Latest news with #Darmody
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Teenager to begin 50 hour protest outside Leinster House over assessments of needs wait times
TEENAGE CAMPAIGNER CARA Darmody will begin a 50-hour protest outside Dáil Éireann today over the Government's failure to deliver assessments of needs (AON) on time. The 14-year old, who has two brothers with severe autism, has spearheaded a campaign to compel the Government to improve access to services for people with disabilities. Darmody said the main focus of her campaign is on the fact that the Government is breaking the law in relation to the delivery of assessments of needs. 'Assessments of needs' are formal procedures set out under the Disability Act 2005 that are intended to identify a child's health and educational needs. The HSE is legally obliged to carry out a full assessment within six months of receiving an application. This should then be followed up with any additional services required. An assessment is not required to access services, however, in practice it is a key element in getting a child into the system. A recent response to a parliamentary question revealed that just 7% of assessments were completed within the six-month timeframe, while over 15,000 children are currently overdue an assessment. Advertisement 'By not assessing autistic children within 6 months in 93% of cases means that the Disability Act law is being systematically broken, and this has been going on for almost a decade. 'It is not acceptable in my book – how can the Cabinet expect teenagers like me to obey the laws of our land, when they are the ones that break a law openly and with impunity,' Darmody said in a statement ahead of today's protest. Darmody's protest today comes as the Dáil is set to hear hours of statements on the issue alongside a cross-party Opposition motion on the issue following a successful campaign from the teenager. The motion comes after Opposition party leaders met with Darmody in recent weeks. She also spoke to Children's Minister Norma Foley in recent days. 'The initial motivation for my advocacy was because I have two brothers, Neil (12) and John (8), who have autism and severe/profound intellectual disabilities. 'They were both failed dramatically by the State in relation to the assessments and services that they received. There is nothing in my advocacy for them, I now do it for the national picture,' Darmody said ahead of today's protest. The teenager is calling for the Government to declare a national emergency and stop breaking the law in relation to assessments of needs. She is also asking for the creation of a task force to examine and remove barriers that exist in relation to employment in the sector, and additional funding for 'Cara's Fund'. 'Cara's Fund' was so named by then Taoiseach Simon Harris in October 2024 when he allocated an additional €10m towards dealing with the backlog of assessments. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The ERA, a floating nuclear power plant off LBI: From the Asbury Park Press archives
It's the start of spring in 1972 on the Jersey Shore. In the news, is the promise of the Equal Rights Amendment, a planned offshore nuclear power plant south of Long Beach Island and a proposed state income tax. However, only one of these things will come to fruition in our timeline. WASHINGTON — Ending four decades of reluctance and indecision, Congress has approved a constitutional amendment designed to improve equal rights for women, according to the Associated Press. The 84-to-8 Senate vote yesterday that completed congressional action on the proposal brought shouts of joy and a spirited champagne party by supporters, the AP reports. But Sen. Sam Ervin, D-N.C., who lost 10 attempts to modify the amendment, said: 'You are crucifying women on a cross of equality. … Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do,' according to the wire article. To take effect, the amendment must be ratified by the legislatures of 38 states within seven years. It would become effective two years after ratification, the article said. Hawaii, acting an hour after the Senate vote, became the first state to ratify. The vote in the Hawaii Legislature was unanimous, the AP reports. NEWARK — The Public Service Electric and Gas Company has selected a site southeast of Litte Egg Inlet for an offshore nuclear power plant. The proposed location is east of the maritime boundary separating Ocean and Atlantic counties, within the three-mile limit for state jurisdiction. The company proposes to locate two nuclear units with an electric generating capacity of 1,150,000 kilowatts each on floating platforms, about 150 feet apart, behind a semicircular breakwater. PSE&G announced last Thursday it had signed a letter of intent with Westinghouse Electric to buy two floating units at a cost of $1 billion each. LACEY — Residents will have a new chief of police on April 1, who decided just five years ago to make police work his life. But the life of Thomas Darmody III has been all police work since he took the oath 11 years ago in Long Beach Township. He met his wife after she parked her car in a closed public lot and her future husband issued her a parking summons for it. But he's merrier for the incident. Married in 1968, the couple has two boys — ages 2 and 3. Chief-designate Darmody, now a sergeant, will become the second-youngest chief — at 32 — in Ocean County when he succeeds longtime Chief Patrick J. Geraghty. The youngest is Long Beach Township Chief Larry D. Parker, 31. Darmody is taking over a department which has seen officers quit over low salaries and morale. The Township Committee is mulling over whether to increase patrolmen's salaries from an annual starting amount of $6,800 to more than $8,000. Geraghty was paid about $9,500 a year. Darmody said criminal issues that need to be tackled include an average of 10-to-12 break-ins per month, which can mostly be attributed to juvenile crime. For example, youths have been burglarizing unoccupied summer homes for their liquor stocks, he explained. While underage alcohol use is a bigger problem than drugs, there were nonetheless 18 drug-related arrests in Lacey in 1971, mostly for marijuana, he said. 'I don't see any really big problems,' Darmody said. 'We have good men and they're experienced. The biggest hurdle was the salary negotiations. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park Press NJ archives for March 23
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFL QB Quentin Darmody believes his recent release was due to union activity
