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I am posting here correspondence received regarding Local Authorities ability to respond to Anti-Social Behaviour in their housing stock for anyone who may be interested. If there is anyhting further I can help you with don’t hesitate to get in touch by phoning me on any of the numbers above or by email at info@deirdreforde.ie.

Deirdre.

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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.”

I welcome Fine Gaels proposals for amended Radical Overhaul of the Dail and the Seanad. The public perception of the two houses is that they are top heavy and that there is a urgent need for streamlining to reduce costs while increasing productivity and effectiveness. The Seanad is seen to be remote from the people with no real role or tangible benefit.

I would like to explain my decision to leave Fianna Fáil and join Fine Gael.

I know this move will hurt and disappoint a lot of good Fianna Fáil people, and I ask their understanding for what was, for me, a very difficult decision. I respect the feelings of those who are disappointed, and will I not engage in any negative or personal comment about my former Fianna Fáil colleagues.

This is not about personalities. It boils down the fact that Fine Gael best represents what I stand for. I will continue my absolute commitment to the people of Douglas and Carrigaline, who have given me the opportunity to serve them for the past 10 years. For that, I will be eternally grateful, no matter what the future holds.

Much of what has appeared in the media regarding my intentions up to now has been speculative. I made my final decision yesterday (Tues) March 3. In arriving at that decision, I firmly placed the people of Douglas and Carrigaline at the top my agenda. At all times within Fianna Fáil, I tried to effect change for the good, internally, through the Fianna Fáil National Councillors’ Forum, of which I was a founder member, and the National Executive of the Party, and externally, through representations to various Ministers and the Party hierarchy as a whole. As a founder member of the Fianna Fáil National Councillors’ Forum, my view was that it would enable the Party hierarchy to communicate honestly with its councillors and allow them to recognise that body’s potential as a conduit between the people and the Government.

But, the Fianna Fáil Party’s response to its councillors is sadly lacking. This is manifested clearly by the manner in which they are dealing with candidate selection in advance of the Local Elections. Fourteen weeks from polling day, there are Fianna Fáil councillors who do not know if they will see their name on a ballot paper on polling day. I sought to create real dialogue with the leadership of the Party on the issues that effect people in their day-to-day lives. However, this was viewed in some quarters with anxiety, and suspicion.

Many Fianna Fáil councillors are similarly aggrieved, but are afraid to articulate their views. Over the past number of months, I sensed the Government moving in a direction I was not happy with. There are many issues effecting middle-income people in Ireland today that the Fianna Fáil Party are well aware of. However, they have failed to act and this has led to hardship and anxiety across the country. Councillors of every political persuasion are dealing with very worried people on a daily basis. Credit lines have dried up. The Revenue Commissioners have taken no account of dramatically changed circumstances. Medical cards are no longer available to those who need them.

The Fianna Fáil leadership has moved in a direction, which is at odds with my own aspirations as to what that Party should be. Once I arrived that this conclusion I had to make a decision as to how best to represent the people who elected me. I began to look at the alternative. Having consulted with my family and supporters, I decided that the Fine Gael team on Cork County Council, whom I know and respect, was place I wanted to be. I know they will best enable me represent the people who voted for me.

I made repeated attempts to work within Fianna Fáil, but I know that I can better represent the people of Douglas and Carrigaline as part of a strong and vibrant Fine Gael under the leadership of Enda Kenny. Fine Gael is more in touch with the tough, but fair, decisions that need to be taken. I have seen the way Fine Gael works. I have read its policies. The Party has adopted a realistic and reasonable approach to the country’s crisis. I sought nothing from Fine Gael apart from membership of the Party. It is committed to issues of huge importance to me. It is pro-consumer and pro-enterprise. It has responsibility, social conscience and decency at the heart of its core values. I will continue to lobby on behalf of the people who elected me. I will continue to work for better infrastructure in places such as Rochestown Road and Clarke’s Hill, Maryborough and Donnybrook Hills, Cork Airport and Ringaskiddy, Douglas, Carrigaline and the Bandon and Sarsfield Road. I will continue my support for the Douglas Active Teens and Seniors. But I will do this as a proud member of Fine Gael.

Note: Deidre Forde was first elected a Fianna Fáil Councillor for the Carrigaline Electoral Area in 1999 and has earned a reputation as a hardworking, effective and popular local representative. She was a founder member and Chairperson of the Fianna Fáil National Councillors’ Forum.

Is mise le meas,

Deirdre Forde

The Fine Gael Leader formally welcomed former FF Councillor, Deirdre Forde, to the Fine Gael Party. Enda Kenny said that the decision by Cllr Forde to join Fine Gael from Fianna Fail was a symbolic move and a telling comment on how Fianna Fail are taking the country in the wrong direction and are making bad decisions that are unnecessarily hurting the wrong people.

“Deirdre is a very welcome addition to the Fine Gael ranks and I wish her all the best as she joins our local Government team on Cork County Council. When faced with the reality of a Government that wasn’t listening to the people and was making bad decisions that hurt the wrong people, Cllr Forde decided to make a change. She recognised the strength and focus of the Fine Gael team at both locally and nationally and decided that being part of that team was the best way for her to represent her electorate. I wish her well as she gets ready for the upcoming elections in June.”

Commenting on her decision to join Fine Gael, Councillor Forde said;

“Over the last number of months I have sensed that the current Government were moving in a direction that I was not happy with. The Budget in October was the first time that this really struck me when I saw the attempt to take the medical card off OAPs. Subsequent decisions on education supports for special needs children and the provision of cervical cancer vaccination for teenage girls confirmed for me that the wrong people were being asked to pay the price for a faltering economy.

“Having made numerous attempts to speak to senior Party figures about my concerns it became obvious to me that I was not going to be able to effect the type of change that both I, and others, would have liked to have seen.

“Once I arrived at this conclusion I had to make a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me and on how best to continue my commitment to politics and public life. I consulted with my family and my supporters and decided that the Fine Gael team on Cork Country Council, who I know well and respect, was the one I wanted to be involved with and that could best enable me represent the people that voted for me. Having made this decision I am now looking forward to meeting all my new colleagues – particularly Deputies Coveney and Clune and Senator Buttimer – and getting down to working on behalf of the people of Douglas and Carrigaline who put their faith in me four and a half years ago.”

Commenting on their new colleague, Fine Gael’s local Oireachtas members, Deputies Simon Coveney and Deirdre Clune and Senator Jerry Buttimer said;

“Deirdre Forde is an excellent candidate and a strong local representative. Her contribution in local politics and her work for the Carrigaline area is recognised by all who know her. We all look forward to Deirdre joining a very strong Fine Gael team on Cork County Council, and wish her well, as we get ready for the June elections.”