Plans to erect a memorial for Bray Fire-fighters fifth anniversary.

The Families of the 2 brave Firemen Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy along with Bray Fire-service and myself have set up a committee with a view of erecting a fitting memorial in the Town for the 2 men who died while tackling a blaze in Bray on 26th september 2007, it is planned to unveil it on their 5th anniversary, which is this September. We are in the process of looking at locations and designs, but we also think its vital that the public have an input. Do people firstly think its a good idea? Any suggestions on locations or possible designs? I think its only fitting that these Bray heroes should be forever remembered and honoured in a respectful manner for paying the ultimate sacrifice in protecting their community.

Wicklow Sinn Féin hold successful public meeting and launch petition opposing Water Taxes and the Household Charge

Following a successful public meeting in the Glenview Hotel on the
issue of Septic Tank and the Household charges in which over 100
people attended Wicklow Sinn Féin have launched a petition to the
oppose the household charge and water taxes which are been introduced
by Fine Gael and Labour.

Speaking following the public meeting which was held on Wednesday last
Sinn Féin county councillor John Brady said "Sinn Fein held a very
sucessful public meeting in the Glenview on Wednesday last, we were
delighted to be joined by Sinn Féin TDs Martin Ferris and Michael
Colreavy. Over 100 people turned up on the night to get information on
the legislation that Fine Gael and Labour are pushing through Leinster
House on septic tanks. There is genuine fear and concern amongst the
public across rural Wicklow and the lack of detailed information on
the issue and the potential costs of upgrading existing septic tanks.
There are appropriately 10,300 households in Wicklow with septic tanks
and these households must be assured they will not be victimised
because they live in rural areas and are not connected to the mains
sewage"

Cllr Brady continued "This Government is hell bent on making the
ordinary people pay for the financial mess that the County is in, we
are being forced to pay Billions to Bondholders and Toxic Banks. At
our public meeting we launched a petition as part of our campaign
against the new stealth taxes that are been introduced to pay for the
mistakes of Fianna Fail and the Greens, these mistakes are continuing
and the ordinary people are the ones suffering. Sinn Féin members will
be out across Wicklow in the coming weeks building the campaign
against the Household charge, Septic Tank charges and Water Taxes, we
will be on the streets and knocking on doors throughout the County"

Cllr Brady Concluded "Sinn Féin public representatives from across
Wicklow have said they will not be paying the Household charge, we are
not telling people to follow our lead, however if they do we will
fully support them. People need to be fully aware of the potential
implications of not paying these charges and they need to make an
informed decision one way or another. Sinn Féin will continue to fight
these charges at every level and i appeal to all genuine groups to
work together in a campaign of mass opposition, there are different
strategies for fighting these stealth taxes and all groups sincere in
their opposition should rally around the one common denominator which
is our opposition to them"

Campaign to save the A&E in St. Columcilles Hospital to hold Rally in Bray

SOS Wicklow the campaign group which was established to fight the planned downgrading of the 24hour A&E at St.Columcilles hospital in Loughlinstown is to hold a public rally in Bray on Saturday 25th February. It will start at 1.30pm at the Town Hall in Bray and will proceed to Castle street in Little Bray.


Speaking ahead of the rally the groups secretary Melanie McAuley said "SOS Wicklow has organised this rally which will take place in Bray on Saturday 25th February as part of our campaign to save the A&E in St.Columcilles Hospital, Loughlinstown. We have been told by the HSE that the downgrading of the critical facility will take place in the first quarter of 2012, so these cuts are now imminent, the public rally in Bray may well be our last chance for people to come out and show their support for the retention of the A&E in Loughlinstown,"


The chairperson of SOS Wicklow Cllr. John Brady said "The HSE has stated that the review of the services in St.Columcilles be undertaken during the months of September and October 2011, we know it is their intention to withdraw the 24hour A&E in St.Columcilles and it is expected to happen over the next few weeks. This is a political decision, so political pressure needs to be brought to bare on our national politicians and this can only be done by people power and by taking to the streets on Saturday 25th. This may be our last opportunity for people to take a stand on this issue and we need to do so in large numbers"

Melanie McAuley concluded "We have ran a long campaign on this issue, we have collected thousands of signatures on a county wide petition and this will be presented to the Minister for Health James Reilly in the coming weeks, we now need all those people and everyone else who wants to save our A&E on the streets of Bray on Saturday 25th February at 1.30pm. We need to send the message loud and clear that the people of Wicklow want our Hospital upgraded not downgraded"

Martin Ferris TD to attend public meeting in Wicklow to Oppose the Septic Tank Charges

Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris will be the guest speaker at the public
meeting being held by the party as part of the campaign to oppose
Septic Tank Charges, it will take place on Wednesday 15th February in
the Glenview Hotel in the Glen of the Downs, the meeting will start at
8pm.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John
Brady said " The public meeting on Wednesday 15th February is part of
Sinn Féin's campaign of opposition against the Septic Tank charges and
follows on from a very successful meeting that Sinn Féin held in
Baltinglass recently. There is genuine outrage in rural areas over
these plans and Sinn Féin and the public has exerted pressure on the
Government at both local and national levels, this has resulted in
them trying to muddy the water on the issue. The government must stop
playing mind games with the registration cost. The registration fee,
regardless of cost, is not the biggest concern for families. The key
issue is the standard against which their tanks will be assessed and
the cost of upgrading.

“Phil Hogan has moved the goal posts on several occasions. The appeals
process was to cost €200 now it is reduced to €20 while the
registration is now a once off €5. All these changes, while welcome,
were brought about by public pressure. But the core issues for the
public are the funding of upgrades and the standards. The current
situation is farcical. We have legislation that demands the
registration of septic tanks and the upgrading of these septic tanks
but there are no standards to assess them by and no financial
assistance for households to carry out the necessary work. The
legislation as it stands is extremely punitive. It dictates that
householders will be dragged through the courts and may be fined up to
€5,000 if they cannot comply with these secret standards. This
threatening behaviour by Minster Hogan is unacceptable and will be
rejected by the public" Brady continued.

Cllr Brady finished by saying "I am delighted that Sinn Féin Deputy's
Martin Ferris and Michael Colreavy will be present at the meeting on
Wednesday in the Glenview and it will give the public an opportunity
get find out more information on this important subject. We will also
discuss the Household Charge and Water Taxes and on the night we will
be launching a County wide petition to oppose these family taxes and
we will continue to build a campaign to against them"