Fianna Fail County Councilllor, John Paul Feeley has expressed his concern at recent statements from the EU Commission, the British Primeminster and her Foreign Secretary.
‘The comments Boris Johnston earlier this week, liking the border here with that between Council districts in London followed by the publication of the draft treaty to give effect to what was supposed to have been agreed between the EU Commission and the UK Government all clearly demonstrate that the much vaunted pre-Chistmas Deal was a political fudge lacking any legal standing and offering no reassurance to communities along the border and to the business community throughout Ireland.’
‘Our own Government are high on Communication and Spin and certainly out-did themselves on this non-deal. Spin is part of politics but there must be something there to spin. In this case, as I pointed out much to the annoyance of local Fine Gael representative was merely a welcome political statement of no legal or lasting consequences.’
‘Ireland needs to get real about this issue. It is extraordinary that there are more people working in the Government Communication Unit than in the Brexit Unit. The UK clearly have no understanding of Ireland and some seem willing to sacrafice the Good Friday Agreement in order to achieve some undefined objective.’
Concluding, Councillor Feeley stated that the Government must concentrate all of its efforts on ensuring that the EU Commission and the other 27 memberstates do not waver in their commitment to protecting our interests.
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Category Archives: Press Releases
Mains Replacement will resolve problems with Blacklion Water Supply -Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has warmly welcomed the commencement of works to upgrade the water supply in Blacklion village which will involve the replacement of all the damage water mains and dealing with connections to some houses.
“Over recent months I received numerous representations from businesses and residents in Blacklion who have problems with the water supply to the properties this includes rust -like substances entering their supply from the old cast iron mains which were laid in the village many decades ago. This problem is an issue for any resident or business but particularly for those involved in accommodation and restaurant for which Blacklion is acclaimed throughout the country.”
The work which will commence on 26th of February 2018 is expected to last for 14 weeks and in what will involve the replacement of 1.1 km of ageing water into Blacklion and replacement of old and damaged service connections particularly dealing with shared backyard connections in Marion Crescent adjacent to the village.
“This work is part of an overall leakage reduction program funded by Irish water I want to acknowledge the great work done by Paddy Connaughton, Director of Services, Cavan County Council, Brendan Smith, Engineer and the other staff of Cavan County Council who have prepared the case for this much-needed investment and put together the detailed plans which are about to be implemented. Furthermore they have had to deal with the problems that have arisen for businesses and residents over recent months which thankfully will now be addressed.”
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Condition of N16 worst in the country’ – Feeley
Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has called on Cavan County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to immediately act to address the atrocious conditions of the N16 near Blacklion.
“I have never seen the N16 in such a deplorable condition. The surface from the junction with the Dowra Road (R207) to Blacklion Village has been in deteriorating condition over the past 12 months and I have highlighted the need to obtain funding from TII for a complete overlay of this section of the road. However the poor weather conditions during the autumn and winter of 2017 and in particular in recent weeks have rendered the condition of this road disgraceful and it is beyond time that urgent action is taken to bring the road back up to a minimum acceptable standard.”
Last year the condition of this road was raised by councillor Feeley at meetings of Cavan County Council dealing with the roadworks programme and also at meetings of the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District. Some small-scale remedial work was carried out during 2017 but this has been completely on undone by recent weather conditions.
“I have been advised that TII conduct a comprehensive survey of all national primary roads at least annually. I have to wonder whether the person or persons conducting the survey were paying much attention with the were driving through that part of the N16 in County Cavan as if they were they would have ensured that funds were allocated to address the condition of the road in the short term. I have contacted TII directly to ask them for details of their most recent survey and also to engage with Cavan County Council to ensure that work is done without further delay.”
“In my work as a public representative I travel many roads throughout the country in a particular in County Cavan. I do not believe that any part of the national primary network in this county or indeed in this region is in as poor a condition as the N16 is near Blacklion Village. It is a disgraceful and intolerable situation and must be addressed without further delay.”
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Ltr-to-M-Nolan-TII-04.02.2018.pdf
5a78a8161c5b4Constituency Commission recommendations must be implemented before a General Election is called – Feeley
A snap general election should not be allowed disenfranchise the people of West Cavan again,” so says Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley.
Recent speculation of a general election either immediately before Christmas are in the early part of 2018 makes the implementation of the recommendations of the Constituencies Commission to reunite County Cavan as part of a new five seat constituency all the more urgent as far as people in West Cavan are concerned.
“In recent days it seems that we are heading closer to a General Election. I am concerned that West Cavan remains in a constituency which the Constituency Commission has recommended should be changed as the number of voters in that constituency does not tally with the number of seats assigned to it in Dáil Ėireann. The constituency of Sligo/Leitrim which encompasses parts of County Donegal and Cavan is therefore effectively unconstitutional and the rights of the citizens in that constituency have not been vindicated as a result of the failure of the Oireachtas to bring forward legislation required to implement the recommendations of the Constituency Commission.”
‘During the 2016 general election many people told me on the doorsteps that they would vote in this constituency once and once only because they felt it was undemocratic and unfair to them to take them from their natural hinterland and placed them in a constituency with all are part of three other counties. Many people did not vote at all in the previous constituency and the concerns of the people of West Cavan and indeed all of County Cavan were clearly set out in the numerous submissions made by statutory agencies such as Cavan County Council and also by ordinary citizens and their local community groups who demanded that they be returned to Cavan Monaghan constituency. Those concerns were accepted entirely by the Constituency Commission yet, for whatever reason the political parties in Dáil Ėireann have not moved to give the people of this county and in particular people in West Cavan their democratic right.”
“I call on all political parties but in particular the Minister for Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, TD and the Government Chief Whip, Joe McHugh, TD to ensure that the necessary legislation is brought before the House of the Oireachtas without further delay. Given the current political instability this legislation should be moved and implemented this week. I have written to the Government Chief Whip and to the Whip of the Fianna Fáil party in this regard.”
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