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<title>Lucinda Creighton - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:17+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g454.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g454.0</link>
	<description>That is not true.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="454.1">That is not true.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g449.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g449.0</link>
	<description>Yes.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="449.1">Yes.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g447.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g447.0</link>
	<description>Fairyhouse.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="447.1">Fairyhouse.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g438.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g438.0</link>
	<description>It is great and is a brilliant social outlet for people.  Now in particular, when people will be unable to afford to go to Marbella, or take their ski holidays, or go away three or four times a...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="438.1">It is great and is a brilliant social outlet for people.  Now in particular, when people will be unable to afford to go to Marbella, or take their ski holidays, or go away three or four times a year, they will look for a social outlet.  What is so wrong with going to the dogs for a night, or going to the races on a Sunday afternoon?  It is a fantastic way for Irish people to spend their spare time.  It is a domestic investment in the country and in an industry at which we excel.  We are the best in the world and we should be proud of this and shout it from rooftops instead of being afraid to be associated with horse racing and the greyhound industry.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g436.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g436.0</link>
	<description>I know this because I worked at dog tracks when I was young.  My father is a bookie and I used to go to Mullingar, Longford, Galway among others.  The standard of the improvements is fantastic,...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="436.1">I know this because I worked at dog tracks when I was young.  My father is a bookie and I used to go to Mullingar, Longford, Galway among others.  The standard of the improvements is fantastic, to take Shelbourne Park, for example.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g434.0">
	<title>Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.406.0&amp;m=210#g434.0</link>
	<description>I echo much of what the previous speakers, including Deputies Barrett and Mitchell, have said.  We have to put this in context.  We have been debating the supplementary budget for the last few...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="434.1">I echo much of what the previous speakers, including Deputies Barrett and Mitchell, have said.  We have to put this in context.  We have been debating the supplementary budget for the last few days.  We all acknowledge that Ireland is in an economic crisis.  The level of ill-informed debate about the racing, thoroughbred and greyhound industries is extraordinary.  This is a hugely important debate in the context of the economic crisis.  As Deputy Barrett pointed out, the thoroughbred industry is entirely surrounded by misconceptions.  The horse racing industry in this country contributes massively to the Irish economy.  At least 20,000 people are directly employed in the thoroughbred industry, without reference to sport horses or any of the rest of it.  That is probably a conservative estimate - it could be argued that there are more employees in the industry.</p><p pid="434.2">The level of indirect employment that is generated by the thoroughbred industry is also massive.  I refer to people who produce and supply feed, hay, straw, leather goods and horse boxes, as well as those who construct stables, yards and the new types of gallops found in training yards.  We have to face up to the fact that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of jobs are indirectly supported by this massively important industry.</p><p pid="434.3">Deputy Barrett highlighted the benefits of race days for local economies.  The employment that is generated by the thoroughbred industry is not just day-to-day, or week-to-week.  Many of the horse racing festivals throughout the country are growing and have significant potential to attract tourists to this country.  Festivals like those in Punchestown and Galway generate periodic employment and facilitate investment in local economies.  While some of the smaller festivals that take place four or five times a year might not generate â‚¬100 million, their importance for local economies should not be under-estimated.  It is bizarre that they are being ignored in this debate.  We need to showcase this important industry.  I am sorry that the development of a new stand at the Curragh is no longer being considered.  Such projects are needed if we are to show the world that Ireland has a first-class horse racing industry.  If one looks at the Olympic Games, for example, it is evident that Ireland does not rate as highly in any other sport as we do in horse racing.  That is a fact.</p><p pid="434.4">Deputy Deenihan referred to the sport horse industry, which is very dear to my heart as I was involved in it for many years.  