Portmarnock residents sick of rubbish & broken glass

Following a canvas of Strand Mill Avenue in Portmarnock, Sinn Féin candidate for Howth/Malahide, Colm Ó Murchadha, has called on Fingal County Council to clear rubbish and broken glass immediately from the bushes surrounding a pathway at the end of this cul de sac. “The bushes around the path are a complete mess, and the broken glass could be very dangerous if a child fell” said Mr. Ó Murchadha. The residents are disappointed because this seems to be the only area in Portmarnock that the council doesn’t clean on a regular basis. One resident called the council numerous times, and when somebody eventually came to sweep the roads they didn’t pick up any rubbish around the pathway in question.

Representatives of Sinn Féin held a meeting in Howth on 30th April with local fishermen from County Fingal to discuss the issues currently threatening the livelihood and culture of those in the fishing industry. The meeting was attended by Mary Lou McDonald, and Martin Ferris TD, party spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development and Marine and Natural Resources. Local area Reps Fergus Byrne (Balbriggan Ward) and Colm Ó Murchadha (Howth / Malahide Ward) were also present.Local fishermen outlined the crisis facing them, as severe restrictions have been placed upon them regarding the number of days they are allowed to fish – two days in a three month period. Some have had their boats decommissioned but have been told they are not entitled to unemployment payments as they were self-employed. Martin Ferris said “The new EU laws introduced have all but sounded the death knell for another substantial section of the Irish fishery sector. A further indication, if needed, that the real object of EU policy is to close down the Irish fishing industry. The Common Fisheries Policy which has been the bedrock of the disastrous mismanagement of the Irish fishery since this state joined the EU. Unless and until an Irish Government reverses the shameful sell out made at that time, we will be merely tinkering around and allowing Brussels to engineer the effective liquidation of the Irish fishing sector. And yet there seems to be little political will here to demand a radical overhaul of the Common Fisheries Policy.”Mary Lou McDonald undertook to investigate the ownership status of, and difficulties in, Howth Fish Market, which was purchased with EU funds. She will pose questions in the European Parliament about the matter, and pledged her commitment to explore it fully, in her capacity as an MEP.Local area reps Fergus Byrne (Balbriggan Ward) and Colm Ó Murchadha (Howth / Malahide Ward) stated that they were glad to lend their support to the local fishermen, and assured them of Sinn Féin’s continued defense of their cause. ENDS

Following a canvass of Mount Drinan Lawn in Kinsealy it was brought to the attention of Local Sinn Féin Rep Colm Ó Murchadha that a temporary entrance to the estate, which was created to allow access to the show house during the construction stage, is still open and is the cause of major concern to local families. The entrance has insufficient street lighting and has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Mr. Ó Murchadha has called on Fingal County Council to close this entrance as planning permission was never granted for it, or alternatively if the entrance remains open, it should be improved so as to discourage anti-social behaviour. He has also stressed that the wider issue of anti-social behaviour in the area needs to be addressed and calls for more investment for youth facilities.