News from the Old Sod
RESERVE POLICE FORCE TO BE SET UP IN IRELAND
A voluntary reserve police force to complement
the Garda Siochana presence on the streets has
been announced by the Minister for Justice. Up
to 900 volunteer reservists are expected to be
recruited during 2006.
Garda senior officials have big doubts about the
scheme and are especially worried that the reserve
force could be infiltrated by subversives and
criminals. It has been speculated that the measure
is in response to Sinn Fein attempts to introduce
community policing in Catholic areas of Northern
Ireland, and that similar moves may be made in
the South.
EARLY ELECTION SEEMS UNLIKELY
The Fianna Fail and PD coalition looks set to run
it terms with an election likely to be held in the
early part of 2007. Recent opinion polls have been
very good news for Bertie Ahearn's government who
took a hammering in the recent local and European
elections. The imminent maturity of the
part-government funded special savings accounts
(SSIAs) over the next 15 months will further add
to the 'feel good' factor among the Irish
electorate.
The opposition Labour and Fine Gael parties have
already signalled their intent to present their
parties as a potential alternative to the current
government. Labour in particular have been
recently modifying their stance on immigration
with a view to wooing those moderate voters who
may be disillusioned with the current setup.
Sinn Fein continue to do well in the opinion polls
although quite how this will translate into
parliament seats won remains to be seen. The party
has been criticized recently for its proposals to
increase corporate tax from 12% to 17.5% (a move
which would hamper foreign investment in Ireland)
and the implementation of a 50% income tax rate on
earners of over EURO 100,000 per annum.
ILLEGAL MUSIC DOWNLOADING TACKLED
A judge has ordered several Irish internet service
providers to release the names and addresses of 49
Irish people who are suspected of illegally
sharing and downloading music from the internet.
Thousands of songs have been uploaded and
downloaded without any payment being made to the
copyright owners of the music. Legal action by the
music companies against the named individuals is
now imminent.
M50 MOTORWAY TO BE UPGRADED
Work on the upgrade to the notorious M50 ring-road
around Dublin is to get underway this year. An
extra 24km of traffic lanes as well as a revamping
of the most heavily used interchanges are to be
provided by the year 2010 at a cost of EURO 1.5bn.
The government is expected to 'buy out' the
company who operate the toll-plaza near the
Blanchardstown exit and replace it with some form
of automatic tolling. peak-time congestion on the
motorway is now so heavy that Dubliners commonly
refer to the motorway as 'Europe's largest
car-park'.
NEW IRISH SOCCER MANAGER IS UNVEILED
In a surprise move by the Football Association of
Ireland Steve Staunton has been unveiled as the
new manager of the Irish soccer team. He will
be assisted by former England manager Bobby Robson
who was most recently involved in football as
manager of Newcastle United. He also brought
England to the brink of world cup success in 1991
before his team were beaten on penalties in the
semi-final.
Staunton is Ireland's most capped player and is
quite popular among the Irish public. The main
concern with his appointment however is his lack
of managerial experience. His only previous
managerial role is that of assistant manager at
lowly Walsall. How he copes with the big-earning
and big ego Premiership players who were recently
his teammates remains to be seen.
TOUGH DRAW FOR IRELAND IN EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS
Ireland have been handed a tough task if they are
to qualify for the 2008 European championships to
be held in Austria and Switzerland.
Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Wales,
Cyprus and San Marino join Ireland in Group D with
the top two teams certain of qualification.
Croke Park has been made available by the GAA for
2 rugby and 3 Soccer internationals during 2007.
The ground will be rented out to the FAI and the
IRFU for 25% of the gate receipts. The prospect of
up to 75,000 Irish fans cheering on the boys in
green against Germany and the Czechs is eagerly
anticipated.
OBESITY CRISIS IN IRELAND
The modern obesity crisis that has hit the Western
world has not bypassed Ireland. It is estimated
that there are now over 300,000 overweight and
obese children in this country.
AER ARANN TAKES ON RYANAIR
The Irish airline Aer Arann is taking on Ryanair
in the budget airfares stakes. It is expanding its
fleet by EURO 150M which represents the third
largest aircraft order ever by an Irish airline.
The airline currently operates flights to 13 UK,
3 French and 5 Irish destinations.
MICHAEL COLLINS WHISKEY TO BE LAUNCHED
A new whiskey bearing the name of the famous Irish
revolutionary leader is to be launched into the US
market. The Independent distiller Cooley is to
market the product complete with a signature on the
bottle of 'the big fella', similar to that which
appears on the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Voice your opinion on these news issues here:
http://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
A voluntary reserve police force to complement
the Garda Siochana presence on the streets has
been announced by the Minister for Justice. Up
to 900 volunteer reservists are expected to be
recruited during 2006.