It has been abandoned by Government policy over the last 30 years.  We used to have the best sport horses in the world.  The top ten always used to include a number of Irish-bred horses.  A lack of foresight has allowed that to dissipate completely.  We need to decide whether we want to turn our banks on the thoroughbred industry, to make the same mistakes and to fail to support this industry.  We used to be the best country in the world in terms of horse breeding and production, but we are now turning our backs on the direct and indirect employment associated with it, which is extraordinary.</p><p pid="434.5">The notion that taxpayers are subsidising an industry that is dominated by extremely wealthy elites is a myth.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Anybody who has any understanding of rural life in this country will be aware of the importance of the horse industry.  As others have pointed out, the horse and greyhound racing fund is almost entirely funded from the betting levy.  This industry is more than an economic activity in rural areas - it is a way of life in.  Many farmers take a brood mare or two to stallion every year.  They get a little supplementary income from the breeding of foals.  I fail to understand what is wrong with that.  This is a sport that, by and large, is run by ordinary hardworking honest to goodness people.  It is not the preserve of kings as some would have us believe.</p><p pid="434.6">We value very highly the jobs created by multinational corporations in this country.  Rightly, there was an outcry about Dell when over 2,000 jobs were lost yet here we are talking about an indigenous industry that creates almost 20,000 direct jobs.  How can we place a lesser value on our own domestic jobs in this country?  They seem to be reduced somehow and deemed less important than those created by foreign investors.  I do not accept that in any shape or form.</p><p pid="434.7">This industry is the lifeblood of rural communities.  On a smaller scale, the greyhound industry is very important to rural communities and to people in towns and villages around the country who might have a couple of dogs.  Their big social outlet, at minimal cost, once or twice a week or month, is to go to the local dog track.  There has been wonderful investment here.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.327.0&amp;m=210#g334.0">
	<title>Cystic Fibrosis: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.327.0&amp;m=210#g334.0</link>
	<description>I am grateful to Deputy Reilly for putting this motion before the House.  I hope Deputy Shatter is wrong in saying that Monday&acirc;€™s commitment by the Minister to deliver the project in St....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="334.1">I am grateful to Deputy Reilly for putting this motion before the House.  I hope Deputy Shatter is wrong in saying that Mondayâ€™s commitment by the Minister to deliver the project in St. Vincentâ€™s hospital is a con job.  This is literally a matter of life and death for many people, and young females in particular.  It is frightening to think this unit, which held out the prospect of solace and hope, will not be built.  </p><p pid="334.2">Last week Deputy Reilly and I visited the cystic fibrosis facilities in St. Vincentâ€™s hospital and inspected the plans for the new unit.  There is great excitement among front line staff about the unit because they have been part of process in terms of working with architects to design a state-of-the-art facility which will deliver life saving services to their patients.  We also visited some of the relatively new isolation rooms and saw the potential for prolonging the lives of people suffering from cystic fibrosis through providing them with decent health care.  We spoke to several consultants, one of whom moved me with stories about the recent fatalities of three cystic fibrosis patients, all of whom were young women.  That takes a toll not only on families and loved ones but also on the staff who are doing their best to provide first class treatment in substandard conditions.</p><p pid="334.3">I am more than aware of current budgetary constraints and acknowledge the Oppositionâ€™s responsibilities in this regard.  We cannot call for reductions in spending or controls on the public finances while demanding that every service be protected.  As I said at the outset, this is a matter of life or death; it is not in any sense an optional luxury.  This project must go ahead and, as Deputy Shatter pointed out, it has already been long-fingered.  I hope the Ministerâ€™s announcement can be believed and delivered upon.  I hope the Construction Industry Federation is wrong, but we need more than words.  We need concrete commitments so that the desperately needed cystic fibrosis beds in St. Vincentâ€™s Hospital can be delivered.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=210#g585.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.329.0&amp;m=210#g585.0</link>
