Shopping in Meath: Pets take care of your pets -

Shopping in Meath: Pets take care of your pets -: "Pets take care of your pets"

Pets take care of your pets -

Pets take care of your pets

General Election 2011 Results Our Boys Come Home -

Shopping in Meath has been supporting two canditates in Meath over the past number of Months, Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein and Dominic Hannigan Labour and our boys have not let us down. We salute our local heros and say goodbye to corrupt Fianna Fail.

FINE GAEL: 59




Seán Barrett (DL); Tom Barry (CorkE); Pat Breen (CE); Richard Bruton (DubNC); Ray Butler (MW); Joe Carey (CE); Paudie Coffey (WD); Aine Collins(CNW); Noel Coonan (TN); Michael Creed (CNW); Lucinda Creighton (DubSE); Jim Daly (CorkSW); John Deasy (WD); Jimmy Deenihan (KNWL); Regina Doherty (ME); Paschal Donohoe (DubC); Bernard Durkan (KN); Damien English (MW); Alan Farrell (DubN); Frank Feighan (RosSL); Frances Fitzgerald (DubMW); Terence Flanagan (DubNE); Brian Hayes (DubSW); Tom Hayes (TS); Martin Heydon (KS); Derek Keating (DubMW); Paul Kehoe (Wx); Enda Kenny (MO); Anthony Lawlor (KN); Peter Matthews (DubS); Shane McEntee (ME); Dinny McGinley (DonSW); Joe McHugh (DonNE); Olivia Mitchell (DubS); Eoghan Murphy (DubSE); Denis Naughten (RosSL); Dan Neville (LIM); Michael Noonan (LimC); Kieran O'Donnell (LimC); Patrick O'Donovan (Lim); Fergus O'Dowd (Lth); John Perry (SNthL); James Reilly (DubN); Michael Ring (Mo); Alan Shatter (DubS); David Stanton (CorkE); Liam Twomey (Wx); Leo Varadkar (DubW).



OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:

Noel Harrington (Cork South West)

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo North Leitrim)

John O'Mahony (Mayo)

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo)

Nicky McFadden (Longford Westmeath)

James Bannon (Longford Westmeath)

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central)

Sean Conlan (Cavan Monaghan)

Heather Humphries (Cavan Monaghan)

Joe O'Reilly (Cavan Monaghan)

Dara Murphy (Cork North Central)



LABOUR: 31



Tommy Broughan (DubNE); Joan Burton (DubW); Eric Byrne (DubSC); Joe Costello (DubC); Robert Dowds (DubMW); Eamon Gilmore (DL); Dominic Hannigan (ME); Brendan Howlin (Wx); Kevin Humphreys (DubSE); Alan Kelly (TN); John Lyons (DubNW); Michael McNamara (CE); Eamonn Maloney (DubSW); Aodhán O'Riordáin (DubNC); Jan O'Sullivan (LimC); Willie Penrose (LDWM); Ruairi Quinn (DubSE); Pat Rabbitte (DubSW); Brendan Ryan (DubN); Seán Sherlock (CorkE); Roisin Shortall (DubNE); Arthur Spring (KNWL); Emmett Stagg (KN); Joanna Tuffy (DubMW); Jack Wall (KS); Alex White (DubS).





OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West)

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central)

Sean Kenny (Dublin North East)**

Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central)

Ciara Conway (Waterford)



INDEPENDENTS: 11



Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (RosSL); Seamus Healy (TS); Michael Lowry (TN); Finian McGrath (DubNC); Mattie McGrath (TS); Catherine Murphy (KN); Maureen O'Sullivan (DubC); Thomas Pringle (DonSW); Shane Ross (DubS); Mick Wallace (Wx).



OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:

John Halligan (Waterford)



FIANNA FAIL: 14



John Browne (Wx); Niall Collins (Lim); Timmy Dooley (CE); Seamus Kirk (Lth); Brian Lenihan (DubW); Charlie McConalogue (DonNE); Micheál Martin (CorkSC); Michael Moynihan (CorkNW); Seán O'Fearghaíl (KS); Willie O'Dea (LimC).



OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:

Dara Calleary (Mayo)

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central)

Robert Troy (Longford Westmeath)

Brendan Smith (Cavan Monaghan)



SINN FEIN: 13



Gerry Adams (Lth); Seán Crowe (DubSW); Pearse Doherty (DonSW); Dessie Ellis (DubNW); Martin Ferris (KNWL); Pádraig MacLochlainn (DonNE); Mary Lou McDonald (DubC); Sandra McLellan (CorkE); Caoimhghin O'Caoláin (CavM); Jonathan O'Brien (CorkNC); Peadar Tobin (MW)



SOCIALIST PARTY: 3



Clare Daly (DubN); Joe Higgins (DubW).



OVERNIGHT ADDITION:

Joan Collins, People Before Profit (Dublin south Central)

Election Meath Results 2011 Local Hero Hannigan -

Fine Gael’s Shane McEntee, running-mate Regina Doherty and Labour’s Dominic Hannigan have emerged as the front-runners in the race for three-seat constituency Meath East.




A partial recount of individual candidates’ votes means that the first count will not take place until close to 7pm.



An all-party tally shows that Fianna Fáil are virtually certain to lose their two seats in the constituency.



Final tallies put Labour’s Dominic Hannigan – who ran unsuccessfully in 2007 but was subsequently elected to the Senate – at 21 per cent, with Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty and Shane McEntee each holding 20 per cent of first preference votes.



Fianna Fáil’s Thomas Byrne has 13 per cent of first preference votes, with running-mate Nick Killian at 6.5 per cent. Fianna Fáil's Mary Wallace topped the poll in 2007, but is not contesting this election.



Tallies suggest that none of the nine candidates may reach the quota on the first count.

Election Result Election 2011 -

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams seems assured of winning a Dáil seat and is likely to top the poll in Louth, with tally figures from two-thirds of the ballot-boxes in the constituency now available.



Out of a total 191 boxes, figures from the all-party tally are now available for 125 boxes from throughout the constituency.

Percentages for the parties, based on the tally figures, are as follows: Fine Gael 32.04; Sinn Féin 21.12; Labour 18.49; Fianna Fáil 16.66; Independents/Others 7.60; Green Party 4.09.


Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are all running two candidates each but Mr Adams is the sole Sinn Féin contender. The official first count result is not expected until about 8pm this evening.


Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd is expected to top the poll with Mr Adams in second place. The third and fourth seats will be fought over by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.

Election Results 2011 Meath -

What Ordinary People are saying:

"I am finding all the talk about elections tiring, but I guess as a mature student and someone who wants to see our country back on its feet I need to cast my vote in a way which will bring best advantage to my community and to my country. I have studied the CV of all the politicians who are running in Meath and I have found both Peadar Toibin and Dominic Hannigan my best pick to date".

Ashbourne KILLING 10 years Jail -

A nephew of one of Dublin's most notorious criminals has been given a 10-year jail sentence for killing a Meath man and causing serious harm to another, over three years ago on St. Stephen's day.



Derek "Del Boy" Hutch, Chapel Farm Avenue, Lusk will serve six years in prison for the manslaughter of 23-year-old Barry Maguire.



Four years of the sentence have been suspended.



Hutch, a nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the young carpenter in the early hours of December 26th, 2007, at Milltown Estate in Ashbourne.

Peadar Toibin General Election Meath -

What Ordinary People are saying:

"I am finding all the talk about elections tiring, but I guess as a mature student and someone who wants to see our country back on its feet I need to cast my vote in a way which will bring best advantage to my community and to my country. I have studied the CV of all the politicians who are running in Meath and I have found both Peadar Toibin and Dominic Hannigan my best pick to date".

Peadar Toibin Put The Fight Back into Politics -

Peadar Toibin

MeathGAA -

MeathGAA: Ar son Coiste na Mí fearaim fáilte romhat go suíomh gréasáin C.L.G. na Mí. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh tú taitneamh as an méid atá anseo agus go bhfuil sé soiléir agus faisnéiesneach.

Whether this is your first visit to this site or indeed your first exposure to Gaelic Games or whether you are one of our loyal supporters, you are most welcome to this, the official website of the Meath County Committee of the Gaelic Athletic Association.



The GAA in Meath has a long and proud tradition and I hope that during your visit with us you will get some taste of our history and most importantly, get full information on the huge range of current activities within the county relating to Gaelic Football and Hurling.



Bernard Ó hAilin


Cathaoirleach

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Put The Fight Back into Politics -

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Put The Fight Back into Politics -: "Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party he..."

Peadar Toibin Put The Fight Back into Politics -

Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party heard speeches from candidates Councillor Peadar Tóibin, Michael Gallagher and Gerry Adams in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel.





