Seán elected Deputy Mayor of Kilkenny
Seán launches online petition to save RTÉ ‘Rattlebag’ programme Kilkenny Labour Party Councillor Seán Ó hArgáin has launched a National online petition calling on the Director General of RTÉ and the Head of RTÉ Radio One to rescind the decision to remove the arts programme ‘Rattlebag’ from the Radio One schedule. The petition can be found on Cllr. Ó hArgáin’s website, www.ohargain.com, and he has contacted arts organisations throughout the country to support the demand for the retention of the programme. “I believe this decision is one of the most short-sighted RTÉ have made in recent years. As a loyal listener to the programme since its inception, I am outraged that RTÉ can so flippantly remove a programme with a huge listenership, and one which has played a vital role in the promotion of the arts, and indeed has created vital criticism of and discussion of the arts in Ireland. I am not opposed to the change in the National broadcaster’s line-up, but it should not impact on major programme’s which are central to RTÉ’s role as a public broadcaster. I also welcome the concern of the Arts Council on this issue, and I note their intention to meet with RTÉ management in this regard.” Cllr. Ó hArgáin called on the public to
support the petition and to ensure the continuation of Rattlebag into
the future. Follow this link to sign the petition
At December's meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council, Seán's
motion calling for an official but commemoration of the 90th anniversary
of the 1916 rising to be held in the city was passed. It was opposed
by some of the Fine Gael group on the council, who alleged that it would
rekindle the Republican propaganda around the celebrations. Seán
however defended the right of the people of the city to celebrate a
central part of the achievement of our independence. Please join in
the debate, or email Seán with your views. For Seán's views click here: 1916
Call Seán attends last year's annual Labour Party Connolly 1916 commemoration
at Arbour Hill cemetery with Joe Costello TD, Roddy Connolly, grandson
of James Connolly, Pat Rabbitte TD, Labour leader, Cllr. Michael Conaghan,
then Labour Mayor of Dublin, and Liz McManus TD, Labour Deputy Leader -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seán supports Labour's Policy on Childcare Cllr. Seán Ó hArgáin has committed his full support
as a parent, a public representative and as a professional teacher to
Labour's new policy on Childcare, saying it will lead to a better deal
for Kilkenny's children and their parents. If you would like to read Seán's views on this issue, click
here. To read Labour's full policy document, you will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader, which you can download by clicking here Download the Children First Policy Document in PDF format here -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seán to support campaign for free travel for returning emigrants The Labour Party in Kilkenny is organising a major postcard campaign
in the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day to support the call for the
extension of the Free Travel Scheme to Irish pensioners living abroad. In 2001 the government established the Task Force on Policy Regarding
Emigrants. One of the key recommendations of the report was the introduction
of measures to facilitate the return of emigrants to Ireland, but unfortunately
little has been done to act on this. The Irish community in Britain has, in particular, has urged that the
free travel service, available to pensioners in this country, be made
available to Irish pensioners in Britain when they travel to this country.
This would assist elderly people, many of whom are surviving on meagre
incomes, to visit loved ones in this country. The overall cost to the
Irish Exchequer would be modest but it would be an appropriate gesture
of gratitude on behalf of this generation for all the economic assistance
provided by emigrants during the difficult economic days of the 50s
and 60s. To support the campaign the Labour Party is printing 30,000 postcards,
which people are being asked to return and which will then be delivered
to the Taoiseach. Newspapers serving the Irish community in Britain
have agreed to help with the distribution of the cards and it is hoped
that most of them will be returned over the St. Patrick’s Day
period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seán Pays Tribute to John Hume The retirement of John Hume as an active politician in Northern Ireland
marks the ending of the most important contribution to Northern Ireland
and Nationalist politics, said Seán Ó hArgáin,
Labour party candidate for Kilkenny Borough Council. Mr. Ó hArgáin,
who had met John Hume, in his role as Deputy President of the Union
of Students in Ireland, said Hume had been the voice of reason and of
peace, who he described as his political hero in Irish terms. “I believe we would never have had the peace we now have in
Northern Ireland if John Hume had not pushed and cajoled and showed
extraordinary leadership, at great personal cost to himself, his family
and indeed his party, the SDLP, Those who now take peace for granted do so at their peril. It is time
that Sinn Féin, in particular, who Hume brought in from the cold
show that they really are a democratic party, and that the IRA does
what the Irish people, North and South voted for, and announce total
disarmament. Until they do, people should continue to treat them with
deep concern.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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