	<description>Like my colleague, Deputy Deasy, I offer no apologies for the comments I shall make, or for laying the blame for the current economic crisis and devastation firmly at the foot of the Government....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="585.1">Like my colleague, Deputy Deasy, I offer no apologies for the comments I shall make, or for laying the blame for the current economic crisis and devastation firmly at the foot of the Government.</p><p pid="585.2">I shall address one aspect of this supplementary budget.  The budget is the spawn of a failed and flawed social partnership system that has strangled competitiveness and dynamism in this economy.  I am tired of the nod and wink culture, the golden circle, the cosy cartel which pulls the strings of Government from behind closed doors.  It is a cosy arrangement between unions, employers and, no surprise, the Fianna FĂˇil Party, and has had unwarranted influence over Government policy for the past 12 years.  This has led to our current spending growing out of all control and to the type of irresponsible budget which was laid before the House yesterday.</p><p pid="585.3">I wonder at a Government that sees this country on the precipice of spiralling unemployment and the destruction of small and medium-sized businesses.  This Government is still beholden to the social partners and vested interests in our society.  The budget ignores the reality of the problem, namely, that we face a deficit of â‚¬20 billion.  Deputy Deasy referred very well to the level of national debt for which not only my generation but two or three generations to come will suffer the consequences.  However, we have seen no meaningful approach to curbing public spending.  This is extraordinary.  A budget was laid before this House yesterday which bases two thirds of its savings on tax increases that will cripple small businesses and are unbearable for all those who struggle to provide for their families.  It made negligible effort to tackle the lack of efficiency in the public sector and made a ham-fisted attempt to curb public spending.</p><p pid="585.4">I find it bizarre that organisations such as IBEC had the audacity to welcome this budget as providing a plan to get the country out of recession.  Was there such a plan?  I am sorry but I must have missed something.  There is nothing in this budget designed to stimulate the economy.  There is nothing in it to create jobs or to assist the SMEs up and down the country, in rural Ireland and in our cities.  In my own constituency, Dublin South East, one can walk down any street and see the â€śFor Letâ€ť and â€śFor Saleâ€ť signs and the businesses that have been forced to close.  What about all the companies that were teetering on the brink, struggling for the past eight or 12 months to hang on to the few employees they have?  How are those businesses expected to stay afloat and keep those people in employment?</p><p pid="585.5">There was no relief for PRSI nor any measures in respect of VAT.  I must compliment ISME on having the courage to come out and tell it as it is.  There were increases on excise duties on diesel and in insurance levies, all of which impact directly on small companies around this country struggling to stay afloat.  It is quite extraordinary.  I would love to know who these organisations represent.  They meet with the Minister of State, Deputy Ahern, and with the Taoiseach, and hammer out deals to keep everybody happy and everything kosher.  They ensure that the Government buys a bit of time.  Who do they represent?  They do not represent the people who get on the telephone to me and my colleagues, concerned about letting go the workers they have barely managed to keep in employment over the past six months.</p><p pid="585.6">This is a punitive budget.  Nobody has realised quite how serious it is in terms of the impact it will have on our economy.  It is a deflationary budget.  Nobody will be in a position to spend because everybody is terrified now.  Everybody is hit by increased taxes, the health levy, the income levy and the cut to the early child care supplement.  All these measures will impact on peopleâ€™s ability to spend.  If they cannot spend, they will not buy products, use services, eat in restaurants and so on and we will be in a serious position in a short period.  I shudder to think what will be the effects of this on ordinary people and businesses in particular, which are the lifeblood of our economy.  By failing to address the massive and disproportionate expenditure on the public sector, the Government has failed to tackled the budget deficit in the responsible way it should.  Cuts must be made in every Department and it is the only way the Government will get a handle on the public finances.</p><p pid="585.7">Any economist could tell the Minster for Finance that he cannot tax his way out of a recession because that makes the economy less competitive, peopleâ€™s ability to spend is reduced and small businesses are crippled.  How can this message have evaded the Government for a fourth time?  This is the fourth attempt since last September the Government has made to get a handle on the budget deficit but we still experience absolute denial on its part.  This is extraordinary, given the projections provided by the Minister for Finance yesterday.  Budgetary projections for 2009-13 provide for increases in gross and net current expenditure of approximately â‚¬5 billion a year while taxes will increase simultaneously.  The Government is denying whatever ability people may have had potentially, through an imaginative budget outlining a jobs stimulus and a programme to get people back into the workforce.  Instead the Government parties are creating a dead economy where more people will be forced on to the live register and queues will lengthen as the weeks and months pass with no solution provided to them.</p><p pid="585.8">I echo Deputy Deasyâ€™s comments about this pathetic, whimpering Government coming to the Opposition with a begging cap to join them in a national government.  We handed them a jobs package and a pre-budget submission that would have much more sense in getting the economy back on track.  Unfortunately, this Fianna FĂˇil-led Government failed to take that opportunity and it has made a major mistake, which will affect the people detrimentally for a long time to come.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-08T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=210#g251.0">