Addressing the packed hall, Councillor Tóibin said “Our plan is simple – make those responsible for the mess pay. The Government and Fine Gael intend to slash health services, education and welfare with no clear job creation strategy. I say make the banks pay. The banks took a gamble, they lost. The debt is bank debt, not Irish debt, not your debt. Secondly, lets cut the salaries of politicians. We propose to cut Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We will also stop this nonsense of politicians being able to retire at 55 years old.





“Political reform is essential. One of the simplest political reforms is do not vote Fianna Fáil. We need to start voting on the basis of skill, hard work and the intellect of the candidate. If we had done this, we would not be in the mess we are today, with gombeen politicians. If you want change in Meath West it has to be a vote for Sinn Féin. All recent opinion polls show that we are the only party capable of taking a seat off Fianna Fáil. In Meath West Sinn Féin is polling at over twice the rate of Labour. I appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to prevent Fianna Fáil getting in the back door.





“My record is there for all to see. Save Navan Hospital, Meath Schools Campaign, Anti-Head Shops Campaign, Economic Development Strategy and Community Policing Committee – Sinn Féin has given leadership and organisation to all these campaigns. We have also ensured people power in these campaigns. The hospital campaign brought 10,000 people onto the streets of Navan. We work with community groups, residents associations and community fora. All of this helps to take power of the political elite and give it back to the people. I offer new ideas, new politics and real leadership.”





Meath East candidate Michael Gallagher highlighted Fianna Fáil and the Green's priorities saying "The vital Slane by-pass which would cost in the region of €100 million is 'not affordable' in Fianna Fáil's eyes, however the same money can be found to pay National Toll Roads for the under use of the M3. Also FF/Green carbon taxes on diesel are having a massive impact on farmers and agricultural contractors.





Meath Schools get approval for upgrades





A number of schools in Meath have been approved for upgrades by the Department of Education. Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has welcomed the upgrade approvals for schools in Navan, Nobber and Slane.





Michael Gallagher said “I have been inform by the Department of Education that approval has been granted for the installation of a fire alarm system in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan; to build a new classroom for St. Patrick’s NS in Slane; and to relocate Prefabs in O’Carloan College, Nobber. While this is welcome news and a sign of some progress, its also fair to say that the continued use of prefabricated classrooms does not lend itself to a ‘smart economy’ strategy. The Government should be building permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms to maximise learning potential and also as part of a job creation strategy, to get our construction sector back to work.”



Meath FF TD's must come clean on sovereignty.



Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has called on the counties Fianna Fáil TDs to support Irish sovereignty and vote against the EU/IMF bailout in the Dáil. Legal action taken by Sinn Féin has forced the Government into announcing that the bail out will require a vote, something they denied was necessary just days ago.





Michael Gallagher said "Fianna Fáil claim the mantle of 'the Republican Party', well lets see Mary Wallace and Thomas Byrne live up to that claim. Let them vote against the EU/IMF bailout and maintain Irish sovereignty. On Wednesday, solicitors acting for Sinn Féin wrote to the Chief State Solicitor demanding that the bailout be voted on in the Dáil in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution. On Thursday the Government announced that a vote was necessary - a complete u-turn on their position only days before. Once again, as in Donegal, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force Fianna Fáil to live up to its democratic responsibility.





"Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden generations of Irish people with debt incurred by speculators who are getting away scot-free. I am calling on all Fianna Fáil TD's to oppose this deal and I remind them of the prophetic words of P.H. Pearse in his poem Mise Éire 'My greatest shame? My own children who sold out their mother'."





Kells Credit Union financial troubles





Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has expressed concern about the financial health of Kells Credit Union. The credit union has failed to hold its AGM in November and has also removed details of its investments from public view in recent weeks.



Meath East representative Michael Gallagher said “For the last number of years Kells Credit Union has held its AGM in November, however this year it has not been held and is deferred into next year. I am concerned that this, coupled with threatening letters sent out to members in recent weeks, is an attempt to buy time to portrait the financial situation better than it actually is to the regulators office. It is also noticeable that information regarding the company’s investments have been removed in recent weeks. It is my understanding that all financial organisations are obliged by law to display this information.





“It has been suggested to me that a sizeable amount was invested by Kells Credit Union via Davy Stockbrokers and that most of this investment is now worthless. If there are financial problems within the Credit Union it is incumbent on the directors to be honest with their shareholders. It is also important to emphasise to shareholders that any shares they have in the credit union are guaranteed up to the value of €100,000. It is also interesting to note that the Financial Regulator gives close scrutiny to credit unions but gives a free hand to the ethically bankrupt Anglo Irish Bank.”

Read more: Kells Credit Union financial troubles



Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting



A delegation of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign met with senior HSE management and the Minister for Health Mary Harney on Wednesday last in Leinster House. The delegation included Chairperson Cllr Peadar Tóibín, Dr Hanley, Dr Maguire, Noeleen O Donaghue and Wayne Forde representing staff and Pat Mullanny representing past patients. All the elected Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath were in attendance as were Deputy English and Deputy McEntee. According to Cllr Tóibín 'we went in with an optimistic frame of mind because we had heard information that the HSE was considering the return of services however we left in pessimistic form'.





'First of all we put it to the HSE that healthcare capacity has been ripped out of Meath and no alternative capacity has been created anywhere else to take up the over flow. That under the present government plans no regional hospital is going to be built and that patient safety is being jeopardised. We delivered figures from the INMO and the Irish Medical Times that show patients waiting on trolleys, a lack of staff and a lack of accreditation at the Drogheda. None of these facts were accepted by the HSE’.





‘We asked simple questions with regards what surgery services will return to Navan Hospital and when. We were told by one member of the HSE team that it is the policy of the HSE that Navan is a fit place for elective surgery, so far so good. We asked when will this policy be implemented, then the barriers came up. We were told that it depended on when certain studies were undertaken, no time scale given here. Then we would have to wait until certain reports could be released, no time scale given. Then it depended on if and when contracts would be signed by certain staff, no timescale given here. Then we were told it would depend on whether or not enough anaesthetists could be employed in January. Another member of the HSE team stated at this point that it could be hard enough to get enough for Drogheda never mind Navan’.







‘At this point that it was clear that all the members of the HSE were not on the same page with regards their own views. They seemed to differ over approach. Suffice to say that every time we suggested a method of overcoming a barrier to return of surgery another two or three barriers were put in our way’.



Read more: Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting



Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil



The most recent Red C poll which was published in the The Sun on Friday has indicated that the continuing surge in support for Sinn Féin throughout the state could see local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Navan, Peadar Tóibín take a seat off Fianna Fáil at the next election. The ground breaking poll put Sinn Féin ahead of Fianna Fáil in terms of first preferences for the first time since the 1920s.





The poll figures which have been extrapolated by academics in NUI Maynooth suggest that Sinn Féin is now the second largest party in Meath West ahead of Fianna Fáil and with nearly three times the vote of the Labour party. Political Analysts have stated that traditional ‘republican’ Fianna Fáil voters are moving to Sinn Féin in increasing numbers. Also traditional working class Labour voters are also switching to Sinn Féin. Indeed 25% of working class voters are selecting Sinn Féin and 25% of 18 to 34 year olds also support the party.





A number of reasons for the surge have included the robust stance Sinn Féin has taken against the IMF/EU bailout and the fact that Sinn Féin has are the only party calling for a structured default of bond holder debt. Cllr Tóibín is also benefiting from the energetic Save Navan Hospital Campaign that he is running in the county. He is also chair of the Meath Schools Campaign which is campaigning for increased Second level capacity in the county and a primary school building programme. Cllr Tóibín has also been to the fore front with the campaign for increased job investment in the county. From an enterprise development background himself he has brought the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to Meath and developed a detailed employment creation plan in an effort to increase the focus on Meath’s jobs shortage.



Read more: Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

Pets -

Take Care of Your Pets

Shopping in Meath: General Election 2011 -

Shopping in Meath: General Election 2011 -: "Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party hea..."

General Election 2011 -

Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party heard speeches from candidates Councillor Peadar Tóibin, Michael Gallagher and Gerry Adams in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel.



Addressing the packed hall, Councillor Tóibin said “Our plan is simple – make those responsible for the mess pay. The Government and Fine Gael intend to slash health services, education and welfare with no clear job creation strategy. I say make the banks pay. The banks took a gamble, they lost. The debt is bank debt, not Irish debt, not your debt. Secondly, lets cut the salaries of politicians. We propose to cut Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We will also stop this nonsense of politicians being able to retire at 55 years old.


