Relief for Waterford families as adoption agency given licence for Vietnam
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Fine Gael TD for Waterford, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed the news that Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency (HHAMA) has been awarded a licence to facilitate adoptions from Vietnam for Irish applicants.
"This is great news for Waterford families who have been involved in the adoption process for a number of years now. Since taking office two years ago, the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, has made reforming the adoption process in this country a major priority of her Ministry. We are seeing real progress in this area which will hopefully lead to a positive conclusion for all involved.
"Helping Hands has been facilitating adoption in this country for many years, allowing couples to start or expand their families through adoption. Over the last number of years,
Council Pact Change
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Three members of Waterford City Council have called for their fellow councillors to put an end to the unjust situation that a man who has served 34 years on a council has never been honoured with the opportunity to be Mayor. Councillors Dick Roche, Sean Reinhard and John Hearne have said that because Councillor Gary Wyse decided to leave the pact recently it means that Fine Gael and Labour are no longer the leaders of a majority voting pact and for the first time in years the Mayoral Election in June is not a foregone conclusion. The three councillors believe that the candidate that Fine Gael and labour will put forward will be someone who is for the amalgamation of Waterford City and County Council and that the majority of Councillors on the Council are very much opposed to the
Portlaw Community Alert Group announce change in Garda Contact Number
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Last year, the committee of Portlaw Community Alert Group produced an information card listing contact numbers for emergency services in the area, including a mobile number for our local Gardaí.
In recent times due to changes in the Garda structures of the area, there is a possibility that the mobile contact number may occasionally not be answered.
At a recent Community Alert Committee meeting, these concerns were brought to the attention of senior Gardaí who were in attendance. It was agreed that the best option now is to call Tramore Garda Station at 051 391620 or 051 381333 as Tramore Garda Station is manned 24 hours. People can of course still call 999 or 112 also. The Gardaí in Tramore will then be able to contact whoever is on duty in this area and advise them accordingly.
The committee would like to thank
Report of changes to Higgins Report to be welcomed - Cullinane
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Speaking in advance of a cabinet decision this week on the recommendations of the Higgins Report, Senator David Cullinane has given a cautious welcome to reported changes concerning Waterford Regional Hospital. While the report will, it seems, recommend a breakup of the region and WRH being grouped with Cork University Hospital, important changes, safeguards and commitments will be made to Waterford Regional Hospital.
Speaking today Senator Cullinane said:
"It is being reported that while the cabinet will sign off on proposals to breakup the Southeast Region and create a new hospital grouping linking WRH with CUH, it will also commit to retaining tertiary and specialist services at WRH including cancer care and trauma. It may also designate WRH as a University Teaching Hospital although this is of yet unclear.
"If these changes are implemented, it represents a positive step forward. While it may
Waterford man helps design unique Dublin tour guide
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Waterford man Declan Murphy is one of 16 designers behind a unique Dublin tour guide designed by people with Down syndrome for people with Down syndrome.
The colourful guide, which was launched by Down syndrome Ireland this week, has been designed to help young people with Down syndrome to easily navigate their way through the streets of our historic capital.
The Smart Tourism Guide has been written, designed, edited and tested by 16 people with Down syndrome including Declan Murphy who hails from Dunmore Road, Waterford.
Declan, who is a member of the Down Syndrome Ireland, Waterford branch, was one of 16 people who took part in the pan-European project aimed at promoting greater independence and quality of life.
The easy-to-read, 88-page fun guidebook is both a visual and written guide
Team Challenges on the beach as Gaeilge
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Another great Blian na Gaeilge event is being run in Tramore with the Team Challenges on the beach as Gaeilge, on April 28th 2013 with the Freedom Scoil Surfála at 1:30pm for 10-12 year olds. It is Sáor in Áisce (no charge) but booking is essential 051 386773.
Freedom Scoil Surfála provides surfing lessons in Irish to all ages. For more information telephone 051 386773 or check out http://www.freedomsurfschool.com.
Prendergast Calls For Open Freedom Of Information Process On Ibrc Liquidation
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Following reports that the ECB has gagged the government from releasing information on the liquidation of the Irish Banking Resolution Corporation, Phil Prendergast MEP has voiced her criticism of the plan.
"The legislation regarding the liquidation of the IBRC was passed late at night with minimal information relayed to the public. The debate for the public played out on social media. The outright rejection of Freedom of Information requests is a step too far.
"As a member of the European Parliament, I represent the people of Ireland and firmly believe that access to information is a key part of democracy in action. There is no excuse for a gag order like this.
"A blanket refusal policy would serve only to heighten distrust in government and in the ECB.
"The ECB should not have the power to make these demands and I am calling on
HCS Business Solutions
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
HCS Business Solutions are the first Microsoft Partner in Ireland to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Small Business Competency
HCS Business Solutions, the Waterford based IT company are very proud and excited to announce that in recognition of our Office365 and Microsoft Cloud expertise, we are the first Microsoft Partner in Ireland to achieve the new Microsoft Gold Small Business competency.
This is a significant recognition of our expertise and track record in deploying Microsoft solutions that fit the needs of Small to Medium sized organisations in Ireland.
To achieve a Microsoft gold competency, partners must successfully complete exams (resulting in Microsoft Certified Professionals) to prove their level of technology expertise, and then designate these certified professionals uniquely to one Microsoft competency, ensuring a certain level of staffing capacity. They also must submit customer references that demonstrate successful projects (along with implementing a
Baha’i educator speaks in Waterford
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
Dr Arini Beaumaris, an internatonal educational leader and consultant, and Managing Director of High Capacity Communications, Australia, spoke about her work, in a recent visit to Waterford. Dr Beaumaris is a member of the Baha’i Faith, serves on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia, and was a guest of the local Waterford Baha’i community during her stay.
Dr. Beaumaris’s work provides the tools to enhance all our relationships and better understand ourselves and others. She has also developed a unique system of coaching parents and caregivers to develop ethical character and behaviour management in children, based on her Doctoral research into acting on moral choices.
Dr Beaumaris has spent over twenty years as an educator, from pre-school to Higher Education. As Principal of a secondary school in Canada, she introduced a character education programme resulting in 64% of the
Complete Ban on Visiting in Place at Dungarvan Community Hospital
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
In the interests of patient care and as a precaution, a full ban on visiting is in place at Dungarvan Community Hospital in a bid to curb suspected cases of the Norovirus (vomiting bug).
Visiting to all wards at Dungarvan Community Hospital is prohibited apart from:
- Exceptional circumstances, which includes critical care patients.
- Strictly no children allowed visit the hospital.
Dungarvan Community Hospital regrets this inconvenience but it is necessary at this time to prevent the spread of these illnesses to both patients and staff. Where appropriate, mobile phone contact between families should be considered as an alternative to visiting.
Letters to the Editor
- A Government Successread more »
Once in a blue moon. As rare as hen's teeth. A Government success. Each of those three sentences are as unusual and as rare as each other. But the last one seems to be about to take place. The Government has announced that it plans to give each child in the State a second year of free pre-school. It might not sound like earth shattering news but if it does happen then it could be one of the most significant things that this Government has done since it took office. Any money that is given over to education is a …
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