Unions should not mislead over graduate nurse positions

Starting salaries for nurses in UK are very similar

Fine Gael Meath East Deputy, Regina Doherty, has today (Friday) said that union bosses should not mislead the public over the 1,000 positions being made available for graduate nurses. Deputy Doherty was speaking following comments made by the Chief Executive of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Liam Doran.

“It is not helpful for union bosses to make misleading statements about the nature of this scheme, which will give 1,000 graduate nurses an opportunity to start a full time job. The HSE is not sacking nurses to take them on; it currently employs about 35,000 nurses, and after these new graduates are recruited it will employ 36,000 nurses.

“There has been a lot of commentary about the pay grades of the new nurses, which will work out at about €25,000 a year. If we take a look at our closest neighbours, it is clear this pay scale is not out of kilter. In the NHS, starting salaries for nurses range from roughly £18,600 to £21,100; or about €22,400 to €25,500.

“So in other words, the starting salaries for these graduate positions are very similar to pay scales on offer in the UK. The main difference is the UK is not relying on money from the EU/IMF to run the country.

“Of course I would prefer if we were in a position to take on nurses on higher salaries. But that will only be possible in the future if we get our finances under control, and the reality is huge savings still need to be made in our public service. In the health service alone, we need to save more than €700 million this year.

“Through this scheme, graduate nurses who would otherwise have gone abroad will now be in a position to apply for full time work here at home. At a time when our public services must work under severely reduced budgets, the recruitment of 1,000 extra staff is quite significant. I would urge any graduates thinking about applying for these new jobs not to be put off by comments from Liam Doran and his counterparts.”

Health Committee to hold three days of hearings this week

The Committee on Health and Children will hold three days of public hearings on 8^th, 9^th and 10^th January 2013 on the Implementation of the Government Decision following the publication of the Expert Group Report into matters relating to A, B, C, vs Ireland.
The purpose of the meetings, which will be held in the Seanad Chamber, will be to gather information which will be of assistance to Government in the drafting of the Heads of Bill following its decision.

The Committee will hear contributions from experienced medical practitioners, legal experts, representatives of churches and religious groups and from advocacy groups. It is intended that the hearings will help to determine what issues need to be addressed in the Heads of Bill and draft regulations.

The groups attending the public hearings are:

Tuesday 8th January - Seanad Eireann (Medical Hearings)

Session 1: @ 9.30 - 11.30
Department of Health
Irish Medical Council

Session 2: @ 11.45 - 13.45
Dr. Rhona Mahony, Master, National Maternity Hospital,
Dr. Sam Coulter Smyth, Master Rotunda Hospital,
Dr. Mary McCaffrey. Kerry Hospital, Tralee.

Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.45
Dr. Anthony McCarthy,
Dr. Joanne Fenton,
Dr. John Sheehan (all College of Psychiatry Ireland)
Prof. Patricia Casey (Dept. of Adult Psychiatry, UCD & Mater Misercordiae University Hospital)
Prof. Veronica O'Kane (Dept. of Psychiatry, Tallaght Hospital)

Session 4: @ 17:00 - 19.00
Irish Family Planning Association (Mr. Niall Behan CEO)
Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (Prof. Robert F Harrison, Chairman, Dr. Meabh Ni Bhuinneain, Prof. Fionnuala McAuliffe)
Maternal Death Inquiry Ireland (Prof. Richard Greene)

Wednesday 9th January - Seanad Eireann (Legal Hearings)

Session 1: @ 9.30 - 11.30
Ms. Jeniffer Schweppe (University of Limerick)
Ms. Ciara Staunton (NUI Galway)
Dr. Simon Mills (Law Library)


Session 2: @ 11.45 - 13.45
Bar Council of Ireland
Irish Council of Civil Liberties (Mr. Mark Kelly)

Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.15
Professor William Binchy (Trinity College Dublin)
Hon. Judge Catherine McGuiness (retired)

Thursday 10th January - Seanad Eireann (Churches & Advocacy Groups)

Session 1: @ 9.30-11.30
Irish Catholic Bishops Conference
Church of Ireland
Presbyterian Church of Ireland
Methodist Church of Ireland
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland

Session 2: @ 11.45- 13.45
Pro Life Campaign (Ms. Caroline Simons; Dr. Berry Kiely)
Youth Defence (Dr. Eoghan de Faoite; Dr. Sean O'Domhnaill)
Family & life (Mr. Patrick Carr, Mr. David Manley)
Iona Institute (Ms. Breda O'Brien)

Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.45
Choice Ireland (Ms. Sinead Ahern)
National Womens Council of Ireland (Ms. Orla O'Connor, Director)
Action on X

All hearings will be in public session and will be broadcast live on the internet at www.oireachtas.ie and on the Oireachtas channel 207 on the UPC cable network.

