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<title>Aengus &Oacute; Snodaigh - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:15+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.165.0&amp;m=632#g225.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed). | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-08.165.0&amp;m=632#g225.0</link>
	<description>Gabhaim bu&Atilde;&shy;ochas leis an Teachta &Atilde;� Caol&Atilde;&iexcl;in deis chainte a thabhairt dom ar an &Atilde;&iexcl;bhar r&Atilde;&shy;-th&Atilde;&iexcl;bhachtach seo.  T&Atilde;&iexcl; muid ag d&Atilde;&copy;ile&Atilde;&iexcl;il le buise&Atilde;&iexcl;d agus bh&Atilde;&shy; deis ag an Rialtas inn&Atilde;&copy; buise&Atilde;&iexcl;d a...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="225.1">Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Caoláin deis chainte a thabhairt dom ar an ábhar rí-thábhachtach seo.  Tá muid ag déileáil le buiseád agus bhí deis ag an Rialtas inné buiseád a chur chun cinn a dhéanfadh déileáil leis an gcruachás atá sa gheilleagar faoi láthair agus, chomh maith leis sin, bunús a chur leis an todhchaí atá muid ar lorg agus atá pobal na nÉireann ar lorg, sochaí ina bhfuil cothromas faoi bhun an chórais uilig, seachas an tslí a bhí an córas tógtha ó thús an Stáit, míchothrom agus ar mhaithe le lucht an rachmais nó tacathóirí Fhianna Fáil nó Fhine Gael, cé acu a bhí i réim, a fuair an buntaiste is mó ón Rialtas bliain i ndiaidh bliana.</p><p pid="225.2">Chomh maith leis sin, tá muid ag iarraidh go gcothófar córas faoina dtabharfar aire dóibh siúd is boichte sa tsochaí atá againn, ag déanamh cinnte dóibh go bhfuil na tacaíochtaí acu gur feidir leo saol níos fearr a bheith acu nó ar a laghad go mbeidh saol níos fearr ag a bpáistí.</p><p pid="225.3">Níl faic sa méid a bhí le rá ag an Rialtas inné, an tAire Airgeadais ach go háirithe, chun gur féidir linn muinín a bheith againn go bhfuil an tír ag dul sa treo ceart.  A mhalairt de threo atá an Rialtras ag moladh.  Tá sé ag moladh go leanfaimid ag tabhairt tacaíochta do bhainc a ghoid ón bpobal sa deireadh thiar.  Sin atá ann agus tá an Rialtas seo ag caitheamh amú airgead an phobail chun tacú agus tarrtháil a dhéanamh ar bhainc nach fiú traithnín iad.  Ba chóir iad a dhúnadh go bhfaighimid réidh le roinnt acu.</p><p pid="225.4">Ba chóir dúinn díriú isteach ar straitéis chun postanna a cruthú, seachas a mhalairt.  Bheadh sé níos éasca dúinn díriú ar chruthú na bpost sin faoi láthair, seachas ullmhú chun breis airgid a íoc dóibh siúd atá dífhostaithe.  Sin a tharlóidh anois, beidh breis daoine dífhostaithe againn má leafaimid ar aghaidh leis an Rialtas seo.</p><p pid="225.5">Tabharfaidh mé sampla amháin don Teach.  Chuir mé ceist an tseachtain seo caite ar an Tánaiste.  D’fhiafraigh mé di cén fáth nár deineadh náisiúnú de SR Technics, comhlacht atá agus a bhí ag déanamh brabúis.  Sin comhlacht atá ag déanamh brabúis ach atá á tharraingt siar.  Sa chás sin, nuair atá scileanna lucht oibre an chomhlachta gafa leis an gcomhlacht agus nuair nach féidir leo post eile a fháil in aon áit eile sa Stát nó sa domhan agus nuair atá an dífhostaíocht os a gcomhair, ba chóir don Stát seasamh isteach.  Níor dhein an Stát é sin.  Ba chóir don Stát tacú leis na hoibrithe agus náisiúnú a dhéanamh ar an gcomhlacht.  Bheadh an Stát ag cosaint na bpost ansin agus ag déanamh brabúis don Stát.  Níl spéis ag an Stát ná an Rialtas sa bhrabús sin.  Tá siad sásta SR Technics a dhúnadh agus tá sin soiléir.  Ní seo an t-aon chomhlacht atá ag déanamh brabúis gur féidir leis an Rialtas tacaíocht a thabhairt dó, nó fiú co-operative a dhéanamh as muna bhfuil sé ag iarraidh seasamh isteach sa tslí seo.  Ach in áit sin, tá an Rialtas ag seasamh siar.  Sin atá ag tarlú.</p><p pid="225.6">Féach ar an méid atá sa bhuiséad féin.  Inné in iarscríbhinn F, luadh “supporting those who lose their jobs”.  Faic atá ansin, tráithnín atá ann.  Níl an Rialtas ag caitheamh airgead ar bith sa bhreis.  It is not spending 1 cent more in support of those who are losing their jobs.  All it is doing - this is stated in plain English - is moving money around.  The Government states that the amount provided is €128 million.  However, no extra money is being provided.  Some €22 million is to be cut from the Department of Social and Family Affairs allocation with further cuts in the allocation for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.  Even worse, in excess of €44 million is to be diverted from the Department of Education and Science, which does not have enough money as it stands.  This is an area wherein more money should have been invested.  The Department of Education and Science has been told to find areas where cuts can be achieved to facilitate this diversion.</p><p pid="225.7">This is the grand plan of the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government, namely, the creation - lest the Government cannot do the maths on this, I will do it - of an additional 23,435 places, about which there is much pomp.  Some 80,000 people have lost their jobs since Christmas.  The creation of 23,000 places does nothing for them, the other 300,000 who lost their jobs before them, those laid off since then and those likely to be laid off during the next couple of months.  Where is the plan to address their retraining or educational needs?  There is none.  There is nothing in the budget to help them.  Nothing in the budget provides confidence for people in the construction industry, SR Technics, Waterford Glass and so on who have been laid off.  This initiative will do nothing.  It is not even a finger in the dyke-type action.  This initiative will not address that issue.</p><p pid="225.8">There is no confidence in the Government stimulating the construction industry given the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Finance of a cut in the social housing budget, which is absolutely crazy.  At a time when we have 60,000 families on the housing list, no attempt is being made to purchase, at possibly the lowest prices we have witnessed in a decade, houses which lie vacant or to accelerate the housing plans of many local authorities.  The Government has done nothing in this area.  It could have cut the budget required to pay rent supplement, which is subsidising private landlords, or moved people off RAS, another method of subsidising private landlords.  I wonder about the reasoning behind this, but one need only look to the backers of Fianna Fáil in particular, namely, the private landlords, those who managed to make a fortune on the back of social welfare recipients.</p><p pid="225.9">The Minister also announced yesterday - I do not know the economic logic for this - that the Government will continue with public private partnerships not alone in the area of social housing, but in other areas.  Public private partnerships are a failed concept.  They have failed totally, yet the Government has stated its intention to get involved in further public private partnerships.  There is no logic whatsoever to that announcement.  I spoke last night about excise duty and the totally illogical approach of increasing the cost of diesel by 5 cent.  One might say that 5 cent is not that much.  However, a small business dependent on haulage or a taxi driver in this city or anywhere around the country driving a diesel car, having been encouraged by the Green Party to be fuel economic, will be hammered by this increase.  Bus Atha Cliath, Bus Éireann and other bus companies will be hammered by this increase as buses operate on diesel.  The Government has increased the cost of diesel when the situation for small businesses trying to compete in the UK or the North is already bad enough in terms of access to those markets.  The Government, through this increase, has made that situation more difficult.  I have no doubt this will result in unemployment in this field also.</p><p pid="225.10">While I would not wish unemployment on anybody, I wish it on this Government.  Few people in this House understand the despair of long-term unemployment.  Another kick delivered yesterday by the Minister is the slashing of the jobseeker’s allowance for those under 20 years of age.  Let us consider what this will do to many young vulnerable people who have just completed their education and are seeking employment.  These are people who had high hopes a year or two ago and now have no hope and their allowance is being slashed.  Emigration is their only hope now.  Many of them will not be able to afford the air fare to emigrate as a result of the slashing of their allowance.  The spirt of those people who are unemployed has been sapped.  Even their will to engage in the workforce has been sapped.</p><p pid="225.11">As I stated, while I would not wish unemployment on anybody, this Government and many Members on the benches opposite would learn a lesson or two from a period of six to 12 months unemployment.  They might then understand the consequences of their budget decisions on the lives of those worst affected, including those who are disadvantaged, those who never enjoyed the fruits of the Celtic tiger and those who have struggled, some of whom have attained no literacy skills, who suffer addiction and live in difficult circumstances.  