Garda Inspectorate Report on Transnational Organised Crime published.
Report acknowledges success of An Garda Síochána in targeting organised crime.
Inspectorate makes a number of recommendations aimed at preventing transnational organised crime, tackling the crime groups that cause most harm in communities, and better supporting the victims of these crimes.
The Garda Síochána Inspectorate’s report – ‘Transnational Organised Crime – A Review of the Structures, Strategies and Processes in the Garda Síochána’, was published today, [Tuesday November 5th, 2024].
The report acknowledges the considerable success, by An Garda Síochána, in targeting high-profile crime groups and seizing large volumes of drugs and other criminal assets. It also makes recommendations to An Garda Síochána;, the Department of Justice, and other agencies, to further address the threat posed and the impact of organised criminal networks.
The Department of Justice has taken a number of steps to support the work of An Garda Síochána in dealing with illegal drug use and organised crime. These include:
Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime;
Enacting new laws to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
Drafting new laws which will provide for the use of facial recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences;
Rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit;
Signing treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance with the United Arab Emirates to ensure that organised crime gangs can have no hiding place anywhere in the world.
An Garda Síochána is targeting those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country and disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks, through ‘Operation Tara‘.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Since 2019 the GNDOCB have seized approximately €390m worth of drugs, with further seizures this year. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation is a critical element in the overall response. Significant interceptions of controlled drugs in the last 12 months are a testament to the success of this co-operation.
Upon the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, on December 16th the inspection functions of An Garda Síochána Inspectorate will be incorporated within the newly established Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA).
Objections to the proposed construction of a drive-thru McDonald’s Restaurant here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, have today hit the headlines on The Irish Times, The Journal.ie and on R.T.E. .
All press articles highlight that local residents, including a local physician, Dr Paul Ryan, are objecting to the construction of a McDonald’s Drive-Thru restaurant near a crèche, school facilities and within 100 yards of Dr Ryan’s own surgery. “Having a fast food outlet is of no help at all in our efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.” Dr Ryan stated.
In his objection to the proposal Mr Chris Delahunt also echoed health concerns, as did others who made submissions to Tipperary Co. Council.
This planning application by the McDonald’s franchise, on a site situated close to the German international discount retailer Lidl, on Slievenamon Road, (N62), in the centre of a residential area has been described by many as being unprecedented and a bizarre planning move. If approved this could see a 24/7 fast-food restaurant placed slap bang in the heart of a major residential area, where residents already struggle daily to deal with serious growing traffic congestion due to the failure to provide a Ring Road.
While to date, over 20 objections have been lodged against this planning proposal; a number of the objections by resident locals are rightly based on health grounds,particularly as we are in the midst of an obesity crisis in this country, where one in five children aged under five, is obese according to a study referenced on the HSE (Health Service Executive) website on October 10th 2024.
Mr David Crowley in his submission rightly has stated that this planning application in effect is a takeaway and therefore contravenes the Thurles and Environs development plan 2024-2030 and should therefore be rejected out of hand. He believes that the proposed ring road around Thurles should be in situ, before any such development of this nature is entertained.
Mr Crowley also rightly stated that the Thurles and Environments development plan 2024 refers to the resisting of the Proliferation of Take-Aways and Betting Shops and further confirms that the traffic at the Clowngour and Lidl junction was already chronic with tail backs regularly beyond Turtulla Cross (N62), during school times. This proposed development would make this traffic congestion even worse again, with access for local residents adversely affected.
Irish Government Quote: “Ireland’s towns and villages are an important resource to protect and nurture. We want to ensure that they remain resilient locations with vibrant inclusive communities and a strong cultural and social fabric that deliver a good quality of life for future generations. We (the government) will support them through a strong commitment to ‘place-making’ so that any town centre environment is one in which people want to live, do business, visit and is ultimately successful”.
Resident Mr Shane Curran, in his submission, stated that Thurles is already well serviced by takeaway/fast food outlets. A fast-food drive-through restaurant in this residential area as suggested will generate noise, odour and litter, while causing a disturbance to nearby residents, particularly late at night. This type of development will attract late night usage increasing the potential for anti-social behaviour after the closure of local pubs and nightclubs.
A submission by Mr Frank Tuohy also reiterated the afore mentioned stated fears.
