Category — Media/Press Releases

Agriculture  Minister  must spell out what EU meeting on dairy sector achieved

Fine Gael Agriculture Spokesperson, Michael Creed TD,  said the use of unspent CAP funds would not be enough to tackle Ireland’s dairy crisis and the Agriculture Minister must spell out what he actually achieved in his discussions with Commissioner Fischer Boel.

“Minister Smith has previously suggested that unspent CAP funds may be available to save the sheep sector.  Now there’s a suggestion from Europe that they can be used to assist the struggling dairy sector.  The reality is unspent CAP funds aren’t going to be sufficient to deal with the dairy crisis alone, never mind the sheep sector as well.

“The Agriculture Minister’s statements are getting longer and more meaningless by the day.  The latest missive outlines extensively the inner workings of the Minister’s mind on dairy sector supports and concludes that he had a ‘useful’ exchange with Commissioner Fischer Boel.  Since he tells us nothing of what the Commissioner actually said I’m not sure the exchange was useful to anyone besides the Minister.  We need to know what is actually being achieved to aid the ailing dairy sector and the Minister needs to come back from Europe with something more than a stream of consciousness and some vague noises about unspent CAP funds.”

FG secures crucial measures for ports and harbours across Ireland

Senator Donohoe improves flawed Govt Bill

Fine Gael has secured crucial changes to new laws on ports and harbours in the Seanad  which will ensure that local interests are taken into account in future plans for the facilities. The Party’s Seanad Transport Spokesman, Senator Paschal Donohoe has secured two amendments to the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 before it is passed on to the Dáil.

“Fine Gael been successful in getting two vital changes made to the new Harbours Bill which will ensure that local interests are taken into account in future plans for all of Ireland’s ports and harbours.

“Junior Minister Noel Ahern accepted my two proposals that:    

 changes to ports or harbours must be consistent with local city or county development plans;
 And the need for public consultation in any changes has been placed on a statutory footing.

“However, I do not accept that there is any need to amalgamate ports or harbour in the immediate future. And I remain very concerned that the Government is still seeking to reduce the role of local representatives on port and harbour authorities, in yet another attack on local democracy.“As a maritime nation, Ireland’s ports are vital for commerce, fishing and travel as well as the burgeoning marine tourism sector. Fine Gael will continue to fight for the interests of our ports in order to ensure their long term future.”

Ministers must make full report on benefits of Patrick’s Day trips
I welcome Senator Jerry Buttimer’s call for Reporting of St. Patricks Day trips to show that they are value for money. Ministers must make full report on benefits of Patrick’s Day trips.  Speaking today (Wednesday) during the Order of Business in the Seanad, Fine Gael Cork Senator, Jerry Buttimer, called for each Minister who is travelling overseas to represent Ireland this St. Patrick’s Day to come before the Seanad to make a full report on what they achieved during  their trip.
“St. Patrick’s Day trips, which are made annually by Government Ministers, are an important means of promoting Ireland overseas and forging strong links with other countries. It is vital however that these visits are not used as leisure time for Ministers and that headway is made in respect of advancing Ireland’s reputation on the global stage.

“I agree with his call for a series of post-event debates, during which the Taoiseach and his Ministers come before the House for a question and answer session on how they got on abroad, what they achieved and how they managed to sell Ireland Inc.

“It is important that Ministers are accountable for their overseas travel.
In this time of economic recession, is essential to ensure that the message that Ireland is open for business, has an educated and competent workforce that is ready and willing to work is clearly conveyed.  It is equally important, in light of the recent events in the north, to communicate to the world that we are a united people committed to a peaceful Ireland.”

Fine Gael Proposals for

Oireachtas Reform

March 2009

1.      The Executive

• Reduce the number of Junior Ministers to 12.
• Increase the accountability channels for Ministers to the Dáil.
• Reduce ministerial staff associated with constituency matters to 2.

2.      Civil Service

• Cut and cap pay and conditions of senior management in Civil Service. 
• No special payments to be made to senior management in Civil Service or agencies arising from failure to discharge their remit.
• Provide for wider external recruitment with management skills into the civil service from the private sector at all levels.
• Modernise employment practices in the public service to take account of developments in current employment arrangements so that performance related practices can be employed.
• Facilitate flexibility in working arrangements in the public services to facilitate cross agency transfers.
• Provide protection for whistleblowers in the public service to make complaints to a dedicated statutory officer in private such that they can be investigated and pursued if appropriate.