Yesterday’s budget offered no help for these people.</p><p pid="225.12">The Minister also announced yesterday a cut in the housing budget.  This means many young families looking to the future will not now be housed by the State.  For people lucky enough to obtain a home, the life assurance tied to their mortgage will be levied.  The Government will continue to increase levies rather deal with the problems.  The taxation system in this country is not fair.  The Government needs to put in place a fair and equitable tax system and not continuously hammer those on low pay.  One of the most retrograde steps announced yesterday was that people on the minimum wage are to be brought into the tax net.  There is no logic to this approach.</p><p pid="225.13">Farming is an issue on which I am not fully versed.  However, I know a little about it given that some of my friends are young farmers.  They, too, have been hammered by the massive cuts in REPS.  Small farmers who are barely surviving are the ones who will be hit hardest.  We have all been hit by this budget, but there are always other people who have been hit harder and who are only surviving.  One of the most disgusting cuts announced yesterday is the €100 million cut in overseas development aid.  It is an absolute scandal.  Irish people have been always generous to those in greater need despite their own hardship.  The Government has sent out a message around the world that we do not care.  It has given commitments before and broken them and will hammer them this time.  We will not even meet the target of GDP met last year.</p><p pid="225.14">If the Minister had any cop-on whatsoever, he would have retained the overseas development aid budget at this year’s level.  In doing so, he would have increased the percentage achieved, thus bringing us closer to the 0.7% target set out in the millennium development goals.  I urge the Minister to reconsider this decision.  As I have said, this is a matter of life and death not for a few people, but for hundreds of thousands of people who depend on aid.  Even in these dire circumstances, Ireland should send the rest of the world the message that we are making progress in keeping the promise that the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, made to the overseas development agencies last year.  That promise was broken then and it is being broken again now.  The message that needs to be transmitted involves reversing this decision.</p><p pid="225.15">I have already mentioned the needs of young families.  Do the Minister or any of his Cabinet colleagues have any idea of the cost of child care places in Dublin and throughout the country?  Given that child care can cost up to €1,000 a month for each child, the Minister’s decision to slash the early child care supplement has no logic.  The supplement was introduced in the first place because this State has never addressed the need for early child care places.  The Minister might as well be kicking young couples who are trying to get by when they are down.</p><p pid="225.16">I have spoken about unemployment, which is the worst problem of all.  One of my colleagues suggested to me that there will be redundancies in Lapland.  It seems that Santa and the poor old elves are not safe from the scorched earth policy of Genghis Lenihan.  One might think that the abolition of the Christmas bonus is not important because the money in question is used to tide people over Christmas.  It is a lot more than that.  This is a killjoy mechanism.  For the children of disadvantaged families, the joy of Christmas would be lessened if this little bit of a bonus were not available to allow people to get a toy or two for their children.  The stupidity of the Government’s decision in this regard is evident when one considers that the Christmas social welfare bonus serves to stimulate the struggling retail industry.  Many shops in this country are in danger of closing over the next few months.  Many of them will close next Christmas if this killjoy Government persists with its Scrooge policy of abolishing the bonus.  Is é sin an méid atá le rá agam.  Tá deis fós ag an Rialtas tarraingt siar ó roinnt dos na cinnithe seo.  Tharraing an Rialtas siar ó mórán cinnithe sa bhuiséad deireanach.  Cé mhéad dos na cinnithe a luadh inné a bheidh aistarraingthe amach anseo?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-08T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g454.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 4: Mineral Oil Tax | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g454.0</link>
	<description>I propose an extension for five minutes.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="454.1">I propose an extension for five minutes.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g452.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 4: Mineral Oil Tax | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g452.0</link>
	<description>Ah go on.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="452.1">Ah go on.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g433.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 4: Mineral Oil Tax | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g433.0</link>
	<description>They were sniffing bio-fuel.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="433.1">They were sniffing bio-fuel.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g417.0">
	<title>Financial Resolution No. 4: Mineral Oil Tax | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.405.0&amp;m=632#g417.0</link>
	<description>I have no problem with the increase in the cost of cigarettes, as I was hoping the Minister would announce a higher increase.  Even though that would not be popular, there is logic to it as it...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="417.1">I have no problem with the increase in the cost of cigarettes, as I was hoping the Minister would announce a higher increase.  Even though that would not be popular, there is logic to it as it would discourage people from smoking and the money could be used specifically to help the health service.</p><p pid="417.3">There is absolutely no logic, however, to the retrograde step of increasing the excise duty on diesel.  It is an economically retrograde step for small industries that depend on haulage to keep their markets in the Six Counties and Britain where the sterling-euro exchange rate causes them to struggle.  This is an added cost.</p><p pid="417.4">This also affects public transport.  This budget is already screwing Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus by way of the substantial reduction in the subvention for Córas Iompar Éireann despite its being one of the lowest public transport subventions in the European Union.  We have all been lobbied by taxi drivers who are struggling.  Most of the taxis in the State run on diesel which is logical.  Those drivers are being hammered again by the increase in the cost of diesel.  This is the opposite of what the Government should have done.  It should intervene to impose a moratorium on taxi plates.  The drivers do not have alternative employment but are stuck driving taxis with ever-increasing costs which they will transfer to the public.  Taxis are dear enough since the Government recently agreed an increase in taxi charges with the Taxi Regulator even though the unions did not look for that increase.  The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment should examine this again.  It is not logical and is the wrong road to take.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.86.0&amp;m=632#g280.0">
	<title>Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.86.0&amp;m=632#g280.0</link>
	<description>Scrooge.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="280.1">Scrooge.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.86.0&amp;m=632#g278.0">
	<title>Supplementary Budget Statement 2009 | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-07.86.0&amp;m=632#g278.0</link>
	<description>That is true.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="278.1">That is true.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-07T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.449.0&amp;m=632#g451.0">
	<title>Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.449.0&amp;m=632#g451.0</link>