Mr Michael Corbett (through Ms Mary Lynch B.A .Dip. T.P.. MIPI) stated: (1) That the development is almost exclusively a car focused development, attracting customers away from the town centre, to an edge of town location development. (2) Same would provide no interaction or co-operation with existing retail businesses or other developments within the Liberty Square town centre area. (3) Indeed, it’s 24/7 operation would draw night-time users away from the town centre, thus distracting from such businesses in the centre that already amply support night time entertainment; sit down food facilities and other fast food/take-away services. (4) This planning application would lead to further dereliction and vacancy of existing town center properties.
Mr Corbett also, through his agent, stated rightly that he considers this application to be defective with respect to the public notices and believes that adequate notice has not been given to the public with regard to the 24/7 nature of the proposed operation.
A spokeswoman for McDonald’s said, “As a business, McDonald’s prides itself on being a good neighbour in the communities in which it operates, and we look forward to continuing to work with the council and local residents to mitigate any concerns raised.”
Message: The ingredients in the specified batches of the two frozen cheesecakes are not labelled in English. The implicated products contain the allergens given in the table below. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of wheat, milk, soya, hazelnuts or egg. The products were sold in Lidl stores.
Public Support For Climate Action Remains High Across Ireland.
New EPA Climate Opinion Maps show that, similar to previous findings in 2022, there remains a high level of consistency across Ireland in terms of climate change attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviours.
People across Ireland continue to be in almost full agreement that climate change is happening, and large proportions of the population are worried about it.
On most topics, there remains no discernible difference between urban and rural areas, and there is majority support for all surveyed policies nationally.
An emerging divergence was noted between Dublin and other counties regarding support for taxing fossil fuel-powered cars, and a slight fall in support for banning fossil fuels for home heating in the northwest.
People in counties with a history of environmental risks such as flooding, water shortages or wildfire, show an increased awareness of the potential impacts of these risks resulting from climate change.
Check out the EPA Climate Opinion Maps to see where your County stands on Climate Action.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released updated interactive maps of Ireland that show national, regional, and county-level data about people’s climate change beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences and behaviours. This is the third output from Wave 2 of the Climate Change in the Irish Mind study, undertaken in 2023 by the EPA and the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication in support of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Speaking about the new climate change opinion maps, Dr Eimear Cotter, (Director of the Office of Evidence & Assessment) said: “The interactive climate opinion maps make the EPA’s Climate Change in the Irish Mind data accessible to a wide audience across Ireland. These maps show nationwide acceptance of the scientific consensus on climate change, and strong support for most climate action policies, with minimal variation based on where people live, and that most climate attitudes were resilient in the face of cost-of-living increases. However, we also see that public understanding of the causes of climate change is limited and varies between counties. In some counties, less than half of the population understands that climate change is human caused, compared to about six in ten in other areas.”
While the overall picture of support for climate action is high and largely consistent across the country, there are slight regional variations in the level of support for some policies such as the banning of peat, coal, and oil for home heating. Support is highest in urban areas, and weakest in the North-West and border regions. A similar pattern is evident for policies to increase taxes on cars that use petrol and diesel.
People tend to be worried about known region-specific risks from climate change. For instance, a higher percentage of people are worried about water shortages in Dublin and the Mid-East region than the rest of the country. However, water pollution remains a widespread worry for eight in ten people across all counties.
Speaking about the maps, Dr Tara Higgins, (Programme Manager, EPA Evidence Programme) said: “It is encouraging to see that most people across all parts of Ireland believe we have a collective responsibility to act on climate change. It will be important to understand and address people’s concerns about some climate action policies – such as moving away from fossil fuelled transport and home heating. These latest climate opinion maps are a valuable resource for climate policy decision-makers, researchers, the media, non-governmental organizations, and students. We encourage people to use these maps to explore opinions on climate change and worries about climate risks in their own county and region.”
Pre-deceased by her parents Catherine (Kay) and Tom Tully and sister Katrina (Ryan); Ms Tully, sadly, passed away unexpectedly at her place of ordinary residence.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; brother Frank, cherished sisters Clare (Molony), Dolores (Hogan) and Rosalie, brothers-in-law, cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nephew and grand-niece, extended relatives, health-care providers, neighbours and a wide circle of friends and former colleagues at Bank of Ireland, Thurles, .
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Ms Tully, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Tully family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
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