Ratoath BMX Club First Race Nov 27th

Hope everyone is getting ready for our big day, the first race on our new BMX track is lining up to be a spectacular event.

In an effort to try and make this event run as smooth as possible and help us, help you on the day, since it is all very new to the Club and its members, I have a few pointers to help those participating on the day.

1. Registration is between 9am and 10:30am, it is early but we have limited light and the numbers of riders is going to top the 150 mark judging by the interest level. No registrations are allowed after this time. You can also register online here before the race on Sunday.
2. After the rider receives his/her frame number plate and Practice pass you need to take your bike to scrutiny area where bike and helmet check is performed, if you have gloves or knee/elbow pads please bring them. When you pass you will receive a Pass sticker.
3. Practice will be in two groups A&B Over 13s first practice and Under 13s second practice. Practice will run for approximately 30 mins to 1 hour in total.
4. Announcer will call ‘Name Check Printed’. This means you must go to the Moto Boards area beside the Pens to check a) Your Name is correct b)Number is correct c) Age group/Class is correct. If they are not correct go back to registration.
5. After this, Announcer will call ‘Moto Sheets Printed’. You must go to Moto Boards again and find your Age Group/Class, find your name and write down on your hand or on the frame sticker the three sets of numbers beside your name e.g. from below Matthew Campbell would write down 4:7, 13:4 and 22:2 which means he is in race 4 lane 7, race 13 lane 4 and race 22 lane 2. This is very important.

6. When racing begins go to pens and search for your correct Pen with your race number on it for your first race and line up. You will be guided in and guided out of these pens to ensure you are in the correct one.
7. You will then watch the Race number flip chart so you know when your race is getting close.
8. The same process applies for Semi final and Finals races.

Please ensure you have your membership card or Sticker and your Cycling Ireland License if you have one.

Note:  Parking is very limited at the track and there could be many spectators, Can I ask all local Ratoath members to leave their cars at home and cycle down or drop the kids off and walk down to the track. I don’t want to cause any congestion in the village on our first event.

Please enjoy yourself , take your litter home and watch some spectacular Racing from our local kids and from our UK visitors including current UK number 1 and many time world Champion Kelvin Batey.

Doherty supports call to rename River Boyne bridge in honour of President McAleese

Taoiseach’s support will be sought this week

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has lent her support to the campaign to have the River Boyne Bridge renamed in honour of Mary McAleese, to mark the major achievements of her Pesidency. The proposal has been put forward by Fine Gael Louth Senator Jim D’Acy.

“I think this is a wonderful idea, which would serve as a fitting tribute to the incredible work carried out by Mary McAleese during her fourteen years as Pesident. The theme of her presidency was ‘Building Bridges’, and while at the time of her inauguration this may have seem a little lofty, she surpassed all expectations of what could be achieved within the limitations of the Pesidential office. 

“Mary McAleese immediately set about improving relations throughout this island when, at the end of her first month in office, she took communion at a Church of Ireland service in Christchurch. As a committed Catholic, this was a significant indication of how she intended to conduct her Presidency. 

“This small act was followed by countless others which help to gradually build on fragile foundations and greatly enhance the normalisation of relations between the Republic and the North. Mary McAleese visited the North on 138 occasions, constantly and diligently constructing the bridges she vowed to build. 

“Her efforts culminated with the visit of Queen Elizabeth earlier this year, when a country looked on in awe and wonder at how far we have all come. I agree with Senator D’Arcy that Mary McAleese’s achievements should be recognised and I think the renaming of the Boyne Bridge – a state-of-the-art monument of our modernity – would be a fitting commemoration. 

“As a female politician I would also welcome the prospect of having a major monumental civic structure named after a woman. I will be raising this issue in the Dáil this week in a bid to gain the Taoiseach’s support for the idea. In the meantime I would urge other members of the Oireachtas to lend their voice to this worthwhile and positive initiative.”

Ratoath Chamber Christmas Festival Festival kicks off on December 4th

Less then 2 weeks to go until Ratoath's Christmas Festival Festival kicks off on December 4th! 

