I was delighted to attend the Cuala Academy Mini All Ireland end-of-season event on the 20th of June.
It was wonderful to see the children involved in sports and how much they enjoyed themselves while participating in healthy activities and fun.
It was also great to see the children demonstrating their skills as athletes and as team players.
Last Saturday, I had the honour and great pleasure to perform the ribbon cutting at the Official Opening of the new tennis courts and clubhouse at DeVesci Gardens for the 120 year anniversary of its existence.
Since DeVesci was opened in 1895, it has grown to be a staple in Monkstown and has formed into a beautiful space where people can enjoy being outdoors and focus on the sport they love.
I was delighted to celebrate the anniversary of such excellent facilities that contribute to the development of youth participation and promote a healthy lifestyle for the children and adults of our community.
For information on the DeVesci Tennis Club please visit their website http://www.devesci.net or email them at devesciltc@gmail.com
On Friday May 22nd, we have an opportunity to make a change to our Constitution and extend the opportunity for civil marriage to everyone. You have taken the first vital step in having your say on this important constitutional and social question. Now, we appeal to you to make sure that you go out and vote ‘yes’.
This is an opportunity for a new generation of voter to shape the future of our country and the lives of our family and friends. We hope that you will join with us in ensuring that all people have an equal opportunity to marry the person they love.
We also want to encourage you to talk to your family and friends about the importance of saying ‘yes’ to marriage equality. Voter turnout is important and it is critical that those of us campaigning for change make every effort to encourage people to join with us in voting ‘yes’.
You can vote on Friday May 22nd between 7am and 10pm at your assigned local Polling Station. Your Polling Card indicates which Polling Station you should vote in or click on the link below to see the location of your Polling Station. http://www.dlrcoco.ie/pollingstations/
If you have queries or need further clarification on the Marriage Equality Referendum, please visit the Referendum Commission’s website, which
provides neutral and unbiased information at http://refcom2015.ie/.
Please review the rules and guidelines on voting etiquette, so that your vote is not spoiled or disqualified. For a summary of the rules, please follow this link: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/q-a-how-to-vote-no-selfies-and-leave-the-badge-at-home-1.2218688
This week I had the opportunity to present the 2015 Good Eating Guide Awards in Dublin to the top chefs and restaurant owners across the country.
During my speech I discussed the importance of the Irish experience, which is especially crucial in the upcoming tourism season. The retention of the 9% vat rate has helped the hospitality and food industry, which employs over 138,000 people.
Among the winners I announced were Derry Clarke of L’Écrivain who picked up a specially commissioned Tipperary Crystal vase for best overall chef; Restaurant 41 @ The Residence which was named best restaurant; Matt the Thresher, Lower Pembroke Street, which was named best gastro pub; Roly’s Bistro, named best value restaurant; Fire at the Mansion House, best restaurant in Leinster; and Oliver St John Gogarty, best tourist restaurant.
The Good Eating Guide, in its 25th edition, is itself a barometer of sentiment in the restaurant and hospitality industries. This year it features 200 eateries around Ireland, a 10% increase on last year, reflecting the optimistic mood.
The Good Eating Guide has an online version which replicates the printed version www.goodeatingguide.ie
Last week I had the opportunity to speak at Coláiste Íosagáin’s Graduation. The graduating Transition Year students impressed me greatly and I was delighted to see their commitment to the Irish language.
Congratulations to the Coláiste Íosagáin’s Class of 2015!
On Wednesday 22, 2015 I participated in “National Job Shadow Day,” an initiative by the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE) and RehabCare in Dún Laoghaire to promote business and equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
I spent the day working alongside Susan Murray in the Dáil. Susan assisted me with daily office tasks and joined me at an event I was paneling. I really enjoyed having her shadow me at work.
Susan reviewed her day and stated, “I visited the Dáil and got to see where all the cabinet members meet and speak. I spent most of the day with Mary. We had a chat and attended a Twitter event that Mary was involved with young people about the importance of social media. Mary introduced me at the event and told the audience that I was shadowing her that day. I got a big round of applause from everyone. There was a lot of information and I found it interesting and informative. This was my favourite part.”