	<title>European Council: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=210#g251.0</link>
	<description>I refer again to a point I raised in my contribution, which concerns the justice and home affairs measures contained in the Lisbon treaty.  I would like a response from the Minister of State as...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="251.1">I refer again to a point I raised in my contribution, which concerns the justice and home affairs measures contained in the Lisbon treaty.  I would like a response from the Minister of State as to whether there is at least an openness at Government level to reconsidering the position adopted by the Cabinet in advance of the Lisbon treaty referendum last June.  In my view and that of my party it was a flawed decision.  It contributed to the negative outcome in the referendum.  There is an opportunity now to address that and adopt the correct position.  It would also lend considerably more support to the outcome of the next referendum.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=210#g245.0">
	<title>European Council: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=210#g245.0</link>
	<description>I refer to a number of the conclusions of the Council meeting.  Regarding the objective of member states acting in a more co-ordinated fashion on a response to the economic crisis, I wish to hear...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="245.1">I refer to a number of the conclusions of the Council meeting.  Regarding the objective of member states acting in a more co-ordinated fashion on a response to the economic crisis, I wish to hear the views of the Taoiseach and the Minister of State on the Governmentâ€™s position on enhancing the ability of the EU to impose sanctions in the sphere of economic policy as opposed to monetary policy.  That area has been left untouched in respect of subsidiarity and the wishes of the member states.  That position is unsustainable in the long term because, if we are to compete with emerging economies and have a more co-ordinated approach from the EU and particularly in respect of the eurozone, we must examine greater co-ordination coupled with the ability to impose sanctions. </p><p pid="245.2">At the meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs yesterday we discussed the De LarosiĂ¨re report.  Some of the recommendations were quite far-reaching in respect of cross-border, almost criminal sanctions for the breach of financial regulations by member states and potentially institutions and companies.  That would move the EU in a new direction.  I would support it but we must examine this from a national perspective and adopt a clear position on it.  It would have an impact on our position on justice and home affairs as well because we have, unfortunately, opted out of that to date.  Perhaps we can re-evaluate much of what is going on in the economic sphere.</p><p pid="245.3">I refer to the commitments at the Council meeting on the reduction of VAT rates.  It is an aspiration and an objective rather than a definite agreement but it is relevant in the context of the national debate, particularly in light of the forthcoming budget.  Everyone accepts that a grave mistake was made at Government level with the 21% VAT rate increase.  Now that there is a stated objective from the Council meeting, the reduction of VAT rates, in addition to the commitment on the European Investment Bank supporting SMEs and trying to create a better system of financing of SMEs, will we see a tangible result from these in next weekâ€™s budget?  It is a stated commitment of all member states.</p><p pid="245.4">The Stability and Growth Pact in respect of the conclusions of the Council meeting was to create sound public finances.  We accept that Ireland has deviated far from sound public finances.  I am interested to hear if the Taoiseach has picked up tips or new ideas in light of discussions at the Council meeting.</p><p pid="245.5">There is much talk about creating an appropriate crisis mechanism for energy security.  This is important in the context of what happened in central and eastern Europe at Christmas time.  What will that involve?</p><p pid="245.6">The Lisbon treaty will be dealt with at the next meeting in June.  Will texts be presented to us on the concessions and agreements pursued by the Government at European level?  Will the texts be laid before the DĂˇil or made available to the Opposition?  Will we receive them in one tranche or will we have texts on neutrality preceding texts on family policy?</p><p pid="245.7">I urge the Taoiseach to reconsider the matter of justice and home affairs.  This is too important for Ireland to opt out of and we must acknowledge that a mistake was made with that Cabinet decision.  I hope it will be reconsidered in the context of the forthcoming Lisbon treaty referendum.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g466.2">
	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g466.2</link>
