A NATIONAL strike in France has forced both Ryanair and Aer Lingus to cancel flights to and from the European country this Tuesday causing travel disruption to many. Reports are that up to two million people are taking part in the action of pension reforms and a crackdown on illegal immigrants. Ryanair said many flights will not run as scheduled with cancellations and delays. Aer Lingus have cancelled some flights but all passengers are advised to travel to the airports as normal.
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POOR design and lenghty delays have been highlighted as the causes for the underspend of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund according to a reporting investigation carried out by the Financial Times. The fund includes some €17 million euro that was set aside to help workers who lost their jobs when Dell closed the factory in Raheen, Limerick. The entire fund has some €2 billion euro at its disposal yet only €140million has been spent to date.
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AN Umbrella Group to represent the St. Mary’s Community is to be launched on September 7 by one of its most famous sons, former rugby international, Anthony Foley. After facilitation provided by the PAUL Partnership, representatives from many different groups got together to form the initial Umbrella Group, covering an area comprising King’s Island, the oldest community in Limerick, as well as a portion of Corbally. These initial members have worked to establish a constitution and a framework which aspires to attract a broad and diverse range of community based voluntary interest groups in the Parish – Residents Groups, Sports Clubs, Environmental Groups, Senior Citizens, etc. – to come together to achieve its objective of becoming the unified voice of St. Mary’s Community. All community groups operating in the area are expected to participate. The unofficial motto is One Voice – One Community, reflecting its role as a forum to express itself on all issues affecting it and bring these concerns to the powers that be – Government, City Council, Regeneration, Gardai, HSE, etc.
Music will be provided at the launch at the Absolute Hotel by St. Mary’s Prize Fife and Drum Band – whose 125th anniversary is to be marked at the ceremony by a special presentation- and by St. Mary’s Parents Folk Choir.