“I then got to speak by phone with Jackie, a staff member from Mary’s Constituency Office in Dun Laoghaire, about the difficulties and issues around housing for people with disabilities. I spoke about my own struggles and history of advocating for myself in the past. I found it useful to talk about this as it is so important to me.”
Susan is involved in Special Olympics Ireland and is a radio presenter for the 4 O’Clock local radio programme.
Susan’s future career interests include customer service, hospitality, and radio or television. Susan is passionate about promoting rights for people with disabilities, especially with housing and quality of life.
Further Information: http://www.rehabcare.ie/news-events/latest-news/susan-gets-insight-into-daily-life-of-a-td
The Marriage Equality Referendum will be held on Friday, 22nd May.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, launched Fine Gael’s campaign calling for a Yes vote in the Marriage Equality Referendum on Friday, 22nd May.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny said: “Equal marriage is all about enriching the everyday lives of ordinary men and women. It’s that equality in marriage that I believe will bring great happiness and joy not alone to couples but to their families, their siblings, parents and grandparents. By voting Yes on May 22nd, we will ensure that all couples can share the benefits of civil marriage. We will ensure that people will be treated equally no matter who they love.”
Please be advised that the closing date for additions to the supplementary register is Tuesday, 5th May.
With Monday being a bank holiday, intending voters will need to post their application by Friday, 30th April in order for their name to be included on the register.
The required RFA2 form can be downloaded at this link
Intending voters need to get their form stamped by a Garda and then send it to the Franchise Department of their local authority.
Every vote counts. Please register and vote YES on Marriage Equality on Friday, 22nd May.
I would like to invite you to a Public Meeting on the new Charities’ Regulatory Authority on Thursday, March 12th at 7pm in Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney.
I would greatly appreciate if you could circulate the invite to colleagues and other interested groups. It promises to be an interesting and informative evening with keynote speaker Mr. Ivan Cooper, Director of Advocacy, The Wheel. The Wheel is Ireland’s support and representative umbrella network for community, voluntary and charitable organisations. Mr. Cooper will give a presentation on how to register and what impact the new Regulator will have on the charity sector.
It will start at 7pm sharp. There will be a Q+A session after the keynote speaker’s presentation. Please RSVP to mary.mitchelloconnor@oir.ie by Tuesday, March 10th. Please note that there is no cover charge for this conference.
If you have any questions about the event, or if I can be of assistance on any other local/national matter, please contact my Blackrock Constituency Office on 01 210 9161.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD
I recently received this lovely poem from a constituent after their tour of Dàil Èireann. I am delighted to share it with you today.
OUR DÀIL DAY
Yes, Eamonn we were really there
A culture outing beyond compare,
The Oireachtas tour was excellent
T’was a truly special event.
From the gallery in the House
We heard TDs grumble and grouse!
Then to the Senate for a vote
Where we saw Senators of note.
Past portraits of the good and great
Charlie, Bertie et al of late,
Then to the Member’s bar we went
Ten “oldies” happy and content!
A superb dinner of fine fare
Served by Christina with genteel care,
Thanks to Mary our charming host,
Aye, and to Fine Gael a wee toast!
( Anon:! )
| Individuals and organisations concerned about alcohol harm are being invited to make their voice heard on the Public Health Alcohol Bill.The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children has issued an invitation to interested individuals and groups to have their say on proposed legislation on alcohol. The Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill were published on February 4 and are accessible here.
The Bill sets out to provide for health labelling of alcohol products; minimum unit pricing; regulation of marketing and advertising of alcohol, and enforcement powers for Environmental Health Officers.Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has referred the draft General Scheme to the Joint Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. As part of the process, the Committee is inviting input from organisations and individuals on the proposals. Written submissions should be sent electronically by email (MS Word or equivalent) and should be received not later than 3pm on March 5th 2015 at the following email address only: publichealthbill@oireachtas.ie |