SMEagle

A few months ago I came up with this idea of helping small and medium sized enterprises in Ireland. Small business is under huge pressure because of the banking and fiscal crises. We need to help and encourage this sector as it is the back bone of our economy. I would welcome your thoughts and input into this idea.
Proposal

It is proposed to start a new SME Support Organization
One name I already have is SMEagle
To help foster:- Innovation/Investments/Inspiration/Identity ,in Small Business
Would be great if we could get the support of a number of corporate businesses like Bord Gais / Intel / Microsoft / Credit Union / Others
Funding:-  Every small business to pay €50-00 per employee / owner / manager /
(say an average of 2 employees including owners per enterprise) that would equal €100-00 per business.
With 270,000 businesses in this category this would create an immediate fund of €27,000,000-00. If the supporting group of corporate companies were to match this fund Euro for Euro we would then have a fund of €54,000,000-00. The money could be held in the Credit Union. Small Business could get a Credit for this investment from Revenue or Local Government.
10% of the funds would be held in a reserve fund annually. 10% of the funds would be given to a charity to help fund enterprise in Africa (Traidlinks)
80% of the fund would be used in the purchase of “Premium Shares” in say 1000 new “Innovative Enterprises/Start Up’s” by giving support of say €40,000-00 to 1000 new businesses every year.
This injection of capital and energy into new budding businesses will give a huge boost to the economy and on the law of averages will work out well for the existing SME’s as an investment tool.
Perhaps the Enterprise Boards and others like the Credit Union might be in a position to match this funding the new businesses Euro for Euro.
An independent adjudicating body would decide which businesses to support and invest in. This could be done with The Enterprise Boards / Credit Union / Corporate.
Members would get a small sticker or badge per year to acknowledge membership.
The 10% balance of the monies raised every year will be left in the Credit Union as security. This will help build up a formidable fund over a number of years that the SME’s could then decide on further investments or whatever.
Alot more thought and ground rules need to be developed before any move is made on this. Of course there will also be some administration expenses and so on.
Other Areas of Activity

• Representation on behalf of the SME Sector
• Innovation / Investments / Inspiration / Identity
• Networking
• Increased buying power as a Group in various sectors. Trades / Software / Food / Hospitality / Retail / Others
• Awareness of the challenges to the sector
• Training
• Help in dealing with the Banks / Lending Institutions
• Pensions
• Retirement
• Business transfers to family and /or others

The list is endless but I do feel the sector is Voiceless at the moment and any move in this direction while it may not be “perfect” at the moment would still be more than welcome. Perhaps we can join up with another budding idea / ideas and together make it even better.
Regards
_____________________________
Emerald Quill

Harnessing diaspora will help us rebuild economy | David McWilliams

Harnessing diaspora will help us rebuild economy David McWilliams

How long before the people crack? | David McWilliams

How long before the people crack? David McWilliams

Other Contacts

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A Dream for Ireland

A Dream for Ireland

I had a dream that the people of Ireland will be inspired to bid for and host The Olympic Games in 2024/28 so that we can celebrate our first century as a Nation and to set a marker and a standard for the next 100 years. The reasoning behind my dream is set out hereunder and I call on all Irish People wherever they may be to support my vision for a New Ireland.

As John Fitzgerald Kennedy said:- The Problems of the World cannot possibly be solved by sceptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities.

We need men who can dream of things that never were.        John F. Kennedy

From 2010 to 2025 we will have many commemorations about various landmarks in Irish History. We will have

·       Home Rule

·       The Easter Rising

·       War of Independence

·       The First Dail

·       Anglo / Irish Treaty

·       Civil War

While it is wonderful and necessary to acknowledge all of these events and perhaps even more, that I have neglected to mention ( and I am not saying that they should not be acknowledged ) they will in reality stir up old sentiments of hatred, nationalism and collectively put our fragile peace agreement in jeopardy. As a Nation I believe we cannot afford to take that risk. We have had enough of bitterness born out of the last 850 years that would last us for hundreds of millennia.

Now is the time to put the past behind us and to set new goals and standards for the Ireland of the future. We need to put aside “Gombeen Politics” and “Gombeen Politicians” and Hierarchical Institutions that no longer serve them not to mind the people of Ireland. It is time for the people to speak, to show leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit, that this country is abundant in but sadly lacking in our political leaders, church and financial institutions.

We have had enough of marching, enough of “gobble-de-gook”, enough of pseudo banter and comedy between political parties playing at a system that is outdated, archaic and no longer serves the common good. It props up un-sustainable politics, playing games with peoples’ lives and livelihoods.

