Many students upon completing a degree have found it simply impossible to gain any meaningful employment. They therefore make the difficult decision to return to college and undertake a challenging postgraduate course either to increase their employment prospects in their original course of study or to branch out and diversify in the hopes of then securing employment in a different field. Similarly many people who have been made redundant return to education to upskill. It is absolutely unconscionable to cut all the supports available to such people when they are seeking to further their prospects and the prospects of their families.

The grant in its current form allows those who are undertaking a postgraduate to apply for grant aid which is then assessed on their income for the previous year. There are various levels of grant aid available dependent on the level of income. This grant can be worth in excess of €6,000 in certain instances. If the media reports are indeed true we will move from this level of support to a situation where the government will provide absolutely no support for postgraduate students.

This is particularly galling for students given the fact that our current Education Minister, Minister Quinn had signed a pledge prior to the election which stated that if he was elected he would not cut the student grant or increase fees. This promise was a corner stone of his, and of Fine Gael and Labour’s election campaign. Too many election promises have been broken. The time has come for Minister Quinn to stand by his pre-election promise to all students.

It is my belief, and it has been stated time and time again, that in order to move forward from our current economic difficulties we need a highly educated, skilled and diverse work force. We need a knowledge based economy to develop and grow as a nation. Despite this the current government are planning on making access to education increasingly more difficult. If the supports for postgraduate courses are cut we will find ourselves in a situation whereby postgraduate courses are only available to those who are well off.

I am joining with the USI in standing against any cuts to the student grant scheme. I have sought clarification from Minister Quinn on this issue and I look forward to his response.

                                                                                           - Michael Lowry

REPLY.

I am committed to ensuring that acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. In particular I want to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller, local hospitals. I have also made it clear that patient safety must be the overriding priority. I want patients to be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, and efficient and as near to home as possible.  However, ongoing reform of the system will require some changes in how care is delivered in some locations across our health system.

I am conscious of the Deputy’s concern in relation to the retention of services at the hospitals in the Mid West Region that he refers to in advance of the next rotation of Non-Consultant Hospitals Doctors (NCHDs).  The position is, however, that the shortage of suitable NCHDs is an issue in many European countries.  In this context I am working with the HSE and other stakeholders to ensure the filling of as many as possible of some 475 NCHD posts which are due to be filled from 11th July 2011. The HSE conducted an extensive recruitment drive in India and Pakistan in recent months and succeeded in identifying 439 potential candidates for NCHD positions in Ireland.  I have held meetings involving my Department, the Medical Council, medical training bodies and the HSE with a view to identifying measures to facilitate the appointment of suitably-qualified doctors from abroad.  Drafting of a Bill to amend the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007, to enable the Medical Council to register doctors in supervised posts for a defined period, is being finalised.

The HSE is focusing on addressing particular staffing issues in a number of hospitals including in the Mid West Region particularly Limerick Regional given that it provides the regional 24 hour seven day week ED service.  The HSE has assured me that this service will continue to be provided.

Notwithstanding this, it is unlikely that all NCHD vacancies nationally can be filled by 11th July. Hospital management are working with Clinical Directors in a planned way to devise contingency arrangements which can be implemented, if required, to ensure that any resulting impact on services is minimised and that safe delivery of hospital services is assured.

These figures reflect the increased anxiety, uncertainty and distress that many people are facing on a daily basis.

Behind these figures lie real stories of families and individuals affected by unemployment. On a daily basis these individuals face hardship and struggle to make ends meet and all through no fault of their own. This news that unemployment is still on the increase, is devastating for them and for our economy. 

Many of our young people are forced to emigrate to gain meaningful employment. This is causing real distress to countless families. In addition as a result of this we are losing some of our brightest talents and most educated and innovative minds. We cannot recover while such a brain drain continues.

The figures for North Tipperary and Offaly County are similarly weak. In the last month unemployment in North Tipperary has risen by approximately a further 200 people with the figures in Offaly rising on a similar gradient. The live register has risen in both Nenagh and Thurles and is down by only a slight margin in Roscrea. The past few months had seen minor decreases in these figures but they have now jumped to the highest level this year.

These figures are simply devastating and that is without taking into account the ravaging effects emigration has had on our country. Countless of our young people have been forced to leave our shores in the hopes of securing work and employment and progressing their careers. I have particularly seen its effects across our constituency with heartbroken parent left behind. Emigration is a serious national problem that requires specific, dedicated and co-coordinated attention at a national level.

We need to establish conditions that enable employers not only to sustain the jobs already in existence but to encourage growth and the creation of new jobs. As I predicted before the election there will be no quick fix to this problem. There is no easy remedy for the panacea of problems we face. This problem requires a national effort to allow us to move forward.

The recently renovated Thurles Swimming Pool currently has a hoist that caters to those who are wheelchair bound but unfortunately it is not adequate for those with more significant physical impairment, such as stroke victims, the elderly, and those with substantial physical disabilities. The Lowry team is therefore committed to raising the €40,000 that is approximated as being required to extend the state of the art facilities at Thurles Swimming Pool to include a state of the art hoist that can be used by all. Also included in the plans is a specialist changing area for people with disabilities, new toilets and showering area and minor alterations to increase accessibility.  