	<description>Ar&Atilde;&copy;ir bh&Atilde;&shy; m&Atilde;&copy; ag labhairt ar an cheist seo sa ch&Atilde;&copy;ad chuid den m&Atilde;&copy;id a bh&Atilde;&shy; le r&Atilde;&iexcl; agam.  Luaigh m&Atilde;&copy; go bhfuil 60,000 daoine ar an liosta feithimh le haghaidh tith&Atilde;&shy;ochta agus gur scannal &Atilde;&copy;...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="451.1">Aréir bhí mé ag labhairt ar an cheist seo sa chéad chuid den méid a bhí le rá agam.  Luaigh mé go bhfuil 60,000 daoine ar an liosta feithimh le haghaidh tithíochta agus gur scannal é sin.  Is gá dúinn, toisc go bhfuil an fhadhb seo againn san eacnamaíocht, déileáil leis seo.  Is féidir linn déileáil le dhá rud ag an am céanna — tithe a thabhairt do dhaoine agus an eacnamaíocht a spreagadh.  Tá dúshlán ann agus tá seans ag an Aire agus ag an Rialtas gníomhú chun déileáil leis an fhadhb seo. </p><p pid="451.2">We have reservations on the section dealing with anti-social behaviour.  It lacks clarity and direction.  Hopefully we can tease some of it out on Committee Stage.  We believe a different approach is needed and we will table amendments to address that.  We urge the Government to do the right thing on Committee Stage and to examine anti-social behaviour.  The promotion of good estate management should be the priority of any anti-social behaviour strategy.  Communities must be able to access well-resourced initiatives for the reduction and prevention of anti-social behaviour, including but not limited to family intervention and mediation services.</p><p pid="451.3">There is an urgent need to strengthen the Private Residential Tenancies Board as well in respect of landlords and tenants.  There are a number of complaints in my constituency where local authority housing is next to private rented flats.  The latter are prone to anti-social tenants in some areas.  I refer to the inability of the local authority, the Garda Síochána and the landlords to address these tenants.  One example concerns an area I visited last week, which has been totally regenerated.  I refer to Fatima Mansions, where work is ongoing to finish the regeneration.  Much work has been done by the community.  Leading up to it, on St. Anthony’s Road, there are a number of properties owned by the same family of landlords.  Each dwelling has been sub-divided and the landlords seem to have gone out of their way to get the most troubled, difficult and disturbed tenants in Dublin.</p><p pid="451.4">The stories of residents put in context what they must deal with and amount to a cry for help to us to do something.  The community has pulled together to do something about it but there must be a quicker mechanism.  One woman moved into a new home in this regenerated area and said she was so excited about moving into her new home.  She had been waiting years for it.  She says she used to sit in the kitchen looking out at the kids playing but now she sits in the back room because she cannot sit in the front room watching the comings and goings on the road.  She says that this includes drug dealing and people going to the toilet in doorways, especially No. 14, with the black steel door, and that the noise level, the filth on the road is horrible.  She says it is much worse than the flats in the bad old days and wishes that somebody can do something because the landlords just want money.</p><p pid="451.5">I regularly visited Fatima Mansions in the bad old days and for an old resident of Fatima Mansions to compare the situation today with the old days shows the scale of this problem.  Another woman says that since she moved into her home on St. Anthony’s Road, she has had the horrendous experience of dealing with rat infestation relating to the houses adjoining hers.  She says this is related to the dumping of rubbish, she has spent hundreds of euro trying to address this and has contacted the environmental health officer, Dublin City Council, public representatives and anyone who would try to help her with these problems.  She says she has young children and has had to move them out of their bedrooms when they heard rats behind the walls in partitions.  She says the ongoing difficulties of anti-social behaviour is terrible and that people are living in shocking conditions.</p><p pid="451.6">I want this Bill to address the fact that people are in receipt of rent supplement, are benefiting from the State subsidising landlords and there does not seem to be the same degree of caution or help given to these tenants.  A proposed tenant for local authority housing is vetted.  There are now tenancy training schemes but that does not apply to those in the private rented sector, nor does it apply to landlords so that they do not put a concentration of people with difficult problems, whether drug dealing or psychiatric cases, in one set of buildings.  This greater concentration adds to the problem.  There must be some mechanism so that if there is concentration, support is in place from the HSE, the local authority and the Garda Síochána if required.  If there is a continuation of these problems there must be a quicker remedy for the community.  Landlords have a duty to their tenants to keep their dwellings in a fit state and a duty to the community around the dwellings they are letting and making a profit from.  I hope the Minister will address some of these issues.</p><p pid="451.8">With the collapse of the PPPs, there is concern that a number of flat complexes in this city earmarked for regeneration, in areas such as Cherry Orchard, have become vacant and have been boarded up pending regeneration.  In St. Teresa’s Gardens a number of dwellings have been boarded up with no prospect in the near future of the regeneration scheme taking off.  The same is true of Dominic Street and St. Michael’s Estate.  This creates its own problems, with dereliction and the vacant look attracting the anti-social, hooligan element.  This brings down the tone of the area and destroys the spirit of those who are holding out in the hope of regeneration.  I ask the Minister to try to address this, and the collapse of the PPPs.  We need more social housing so we can deal with the shortfall that will occur.  All of the properties in the Dublin City Council housing stock that are lying vacant will not be replaced by new dwellings as promised when the State went down the foolish road of public private partnerships.</p><p pid="451.9">The Bill mentions schemes of lettings but I do not see a standardised scheme in it.  As one goes across the country from local authority to local authority, why do we have different schemes of letting and different points schemes?  It is absolutely crazy.  Locally elected representatives, Deputies and the public should be able to understand the system rather than having to bounce through one, two or three variations.  In this city there could be four local authorities with four different schemes, which would be absolutely crazy.  I hope the Bill will produce a standardised scheme so everybody in the country will know where they stand in regard to the scheme of lettings.</p><p pid="451.10">I welcome the Minister’s proposals to outlaw bedsits in the private sector.  For years in this city we have been waiting on local authorities to replace bedsits in local authority flat complexes; this has not happened as quickly as was possible and the matter must be addressed.</p><p pid="451.11">The issue of subsidising private landlords was raised last night by Deputy Fahey.  He bemoaned the amount of money spent by the State in subsidising private landlords and for once I agree with him.  It was interesting, particularly as the issue was raised by him.  The amount of money involved in this has gone through the roof.  The latest figures for rent supplement amount to an increase of 20,000 people from this time last year.  That money would be much better spent on local authority housing.  Rather than spending such funding on private landlords through the rent supplement or rental accommodation scheme, the local authorities should buy up the empty apartments and houses around the country to replenish housing stock and address local authority housing waiting lists.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g423.2">
	<title>Job Losses. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g423.2</link>
	<description>It did so in respect of the banks.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="423.2">It did so in respect of the banks.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g421.2">
	<title>Job Losses. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g421.2</link>
	<description>Has consideration been given to nationalising the facility, at least on a temporary basis, to allow the continuation of work while the proposals the T&Atilde;&iexcl;naiste has just mentioned are being...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="421.2">Has consideration been given to nationalising the facility, at least on a temporary basis, to allow the continuation of work while the proposals the Tánaiste has just mentioned are being discussed?  If the service or contracts are broken at this point, it will be extremely difficult for the plant to get back on its feet again.  As a temporary measure, the State could step in for at least the three or four months in which the aforementioned proposals were discussed or their viability investigated.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g413.0">
	<title>Job Losses. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.411.0&amp;m=632#g413.0</link>
	<description>Question 46: To ask the T&Atilde;&iexcl;naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment  the correspondence she has had with a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="413.0"><i>Question 46:</i> To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment  the correspondence she has had with a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.  <b>[13398/09]</b></p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T15:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=632#g249.0">
	<title>European Council: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=632#g249.0</link>