The start of the UFL's second season continues to draw closer, despite lingering labor unrest. There's currently no Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the players are looking for more than the $55,000 base salary they received a year ago. Last week, three unnamed players said they were threatened with termination if they boycotted the league's media days. This week, a player who was fired by the UFL has gone on the record with a claim that the move arose from his union activities. Via Kevin Seifert of quarterback Quentin Darmody believes he was let go by the Memphis Showboats due to his agitation on behalf of all players for a better deal. "I think that was the driving factor," Darmody said. He contends that, on March 8, Memphis G.M. Jim Monos called to say Darmody was being released. Darmody said he got no explanation at the time. Darmody said that, during a meeting with Monos on March 9, Monos said the decision wasn't based on the quarterback's performance in training camp. Darmody said that, on March 10 he received a text that cited his "accuracy and footwork" for the move. "They trade for me to come in and compete to be the starter," Dormady told Seifert. "And then I get five practices to show that basically I'm not good enough to be on their team? It just seemed fishy. "I've been very open about trying to help lead the negotiations here to get us to where we can get to a place to finish this and come to a resolution. But when we're at a standstill because the league refuses to even meet us a third of the way, then there's no good faith here. So I think that this was a deal where it's like, let's chop a head off and make this another way that they can threaten people." Although he's officially gone from the UFL, Darmody isn't going away quietly. "They keep messing with the wrong guy," Dormady told Seifert. "I'm not backing down, man. This goes far beyond playing football at this point. . . . What it's always been about is, 'Let's just do what's right.' We're not trying to sink anyone or the league or anything. We understand what the league's done for us, but at the same time, they just continue to show who they are, and it ain't about the players." Federal law provides protection against adverse employment action for union activity. If, as it currently appears, the players won't strike, the players' union can increase the heat on the league by pursuing legal relief on Darmody's behalf. The UFL denies Darmody's allegations. "Our teams engage in various player transactions during training camp, including free agent signings, moving players to injured reserve, waivers and terminations," a UFL spokesperson told Seifert. "In fact, through eight days of camp, 24 players have been released. Any player transactions are purely the result of football decisions at the team level and have nothing to do with collective bargaining negotiations." That's exactly what the UFL would say, even if the move was influenced by Darmody's efforts to help the players get more. And if legal action is pursued, the lawyers representing Darmody's interests would have an opportunity to fully explore any and all evidence (including text messages and emails) that would confirm Darmody's suspicions or debunk the stated reasons for Darmody's firing.
NBC Sports
12-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
UFL QB Quentin Darmody believes his recent release was due to union activity
The start of the UFL's second season continues to draw closer, despite lingering labor unrest. There's currently no Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the players are looking for more than the $55,000 base salary they received a year ago. Last week, three unnamed players said they were threatened with termination if they boycotted the league's media days. This week, a player who was fired by the UFL has gone on the record with a claim that the move arose from his union activities. Via Kevin Seifert of quarterback Quentin Darmody believes he was let go by the Memphis Showboats due to his agitation on behalf of all players for a better deal. 'I think that was the driving factor,' Darmody said. He contends that, on March 8, Memphis G.M. Jim Monos called to say Darmody was being released. Darmody said he got no explanation at the time. Darmody said that, during a meeting with Monos on March 9, Monos said the decision wasn't based on the quarterback's performance in training camp. Darmody said that, on March 10 he received a text that cited his 'accuracy and footwork' for the move. 'They trade for me to come in and compete to be the starter,' Dormady told Seifert. 'And then I get five practices to show that basically I'm not good enough to be on their team? It just seemed fishy. 'I've been very open about trying to help lead the negotiations here to get us to where we can get to a place to finish this and come to a resolution. But when we're at a standstill because the league refuses to even meet us a third of the way, then there's no good faith here. So I think that this was a deal where it's like, let's chop a head off and make this another way that they can threaten people.' Although he's officially gone from the UFL, Darmody isn't going away quietly. 'They keep messing with the wrong guy,' Dormady told Seifert. 'I'm not backing down, man. This goes far beyond playing football at this point. . . . What it's always been about is, 'Let's just do what's right.' We're not trying to sink anyone or the league or anything. We understand what the league's done for us, but at the same time, they just continue to show who they are, and it ain't about the players.' Federal law provides protection against adverse employment action for union activity. If, as it currently appears, the players won't strike, the players' union can increase the heat on the league by pursuing legal relief on Darmody's behalf. The UFL denies Darmody's allegations. 'Our teams engage in various player transactions during training camp, including free agent signings, moving players to injured reserve, waivers and terminations,' a UFL spokesperson told Seifert. 'In fact, through eight days of camp, 24 players have been released. Any player transactions are purely the result of football decisions at the team level and have nothing to do with collective bargaining negotiations.' That's exactly what the UFL would say, even if the move was influenced by Darmody's efforts to help the players get more. And if legal action is pursued, the lawyers representing Darmody's interests would have an opportunity to fully explore any and all evidence (including text messages and emails) that would confirm Darmody's suspicions or debunk the stated reasons for Darmody's firing.