Alot of money, time and effort will be spent over the next 15 years remembering these past events, one after another. The whole country will be caught up in one continuous pageant that will take the focus off our real problems and onto something that I feel could have severe negative consequences for our Nation if not handled properly and diplomatically. What is actually going to be achieved by all of this commemorating? I believe nothing of any value and only an increase in bitterness and division.

Our Country is at a crossroads. It needs a new vision and purpose. Bailing out Zombie Banks and propping up dying or dead institutions is not what Ireland needs. Let’s get together and work together to deliver a New Ireland. I call on all likeminded people to stand up and be counted. To shake off the shackles of the past, to set ourselves worthy goals and a secure future based on thrust, respect and integrity for all. Let “Liberty Equality & Fraternity” be the sole basis of our New Republic

I call upon you to turn the proposed celebrations planned for the next 15 years into one consolidated effort to bring The Olympic Games to Ireland in 2024 so that we can as a Nation show to the whole World that Ireland has come of age and has truly taken its place amongst the Nations of The World. That Ireland has come of Age, moved away from the past and closed the door on its old bitterness’s that has gnawed away at our true potential for generations.There is no going back, no bitterness, no recriminations, only peace and acceptance. What a gift to give to our children and to one another as we celebrate a century as a Nation. No other gift could be more worthy, more rewarding and more fulfilling.

By making our pitch for The Olympics we will collectively be honouring all our past heroes / heroines and statesmen / stateswomen who made this country, this Nation a reality. We will also be honouring all our great athletes and sports men and women from all walks of life who have brought honour and glory to this wonderful Nation of ours. Finally we will be honouring every man, woman and child of this great Nation who have toiled endlessly for its success in whatever profession or trade they have worked in

We can call upon the Irish Diaspora in the USA and across the World to join with us in the attainment of our goal. I call upon our inspirational leaders like Mary Davies ( Special Olympics ); Mary Robinson ( Former President of Ireland ); Mary McAleese ( President of Ireland); Fergus Finley; Ruari Quinn and others to join us in our quest for Olympic glory in 2024 and accomplishing “Our Dream for Ireland”

Regards

________________

Emerald Quill

Once upon a time in the west - Finale

Best Documentary Nomination: “Addicted to Money” | David McWilliams

Best Documentary Nomination: “Addicted to Money” David McWilliams

Simple rules of economics say we must spend, not cut | David McWilliams

Simple rules of economics say we must spend, not cut David McWilliams

The Four Capacities Every Great Leader Needs (And Very Few Have)

The Four Capacities Every Great Leader Needs (And Very Few Have)

Minister Gormley ( Time to Decide )

The Marian Finucane Show 10/10/10

Listening to The Marian Finucane show today, you might be forgiven for thinking you were on another planet or at least in another country.

Minister John Gormley went to great lengths to welcome in with open arms an all party forum where the ills and woes of the state of the country could be agreed upon and an all party remedy imposed. He even made it quite clear that even though the Taoiseach Brian Cowan may have some reservations about such a mood that this would be “sorted”.

Minister Gormley is playing a two sided game. On the one hand he knows that the game is up between The Green Party and Fianna Fail. He can no longer sustain or indeed endorse the actions of either Brian Cowan or Brian Lenihan. However he is playing a cat and mouse game. The honourable thing for him to do is to meet The Taoiseach and explain to him that The Green Party are withdrawing from Government. Frankly he does not have the “Guts” to do that.

Instead he has floated this all party forum idea in a back door exit strategy. There are several positives for The Green Party in this. First of all they do not need to withdraw from Government if the austere measures have the support of all parties in the House. Secondly they will not have to take hard political decisions as they are becoming increasingly unsure of the effects such policies are having on the country. In other words they have lost confidence in both Minister Lenihan and The Taoiseach because if they had not then they would not need this all party forum in the first place. With the all party forum they can sit back and say well “We thought otherwise but this is The all Party Solution and in the National Interest we are supporting it.

These measures were not introduced by Fianna Fail and The Greens but by All Parties in Government. So by default The Greens survive in Government until 2012, while at the same time washing their hands of all responsibility and abdicating their adopted role in Government. Mr Gormley must take all of us for a bunch of gob******. Who in God’s name is he trying to cod? The electorate of this country are far more intelligent than he thinks.

