Breaking News
Minister to attend city business meeting on rising insurance costs
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Minister for Financial Services and Insurance will be in the city tomorrow to attend a meeting with Galway businesses on the cost of insurance.
The visit comes amid growing fears among small businesses nationwide that they’ll be forced to close as as result of rapidly increasing costs.
In recent weeks, the Dáil has heard that many businesses across the west are on the ‘verge of collapse’ due to spiraling insurance costs.
The Taoiseach was warned by Galway West Deputy Noel Grealish that the cost of insurance is the number one reason that small businesses are facing closure.
Deputy Grealish also advised Leo Varadkar that the Government should establish a Financial Conduct Authority to oversee the insurance industry as a matter of priority.
However, businesses across Galway have already fired the first shots in the war against rising insurance costs, ahead of any possible Government intervention.
In January, it was revealed that Galway Businessman Pat McDonagh would spearhead a new campaign from the newly revived Alliance for Insurance Reform.
In the past, the grouping was instrumental in bringing about significant changes – including the setting up of the Injuries Board, and the introduction of legislation making it an offence to lie in a personal injuries case.
Minister for Financial Services and Insurance, Michael D’Arcy, will now meet with Galway businesses at a high level event in the city tomorrow.
He’ll be accompanied by officials from the Department of Finance – and top of the agenda will be what steps the Government is taking to address the situation.
The meeting will take place at the Portershed at Eyre Square tomorrow afternoon at 12.30.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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