Mick_B

My first post in I don't know how many years.. I'm in too. Hi all...

Have we a date Smelly? I need a weekend away.

Hiya Baz. I'm good thanks. Hi Matty.... er..... parrot? What parrot????

We stayed at the Royal Victoria Hotel, St. Mary's Rd., Newport. 5 miles to the Navi and taxi was not a problem. 10 mins and I think 6 quid. Hotel was acceptable. Hello strangers...

I hope you took off your shoes...

Which lock are you mooring in this winter Matty???

8HF With a 2 hour session a lot of people find it hard to retain everything and begin to get frustrated. 2 shorter sessions, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening help a lot of people progress quicker. Retention is better and frustration is reduced. This makes it more enjoyable so helps people stick at it. (This is my opinion and the opinion of some others I have disussed it with at various times. Not everyone will agree though). Try it and see if it helps. Better to encourage others than to say they just don't have what it takes. People can surprise you and end up being ten times better than you are. Happens to me all the time. Best of luck and keep chipping away at it.

Plenty of beer helps with the inhibitions of playing badly Mike. Works for me all the time..... Lol Good to hear you're taking it up. A half hour twice a day is worth more than a 2 hour practice every day..

Hey Barry... Long time..... Oh.. thats 1000 now. Speak to you again in 12 months... Lol Edit for silly counting typo...

At What?

I was forgotten the day I joined. I'm only posting because I have just seen I have only 2 more to reach 1000 useless posts.

Hi Owen 18mm WBP is what I'm using for my floor. Make sure to treat any sawn edges extra well. I was advised to coat sawn edges with PVA glue to seal them.

Birdseed on the roof is always good for ensuring your neighbour is awake early....

This is heading for an armchair/popcorn session by the look of it.... Chill dude.... ETA: Not aimed at Matchpoint......

Don't recall seeing this on here before.... http://www.voilesetvoiliers.com/ca-vous-est-arrive/cote-basque-espagnole-entree-de-port-catastrophe-zumaia/