3.      Oireachtas

• Dáil

i.        Extend the Dáil sitting times to 4 days per week.

ii.       Reduce the number of Joint Oireachtas Committees from 19 to 9.

iii.     No allowances will be paid for committee chairperson, vice chairpersons or convenors.

iv.     Allow for wider use of pairing where TDs are engaged in Committee work.

v.      Make ministers amenable to the public accounts committee in relation to policy decisions.

vi.     Extend the power of the Dáil Committees to hold people to account – in particular introduce new Constitutional amendment to reverse effect of Abbeylara decision.

vii.   Appoint parliamentary inspectors to assist parliamentary committees in investigative roles that will reduce the requirement for tribunals of inquiry

viii.  TD’s will be allowed to raise topical matters on a daily basis.

ix.     Leaders Questions to be reformed to allow more supplementary questions.

x.      Ministerial Pensions – no ministerial pensions should be paid while a member continues to serve in either house of the Oireachtas.  This new arrangement should apply to all relevant members simultaneously.

•  Seanad Eireann

i.        Membership of the Seanad to be comprised of

·  23 to be elected by members of local councils & public representatives.

·  20 to be elected by directly by the general electorate based on euro constituencies. These elections to take place every five years on the same date as local and European elections.

·  Right of address in the Seanad conferred on MEPs and former Taoisigh.

·  Six senators will be elected by all Graduates after each general election.

·  11 senators will be nominated by the Taoiseach.

ii.       Provide Seanad Eireann with additional powers to;

·  Review proposed EU legislation.

·  Take presentations from the public on matters of national importance.

·  Initiate constitutional referenda on matters of public importance.

·  Power to ask the President to test the constitutionality of a Bill under Art 26.

·   Interview applicants for various prescribed public positions (C&AG; Ombudsman).

4.      Elections

i.        Establish an Electoral Commission that will assume the electoral responsibilities of SIPO and will be in charge of;

·  The conduct of elections

·  The registration of voters

·  The registration of political parties

·  The monitoring of election expenditure

·  The determination of constituency boundaries and the number of representatives

·  Advising the Minister on electoral reforms

·  Date for elections to be prescribed in set 5-year terms, unless the Dail is otherwise dissolved.

5.      Ethics and transparency in office

·  The new Electoral Commission will be free to investigate complaints on its own initiative at national or local government level.

·  Commission power to make mandatory codes of conduct in relation to office holders, public representatives, public servants and certain designated persons.

·  Responsible for monitoring adherence with disclosure of interests legislation and registers.

·  Prosecuting function.

·  Regulate lobbyists and persons or organisations involved in lobbying.

·  Introduce sanction of disqualification from office for persons guilty of unethical behaviour.

6.       Transparency

·  Reinstate FOI legislation as originally enacted.

·  Strengthen role of Ombudsman.

·  Provide for maximum levels of public access to parliamentary and local authority debates via the web.

7.     Committees and Other Reform

Current Situation

1.       Nineteen (19) Joint Committees (see table 1) and Nine (9) standing committees, of which three are activated as required.

2.       British /Irish Parliamentary Association.

3.       Payment is made to 23 chairs, 22 vice –chairs, 27 convenors and 2 chairs of Sub Committees. The total cost is €955,000.

4.       There are eight (8) paid members of the Commission, at a cost of €160,000.

Recommendations

1.       Reduce the nineteen (19) Joint committees to ten (9), through amalgamation, as Per Table 3, five (5) chairs and vice-chairs should come from the opposition.

2.       The Standing Committees are reduced to three.

3.       Abolish all remuneration.

4.       The number on each committee should be sufficiently small to ensure that no member is on more than one committee. The government should have a majority on each committee.

5.       The chair of the Public Accounts Committee will continue to be a member of the Opposition.

Full Report Available on http://www.finegael.ie

Cllr Deirdre Forde (FG) bemoaned the fact that under new legislation the decision to grant or refuse planning was totally in the hands of An Bord Pleanála and not the local authority.
She also said the N28 (Cork-Ringaskiddy road) was totally unsuitable for the amount of additional traffic the incinerators would bring.
“It’s akin to putting the traffic at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 down a cul-de-sac,” she said.

Read the full article here…

I am very interested to here your views, so I can better represent you on the council. Post a comment below.

Thank you

Carrigaline Area Roads Committee – 16th February 2009

Update on Public Lighting Capital Programme 2005 – 2008

Carrigaline Area 1. 2008 Public Lighting Contract.

I am pleased to announce that Cork County  Council has gone to tender on a contract of nine separate public lighting schemes. The tender process has been completed and the Council expects to be able to award the contract in the very near future. This contract includes four separate schemes in the Carrigaline Electoral Area.