However in order to make this project become a reality a considerable sum must be raised. Councillor Nevin has called on people of all ages to get involved and to partake in the Moyne Mini-Marathon to help with this cause.

“We are calling on people of all ages to join with us to help raise funds for this worthwhile cause. We have already received unbelievable support at this early stage. Both myself and a team of supporters will be undertaking to walk or run the Moyne Mini Marathon on the 6^th of June in aid of this project. A group of 70 students from the Ursuline Convent, Thurles have also agreed to partake in this event to raise funds for the new hoist. Anybody who wishes to get involved should contact Michael Lowry’s constituency office on (0504)22022 for entry forms and sponsorship cards or to give a donation. By giving just a few hours of your time over the bank holiday weekend we can make a huge difference.” 

“The current facilities at Thurles Swimming Pool are at an incredibly high standard and I commend all those involved in renovating the pool. It has been a huge asset to our community. We are now seeking to ensure that everyone in our community is free to enjoy and share this incredible facility on our doorstep. Swimming is known to be a huge benefit to those suffering with a physical disability. It is both therapeutic and has huge health benefits. It is a great source of exercise and physiotherapy. We have had expert advice from Ms. Kate Ryan an occupational therapist who has advised us on the many benefits of swimming and the best way to alter the pools current facilities to increase accessibility.”  

“I’d like to thank all those who have so far been instrumental in driving the project to the stage it is currently at. We literally would not have gotten this far without the help and expertise of countless people, from occupational therapists, to the pool manager and staff to architects and beyond.”

Deputy Lowry added

“This is a very exciting and worthwhile project and one that I am delighted to be involved in. This service will be a huge benefit to the people of Thurles and the surrounding areas. A new hoist and changing facilities will make our pool accessible to all. I would like to commend all those lending their expertise to this project, most especially Councillor Nevin for her continued dedication to our community, and specifically to those with special needs.”

“The importance of such a hoist cannot be underestimated and I am delighted to confirm that project is processing quickly and work is due to commence this weekend”.

Announcement of the shortlist for the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Programme 

24 of Ireland’s premier business leaders have been shortlisted for the coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award 2011.  A record 140 nominations were received for this year’s awards. Speaking at the announcement of this year’s shortlist, Frank O’Keeffe, Ernst & Young Partner-in-Charge of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Programme spoke of the unprecedented level of interest for this year’s awards and acknowledged the unique contribution made by Ireland’s entrepreneurial community.

“As Ireland continues on the path to economic recovery, we need to look towards the future and celebrate our entrepreneurs and their businesses. The record number of nominations received this year is a testament to the resilience and ambition of these exceptional individuals and the teams supporting them. The entrepreneurial business community continues to prove that businesses in Ireland can and do still succeed in extremely challenging business conditions, both domestically and globally. The unyielding ambition and drive demonstrated by these finalists should inspire us all and will be vital to help ensure the next generation of economic success across the island”.

Padraig O’Ceidigh, Chairman of Aer Arann and winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® award in 2002, is once-again Chair of the 11-strong panel of judges.

The 24 businesses that have made it to the final stages have a combined turnover close to €600 million and employ a staggering 11,000 individuals. Eight companies have been selected in each of three categories – Emerging; Industry; and International – representing a diverse array of business sectors ranging from insurance, food production, engineering to online services. Winners from each of these three categories, in addition to the recipient of the overall Entrepreneur Of The Year® award, will be announced at a televised Gala Awards Ceremony to be held in October.

This year’s finalists will be joined by members of the programme’s extended entrepreneurial community at the annual CEO Retreat, which will take place in India in June. During the week-long trip, participants will engage in a number of workshops and leadership strategy sessions, meet with key Indian industry leaders, and develop a wide network of contacts, all of which will assist the Entrepreneur Of The Year® community to develop and build on their own winning strategies.

The 24 finalists are:

Emerging        
Annadale Technologies – Denis McCarthy
Blue Insurances Ltd/ Multitrip.com- Ciaran Mulligan & Rowan Devereux
Bubblebum UK Ltd - Grainne Kelly
Joule – Ronan Ginnell & Ian Barrett
Crospon – John O’Dea
Crowley Carbon Ltd – Norman Crowley
The Now Factory – Tom Morrisroe
Dublin Aerospace – Conor McCarthy

Industry        
Homecare Independent Living – Mairead Mackle
PFH Technology Group Limited – Paul Hourican
Itsabagel Ltd – Domini & Peaches Kemp
Largo Food Exports – Raymond Coyle
Noonan – John O’Donoghue
Argento - Peter Boyle
Centre For English Studies – Justin Quinn
Version 1 – Justin Keatinge

International        
Openet – Joe Hogan & Niall Norton
Telestack Limited – Adrian McCutcheon
Texthelp Systems Limited – Mark McCusker
MJM Group – Brian McConville
Munster Simms Eng Ltd (Whale Water Systems) – Patrick Hurst
XSP – Brendan Farrell
Intune Networks Ltd – John Dunne
Sammon Contracting Group Ltd – Miceal Sammon

The 24 finalists will be profiled in the Irish Times over the next six weeks, and each finalist will also feature in a four part series to be televised on RTE in September and October.

