Tag Archives: Pat Breen TD

The inward investment potential of the Shannon Free Zone is set to be significantly boosted following the sod-turning by Shannon Commercial Properties for a €10 million state-of-the-art new office block. The high-spec 55,000 sq ft facility, built to LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) Gold standards and located on the newly named Airport Avenue, is the first speculative new-build by Shannon Commercial Properties, a Shannon Group Plc company. The build is part of a €25 million first phase redevelopment programme at the Free Zone. Launched by Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Pat Breen TD, the facility will be built to top international standards and is designed for FDI and Irish enterprises seeking high-end office space. In excess of 120 construction jobs will be sustained during construction. The site, located adjacent to Shannon Airport perimeter which was demolished ahead of this investment, work on which will be completed by in May of next year. …

Residents on the outskirts of Clonlara, who have been left marooned by rising flood waters, have urged Agriculture Minister not to forget them ahead of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. Minister Coveney visited some residents in a flat bottom boat with the help of the Irish Defence Forces early on Sunday morning. The Cork Deputy, who was the first government representative to visit the devastated community, since it began to flood nearly a month ago, spoke to householders,  who are cut off from their homes due to the flooding of a local access road. Standing with the minister in the river of water surrounding her home, resident, Lisa Griffin asked the minister to save the community from the regular incidence of flooding, which first started in 1995. When the ESB-operated Parteen Weir reaches capacity, the company releases excess volumes of water, which in turn results in Springfield and the wider Clonlara area becoming flooded. “If you are going to protect Athlone you are going …

Over €1 million has been granted to Clare for improvement and maintenance works on roads. Clare County Council will be allocated €220,000 for road improvements and a further €791,657 for road maintenance. This funding is part of an allocation of almost €160 million from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Nationally, €139.7 million of this will go towards road improvement works, while €20.2 million will go towards essential road maintenance. “According to the Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, this funding represents a base allocation for local authorities that will be supplemented during the year in respect of certain maintenance works, pavement works and safety schemes,” commented Clare TD Pat Breen. “Fine Gael has a plan to keep the economic recovery going and ensure that we continue to have more resources to invest in better services and infrastructure like roads. The Government’s capital Investment Plan 2016-2022, allocates €6 billion for transport, which includes €4.4 billion, for the maintenance and renewal of the road …

US Ambassador Kevin O’Malley is paying a visit to Clare next Monday. Ambassador O’Malley will have lunch with Shannon Chamber of Commerce on the day. Meanwhile, US consular officials will be in Shannon on Thursday, November 12 to provide specific services for American citizens in the area. In a statement, the US Embassy said representatives from the US Embassy will be providing consular services in Shannon on the day in the Radisson Park Inn, Shannon Airport. “During the outreach, we will be accepting US passport applications, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) applications and performing notary services,” a statement from the US Embassy explained. US citizens wishing to schedule an appointment for the outreach day in Shannon should send an email to Dublinoutreach@state.gov by next Tuesday at 3pm. People should include their name, telephone number and email address and which service is required (passport/CRBA/notary). The US Embassy Dublin Consular Section will then make contact with available appointment times.

THE Minister of State with Special Responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has told The Clare Champion that separate minor work applications for farmers affected by flooding on the Fergus embankments and in Doonbeg will be dealt with, as quickly as possible, by his office. The maximum figure possible under each scheme is €500,000. Deputy Simon Harris was speaking during a visit to Clare on Tuesday, when he met with a farming delegation in Kildysart and visited some of the land affected by serious flooding in 2014. “I think they appreciate the frankness and the straight-forwardness of the procedure I have outlined to them. When I came to office and was made aware of these problems, the first thing I did was to bring all the people around the table together. Deputy Pat Breen has been on my case about this for quite a period of time,” he explained. “On March 10, I brought the IFA Clare chairman, …

Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pat Breen, in welcoming the impending visit of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla to County Clare, said today (Tuesday) that their visit provides an opportunity to showcase the Burren to a global audience. “The visit of the Prince of Wales, Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla, is testament to the strong and warm relationship which now exists between England and Ireland. The fact that the royals have included a visit to the Burren in their itinerary is a major boost for this county,” Deputy Breen. Speaking of the benefits for his native county, Mr Breen said, “Prince Charles is recognised for having a strong interest in the environment and in agriculture. In the Burren, he will be able to see for himself how the local farming community have adapted their farming methods to the challenging landscape of the area which is delivering significant environment benefits. “It …

Irish Exporters Association representatives will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade this Wednesday morning to consider trade links with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Founded in 1967, ASEAN comprises10 Southeast Asian member states with a combined population of 609 million. Trade in goods between Ireland and the 10 countries amounted to just over €2.4 billion in 2013 and just over €2.5 billion last year. Committee chairman, Pat Breen said, “The recent opening of Irish Embassies in Indonesia and Thailand brings to five the number of resident embassies in a bloc of countries with a rapidly expanding middle class. The meeting with the Irish Exporters Association will provide an opportunity for our committee to explore how Ireland can best position itself to take advantage of these new opportunities.”

THE University of Limerick Hospitals Group chief executive officer has pledged to take into account concerns expressed about the impact of the phased closure of the Warfarin clinic in Kilrush. Professor Colette Cowan made the pledge after a meeting with Deputy Pat Breen this week, amid growing unease about the proposed ending of this service. “CEO Colette Cowan assured me that she would take my concerns on board. She advised me that the HSE is currently in discussions with GPs regarding a number of issues and that the warfarin services in Kilrush will feature in these discussions. “She is very aware of the concerns, the logistical problems which it could cause for patients who would require ongoing treatment and is hoping that a successful resolution and agreement can be reached with the GPs to accommodate those patients locally. “Following our meeting, she is to revert back to me at the earliest opportunity,” he said. Deputy Breen had sought a meeting …