In the past I've been asked to pass on info if I came across it. This is from Seanad questions yesterday.... Senator Terry Brennan: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Waterways Ireland, established in 1999 under the British-Irish Agreement Act, is charged with the management, maintenance, development and restoration of Ireland's inland waterways, principally for recreational purposes. In total, it manages some 1,000 km of waterway on both sides of the Border, including the Shannon navigation, the Lower Bann, the Barrow navigation, the Royal Canal and the Grand Canal and the Shannon-Erne waterway. Coming as I do from the Border county of Louth, I have always had an interest in the Ulster Canal which runs from Lough Erne in County Fermanagh to Clones in County Monaghan. However, the economic downturn has had a negative impact on plans to fund the restoration of this canal. Significant income was expected to be raised to cover the cost of the cross-Border route by selling Waterways Ireland assets, but the recession has set matters back. Planning permission to reopen the 14 km route from Lough Erne in County Fermanagh to Clones in County Monaghan has been granted by local authorities north and south of the Border. New towpaths and bridges will be created as part of the €35 million work which is expected to take three years to complete. The Ulster Canal is a disused waterway running through parts of counties Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan. It originally linked the Lough Erne river system with Lough Neagh, but it has not been used since 1929. The economic downturn has had a negative impact on proposed plans. Despite this, the Ulster Canal project is progressing incrementally. I look forward to the section of the canal from Lough Erne to Clones being completed in the next few years. It will add to the existing tourism potential of counties Cavan and Monaghan. The headquarters of Waterways Ireland is located in Enniskillen, with regional offices located in Carrick-on-Shannon, Dublin and Scarriff, County Clare. Waterways Ireland reports to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, in Northern Ireland. It is managed by a chief executive who reports to the North-South Ministerial Council and joint sponsor Departments. Some 85% of current expenditure is met by the Government in the Republic, with the remaining 15% being met by the Northern Ireland Government. Capital expenditure is funded solely by the Government in the jurisdiction in which work is being undertaken. This year the Minister will provide over €24 million for Waterways Ireland. Since its establishment, Waterways Ireland has restored the Royal Canal to navigation, opened up new cruising destinations at Boyle and Ballinasloe, developed integrated recreational facilities at Lough Key, Enniskillen, Clondra, Killaloe, Clashganny, Shannon harbour, Enfield and Mullingar, doubled mooring capacity and developed a necklace of recreational services all along the waterways. Over one quarter of Ireland's 1,000 km network is man-made, over 200 years old and still works in the way designed. This is remarkable and a credit not only to the original engineers but also the continuing maintenance work carried out by Waterways Ireland staff. From undertaking bank repairs or weed-cutting to managing canal side vegetation and keeping verges and towpaths accessible, day-to-day maintenance work is essential to the smooth running of the waterways. <snip> Senator Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister. Much of what I intended to say today has already been said by other Senators, so I will try not to cover the same ground again. First, I reiterate the importance of Ireland's tourism industry. There was a small downturn in the industry for a number of years, but it is set to grow again. It is a vital part of our economy. In 2011, Ireland was voted the favourite holiday destination in the world by the readers of Farmers Guide, and it is undeniable that a contributing part of that would be our rivers and waterways. They are not just important for the tourism industry but are also navigational and economic arteries. They bring boat traffic for the tourism business and have significant amenity value to local communities. Boats are the lifeblood of communities along the waterways and we should encourage them to visit the canal navigations and waterways. Like other Senators, I take this opportunity to commend the work done by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. Later I will raise issues relating to the by-laws and mooring fees. Being from Cavan, I note that the Ulster Canal has been mentioned. Can the Minister give an update on the progress of the canal? (Speaker Continuing) [Senator Kathryn Reilly: ] Will the Minister update Members on the incremental progress being made by the inter-agency group on possible funding options? Has a feasibility study or any other study been conducted on the viability of the proposal to extend the Erne navigation from Belturbet to Killykeen and Killeshandra? I believe there were issues with regard to the environmental designations of the lakes. I would appreciate if the Minister would comment on this or revert to me at a later stage. The Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, IWAI, has expressed serious concerns about the proposed by-laws. At a meeting on Monday, 10 February, it was reiterated that the proposed by-laws do not put user requirements, tourism development and local communities at the centre of the regulations. Does the Minister agree that user requirements, tourism development and the local communities are in fact at the heart of the by-laws? The by-laws will impact on the communities along the waterways. As part of the consultation process the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, IWAI, arranged public meeting, met elected representatives, business associations and consulted with communities. A vast array of knowledge and experience was brought to bear on the consultation process and I think the Minister needs to consider the findings of IWAI. I will not develop that point further due to time constraints. My colleague Deputy Sandra McLellan tabled a question to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on the negative effects that increased mooring fees, annual cruising permits and annual houseboat mooring fees will have for the public. In the course of his reply the Minister said: "These seven waterways make a vital contribution to tourism". I do not think these proposals will help tourism. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that his response is balanced and takes account of the genuine concerns expressed by the IWAI, the communities they represent and all those who have been consulted on the matter. <snip> (Speaker Continuing) [Deputy Jimmy Deenihan: ] The regulations should enhance our waterways rather than discouraging the public from using them or even depending on them for a home. The IWAI plays an important role in that too. A subject I am interested in is the Ulster Canal. In 2007, it was agreed by the North-South Ministerial Council that the Ulster Canal would go ahead and it was to be funded by the Republic from the sale of property in the docklands. At that stage, I suppose we were still experiencing high property values here in Dublin, the crash had not come and there was a realistic chance of getting €35 million. However, the crash then came and the funding was not available. Property prices are rising again and there may be an opportunity to commence the project. Certainly, that would be my intention. We had to go through a process of planning permission and that has now been completed. The next phase will be land acquisition. Generally speaking, people on both sides of the Border are co-operative in that sense. Land acquisition will be followed by the start of work. Waterways Ireland and my Department are exercised about this. It is something I would be delighted to be involved with during my ministry and, if it were possible, I would like to get something going. It will have my full attention in that respect. Senator Paschal Mooney: Hear, hear. I hope it will. It has been on the cards for a long time. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan: It has. We all see the importance of it, from the symbolism of North-South co-operation alone to its importance in tourism promotion and North-South recreational use. We all join here in recognising the value and potential of the Ulster Canal and its potential link with Lough Neagh. It would form a spectacular network of waterways in this country that would be unequalled anywhere. Senator Quinn raised some further issues that may not be covered in the by-laws, such as safety, registration, licensing and insurance. I will ask Waterways Ireland to consider those relevant issues. I thank the Senators for inviting me here today. This was a useful debate that I am sure can make a difference. From that point of view, it is opportune. Full discussion here mainly to do with new by-laws... http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/seanad2014022600009?opendocument