Latest news with #Sheehan
Irish Independent
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wexford councillors snubbed again as Ukrainian Ambassador visits New Ross – ‘I take umbrage with being left on the side lines'
On this occasion, Ms Larysa Gerasko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, was in town to meet her compatriots at a special event organised by the South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC). However, once more none of the local councillors received an invite. 'I'm getting a little bit tired of seeing all these wonderful things happening in the community and the people who have been supporting them day in and day out being left on the sidelines,' said Councillor Michael Sheehan at the July meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD). 'This is the third incident in the last couple of months where the cathaoirleach of this district has been sidelined.' Mindful that one of those incidents saw Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy pictured with the Moroccan Ambassador, Cllr Pat Barden of the Wexford Independent Alliance was quick to point out that invites had been issued on that occasion. 'I believe (district manager) Alan Fitzhenry was informed of that visit,' he said. 'It's not up to the district manager to invite us to events,' replied Cllr Sheehan. 'It would be a courtesy to notify all the councillors.' As the newly-elected cathaoirleach of the NRMD, Cllr John Dwyer now assumes the role of first citizen of New Ross and he confirmed there had been no invites issued for either ambassadorial visit. "I do believe Alan was invited to the event with the Moroccan Ambassador in his capacity as district manager, but there was certainly no invitation to the councillors,' he said. 'And there was no invitation offered to the cathaoirleach of either Wexford County Council or this district to attend the event with the Ukrainian Ambassador.' Cllr Sheehan meanwhile, had no doubt that the organisers of the most recent event would be capable of contacting the district office when it was to their own benefit. 'I take umbrage when people come flying in and we're left on the sidelines – except when it comes to budget time, then we getting letters saying 'we need this'. It's happening too often, we need to nip it in the bud and inform people of the protocol here, it's up to whoever's co-ordinating the event to make sure the elected members are invited.' Keen to ensure all local organisations were aware of the protocols regarding the district office and the need to invite the cathaoirleach to public events, Mr Fitzhenry suggested he could write to each organisation to explain how to proceed in future. This suggestion was immediately shot down. 'The people who are organising these events would know perfectly well what the protocols are,' said Cllr Dywer. 'They know exactly what they're doing,' agreed Cllr Sheehan. At this point, director of services Eamonn Hore interjected. 'We've had ambassadors here to beat the band, and if the Ukrainian Ambassador or the Moroccan Ambassador doesn't tell us they want to meet the council we can't force them,' he said. After the meeting, Jack Butler, chairperson of the board of management at the South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC) issued the following statement. 'I'd like to note that this event was organised by SWWFC and Blokes with Cameras as a community-focused gathering to highlight the strength, culture, and resilience of our local Ukraine families alongside our wider community. The visit by Ambassadir Gerasko was a celebration of grassroots support and inclusion, and the guest list reflected those directly involved in that ongoing local work. "We remain committed to engaging with all stakeholders in support of our shared community mission.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Impoverished' shoppers getting ‘gouged' as Wexford councillor calls for creation of agency with ‘teeth to investigate anti-competitive practises'
The CCPC was established in 2014 following the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority and is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer protection law in Ireland. However, with customers 'getting gouged' on a daily basis, Cllr Sheehan believes it is time to create an agency which will deliver for the ordinary, everyday shopper. 'There is no competition in the basic goods and services that we purchase and use everyday,' said the independent councillor. 'While we are an affluent nation, we feel absolutely impoverished. From the producer to the supplier to the retailer, people are getting gouged. "What we need are two independent statutory agencies that have a laser-like focus on breaking up cartels, injecting competition and robustly defending consumer rights with a strong legislative arm to punish those deliberately blocking competition.' In 2022, then Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar published the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 to give more powers to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to challenge anti-competitive practices by business and protect consumers. As a result, breaches of competition law can now be enforced through administrative actions taken by competition authorities, with maximum fines of up to €10 million or 10 per cent of total worldwide turnover, whichever is the greater. But Cllr Sheehan said the CCPC, in its current guise, does not have 'the teeth' to investigate breaches and anti-competitive practices, and that only by splitting the organisation in two can we effectively tackle continued inflation. 