Minister Gormley either accept your role in this “Awful” Government and abide by the consequences of the decision of The Green Party to enter coalition with Fianna Fail or Resign. There are your only options, because if you think you are getting off the hook through this slippery move you have another thing coming. Minister Gormley “GO NOW” and let the people speak.

Elite is preparing to sell country down the river | David McWilliams

Elite is preparing to sell country down the river David McWilliams

The Senate and The President

Can somebody tell me did our President invite our Senators to afternoon tea or did they invite themselves? It seems to me a snub to the ordinary working person that all members of an outdated and dis-functional Seanad should be invited to The Aras. Clearly at a time when our elected representatives are paying over €1300-00 for an overnight at a hotel and running up endless bills on taxis and so forth, what is the paltry significance of an afternoon tea invite.
The significance of it is that our President chose or was invited to choose to invite all members of Seanad Eireann in a show of defiance and a thumbs up to the ordinary people of this country.
"Seanad Eireann plays an important and indispensable role in the political affairs of Ireland" says our President. Well I do not think so. The Seanad should be abolished. It is outdated and no longer serves the people of this Country. www.emeraldquill.net

Elite is preparing to sell country down the river | David McWilliams

Elite is preparing to sell country down the river David McWilliams

The Emerald Revolution

The Emerald Revolution

It is proposed to set up a new political institution called “The Emerald Party”. This will not be based on the old style political party line.

In fact it will be radically different. Its purpose is to change through totally peaceful means the whole political system in Ireland.

It will hold peaceful demonstration and candle light parades to highlight its policies and agenda. It is a totally non violent, non aggressive movement. Its sole aim is to bring about cataclysmic change in Irelands political landscape through a peaceful peoples revolution.

Ireland is currently in the throes of a severe depression brought about by miss-management of the economy by the current government. Its position is exacerbated by the fact that absolutely no political alternative is available. Through the past two years of turmoil we have hear nothing but cries of foul play from the opposition parties but not one firm constructive policy to steer this country back to prosperity.

It is really like a circus, one party blaming the other, waiting to seize power by default not by showing any real leadership or progressing new innovative policies. Ireland at this moment of crisis lacks just one item and that is true patriotic leadership. There is not one leader amongst all in Dail Eireann or Seanad Eireann that is worthy to tie the shoe laces of any of the signatories of The Easter Rising or indeed those of Collins, DeValera, Costello or Lemass.

This inherited political system as we have come to know it is “DEAD”. Its very nature creates its own demise. It is based on a premise of self gratification and self preservation through the now archaic “Party System”. It is time to call a halt to this before it drags down the whole country and this illustrious people with it. Enough is enough. The game is up.

The Irish people are very resilient. They have endured years of oppression, war and conflict. They have withstood “The Great Famine” of 1845/50, the war of Independence, even Civil War and the “Birth of a Nation”. I am calling on that great resilience to rise once again. While I know the task is hard it bears no resemblance to what our forefathers endured. With our history and forbearance this journey will be a “cake walk”.

Ireland is at an historic cross road. Soon it will celebrate the 100 anniversary of “The Easter Rising” closely followed by its 100 year anniversary of Independence. We have at this defining moment in history to ask ourselves just one question. Have we been served well in the last 100 years by our political system and parties? I hear a resounding NO. It is time for change. To finish with what is not serving us as a nation and to embrace new and innovative ways of self governance.

Let’s start the movement for CHANGE. I needs to be a peaceful and holistic movement involving all strata of society especially our disadvantaged and under privileged. It should embrace all persuasions, be non aligned religiously and be above all else directed and driven by the ordinary working people of IRELAND.

I call upon all of you to join our movement and to put your trust first of all in yourself and in our future as a NATION. Together we can turn this mess around, together we can make things happen, together we can restore Ireland to the vision of Pearse, Connolly, Collins and De Valera.

Let’s start to make CHANGE, to embrace CHANGE, to deliver CHANGE.

Join “The Emerald Revolution” and “The Emerald Party” TODAY to show your support and consolidation.

The Emerald Agenda for Change

The Emerald Agenda

For Change

Banking:-

Ireland is in the throes of a massive banking crisis. Some or nearly all of our banks are in major difficulty. This has created a huge problem for Ireland in the International Market. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Ireland to raise money on International Markets as speculators weigh up the risk of Ireland as an investment opportunity. This is exacerbated by the fact that two years after this crisis broke the current Government and Minister of Finance are still nowhere near putting a final figure on the Bail-Out cost for Anglo Irish Bank.