	<description>I thank the Minister of State.  I hope that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, has better luck with his second stab at the appointment.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="466.2">I thank the Minister of State.  I hope that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, has better luck with his second stab at the appointment.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
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	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g463.2</link>
	<description>The Minister has the responsibility to investigate these issues.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="463.2">The Minister has the responsibility to investigate these issues.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
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	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g461.2</link>
	<description>I certainly do.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="461.2">I certainly do.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g459.2">
	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g459.2</link>
	<description>These plans are not even contained in that. There is a Luas line that will never be built.  We need answers and I am sorry that the Minister is not here to give them.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="459.2">These plans are not even contained in that. There is a Luas line that will never be built.  We need answers and I am sorry that the Minister is not here to give them.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g457.2">
	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g457.2</link>
	<description>&acirc;€”&acirc;€”and fanciful transport plans that will never happen.  Already we have had two matters raised on the Adjournment with regard to transport plans that will not happen under Transport 21.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="457.2">â€”â€”and fanciful transport plans that will never happen.  Already we have had two matters raised on the Adjournment with regard to transport plans that will not happen under Transport 21.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g455.9">
	<title>Planning Issues. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-26.454.0&amp;m=210#g455.9</link>
	<description>I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Transport for coming to the House to deal with these matters.  I am disappointed, however, that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="455.2">I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Transport for coming to the House to deal with these matters.  I am disappointed, however, that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has neither attended here whenever this matter has been raised, nor in his constituency when local meetings have been held over recent months.  It shows a certain contempt for the people who elected him but I suppose I would say that. </p><p pid="455.3">There is an urgent need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to at the minimum postpone the section 25 process for the Dublin Docklands Development Authorityâ€™s proposed planning scheme for the Poolbeg peninsula.  It has raised ethical concerns about banks, commercial interests, developers and the authority and the complex web of relationships between these individuals and corporate entities.  This is a significant scheme which will have a profound effect on people not only in the Sandymount and Ringsend area but in the city.  There has been no provision for transport and other infrastructure to support this massive scheme.</p><p pid="455.4">The premise of the scheme is worrying.  It will allow the Dublin Docklands Development Authority become its own planning authority for a vast tract of land which is an important public amenity.  Anyone who lives in Dublin city probably uses or has used it.  It is also an area of significant flooding that affects the canal and the Dodder, Tolka and Liffey rivers.  This is not merely a local issue but is very much a city-wide one.  It is also a matter of national concern, for a number of reasons that I will outline.</p><p pid="455.5">Three fiascos are currently connected to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.  One is the Becbay investment scheme in the Irish Glass Bottle site, a greatly questionable endeavour involving a number of people.  The CEO of the authority until last month, Mr. Paul Moloney, stated that no interest has been paid since last June on the loan of almost â‚¬300 million put forward to purchase the IGB site.  This raises a very significant question with regard to the solvency of the DDDA and Deputy Phil Hogan raised the matter at the relevant Oireachtas committee.  There are major concerns among the public and they have not been answered by the Minister.  The matter has not been dealt with and we have not had any meaningful clarification.</p><p pid="455.6">Let us bear in mind that the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was established by my very fine constituency colleague, Deputy RuairĂ­ Quinn, the former Minister of Finance in the Fine Gael-led Rainbow Government of 1994-97.  It was done as part of a rejuvenation scheme for the city centre, based on commercial intent but also to offer a very important social dimension for the area.  What has been happening in the DDDA over the past number of years has deviated so far from those original objectives that serious questions must now be answered.