R611, Kilmoney Road to Pipers Cross

R851,ballycurreen Road

L-2460,adjacent to Alderbrook Estate

Carrigaloe Ferry to Monkstown.

If funding is available, the same procedure will be repeated for a second bundle of schemes to complete the current Capital Programme. The second Public Lighting Contract consists of 13 separate schemes. This contract includes four schemes in the Carrigaline Electoral Area.

Killumney Road,Tuairin Glas to An Caislean

R613, Church Road

L2454, Lehenaghmore road at Doughcloyne

South of Scairt Cross to Housing Estates

Individual Schemes

2. Monastery Road. ( These Lights have been erected).

3. Barry’s Road ( This scheme is under way).

4. Ballea Road.

This scheme has been awarded directly to ESB Contracts. The Civil works will be done by the Carrigaline Area Office depending on whether money will be available for the scheme.

Timber pole schemes.

All timber pole scheme contracts are awarded directly to ESB contracts as currently they are the only contractor trained to work on network wires. These schemes are ongoing.

Rochestown L2472, Coach Hill ( Order given to ESB. 3 no. 150W on new wooden poles. Residents’ objections have prevented installation)

Lehenaghmore L2454,( Lehenaghmore road, phase 1)

Scairt Cross L2462,

Statement regarding the establishment by the Financial Regulator of a Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears and a Code of Conduct for Business Lending to Small and Medium Enterprise

I  welcome today’s announcement by the Financial Regulator of the establishment of the Code of Conduct for Mortgage Arrears and the Code of Conduct for Business Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises. Both Codes will be statutory codes and banks will be required to demonstrate compliance.

The Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears is particularly important in these difficult times when many householders are facing difficulties in making ends meet and have particular concerns about keeping up their mortgage repayments.

This new mandatory Code builds on the existing voluntary Code of Practice issued by the Irish Banking Federation and incorporates a requirement for the lender to wait at least six months from the time arrears arise before taking legal. The Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, TD noted that Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland had also agreed, as part of the recapitalisation announced on 11 February, not commence court proceedings for repossession of a principal private residence until after 12 months of arrears appearing, where the customer continues to cooperate reasonably and honestly with the bank.

The Minister notes that, despite media speculation about large-scale repossessions statistics do not bear this out, and that mainstream mortgage lenders have been at pains to point out that they will go to great lengths to avoid repossession in arrears cases.

The Minister for Finance also notes that the Government has measures in place to assist those who get into difficulties with their mortgages.

The Mortgage Interest Scheme under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance system provides a safety net for those who need financial support with meeting the interest costs on their mortgage.  Funding for the Scheme has been substantially increased and the Scheme will be reviewed in 2009.

In addition, the Money Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) provides valuable help to those in difficulty.
The Code of Conduct for Business Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises will apply to all regulated banks and building societies. The Minister notes that the code will facilitate access to credit, promote fairness and transparency, and ensure that banks will assist borrowers in meeting their obligations, or otherwise deal with an arrears situation in an orderly and appropriate manner.

The business lending code includes a requirement for banks to offer their business customers annual review meetings, to inform customers of the basis for decisions made and to have written procedures for the proper handling of complaints. Where a customer gets into difficulty the banks will give the customer reasonable time and seek to agree an approach to resolve problems and to provide appropriate advice.

 ESB Programme for Redundant Electrical Apprentices

I welcome  the  announcement  by the ESB that that it is to provide

training to 400 redundant electrical apprentices. This is very good  news  for  some 400 redundant

electrical  apprentices  who will now have the opportunity to complete the

on-the-job phase of  their  apprenticeship  in order to gain the required

knowledge, skill and competence to successfully complete  their

apprenticeship.

 FAS  will  immediately  contact  registered

redundant  apprentices  to  ensure  that  the  first  100  apprentices will

available to commence this programme by mid April.

Tánaiste announces a number of measures to help those who are unemployed

I am pleased to be able to report to you that  the  Tánaiste  and  Minister  for  Enterprise,  Trade  and  Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan,  T.D., announced a number of measures  to  help those who are unemployed.  The measures are in line with the commitments made in the Government’s “Building Ireland’s Smart Economy”framework for economic renewal and are as follows:

 “The Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) and

FÁS  are  working  closely  together  to  respond  quickly  to  the rise in

unemployment.  In  particular, FÁS’ Employment Services together with Local

Employment  Services  are  putting  in  place  measures designed to provide

increased  capacity for the rise in referrals from the Department of Social

and  Family  Affairs  and  the  increased  number of unemployed seeking job

search  assistance  voluntarily.   These  measures include direct referrals

from  DSFA  to  the  Partnership-run  Local  Employment  Services  and  the

redeployment of staff to the employment services area.

