Wexford Fianna Fail TD and Minister of State, Sean Connick has encouraged local groups working with young people to apply for support from a
€1.5 million Government fund to establish youth cafés.
"The Government is making the funding available to build on a network of 30 existing cafés nationwide. Youth Cafés are a tremendous
"The Government is making the funding available to build on a network of 30 existing cafés nationwide. Youth Cafés are a tremendous resource for our young people, and give them a safe and comfortable environment in which to mix and relax."
"It is important that if we are to prevent our young people from hanging around street corners where they can fall into the trap of anti social behaviour that we provide them with alternatives."
"The development of sports and community facilities is vital to support our teenagers, and youth cafés are an important part of that social infrastructure. The new fund will be administered through the City and County Development Boards, with full details published on the website
€1.5 million Government fund to establish youth cafés. www.pobal.ie."
Mr Sean Connick TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for forestry, today announced the payment of annual forestry premiums of almost €53 million to over 11,000 forest owners.
Posted on 08/04/10 by Sean Connick 
Any new job brings great change, but a promotion to a Minister of State position has brought more adjustments than I thought possible. With every other new job, I knew change was coming and was able to prepare, mentally and physically for the new circumstances. With this new position, I was in my new office in the Department of Agriculture within 8 hours (with an intervening celebration with family and friends). My new responsibilities of fisheries and forestry present significant challenges but I am already getting stuck in.
I attended my first EU Fisheries Council of Ministers Meeting in Brussels within days of my appointment. There I met with the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Maria Damanaki to discuss the Report on ‘Ireland’s Response’ to the Commissions Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Coming from a coastal county where fishing is so important to the local economy, I know how vital strong representation of Irish interests is. National Fish quotas are a public resource and should be treated as such and be used to the benefit of our family owned fleets. It will be my priority to protect these quotas from being privatised and sold on to European fishing companies. You can read more about that meeting here.
My other area of responsibility is forestry which is a key element of the Irish economy and is significant to Ireland’s economic development. Last year’s Renewed Programme for Government included a commitment to increasing annual planting to 10,000 hectares. We are also going to review forestry policy to take account of the role of climate change and the importance of forestry to bio-energy, bio-diversity and job creation for example in the areas of eco-tourism, furniture and crafts. You can find out more about the Government’s forestry policy here
While I am relishing my new challenge, it is really important to me that nothing will change in relation to my constituency. I will continue to work with and on behalf of my constituents with the help of my dedicated and loyal staff. You can keep updated with my latest news on my Facebook page.
Minister Sean Connick T.D. attended the EU Fisheries Council of Ministers Meeting on Monday 29th March, and had a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. The bilateral meeting with the Commissioner was arranged to discuss the Report on “Irelands Response” to the Commissions Green Paper on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy”.
The EU Common Fisheries Policy is currently undergoing a Reform. The direction and outcome of that Reform is critical to the future of the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities’ dependant on that industry, right around the coastline.
Sean Connick, T.D.
I am delighted and privileged to be Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Fisheries and Forestry. Nothing will change in relation to my constituency as I will continue to work with and on behalf of my constituents with the help of my dedicated and loyal staff in my constituency office and my clinics will operate as normal.
