Bobby Aylward - Fianna Fail TD for Carlow / Kilkenny^{Your Vote - Your Voice}

“I warmly welcome the announcement that Father Seamus Freeman is to be installed as the new Catholic Bishop of Ossory and I wish him well as he embraces his work in this Diocese. It is a singular honour for the Coolagh man and indeed for his mother, his family, and the entire Parish of Callan”.

“I understand he is a man of great humility and spirituality and I have no doubt that he will continue the great work of renewal which was fostered by Bishop Laurence Forristal”.

“I am taking this opportunity to extend my good wishes to Bishop Foristal for a long and fulfilling retirement after 26 years of careful stewardship in the Diocese”.

17 September, 2007.

The removal of the temporary ban on Irish beef by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is good news for farmers in Kilkenny, according to Bobby Aylward, T.D.

“The ban on Irish beef imports into Saudi Arabia has been in place since 2000. Following a visit by Saudi experts to Ireland last June, a decision has just been taken to lift that ban”, Bobby Aylward said.

“This ban was a source of serious concern for many farmers. Our beef exports amounted to 25,000 tonnes annually and it was worth E33,000 million. The Minister for Agriculture took the implications of the ban very seriously and worked hard to have this important market re-opened as quickly as possible”.

“Intensive political, diplomatic and technical efforts were undertaken and both the Taoiseach and the Minister visited Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the year where they took the opportunity to discuss the temporary ban and to convey the grave concerns of Irish beef farmers”.

“When officials from Saudi Arabia visited Ireland over the summer, they were able to observe at first hand the rigourous standards if food safety controls in operation here any they were satisfied that they are effective”.

“It is great news for Kilkenny beef farmers that our efforts have been worthwhile. The trade with Saudi Arabia will resume when individual slaughter plants which are designsted to supply that market are approved by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia”, Deputy Aylward ended.

14 October, 2007

Bobby Aylward, T.D., has insisted that consumers in South Kilkenny must receive regular information and updates about any developments on the water supply service in the area and has asked Kilkenny Councy Council to consider using all available technology to ensure that residents are alerted immediately to any emerging issues.

“The situation has been relieved with extra water coming from Waterford City Council and emergency works to speed up operations at the Silver Springs source in Mooncoin have been carried out. However, customers must be briefed and a proper system should be put in place to relay information to them in a timely manner.

“I have already asked Kilkenny County Council to consider using a special slot on local radio to provide regular bulletins on the water supply issue. I have been told that the County Council is now actively pursuing my suggestion. I also suggested that it would be useful if it were to compile a data base to enable direct communication with people who are affected. The use of text messaging and e-mail should be considered to alert customers of any problems associated with the water supply and to advise them of what measures are being provided to remedy these, and what the expected timeframe will be. The County Council has said that it is now exploring my proposal to target communications directly to consumers. This is welcome news.

“I have met several groups of people who continue to be concerned about the reliability of the water supply and the lack of information available about it. Until such time as the E 9 million Water Services Investment Programme has been implemented fully, the onus is on Kilkenny County Council to use every means possible to ensure that the people of South Kilkenny know what is happening and when it is happening”, concluded Deputy Aylward.

24 September, 2007.

Bobby Aylward, T.D.,
ADDRESS>: Knockmoylan, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny,

or

Constituency Office, 22, Upper Patrick Street, Kilkenny.

DATE OF BIRTH>: 1 April, 1955;

Married to Helena (nee Long); three children - Triona, Bob, and Mark;

EDUCATION>: Castlegannon National School; Ballyhale Vocational School; Kildalton Agricultural College;

OCCUPATION: T.D. and Farmer;
2004;

MEMBERSHIPS>: IFA; ICMSA; Shamrocks GAA Club;

Member, Fianna Fail;
Member, Kilkenny County Council, 1992 - 2007;
Member, Southern Fisheries Board, 2000 - 2007;
Chairman, Kilkenny County Council, 2003 - 2004;
Member, Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly, 1999 - 2004;
Member, Port of Waterford, 1999 - 2004;
Member, South East Regional Authority, 1994 - 2004;
Chairman, South East Regional Authority, 2000 - 2001;
Chairman, Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly, 2002 - 2003;
Chairman, Kilkenny SPC Transport, 2002 - 2003;
Chairman, Kilkenny SPC Housing, 2004 - 2007;
Member, Kilkenny GAA County Board, 1995 - 2002;
Chairman, Shamrocks GAA Club, 1992 - 1995;

LEISURE INTERESTS: hurling; Gaelic football; reading; crosswords.

Clinic every Friday evening at Constituency Office, 22, Upper Patrick Street, Kilkenny, at 5pm>.
Clinic on the first Saturday of alternate months, commencing July, at the Parish Community Hall, Ferrybank, at 12 noon.