Fine Gael's 5 Point Plan to Recovery

Michael Collins - Treaty Debates

Words spoken by Michael Collins during the Treaty Debates on the 19th December 1921.

"I, as an individual, do not now, no more than ever, shirk war. The Treaty was signed by me, not because they [British Government] held up the alternative of immediate war. I signed it because I would not be one of those to commit the Irish people to war without the Irish people committing themselves to war. If my constituents send me to represent them in war, I will do my best to represent them in war."

Tralee Canal

Blennerville to Tralee Ship Canal

On February 15th 1828, a petition on behalf of the gentry and merchants of

Tralee was made to the House of Commons, by Maurice Fitzgerald, the Knight of Kerry.

This petition sought the sanction and aid of Parliament towards the completion of a ship

canal from the town to the sea. A Bill was introduced, and having passed through the

necessary parliamentary processes, was finally sanctioned by a local Act in June 1829.

In 1834 the harbour dues levied on shipping and cargoes in the port, collected from

merchants and townspeople amounted to £600.
Work on the Tralee Ship Canal began during the 1830's. The canal stretches from

about half a mile beyond Blennerville Quay, to the port of Prince's Quay, right on the

edge of Tralee town. At Blennerville, a lock was built, with a wooden drawbridge which

could be pulled up to let ships through.

However, within 20 years the final section of railway track was laid connecting Tralee to Killarney

and to the national train line network. This work was completed in 1859 when the railway station

in Tralee (now Casement Station) was opened.

Today, the Canal is used by Tralee Rowiug Club and is bordered on the north side by a fine walk

or pathway used by locals and visitors.

Loading Ships at the Basin, Tralee

Banna Beach Raw!

Today, the sea at Banna Beach was raw and rough but it did not deter some from surfing!

Average House Prices in Ireland

House Price Statistics in the State—since 1970

Average figures for selected years.

Prices in €. Source: CSO

Unemployment Figures Ireland

Motorway Madness!

Billions of euro have been spent on a motorway network in the recent past. I submit that this money would have been better spent on high grade dual carriageways rather than motorways.
Dual carriageways would have been cheaper and more quickly built. There could have been a larger network throughout the country.
The money saved could have been put into upgrading secondary routes and high traffic volume local and regional roads.
There is also the added advantage that the speed limits for dual carriageways is lower (100 kph as opposed to 120 kph on motorways) and therefore are more fuel efficient!

Shameful Public Service Management

In the provision of public services, i.e. education, health etc., the vast majority of frontline staff are competent or better than competent in their delivery of services. However, it is often the case that the management of the services at national and / or local level is the weak link or the incompetent element. Such incompetence at management level hinders the delivery of the service by frontline staff.
This situation has been arrived at because of the appointment of inappropriate people to management level. This occurs when political interference is allowed to intervene in the choice of the person to take on the duties of managing these services.
I submit that in order to achieve a more efficient public service there must be a means by which those currently in management should be obliged to prove their suitability for the job in a competency test relating to their position.

Irish Language in Our Schools

Is it any wonder that competencies in Maths, Sciences and English among our young are falling behind the levels attained in other countries when so much time is spent teaching Irish in our schools.
The Irish language lobbyists would serve this country better if they existed in the real world where our school children need the knowledge and competency in multiple foreign languages and sharper Maths, English and Science skill levels. Too much time and far too many resources are spent teaching and learning Irish - result? On average 13 years learning and little or nothing to show for it in the end!
If students wish to pursue Irish as one of their chosen languages then by all means give then the time and resources but these resources should not be forced on those who don't want Irish.