http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/ Latest from the online edition en-gb Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:40:08 +0000 Copyright (C) 2010 Clyde and Forth Press Ltd http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/feeds/ 79 http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/furniture/wmi_logo_500x75.png http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/ Plans by the Local Government Efficiency Review Group to amalgamate Westmeath County Council with Longford County Council and Roscommon County Council with Mayo County Council must not be allowed to come to pass... http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/28/3998927-local-government-plan-would-diminish-athlones-development/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/28/3998927-local-government-plan-would-diminish-athlones-development/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The issue of flooding is back in the news this week, with two developments of potentially significant consequence to the Firstly, yesterday (Tuesday), a special Oireachtas committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published its report on how the State handled the major weather events of late last year and early this year. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/21/3998773-flood-report-finds-lack-of-direction-and-national-policy/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/21/3998773-flood-report-finds-lack-of-direction-and-national-policy/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion It would be a shame for Athlone to lose the triAthlone festival after all the hard work that has gone into the organisation of the event in recent years in a bid to bring the European Championships to the town last weekend. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/07/3998489-it-would-be-a-shame-to-lose-triathlone/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/07/07/3998489-it-would-be-a-shame-to-lose-triathlone/ Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion Rumours that a world trade fair style development could be on the cards for Athlone have been widespread in business and political circles for some time. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/23/3998110-chinese-project-is-truly-mindboggling-in-scale/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/23/3998110-chinese-project-is-truly-mindboggling-in-scale/ Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion Editorial comment http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/16/3997909-political-system-is-on-the-verge-of-huge-changes/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/16/3997909-political-system-is-on-the-verge-of-huge-changes/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion Tadhg Carey asks if Fine Gael are merely shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/16/3997908-and-another-thing-/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/16/3997908-and-another-thing-/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The name said it all, really. 'Austerity Now' was the label given to the recent Prime Time programme on Athlone. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/09/3997771-prime-time-programme-fails-to-reflect-reality-of-athlone-life/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/09/3997771-prime-time-programme-fails-to-reflect-reality-of-athlone-life/ Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The recent Israeli attack on the peace flotilla on its way to Gaza was an horrendous attack of State brutality. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/09/3997770-israel-must-be-held-to-account-for-killings-/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/09/3997770-israel-must-be-held-to-account-for-killings-/ Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The Prime Time special on Athlone which was broadcast last night (after this paper went to press) has set many locals to thinking as to the town's current status. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/08/3997616-editorial-athlone-has-many-positives-to-hang-on-to/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/06/08/3997616-editorial-athlone-has-many-positives-to-hang-on-to/ Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:57:00 +0100 Opinion Summer is most definitely in the air. Though we've not yet reached June, the recent spell of warm weather has had many of us reaching for the sunscreen. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/26/3997434-a-summer-of-opportunity-for-athlone/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/26/3997434-a-summer-of-opportunity-for-athlone/ Wed, 26 May 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The sudden announcement by the HSE that Athlone's Loughloe House is to close within the next two months came as a bolt from the blue for the staff, residents and families. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/12/3997102-loughloe-house-closure-is-a-devastating-blow-to-many-families/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/12/3997102-loughloe-house-closure-is-a-devastating-blow-to-many-families/ Wed, 12 May 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion Too early to say whether Labour Party can break FF/FG dominance in Irish politics http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/05/3996935-opinion-poll-poses-many-questions-for-growing-labour/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/05/05/3996935-opinion-poll-poses-many-questions-for-growing-labour/ Wed, 05 May 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The sense of social solidarity that is essential to Ireland dragging itself out of the recession is being fatally undermined by a political and business elite that acts as if nothing has changed. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/28/3996753-the-leopards-never-change-their-spots-/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/28/3996753-the-leopards-never-change-their-spots-/ Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion The days since last Thursday, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted, have been strange and eerie: creating a world of distressed, displaced depressed - and stranded tourists and travellers. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/21/3996558-nature-showing-us-who-is-really-the-boss/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/21/3996558-nature-showing-us-who-is-really-the-boss/ Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:20:00 +0100 Opinion Catholic church completely out of touch http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/07/3996148-is-it-really-surprising-to-think-the-church-has-lost-credibility/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/07/3996148-is-it-really-surprising-to-think-the-church-has-lost-credibility/ Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion Do we finally know the truth or is the tip of the iceberg just cracking? http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/07/3996159-and-another-thing-with-karen-downey/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/04/07/3996159-and-another-thing-with-karen-downey/ Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:59:00 +0100 Opinion As emblems for the corporate extravagance that exemplified Ireland in the past decade, two fitting contenders emerged last week. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/31/3996013-golf-ball-spend-perfect-example-of-irelands-corporate-extravagance/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/31/3996013-golf-ball-spend-perfect-example-of-irelands-corporate-extravagance/ Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion While there has been fantastic news for Athlone woman Sammy Brill this week, who was granted funding to go home after a 20-month stay in hospital, it shouldn't take a personal plea to a senior Government minister to be granted what should surely be a fundamental right. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/31/3996012-personal-plea-with-minister-shouldnt-be-necessary/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/31/3996012-personal-plea-with-minister-shouldnt-be-necessary/ Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0100 Opinion News that Athlone's long-awaited primary care health campus at Clonbrusk has been put on the back burner for at least five years is a kick in the teeth to this town and its people. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/24/3995799-sidelining-of-health-campus-is-a-kick-in-the-teeth/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/24/3995799-sidelining-of-health-campus-is-a-kick-in-the-teeth/ Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Opinion And Another Thing - Opinion column http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/11/3995543-can-we-stop-with-these-pointless-plans/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/11/3995543-can-we-stop-with-these-pointless-plans/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:23:13 +0000 Opinion Strategy needs a root-and-branch reappraisal http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/10/3995542-our-education-system-should-not-just-create-future-workers/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/10/3995542-our-education-system-should-not-just-create-future-workers/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:30:00 +0000 Opinion The resignation of the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food Trevor Sargent last week was the latest in a series of astonishing own goals to hit the political system. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/03/3995321-and-another-thing/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/03/3995321-and-another-thing/ Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:20:00 +0000 Opinion It's a sad day for Irish politics when a posting on a social networking site brings about the resignation of a senior Minister. But it appears this is just the latest example of the complete breakdown in communications in Leinster House, not only a breakdown in communications between the two coalition partners, but within the parties themselves. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995161-politicians-should-learn-that-its-good-to-talk/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995161-politicians-should-learn-that-its-good-to-talk/ Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:01 +0000 Opinion Caoilainn Scouler explains why we all should warm to Scandanivia http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995129-why-you-should-warm-to-the-cold-north/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995129-why-you-should-warm-to-the-cold-north/ Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:44:14 +0000 Opinion News that members of An Garda Siochana are planning a version of industrial action is a worrying development. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/17/3994859-gardai-must-tread-cautiously-in-industrial-relations-dispute/ http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/17/3994859-gardai-must-tread-cautiously-in-industrial-relations-dispute/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Opinion