Galway Bay fm - News

Traveller Pride Day in Ballybrit tomorrow to celebrate the 'Original Recyclers'

A Traveller Pride Open Day is taking place tomorrow in Ballybrit to celebrate the Community's name as the 'Original Recyclers'. 
Bounce Back Enterprises is hosting the family friendly event from 12-4PM, which will include live music, traditional games, bread making, tin-smithing and demonstrations.  
The theme of the event is ‘Reclaiming Spaces as the Original Recyclers’, and it aims to promote responsible recycling in aid of a circular economy. 
Keith McDonagh, Manager of Bounce Back Recycling explains the impact of their work:

90% of first time mortgages in Galway last year were for properties within county

A new report has revealed that 88 percent of first time buyer mortgages drawn down in Galway last year were for properties within the county. 
Meanwhile, when it comes to movers, the figure was slightly lower at 84 percent. 
The report from the Banking and Payments Federation found that 1 in 4 borrowers nationwide are now buying or building outside their own county. 
Home county borrowers accounted for less than half of home mortgages in three Leinster counties: Kildare, Laois and Meath.
Overall, a higher proportion of first-time buyers than movers were cross-county borrowers. 
Carol Tallan, CEO of Property District, says there are a number of reasons behind this trend:

Local TD concerned retained firefighters are on brink of industrial action

Retained firefighters are on the brink of industrial action according to Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane
SIPTU recently rejected what they have described as 'unacceptably low offers' by management.
Retained firefighters are on call all year round in areas without a full fire service,  and work other jobs within a certain distance of their fire station.
All fire stations in County Galway currently operate on this basis, and are likely to be affected by this industrial action.
Deputy Kerrane says the situation is 'beyond a joke'.

Farmers with lower payments in West to benefit from €15m CAP boost

Farmers in the West of Ireland with lower CAP payments are to benefit from a €15m boost over the next few years.
Analysis the Basic Income Support for Sustainability shows that money is set to flow from 15 counties in the south and east to 9 counties, mainly in the West.
It's as a result of the current CAP, and will see an extra €1.7m for Galway, with the likes of Mayo, Kerry and Donegal benefitting slightly more.
Darren Carty Sheep & Schemes Editor with the Farmer's Journal spoke to Sarah Slevin about the impact it will have on Galway farmers.

Chris McManus says 'still all to play for' for Sinn Féin in Midlands North West after elimination

Outgoing MEP Chris McManus says it's still all to play for in the Midlands North West for his party colleague Michelle Gildernew after his elimination.
European Parliament candidate Lisa Chambers is now chasing Ciaran Mullooly after benefitting from 9,000 transfers from Fianna Fáil colleague Niall Blaney
The Independent Ireland candidate remains in pole position to win the final seat, and it's expected Luke Ming Flanagan will get the first, followed by Nina Carberry, Maria Walsh and Barry Cowen.
The 18th count is underway now, and Chris says we cannot count out Michelle Gildernew just yet:

Ciarán Mullooly cautiously optimistic over outcome of Midlands North West count

Midlands North West candidate Ciarán Mullooly says he is cautiously optimistic regarding his position in the counts for the European elections.
He is now in pole position to win the final seat, while it's expected Luke Ming Flanagan will get the first, followed by Nina Carberry, Maria Walsh and Barry Cowen.
The sixteenth count is underway now, which involves the distribution of Fianna Fáil's Niall Blaney's votes.
Speaking to John Morley on Galway Talks, Ciarán says he is feeling positive but there are a lot of moving parts:

City Councillor calls for ban on sharing images of road traffic accidents

A city councillor has labelled the practice of taking and sharing pictures of road traffic incidents as 'grotesque'.
Labour Councillor Níall McNelis is demanding the Government ban the practice, and say it's a disrespectful intrusion into the private grieving process. 
A Labour Party bill is due to be debated in the Dáil today (thurs), which seeks the introduction of penalties for anyone who shares these images.
Níall McNelis says it's time to stamp out this behaviour, and he says the bill is a step toward achieving that:

Deputy Kerrane describes funding level for Cancer Centre in Ballinsloe as 'shameful'

Roscommon/Galway TD Claire Kerrane has described the level of funding being provided to the Cancer Centre in Ballinasloe as 'shameful'.
East Galway & Midlands Cancer Support provides services and supports to cancer patients, free of charge, such as transport to cancer treatment, therapies, counseling, and treatments. 
The Sinn Féin TD has secured a debate to make the case for funding, to sustain the weekly services provided to up to 130 people affected by cancer.
Deputy Kerrane told the Dáil the centre is under severe funding pressure, and both the Department and HSE need to engage more with cancer centres:

Deputy Fitzmaurice calls for more protection for farmers incomes

Roscommon Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice  is calling for more to be done to protect farmers' incomes.
The Independent Ireland TD is raising concerns over how EU laws aimed at preventing biodiversity loss will impact on farmers.
The Regional Group of TDs is calling for a detailed plan to help implement targets set out in the EU Nature Restoration Laws.
Deputy Fitzmaurice, says farmers are being given no choice:

Athenry-Oranmore - Albert Dolan (FF) speaks with David Nevin

Athenry-Oranmore - Albert Dolan (FF) speaks with David Nevin