“Political reform is essential. One of the simplest political reforms is do not vote Fianna Fáil. We need to start voting on the basis of skill, hard work and the intellect of the candidate. If we had done this, we would not be in the mess we are today, with gombeen politicians. If you want change in Meath West it has to be a vote for Sinn Féin. All recent opinion polls show that we are the only party capable of taking a seat off Fianna Fáil. In Meath West Sinn Féin is polling at over twice the rate of Labour. I appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to prevent Fianna Fáil getting in the back door.


“My record is there for all to see. Save Navan Hospital, Meath Schools Campaign, Anti-Head Shops Campaign, Economic Development Strategy and Community Policing Committee – Sinn Féin has given leadership and organisation to all these campaigns. We have also ensured people power in these campaigns. The hospital campaign brought 10,000 people onto the streets of Navan. We work with community groups, residents associations and community fora. All of this helps to take power of the political elite and give it back to the people. I offer new ideas, new politics and real leadership.”


Meath East candidate Michael Gallagher highlighted Fianna Fáil and the Green's priorities saying "The vital Slane by-pass which would cost in the region of €100 million is 'not affordable' in Fianna Fáil's eyes, however the same money can be found to pay National Toll Roads for the under use of the M3. Also FF/Green carbon taxes on diesel are having a massive impact on farmers and agricultural contractors.


Meath Schools get approval for upgrades


A number of schools in Meath have been approved for upgrades by the Department of Education. Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has welcomed the upgrade approvals for schools in Navan, Nobber and Slane.


Michael Gallagher said “I have been inform by the Department of Education that approval has been granted for the installation of a fire alarm system in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan; to build a new classroom for St. Patrick’s NS in Slane; and to relocate Prefabs in O’Carloan College, Nobber. While this is welcome news and a sign of some progress, its also fair to say that the continued use of prefabricated classrooms does not lend itself to a ‘smart economy’ strategy. The Government should be building permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms to maximise learning potential and also as part of a job creation strategy, to get our construction sector back to work.”

Meath FF TD's must come clean on sovereignty.

Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has called on the counties Fianna Fáil TDs to support Irish sovereignty and vote against the EU/IMF bailout in the Dáil. Legal action taken by Sinn Féin has forced the Government into announcing that the bail out will require a vote, something they denied was necessary just days ago.


Michael Gallagher said "Fianna Fáil claim the mantle of 'the Republican Party', well lets see Mary Wallace and Thomas Byrne live up to that claim. Let them vote against the EU/IMF bailout and maintain Irish sovereignty. On Wednesday, solicitors acting for Sinn Féin wrote to the Chief State Solicitor demanding that the bailout be voted on in the Dáil in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution. On Thursday the Government announced that a vote was necessary - a complete u-turn on their position only days before. Once again, as in Donegal, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force Fianna Fáil to live up to its democratic responsibility.


"Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden generations of Irish people with debt incurred by speculators who are getting away scot-free. I am calling on all Fianna Fáil TD's to oppose this deal and I remind them of the prophetic words of P.H. Pearse in his poem Mise Éire 'My greatest shame? My own children who sold out their mother'."


Kells Credit Union financial troubles


Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has expressed concern about the financial health of Kells Credit Union. The credit union has failed to hold its AGM in November and has also removed details of its investments from public view in recent weeks.

Meath East representative Michael Gallagher said “For the last number of years Kells Credit Union has held its AGM in November, however this year it has not been held and is deferred into next year. I am concerned that this, coupled with threatening letters sent out to members in recent weeks, is an attempt to buy time to portrait the financial situation better than it actually is to the regulators office. It is also noticeable that information regarding the company’s investments have been removed in recent weeks. It is my understanding that all financial organisations are obliged by law to display this information.


“It has been suggested to me that a sizeable amount was invested by Kells Credit Union via Davy Stockbrokers and that most of this investment is now worthless. If there are financial problems within the Credit Union it is incumbent on the directors to be honest with their shareholders. It is also important to emphasise to shareholders that any shares they have in the credit union are guaranteed up to the value of €100,000. It is also interesting to note that the Financial Regulator gives close scrutiny to credit unions but gives a free hand to the ethically bankrupt Anglo Irish Bank.”
Read more: Kells Credit Union financial troubles

Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting

A delegation of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign met with senior HSE management and the Minister for Health Mary Harney on Wednesday last in Leinster House. The delegation included Chairperson Cllr Peadar Tóibín, Dr Hanley, Dr Maguire, Noeleen O Donaghue and Wayne Forde representing staff and Pat Mullanny representing past patients. All the elected Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath were in attendance as were Deputy English and Deputy McEntee. According to Cllr Tóibín 'we went in with an optimistic frame of mind because we had heard information that the HSE was considering the return of services however we left in pessimistic form'.


'First of all we put it to the HSE that healthcare capacity has been ripped out of Meath and no alternative capacity has been created anywhere else to take up the over flow. That under the present government plans no regional hospital is going to be built and that patient safety is being jeopardised. We delivered figures from the INMO and the Irish Medical Times that show patients waiting on trolleys, a lack of staff and a lack of accreditation at the Drogheda. None of these facts were accepted by the HSE’.


‘We asked simple questions with regards what surgery services will return to Navan Hospital and when. We were told by one member of the HSE team that it is the policy of the HSE that Navan is a fit place for elective surgery, so far so good. We asked when will this policy be implemented, then the barriers came up. We were told that it depended on when certain studies were undertaken, no time scale given here. Then we would have to wait until certain reports could be released, no time scale given. Then it depended on if and when contracts would be signed by certain staff, no timescale given here. Then we were told it would depend on whether or not enough anaesthetists could be employed in January. Another member of the HSE team stated at this point that it could be hard enough to get enough for Drogheda never mind Navan’.



‘At this point that it was clear that all the members of the HSE were not on the same page with regards their own views. They seemed to differ over approach. Suffice to say that every time we suggested a method of overcoming a barrier to return of surgery another two or three barriers were put in our way’.

Read more: Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting

Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

The most recent Red C poll which was published in the The Sun on Friday has indicated that the continuing surge in support for Sinn Féin throughout the state could see local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Navan, Peadar Tóibín take a seat off Fianna Fáil at the next election. The ground breaking poll put Sinn Féin ahead of Fianna Fáil in terms of first preferences for the first time since the 1920s.


The poll figures which have been extrapolated by academics in NUI Maynooth suggest that Sinn Féin is now the second largest party in Meath West ahead of Fianna Fáil and with nearly three times the vote of the Labour party. Political Analysts have stated that traditional ‘republican’ Fianna Fáil voters are moving to Sinn Féin in increasing numbers. Also traditional working class Labour voters are also switching to Sinn Féin. Indeed 25% of working class voters are selecting Sinn Féin and 25% of 18 to 34 year olds also support the party.


A number of reasons for the surge have included the robust stance Sinn Féin has taken against the IMF/EU bailout and the fact that Sinn Féin has are the only party calling for a structured default of bond holder debt. Cllr Tóibín is also benefiting from the energetic Save Navan Hospital Campaign that he is running in the county. He is also chair of the Meath Schools Campaign which is campaigning for increased Second level capacity in the county and a primary school building programme. Cllr Tóibín has also been to the fore front with the campaign for increased job investment in the county. From an enterprise development background himself he has brought the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to Meath and developed a detailed employment creation plan in an effort to increase the focus on Meath’s jobs shortage.

Read more: Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

Astrology Your Stars By Mon -

Aries: Over the next few days you will be thinking about a job or career opportunity, this is the time to take action, don’t let it pass you by. The rest of the Zodiac seems tired and withdrawn this week but you have what it takes to grasp this opportunity and stay with it. This week you will both give and receive support, life changes are just around the corner. Listen to those who seek your help this week and you in turn will be listened to. A good week a head, move forward and don’t be held back.




Taurus: Venus is the driving force in your planet cycle; you are going to find that you are being pulled in a different direction this week. You are going to be in contact with different people this week, don’t be afraid to reveal your true self. You have many searching questions inside, let those questions be answered, mix it up a little, try something new. There are always boundaries, just remember where they are, don’t get too carried away, draw back if it all becomes too much. But I think you will be fine.



Gemini: Why have you not sat down and done a plan, you know you need to, I know you hate plans, but look, you’re running round in circles. I know you have so much to do, but surely some of what your doing is simply a distraction from what you know has to be done. You have been deliberately looking through blinkered vision, take the blinkers off and look at what is really going on around you. It is time to dot the i and cross the T, pay attention to detail. This week you will flirt with romance, why not go for it.



