Appropriately enough the annual Arbour Hill Easter Rising Commemoration took place today. I met Michael McDowell for the first time since last week's excitement - he was in great form.
After the ceremony the Taoiseach, myself and Micheal had a brief chat about the campaign. "I'll love you and leave you", says Michael as we finish up. There's a moment's silence. A pause. And then a big laugh from everyone. Laughing, he clarifies he was 'only talking about leaving us here now...."
After the commemoration I take part in RTÉ's first ever web debate with Bernard Durkan, Tommy Broughan and Eamon Ryan. www.rte.ie/news/elections2007/debate/ We faced over 250 questions in an hour long webcast. I'm told there were over 8,500 hits in that hour. I felt it was a very civilised debate...
Following on from one new technology to another I launched Last Mile's Wimax Rural Broadband. This
company aims to ensure no digital divide occurs by providing broadband through Wifi in rural areas where other providers have deemed it not economically viable. Providing broadband to rural areas is vital from a regional development point of view. It's good to see an Irish company, established only five years ago making progress in this area.
What a turnout for the evening canvass. About 30 canvassers turned out. And we tackled the every expanding town of Enfield. The progress in the last five years is incredible in this area. It took about 7 teams to canvass one estate alone. The response on the doorsteps was good with most people recognising that a lot had been achieved and of course there was more to do. When you face a population explosion you must prioritise, meaning some facilities and infrastructure develop at a slower paces. But most people recognise that having a Minister in your constituency helps.
I had to leave the canvass for a short while to pay tribute to the 'practical patriots' involved in Anti-litter league Pride of Place and Tidy Towns at the Anti-Litter League Winners' presentation in Navan. Congratulations to all, including Dunderry who were overall winners.
Then I rushed back to Enfield for the ubiquitous tea and sandwiches in Flahertys to compare war stories.
After the ceremony the Taoiseach, myself and Micheal had a brief chat about the campaign. "I'll love you and leave you", says Michael as we finish up. There's a moment's silence. A pause. And then a big laugh from everyone. Laughing, he clarifies he was 'only talking about leaving us here now...."
After the commemoration I take part in RTÉ's first ever web debate with Bernard Durkan, Tommy Broughan and Eamon Ryan. www.rte.ie/news/elections2007/debate/ We faced over 250 questions in an hour long webcast. I'm told there were over 8,500 hits in that hour. I felt it was a very civilised debate...
Following on from one new technology to another I launched Last Mile's Wimax Rural Broadband. This
company aims to ensure no digital divide occurs by providing broadband through Wifi in rural areas where other providers have deemed it not economically viable. Providing broadband to rural areas is vital from a regional development point of view. It's good to see an Irish company, established only five years ago making progress in this area.What a turnout for the evening canvass. About 30 canvassers turned out. And we tackled the every expanding town of Enfield. The progress in the last five years is incredible in this area. It took about 7 teams to canvass one estate alone. The response on the doorsteps was good with most people recognising that a lot had been achieved and of course there was more to do. When you face a population explosion you must prioritise, meaning some facilities and infrastructure develop at a slower paces. But most people recognise that having a Minister in your constituency helps.
I had to leave the canvass for a short while to pay tribute to the 'practical patriots' involved in Anti-litter league Pride of Place and Tidy Towns at the Anti-Litter League Winners' presentation in Navan. Congratulations to all, including Dunderry who were overall winners.
Then I rushed back to Enfield for the ubiquitous tea and sandwiches in Flahertys to compare war stories.
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