jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/23l4dn39 Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com The government is unhappy about the cost of the Jeanie Johnston. An rialtas mí-shásta faoi chostas an Jeanie Johnston. RTÉ News and Current Affairs The Government was advised at the beginning of this century that the boat The Jeanie Johnston should be scrapped and no further funding should be provided to the project. Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ Comhairlíodh don Rialtas ag tús an chéid seo gur cheart fáil réidh leis an bhád An Jeanie Johnston agus gan a thuilleadh maoiniú a dhéanamh ar an tionscnamh. The intention was to build a replica of the famine-era boat and sail it to America and Canada. Bhí sé i gceist macasamhail den bhád ó aimsir an ghorta a thógáil agus seoladh go Meiriceá agus Ceanada inti. The boat would give the people of those countries an insight into their connection to Ireland and the underworld. Thabharfadh an bád léargas do phobal na dtíortha sin ar an cheangal a bhí acu le hÉirinn agus leis an drochshaol. The project also had an all-Ireland dimension and it was envisaged that young people from Unionist and Nationalist backgrounds would have the opportunity to train on it when the boat was being built. Bhí toise uile Éireann ag baint leis an togra fosta agus samhlaíodh go bhfaigheadh daoine óga ó chúlra Aontachtach agus Náisiúnach deis traenála uirthi nuair a bheadh an bád á thógáil. But by the beginning of 2002 the project was facing major difficulties. Ach fá thús na bliana 2002 bhí deacrachtaí móra ag an tionscnamh. The underlying company was insolvent and there were cases pending in the High Court against it. Bhí an comhlacht a bhí ina bhun dócmhainneach agus bhí cásanna ar siúl san Ard-Chúirt ina éadan. There were concerns that the company would have to shut down and dispose of the vessel. Bhíothas buartha go mbeadh ar an chomhlacht dúnadh síos agus go mbeadh orthu fáil réidh leis an árthach. The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Frank Fahey, established a focus group to investigate the matter and their conclusions can be read in an Aide Memoire prepared by the Minister for a Government meeting on the subject. Bhunaigh Aire na Mara agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, Frank Fahey, grúpa fócais chun an scéal a fhiosrú agus tá a gcuid conclúidí siúd le léamh in Aide Memoire a d'ullmhaigh an tAire do chruinniú Rialtais ar an ábhar. That document is now available in the National Archives as a result of the rule that forces the State to release documents relating to Anglo-Irish relations after twenty years. Tá an cháipéis sin ar fáil anois sa Chartlann Náisiúnta mar thoradh na rialach a chuireann iachall ar an Stát cáipéisí a bhaineann leis an chaidreamh Angla- Éireannach a scaoileadh tar éis fiche bliain. The Minister said in the Aide Memoire that the initiative had problems from the beginning. Dúirt an tAire san Aide Memoire go raibh fadhbanna ag an tionscnamh ón tús. The company that was contracted failed to meet their deadlines and the budget that was set for them. Theip ar an chomhlacht a bhí plé leis cloí lena gcuid spriocamanna agus leis an bhuiséad a bhí leagtha amach dóibh. The estimated cost had increased significantly from €3.8m to €14.4m - an increase of 377%. Bhí an costas measta ardaithe go mór ó €3.8m go €14.4m - ardú ionann is 377 faoin gcéad . The boat was supposed to sail to America in 2001 but it wasn't finished on time. Bhí an bád in ainm a bheith ag seoladh go Meiriceá i 2001 ach ní raibh sí críochnaithe in am. The focus group set up by the Minister did not put a dent in it in the report they gave him. Níor chuir an grúpa fócais a bhunaigh an tAire fiacal ann sa tuairisc a thug siad dó. They said the initiative had shortcomings from the beginning. Dúirt siad go raibh easnaimh sa tionscnamh ón tús. They outlined three options for Minister Fahey: 1. Not to provide any additional funding for the pr...