Garda senior officials have big doubts about the
scheme and are especially worried that the reserve
force could be infiltrated by subversives and
criminals. It has been speculated that the measure
is in response to Sinn Fein attempts to introduce
community policing in Catholic areas of Northern
Ireland, and that similar moves may be made in
the South.
EARLY ELECTION SEEMS UNLIKELY
The Fianna Fail and PD coalition looks set to run
it terms with an election likely to be held in the
early part of 2007. Recent opinion polls have been
very good news for Bertie Ahearn's government who
took a hammering in the recent local and European
elections. The imminent maturity of the
part-government funded special savings accounts
(SSIAs) over the next 15 months will further add
to the 'feel good' factor among the Irish
electorate.
The opposition Labour and Fine Gael parties have
already signalled their intent to present their
parties as a potential alternative to the current
government. Labour in particular have been
recently modifying their stance on immigration
with a view to wooing those moderate voters who
may be disillusioned with the current setup.
Sinn Fein continue to do well in the opinion polls
although quite how this will translate into
parliament seats won remains to be seen. The party
has been criticized recently for its proposals to
increase corporate tax from 12% to 17.5% (a move
which would hamper foreign investment in Ireland)
and the implementation of a 50% income tax rate on
earners of over EURO 100,000 per annum.
ILLEGAL MUSIC DOWNLOADING TACKLED
A judge has ordered several Irish internet service
providers to release the names and addresses of 49
Irish people who are suspected of illegally
sharing and downloading music from the internet.
Thousands of songs have been uploaded and
downloaded without any payment being made to the
copyright owners of the music. Legal action by the
music companies against the named individuals is
now imminent.
M50 MOTORWAY TO BE UPGRADED
Work on the upgrade to the notorious M50 ring-road
around Dublin is to get underway this year. An
extra 24km of traffic lanes as well as a revamping
of the most heavily used interchanges are to be
provided by the year 2010 at a cost of EURO 1.5bn.
The government is expected to 'buy out' the
company who operate the toll-plaza near the
Blanchardstown exit and replace it with some form
of automatic tolling. peak-time congestion on the
motorway is now so heavy that Dubliners commonly
refer to the motorway as 'Europe's largest
car-park'.
NEW IRISH SOCCER MANAGER IS UNVEILED
In a surprise move by the Football Association of
Ireland Steve Staunton has been unveiled as the
new manager of the Irish soccer team. He will
be assisted by former England manager Bobby Robson
who was most recently involved in football as
manager of Newcastle United. He also brought
England to the brink of world cup success in 1991
before his team were beaten on penalties in the
semi-final.
Staunton is Ireland's most capped player and is
quite popular among the Irish public. The main
concern with his appointment however is his lack
of managerial experience. His only previous
managerial role is that of assistant manager at
lowly Walsall. How he copes with the big-earning
and big ego Premiership players who were recently
his teammates remains to be seen.
TOUGH DRAW FOR IRELAND IN EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS
Ireland have been handed a tough task if they are
to qualify for the 2008 European championships to
be held in Austria and Switzerland.
Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Wales,
Cyprus and San Marino join Ireland in Group D with
the top two teams certain of qualification.
Croke Park has been made available by the GAA for
2 rugby and 3 Soccer internationals during 2007.
The ground will be rented out to the FAI and the
IRFU for 25% of the gate receipts. The prospect of
up to 75,000 Irish fans cheering on the boys in
green against Germany and the Czechs is eagerly
anticipated.
OBESITY CRISIS IN IRELAND
The modern obesity crisis that has hit the Western
world has not bypassed Ireland. It is estimated
that there are now over 300,000 overweight and
obese children in this country.
AER ARANN TAKES ON RYANAIR
The Irish airline Aer Arann is taking on Ryanair
in the budget airfares stakes. It is expanding its
fleet by EURO 150M which represents the third
largest aircraft order ever by an Irish airline.
The airline currently operates flights to 13 UK,
3 French and 5 Irish destinations.
MICHAEL COLLINS WHISKEY TO BE LAUNCHED
A new whiskey bearing the name of the famous Irish
revolutionary leader is to be launched into the US
market. The Independent distiller Cooley is to
market the product complete with a signature on the
bottle of 'the big fella', similar to that which
appears on the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Voice your opinion on these news issues here:
http://www.ireland-information.com/cgi-bin/newsletterboardindex.cgi
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