It was great to attend the official opening of a new all-weather pitch in Marlay Park , on Wednesday last, alongside the manager of the Republic of Ireland national soccer team, Martin O’Neill and local colleagues Cllr. Lettie McCarthy and Cathaoirleach Carrie Smyth.
We have come a long way since the defeat of Dr Noel Bowne’s Mother and Child Scheme in 1951. Our health services are immeasurably better than they were in the past despite enormous pressures, especially since the economic collapse of 2008.
I warmly welcome the awarding of €206,900 by the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn to seven primary schools in Dublin South. This will enable the schools to establish book rental schemes.
Alex White T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health has welcomed Government approval today of the text of the Health (General Practitioners Service) Bill 2014 and the Cabinet’s agreement that the Bill should be published and introduced to the Oireachtas.
Alex White TD, Grainne Kelliher (CEO of Airfield) and Grainne Millar (Director of Innovation & Development)
I was delighted to attend the official re-opening of Airfield farm after three years of extensive refurbishment and development.
I welcome the €211,000 funding awarded to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council and the €123,000 awarded to South Dublin County Council as part of the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014.
National Convention Centre
April 2nd 2014
Introduction
I would like to thank Pat Harvey, Executive Chairman of the Alcohol Forum for inviting me back to your annual conference to deliver the opening address. The work that the Alcohol Forum does in raising awareness of the damage caused by the abuse of alcohol is of vital importance in changing our attitudes and reducing our levels of harmful drinking. It was an honour to attend and open last year’s conference and I’m delighted to begin proceedings again today. As you’re all aware, this year’s conference is entitled, ‘Alcohol Harm to Others: When Their Drinking Becomes Your Problem’.
As many of you know my constituency office is now based in Churchtown, in what is the old office of the late Seamus Brennan who worked as a TD for many years in our constituency. On Monday we replaced Seamus’ sign with mine and I was delighted that Shay Brennan, my old electoral competitor from the 2009 by-election was there to collect his father’s sign.
I want to commend Minister Ruairí Quinn for securing Cabinet approval for drafting of the Admissions to Schools Bill.
I warmly welcome the announcement by The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., that seven schools in Dublin South will be able to undertake school improvements this summer.
Seven local schools will receive money to improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This first round of funding will allow these schools to carry out small and medium scale building works across three categories of projects - Gas, Electrical & Mechanical.