“The Emerald Party” proposes that Ireland caps its BAIL OUT contribution to all banks at €20 Billion Euro or 50% of its cost whichever is the less. We are all aware of small and medium sized business going into liquidation on a daily basis. There is no mercy shown to these companies or individuals. Assets are sold off at liquidated prices and creditors are proportionately compensated. Banks and Bond Holders seem to be treated completely in another way. If they made poor or totally bad investment judgements then the tax payer must BAIL THEM OUT. There is absolute no loss to the banks or bond holders in this current process.

Banks are PRIVATE INSTITUTIONAL BUSINESS. They are in the banking business to make money and especially to make alot of money. We can all remember our two older and main banks returning profits of nearly €1 Billion per year, then per half year and later still per quarter. All this profit dragged out of a small economy of 4 million people. Then they lost the run of themselves and started to take more and more risks. Pay their chief executives €4 / 5 Million per year, and lo and behold when they get into trouble their first port of call was Dail Eireann. The same banks are treating small and medium sized business with distain. They are treating mortgage holders in arrears with contempt and doing their level best to penalize traditional mortgage holders to compensate the said banks for their stupidity in buying into the tracker mortgage craze.

So “The Emerald Party” proposes the above policy. The money saved can be pumped into small / medium sized enterprises, capital spending projects, the smart economy and alternative energy sources, to create jobs and wealth in this country again. In brief we propose the following:-

·       Cap the total bank bailout at €20 Billion proportionally

·       Sell off all Government shares in all banks to the open market

·       Facilitate a third banking force in Ireland

·       Welcome in foreign banks

·       Extend the capacity of The Credit Union

·       End the bank guarantee scheme immediately

·       Tax at 95% any/all salaries / bonuses / benefit in kind, paid to bank executives over €500K /year

·       Put a levy on all bank transactions to fund Irelands 0.7% contribution to 3^rd World Aid Programmes

·       To draft up a new banking constitution that absolves the state from future bailouts.

·       To direct the DPP to protect the interest of this state in relation to all banking matters.

·       To cut all non business ties between Government and The Banking Sector in this State

·       To implement a New Banking Code of Practice in Ireland guided by the Enforcer of Corporate Affairs, The Central Bank and The Banking Regulator.

Finance:-

The Government is to immediately set up a National Recovery Fund of €5Billion. This fund is to be matched with equal and additional funding from the Banks. The purpose of this fund is to get this economy working again, to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the small and medium sized enterprises. The Government will also fund and re-energize the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to seek out and secure massive international investment in Ireland. They will target specifically The SMART economy, the Green economy, the FOOD sector and the ENERGY sector. The Government also proposes the following interim measures that will take immediate effect and remain in force for a minimum of 5 years.

·       Banks and Mortgage providers are to be prevented from re-possessing homes. Meaningful negotiations are to be entered into with mortgagees and a holing scheme is to be put in place until the economy is back in sustainable growth.

·       A special Mortgage relief fund is to be set up to help couples who are in dire straits financially.

·       A special task force comprising of the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance, the deputy Minister for Finance, The Governor of The Central Bank and The Financial Regulator is to be set up to address the issue of personal debt and debt management. This group will look specifically at such measures as debt forgiveness, or part forgiveness, the bankruptcy laws and the fast tracking and streamlining of same as well as the huge issue of negative equity.

·       The Government will also introduce a blanket ban on all utility providers from turning off power supplies to their customers. An independent regulatory body will be set up funded by the utility providers to address this issue. In the future only those who will not pay rather than those who are doing their best to pay will have their service stopped.

Enterprise / Employment:-

The Government is to set itself as TOP PRIORITY the rebuilding of the economy. Every effort and every scheme will be employed to get people back to work. Enterprise and entrepreneurial efforts will be assisted in whatever way possible.

Enterprise Boards across the country will be directed to help new start ups, help create additional employment in existing business and support and encourage as much as possible small to medium sized business.

Special areas of interest will be targeted. These include the FOOD Industry, the SMART economy, the GREEN economy; the alternative ENERGY sector, TOURISM as well as COMMUNITY backed projects.

The Government is to set up task forces in all regions. These will be hosted by the current Enterprise Boards and will invite in local banks, the credit union and business leaders in the area. This will take immediate effect and its task will be to create 1000 jobs in each area within its first 6 months of operation. Its function will be to identify opportunities in the market place and to assist and encourage new enterprises to fill those niche markets. Some of the new enterprises could be import replacement projects.

