In the month of March 2012, the following is a breakdown of my income and expenditure as a City Councilllor.
Monies Received:
| Representational Allowance | €1,286.46 | * | |||||||
| Subsistence | €444.92 | ** | |||||||
| Conference Exp | €467.57 | ||||||||
| Total Income | €2,198.95 | ||||||||
| * amounts shown are gross and are subject to income tax. | |||||||||
| ** unvouched expenses paid once a month to all councillors to cover expenses incurred | |||||||||
Expenses for the Month:
| Printing & Postage | €338.74 | |||||||
| Phone Bill | €145.91 | |||||||
| Diesel | €218.60 | €703.25 | ||||||
| Total Costs | €703.25 | |||||||
Meetings and Functions Attended:
| 01-Mar | 7:00pm | Meeting with constituent. | ||||
| 8:00pm | Fine Gael Branch & District AGM | |||||
| 02-Mar | 8:00pm | Ballinlough Yough Clubs Table Quiz | ||||
| 05-Mar | 4:30pm | Meeting with constituent | ||||
| 5:30pm | Roads & Transportation Committee Meeting- City Hall | |||||
| 6:00pm | Meeting with constituent | |||||
| 7:30pm | UCC YFG AGM | |||||
| 06-Mar | 5:15pm | Douglas Community School Board of Mgt meeting | ||||
| 8:00pm | Chair meeting of the Ballinlough Commnunity Assoc | |||||
| 09-Mar | 8:30am | Meeting with constituent. | ||||
| 1:00pm | LeisureWorld Finance Committee Meeting | |||||
| 8:00pm | Over 60′s Local heat Organising Committee | |||||
| 10-Mar | 2:00pm | Cope Flag day collection | ||||
| 8:00pm | Attend French Film festival | |||||
| 12-Mar | 5:30pm | City Council meeting | ||||
| 13-Mar | 11:00am | Attend Funeral | ||||
| 8:30pm | Attend Removal | |||||
| 14-Mar | 1:00pm | Meeting with constituent | ||||
| 15-Mar | 1:15pm | Meeting with constituent | ||||
| 16-Mar | 8:00pm | Attend Annual Cope Ball | ||||
| 17-Mar | 9:15am | Attend St. Patrick’s day Service St Finbarre’s Cathedral | ||||
| 1:30pm | Attend St. Patrick’s day parade | |||||
| 3:30pm | Opening of the Civic and Mayoral Museum | |||||
| 20-Mar | 1:00pm | Meeting with constituent | ||||
| 5:30pm | Finance Committee meeting – City Hall | |||||
| 6:30pm | Attend removal | |||||
| 21-Mar | 7:00pm | Willow Park Resident’s Association meeting | ||||
| 22-Mar | 7:30pm | Cork South Central Fine Gael Table Quiz | ||||
| 23-Mar | 9:00am | Meeting with constituent | ||||
| 26-Mar | 4:30pm | Ward meeting – City Hall | ||||
| 5:30pm | City Council meeting | |||||
| 27-Mar | 7:30pm | Meeting of Ballinlough Community Association | ||||
| 29-Mar | 5:30pm | VEC City of Cork meeting | ||||
| 30-Mar | Attend Fine Gael Ard Fheis, Dublin | |||||
| 31-Mar | ||||||
Thanks Laura for newsletter, brief. You know of my interest in encouraging use of the Irish language. This of course is not just a hobby of mine, it is a matter that should concern all citizens. There are encouraging signs re promotion of our language but real progress will not be made until more and more people see it not alone as a very basic part of ourselves as Irish but decide to do something about it, yes , actually speak it.
For many , Irish is irrevelant, nice etc but irrevelant. What an absurd situation that I along with others have to plead with fellow Irish citizens to grasp the ancient but living language that is ours. Apathy is an indication of lack of idealism. Employment, financial well-being are fundamental necessities but our nation deserves more from its citizens in the interest of generations to come. Our apathy , our lack of whole hearted participation in this wonderful ideal to make us a truly bi-lingual nation, English and Irish speaking, will lead to future generations, say in 100 years time finding that all sign of our language has been wiped out or can be seen in road signs which mean nothing to them.What a prospect, what a loss.
I would ask you to show that you believe in the worthwhileness of promoting Irish esp. when making public appearances. Our top politicianshave shown good example, this needs to be acted upon by many many more. Irish language Classes are available “all over the place”. Is féidir linn, as Pres Obama said; the Queen of Great Britain acknowledged the existence of Irish. Sin a bhfuil, I will never again mention the subject to you. Slán