At the conclusion of the meetings the Committee will furnish a report to Government summarising the contributions received during the consultative process.

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The Government has decided that it will proceed to address the issues raised in the ABC judgement with legislation and regulations. It has requested that the Committee assists in the gathering of information to be considered in the drafting of the Heads of Bill.

“Our meetings next week will provide an opportunity for Committee members to listen and engage with a wide range of groups, including medical and legal experts as well as advocacy groups and Churches.

“The Committee’s hearings will be conducted in a balanced, fair and calm manner focussing on the issues which need to be considered in drafting the legislation and regulations. While we recognise that many people have divergent and deep-held views on the issues involved, we expect that the meetings will be held in a manner that is respectful and tolerant.

“We would hope to be able to report to the Government by the end of the month on the information we gather from our meetings.”

Dublin to hold annual science festival from 2013 as part of City of Science legacy – Minister Bruton, Minister Sherlock

Over 600,000 people took part in science events across the country during Dublin City of Science 2012

A three-day science “Festival of Curiosity”will be held in Dublin in July 2013, aimed at rivalling international science festivals such as Cheltenham and New York, as part of the legacy of the enormously successful Dublin City of Science 2012, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, together with the Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, announced today.

The festival will build on the success of City of Science 2012 in promoting Ireland’s scientific achievements and encouraging people of all ages to follow their scientific curiosity, through a combination of cultural events, a ‘Curiosity Carnival’, public conferences and lectures from high-profile international speakers. The Festival of Curiosity will also host innovative workshops through an artist in residency programme where science teachers, scientists and members of the public will join forces to create a curious Dublin by collaborating on new ways of engaging people with science.

The festival will be supported by Dublin City Council, Matheson, the RDS and Science Foundation Ireland.
The announcement comes as the Ministers marked the end of the hugely successful Dublin City of Science 2012 which saw over 600,000 people take part in a celebration of science with over 160 events and activities that crossed the worlds of art and culture to entertain the public and bring science to life. The highlight of the year was the international Euroscience Open Forum 2012 (ESOF) event in July where 4,500 delegates and 400 international journalists from over 70 countries descended on the Convention Centre Dublin over five days to hear 600 speakers, 27 keynote speakers and five Nobel Laureates.

Making the announcement, Minister Bruton said:
“As a country we have a long history of scientific achievement over a number of centuries, and in the past decade we have built on that heritage with dramatic improvements in publicly-funded research. We sometimes forget about these major scientific achievements by Irish people over the years, but Dublin City of Science was remarkably successful in promoting this heritage and capturing the public imagination. This summer we showed the global scientific and business community that we truly are a centre of scientific excellence and I am determined to ensure that we build on this legacy.

“The numbers speak for themselves, and I, along with Minister Sherlock, would like to commend Forfás, the former Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Patrick Cunningham and the entire team for their hard work and success. Thanks are also due to our partners and supporters, particularly the EU Commission and Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn.

“It is of course crucial that we build on this success and continue to find ways of promoting our scientific heritage and engaging people in science. That is why we are announcing today the establishment of an annual festival of science in Dublin, starting with a three-day event in July 2013, with ambitions to rival the best science festivals in the world. My Department and its agencies will continue to provide strong support for this hugely important initiative as we seek to engage people with science, build our scientific capability and reputation, and ultimately help support the jobs we need”.

Minister Sherlock said:
“ESOF exceeded all expectations in stimulating and provoking public interest, excitement and debate in science and all related disciplines. All of this was greatly complemented by the Dublin City of Science 2012 initiative, which had a remarkable impact in terms of raising science awareness through the many events held all over the country. I am glad that we have partners on board now to build on the legacy of ESOF and Dublin City of Science by embarking on the ‘Festival of Curiosity’due to be held in Dublin in July 2013 – this will help the overall effort to keep science firmly in the public consciousness”, said Minister Sherlock.

Ministers Bruton and Sherlock were joined in closing the year-long science event by Prof. Luke O’Neill, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin and Chairman of the ESOF2012 Programme Committee, Arlene O’Neill, ESOF 2012 ambassador and PhD researcher at CRANN and Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive of Forfás, who supported the organisation of ESOF and Dublin City of Science 2012.

