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September 3rd2010

Gormley running scared from Environment Committee says senator

John Gormley

John Gormley

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley’s refusal to attend a meeting of the Environment Committee to discuss the Report on Severe Weather Events shows that he is “running scared from the Report’s finding and that he is completely unwilling to take responsibility for his portfolio” according to Cork Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer.

“Back in July the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage & Local Government made the decision to invite Minister Gormley to its next meeting, scheduled to take place on 21st September to discuss the Committee’s Fourth Report on Severe Weather Events. This week the Committee has been informed that the Minister has declined its invitation.

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September 3rd2010

31 jobs at Cork firm

Batt O'Keeffe

Batt O'Keeffe

MINSTER for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe has  announced 31 new jobs under an expansion plan by a firm that designs aluminium window and door systems.

Minister O’Keeffe announced the jobs at the opening of a new €8 million aluminium extrusion plant in Architectural and Metal Systems (AMS) based in Little Island, Co Cork. The plant is the first of its kind in Ireland.

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September 3rd2010

Parents and children left in limbo by gap in legislation

Deirdre Clune

Deirdre Clune

A LACK of appropriate legislation governing the payment of court maintenance orders are leaving lone parents and their children in limbo according to Deputy Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central who says the new legislation addressing this matter needs to be implemented immediately.

“Many parents have contacted my office expressing a concern for the fact that have been granted maintenance payment through the court system and now the person who is due to pay the maintenance is ignoring that court order.

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September 3rd2010

Classroom sizes tell a sad story

School Bus

School Bus

LABOUR Party Senator, Michael McCarthy has described as very worrying the news that almost 22 per cent of primary school children in west Cork are in classes with over 30 pupils.

Senator McCarthy said, “The fact that over a fifth of all primary school children in West Cork are in classes of over 30 pupils highlights the damaging impact that cutbacks are having in our primary schools. The latest figures show that 1,482 primary school children are in classes with 30 to 34 pupils while a further 322 are in classes with 35 to 39 pupils.

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September 3rd2010

Minister accused of ignoring live register figures

Dole queue in Cork

Dole queue in Cork

“WHY  is  Billy Kelleher more worried about Fine Gael than Ireland’s record dole queues?”

That’s what Fine Gael Innovation Spokeswoman Deirdre Clune TD was wondering after she said “the  junior  Enterprise  Minister  ignored  the unemployment  crisis  and launched a baseless attack on the main Opposition party.

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