	<description>Ceart go leor. The Council refused to acknowledge that the same failed economic policies which have led us to our current position are exactly those which are reinforced in the Lisbon treaty....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="249.1">Ceart go leor.</p><p pid="249.2">The Council refused to acknowledge that the same failed economic policies which have led us to our current position are exactly those which are reinforced in the Lisbon treaty.  These policies have been exposed as being in contradiction with the economic needs of the moment.  However, the Council persists with the myth that the Lisbon treaty is necessary to deal with the crisis.</p><p pid="249.3">Neoliberalism has failed.  Its excesses and the logic behind it have put at risk the hard work of an entire generation and threaten to plunge whole populations into poverty.  The simple fact is that ratification of the Lisbon treaty would make matters worse rather than better.</p><p pid="249.4">There is a need for a fundamental change in EU policy and in its treaties.  These matters should have been the subject of European Council’s deliberations.  The protection of jobs and creation of new employment must be the absolute priority in the midst of this economic crisis.  The haemorrhage of jobs must be stopped and that will require proactive interventions by the governments of member states.</p><p pid="249.5">Political leaders are casting about for solutions without understanding the nature of the problem.  If we do not put the needs and interests of people at the heart of the future economic system, that system will also be doomed to failure.  The approach of political leaders to the Lisbon treaty is exactly the same.  In light of the major changes that have taken place during the past six months, it is bizarre to listen to EU leaders trying to force through a treaty which was designed to deal with an entirely different economic and political environment.  We believe the treaty was a bad deal then and it is probably an even worse one now.  The Lisbon treaty is old hat and is a charter for the policies of failure.  We need a new treaty for a new time.</p><p pid="249.6">The media reported that the Taoiseach would use the opportunity presented by the summit to update his European colleagues on the Lisbon treaty and the development of the so-called legally binding guarantees agreed at a previous EU summit held last December.  It is absolutely astonishing that he updated his colleagues in Brussels on the Lisbon treaty and the development of guarantees for Ireland but that he feels no compulsion to extend the same courtesy to the Irish electorate.  For some months, Sinn Féin has been calling on the Government to publish the wording of those guarantees if, in fact, any such guarantees have been secured.  I wonder whether these will be guarantees at all or whether they will be mere legalistic verbiage.</p><p pid="249.7">In light of their reluctance to speak out on this matter, it appears that the broader issues of the EU’s democratic deficit, its erosion of workers’ rights and public services, its emerging foreign and defence policy agendas and its promotion of free trade over fair trade have not been dealt with.  Ensuring that the facts emerge may well provoke a debate in which the Government does not wish to engage prior to the European elections.</p><p pid="249.8">A meeting of the 27 member states’ Commissioners also took place last month.  The reason for this meeting was to discuss a strategy for Ireland’s rerun of the referendum on the Lisbon treaty that the Government is due to hold later in the year.  The Commission’s representative in Ireland warned those gathered in Brussels that the political and economic situation in Ireland could lead to a second “No” vote.  The people gathered for the Commission’s “brainstorming” session also discussed the €2 million they intend to spend on an advertising campaign which will precede the rerun of the referendum and which will try to promote the pro-Lisbon agenda.  A spokesperson for Commission President José Manuel Barroso claimed that it was their intention to distribute factual information on EU policies and the Lisbon treaty to citizens in Ireland and in other member states in order to allow a vigorous debate to take place.  However, the last thing EU leaders want is a real debate taking place either in Ireland or elsewhere in the Union.</p><p pid="249.9">What is proposed is a waste of €2 million, which, in view of the current crisis, could be better spent on social projects.  The Irish electorate will not be bought by the European Commission or bribed by it or anyone else to vote in favour of the Lisbon treaty.  We have already made our decision and, in my view, this decision will be reinforced if the Government proceeds with its plan to rerun the referendum.</p><p pid="249.10">If the Commission, the Council or the Parliament truly want a vigorous debate on the Lisbon treaty or on the current direction of European policy, they would not have done everything possible in the wake of the rejection of the proposed EU constitution by the Netherlands and France in 2005 to ensure that there would not be a popular vote on the treaty in member states.  The Commission does not want an open debate on the Lisbon treaty; it merely wishes to persuade us of its way of thinking.  This will not happen.</p><p pid="249.11">The people of Ireland and Europe deserve better than the Lisbon treaty.  We need a new treaty for new times.  Ireland’s place is firmly within Europe.  The Irish people have been loud in their support for the European Union but they will not accept a bad deal for Ireland.  They do not want to hand decision making power over our future to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.</p><p pid="249.12">The people of Ireland want a different Europe, and they have stated that in a referendum.  Member state citizens across the Union want a different Europe but they have not been given the opportunity to state that in a referendum.  We want a Europe based on solidarity and fairness, a Europe of peace that respects the right of each member state to make its own decisions on sovereign matters and one that prioritises workers’ rights and public services — a Europe of equals.  That is the opportunity before us.  The people are ready to take up the challenge, and it is time for the European leaders to catch up.  Ireland must remain at the heart of Europe but we want a change of policy direction in Ireland and also in Brussels.  We need a new treaty for a new time, a new dispensation.  We need new political leadership but it is not coming from the opposite side of the House.</p><p pid="249.13">I refer to the question of the Palestinians, previously raised by Deputy Costello, and the onslaught by Israel over the new year which resulted in the slaughter of over 1,500 people in the Gaza area.  Given the logic of the position of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, as espoused at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, will the Minister of State indicate whether anything was said about the Palestinian situation at the recent Council meeting?  Were the Minister’s views common to other European leaders because he stated: “It is very clear to me that very serious offences and almost certainly violations of international humanitarian law were committed by both sides”.  On the use of white phosphorous by Israeli, he went on to state: “The use of such weaponry in a densely-populated area such as Gaza is completely unacceptable and does represent in my view a violation of international humanitarian law and raises serious questions regarding the conduct of its military campaign in Gaza which the Israeli Government will have to address”.</p><p pid="249.14">Questions must be raised at European level about the Euro-Med agreement, the preferential trade agreements with Israel, and the fact that the European Union is continuing with them despite breaches of humanitarian law and international territorial law.  If it has not been done to date, will the Minister give a commitment at the next European Council summit meeting that he will be to the fore in demanding the suspension of the trade agreement, which is the logic of his statement?</p><p pid="249.15">I draw the Minister of State’s attention to comments made by the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Richard Falk, on the Geneva Convention and the requirements for warring forces to distinguish between military targets and surrounding civilians.  He stated: “If it is not possible to do so, then launching the attacks is inherently unlawful and would seem to constitute a war crime of the greatest magnitude under international law”.  A war crime dictates to the European Union that the trade agreement must be suspended.</p><p pid="249.16">On a related matter, has the European Council re-examined its policy of excluding Hamas and not dealing directly with the elected Government of the Palestinian people, and the effects its policies are having on those under siege in Gaza and the West Bank?  Has any thought been given to suspending the trade agreement due to Israel’s ongoing policy in the West Bank, namely, the capture of land and the illegal settlement, another issue which would be sufficient to conclude that the agreement must be suspended?</p><p pid="249.17">Will the Minister of State indicate if there was any discussion on how the EU, as a member of the Quartet, would help in lifting the ongoing siege of the Palestinian territory called Gaza?  It is no longer on the media’s radar but there is an ongoing siege and humanitarian aid, food and reconstruction equipment cannot get into an area which was bombarded continuously for three weeks.  That serious question must be addressed.  I hope it will be addressed and that the Minister of State can give a commitment that there will be more discussion at future EU Council meetings.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=632#g247.0">
