www.limerickpost.ie 28 | Saturday 11 July 2015 News in brief Nature outing ^ LIMERICK Birdwatch will host an outing to the Park Canal, Shannon Fields and the Red Path in Corbally this Saturday, July 11. Leader Pete Beaumont will take nature lovers through this Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to identity anything that flies, flutters, crawls, swims or grows roots during the walk. Those interested in attending can meet at the humped back bridge over the canal in Rhebogue to depart at 10am. For more details see the Limerick Birdwatch facebook page. Nora’s win ^ LUCKY Nora Brosnahan from Templeglantine, County Limerick won €105,000 including a holiday to Turkey on last Saturday’s National Lottery Winning Streak game show on RTE. Five players are selected each week to appear on the Winning Streak TV Gameshow and win up to €500,000 instantly on the Grand Prize Wheel. This season, not one but two players may have the life-changing opportunity to spin the iconic Winning Streak Grand Prize Wheel and win up to half a million euro each. Between two wheel spinners a total of €1 million is up for grabs. Greek ‘no’ vote ^ FOLLOWING more than 61 per cent of Greek voters rejecting fresh austerity demands by the country’s EU-IMF creditors in a historic referendum, Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, promised that Ireland will continue to engage in an effort to reach a successful conclusion to the negotiations. “I hope that following this result the Greek Government will continue discussions with fellow member states in an effort to provide certainty for the Greek people and return stability to their economy,” said Minister Noonan. Ledge rescue ^ AN ELDERLY man was rescued from a third storey window ledge at University Hospital Limerick on Sunday night. It is believed that the man, who is aged in his late 70s to early 80s, climbed out of a window after becoming disorientated. Limerick City Fire and Rescue were called to the hospital at about 11.30pm on Sunday and brought the man, who was uninjured, to safety using an aerial ladder shortly before 11.50pm. A number of paramedics, hospital personnel and gardaí also attended the scene. It is understood that the HSE is conducting an investigation into the incident. Free broadband ^ COMMUNITIES in rural Limerick are being encouraged to apply for an Eircom competition that would deliver free broadband to their area. The competition, called Empowered, will see Eircom build a high speed Fibre to the Home (FTTH) broadband network within an area at no cost to the community. Communities have until September 15 to apply. After the winner is announced, Eircom will then immediately engage with the community to commence planning. Eircom have said that it would take in the region of six months to completely set up the broadband system. Abbeyfeale Trip ^ A trip to Valentia Island, one of Ireland’s most westerly points which is joined to mainland Co. Kerry by bridge, has been organised for Sunday, July 26 from Abbeyfeale parish church. The bus will leave from the parish church and is already half full. Contact Maureen on 087 9845102 for more details. This is a guided tour and the bus will stop in the River Island Hotel, Castleisland for breakfast and later for dinner on the homeward trip. Also, anyone in the world can now view live broadcasts from Abbeyfeale’s church webcam. View by logging onto www. churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish. Download your FREE Limerick Post iPhone/Android app Direct provision Direct provision report lacks vision and ambition by Kathy Masterson [email protected] LIMERICK-based migrant rights organisation Doras Luimní has criticised the recent Government Working Group report on direct provision, saying that it lacks vision and ambition. According to Doras Luimní director Leonie Kerins, the Group never considered an alternative to the direct provision system, which places asylum seekers in hostel accommodation while their refugee applications are being processed. “The proposals outlined in the Working Group, if fully implemented without further delay, are to be welcomed as a first-step in the right direction. If implemented fully, there is no doubt that these reforms will have a positive impact on the lives of many individuals who have experienced extraordinary challenges while accommodated in Direct Provision centres across the country. “However, the non-committal language used throughout the report and the lack of an implementation timeframe and start date are cause for concern,” said Ms Kerins. She added that it was regrettable that the Working Group failed to take “a more ambitious, committed and visionary approach to the reform process”. “In addition, these proposals will do very little to address the fundamental flaws at the core of the Direct Provision system. The institutionalisation of thousands of men, women and children is set to continue: accommodated in centres, mostly privately contracted to business people who profit generously at the expense of the asylum-seeking population. “While the recommendation regarding residents who have been in the system for five years or more is Fashion “” the non-committal language used throughout the report and the lack of an implementation timeframe and start date are cause for concern Leonie Kerins Doras Luimní to be welcomed, thousands of asylum seekers will not benefit from this measure and will continue to live in institutions that have repeatedly proven to be unfit for purpose,” continued Ms Kerins. Doras Luimní says it will continue to advocate for an end to the direct provision system to allow asylum seekers to live independently in the community and end “institutionalised living in centres that have repeatedly proven to be unfit for purpose”. The organisation is also calling on the Government to commit to implementing the proposals contained in the Working Group report “fully with immediate effect”. Among the recommendations included in the report are proposals to fast-track residency status for asylum seekers who have been living under direct provision for five years or more. It also suggests that any new applicants who do not get a decision within nine months should be permitted to work, and that the direct provision allowance should be increased from €19.10 per adult per week and €9.60 per child per week to €38.74 and €29.80 respectively. Limerick is a stylish lady by Bernie English A LIMERICK lady was a winner all right recently at the Curragh Racecourse. Lorraine O’Sullivan from Dooradoyle in Co. Limerick was announced as the Most Stylish Lady at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Lorraine was wearing a beautiful cream dress by Philip Armstrong from The Ivory Closet, a Perspex red Lulu Guinness bag, nude Kurt Geiger shoes and a hand crafted pillbox hat which she finished earlier that morning. Lorraine was chosen as the overall winner by a judging panel led by TV Presenter Amanda Byram, and Breeda McLoughlin representing Dubai Duty Free. This is the second year in a row that a winner from Limerick has claimed this coveted title – last year Catriona Hanly from Raheen was the winner. Lorraine walked away with a coveted prize worth almost €20,000. She will enjoy a holiday of a lifetime to Dubai, courtesy of Dubai Duty Free and spend five glorious nights at the retail operator’s 5 Star Hotel, The Jumeirah Creekside as well as €1,000 to spend and return flights. Also included is an elegant Boodles 18 carat white gold and diamond pendant valued at €5,000 plus an overnight stay at the luxurious Marker Hotel in Dublin. The five runner’s up received goodie bags from The Marker Hotel. Commenting on her win, Lorraine said “I’m absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the Most Stylish Lady at The Curragh. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is always a wonderful weekend but this has really made my day! I cannot wait to book my holiday to Dubai, wear my stunning new Boodles necklace and check in to The Marker hotel on my return!” On picking a winner Amanda Byram said “The style set were certainly out in force today at The Curragh! It was brilliant to see so many ladies wearing Irish designers. The judges and I were looking for someone with a unique sense of style and I think we found it in Lorraine’s look. Not surprisingly, competition was high to win this coveted prize, but we all agreed Lorraine had the edge.” Above: Lorraine O’Sullivan from Dooradoyle with judges Bairbre Power and Melanie Morris, Breeda McLoughlin of Dubai Duty Free, Jody Wainwright from Boodles and Amanda Byram. R: Lorraine O’Sullivan with Colm and Breeda McLoughlin and Celia Holman Lee