Brian Conlon, founder and Chief Executive of First Derivatives Plc, was named as the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® and will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards in Monte Carlo later this year, where he will compete for the global title.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® is part of a global recognition programme, to identify, acclaim and support entrepreneurs and is currently run in over 50 countries, across six continents. The Irish programme, now in its 14th year, continues to go from strength-to-strength, championing the spirit of enterprise and creating a new era of opportunities for participants.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme is supported by The Irish Times, RTE, Enterprise Ireland, Invest NI, Intertrade Ireland and Newstalk.

This follows a controversial statement made last week by the Master of the High Court, Mr. Ed Honohan, who stated that he has personally seen many cases where borrowers are driven to taking their own lives due to the pressure of huge debt on their shoulders.

Our courts system is failing those who are saddled with debt.

It is quite clear that the Bankruptcy Act of 1988 is simply inadequate in tacking the intricacies and difficulties of modern bankruptcy. Our courts system provides no reprieve and no way out for those struggling with rising debts. Instead of being guided and helped they are being punished. They are branded as a debtor for life. This is different from other legal systems which allow for some level of debt forgiveness once the debtor co-operates and fully discloses the extent of his debts and any remaining assets. In our system all the power is in the hands of the lender. It is time to provide some support to those in debt.

In fact the Law Reform Commission has already undertaken the lion’s share of the investigative work on this issue and has proposed some valuable reforms and steps to equalize our system. Proposals include preventative measures to address personal indebtedness at an early stage and interventions to resolve debt problems in an efficient way. It also tackles the need to bring debt enforcement processes into line with international best standards and questions the utility of imprisonment as a means of enforcement.

While I welcome the announcement by the Government that they intend to introduce interim measures to help struggling borrowers and mortgage holders it must be said that the time for promises is past. Both An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter have strongly affirmed their dedication to change, yet neither could provide any substantive information as to the form this change might take. Now is a time for action and for concrete legislation to be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

 This was a key election promise made by both Labour and Fine Gael and now the time has come to make this promise a reality.

 It is an unacceptable fact that many Dairies are selling milk at prices which are unsustainable for Irish farmers, failing to recognize the increased costs of production. In addition the importation of milk from other countries is threatening the very viability of the domestic milk market.

 I believe these continued price wars are literally driving dairy famers out of business. The IFA have stated this week that milk producers need a minimum annualized price of 38c/l + VAT simply to make a modest wage and cover costs. I am calling on dairies and supermarkets to recognize dairy producers as producers of a specialized, quality, food product and to desist from their reckless pricing practices.

 The continuing deterioration in the Irish situation is highlighted by the fact that last week in the UK, Tesco agreed to pay an additional 1.6 c/l.

 Individuals who are made redundant from their positions, where the company cannot pay redundancy, are entitled to apply to the Department to recoup this payment so long as they meet certain prescribed criteria.

 However there is an excessive delay in processing such applications.

I frequently meet with constituents who are waiting months upon months for their redundancy claims to be processed. This causes huge financial strain not to mention stress and anxiety. We are talking about families and individuals who have suffered the upset of losing their jobs and through no fault of their own are now left with absolutely no income.

Due to the huge backlog in the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation it can take up to six months for an application to be processed. During this time the application is faced with mortgages, loan repayments, mounting bills and day to day expenses.

 I believe that urgent steps need to be taken to alleviate this backlog to ease the financial strain caused to families.

 Earlier this month, the Offaly County Coroner Dr. Brian Mahon, while appearing at an inquest, flagged the urgent need for action to be taken to tackle the growing number of suicides.  This was followed by subsequent reports in the media which stated that the rates of suicide for Old Age Pensioners are on the increase.

 At the time I welcomed the suicide prevention measures set out in Budget 2011 but I believe that a coordinated and consistent emphasis on this topic must be fully resourced.

 The recent Budget provided an additional funding to the Office for Suicide Prevention.  This will assist to enable the Office build on its awareness initiatives and bring momentum and new impetus to its activities.  I also welcome the fact that in order to further the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’, the exemption from the moratorium on recruitment was lifted to allow 100 psychiatric posts to be filled by nurses or therapists. 

 Every community has had to face the terrible blow that is a suicide. Everyone either directly or indirectly has experienced the sense of loss, pain and anguish following an untimely death. The prevalence of suicide is a major concern for our society.

 For this reason I am seeking to ensure funding for suicide prevention remains in the forefront of the incoming Government policy. It is essential that they respect the proposals and plans set out in ‘A Vision for Change’. This report has, in practice, made a huge number of improvements to psychiatric care across the county. It is my intention to continue to put pressure on the Government in order to ensure that this most important issue remains on the agenda.