Cancer: This week you have been dreaming a lot, you have not been at one with your work and general duties, others are picking up the slack. Time to look at what you have done and what you are doing, pay more attention to your finances, things can get out of hand very quickly. Aries is on top form this week, so why not speak to someone who is in the Aries cycle. Now get up and start making moves in the right direction, you know what you have to do.



Leo: Well relationships have been strained to say the least, you just want to have some time on your own, and the world is not your favourite place right now. You will have to make that space for yourself; it is not going to create itself. Take matters into your own hands; make a determined effort to sort yourself out this week, hiding behind a computer screen is just not working this week, is it. Set a date, make a plan, get that time away, if you don’t, you know the result. Love is not far away, move towards it by sorting yourself out.



Virgo: The world in which younger people live is not one you can always understand, you will have to show great restraint and patience if you want to truly understand what is going on. Over the coming days you will learn more than you think, you will learn that the world does not simply revolve around you. This is positive, not negative; you will have a better understanding of someone close to you. Don’t back of and be defensive, be positive, listen and learn. Good week ahead.


Libra: Why have you allowed someone to get the upper hand, why have you allowed yourself to be taken advantage of? You must stop this cycle before it goes any further, your not a door mat so don’t be treated like one, stand up for yourself. Let them know that you will no longer be used by them or anyone else. As a famous song once said, Break Free, and do it now. You can tell them without becoming abusive, explain it to them in simple terms, let them know how you feel, if they don’t want to listen, then you should be somewhere else in your life.



Scorpio: Not the best week you have ever had you are feeling guilty about the way you spoke to someone close, still it was not all your fault. The damage is minimal and can be repaired, the longer the silences, the more the damage, deal with it, talk it through. This is a good week to share a glass of wine with friends, a good week to catch up with someone you have been neglecting. Let’s shake ourselves out of the rut, stop blaming others and lets get up and go.


Sagittarius: A Mars a day helps you work rest and play, well not this week, Mars is being even more unpredictable than ever at the very time you need certainty. Change is on the way, but can you handle it. I say you can, the signs are there to suggest that you are going to do well in 2010. But it is that close relationship that keeps dragging you down, are you going to make changes or simply sit there and hope everything gets better by itself. They have not always supported you when you needed support, but is that a good enough reason to live the rest of your life in a shadow. Fix it, before it breaks you. You will hug someone this week and you did not expect to be doing that.



Capricorn: There is no exaggerating the struggle Capricorns go through with family and friends. At school, at work, at play, you are as stubborn as a mule, nobody will dictate to you. Particularly family feel they have a right to tell you how to live, well they don’t, you must make your own decisions, but seeking advice is not a sign of weakness. Talk, then walk, ask and seek advice and then take that advice back to your safe place, that place where you can think things through. You’re loved, but you don’t make it easy, do you?


Aquarius: Aquarius shines this week when the zodiac is gloomy, the big bright planet is shinning down on you. You are going to have some luck this week, you won’t get the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but you won’t be disappointed. Someone from your past pops up in the coming days be big enough to share a glass of wine or a cup of tea, you have moved on now. Nothing will happen without your help, so get up and start moving, good things are going to happen in 2010.


Pisces: Well, what’s going on in your life, you appear to have let someone get in your personal space and you’re not happy. You’re an adult; tell them to stand back, back off. Find your own space, step back from this before it goes too far, you know you are going to explode if you don’t find space, so find that space. This can be a good time for you if you simply take control of your life. What have you been doing? How did you let it go this far. Action, plan your time and space, talk with friends, positive and good friends. The next few days are not going to be great, but beyond this shadow there is happiness and prosperity.



Good Luck everyone and may the Stars be with you.

General Election Meath Peadar Toibin -

Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party heard speeches from candidates Councillor Peadar Tóibin, Michael Gallagher and Gerry Adams in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel.






Addressing the packed hall, Councillor Tóibin said “Our plan is simple – make those responsible for the mess pay. The Government and Fine Gael intend to slash health services, education and welfare with no clear job creation strategy. I say make the banks pay. The banks took a gamble, they lost. The debt is bank debt, not Irish debt, not your debt. Secondly, lets cut the salaries of politicians. We propose to cut Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We will also stop this nonsense of politicians being able to retire at 55 years old.







“Political reform is essential. One of the simplest political reforms is do not vote Fianna Fáil. We need to start voting on the basis of skill, hard work and the intellect of the candidate. If we had done this, we would not be in the mess we are today, with gombeen politicians. If you want change in Meath West it has to be a vote for Sinn Féin. All recent opinion polls show that we are the only party capable of taking a seat off Fianna Fáil. In Meath West Sinn Féin is polling at over twice the rate of Labour. I appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to prevent Fianna Fáil getting in the back door.







“My record is there for all to see. Save Navan Hospital, Meath Schools Campaign, Anti-Head Shops Campaign, Economic Development Strategy and Community Policing Committee – Sinn Féin has given leadership and organisation to all these campaigns. We have also ensured people power in these campaigns. The hospital campaign brought 10,000 people onto the streets of Navan. We work with community groups, residents associations and community fora. All of this helps to take power of the political elite and give it back to the people. I offer new ideas, new politics and real leadership.”







Meath East candidate Michael Gallagher highlighted Fianna Fáil and the Green's priorities saying "The vital Slane by-pass which would cost in the region of €100 million is 'not affordable' in Fianna Fáil's eyes, however the same money can be found to pay National Toll Roads for the under use of the M3. Also FF/Green carbon taxes on diesel are having a massive impact on farmers and agricultural contractors.



Meath Schools get approval for upgrades





A number of schools in Meath have been approved for upgrades by the Department of Education. Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has welcomed the upgrade approvals for schools in Navan, Nobber and Slane.





Michael Gallagher said “I have been inform by the Department of Education that approval has been granted for the installation of a fire alarm system in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan; to build a new classroom for St. Patrick’s NS in Slane; and to relocate Prefabs in O’Carloan College, Nobber. While this is welcome news and a sign of some progress, its also fair to say that the continued use of prefabricated classrooms does not lend itself to a ‘smart economy’ strategy. The Government should be building permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms to maximise learning potential and also as part of a job creation strategy, to get our construction sector back to work.”



Meath FF TD's must come clean on sovereignty.



Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has called on the counties Fianna Fáil TDs to support Irish sovereignty and vote against the EU/IMF bailout in the Dáil. Legal action taken by Sinn Féin has forced the Government into announcing that the bail out will require a vote, something they denied was necessary just days ago.



Michael Gallagher said "Fianna Fáil claim the mantle of 'the Republican Party', well lets see Mary Wallace and Thomas Byrne live up to that claim. Let them vote against the EU/IMF bailout and maintain Irish sovereignty. On Wednesday, solicitors acting for Sinn Féin wrote to the Chief State Solicitor demanding that the bailout be voted on in the Dáil in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution. On Thursday the Government announced that a vote was necessary - a complete u-turn on their position only days before. Once again, as in Donegal, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force Fianna Fáil to live up to its democratic responsibility.







"Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden generations of Irish people with debt incurred by speculators who are getting away scot-free. I am calling on all Fianna Fáil TD's to oppose this deal and I remind them of the prophetic words of P.H. Pearse in his poem Mise Éire 'My greatest shame? My own children who sold out their mother'."





Kells Credit Union financial troubles





Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has expressed concern about the financial health of Kells Credit Union. The credit union has failed to hold its AGM in November and has also removed details of its investments from public view in recent weeks.



Meath East representative Michael Gallagher said “For the last number of years Kells Credit Union has held its AGM in November, however this year it has not been held and is deferred into next year. I am concerned that this, coupled with threatening letters sent out to members in recent weeks, is an attempt to buy time to portrait the financial situation better than it actually is to the regulators office. It is also noticeable that information regarding the company’s investments have been removed in recent weeks. It is my understanding that all financial organisations are obliged by law to display this information.



“It has been suggested to me that a sizeable amount was invested by Kells Credit Union via Davy Stockbrokers and that most of this investment is now worthless. If there are financial problems within the Credit Union it is incumbent on the directors to be honest with their shareholders. It is also important to emphasise to shareholders that any shares they have in the credit union are guaranteed up to the value of €100,000. It is also interesting to note that the Financial Regulator gives close scrutiny to credit unions but gives a free hand to the ethically bankrupt Anglo Irish Bank.”





Read more: Kells Credit Union financial troubles





Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting





A delegation of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign met with senior HSE management and the Minister for Health Mary Harney on Wednesday last in Leinster House. The delegation included Chairperson Cllr Peadar Tóibín, Dr Hanley, Dr Maguire, Noeleen O Donaghue and Wayne Forde representing staff and Pat Mullanny representing past patients. All the elected Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath were in attendance as were Deputy English and Deputy McEntee. According to Cllr Tóibín 'we went in with an optimistic frame of mind because we had heard information that the HSE was considering the return of services however we left in pessimistic form'.