'A separate competition authority could pursue any sector and issue fines accordingly, the old competition authority was a nemesis for many industries and delivered for consumers: a new version would ensure utilities, food, finance, and the supply chains would come under the spotlight to ensure that companies are not taken advantage and that prices drop to realistic levels again,' he said. 'In addition, a new consumer authority would vociferously stand up for consumer rights to ensure that companies and retailers honour the law. Both agencies could be funded by a levy on the supernormal profits of the multinationals and outlets that are literally raking it in. 'The cost of living isn't going away soon; we need agencies which are going to meet the challenge head on.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Former DPP denied permission to prosecute Taoiseach and journalist over comments on Ian Bailey case
A lawyer who was central to the Ian Bailey case has failed in an attempt to take a private prosecution against the Taoiseach and a journalist. Robert Sheehan, while working in the Director of Public Prosecution's (DPP) office in 2001, wrote a scathing analysis of the investigation of Bailey for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. A succession of DPPs, along with various senior counsel, repeatedly concluded that Bailey did not have a case to answer for the 1996 murder. Last Monday, Mr Sheehan applied to Dun Laoghaire District Court for permission to take the prosecution. He alleges Micheál Martin and journalist Senan Molony, who published a book on the case last year, vilified him professionally through comments and passages in the book. Last September at an event to launch Sophie: The Final Verdict, the Taoiseach asked why Bailey had not been put on trial for the murder. He said he found it 'hard to understand why the system was so convinced by its interpretations of legal principles that it effectively threw its hands in the air and gave up'. On Monday, Judge Ann Watkin refused to issue the summons against the Taoiseach saying his criticism had been of the 'system', not Mr Sheehan personally. In relation to Mr Molony, she said she would not issue a summons as the DPP had indicated that the information provided by Mr Sheehan did not disclose a criminal offence that may be put to a jury. Mr Sheehan claims passages in the book relating to him and comments by Mr Molony in public interviews amounted to harassment in its legal definition. Senan Molony has never initiated any contact with Mr Sheehan nor ever met nor spoke with him in any capacity. Mr Molony refused to comment when contacted. A spokesperson for Micheál Martin said he had no comment to make. Mr Sheehan has said he will now consider whether to appeal to the circuit court or take his case to the European Court of Human Rights. Asked why if he believed he was defamed he had not sued for damages, Mr Sheehan quoted a former chief justice who had pointed out that ordinary people cannot have access to the courts to vindicate their rights because of the cost.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dan Sheehan has no issue with Henry Pollock's Aussie riling comments
Dan Sheehan has no problem with Henry Pollock firing up the Wallabies by stating the aim of the British & Irish Lions is to sweep the Test series starting this weekend. He just knows the tourists now must go out there and do it for three Saturdays in a row. The Ireland hooker is expected to be named by head coach Andy Farrell on Thursday morning in the starting front row for the first Test against Australia at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. One of the safer bets for selection given his barnstorming comeback from knee reconstruction following last summer's Test series with the Springboks in South Africa and his electric start to the 2025 tour when he scored the first try on Australian soil in the first minute against Western Force, the 26-year-old was nevertheless as hungry for recognition as the next man in Farrell's touring party. 'It's just an exciting week,' Sheehan said. 'These are the three games you think about when you talk about a tour. Everyone has been trying to put their best foot forward to be selected and it is a bit of an anxious wait to see what the selection is, but all we can do is put our best foot forward in training and do what's best for the team as a collective. 