A new scheme is to be introduced to encourage all existing small and medium sized business to take on at least one new person. Special tax allowances will apply to facilitate this scheme

Finance to help start ups will be generated through the Enterprise Boards working closely with the banks, the credit union and the Government Recovery Fund. Weekly meetings are to be held and an attitude of urgency and delivery to be the hallmarks of the new task force groups.

Health Care:-

Health care has been prioritized so many times by so many Governments it has become just a cliché. However this Government will really once and for all address the issues with our Health service and deliver a quality of care that is second to none.

Our current Health Service is TOP HEAVY, full of pen pushers, administrators, accountants and RED Tape. The biggest job in the current health service is to cover ones backside. Nobody will take responsibility for anything. There are enquiries after enquiries, cover ups after cover ups and were just going nowhere with it.

The HSE is to be dismantled and a whole new structure is to be established with its sole aim to provide state of the art care for the people of this country. It will be based on the Danish / Canadian system. It will be PATIENT driven with full emphasis on FRONTLINE services rather than office staff.

The Government is to set up a task force comprising of the Minister for Health, the deputy Minister for Health, the Minister for Finance, Senior Consultants, Junior Doctors, GP’s and Nurses. Its task will be to deliver this new service within 2 years. In the interim the orderly rundown of the HSE will commence.

It will be focused on the removal of administrative staff and the ensuring that frontline staff remains unchanged during this transition period. The overall focus is that Ireland and the Irish people will have the quality health service that they deserve and will stop for once and for all the continuous bungling that’s been incessant for decades in the health service.

The Government will promote a healthy lifestyle for the people of Ireland. So expect very HEAVY TAXES on cigarettes and alcohol.

Social Welfare:-

The Government will ensure that all those legitimately without work will be catered for. However it will tackle vigorously all abuses in the system. With immediate effect the following policies will apply:-

·       Any emigrants from whatever country will not automatically qualify for social assistance

·       Only persons who have worked in Ireland for a period not less than two years will qualify for assistance

·       Fly in collections of Social welfare will be stopped.

·       Social welfare will not be paid to persons living in another state

·       People over 6 months on social welfare will need to provide at least 20 hours of community service to qualify for continual payment of benefit

·       A rigorous campaign to cut out fraud will be implemented

Communities:-

The new Government will be COMMUNITY focused and will support and encourage communities throughout the country. It will encourage community projects, community development and will look to the communities up and down the country to provide local leadership and enterprise.

Our elderly will be treated with respect and dignity. Every effort will be made to involve our aging population in all aspects of community life. We will encourage our elderly to share their life experience with our youth and to guide them and help them achieve even greater things in their own lives.

Farming / Rural Affairs:-

The importance of farming and rural communities to Ireland will be recognized by this Government. Our strong farming tradition needs to be fostered and encouraged to create jobs rather than to be stifled and stagnate. This Government will, with the help of the farming community create 50,000 additional jobs in agriculture over the next 5 years. Areas to be developed are:-

·       Bio –fuels

·       Sugar Beet as a fuel

·       Reforestation

·       Food Crops

·       World supplier of quality food

·       Cottage industries in food and crafting

A proper rural community transport system needs to be put in place and the survival of rural Ireland is to be a TOP PRIORITY.

Food Sector:-

As mentioned above one of Irelands greatest asset is its FOOD INDUSTRY. We need to build on our strengths as a quality food producer by expanding our product range, developing up new niche markets, developing quality brands and also ensuring QUALITY as a top priority.

WE will set up an online sales and marketing strategy so that quality Irish produce can be sold and delivered with confidence anywhere in the World. This shall be achieved in one year.

Tourism:-

This Government is fully committed to the tourism sector. Ireland has wonderful natural resources that money could not by. A wonderful rugged landscape, thousands of miles of breathe taking coastline, unspoilt rivers and lakes. We need to build on our strengths. We are also a very welcoming people, taking care of our visitors needs in a friendly and polite way.

We are also blessed with our music heritage, our writers, story tellers, out cultural tradition and we need to really build upon these solid rocks of interest. Ireland has a truly long and while at sometimes dark history it is still none the less colourful and invigorating. We need to build on our HISTORY by creating further interest, study groups and role playing villages.

More and more visitors to our shores are looking for real life experiences of our heritage rather than visiting interpretative centres and museums. We will set up a special task force under the leadership of the Minister for Tourism. Its target will be to market Ireland and to double our number of visitors in 5 years. They are to come up with creative and innovative ideas in how to expand our tourist numbers and how to get people to stay longer hear and revisit. The task force will invite in leaders from the hospitality trade to help with developing the business plan for the industry for the next 5 years.