'First of all we put it to the HSE that healthcare capacity has been ripped out of Meath and no alternative capacity has been created anywhere else to take up the over flow. That under the present government plans no regional hospital is going to be built and that patient safety is being jeopardised. We delivered figures from the INMO and the Irish Medical Times that show patients waiting on trolleys, a lack of staff and a lack of accreditation at the Drogheda. None of these facts were accepted by the HSE’.



‘We asked simple questions with regards what surgery services will return to Navan Hospital and when. We were told by one member of the HSE team that it is the policy of the HSE that Navan is a fit place for elective surgery, so far so good. We asked when will this policy be implemented, then the barriers came up. We were told that it depended on when certain studies were undertaken, no time scale given here. Then we would have to wait until certain reports could be released, no time scale given. Then it depended on if and when contracts would be signed by certain staff, no timescale given here. Then we were told it would depend on whether or not enough anaesthetists could be employed in January. Another member of the HSE team stated at this point that it could be hard enough to get enough for Drogheda never mind Navan’.





‘At this point that it was clear that all the members of the HSE were not on the same page with regards their own views. They seemed to differ over approach. Suffice to say that every time we suggested a method of overcoming a barrier to return of surgery another two or three barriers were put in our way’.



Read more: Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting



Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil





The most recent Red C poll which was published in the The Sun on Friday has indicated that the continuing surge in support for Sinn Féin throughout the state could see local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Navan, Peadar Tóibín take a seat off Fianna Fáil at the next election. The ground breaking poll put Sinn Féin ahead of Fianna Fáil in terms of first preferences for the first time since the 1920s.







The poll figures which have been extrapolated by academics in NUI Maynooth suggest that Sinn Féin is now the second largest party in Meath West ahead of Fianna Fáil and with nearly three times the vote of the Labour party. Political Analysts have stated that traditional ‘republican’ Fianna Fáil voters are moving to Sinn Féin in increasing numbers. Also traditional working class Labour voters are also switching to Sinn Féin. Indeed 25% of working class voters are selecting Sinn Féin and 25% of 18 to 34 year olds also support the party.



A number of reasons for the surge have included the robust stance Sinn Féin has taken against the IMF/EU bailout and the fact that Sinn Féin has are the only party calling for a structured default of bond holder debt. Cllr Tóibín is also benefiting from the energetic Save Navan Hospital Campaign that he is running in the county. He is also chair of the Meath Schools Campaign which is campaigning for increased Second level capacity in the county and a primary school building programme. Cllr Tóibín has also been to the fore front with the campaign for increased job investment in the county. From an enterprise development background himself he has brought the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to Meath and developed a detailed employment creation plan in an effort to increase the focus on Meath’s jobs shortage.





Read more: Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

McKenna Dead -

THE DEATH has occurred of actor TP McKenna (81), well known for his stage, film and television work, spanning more than half a century, in Ireland and Britain.




Following several years on the stage he began appearing in popular television dramas from the 1960s including Dangerman, Adam Adamant, The Avengers, The Saint, Jason King, The Sweeney. Blakes 7, Doctor Who and Minder . He also had film roles in Ulysses (1967), Straw Dogs (1971), and A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man (1977).



Born in Mullagh, Co Cavan, in 1929, McKenna took a job in Ulster Bank in Granard, Co Longford, straight from school in the late 1940s. He had always intended to become an actor and following a transfer to a Dublin branch of the bank quickly became involved in local amateur drama.



Having fallen behind with his bank exams, he was offered a transfer back to Cavan, which cemented his resolve to take up acting full-time, his son Breffní said yesterday. “He joined the Abbey Theatre in 1954 following the suggestion that he would be sent back to Killeshandra in Cavan. He left the bank and didn’t look back.”



In addition to his work in Irish theatre, he played with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre Company. His West End debut was as Cranly in Stephen D at the St Martin’s Theatre in 1963.



He also directed, with productions of The Playboy of the Western World, The Death and Resurrection of Mr Roache and Shadow of A Gunman to his credit.



He died on Sunday evening in London following a long illness. He is survived by his sons Rafe, Killian, Breffní and Stephen and his daughter Sally.



He will be laid to rest in Mullagh alongside his wife May, who died five years ago.



Breffní McKenna yesterday said his father would be deeply missed and fondly remembered by family and friends. “He was an irascible old bugger, but I loved him.”

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election -

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election -: "Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party hea..."

Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election -

Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party heard speeches from candidates Councillor Peadar Tóibin, Michael Gallagher and Gerry Adams in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel.


Addressing the packed hall, Councillor Tóibin said “Our plan is simple – make those responsible for the mess pay. The Government and Fine Gael intend to slash health services, education and welfare with no clear job creation strategy. I say make the banks pay. The banks took a gamble, they lost. The debt is bank debt, not Irish debt, not your debt. Secondly, lets cut the salaries of politicians. We propose to cut Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We will also stop this nonsense of politicians being able to retire at 55 years old.



“Political reform is essential. One of the simplest political reforms is do not vote Fianna Fáil. We need to start voting on the basis of skill, hard work and the intellect of the candidate. If we had done this, we would not be in the mess we are today, with gombeen politicians. If you want change in Meath West it has to be a vote for Sinn Féin. All recent opinion polls show that we are the only party capable of taking a seat off Fianna Fáil. In Meath West Sinn Féin is polling at over twice the rate of Labour. I appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to prevent Fianna Fáil getting in the back door.



“My record is there for all to see. Save Navan Hospital, Meath Schools Campaign, Anti-Head Shops Campaign, Economic Development Strategy and Community Policing Committee – Sinn Féin has given leadership and organisation to all these campaigns. We have also ensured people power in these campaigns. The hospital campaign brought 10,000 people onto the streets of Navan. We work with community groups, residents associations and community fora. All of this helps to take power of the political elite and give it back to the people. I offer new ideas, new politics and real leadership.”



Meath East candidate Michael Gallagher highlighted Fianna Fáil and the Green's priorities saying "The vital Slane by-pass which would cost in the region of €100 million is 'not affordable' in Fianna Fáil's eyes, however the same money can be found to pay National Toll Roads for the under use of the M3. Also FF/Green carbon taxes on diesel are having a massive impact on farmers and agricultural contractors.

Meath Schools get approval for upgrades


A number of schools in Meath have been approved for upgrades by the Department of Education. Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has welcomed the upgrade approvals for schools in Navan, Nobber and Slane.


Michael Gallagher said “I have been inform by the Department of Education that approval has been granted for the installation of a fire alarm system in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan; to build a new classroom for St. Patrick’s NS in Slane; and to relocate Prefabs in O’Carloan College, Nobber. While this is welcome news and a sign of some progress, its also fair to say that the continued use of prefabricated classrooms does not lend itself to a ‘smart economy’ strategy. The Government should be building permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms to maximise learning potential and also as part of a job creation strategy, to get our construction sector back to work.”

Meath FF TD's must come clean on sovereignty.

Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has called on the counties Fianna Fáil TDs to support Irish sovereignty and vote against the EU/IMF bailout in the Dáil. Legal action taken by Sinn Féin has forced the Government into announcing that the bail out will require a vote, something they denied was necessary just days ago.

Michael Gallagher said "Fianna Fáil claim the mantle of 'the Republican Party', well lets see Mary Wallace and Thomas Byrne live up to that claim. Let them vote against the EU/IMF bailout and maintain Irish sovereignty. On Wednesday, solicitors acting for Sinn Féin wrote to the Chief State Solicitor demanding that the bailout be voted on in the Dáil in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution. On Thursday the Government announced that a vote was necessary - a complete u-turn on their position only days before. Once again, as in Donegal, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force Fianna Fáil to live up to its democratic responsibility.



"Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden generations of Irish people with debt incurred by speculators who are getting away scot-free. I am calling on all Fianna Fáil TD's to oppose this deal and I remind them of the prophetic words of P.H. Pearse in his poem Mise Éire 'My greatest shame? My own children who sold out their mother'."


Kells Credit Union financial troubles


Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has expressed concern about the financial health of Kells Credit Union. The credit union has failed to hold its AGM in November and has also removed details of its investments from public view in recent weeks.

Meath East representative Michael Gallagher said “For the last number of years Kells Credit Union has held its AGM in November, however this year it has not been held and is deferred into next year. I am concerned that this, coupled with threatening letters sent out to members in recent weeks, is an attempt to buy time to portrait the financial situation better than it actually is to the regulators office. It is also noticeable that information regarding the company’s investments have been removed in recent weeks. It is my understanding that all financial organisations are obliged by law to display this information.