	<title>European Council: Statements | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.239.0&amp;m=632#g247.0</link>
	<description>Last month&acirc;��s meeting of the European Council focused on finding solutions to the current economic crisis.  Once again, the Council came up very short. Is m&Atilde;&sup3;r an trua n&Atilde;&iexcl;r thapaigh an...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="247.1">Last month’s meeting of the European Council focused on finding solutions to the current economic crisis.  Once again, the Council came up very short.</p><p pid="247.2">Is mór an trua nár thapaigh an Chomhairle Eorpach an deis.  Is am cinniúnach dúinn agus don Aontas é seo.  Tá geilleagar na hÉireann agus an geilleagar domhanda i gcruachás.  Tá dúshlán mór romhainn.  An mí seo caite, measaim go raibh deis ag an Chomhairle Eorpach déileáil leis an cheist seo.  Is trua nár deineadh é sin.  Tá súil agam go ndéanfar i bhfad níos mó amach anseo.</p><p pid="247.3">Not only were the solutions arrived at by the European Council inadequate, they failed to recognise that policies such as deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation — which have been pursued fanatically at member state and EU level — are at the heart of the current global recession.  If we are to come to grips with this crisis, these policies must be reversed.</p><p pid="247.4">Má táimid chun eacnamaíocht an tír beag seo, atá ar imeall na hEorpa, a tharrtháil, caithfimid féachaint ar cúiseanna na fadhbanna sin, atá luaite agam cheana.  Tharla caimiléireacht éaguimsithe de thairbhe teip iomlán na margaí aigeadais.  Níor dheineamar na margaí a rialú, nó a riaradh, i gceart.  Chuidigh sé sin leis an meon “rip-off” a bhí i measc an lucht gnó agus na bainc, ní hamháin sa tír seo ach ar fud an domhain freisin.  Measaim nár dhein cruinniú an Chomhairle Eorpach aon rud chun roinnt de na fadhbanna sin a réiteach.</p><p pid="247.5">The absolute failure to properly regulate the financial markets was always a road to rip off and corruption.  Obsessive deregulation and privatisation of public services has, and will, if left unchallenged, continue to prevent sustainable economic growth which will deliver a fair society.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-31.400.0&amp;m=632#g429.0">
	<title>Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-31.400.0&amp;m=632#g429.0</link>
	<description>Ar son Sinn F&Atilde;&copy;in, cuirim f&Atilde;&iexcl;ilte roimh Bille na dTithe (For&Atilde;&iexcl;lacha Ilghn&Atilde;&copy;itheacha) 2008.  Cinnithe dearfacha a chabhr&Atilde;&sup3;idh le seirbh&Atilde;&shy;s&Atilde;&shy; tith&Atilde;&shy;ochta an St&Atilde;&iexcl;it at&Atilde;&iexcl; i gceist sa reachta&Atilde;&shy;ocht...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="429.1">Ar son Sinn Féin, cuirim fáilte roimh Bille na dTithe (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha) 2008.  Cinnithe dearfacha a chabhróidh le seirbhísí tithíochta an Stáit atá i gceist sa reachtaíocht seo sa chuid is mó.  Is trua é, áfach, nach ndéanann an Bille déileáil níos iomláine leis an cheist ríthábhachtach seo, go háirithe sa chomhthéacs ina bhfuilimid ag obair faoi láthair.  Is mór an trua é go bhfuil roinnt bunábhair in easnamh sa Bhille.  Is féidir linn an fhadhb sin a leigheas, áfach, má chuirimid na leasuithe is gá chun cinn ar Chéim an Choiste.  Is féidir leis an Aire a leasuithe féin a moladh nó leasuithe an bhFreasúra a ghlacadh.  Measaim gur chóir don Aire an deis seo a thapú chun reachtaíocht níos iomláine agus níos foirfe a achtú agus córas tithíochta níos cothroime a fhorbairt sa Stáit seo.  Ba cheart dúinn bheith in ann léiriú os comhair an domhain go bhfuil ceann de na seirbhísí tithíochta is fearr againn.  Tá bealach fada le taistil againn sula shroichimid an phointe sin.  Tá mé chun iarracht a dhéanamh impí ar an Aire déileáil, ar Chéim an Choiste, leis na ceisteanna móra gur chóir dúinn a réiteach sa Bhille.</p><p pid="429.2">One of the key areas which this Bill fails to address is the question of homelessness and it is disappointing to see such a Bill published only a month after the publication of the Government strategy on homelessness, The Way Home.  We have all been lobbied recently — and the Minister in particular — by the MakeRoom campaign and I encourage people to continue this lobbying.  It is an indication that the public is concerned about the issue and is looking for us to address the shortfalls in the Bill relating to homelessness.</p><p pid="429.3">Lobbying in this way leads to a participative democracy, although some people seem to be afraid of it.  There was talk recently of restricting e-mails to Deputies and Ministers but such talk is against the policy of open democracy.  That some are afraid of dealing with the public in such a fashion is an indication that lobbying is having an effect.</p><p pid="429.4">I would like to see legislative commitments outlined in The Way Home strategy included in this Bill.  Placing local homeless fora and action plans on a statutory footing would, I hope, ensure that all local authorities and statutory agencies would have to meet their commitments under that strategy.  I have one word of caution, as we are still waiting for some local authorities to deliver on their statutory commitment to produce Traveller accommodation in their areas.</p><p pid="429.5">It is interesting that, to quote from the Green Party document on homeless and Traveller accommodation, the Minister’s party policy is that if local authorities continue to fail in their obligation to deliver and implement Traveller accommodation programmes, the Green Party will consider sanctions against the local authorities which fail to meet the requirements.  I am looking forward to the Minister, Deputy Gormley, introducing those sanctions in this legislation as it goes through Committee Stage.  It is scandalous that at this stage, some local authorities have not addressed their commitment.</p><p pid="429.6">On the issue of homelessness itself, recently Sinn Féin’s Dublin MEP, Mary Lou McDonald, initiated in the European Parliament Written Declaration 111, the aim of which is to promote an end to street homelessness by 2015.  The declaration was passed by the Parliament last year and I hope this Government and others in the EU will live up to the commitments and strategy included in that declaration.</p><p pid="429.7">We in Sinn Féin believe homelessness is the most acute denial of housing rights in our society.  The fact that the Government cannot bring itself to propose an adequate legislative definition of homelessness in this Bill, let alone keep its own commitments to combat the problem, is an indictment of an appalling Government which has no regard for those people who sleep in doorways off our streets and in lanes at the back of shops or restaurants, many of which are frequented by Ministers and the infamous bankers we hear so much about these days.</p><p pid="429.8">The Government has done nothing to realistically help address the homeless people living in emergency accommodation, shelters, hostels and bed and breakfasts.  Homelessness is a real-life manifestation of social exclusion and poverty, as well as an inadequate supply of secure and appropriate social housing.  If this Bill is left unchanged, it will do nothing to rectify the problem.</p><p pid="429.9">Official data significantly underestimates the real extent of the problem of homelessness and this Bill will not change the Government’s indifference to this plight.  For example, I was made aware last year of a large number of unemployed Polish men living rough in tents in the Phoenix Park for a while.  Although this is no longer the case, with the current recession how long will it be before this happens again?  Street homelessness is on the increase despite the good work of many voluntary groups.  That is why the strategy must be fully implemented and put on a statutory footing.</p><p pid="429.10">I also have reservations about the proposed new definition of social housing, which will now include dwellings under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS.  It is our view that the RAS has a role in addressing social housing problems but it is also our firm belief that the provision of social housing funded by central Government via the local authorities must be the central element in any successful housing strategy.  