“The implementation of these measures will increase capacity from 6,500 per

month to 12,250 per month.

“FÁS  will  provide  an additional 51,000 places over the 27,000 previously

planned  in  2009  under  the Bridging Foundation Training, Specific Skills

Training  and  Traineeships Programmes. These programmes will provide short

training courses for job-changers or those who are recently unemployed.

“An examination is underway to review the outputs of the Community Training

Centres  Training  and Local Training Initiatives which provide training to

early school leavers and longer-term unemployed respectively”.

“The  Tánaiste  added  that  efforts  will continue to be be made to create

additional  capacity  within  current resources and that this could involve

the  development  of  new  programmes.  In this context the Government will

bring  forward  further  measures to ensure that those on the live register

receive  the  appropriate training and upskilling so as to be in a position

to contribute to the economy when the upturn occurs.

 Continued Reductions in Crime and Pledges Continuing Reform

I am glad to inform you that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., said the statistics on recorded crime for the fourth quarter of 2008 – released by the Central Statistics Office today – show a continuation of the reductions which took place in the third quarter.  Of the 14 crime groups for which statistics are given, all but one show reductions.  The increase in that one group – Controlled Drug Offences – is due mainly to successful police work by An Garda Síochána.    

The Minister said:  “I welcome the trend which these statistics on recorded crime show, and I congratulate the Garda Commissioner on the continuing effective work of the Force.  Nevertheless, we all must remain aware that the nature of criminal activity is constantly developing and adjust our strategies accordingly.”

The Minister particularly welcomed the further marked decrease in homicide offences, which dropped by 23.1% in the quarter and by almost a half (42.9%) in 2008.  There were decreases in all the categories of homicide – murder (down 20% in the quarter), manslaughter (down 50%) and dangerous driving leading to death (down 25%).  There were no attempts to murder in the quarter, while there was a small increase in the number of murder threats, from 40 to 47 (an increase of 17.5%).      

The Minister said:  “I welcome the positive trends in homicide offences.  However, I believe a further tightening of the legislative provisions relating to guns and knives and similar weapons is necessary.  Last November I outlined proposals for a handgun ban, which is already de facto in force, and yesterday I announced proposals to tackle knife crime.  Both sets of proposals will be included in the forthcoming Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which the Government have agreed to treat as a priority measure for this Dáil session.
  
“While the figures are encouraging, there are no grounds for complacency.  I recently stated my belief that the time has come for a strategic review of how we fight crime in the longer term and announced the development of the State’s first White Paper on Crime.  However, as that process develops, there will be no let up in the pace of reform already underway.  In the weeks and months ahead, for example, there will be major progress in areas such as the ban on handguns, controls on knives, new surveillance powers to deal with gangland crime and terrorism, a DNA database and the Justice for Victims Initiative.”

In addition to the decrease in the number of cases of dangerous driving leading to death, there also was a decrease (of 66.7%) in the small number of cases of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm and of cases of driving or being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit (down 10.6%).  The Minister said:  “These figures reflect the welcome significant decrease of 17% in the number of deaths on our roads in 2008, from 338 in 2007 to 279.  These developments show that the road safety message is getting through to road users, and follows significant investment in the resources available to An Garda Síochána for road traffic enforcement.”  

An increased Garda focus on motorists driving or being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs has contributed to the increase of 34.6% in the number of such cases.

All categories within the crime group Controlled Drug Offences show increases in the quarter, and all but one in 2008.  The largest increase (51.4%) was in cases of cultivation or manufacture of drugs, which follows Garda successes in detecting such cases.  Detections in this area are predominantly the result of Garda detections, rather than as a result of being reported, and hence reflect continuing increased Garda activity.  

The number of weapons and explosives offences decreased by 2.2%, with decreases in both discharging of firearms (down 31.1%) and possession of firearms (down 26%).  There was an increase of 16.3% in fireworks offences, which reflects recent modernisation of the law in this area and increased Garda enforcement during the Halloween period.  There were decreases in disorderly conduct offences, which represent the largest category of offences (down 6.7%), and in robberies of an establishment or institution (down 5%), of cash or goods in transit (down 28.6%) and from the person (down 9.5%).      
The Minister also welcomed the publication of the final recorded crime statistics 2003 – 2007, which provide expanded data in respect of these years.