Archive for Fermanagh News & Sport

Blackouts across the North

Sinn Féin Energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan MLA has said that the significant blackouts across the north overnight, which disrupted the electricity supply of around 100,000 households, should be the impetus for a fresh look at how electricity is generated and transmitted here.

The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said:

“The disruption of electricity supply to around 100,000 households should be a serious wake-up call to all of us.

“We are far too reliant on centrally generated electricity, usually from gas, which then has to be transmitted using overhead power lines.

“When it cannot be distributed as a result of problems with the lines, then significant blackouts are what can be expected.

“Technology has improved considerably in recent years and will continue to develop; we need to take a fresh look at how we both generate and transmit electricity.

“Much more work needs to be done to bring combined heat and power plants using micro-generation on stream, where the entire electricity needs of a community can be met by locally produced electricity, using renewable, sustainable forms of generation.”

Crannóg Artefacts Must Be Put on Display in Fermanagh

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Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone Phil Flanagan has stated that the artefacts being excavated from Drumclay Crannóg must be put on permanent display in Fermanagh County Museum.

Mr Flanagan, who is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Tourism, was speaking ahead of a public open day at the crannóg tomorrow (Saturday), said:

“I was proud to join the campaign to ensure that the work on excavating this crannóg commenced and that it was not simply tarred over and the artefacts destroyed as some others have called for. Read more

Paint EU help number on emergency vehicles

Irish MEPs have appealed to the government to start marking the EU emergency phone number – 112 – on the side of all garda cars, ambulances and fire engines.

The call comes as the latest survey on 112 awareness shows that four years after the service was set up, more than two-thirds of Irish people are still unaware that they can dial the number anywhere in Europe in an emergency.

The Eurobarometer poll also reveals that one in five Irish people quote a wrong number when asked about the EU help-line; the highest figure among Europeans for misquoting 112. Read more

NUI Galway to Hold Information Evening in Enniskillen

Secondary school students interested in NUI Galway are invited to an information evening in Enniskillen on Thursday, 28 February. Parents and guardians are also particularly welcome to the event which runs from 7-9pm in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.

The evening will begin with short talks about NUI Galway and some of the 60 courses it offers. Afterwards, current students and NUI Galway staff will be on hand to answer any questions in relation to courses and practical issues including accommodation, fees and scholarships, and the wide range of support services available to students.

The ever-increasing popularity of NUI Galway is in-part due to a whole suite of innovative new programmes, developed in response to the changing needs of the employment market. Unique programmes include a Bachelor of Arts with Human Rights, an Energy Engineering degree which is taught in the University’s new Engineering Building, Ireland’s largest School of Engineering, and a Maths and Education degree aimed at training maths teachers. Read more

British Government must cover full costs of G8 – Flanagan

Sinn Féin Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA Phil Flanagan has stated that the British Government must step forward and provide funding to cover all costs associated with the G8 summit planned for Fermanagh.

Mr Flanagan said:

“British Prime Minister, David Cameron announced in November last year that the G8 summit would take place in Fermanagh this June.

“However, in the time that has passed since the announcement was made, we have yet to hear the British government commit to absorb the full costs of staging this summit, including the cost of policing it. Read more

Fracking must be banned, not mitigated against

Sinn Féin’s spokespersons on Energy in the Oireachtas, Michael Colreavy TD (Sligo/North Leitrim) & in the Assembly Phil Flanagan MLA (Fermanagh & South Tyrone) have stated that fracking must be banned across Ireland and that simply attempting to mitigate against its most negative impacts will not suffice.

Speaking after they both attended an event in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen organised by Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network, which was addressed by Dr Eilish Cleary, Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Province of New Brunswick, on the impacts of fracking, they said:

“We were delighted to attend this event and welcome Dr Eilish Cleary back to Fermanagh to hear from her experience in New Brunswick. Read more

Varadkar welcomes boost in visitors

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar has welcomed confirmation that the number of visitors to Ireland grew for the second year in a row in 2012, with particularly strong growth of 5% at the end of the year.

The CSO Overseas Tourism figures for 2012 show 3% growth in visits from North America during the year, growth of 2.8% in visits from mainland Europe, and particularly strong growth of 6.1% from other long-haul markets. Overall visitor numbers were on a par with 2011 figures, with growth of 0.2% during 2012.

Read more

Fermanagh crash victim named

A 72-year-old woman who died following a road crash last week in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh but tragically died at the weekend has been named as Eleanor Pringle, from Enniskillen.

She died in hospital on Saturday following a two-vehicle collision on Gola Road last week.
The crash happened at around 12.50pm on Sunday 13 January.

The PSNI have renewed their appeal for information.

Colreavy warns of fracking dangers

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Sligo North Leitrim Deputy Michael Colreavy, (pictured) Sinn Féin spokesperson for Communications,
Energy and Natural Resources, has called on the government to listen
to warnings about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, before making a decision whether to grant an exploration licence for the process in Ireland.

Echoing the call of the British National Trust, Deputy
Colreavy said: “The British National Trust has highlighted the potential dangers that fracking poses to the environment. In Britain they witnessed
small earthquakes, believed to have been caused by the fracking
process which pumps large volumes of water into the ground to extract
shale gas. Fracking could cause damage to many rural homes if it is to
be introduced in Ireland.

Read more

Coast Guard issues warning as severe winds forecast

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Members of the public have this evening been urged to heed the advice of the Irish Coast Guard following a severe weather warning issused by Met Eireann for Connaught and a weather alert for the rest of the country as strong winds of up to 140kph are forecast.

The Coast Guard strongly advises the public not to go out on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbour walls, beaches, promenades or any other coastal areas during the inclement weather. Huge waves can be whipped up by high seas which can pose hazards to anyone close to the shoreline. Severe weather such as this brings not only high winds, but the risk of heavy downpours and the potential for spot flooding.

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