Weekly Message From An Taoiseach Enda Kenny

Dear Friend,  

Making sure that the State serves and protects our children and young people is a top priority for this Government and in Dublin Castle on Wednesday, I joined Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, for the launch of a new national policy for children, Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures. The framework is centred towards achieving key transformational goals which have been identified as most important for children from birth and young people up to 24 years of age.It contains in excess of 160 commitments, collectively aimed at ensuring that Irish children

• are active and healthy;
• fulfil their full potential in learning and development;
• are safe and protected from harm;
• have economic security and opportunity; and
• are connected, respected and contributing to their world.  

I was in Castlebar Chamber on Monday to launch an innovative new concept by Mayo couple John and Sophia McHugh, www.trafficattic.com. This is is an online shopping community for local businesses across Ireland to sell and promote their products and services and to allow local retailers to compete online against other businesses both nationally and internationally.

I later attended the launch of Report of the Commission on Economic Development at the Museum of Country Life in Turlough. The recommendations by the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (Cedra) include the implementation of Rural Economic Development (Red) zones to tackle high unemployment in Irish towns and villages. This and other recommendations are the result of 100 meetings with a wide range of groups last year. 

The report also recommends that State agencies, such as Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, should strengthen their collaboration at regional level and examine the potential to attract “small scale/niche” foreign direct investment to rural areas. Minister Hogan has emphasised the Government’s commitment to the recommendations in the report and pledged to implement them at the earliest opportunity.

You will remember that I wrote here last week of the pressing need to deliver high quality broadband and of the new cross- country programme which is due to be rolled out by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte. I hope and expect that this will also help to breathe new life into rural communities by allowing businesses to carry out their work faster and better.

On Easter Sunday, the 1916 commemorations on O’Connell Street took place once again and I was privileged to join those honouring this important landmark in our country’s history. Events are now also in the early stages of planning for the centenary celebrations in 2016 and I was very glad that Queen Elizabeth has committed the support both of her family and her government to the appropriate commemoration ceremonies when that time comes. This will be a wonderful gesture of solidarity and of respect to our country and our people.

Have a nice Easter,

Very best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Enda Kenny TD

Taoiseach