There are only a few stalls left so if you haven't booked yours yet please do so NOW to avoid dissapoinment. We are delighted to bring this winter wonderland to the Village and are super excited about everything that will be taking place at the "Nollaigh Shona I Rath Tó" - 

There will be a magical array of stalls with all sorts of goodies and gifts! A petting farm, story telling, Santa & many other activities for the kids! Entertainment & live music will be happening on the main stage and we are delighted to have Shade of Light singing their Christmas Charity Single which is due for official chart release this Friday! International caricaturist Matt Ryder will be there on the day giving you the chance to have your festive faces done! As well as all this adding to our own local talents who will be out in full force for the event, we will officially be switching on the Christmas Tree of Ratoath 

There is so much more happening on the day for both children & adults and it is fantastic to have all our local businesses and community groups come together and join in the festive spirit....this is one not to miss!

Surgery at Navan hospital to resume - The Irish Times - Monday, November 21, 2011

FIONA GARTLAND - Irish Times

OUR LADY'S HOSPITAL: GENERAL SURGERY services at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan are to be reinstated from today.

Surgery was stopped at the hospital in September 2010 after concerns about outcomes for some patients.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) had said at the time that six cases had resulted in poor clinical outcomes. It was also concerned that there were low volumes of certain types of surgery at the hospital.

Locals marched in protest at the cessation of surgery. A subsequent review, published last July, recommended the return of some surgical services to the hospital.

Last week, management of the Louth Meath Hospital Group met senior staff and heads of departments at the hospital to advise them of plans for the reintroduction of general surgical services to the hospital, the HSE said.

Staff were told minor and intermediate general elective surgery would resume today.

Staff were also told a chronic pain service would be introduced at the hospital from next January and that a regional rheumatology service was planned from next September.

This would include an additional consultant post and a musculoskeletal physiotherapist.

Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty welcomed the reopening of general surgical services at the hospital.

“It’s a great relief to receive confirmation from the HSE that surgical services are returning to Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.”

Ms Doherty also said the planned chronic pain service would save patients in the area from having to travel to Dublin.

New Fund invests €2million in five high-growth Irish companies to create 92 jobs – Bruton

Minister announces first investments under AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today (Monday) announced the first five investments by the AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund, managed by ACT Venture Capital and established early in the term of this Government as part of the banking recapitalisation mandate. 92 jobs will be created in the coming 12 months in five high-growth Irish companies in key sectors as part of the investment. The companies in which the Fund has made investments of €2million include:

·        Storyful.com, the online media company established by RTE journalist Mark Little
·        Online gaming software development company Swerve, 
·        Award-winning financial services software company Barracuda FX
·        UCD-based medical diagnostics company Biosensia

The Fund contains a total of €22million, of which €20million was contributed by AIB in the context of the bank recapitalisation mandate, and €2million was contributed by Enterprise Ireland. It is one of four specialist Seed Capital Funds, totalling €124million, formed as part of the bank mandate. Investment is by way of an equity stake in the company by the Fund.

The investments made by the new Fund will focus on developing high-growth, export-oriented companies in emerging sectors such as Digital Media, Internet, Software, CleanTech and Medical Devices. The €2million invested by the Fund as part of today’s announcement comes as part of total fundraising of €5million by the five companies.

Making the announcement today, Minister Bruton said:

“If we are to turn this country around and create a new economy which can support the levels of employment we need, central to that will be dynamic Irish companies. That is why a key part of the Government’s jobs plan is to target policies at sectors where Irish companies have the capacity to break into export markets and grow quickly to create jobs. ICT, financial services and life sciences are sectors where Ireland has a long record of success in attracting multinational companies, but the challenge now is to convert that into success also for Irish companies.

“Today’s announcement is evidence that this plan is starting to succeed. This Fund is one of a series of measures the Government is putting in place to ensure that these companies have access to credit at all stages of their development. My aim is that, with the right policies in place, companies like these can succeed, grow, and create the large numbers of jobs we so badly need”.

John Flynn, Managing Director of ACT Venture Capital, said the Fund had experienced a very high level of activity in its first six months of operation and that he expects the current investment pace to continue. ‘This helps to position Ireland as one of Europe’s most active locations for seed funding and will create a strong pipeline of expansion companies and funding opportunities over the coming years’, said Mr Flynn who added that ‘ACT is particularly keen to partner with entrepreneurs where we can exploit our international network to help them expand’. 

