Posted by Jim on August 11, 2017
A 47-year-old Irishman has been arrested by Border Patrol agents in Northwest Montana for attempting to enter the United States illegally.
Agents encountered the Irishman, carrying a large backpack, along the international border near the northeast section of Glacier National Park. He had previously overstayed his US visa and was prohibited from re-entering the United States for an extended period, according to Michael Rappold, public affairs officer for the Havre Sector Border Patrol Station.
According to the authorities, the Irishman entered the United States from Canada by walking southbound, through the woods, to avoid detection. Rappold told the press he was just carrying clothes and nothing illegal.
He has been arrested and processed in preparation for a removal hearing. He remains in custody (as of Aug 10) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Agents monitoring border
Border Patrol Division Chief John South said “This is a great example of how effective our agents are at identifying and interdicting cross border traffic in remote areas of the border.
“They’re always ready to carry out our agency’s mission and safeguard the public.”
Earlier this summer, in June, Border Patrol agents arrested five Romanians who had entered the U.S. illegally and were panhandling in Whitefish, in the same region.
It has been known for years that some seeking to enter do so by hiking through rugged terrain and crossing mountains. However, it remains a very dangerous route as the areas are sparsely populated and can be difficult to navigate.
Irish citizen’s visa options
Currently Irish citizens entering the United States must have a visa for longer stays or are issued with a holiday-visa (a 90-day visa waiver). If the visitor overstays their 90-day allotment they can be banned from re-entering the United States for a ten-year period.
Other long-term visa options include being sponsored by an employer (H1B), earning a visa due to their extraordinary talents (O visa) or winning a green card through the diversity lottery visa. In 2017 50,000 US Green Cards were issued through this lottery, just 124 of them went to Irish citizens.
It is time for Irish to go it alone on immigration reform
Posted by Jim on August 10, 2017
The agri-food sector is particularly exposed to the dangers of Brexit
Colm Kelpie. Irish Independent. Dublin. Thursday, August 10, 2017
Cavan, Monaghan, Kerry and Longford are the counties most exposed to the economic effects of a hard Brexit, while average farm incomes overall could be slashed by more than 6pc, a stark analysis shows.
More than one in five workers in each of those counties work in the sectors most vulnerable to the UK’s EU exit, the study states, including agri-food and beverages, accommodation and tourism services, air and freight transport and traditional manufacturing.
Some 243,000 workers are employed in those sectors, according to the study by business body Ibec.
“By examining employment in these sectors across different counties, we can give some idea as to which areas of the country are most exposed in the event of a ‘hard’ Brexit,” the Ibec report stated. The counties with the highest exposure are Cavan, which has 28pc of its workforce in the affected sectors, Monaghan at 27pc, Kerry at 22pc, and Longford at 21pc.
“Exposure is lowest, as expected, in urban areas,” the report stated. “The least exposed counties include Cork and Galway cities along with the four Dublin local authorities and their surrounding counties (Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow).”
The analysis said that in nominal terms, Co. Cork has the highest numbers of jobs in the exposed sectors at 28,000. But that is less than 14.5pc of employment in the region.
Ibec also warned of steep hit to farm incomes and output, arguing that a hard Brexit has the potential to reduce farm output by around €3,000 per year per farm, across 140,000 farms throughout the country.
This would result in a net 6.5pc fall in average farm incomes overall and an up to 9.5pc fall in incomes for livestock farms, Ibec claimed.
Referring to a recent study by cross-border development body InterTradeIreland and the ESRI detailing the impact on food and beverage manufacturing exports to the UK in the event of a hard Brexit, Ibec said overall food and beverage manufacturing output could be slashed by around 8pc permanently.
“Our own modelling extending from these findings, suggests a €2.1bn fall in Irish food and beverage manufacturing exports would translate to a fall of over €415 million in demand for farm output,” the Ibec analysis stated.
“Applying this to figures from Teagasc’s National Farm Survey suggest that the immediate impact on Irish exports to the UK alone would translate to a steep reduction in farm output of around €3,000 per farm annually, across 140,000 farms. Assuming a proportional fall in variable costs, this would result in a net 6.5pc fall in average farm incomes overall and up to a 9.5pc fall in incomes for livestock farms.”
The study also stated that any hit to tourism from the UK, such as from the weakening in sterling, will be more keenly felt in rural areas.