Martin D. Shanahan commented “2012 has been a significant year for Ireland and science. Dublin City of Science and ESOF 2012 firmly put the spotlight of the international science community on us and we rose to the challenge. Forfás is delighted to have played a central role in the organisation and planning of what has been a hugely successful initiative for the country. We are in an excellent position to build on this success to ensure that science, technology and innovation policy further delivers growth and jobs for Ireland.”
Key events during the year included:

· The St Patrick’s Day Festival Parade in March where participants brought the science theme to life based on questions posed by children.

· The Dublin Mini Maker Faire brought together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, scientists, students and authors of all ages and backgrounds to showcase their work.

· The three month Awakening Curiosity programme at The Ark in Dublin stimulated the curiosity of children in scientific discovery, art and biodiversity and the venue reached record audience figures during the summer.

· Zoo in My Garden was a hugely popular theatre performance that brought some of the animals in the Natural History Museum back to life. The show was a collaboration between Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, the National Museum of Ireland Natural History’s Education Department and Theatre Director Denis Conway of Ouroboros Theatre.

· The week-long science and arts festival CuriousCity took place in Cork in June and Accelerating Science, CERN’s flagship travelling exhibition visited Galway in September.

Report on vaccine damage needs to be taken off the shelf and implemented

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) called for a 2009 Steering Group report on vaccinations, which dealt with the issue of a compensation scheme for vaccine damage, to be taken off the shelf and implemented. Deputy Doherty was speaking after officials from the Department of Health appeared before the Oireachtas Health Committee.

“Speaking before the Oireachtas Health Committee today, Dr Kevin Kelliher from the Department of Health, who contributed to a 2001 report on the issue, said that a vaccine damage scheme should be an essential part of any State immunisation programme. And yet, despite this, the Department of Health has failed to make any significant progress on the implementation of such a scheme.

“In 2009, the Vaccine Damage Steering Group, convened by the Department of Health, published a report on vaccine damage compensation. It recommended that payments should range from €15,000 to €200,000 for those damaged by vaccines. It also said the State has a responsibility to look sympathetically at the very rare cases in which children suffer serious adverse reactions in State vaccine schemes.

“However, at today’s Health Committee, Department of Health officials displayed a complete lack of urgency on dealing with this issue. It is completely unacceptable that three years after the Steering Group report was published, no action has been taken.

“Vaccinations serve as an important plank of our public health system. By their very nature, vaccines are designed to help prevent a range of diseases. However, they are not without their risks, and it is well documented that a small minority of children have been affected by adverse reactions to State vaccination programmes. They should be compensated appropriately.

“This issue does not appear to be very high up the Department of Health’s priority list. We need action on two fronts; first, the recommendations from the 2009 Steering Group report must be implemented. And secondly, the State must ensure that a vaccine damage scheme is part and parcel of any further State vaccination programmes.”

Planning Notice – Part 8 - Planning and Development Act 2000 – 2012 / Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2012

Planning Notice – Part 8

Meath County Council

Planning and Development Act 2000 – 2012.

Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2012.

In accordance with the above regulations Meath County Council proposes to carry out development along the R135 within Ashbourne town centre. The development will consist of Phase 1 of a total of two phases of development. The works will commence north of Dunnes Stores and will cease south of theCastle StreetandBridge Streetjunction and will have a total length of circa 500 metres.

The development will consist of the following:



Phase 1 – Town centre improvements to include public lighting, footpaths, cycle ways, pedestrian crossings, upgrade to carriage way and provision of parking bays. The works will commence at Dunnes Stores to the north of the town centre along the R135 and continue southwards to a location circa 75 metres south of theCastle Street andBridge Street junction. Works will also include the replacement of overhead ESB cables with underground cables and the decommissioning of sections of the existing watermain and replacement of these with a HDPE watermain. Surface water improvements will be linked into existing networks which outfall to theBroadmeadowRiver.

The development has been the subject of an Appropriate Assessment screening in accordance with Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and the Planning and Development Acts 2000- 2012.

The plans and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection for purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during office hours at the offices of the Local Authority:

(a) Meath County Council, Planning Department, Abbey Mall,Abbey Road, Navan.

(b) Ashbourne Library,1-2 Killegland SquareUpper,Killegland Street, Ashbourne.

from 17^th December, 2012 until the 06^th February, 2013.

Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, may be made in writing to the Local Authority : Meath County Council, Planning Department, Abbey Mall, Abbey Road, Navan, Co. Meath or emailed to planning@meathcoco.ie on or before 4pm on 20^th February, 2013.