“It has been suggested to me that a sizeable amount was invested by Kells Credit Union via Davy Stockbrokers and that most of this investment is now worthless. If there are financial problems within the Credit Union it is incumbent on the directors to be honest with their shareholders. It is also important to emphasise to shareholders that any shares they have in the credit union are guaranteed up to the value of €100,000. It is also interesting to note that the Financial Regulator gives close scrutiny to credit unions but gives a free hand to the ethically bankrupt Anglo Irish Bank.”


Read more: Kells Credit Union financial troubles


Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting


A delegation of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign met with senior HSE management and the Minister for Health Mary Harney on Wednesday last in Leinster House. The delegation included Chairperson Cllr Peadar Tóibín, Dr Hanley, Dr Maguire, Noeleen O Donaghue and Wayne Forde representing staff and Pat Mullanny representing past patients. All the elected Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath were in attendance as were Deputy English and Deputy McEntee. According to Cllr Tóibín 'we went in with an optimistic frame of mind because we had heard information that the HSE was considering the return of services however we left in pessimistic form'.

'First of all we put it to the HSE that healthcare capacity has been ripped out of Meath and no alternative capacity has been created anywhere else to take up the over flow. That under the present government plans no regional hospital is going to be built and that patient safety is being jeopardised. We delivered figures from the INMO and the Irish Medical Times that show patients waiting on trolleys, a lack of staff and a lack of accreditation at the Drogheda. None of these facts were accepted by the HSE’.

‘We asked simple questions with regards what surgery services will return to Navan Hospital and when. We were told by one member of the HSE team that it is the policy of the HSE that Navan is a fit place for elective surgery, so far so good. We asked when will this policy be implemented, then the barriers came up. We were told that it depended on when certain studies were undertaken, no time scale given here. Then we would have to wait until certain reports could be released, no time scale given. Then it depended on if and when contracts would be signed by certain staff, no timescale given here. Then we were told it would depend on whether or not enough anaesthetists could be employed in January. Another member of the HSE team stated at this point that it could be hard enough to get enough for Drogheda never mind Navan’.


‘At this point that it was clear that all the members of the HSE were not on the same page with regards their own views. They seemed to differ over approach. Suffice to say that every time we suggested a method of overcoming a barrier to return of surgery another two or three barriers were put in our way’.

Read more: Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting

Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil


The most recent Red C poll which was published in the The Sun on Friday has indicated that the continuing surge in support for Sinn Féin throughout the state could see local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Navan, Peadar Tóibín take a seat off Fianna Fáil at the next election. The ground breaking poll put Sinn Féin ahead of Fianna Fáil in terms of first preferences for the first time since the 1920s.



The poll figures which have been extrapolated by academics in NUI Maynooth suggest that Sinn Féin is now the second largest party in Meath West ahead of Fianna Fáil and with nearly three times the vote of the Labour party. Political Analysts have stated that traditional ‘republican’ Fianna Fáil voters are moving to Sinn Féin in increasing numbers. Also traditional working class Labour voters are also switching to Sinn Féin. Indeed 25% of working class voters are selecting Sinn Féin and 25% of 18 to 34 year olds also support the party.

A number of reasons for the surge have included the robust stance Sinn Féin has taken against the IMF/EU bailout and the fact that Sinn Féin has are the only party calling for a structured default of bond holder debt. Cllr Tóibín is also benefiting from the energetic Save Navan Hospital Campaign that he is running in the county. He is also chair of the Meath Schools Campaign which is campaigning for increased Second level capacity in the county and a primary school building programme. Cllr Tóibín has also been to the fore front with the campaign for increased job investment in the county. From an enterprise development background himself he has brought the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to Meath and developed a detailed employment creation plan in an effort to increase the focus on Meath’s jobs shortage.


Read more: Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

Valentine's Day 2011 What You Need To Know -

When we think of Valentine’s Day we don’t automatically think of Great Britain in the nineteenth-century. However, it was in Great Britain in the nineteenth-century that the sending of Valentine cards became a fashion. This cottage industry of card making and sending for Valentine’s Day was soon viewed as a possible commercial enterprise.


Esther Howland was to many an ordinary woman living in Worcester, Massachusetts. However, Esther had a keen eye for business and so it was that in 1847 Esther established a very successful home based business making Valentine Cards. Many women today who aspire to being self- employed in their own business need look no further for inspiration than Esther Howland.

Esther used the British card models to design and fashion her Valentine Cards. Esther had identified a commercial niche in the market and filled it with her beautiful cards. What an inspiration Esther remains today, at a time when many women were expected to know their place, Esther struck a blow for women and their rights to equality and freedom.

America which is world famous today for its hello and goodbye greetings, "You have a nice day now", was no different in the 19th century. The Valentines card become very popular in 19th Century America and its commercialisation just went from strength to strength.

Indeed it is fair to say that the Valentine Card introduced in America by Esther was the fore runner to the array of general greeting cards found now in America for all and every occasion. The Valentine cards were the blue print for the commercialisation of all American holidays, where people now exchange cards and greetings as a way of saying thanks.

Each year across the world there are approximately one billion Valentines cards exchanged, who could ever have imagined that. With cards selling for anything from $1 to $50 + this is big business indeed. Indeed Valentine’s Day is only out done by Christmas in the card sales industry. When one adds to card sales the sales of romantic dinners, wine, fancy underwear, chocolates, teddy bears and so on and so forth this is certainly a mass market at an otherwise commercially quiet time of the year.

It is also worth noting that study after study shows that men spend twice as much on Valentine’s Day as women do. One wonders why this is. It is also worth noting that in 1797, fifty years before Esther Howland launched her card business, a British publisher had issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer. This booklet contained dozens of verses and romantic lyrics for those young men who could not find their own words to describe their feelings for the woman they loved.

One wonders if the publication of such a book in 1797 suggests that men may be the ones that treat Valentines with the seriousness it deserves. It is also worth noting that during this period when postage was so expensive most cards were delivered by hand. Later of course with the advent of the penny stamp postage system, cards could be sent by post. This of course was less personal and lacked the face to face contact and hand touching of the previous century.

Esther was not the only one to tap into the commercialisation of Valentine cards, indeed numerous cards were being produced with drawings and verse. The printing presses could now mass produce cards and these were known as 'mechanical valentines'. So now we had mass production and cheaper postage. And human kind being what it is meant that cards could now be sent anonymously by post, It also meant that the prudish Victorian caution was gone and cards became more saucy.

It was now possible to send a card containing a saucy verse and drawing to the person you may simply have fancied. Today of course things have gone a step further. The introduction of the Internet has seen an explosion in the number of greetings and exchanges between people from different continents and cultures. Cyber space is the new meeting place for millions of people. Not only do people now meet and exchange greetings on the internet but they can meet their life partner on the net.

Saint Valentine would be happy that so many people honour his name with love and friendly greetings. The man himself was a Christian Martyr; he was a Priest in Rome who was murdered around the year 269 AD.

Saint Valentine is laid to rest in Dublin, Ireland. His relics are interred at the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church. They were presented as a gift to the Carmalite Order from Pope Gregory xvi in 1835.

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election 2011 -

Shopping in Meath: Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election 2011 -: "Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party hea..."

Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein General Election 2011 -

Make the bankers pay! that was the message from the Meath Sinn Féin election convention on Friday night. Over 250 members of the party heard speeches from candidates Councillor Peadar Tóibin, Michael Gallagher and Gerry Adams in Navan’s Ardboyne Hotel.
Addressing the packed hall, Councillor Tóibin said “Our plan is simple – make those responsible for the mess pay. The Government and Fine Gael intend to slash health services, education and welfare with no clear job creation strategy. I say make the banks pay. The banks took a gamble, they lost. The debt is bank debt, not Irish debt, not your debt. Secondly, lets cut the salaries of politicians. We propose to cut Ministers salaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%. We will also stop this nonsense of politicians being able to retire at 55 years old.

“Political reform is essential. One of the simplest political reforms is do not vote Fianna Fáil. We need to start voting on the basis of skill, hard work and the intellect of the candidate. If we had done this, we would not be in the mess we are today, with gombeen politicians. If you want change in Meath West it has to be a vote for Sinn Féin. All recent opinion polls show that we are the only party capable of taking a seat off Fianna Fáil. In Meath West Sinn Féin is polling at over twice the rate of Labour. I appeal to Labour supporters to lend me their vote to prevent Fianna Fáil getting in the back door.

