Irish Farmers’ Association leadership has again stressed it will not become involved in negotiating with EirGrid over the construction of pylons for the controversial North South electricity interconnector, unless specifically asked to do so by a individual or group of farmers. Following a meeting between the IFA President and the County Monaghan Anti Pylon Committee at the recent IFA AGM in Monaghan, representatives from the campaign had a further meeting with the IFA leadership at the Association’s headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday evening. The CMAPC Chairman Donal ...

• Senator Gallagher calls on Government to act on contracts issue Some 64% of GP practices across the country were closing their doors to new patients – with all GP practices in Monaghan Town and Carrickmacross already closed to new clients. This was stated by Fianna Fáil Senator for Cavan/Monaghan Robbie Gallagher this week. Senator Gallagher cited a survey in last weekend’s Sunday Business Post which he said “revealed that surgeries everywhere are overwhelmed by existing demand and unable to take on new patients.” “The snapshot survey of 104 GP practices, ...

TAOISEACH SAYS NOTHING IS AGREED UNTIL EVERYTHING IS AGREED Michael Fisher The European Union and the UK have issued the first draft for an agreement on British withdrawal from the EU. Many of the details remain to be worked out. The document also provides a draft framework for a ‘backstop’ to preserve the current soft border arrangements between the Republic and Northern Ireland in the event of no other solutions being put forward by the British side to avoid a hard border. The UK’s Brexit Secretary David Davis and the EU’s ...

Strong connections of potential value to Co Monaghan business were forged during a trade mission to Austin and San Francisco in the United States over the St Patrick’s Day holiday period, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD told the Northern Standard upon her return from the trip this week. Minister Humphreys described the trade mission, on which she was joined by officials of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the Dept of Foreign Affairs, as “very productive”. “It was a valuable opportunity to sell Ireland, and Irish businesses, ...

Michael Fisher EirGrid has spent over €1.06 million in indirect costs for the North South interconnector. The Northern Standard can reveal exclusively that this total has been spent on items such as advertising and sponsorship in local media. The company also produced publications and other items for the planning application submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2015, some of which had to be translated into Irish. The figures were revealed by EirGrid following a series of Freedom of Information requests. The total cost of publishing (including printing and packaging) the ...

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin Dáil Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, the first Sinn Féin TD to take his seat in Leinster House following his election in 1997, has announced his decision to stand down from his elected role at the conclusion of the current Dáil term. Deputy Ó Caoláin made the announcement when he addressed party activists at a function in Cootehill’s Errigal Hotel last night (Wednesday). In attendance was the…

By Veronica Corr Yesterday, as this newspaper went to press, our reporter spoke to Frank Hayes, Spokesperson for Kerry Group, who confirmed that the planned 31 redundancies would go ahead at the Kerry Foods plant in Carrickmacross today, Thursday. Mr. Hayes commented yesterday (Wednesday): “There has been no breakthrough, I’m afraid. We had moved substantially in terms of clarifying the package and allowing a number of voluntary redundancies, as far as we could, given the needs of the business. “I’m afraid there hasn’t been any agreement. There has been no ...

By PATSY McARDLE A MAJOR rumpus has developed in Carrickmacross this week over concerns aired by tenants seeking inclusion in the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme involving Monaghan County Council in respect of an attractive housing development at Lough Na Glack. The row has led to claims that the Council’s stance in relation to the South Monaghan scheme— which is managed by Drumgoan Developments Limited—might be termed as “discriminatory”. According to a spokesman for the developers…

Strongly Resolved to Block Access to Land for Overhead Line… But EirGrid Insist Construction Will Begin by End of Year Michael Fisher As EirGrid push forward with plans to begin work on the North South interconnector later this year, around 100 landowners in Co. Monaghan expressed their determination at a public meeting in Aughnamullen on Monday night to oppose the construction of the overhead high voltage line and pylons. For the first time, the county representatives of the Irish Farmers Association were formally invited to attend a meeting of the County Monaghan ...