It stated that British tourists are most important for the north-west, with British visitors accounting for just over 47pc of the total tourist revenue in the region, followed by the east and midlands at 36pc, and the south-east at 35.1pc.
Gerard Brady, Ibec’s head of tax and fiscal policy, said Budget 2018 must include measures to protect these vulnerable sectors.
“There are serious downside risks on the horizon,” he said.
“Following a fall last year, indigenous exports to the UK have recovered some lost ground in the first half of 2017.
“But there will be increased volatility as the year goes on, with sterling depreciating once more since the UK election. No matter what the outcome, Brexit will hurt both our indigenous exporters and rural regions disproportionately.”
Despite the bleak assessment, growth prospects remain robust. Ibec forecasts GDP growth of 4.2pc this year and 3.2pc in 2018, driven by a strong domestic economy.
Consumer spending is to rise by 2.8pc. Investment is forecast to grow by 8.4pc as the construction sector continues to recover from a low base, it said.
There are serious downside risks on the horizon
Posted by Jim on August 9, 2017
Gutless unionism can’t do decent thing
Remember, all the senior figures in the[DUP] party opposed the Good Friday Agreement.
Arlene Foster and Donaldson left the UUP because Trimble was not hard line enough.
Brian Feeney. Irish News. Belfast. Wednesday, August 9, 2017
LEO Varadkar’s visit here ruffled unionist feathers but he wasn’t addressing Unionists. His target was the British government and its failure to offer any details about what they intend to do about the problems they have caused for Ireland.
As he said in his speech at Queen’s, he is going to be sitting with other EU leaders in October assessing whether enough progress has been made to begin trade negotiations.
At the moment the answer is no. Sir Simon Fraser, permanent secretary at the Foreign Office until 2015 said on Monday: “We haven’t put much on the table.”
Actually Britain has put absolutely nothing on the table about Ireland, one of the three priority items where progress needs to be made.
There’s another reason Varadkar’s remarks weren’t addressed to the DUP. Michel Barnier had made clear he will only negotiate with sovereign states, not devolved administrations.
As Varadkar’s colleague Neale Richmond, who speaks for Fine Gael on European Affairs, said last week, the DUP is “politically impotent” in the matter.
There is no evidence they have had any influence on the British government.
On the contrary, the waffle Jeffrey Donaldson spouts is proof the DUP has no policy until they know what the British government’s policy is, a perfect example of the root of our current problem here – lack of unionist leadership.
Varadkar intoned the usual clichés about getting the Executive up and running but privately the Irish Government believes there is no chance of that happening in the near future and the main reason is that the DUP has no policy for reinstating the Executive.
They do know one item that is necessary. They have to change their attitude and behavior, something the DUP has found impossible.
Let’s be clear about this fact. The DUP went into an Executive with Sinn Féin only because they believed that was the best way to prevent any change in The North.
Their fear was greater Dublin involvement looking like joint authority if they didn’t.
Remember, all the senior figures in the party opposed the Good Friday Agreement.
Arlene Foster and Donaldson left the UUP because Trimble was not hard line enough.
The DUP opposed devolving policing and justice. They agreed but reneged as they do, then wouldn’t implement it until forced in 2010.
The party has opposed any change on flags, emblems, Orange marches, the past, victims, you name it. Their participation in the Executive was never enthusiastic.
It’s a Unionist trope. In the words of the historian EH Carr unionists can’t see change “as achievement, as opportunity, as progress, but as an object of fear”.
They can’t see that the world is in perpetual motion. For Unionist ‘leaders’, for want of a better word, change means inevitable decline, loss, defeat.
They don’t seem to realize that change itself is inexorable so when an event such as the loss of their majority in the Assembly election happens it’s proof that change is bad, not that new ideas and policies have to be devised to cope with inevitable change.
Instead they look for a way to claw back to where they were. Hence the frantic resurrection of the oul’[old] alliance with the UDA and UVF to get out the vote for them in June’s election.
All so they could say, “See, there are still more Prodestants”. No thought of the horrible price they pay for that deal.
Endorsed by the men who are an incubus on their own community. Undermining their own public representatives. Supported by convicted extortionists, drug dealers, thieves and gangsters whose nefarious activities are reported luridly every Sunday in a local paper. But, hey, that’s OK if it gets you elected.
The price was immediately visible to all in the disgraceful twists and turns Unionists made around the bonfires which threatened the homes of people who’d just voted for them.