“My record is there for all to see. Save Navan Hospital, Meath Schools Campaign, Anti-Head Shops Campaign, Economic Development Strategy and Community Policing Committee – Sinn Féin has given leadership and organisation to all these campaigns. We have also ensured people power in these campaigns. The hospital campaign brought 10,000 people onto the streets of Navan. We work with community groups, residents associations and community fora. All of this helps to take power of the political elite and give it back to the people. I offer new ideas, new politics and real leadership.”

Meath East candidate Michael Gallagher highlighted Fianna Fáil and the Green's priorities saying "The vital Slane by-pass which would cost in the region of €100 million is 'not affordable' in Fianna Fáil's eyes, however the same money can be found to pay National Toll Roads for the under use of the M3. Also FF/Green carbon taxes on diesel are having a massive impact on farmers and agricultural contractors.



Meath Schools get approval for upgrades



A number of schools in Meath have been approved for upgrades by the Department of Education. Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has welcomed the upgrade approvals for schools in Navan, Nobber and Slane.


Michael Gallagher said “I have been inform by the Department of Education that approval has been granted for the installation of a fire alarm system in St. Oliver Plunkett’s NS, Navan; to build a new classroom for St. Patrick’s NS in Slane; and to relocate Prefabs in O’Carloan College, Nobber. While this is welcome news and a sign of some progress, its also fair to say that the continued use of prefabricated classrooms does not lend itself to a ‘smart economy’ strategy. The Government should be building permanent, state-of-the-art classrooms to maximise learning potential and also as part of a job creation strategy, to get our construction sector back to work.”
Meath FF TD's must come clean on sovereignty.
Meath East Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has called on the counties Fianna Fáil TDs to support Irish sovereignty and vote against the EU/IMF bailout in the Dáil. Legal action taken by Sinn Féin has forced the Government into announcing that the bail out will require a vote, something they denied was necessary just days ago.


Michael Gallagher said "Fianna Fáil claim the mantle of 'the Republican Party', well lets see Mary Wallace and Thomas Byrne live up to that claim. Let them vote against the EU/IMF bailout and maintain Irish sovereignty. On Wednesday, solicitors acting for Sinn Féin wrote to the Chief State Solicitor demanding that the bailout be voted on in the Dáil in accordance with Article 29(5) of the Constitution. On Thursday the Government announced that a vote was necessary - a complete u-turn on their position only days before. Once again, as in Donegal, it has taken legal initiatives by Sinn Féin to force Fianna Fáil to live up to its democratic responsibility.

"Sinn Féin will be voting against this sell-out deal with the IMF, a deal that will burden generations of Irish people with debt incurred by speculators who are getting away scot-free. I am calling on all Fianna Fáil TD's to oppose this deal and I remind them of the prophetic words of P.H. Pearse in his poem Mise Éire 'My greatest shame? My own children who sold out their mother'."



Kells Credit Union financial troubles



Sinn Féin representative Michael Gallagher has expressed concern about the financial health of Kells Credit Union. The credit union has failed to hold its AGM in November and has also removed details of its investments from public view in recent weeks.



Meath East representative Michael Gallagher said “For the last number of years Kells Credit Union has held its AGM in November, however this year it has not been held and is deferred into next year. I am concerned that this, coupled with threatening letters sent out to members in recent weeks, is an attempt to buy time to portrait the financial situation better than it actually is to the regulators office. It is also noticeable that information regarding the company’s investments have been removed in recent weeks. It is my understanding that all financial organisations are obliged by law to display this information.
“It has been suggested to me that a sizeable amount was invested by Kells Credit Union via Davy Stockbrokers and that most of this investment is now worthless. If there are financial problems within the Credit Union it is incumbent on the directors to be honest with their shareholders. It is also important to emphasise to shareholders that any shares they have in the credit union are guaranteed up to the value of €100,000. It is also interesting to note that the Financial Regulator gives close scrutiny to credit unions but gives a free hand to the ethically bankrupt Anglo Irish Bank.”



Read more: Kells Credit Union financial troubles



Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting



A delegation of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign met with senior HSE management and the Minister for Health Mary Harney on Wednesday last in Leinster House. The delegation included Chairperson Cllr Peadar Tóibín, Dr Hanley, Dr Maguire, Noeleen O Donaghue and Wayne Forde representing staff and Pat Mullanny representing past patients. All the elected Fianna Fáil TDs for Meath were in attendance as were Deputy English and Deputy McEntee. According to Cllr Tóibín 'we went in with an optimistic frame of mind because we had heard information that the HSE was considering the return of services however we left in pessimistic form'.


'First of all we put it to the HSE that healthcare capacity has been ripped out of Meath and no alternative capacity has been created anywhere else to take up the over flow. That under the present government plans no regional hospital is going to be built and that patient safety is being jeopardised. We delivered figures from the INMO and the Irish Medical Times that show patients waiting on trolleys, a lack of staff and a lack of accreditation at the Drogheda. None of these facts were accepted by the HSE’.



‘We asked simple questions with regards what surgery services will return to Navan Hospital and when. We were told by one member of the HSE team that it is the policy of the HSE that Navan is a fit place for elective surgery, so far so good. We asked when will this policy be implemented, then the barriers came up. We were told that it depended on when certain studies were undertaken, no time scale given here. Then we would have to wait until certain reports could be released, no time scale given. Then it depended on if and when contracts would be signed by certain staff, no timescale given here. Then we were told it would depend on whether or not enough anaesthetists could be employed in January. Another member of the HSE team stated at this point that it could be hard enough to get enough for Drogheda never mind Navan’.



‘At this point that it was clear that all the members of the HSE were not on the same page with regards their own views. They seemed to differ over approach. Suffice to say that every time we suggested a method of overcoming a barrier to return of surgery another two or three barriers were put in our way’.



Read more: Save Navan Hospital Campaign disappointed with HSE meeting



Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil



The most recent Red C poll which was published in the The Sun on Friday has indicated that the continuing surge in support for Sinn Féin throughout the state could see local councillor and Deputy Mayor of Navan, Peadar Tóibín take a seat off Fianna Fáil at the next election. The ground breaking poll put Sinn Féin ahead of Fianna Fáil in terms of first preferences for the first time since the 1920s.

The poll figures which have been extrapolated by academics in NUI Maynooth suggest that Sinn Féin is now the second largest party in Meath West ahead of Fianna Fáil and with nearly three times the vote of the Labour party. Political Analysts have stated that traditional ‘republican’ Fianna Fáil voters are moving to Sinn Féin in increasing numbers. Also traditional working class Labour voters are also switching to Sinn Féin. Indeed 25% of working class voters are selecting Sinn Féin and 25% of 18 to 34 year olds also support the party.


A number of reasons for the surge have included the robust stance Sinn Féin has taken against the IMF/EU bailout and the fact that Sinn Féin has are the only party calling for a structured default of bond holder debt. Cllr Tóibín is also benefiting from the energetic Save Navan Hospital Campaign that he is running in the county. He is also chair of the Meath Schools Campaign which is campaigning for increased Second level capacity in the county and a primary school building programme. Cllr Tóibín has also been to the fore front with the campaign for increased job investment in the county. From an enterprise development background himself he has brought the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to Meath and developed a detailed employment creation plan in an effort to increase the focus on Meath’s jobs shortage.



Read more: Tóibín in poll position to take seat off Fianna Fáil

Sophie Toscan du Plantier Murder -

Sophie Toscan Du Plantier: The Extradition hearing in relation to Ian Bailey will begin in the Dublin High Court this Thursday 15th December 2010. The French authorities want to question Ian Bailey about the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier.


Bailey: extradition warrant

French Authorities to Examine Evidence. Up Date 9/11 2010

Irish authorities are to allow investigators from France to examine evidence linked to the infamous murder of a French citizen in Co Cork, it was confirmed today.

The move follows a request from a French magistrate Judge Patrick Gachon who is probing the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The 39-year-old film producer was found beaten to death outside her holiday home near Schull.

No-one has been convicted for the murder.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice in Dublin confirmed that French authorities, who have already been given access to written evidence in the case, will now be allowed to view physical evidence held in Ireland.

The French team is expected to travel to Ireland to carry out its examination of the items in the autumn.

********************************************************************************************************

Ian Bailey's extradition hearing has been further delayed today 21st July 2010.



The journalist is wanted in France in connection with the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier.



She was found dead at her holiday home in Schull, Co Cork in December 1996.



The High Court had intended to set a hearing date today over France's request to extradite Bailey.



It was informed that while Mr Bailey is keen for the case to proceed, his legal team are waiting on an affidavit from a French lawyer they are consulting.



The lawyer has been delayed trying to find out precisely what the French extradition warrant is based on because he does not have access at present to the relevant court file.