Once a person is renting through the rental accommodation scheme, he or she is effectively housed, according to the local authority.  Why should the taxpayer continue to subsidise private landlords through this scheme when it would make far better sense for the State to provide those in need with the social housing accommodation they require?</p><p pid="429.11">I mentioned Traveller accommodation earlier.  This Bill is a missed opportunity to remove the disproportionate provisions in the last Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act in 2002, which criminalised Travellers living on the side of the road where no alternative is available or where local authorities had failed to deliver on the Traveller housing strategy commitment.  I ask the Minister to even at this stage consider removing that provision on Committee or Report Stage.</p><p pid="429.13">There are currently nearly 60,000 families on the social housing waiting list and this number will continue to escalate at a rapid rate, particularly given the State’s dire economic circumstances, of which Fianna Fáil is also trying to wash its hands.  This will happen unless current levels of social and supported housing provisions are dramatically increased.  Sinn Féin did not accept homelessness nor did it accept the glib attitude of the Government parties towards those who were homeless during the booming years of the Celtic tiger.  We will certainly not entertain the idea that it is now okay not to deal with the issue.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-31T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.395.0&amp;m=632#g418.0">
	<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=632#g418.0</link>
	<description>We are now in the course of an entrenched equality crisis which, like our society for years, is characterised by extreme income inequality, a gross concentration of wealth at the top and the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="418.1">We are now in the course of an entrenched equality crisis which, like our society for years, is characterised by extreme income inequality, a gross concentration of wealth at the top and the persistent experience of discrimination among key groups, including lone parents, the non-Irish, people with disabilities and the unemployed.  It is also characterised by the absence of any demonstrable Government ambition to achieve meaningful socioeconomic equality, the manifestly unfair distribution of the burden of economic recovery which has been laid on the shoulders of the vulnerable the low and middle income workers and the ever-increasing working poor, and the active dismantling of the equality and human rights infrastructure.  This Government sought and achieved the demise of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, NCCRI, the elimination of the Combat Poverty agency, the sole independent agency responsible for those in poverty and for economic equality, and the decimating cuts in the budgets of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission.  The Government has further threatened those in the community and voluntary sector who advocate equality.  The accountability of the State is being actively undermined.  This trend must be reversed.</p><p pid="418.2">During times of recession the risk of discrimination and experience of inequality increase.  Various studies demonstrate that equality is good for business.  It increases productivity and is good for the country because it enhances social solidarity.  The upcoming budget must be subjected to an equality impact assessment.  It must be used as an opportunity to introduce an effective equality infrastructure incorporating anti-discrimination work and redistribution.</p><p pid="418.3">International income ratios are similarly grotesque.  In 1980 the highest earning executives in the United States earned 33 times the average industrial wage.  By the 1990s their earnings had increased and risen to 100 times the average industrial wage and by 2005 these high earners were taking home an income 50 times that of the average worker.  This was replicated in Britain where the ratio of the chief executives’ pay to that of average staff members was 98:1.  The distribution of wealth and income in this State is obscene as the spectrum of income ratios has moved in a direction comparable with that of the US and Britain.  Revenue figures demonstrate that 30% of all income earned in 2008 went into the pockets of just 6% of the population.  Almost 1,500 people earned an average of €2.4 million each last year at a time when the average industrial wage was a little over €30,000 a year.  The upcoming budget, and every budget thereafter, must consciously and actively work towards a radical reduction in this income gap.  This is the patriotic duty of the Government.  Excess wealth must be taxed.  The grotesque expenditure of €50 million on a yacht or a helicopter or several holiday mansions, while people live in squalor and poverty, and those with special needs are denied special classes to save a fraction of this sum must be addressed.  The Fingletons, Smurfits and U2s of this world must be made pay their fair share of tax.</p><p pid="418.4">The upcoming budget must rectify and reverse the recent Fianna Fáil and Green Party attack on children with special educational needs.  Last month I received many e-mails from parents, teachers and students in my constituency who were angry, depressed and despairing at the abolition of the special needs classes.  I visited several of the affected schools and saw the benefit of those classes.  Now the Government is intent on consigning those children to the scrapheap again.  This cut will directly affect hundreds of children who will lose the vital support they need to achieve a robust education.  Thousands more children will be affected by the extraordinary additional pressure on teachers already working in overcrowded mainstream classes.  Robbing children of their futures for a paltry saving of €6 million when executives of publicly guaranteed banks are walking around with €1 million bonuses and multi-million euro pensions is obscene.</p><p pid="418.5">I asked the Minister for Education and Science to point to an educational rationale to underpin this ruthless decision.  He could not do so.  He claims that the needs of these children will be adequately met in the mainstream classes with limited learning support.  That is not true.  He has no understanding of special needs or the educational system.  Parents know best.  One couple who contacted me said they know that this will have a detrimental effect on their child’s education and social learning.  Their son had been in a mainstream class in the past but a special class is without doubt the best place for him to learn, develop and thrive, to become a responsible and independent young adult reaching his full potential, an opportunity which should never be denied to any child.  This budget should be used as an opportunity to reverse the cuts in special needs education and reinstate the classes for those with mild general learning disabilities.</p><p pid="418.6">The budget should also be used as an opportunity to raise fairly and progressively the revenues desperately required.  It should be used to remove the pension levy which is manifestly unfair and creates real hardship for many already struggling to make ends meet.  In addition to putting people’s homes at risk, it diminishes the spending power of a significant number of those who remain in employment thus further stifling the economy and resulting in more job losses in the private sector.  The levy never concerned pensions.  It was a form of unfair and selective taxation.  Certain categories of workers subject to this levy will derive no additional pension benefit, for example, many fixed-term contract workers, including researchers.  It also hits local councillors although they do not receive a salary, and the income of the brave retained fire service workers who are paid only when called out.</p><p pid="418.7">The Minister has an interest in overseas development aid, ODA, and attended a briefing on the matter earlier today.  I appeal to him not to cut ODA.  This is a matter of life and death for many around the world whom Ireland has thankfully helped in the past.  We have an opportunity to continue to do so.  I urge the Government not only to retain but to increase the ODA figure thus achieving the promised 0.7% of GDP sooner without having to put in a large extra sum of money.  By doing so we will set a standard not only for ourselves but also for the European Union and our partners there and in the rest of the developed world.  We will send a message of solidarity to those who are much worse off than us even in this recession.  We have traded on our flathiúileachas and our reputation worldwide.  We have been generous and do not have the imperialist past that many of our neighbours do.  We can embarrass them and force them to follow our lead.  We should not be selfish.  We can save lives, improve human security and increase goodwill for Ireland.</p><p pid="418.8">I dtaca leis an Ghaeilge, ón méid atá cloiste agam, tá ciorruithe de bhreis is 20% i gceist do chuile eagras Gaeilge.  Má smaoinítear ar an méid a chaitear ar mhadraí agus ar chapaill rása i gcomparáid leis an chaiteachas ar eagrais Ghaeilge, is léir cá bhfuil tosaíochtaí an Rialtais.  Caithfear díriú ar chosaint a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge agus ar an Ghaeltacht go háirithe san am seo mar ní ghá ach féachaint ar an staidéar teangeolaíochta a rinneadh le déanaí chun an dainséar don teanga náisiúnta a fheiceáil.  Caithfear déanamh cinnte nach gcuirfear leis an dainséar sin don teanga sa chruachás atá romhainn faoi láthair.</p><p pid="418.9">Now is not the time to cut budgets in the fight against illegal drugs.  To do so would be detrimental to the justice programme and to the development of communities.  Times may be hard but in the past recession has bred drug abuse for which society pays a huge price.  We have an opportunity to at the very least retain the money dedicated to tackling the drug problem.  That is my appeal to the Government. I hope people have been listening.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.122.0&amp;m=632#g133.0">