Brendan O'Connor, Head Of Commercial Banking, AIB Bank said: 
“The Fund is an important element of AIB’s seed capital capability and the Bank now has facilitated the creation of €75m in funding making it the largest seed capital provider in the country. With today’s announcement, it means AIB is facilitating, on average, one new investment per month in equity capital for fast growth and high potential Irish owned businesses, supporting the creation of new jobs across the country’. 

Nominate Now for the Diverse Ireland Awards 2011

Nominate Now ... Nominate the person or entity you think has made a significant contribution to Integration. Anyone may make a nomination and you may nominate for as many categories as you wish. To make your nomination click here.. The categories are Politician, Local Authority, School, Journalist, Individual, Support Service, Sporting Organisation, The Arts/Cultural Organisation, Multinational, & SME Business. The deadline for nominations is 5pm, Friday 2nd December. The Diverse Ireland Awards 2011  Mercantile, Dame St, Dublin 2  14th December, 3-5pm MC: Izabella Chudzicka, Entrepreneur, & TV Presenter Awards presented by: Ray Shah - DJ; Emma Waldron, Miss Ireland 2010; and others..

New Opinion Poll Shows Significant Support for Pro-Life Position

Over two thirds of Irish people want to see the right to life of the unborn child protected in law, according to a new poll commissioned by the Pro Life Campaign and launched at a press conference in Dublin yesterday. The poll was conducted by Millward Brown Lansdowne on a national random sample of 984 adults. 

Respondents were asked: “Are you in favour or opposed to constitutional protection for the unborn that prohibits abortion but allows the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother's life, in accordance with Irish medical ethics?”

61 per cent favoured constitutional protection for the unborn child, with 17 per cent opposed. Twenty two per cent didn't know or had no opinion.

The survey also asked about the issue of protection for human embryos.

59 per cent favoured the Government legislating to protect the human embryo, 16 per cent were opposed and 26 per cent did not know or had no opinion. 

Read more about the poll findings here

Doherty Addresses the Neonatal experts on World Premature Awareness Day

from left Ms Silke Mader, Chairwoman of the Executive Board;Dr Jan Franta, Neonatal Sub Committee of the Faculty of Paediatrics, RCPI (author of the Irish EFCNI Benchmarking Report) ;Regina Doherty TD, Member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children;Dr John Murphy, Clinical Lead of the HSE Neonatology Programme; Ms Mandy Daly, Parent and Family Liaison Manager, Irish Premature Babies ;.Pic:Maxwells 

Deputy Regina Doherty today (Thursday 17^th November) addressed members of Irish Premature Babies along with the Neonatal Sub Committee and the European Foundation of the Newborn Infants (EFCNI). Doherty spoke on the growing issue of prematurity in Ireland and the need for a National Neonatal health care programme at the Royal College of Physicians on Nassau St.  

Deputy Doherty was contacted by the Premature Babies group to address the launch of the Irish Chapter of the European Foundation of the Newborn Infants today, World Premature Awareness Day. This group aims to promote policy on Neonatal care in Ireland as well as promoting supports for parents of those infants born prematurely. The event which was sponsored by Abbott Laboratories was chaired by Dr. John Murphy, National Clinical lead for neonatology in Ireland and marks a milestone in the life of the Irish Premature Babies.

Deputy Doherty says “I was flattered to be asked to address this meeting on such an important and often overlooked issue. Over 4500 babies are born pre-term in Ireland and of that studies show nearly 500 will pass away. Although this is a huge number, it is not for the lack of the fantastic care which is done by the neonatologists in the 19 maternity units throughout Ireland.”

“I was shocked and dismayed when I contacted the HSE and was informed that in Ireland we do not have a Neonatal Healthcare policy. We have superb health care professionals in all our maternity hospitals, providing the best practice in neonatal care, but it is fragmented with significant disparities across the country; hospitals are working in isolation. The establishment of a national neonatal health care programme governing all aspects of neonatal health in Ireland is essential.”

“Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly assured me that he is aware of these issues and the need for them to be addressed. The HSE is currently working to identify areas of specific and projected needs in paediatrics nationally to ensure the best class of care in Paediatric services going forward and have provided additional funding to support this.”  

“As a member of the Joint Committee of Health and Children I will not let this issue fall by the wayside and will work to make sure that the development of such policy stays on the political agenda.”

Reforming, reshaping and refocusing the public sector will mean better service delivery

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty has said the public service reform measures outlined by the Government today (Thursday) will ensure a more streamlined and efficient public service that is better equipped to deliver improved services. 

“From day one, this Government has led the charge when it comes to political reform in ensuring that change starts at the top. The pay of the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Ministers has been reduced, Ministerial ‘mercs and preks’ have been eradicated, new pay ceilings have been introduced for senior public servants and legislation has been published to reduce public sector pensions. 

“Today, the Government took the reform agenda one step further by committing to reduce public sector numbers, axing quangos and State bodies, drawing a line under decentralisation and cutting back on excessive annual leave entitlements for the public sector. 

“The Public Service Reform Plan contains almost 70 recommendations and 200 cost saving and efficiency producing actions. These include the sharing of services in the areas of HR, payroll and pensions, to streamline operations and remove duplicate activities. 

“Public service numbers are to be radically scaled back, with a reduction, through natural wastage, of 23,500 posts by 2015. At that point, public service numbers will have fallen by some 37,500, or 12%, since 2008, reducing our pay bill by over €2.5 billion. This will result in a leaner and more efficient public service that is capable of delivering more with less. 

“The number of State bodies and quangos is also set to be reduced with the rationalisation of 48 bodies by the end of 2012, and a review of a further 46 bodies planned by the end of June next year.  To ensure that the number of State bodies never again balloons as it did under the previous administration, a ‘sunset clause’ is to be contained in State body legislation ensuring that the body will cease to exist after a predetermined date unless its mandate has been specifically renewed. 

“A line has also been drawn under what is often considered the most ill-judged and badly planned ideas of the last government: decentralisation. And annual leave allowances have been standardised, with the abolition of historically based local leave arrangements such as festival and race days for staff. This will lead to greater uniformity of terms and conditions and will enhance the fluid movement of staff between different sectors and organisations. 

“A lack of political leadership has acted as a barrier to the delivery of an efficient public service for too long. Public servants have been trapped in a system that has stifled their productivity and frustrated their development. These reform measures will make for a more slimmed down and fitter public sector that is able to realise its true potential in delivering for all citizens.” 

Decentralisation another failed and costly Fianna Fáil legacy

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has said that the decentralisation programme, which has been scrapped by the Government today, is yet another failed and costly legacy that we have Fianna Fáil to thank for.

“As part of major reform plans outlined today that will cut red tape, eliminate waste and create a more modernised, integrated and efficient public service, the Government has announced that it’s scrapping one of the most misguided policies pursued by any Government in recent years: decentralisation.

“Decentralisation is yet another example Fianna Fáil waste that this Government has been left to clean up. Let’s be clear here; it was never a good idea. It was a poorly thought out strategy lacking in long term planning that came as a bolt out of the blue when it was first introduced in 2003. Eight years on and the scheme is in a complete shambles.

“The two previous Fianna Fáil governments utterly failed to follow through on this policy. And unsurprisingly, it has led to a scandalous amount of waste. The 2009 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General found that €290 million euro was spent on property under the decentralisation programme, with €7 million being incurred on leases. The report also notes that €44 million was spent on 12 sites where decentralisation is not being progressed.

“Today the Government is taking a decision that should have been taken years ago: decentralisation is being cancelled. Forty projects, where no permanent accommodation or staff are in place are being completely scrapped. Some 32 projects will remain in place, while a further 22 will be reviewed.

“In almost every constituency in the country over priced sites were bought and lavish offices were built for this ill judged and dubious policy. Workers were subjected to unnecessary upheaval in a haphazard manner. And in many cases where decentralised offices are in operation, staff take up was hugely below predictions, leading to waste and inefficiency.

“I am glad that decentralisation has finally been halted. It should never have been allowed to begin in the first place.”