The 53-year-old journalist has always denied any involvement in Sophie Toscan du Plantier's death.



He is contesting his surrender to France, alleging abuse of process and garda misconduct.



Mr Justice Michael Peart has put the matter back until October 2010.





Woman who was beaten by Ian Bailey says Bailey is being stitched up.

During a number of civil actions taken by Ian Bailey against a number of newspapers it became clear that Ian Bailey was a man who engaged in domestic violence against his live in partner Miss Jules Thomas. Miss Jules Thomas continues to live with Ian Bailey at her home in CountyCork. Miss Jules Thomas has told a French TV crew that, “I would not stay with a murderer. I am not a stupid woman”. Miss Thomas was speaking about the fact that the French authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Ian Bailey in relation to the murder of 39 year old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in 1996.

La femme qui a été battue par Ian Bailey dit que Bailey est piqué en haut.

Pendant un certain nombre de mesures civiles prises par Ian Bailey contre un certain nombre de journaux il est devenu clair qu'Ian Bailey était un homme qui s'est livré à la violence dans la famille contre son vivant dans Mlle de partenaire Jules Thomas. Mlle Jules Thomas continue à vivre avec Ian Bailey à sa maison dans le Liège de Comté. Mlle Jules Thomas a dit à un équipage de TV français que, “je ne resterais pas avec un meurtrier. Je ne suis pas une femme stupide”. Mlle Thomas parlait du fait que les autorités françaises ont délivré un mandat d'arrestation européen pour M. Ian Bailey par rapport au meurtre de femme française de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier dans le Liège en 1996.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?

French (English below)

Les Nouveaux Renseignements sur le Meurtre de Sophie

Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Qui Fait Cela ?

Pour ces Rédacteurs en chef populaires qui tenaient souvent la première page pour Ian Baileys insightful et copie exclusive sur les reportages du meurtre brutal de producteur de film de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier, près de sa résidence secondaire à l'extérieur Schull dans le Liège ouest, le 22 décembre 1996, Ian Bailey est maintenant le persona non grata aux mêmes Rédacteurs en chef.

Gardai croit que Sophie Toscan du Plantier s'enfuyait de son attaquant quand elle a été sauvagement assassinée. On y croit que le soir ou dans la nuit du 22 décembre 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier a été dérangée ou surprise par sa maison par son tueur. Une chose est à coup sûr, elle a subi un meurtre brutal et lâche.

Pendant que les tabloïdes ont versé l'insightful d'Ian Bailey et des reportages exclusifs sur le meurtre de Sophie Toscan du Plantier, les Gardai commençaient à trouver le nom d'Ian Bailey apparaissant sur leur radar d'investigation.

English



For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.



Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.



While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.



Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.



Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.



However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.



It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.



Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.



For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.



During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.



It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.

UPDATE

irishtimes.com 24th April 2010.

Journalist Ian Bailey was arrested shortly before midnight last night after the High Court earlier endorsed a European Arrest Warrant.

Mr Bailey is being sought by the French authorities in connection with the murder of French film producer, Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork 13 years ago.

Officers from the Garda Extradition Section in Dublin travelled to West Cork last night where they arrested Mr Bailey shortly before midnight at his home outside Schull and brought him to Bandon Garda Station arriving there at around 1.15am.

It's expected that Mr Bailey will be brought before the High Court today where he's likely to apply for bail pending a full hearing in which the decision of the French authorities to issue a European Arrest Warrant for his arrest will be contested.

Last night's arrest came after Mr Justice Michael Peart sitting in the High Court in Dublin endorsed the European Arrest Warrant for Mr Bailey issued last month by French magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon who is investigating Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder.

Lawyers from the Chief State Solicitors Office went before the High Court in Dublin yesterday afternoon with the original European Arrest Warrant issued by French Magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon last month and presented it to Mr Justice Michael Peart.

Last week, Mr Justice Peart had asked for the original warrant and upon receipt of the document yesterday afternoon, he endorsed it, paving the way for the arrest last night of Mr Bailey (53) who is currently studying for his final law exams at his home near Schull in West Cork.

Mr Bailey's arrest is likely to trigger a protracted legal battle as Mr Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer has already indicated that his client will vigourously contest the validity of the warrant and any attempt to extradite him to France when he is brought before the High Court.

And Mr Buttimer is on the record as saying that, in what he believes is the unlikely event of his client losing in the High Court, then he will appeal the matter to the Supreme Court as he believed granting a warrant in such circumstances would raise broader constitutional issues.

However the news that Mr Justice Peart had endorsed the European Arrest Warrant was last night enthusiastically welcomed by relatives and friends of Ms Toscan du Plantier who have campaigned to have her killer brought to justice.

Ms Toscan du Plantier's uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau described the news as "fantastic" and congratulated the Irish justice system for its speedy endorsement of the European Arrest Warrant to facilitate the arrest of Mr Bailey.

"This is fantastic and it is so heartening for Sophie's parents, Georges and Marguerite because they have been waiting for 14 years for something like this," said Mr Gazeau who is also President of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier

"Of course we know and fully expect Mr Bailey to fight this in the Irish High Court and the Irish Supreme Court if necessary so we still have many more steps to travel but tonight our hope grows a lot stronger," he told The Irish Times .

Mr Gazeau commended Judge Gachon on his work to date and he re-iterated his challenge to Mr Bailey to come to France to face the magistrate if, as he has continually claimed, he is innocent of any involvement in his niece's death.

"Ian Bailey has always said that he had nothing to do with the murder of Sophie - if that is the case, then he should to come to France to answer the many contradictions between his testimony and those of other witnesses in his libel action - let him come to France," he said.

Lawyer, Alain Spilliaert who advises the family and ASSOPH, also welcomed the news that European Arrest Warrant had been endorsed and described it as "a historic moment in the long and very determined struggle by the family to get justice".

"I am surprised because I had read that it would take several weeks for the judge to decide but the Irish authorities had shown great urgency and the investigation is now at a critical time but for us now there is a ray of hope in the distance and it's brightening all the time."

UPDATE

BARRY ROCHE Southern Correspondent - irishtimes.com

THE DECISION by French authorities to seek the extradition of Ian Bailey in connection with the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is based on a number of factors, including Mr Bailey’s behaviour in the immediate aftermath of the killing, The Irish Times has learned.

It is understood that investigating magistrate Judge Patrick Gachon has based his decision to issue a European arrest warrant for Mr Bailey on three distinct grounds, following a close examination of the Garda file on the killing and affidavits sworn by Garda witnesses.

Judge Gachon believes Mr Bailey has a case to answer on the basis that he knew certain details about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home in Toormore near Schull in 1996 prior to these details being confirmed by the police.

It is also understood that Judge Gachon is of the view that Mr Bailey’s statements that he suffered scratches to his face and arms while killing turkeys and cutting down a Christmas tree on the day before Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed do not stand up to close scrutiny.

Judge Gachon also believes that there is sufficient evidence on the Garda file to suggest that Mr Bailey was not at his home at Liscaha, Schull, for the entirety of the night of December 22nd/December 23rd, 1996, when Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed.

Judge Gachon has spent 12 months examining the Garda file, which includes statements from over 240 witnesses as well as a review of the Garda handling of the original investigation, while he also heard evidence from two officers who were centrally involved in the investigation.

Supt Liam Horgan, who is heading the Garda investigation into the killing and who was a liaison officer with Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family, and Det Garda Jim Fitzgerald spent three days giving evidence before Judge Gachon last November.

Mr Bailey, who was arrested on foot of the European arrest warrant at his home in Schull late last Friday night and brought before the High Court in Dublin on Saturday, has stated in court that he believes the warrant is based on false information.

His solicitor Frank Buttimer has indicated that his client will fully contest the warrant in the High Court and that if he loses that decision he will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, as he believes it raises broader constitutional issues.

Mr Bailey, who was twice arrested by gardaí for questioning about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier and was twice released without charge, hasconsistently protested his innocence and denied any involvement in the killing.

Ms Toscan du Plantier’s mother, Marguerite Bouniol, has welcomed the issuing of the European arrest warrant by Judge Gachon and said the family was hopeful that Mr Bailey would be extradited to France to allow Judge Gachon progress his inquiry into the murder.

Up date: 2nd June 2010:

Efforts by Ian Bailey to fight an attempt by France to extradite him raises “complex issues” including a claim of “abuse of process” and allegations of Garda misconduct, the High Court heard today 2nd June 2010.

The matter was adjourned until next month, when the court said it would be “anxious” to fix a hearing date for the request.

French authorities are seeking the surrender of Mr Bailey, with an address ‘The Pararie” Toormore, Schull, Co Cork, in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in December 1996.