Did you ever see such a gutless performance by politicians? Yes, obviously you did. The last time Unionists were called upon to do the decent thing for their electorate. They can’t stand up to the UDA because they might need them again soon to prevent change.
The DUP’s fundamental policy is: “Stop the world – I want to get off.”
Posted by Jim on
Retired Firefighter Michael L. Duffy
Ladder Company 174
WAKE
Thursday, August 10th from 6-9pm
Friday, August 11th from 2-4pm & 7-9pm
James P. Byrnes Funeral Home
2384 Gerritsen Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
718-743-1099
FUNERAL MASS
Saturday, August 12th at 10:30am
Resurrection Church
2331 Gerritsen Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11229
718-743-7234
All Off-Duty Members should attend in Class A Uniform.
Posted by Jim on
FDNY Counseling Services Unit (CSU) & the WTC Health Program – Here for You
Five (5) FDNY CSU Locations in New York area –
•Manhattan (251 Lafayette St)– 212-570-1693 – (24/7)
•Fort Totten (Bayside, Queens)– 718-352-2140
•Staten Island (1688 Victory Blvd) – 718-815-4111
•Brentwood (Suffolk CC, L.I.)– 631-851-6888
•Middletown (Orange County, NY)– 845-695-1029
Each site staffed with FDNY WTC Licensed & experienced Counselors,Psychiatrists, & Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
Having issues (anxiety, depression, anger, insomnia) that may be related to your WTC rescue & recovery work?
•There are licensed, experienced CSU Counselors available to help
•If you need more specialized care, including prescriptions for WTC-covered mental health meds, your CSU Counselor can refer you to an FDNY WTC Psychiatrist or FDNY WTC Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
•Your CSU care is expert, confidential, and free
Have WTC mental health certification & receiving WTC Counseling from non-FD Psychiatrist, Therapist, or Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?
•If your Counselor is not already an FDNY WTC Provider, please ask them to call Teja (pronounced Tay-Hah) Pekija at CSU – 212-570-1693, ext 318 – for process required to become an authorized WTC provider
•CSU has network of participating non-FD WTC counseling and mental health providers in the Metro NY area & around the U.S.
•Approved sessions are free
•If your CSU-approved non-FD WTC Counselor is also a prescriber –
◦Prescriptions for WTC-covered mental health meds are covered –zero co-pay
◦ Please present your WTC Prescription card toyour pharmacist
◦ FD WTC Prescription staff will override the initial rejection for ongoing fills
FDNY WTC Health Program – Physical Health Satellite Locations
•Retired Members – Appointments for WTC Monitoring and WTC Treatment, available multiple days per week at five (5) FDNY WTC locations, including BHS at HQ
•Active Members – WTC Treatment appointments (no Duty Determination) – available multiple days per week, at five (5) Metro NY FDNY WTC locations, including BHS at HQ
•Active Members – Annual Medical at BHS is your WTC Medical. New feature – will now see a 2nd doctor, an FDNY WTC Treatment doctor, in a separate new WTC Medical Suite. There your WTC-related health issues confidentially discussed (no Duty Determination)
•BHS & Satellites (except Ft Totten) – easy access for physically challenged members
•WTC Monitoring = yearly in-depth health evaluation – provides WTC and non-WTC results regarding your current health status & early diagnosis of developing issues
•WTC Treatment = shorter doctor visit, you schedule visits as needed, based on severity of your WTC health issues. You can check your WTC health certifications. Free prescriptions may be written for covered meds. If needed, free referrals issued: 1. For more specialized testing (CT Scan, MRI, Endoscopy, etc); 2. To see participating WTC Specialty physician provider (ENTs, GIs, Pulmonary, etc);
•Please call FDNY WTC Member Services at (718) 999-1858 for an appointment
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Commack, Long Island (Suffolk County) – New office in a new location
66 Commack Road, Suite 200 / (631) 858-2190
Commack, NY 11725 ** New / New / New **
Fort Totten (Bayside, Queens)
Building 413B / (718) 281-7955
Bayside, NY 11359
Middletown (Orange County, NY) – Same parking lot, new office in different building
2277 Goshen Turnpike / (845) 695-0695
Middletown, NY 10941 ** New / New / New **
Staten Island, NY (across from Doody Home Center)
1688 Victory Blvd / (718) 448-2391
Staten Island, NY 10314