'Everyone has gone up another level, and the hunger is there to make sure you're on the team-sheet and produce a win on Saturday.' That Pollock, the 20-year-old back-rower, raised the temperature of the tour by getting Aussie hackles up with his statement of intent that a 3-0 series clean sweep was 'on the table' as the 2025 tourists bid to become the best Lions team ever merely cements that motivation with the camp, for Sheehan at least. 'Every team in the world wants to be the best team they've featured in. It hasn't changed in my mindset. 'I don't think that's anything too crazy. It's obviously everyone's goal to win a Test series, and to try to be a step beyond the last squad. The way rugby has evolved, every team should be better than the last, and it's a massive goal of ours to make sure we reach our potential. 'I think if we do reach our potential we have the possibility to be one of the best teams. I think they're fair comments.' Now it has been put out there, and doubtless used as motivation in the home dressing room, Sheehan's attitude is to roll the sleeves up and get on with delivering on the bravado. "I suppose it gives you a responsibility to go out and do it. No one is going to shy away from it, our aim is a Test series win and I don't think anyone should be afraid of saying it. "At the end of the day, everyone knows it. I don't think any team really goes in saying 'oh yeah, one game at a time', 'hopefully we'll win the next one, the next one'... there's a clear gameplan to have a dominant series and win. "It's the way I was brought up in my career, to be very clear in what you want out of a season or a campaign and then you have to attack it. There's a bit of a responsibility on you, you've said it out loud so you have to go do it." As for riling the Wallabies, Sheehan was expecting a tough series of encounters anyway. "We've seen it the last couple of years, they've probably been written up as underdogs and they've put in some massive performances, shaken some big teams. "So, yeah I think of course there's going to be a bit of fire and they'll feed into that. "But that's out of our control in some ways and we need to make sure we come out firing and stamp our gameplan on them early. "I'm sure there's going to be some big collisions, some big heated moments in the game. We need to be ready for that and get back to process."
Rhyl Journal
7 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Dan Sheehan says Lions can fire up travelling support if they ‘give them a win'
The Lions are strong favourites to complete their first triumphant tour since 2013 when they toppled the Wallabies 2-1 and they enter Saturday's opening Test buoyed by a perfect record Down Under of five wins. Fans will start streaming into Brisbane over the coming days and in the face of criticism in the Australian media that Andy Farrell's tourists have shown limited willingness to engage in community events, Sheehan declares winning is the only currency that matters. 'The best way to connect with supporters is to give them a win,' the Ireland hooker said. 'Performance is the way to do that. Yeah we can give them a cheer and a clap after the game but ultimately that's not what they came for – they came for a good game of rugby. If we do that, they'll feel part of it. 'A goal of ours is to make sure that if we have a big crowd on Saturday – which we probably will – we bring them into the game and make it feel almost like a 50/50 game that could be anywhere in the world. 'But I still think it's down to what we put out on the pitch, that's how you get the crowd in behind you. 'It would be a good story and a good legacy to have a winning series. We haven't delved too much into the wider picture. 'We did at the start when we were trying to frame the mindset, but this week has been all about Saturday. 'There's going to be no holding anything back, or waiting for the next two Tests. It's all about Saturday. 'We're in a good spot. The lads are hungry, and we're expecting the Wallabies to be hungry. There will be fireworks on Saturday.' The Lions ruffled feathers in the wake of their 48-0 victory over Saturday's AUNZ Invitational XV when flanker Henry Pollock revealed their intention to whitewash Australia 3-0 and become the best team to have represented the elite of British and Irish rugby. Captain Maro Itoje then doubled down on the desire to put the Wallabies to the sword – and Sheehan believes there is no reason why they should not aim high. 'I don't think that's anything too crazy. It's a massive goal of ours to make sure we reach our potential,' he said. 'If we do reach our potential we have the possibility to be one of the best teams. I think they're fair comments.' Farrell names his team on Thursday with Tom Curry expected to be given the nod in the ferociously competitive openside position ahead of Jac Morgan and Josh van der Flier. Tadhg Beirne appears to be winning his battle with Ollie Chessum at blindside flanker, while Sione Tuipulotu has now edged ahead of Bundee Aki in the race to start at inside centre. With Blair Kinghorn losing his battle with a knee injury, Hugo Keenan is favourite to be picked at full-back with Marcus Smith potentially supplying cover from the bench.