	<title>Appointment of Chairperson to the Garda S&Atilde;&shy;och&Atilde;&iexcl;na Ombudsman Commission: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.122.0&amp;m=632#g133.0</link>
	<description>Gabhaim bu&Atilde;&shy;ochas as an deis labhairt ar an cheist seo agus as an breis ama a tugadh dom.  Bhuail m&Atilde;&copy; leis an iar Bhreitheamh Kevin Haugh c&Atilde;&ordm;pla uair maidir leis an Garda Ombudsman Commission....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="133.1">Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhairt ar an cheist seo agus as an breis ama a tugadh dom.  Bhuail mé leis an iar Bhreitheamh Kevin Haugh cúpla uair maidir leis an Garda Ombudsman Commission.  Bhí cuma air go raibh sé dírithe ar an phost sin agus is trua go bhfuil sé imithe ar shlí na fírinne.</p><p pid="133.2">Mar sin féin, caithfidh mé dul i gcoinne an rúin seo.  Ní locht ar bith é seo ar charachtar nó ar an obair atá déanta ar Dermot Gallagher thar na blianta.  Bhuail mé leis cúpla uair san am sin, go háirithe nuair a bhí plá á dhéanamh againn ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta agus ina dhiaidh sin.  Duine lách é a chur chuig an obair a bhí os a chomhair agus a d’oibrigh go maith linn.  Ach mar sin féin, is cóir cur i gcoinne an cinnidh seo de bharr an bhealach ar roghnaíodh é.  Nílim i gcoinne an duine, ach i gcoinne an phróisis roghnaithe.  Ní raibh sé ceart ná cóir, go háirithe nuair a cuirtear san áireamh cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá an post seo.  Táimidne sa Stát seo ag iarraidh a chur i gcion ar an phobal go bhfuil neamhspleáchas i gceist leis an gcoimisiún agus go seasann sé ann féin agus gur é an duine is fearr don phost a bheadh roghnaithe.</p><p pid="133.3">The primary purpose of the Garda Ombudsman Commission and the position of its chair are vital.  I remember arguing with a previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, former Deputy Michael McDowell, the need for a single ombudsman rather than a commission.  Obviously the position of chair involves a particular job of work.  Its purpose may be to investigate individual complaints against individual members of the Garda Síochána but there is a further objective, given the failure over the years of the Garda Complaints Board which had lost the confidence of the public.  Members of this House should look at the contributions in the debate when the Garda Ombudsman Commission was being established.</p><p pid="133.4">Its ultimate objective is to restore public confidence in the Garda Síochána.  That is part of its role, not its sole duty.  For the Ombudsman Commission to achieve that, the public must have confidence in that very body.  It must be, and be seen to be, totally independent.   For that reason, I question whether a very recently retired, high-level Civil Servant could ever command the optimum confidence of the public in a role as an independent scrutiniser of other servants of the State.  As I stated earlier, this is not to offer opposition to the person in question but to ask if there should be a cooling off period between appointments, whether of a judge, a retired judge or a person in a position such as Mr. Gallagher held.  If there were such a cooling off period perhaps we would be in a better position today.</p><p pid="133.5">Concerning the process of selection followed recently, I concur with the statement by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, whose director reacted to the announcement by stating, “It is very disappointing that the Government has chosen to fill this post with a retired public servant without the open and transparent recruitment process which should accompany any appointment to a body charged with the independent scrutiny of the conduct of agents of the State.”</p><p pid="133.6">In the Six Counties appointments such as this must involve the transparent, open and merit-based recruitment process and be subject to prior scrutiny by a panel that is independent of the relevant Department.  Last week I asked the Minister by way of a parliamentary question whether he agreed that similar principles should underpin key appointment processes in this State.  The Minister in his reply flatly rejected my proposal and showed himself to be out of touch from prevailing public opinions and in denial as to the systems that give rise to them.</p><p pid="133.7">Whether fairly in some instances, or unfairly in others, the public associates many Government appointments with cronyism and jobs for the boys.  Countless e-mails, letters and telephone calls to my office are testament to that.  The source of this suspicion is systemic and must be addressed.</p><p pid="133.8">This appointment cannot be divorced from the wider context of economic recession.  If the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is to restore confidence in the Garda, the public must have confidence in it.  The majority of people looking at this appointment, against their own background of loss of jobs and income cuts, will see it as the appointment of a high earner who on recently retiring from his position as a civil servant, received a fairly large sum and an annual pension of €120,000.  He had also been given the job of chair of the governing body of UCD and is now being appointed as chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission with a nice salary.  Even though he has indicated acceptance of a reduced level of remuneration of €90,000, this, on top of the other income, is a nice earner.  In my own area, the early focus project in the Mater Dei primary school in Basin Lane, is surviving on less than that and is currently under threat.  The slight reduction in remuneration does nothing, in my view, to restore confidence.</p><p pid="133.9">The scarcity of resources and performance to date of the ombudsman commission has not created public confidence in the body.  It is to be hoped that as it moves forward this year, it will deliver what the public expects.  People are still waiting to see the commission flexing its muscles properly.  Suspicion about the appointment of the commission’s members is something it cannot afford.</p><p pid="133.10">The Garda Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission need to examine the case referred to in the House, namely, the Boylan case, which concerns a blatant and high profile informer who was allowed carry on his trade.  The Garda Síochána Inspectorate, Kathleen O’Toole’s office, should be asked to examine the practice of the non-prosecution of drug dealers or other criminals and using them as informers and allowing them to continue operating with impunity.  This is the public perception.  Far too often, cases have collapsed on a technicality and the public view is that these are created technicalities to allow informers to carry on their trade, given that these people are caught in the act, caught red-handed and yet the next day they are back on the streets carrying on the same trade in full public view.</p><p pid="133.11">There is an aspect of public confidence which needs to be addressed and restored.  Those caught red-handed should be brought before the courts and convicted and not escape on technicalities.  We need to address the ineffectiveness of the prosecuting gardaí to ensure they have the resources and the wherewithal to properly prepare cases.  We need to address the high-profile cases such as the Boylan case and other scandals.  It is a big job of work for the Garda ombudsman commission.  I have confidence in the appointment of Mr. Gallagher because he has the ability to do the job, but I will oppose the motion on the basis of the selection procedure involved.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-05T12:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=632#g115.0">
	<title>Overseas Missions: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-05.109.0&amp;m=632#g115.0</link>