Doherty welcomes Lottery funding for Daughters of Charity

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has welcomed Lottery funding for the Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service, which will be used for outings for children living in the asylum seekers centre in Mosney, Co. Meath.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has confirmed that €2,000 in Lottery Grant Funding is being provided.

“The Daughters of Charity Child and Family Service provide invaluable supports to families in Dublin and across the North East region, working in collaboration with the Health Service Executive.

“Minister Fitzgerald has confirmed that €2,000 is being made available as part of Lottery funding.

“This money will be directly provided to bring children living in Mosney on outings; something that is beyond the means of their parents. Children in the asylum process are at the fringes of our society, and this small grant should go a long way in improving the quality of their lives.”

Epilepsy medications should not be substituted by generic drugs

Speaking in the Dáil today (Monday) during the Second Stage Debate on the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012, Meath East TD and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Regina Doherty, called for epilepsy medications to be excluded from generic substitution. Deputy Doherty is supporting the amendment to the Bill being proposed by Brainwave, the Irish Epilepsy Association.

“This legislation is one of a number of Government initiatives aimed at driving down the State’s medicines costs. A three year deal with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association will deliver up to €400 million in savings. Generic substitution and reference pricing is expected to deliver a further €50 million in savings, by allowing pharmacists to prescribe cheaper generic drugs instead of more expensive branded medicines.

“Reform and innovation in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry is very welcome. However, we must consider how these changes can affect the needs of patients with particular conditions. Epilepsy is one such condition that is simply not compatible with generic substitution.

“Professor Norman Delanty, Director of the Epilepsy Programme in Beaumont Hospital, has said that anti-epilepsy medications can’t be substituted with generic drugs without having a profound effect on the well-being of the patient. Doses of epilepsy medications are concentrated carefully for each individual patient, to ensure good control of seizures. Any variation to the dosage could disturb the balance and result in an otherwise avoidable seizure, even if the active ingredient of the drug is not changed.

“In my view, the treatment of epilepsy is too delicate a science to include in generic substitution. The push to exclude anti-epilepsy drugs from this Bill is supported by the entire epilepsy community and the healthcare professionals that treat them. Many other countries, including the UK, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic do not allow for the generic substitution of epilepsy drugs.

“I am hugely supportive of the contents of this Bill, the significant healthcare reforms it will bring about and the considerable savings it will realise for the Exchequer. But I do hope this exclusion for epilepsy drugs can be seriously considered. The impact on the patient must remain the central concern of every healthcare reform we introduce.”

Doherty welcomes Property Tax waiver for pyrite homes

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Friday) welcomed confirmation that pyrite homes will be granted a waiver from the Local Property Tax. The issue is to be addressed in the context of the Finance Bill by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD.

“I am hugely relieved that a wavier will be granted to people living in homes affected by pyrite, ensuring they won’t have to pay a property tax on homes that are essentially worthless. I expressed concerns last week when the Finance Bill was published, as it did not contain any specific reference to pyrite properties. I suggested that waivers should be granted. The issue has been raised with the Minister for Finance, who has agreed with this approach.

“People living in homes affected by pyrite have been through an awful couple of years. They took out huge mortgages to buy properties either as family homes or sound investments. What they have been left with are properties that are in many cases uninhabitable. Being forced to pay the property tax would have been another blow for these families; thankfully common sense has prevailed.

“I would like to commend Minister Noonan and the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, for their action on this matter.

“There is a long road ahead for pyrite householders. Progress needs to be made on a resolution process set out in the report from the Pyrite Panel, as published by Minister Hogan earlier this year. Action has not been as swift as I would like on the testing and categorisation of homes; a process which is essential before remediation works can be commenced.

“I welcome the commitment from Minister Hogan that he will do what is necessary to ensure responsible stakeholders provide effective solutions for affected homeowners. I will continue to raise this issue with Government to make sure the voices of pyrite householders continue to be represented.”

Ratoath Cardiac First Response will recycle your old Christmas

Ratoath Cardiac First Response will recycle your old Christmas tree after Christmas

All you have to do is purchase a tag, attach it to your old Christmas tree and leave it out for collection on the 12th of January

They'll collect and shred it for you

Tags are available from 6 local outlets in Ratoath (Centra, Spar, Homeword, The Cottage Garden, Maguiures Christmas tree farm and Brady's Garage Fairyhouse road)

Make sure your area is covered, check the information on the website or in store for details

See www.ratoathCFR.ie for full details