Connacht Tribune
Cannon blasted over ‘no show’ at Gort undocumented event
Minister Ciaran Cannon was blasted for his ‘no show’ at a Gort event for undocumented which was launched last Sunday, International Human Rights Day.
The Galway East Fine Gael TD, who is Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development, was expected to attend an event organised by Gort Justice for the Undocumented.
The group was launching a report ‘Gort is my home’, research highlighting the contribution the undocumented make to the South Galway town.
According to organisers, Minister Cannon’s office had accepted the invitation but did not show up to the event, which was attended by around 300 people at Gort Town Hall on Church Street. They say he did not send apologies either, which delayed the event by 30 minutes.
“We are livid that the Minister with responsibility for Diaspora and International Development didn’t turn up. Ciaran Cannon was a no show. There was no show, no apologies, no nothing. It delayed the event by half an hour. Eighteen people had travelled down from Dublin for the occasion and given the road conditions they had to leave early. Sadly, the late start meant that their contribution to the event was curtailed.
“We were bitterly disappointed that Minister Ciaran Cannon did not attend on International Day of Human Rights. Messages of distress were received when it was highlighted that the Minister had posted photos of a winter wonderland in Kiltullagh to Facebook the same day and yet failed to attend or contact us,” said Dr Margaret Brehony, lead researcher of the report. Organisers had officially invited the Minister through the proper channels, and had also cleared the correct protocol for ministerial visits.
Annie Rosario, co-ordinator at Gort Resource Centre, said: “It was upsetting that Ciaran Cannon didn’t come to the event, especially given that the undocumented would form part of his brief. People were upset; it was disappointing.”
Clifden-based Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Eileen Mannion (FG), didn’t make it either, due to the snow threat but had phoned ahead to give her apologies.
Galway East TD and Fianna Fáil spokesperson for Children, Anne Rabbitte, gave a rousing speech at the event, which was also attended by Fine Gael County Councillor, Joe Byrne.
In her speech, Deputy Rabbitte noted that there were no votes to be gained from supporting the undocumented issue, but it was the right thing to do. She advocated a system of regularisation of the undocumented in Ireland, and highlighted the need for cross-party support because it was ethically and morally the right thing to do, but also would bring favourable economic benefits.
Dr Kathy Reilly of the NUIG Geography Department offciially launched the research.
The launch was described as a “moving” and “celebratory” event, which highlighted the contribution made and that could be made by the Brazilian Community here in Gort.
It also underlined the unequal and vulnerable circumstances that are felt by many on a daily basis while living in the shadows in Gort.
The Gort Justice for Undocumented Group have called for a fair and humane response to immigrants who are living in our communities. They want the government to introduce a regularisation scheme for undocumented workers and their families, and an end to Direct Provision and fair treatment for people who are seeking asylum or refuge in Ireland. They say they also support the Irish governments call for an amnesty for undocumented Irish emigrants in the US.
Gort was once home to 1,000 Brazilians, many recruited by Sean Duffy’s meat plant in better economic times. When the factory closed in 2010 and work permits expired, there was no obligation on the employer to fly former staff home.
The Portuguese speakers had married, started families, put down roots. It is estimated there are 300-400 Brazilians still living in Gort, who are invisible and living in fear of deportation.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