	<description>Very little debate or legislation on defence comes before the House.  Is oth liom nach bhfuil an tAire anseo.  N&Atilde;&shy;or thuig m&Atilde;&copy; go raibh a phost chomh gn&Atilde;&sup3;thach sin.  Ar aon chaoi, t&Atilde;&iexcl; s&Atilde;&copy;...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="115.1">Very little debate or legislation on defence comes before the House.  Is oth liom nach bhfuil an tAire anseo.  Níor thuig mé go raibh a phost chomh gnóthach sin.  Ar aon chaoi, tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo ar siúl sa Dáil, mar go bhfuil muid ag glacadh cinnidh 400 saighdiúr a chur chuig réigiún dáinséarach ina bhfuil cogadh ar siúl in aice leis, Chad.  I welcome the fact that Ireland is once again reverting to the UN mandate, the blue-hatted missions, as indicated by the deployment of over 400 soldiers.  This is where we should have been; EU military missions are contrary to our supposed military neutrality.  Our experimentation with EU battle groups should be brought to an end, with our defence forces committed only to UN blue-hatted peacekeeping missions.  This would be an endorsement of the primacy of the UN model and would allow the UN to operate effectively if we could encourage other countries to do likewise.</p><p pid="115.2">In this time of recession it makes economic sense for Ireland to revert to such missions.  The mission in Chad has cost us over €60 million to date, none of which is recoupable, as it would be if it was a UN-led mission.  Over 50% of costs of the new mission will be recoupable.  It is a sign of the esteem in which Ireland is held when operating in UN-led missions that, of the 14 countries committing to this mission, Brigadier-General Gerald Aherne has been appointed deputy force commander and an Irish officer will take up the position of chief operations officer.  I wish the new mission well and hope this is a sign the Minister is recommitting to UN led missions only.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-05T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-03.208.0&amp;m=632#g213.0">
	<title>Requests to move Adjournment of D&Atilde;&iexcl;il under Standing Order 32 | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-03.208.0&amp;m=632#g213.0</link>
	<description>I seek the adjournment of the D&Atilde;&iexcl;il under Standing Order 32 on the following specific important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the urgent need for the...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="213.1">I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 on the following specific important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the urgent need for the Government to guarantee the future of the “dial to stop drug dealing” non-Garda confidential phone line, which may cease to operate imminently despite its success in generating intelligence tip-offs from the community that have contributed to Garda investigations; more than 1,400 calls have been made to the centre resulting in approximately 370 information reports being passed to the Garda.  Just €300,000 in funding was allocated for 2009 to cover both public advertising and the price of calls and the Minister has confirmed that the more calls it receives, the more successful it is, and the earlier the problem will disappear.  This low-cost and successful initiative is being cut in the context of very real community fear as regards the reporting of drug related crimes perpetuated by Garda corruption, as evidenced in the Boylan case broadcast on RTE’s “Prime Time” last night, and despite the very high human and economic costs of drug-related crime. </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-03T16:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-24.536.0&amp;m=632#g570.0">
	<title>Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-24.536.0&amp;m=632#g570.0</link>
	<description>Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh go h&Atilde;&iexcl;irithe chun ceist mn&Atilde;&iexcl;, i gcomhth&Atilde;&copy;acs an c&Atilde;&iexcl;in pinsin nua, a ard&Atilde;&ordm;.  I dt&Atilde;&ordm;s, t&Atilde;&iexcl; s&Atilde;&copy; de dhualgas orm an c&Atilde;&iexcl;in nua a ch&Atilde;&iexcl;ineadh amach is amach.  N&Atilde;&shy;l...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="570.1">Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a ghlacadh go háirithe chun ceist mná, i gcomhthéacs an cáin pinsin nua, a ardú.  I dtús, tá sé de dhualgas orm an cáin nua a cháineadh amach is amach.  Níl an cáin cothrom.  Is pionós í orthu siúd atá taréis obair a dhéanamh chun córas poiblí ceart a sholáthar dúinn.  Má fhéachaimid ar na oibrithe ar a bhfuil an cháin dírithe, tá sé soiléir go gcailleoidh iad siúd atá ar na leibhéil is ísle pá — múinteoirí, banaltraí, gardaí agus oibrithe udaráis áitiúla — airgead, mar aon leo siúd atá ar leibhéil níos airde.  Tá an Rialtas taréis glacadh leis go mbuailfidh an cinneadh seo na hoibrithe Stáit is leochailí.  Cá bhfuil an cothromas ansin?  Tá na boic móra ag éalú ó aon pionós, in ainneoin go bhfuil flúirse airgead agus acmhainní acu.</p><p pid="570.2">This tax, the pension levy, is punitive and unfair.  It allows the rich in society to get away scot-free while lower paid public servants are screwed.  It is a long time since I saw such anger in response to a Government decision and it comes alongside the decision to end special needs education, which affects nearly 600 children, the slashing of the HSE’s budget, the debacle of last October’s smash and grab on medical cards for those over the age of 70 and much more over the past several months.</p><p pid="570.3">Other Deputies have spoken about the hurt that exists and outlined how this levy will impact on public servants.  Given the limited time available to me, I will concentrate on the levy’s impact on women, who make up a large proportion of the public sector workforce and a disproportionate number of teachers and nurses.  The Government’s proposal will have disproportionate and negative consequences for many of these women because they will never qualify for the full pensions for which they are paying.  This makes a lie of the Government’s claim of imposing a pension levy.  It is a pay cut.</p><p pid="570.4">Over the past few weeks, I have received numerous e-mails from women who left the public workforce to contribute to society in a different but equally valuable way by rearing their children and caring for their other dependants.  One correspondent quit her professional career to rear her three children but her time out of the workforce is not recognised by the Government.  Her contributions towards a State pension will be calculated from when she began working in 1967 until her retirement in 2016, for a total of 47 years, despite the fact that she was not in the workforce between 1972 and 2001.  She will only have 15 years of service when she retires.  Based on her current salary, her pension contribution is €42.82 per week.  Her current pension entitlement is €48.25 per week.  Her new contribution will be €82.99 with no increase to her ultimate pension.  Another correspondent has worked for Offaly County Council since 1994 on a job-share basis in order to take care of her family.  This means she has only 25 years of service.  She pays €1,450 per annum for superannuation but the new levy will cost her €712 net per annum.  I could provide many more examples.  These women have been trying to persuade the Government to see sense.  This measure will disproportionately affect those on the lower earning scales.  No account is taken of ability to pay.</p><p pid="570.5">I also received correspondence from a staff nurse in the eye and ear hospital who stated that fewer than 5% of nurses and midwives receive a full pension.  Service of 40 years is required for a full pension, which comprises half-pay and a lump sum equalling 1.5 years of salary.  The majority of nurses do not perform 40 years of continuous service because of their studies or child rearing activities.  She wrote that she is not a violent woman by nature and that she pays all her taxes and has never been to prison.  However, she was working a night shift when the Government announced its proposals and found herself walking behind a doctor who she knew earned more than €300,000.  She suddenly realised that he will pay only 1.5% more than her in the levy.  She did not know whether she wanted to inflict an injury on the doctor or the Ministers who are protecting him and themselves by reducing the levy on all those who earn more than €100,000 while penalising those on middle and lower incomes.  The Government still has a chance to do the sensible and decent thing by withdrawing this new tax.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-24T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-19.188.0&amp;m=632#g190.0">
	<title>Juries (Amendment) Bill 2008: Leave to Withdraw | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-02-19.188.0&amp;m=632#g190.0</link>
	<description>I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, leave be granted to withdraw the Juries (Amendment) Bill 2008.&acirc;��</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="190.1">I move:</p><p pid="190.2">That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, leave be granted to withdraw the Juries (Amendment) Bill 2008.”</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-02-19T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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