Fine Gael senator Catherine Noone has called on the Irish government to implement a new tax on smartphones, one which would apparently function as an additional levy alongside VAT.
“The issue of suicide and suicide prevention is again under the spotlight in recent days, thanks in no small part to the inspirational message of Kerry teenager Donal Walsh,” she said as reported in thejournal.ie. “While government funding for suicide prevention has actually increased this year, I think we need to be looking at new ways in which to fund suicide prevention measures. Placing a small levy on the sale of smartphones could be a very simple way to generate extra revenues for this crucial area.”
A man who fraudulently claimed over €43,000 in social welfare payments in his brothers name over a four year period has managed to avoid jail.
Martin Foley, a chronic alcoholic who apparently regularly drinks over 50 bottles of beer and three bottles of vodka in a day, used his brother’s social welfare card to claim €188 each week. His brother, who is living in the UK was unaware of the fraud. Foley was also claiming disability allowance during this time.
Inspirational teenager Donal Walsh (16) has passed away after a brave four year battle with cancer.
Donal,a terminally ill teenager, rose to prominence after an interview on RTE’s The Saturday Night Show in which he publicly appealed to young people not to end their lives.
Walsh had been battling cancer since he was first diagnosed four years ago and passes away peacefully at his home in Blennerville,County Kerry.
Having twice overcome cancer, Donal was diagnosed again in the latter part of last year with what had now become a terminal illness. Since he was informed of the diagnosis he spent the rest of his days travelling with friends and family and attempting to ensure young people enjoyed their lives. He had raised over €50,000 for charity.
Speaking to RTE’s Morning Ireland Fr Francis Nolan of St John’s Parish in Tralee described the teenager as an “inspiration” to people in Tralee and beyond.
Weeks before his death, Donal recorded a video message to be circulated in schools, Fr Nolan said the anti-suicide message had already had an impact on many.
“So many letters have come to the family about people who have actually been helped by Donal already to embrace the gift of life.
“Young people who may have been contemplating suicide, you know they’ve actually thought again,” he said.
Fr Nolan said Donal managed to stay positive throughout his four-year battle with cancer.
“Donal has been an inspiration here in Tralee, and the way he has embraced his illness with such acceptance, and never once shown any bitterness or resentment about being ill.”
Tributes have poured in from all around the globe with many top sports stars including New Zealand rugby player Dan Carter revealing his sadness at the death of Donal, who he had spoken to just weeks earlier.
The All Blacks fly half tweeted “Sad to hear the news of young @Donal_Walsh #RIP #Inspiration thoughts go out to his family & friends”.
Over 77,000 have liked a Facebook tribute page that was set up early yesterday afternoon, showing the impact his efforts had on many people throughout Ireland.
Donal’s funeral will take place at noon on Wednesday at St John’s Church in Tralee.
His family have asked for donations in lieu of flowers to the Palliative Care Unit, Kerry General Hospital and Care 4 Kids, care of the Gleasure Funeral Home.
The willingness of the Irish consumer to spend money is at its highest level in three years, regardless of the fact that over 50% of people polled believe their disposable income will have lessened by next year.
A survey done by Behaviour and Attitudes revealed that 55% of people think their wages will decrease by next year, and that the Irish economy will continue to worsen; just 12% said they believe the economy will be better in 2014. Yet surprisingly, consumer confidence has risen, to its highest level since before the 2010 bailout. B&A director Luke Reaper said of the report, “this leads us to believe that Irish consumers, while still viewing the economy negatively, are beginning to weather the storm”. Read more
In a response to the recent fodder crisis which has left many farmers across the country fearful for both their animals’ welfare and their finances, a €250,000 fodder fund has been set up by three Irish firms – SuperValu, Kepak and Oliver Carty Ltd, while SuperValu has also offered to take care of the transport of fodder – arriving in Dublin Port – to co-ops around Ireland.
The harsh winter we have experienced over the course of the past few months, and the fact that grass has begun to grow roughly a month later than usual, has meant that farmers have had to purchase extra fodder, leading to a shortage, and driving up the prices of any available supplies, placing extreme pressure – financial and emotional – on farmers who have been doing their utmost to keep their livestock alive and fed.
An independent evaluation carried out on Ireland’s national internship scheme, JobBridge, has found that three in five people who undertake internships through the scheme have found employment afterwards. The evaluation, which was carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants shows that 61 per cent of interns moved on to paid employment following completion of their internship.
The Government has consistently placed their full support and backing behind the scheme. Speaking on the findings of the report, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “The Government has an ambitious plan to modernise and improve our work activation services as part of our Pathways to Work strategy. JobBridge was a key early scheme to help deliver on this agenda. It is now clear that JobBridge is delivering for thousands of jobseekers by providing them with valuable opportunities to gain relevant work experience, knowledge and skills in a workplace environment. The fact that three in five interns gain employment following the scheme is a testament to the potential that exists in providing new work activation services to jobseekers and employers.”
The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has warned farmers and owners of land that there are high fire risk conditions this week as we head into the bank holiday weekend.
Though some conditions in places around the country are favourable, Coveney noted that in some areas, particularly in the south and south west regions, the risk remains high. Several fires have been reported in North Kerry this week.
A man accused of murdering Welsh schoolgirl April Jones has denied all charges despite the fact April’s DNA was found on a washing machine belonging to him, a Welsh court has heard. Read more
An Eastern European man in his 40s has been murdered in an early morning shooting at Greenogue Industrial Estate in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
The man sustained gunshot wounds to his body during the incident which took place at 9.30am. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital with serious injuries and was later pronounced dead. Read more
Former junior minister and Fianna Fáil TD Ivor Callely is to stand trial over a number of allegedly bogus mobile phone expenses claims made during his time spent in the Seanad between 2007 and 2011.
Detectives from the fraud squad arrested the former politician at his home in Howth at 9.50 am this morning. He was subsequently taken to Clontarf Garda station. Callely was charged with six counts of using fraudulent instruments under Section 26 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act. He has been granted bail in his own bond of €250.
Inspirational teenager Donal Walsh (16) has passed away after a brave four year battle with cancer.