Ireland can also position itself as a centre of learning and excellence in Life Science. Our outstanding Universities can be channelled into proving education to hundreds of thousands of foreign students who may go on to settle here, or start up business here in the future. We certainly have enough free accommodation in this country to house them and it could also provide an ideal solution to the so called “ghost villages” around the country. This stock of houses could be held in the national interest for 10 / 20 years and later sold off to private individuals.

Civil Service:-

Our civil service needs to be massively reformed. It has become a colossus over the past 10/15 years and no longer serves the real needs of our people. It needs to be streamlined, refocused and rededicated to providing real services that communities and individual need.

This Government wants to restore the pride and service of a vibrant, serving civil service. We are all part of the one community and the civil service plays a major role in helping our citizens in need. Let’s restore the civil service to its former glory and its true purpose in society.

Green Economy:-

Ireland has massive opportunities to enhance and develop its GREEN Economy. It can be achieved by focusing on the following points as well as many others:-

·       Wind Power Generation

·       Sea wave power generation

·       Thermal Energy

·       Solar Power

·       Bio-Fuels

·       Renewable  Energy supplies ( Wood for example )

·       Energy conservation

·       Energy Recovery Systems

·       Growing crops like Hemp & Sugar Beet

·       Insulation

·       Reduction in number of cars / trucks

Smart Economy:-

Ireland has a golden opportunity to develop its SMART Economy also. It can do this by focusing on these and other ideas:-

·       Developing informational hubs

·       Developing non- invasive Social Media opportunities

·       Life-Science Research & Development

·       Robotics

·       Mobile applications

·       Next Generation Information medium

·       Creating Entrepreneurial & Innovative Forums

Education:-

As mentioned earlier Ireland can become a centre of learning on a global scale. We need to build on our university status and bring our controls and standards to the supreme height. This alone could make Ireland’s future very bright. Alot of foreign students could go on to actually work and live full time in Ireland thereby contributing massively to its development and future.

We also need to look critically at our primary and second level systems and ask ourselves honestly if they are serving our youth and preparing them in the best way for adult life. There have been some reports carried out on this subject and rather than carrying out another report we would suggest setting up a committee to make a final decision on the subject and plan for implementation within 12 months.

Foreign Affairs:-

Ireland needs to play a leading role internationally especially in the furtherance of peace and conflict resolution.

Strategic Planning / Development:-

Ireland needs to develop a short, medium and long term plan for its social and economic development. This should be completed and presented for approval within 12 months.

Creativity / Entrepreneurial ship:-

Ireland needs to encourage and foster a climate of Creativity and Entrepreneurial-ship. A special forum needs to be established so that people with creative ideas have the opportunity to discuss and develop them. Local Enterprise Boards can assist at this level by providing confidential forum for the discussion and development of new and innovative ideas.

People with ideas need to be acknowledged and honoured rather than being vilified and ridiculed. This Government plans to set up a rewards structure for such creative individuals and will honour them nationally as well as financially. This country needs people with ideas and this Government will support and foster this.

There are many members of communities up and down the country who do Trojan work and deliver daily sacrifices for their communities. These people also need to be rewarded and recognized. This Government proposes the setting up of a Presidential Reward Scheme to honour such sterling endeavours.

Justice / Defence / Law Reform:-

Ireland needs a radical overhaul of its legal and justice system. Under the new Minister for Justice a review group will be established to deliver the required reforms with 2 years. Areas to be covered including many others are:-

·       Criminality and Subservice Groups

·       Drugs

·       Financial regulation

·       Modernization of all laws

·       Prisons

·       Role of Army

·       Role of Garda

·       Traffic Police

·       Emigration

·       Citizenship

·       Children’s Rights

·       Asylum Seekers

·       Abuse

·       Bullying

Sport:-

Ireland has contributed enormously to the field of sport on an international basis. Based on our population base we have delivered well beyond the respected norms. Internationally we excel in Golf, Sailing, Soccer, Rugby, Boxing, Cycling and Exploring. It is time for Ireland to capitalize on these fantastic achievements. We could set ourselves the Goal of Hosting the Olympic Games in 2024 or 2028 to mark our 100 year as a Nation and to set the standard for this country for the next century and beyond. Together as a COMMUNITY we can achieve whatever goals we set ourselves.