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19th January 2016 • Volume 23, Issue 01 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
It has been a time of much celebration for Loreto Secondary school in Balbriggan over the last
different awards in various categories and it was two of their students that won the overall accolade of Young Scientist of the Year. Maria Louise Fufezan and By Aoife Read Diana Bura, both 4th year week as they made a clean students, took the trophy for their sweep at this year’s BT investigation into the effects of Young Scientist Awards. Enzymes used in animal feed The school took additives on the life span of home 8 Caenorhabditis Elegans. The school also claimed the runner up prize in the individual category with 5th year student Renuka Chintaplalli’s project on developing a predictive tool for identifying FLNc-associated Shay Walsh, Managing biomarkers of oesophageal Director BT Ireland and cancer metastasis. Since the Minister for Education and Skills Jan O'Sullivan competition the girls have TD present the BT Young been in very high demand, Scientist and Technology something reflected in the Exhibition 2016 overall conversation by this paper with prize to Maria Louise the winners, when Maria told Fufezan (16) and Diana us that; “We are still getting a Bura (15) from Loreto lot of attention that’s for sure, Secondary School for and it is just so tiring.” their project.
See special feature on pages 16 and 17
Gate Left Open Well-known broadcaster, Vincent Browne paid a visit to the North County last week, in which he conducted his very popular People’s Debate from the Grand Hotel in Malahide. The event, which concentrated on the new Dublin Fingal constituency was attended by about 400 local people, anxious to quiz prospective TDs in the constituency about what promises they have in store for the electorate.
Better than expected exchequer returns were also cited as ammunition to place in front of the people. With impressive statistics in many areas, they felt that this represented a golden opportunity for them to re-enforce this progress to the people present and to the viewing public, who will determine their political futures. By Patrick Finnegan Their absence has left the gate wide The unfortunate absence of the three sitting open for opposition candidates who Government TDs, Fine Gael’s Minister for Children and were present to damage the Local General Election candidates, Tony Murphy (Ind Alliance) and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly and local man Alan Government TDs and to fire shots at Senator Darragh O'Brien (FF) are pictured with presenter Vincent Browne after partaking in the TV programme, 'The People's Debate' at the Grand Farrell and Labour’s Brendan Ryan was roundly critisitting targets who were not there to Hotel Malahide last week cised by Browne and by numerous contributors to the defend their policies. Many feel that in show. Indeed Browne blamed their absence for the hindsight, the non-appearance of the Fine Gael and Independent. They were joined on the panel by seemingly unbalanced slant of the show. The only Labour candidates may be an error of judgement, seasoned campaigners, Senator Darragh O’Brien local TD to make an appearance was Clare Daly which may come back to haunt them, given the depth (Fianna Fail) and sitting TD Clare Daly (Independent), who was of feelings on the night and (Independent). joined by all the other candithe proximity of the General In his usual inimitable way, Vincent Browne “Their absence has left the gate dates in the constituency. Election. Local voters were ploughed into the prospective TDs and demanded wide open for opposition candidates After the show, people given a glimpse of the straight answers to his questions. Under severe who were present to damage the purporting to be Fine Gael declared candidates, all of pressure, the candidates acquitted themselves well, Government TDs” and Labour supporters whom represented the while the audience also got in on the act with some expressed their disappointopposition to the present probing questions to the would be TDs. Issues such ment to the County Leader that the three Government Government. They included newcomers to general as homelessness, public health, security, environTDs chose not to attend. They were of the view, which election territory, Cllr Tony Murphy from Balbriggan ment and the repeal of the 8th amendment of the is shared by many, that the next Government is likely under the Independent Alliance banner, Gerry constitution were all aired. to be made up of many of the TDs who make up the Molloy (Renua), Terry Kelleher (Anti Austerity Despite the regrettable absence of the Government present coalition. They also pointed to advances Alliance), Joe O’Brien (Green Party), Louise O’Reilly TDs, the debate was robust and informative, but the made in the past five years since taking up office, in (Sinn Fein), Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail), Barry overriding sentiment was that the TDs did themterms of an impressive reduction in unemployment Martin from People Before Profit, who has thrown in selves no favours by their absence. from 15 per cent, to the current figure of 8 per cent. his lot with Clare Daly and is campaigning as an See ‘The Man Behind The Debate’ on page 2