Fine Gael News

THERE was disappointment for Limerick city councillor Pat Kennedy this Monday who has lost out to party colleague Cllr Denis McCarthy in the race to be the Fine Gael nominee for the mayoralty.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he won't let the events of Sunday afternoon in Ballinalee faze him despite the ongoing row over abortion legislation.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has this weekend been accused by members of his own party of trying to "organise a hanging" of Public Accounts Committee chairman John McGuinness and of undermining the committee's work.

Fidelma Healy Eames has become the first Fine Gael senator to definitively declare she will vote against the Government's proposals to legislate on abortion unless the suicide clause is removed.

In a statement this evening, Fidelma Healy Eames said that she would not be supporting the bill while the suicide clause remains, and that she had informed the party leader and Fine Gael headquarters of her decision.

Noel Coonan TD has welcomed confirmation from his Fine Gael colleague and Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Fergus O'Dowd that he has issued a directive which will see his Department acquire lands at the Tailing Ponds, Gortmore, Silvermines.

So, the latest Ipsos/MRBI poll is out in the Irish Times. At this mid point in the term of the thirty first Dail, there's not a lot of change to highlight.

Two candidates are believed to be putting their names forward: first time member Cllr Denis McCarthy, and veteran southside councillor Pat Kennedy.

EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has set himself up for a public spat with his Fine Gael cabinet colleague Phil Hogan over which institutes of technology are most likely to get university status.

Claims that powerful forces are at work to oust the head of a parliamentary public spending watchdog have been backed by a Government TD.

The race is on for the seat left vacant on Longford County Council by Cllr Paddy Belton who died suddenly at the end of April.

Law would permit abortions in Ireland for the first time if a woman's life is in danger medically or she is at the risk of suicide Irish doctors with conscientious objections to abortion will be allowed to opt out of emergency terminations in the Republic under the Dublin government's new abortion law.

Sinn FA©in Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis has called for immediate action by the state to deal with the rising numbers of homeless people across Ireland.

LABOUR believes that Fine Gael will have to face the consequences of losing TDs as a result of the abortion bill.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny is coming under sustained attack over the abortion legislation, receiving up to 50 abusive calls a day and hundreds of graphic images of dead babies.

Health Minister James Reilly has come in for stinging criticism over his refusal to attend a meeting with Longford Town Council concerning the long term future of St Joseph's Day Care Centre.

Ciara Galvin News that the future of the Sacred Heart Hospital has been secured with the allocation of a 11 million in funding has been strongly welcomed by councillors and the public throughout the county.

FORMER mayor Cllr Maria Byrne is "being groomed by Fine Gael" as a successor to Michael Noonan in the Dail, according to a party colleague.

Fine Gael TD Peter Mathews with Des Hanafin, honorary president of Pro-life Campaign, and Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte at the vigil A FINE Gael TD has become the first government deputy to break ranks over abortion and pledge to vote against the legislation when it comes before the Dail.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore have been warned they are facing a "silent revolt" by a majority of TDs and senators of the coalition parties over their proposal to abolish the Seanad.