News
Kerry’s tourism industry at risk of being “dismantled”

By Sean Moriarty
Local TD Danny Healy-Rae has told the Dáil that Kerry’s tourism industry could be “dismantled” as a result of the “effect the very significant number of refugees and asylum seekers coming into this country”.
Deputy Healy-Rae raised his concerns with the Taoiseach Michael Martin in the Dáil on Wednesday.
“I am calling for a frank and open debate on the impact and effect the very significant number of refugees and asylum seekers coming into this country is having on our services, be it doctors, social welfare offices, hospitals, education and our hospitality industry in Kerry. We are very worried that it could be dismantled,” he said. “I am saying to the Taoiseach that it is not enough to say the Government will provide beds and a roof over their heads. We need to have the other services. Our own people cannot get into social welfare offices.”
There are about 1,304 Ukrainians housed across Killarney with the majority are living in hotels. He is concerned that suitable full-time accommodation will not be found by the beginning of the tourism industry next March.
Either Killarney will face a hotel night shortage or there will be a repeat of the scenes witnessed earlier this month when several refugees were told, with 48 hours notice, that they are being transferred to a different town. A massive public outcry prevented the move at the time.
“I am looking for an honest and open debate here inside in the chamber. We are representing County Kerry here and our tourism industry could be dismantled together with what has been happening on housing with the closing down of so many beds in Airbnb accommodation. Where are we going to be in March?” added Healy Rae.
Martin denied that Killarney’s tourism industry was at risk.
“With the greatest will in the world, I do not believe we could ever dismantle Kerry tourism or Kerry hospitality,” he said. “It is an impossibility. It cannot happen. I have been there too often, including last summer, and there is not a hope that it could be dismantled. It is so strong and robust. There are genuine issues in certain towns. We have a list of towns that have gone way beyond the call of the duty when compared to other areas. We saw that recently in Killarney, where the community responded very generously. We appreciate that."
Aside from any potential risks to the tourism industry, Healy-Rae also warned that other services are being neglected.
“The Government has not provided one extra doctor or one extra man for the social welfare office,” he added.
News
Five questions to ask yourself before buying a stock
By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com When it comes to investing, nothing is certain. There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy. […]

By Michael O’Connor, theislandinvestor.com
When it comes to investing, nothing is certain.
There are no perfect stocks to buy because there’s no way of predicting the future with 100% accuracy.
The truth is, investing is hard, and building a portfolio of top stocks that beat the market is something that even financial professionals have trouble doing consistently.
For most people, investing in index funds is the perfect hands-off approach, providing broad exposure to the stock market at a very low fee. Even my own personal portfolio is made up of roughly 70% ETFs despite the fact I invest in the market for a living.
But I believe some stock picking is a good strategy for many hands-on people.
Taking a small portion of your overall portfolio and diligently selecting a small number of companies to invest in gives you an opportunity to learn about the investing process and fully understand the businesses you are investing in, which helps to build conviction in your positions.
From a psychological standpoint “collector’s instinct” kicks in, enabling people to participate and invest more money over time.
Lastly, for Irish investors, there are tax benefits to consider. If you invest in individual stocks, you are taxed at the CGT rate of 33%, and the first €1,270 of your gains are exempt from CGT each year. When investing in index funds or ETFs, you are taxed at the exit tax rate of 41% with no annual exemption.
For those interested in picking individual stocks, here are five questions you should ask yourself before investing in any company.
Do I understand the business?
Too many people invest in businesses they don’t understand because it ‘sounds good’. If you have no idea how the company works, you won’t have the conviction needed to hold onto the stock when an inevitable downturn comes.
Can the balance sheet withstand severe, temporary adversity?
This seems obvious, but so many people invest in companies without understanding how much money a company holds and who they owe money to. Economic cycles are guaranteed. You must ensure that the company has enough cash-on-hand to avoid becoming obsolete when activity slows.
Will the company benefit from long-term trends?
Make sure the company will remain relevant into the future. If the stock is cheap now, it may be cheap for a reason.
Is the company enjoying profitable growth?
Not growth at all costs, but a combination of sustainable growth and value. All this information can be found online at sites like stratosphere.io.
What are the risk factors?
Is the company trying something new and untested? If yes, who are its competitors and how successful are they? If other players are more established, this company may have a tough time breaking into the market.
News
Ballyspillane staff open up mental health conversation
By Michelle Crean “Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign. It’s all in partnership […]

By Michelle Crean
“Hello, How Are You?” that’s the question staff at Ballyspillane Community Centre will be asking next week as part of a new campaign.
It’s all in partnership with Mental Health Ireland (MHI) and the centre will host an information/coffee morning on Thursday next (March 30) at 12.30pm at their centre and all are welcome to attend.
The campaign initiated by MHI identifies the need for positive engagement and connections with the people around us.
It asks people to engage in open conversations about mental health and prompts us all to ask the question “How Are You?”
The word HELLO is a useful acronym to guide everyone through such conversations, H: Hello, E: Engage positively with the person, L: Listen actively, L: Learn about the person and O: seek options to assist the person if required.
“We all need a listening and compassionate ear sometimes to get us through some challenges in our lives and I think the pandemic has opened a new way of looking at the world, where we can all recognise the challenges that people experience more readily,” Derek O’Leary, Manager of Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre, said.
“Our team here are in the business of supporting families and individuals across the Killarney area and beyond and see the challenges that people face first hand. We also see the positive impact that a caring person can have in such circumstances and this campaign that encourages positive engagement, regarding mental health is a great reminder to us all, the role we can play is assisting others who are struggling.”
Ballyspillane Community & Family Resource Centre provide a suite of support and intervention services including family supports, social prescribing/community connection services and physiotherapeutic services across the Killarney municipal area and beyond.
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