</p><p pid="455.7">There is the issue of the newly appointed chairman of the DDDA, Mr. McCaughey, who was appointed by the same Minister, Deputy John Gormley.  Mr. McCaughey was forced to resign in recent days as a result of what can only be described as very questionable behaviour with regard to payment of taxes.  This raises significant questions over the judgment of the Minister and how much of a handle he really has on what is going on in the various authorities under his Ministry, particularly the DDDA.</p><p pid="455.8">There is the very important issue of the links between the recently nationalised Anglo Irish Bank and the DDDA.  Two directors of the authority were directors of Anglo Irish Bank at the time of the Becbay deal, a very serious conflict of interest.  According to the DDDAâ€™s last annual report, it paid â‚¬964,648 to companies that had direct links with three of its directors.  One such was Arup Consulting, one of whose directors was a member of the DDDA board; another relates to PricewaterhouseCoopers; and we are very much aware of the Anglo Irish Bank connections.  These are major questions of public interest and the Minister, Deputy Gormley, must get to the bottom of them before he gives any sanction to, or stands over this project going ahead.</p><p pid="455.9">In any case, this project is not viable because it is proposed on the basis of completely flawed planning groundsâ€”â€”</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-26T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g414.0">
	<title>Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g414.0</link>
	<description>I have outlined precisely what the Government has been doing.  We see no recovery plan to stimulate employment or small and medium-sized enterprises, no credit flow opening up to SMEs in this...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="414.1">I have outlined precisely what the Government has been doing.  We see no recovery plan to stimulate employment or small and medium-sized enterprises, no credit flow opening up to SMEs in this country.  The Government is walking us into another budget with no solutions to stimulate our economy and get us out of the crisis we are in.  It is an abdication of leadership and responsibility and the Minister of State ought to be ashamed of himself.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g412.0">
	<title>Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g412.0</link>
	<description>We have seen tens of thousands of people forced to sign on the live register over the last six months.  What has the Minister of State&acirc;€™s Government done about it?  Absolutely nothing.  We face...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="412.1">We have seen tens of thousands of people forced to sign on the live register over the last six months.  What has the Minister of Stateâ€™s Government done about it?  Absolutely nothing.  We face into the Governmentâ€™s fourth attempt in six or seven months to come to grips with the gaping hole in the public finances and we still see no commitment to reform in the public sector or any measures put in place by the Government to stimulate our economy or bolster our struggling SMEs and private companies around the country.  It beggars belief that we are in a situation where we are all being threatened with massive tax increases, because that will clearly help stimulate the economy.  We will see swingeing cuts across all Departments.  Over the last number of months we have seen that what this Government means by â€ścutsâ€ť is targeting the vulnerable and those it feels are least likely to vote and to take it out on the Government.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g410.0">
	<title>Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g410.0</link>
	<description>The Minister of State&acirc;€™s Government commissioned a benchmarking report headed up by Mr. Jim O&acirc;€™Leary, who in frustration resigned from the process because the Government completely ignored all...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="410.1">The Minister of Stateâ€™s Government commissioned a benchmarking report headed up by Mr. Jim Oâ€™Leary, who in frustration resigned from the process because the Government completely ignored all the recommendations in the report.  That is just one element of where the Fianna FĂˇil Government sought to buy and curry the favour of public sector unions when faced with the reality that our public sector was growing out of control.  It insisted public sector pay be benchmarked against the private sector on very questionable and suspect premises and data, which have never been put in the public domain.  Now the Governmentâ€™s policies have led to the collapse of small and medium-sized businesses around the country and multinationals such as Dell being forced to let thousands of workers go.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g408.0">
	<title>Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=210#g408.0</link>
	<description>Our public sector has grown to 20% of all employed people.  How could any government worth its salt contemplate that this could be considered sustainable?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="408.1">Our public sector has grown to 20% of all employed people.  How could any government worth its salt contemplate that this could be considered sustainable?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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