BLOG WEEK ENDING SATURDAY OCTOBER 28th 2017

27 Oct 2017
This week I spoke three times in Dáil Eireann. On Wednesday I asked the Government to urgently reform the 1942/2004 banking legislation to address the Tracker Mortgage Scandal. At Leaders Questions on Thursday I raised the issue of serious anti-social behavior in parts of Dublin Bay North and the urgent need to resource community policing teams. Later on Thursday I demanded an urgent resolution of impending strike action at Irish Rail for communities, workers and Iarnrod Eireann in a Topical Issues Debate with Shane Ross.
I also attended the Joint Policing Committee for Dublin North Central on Monday last and I attend the Procedure Committee of Dáil Eireann chaired by the Ceann Comhairle on Wednesday morning and the Budgetary Oversight Committee on Post Budget Scrutiny on Wednesday afternoon.
Tags: DBN, Irish Rail, Tracker Mortgages

BLOG WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 30th

29 Sep 2017
On Thursday this week, I got the opportunity to speak on the Water Services Bill 2017. I recalled the long and successful struggle of the Right2Water campaign in Dublin Bay North and throughout Ireland and paid tribute to the tens of thousands of citizens who peacefully and steadfastly opposed water charges and the privatisation of water supplies. I warned that Part 2 of the Bill on water allowances, thresholds amounts must not be permitted to become an excuse for the reintroduction of charges through the back door and called for amendments to this part of the Bill and to the provisions on Irish Water itself.
On Wednesday, I made a contribution to our regular Dáil debates on Brexit. I welcomed the promised Brexit ‘package’ in Budget 2018 to make Irish business and agriculture ‘Brexit ready.’ But I expressed concern at the torturous pace of the UK/EU negotiations and was critical of hardline UK brexiteers and EU federalists who seem to make necessary compromise very difficult.
Earlier on Wednesday I put a wide range of questions to the Minister for Finance at the Budgetary Oversight Committee including on income, corporate, capital and wealth taxation and on funding for a proposed new affordable housing scheme. I urged him to greatly expand the so-called fiscal space to provide essential services for our people in 2018.
I’ve continually asked for the restoration of pensions following the regressive changes in the 2012 budget which especially affects older women. So on Tuesday afternoon, I was delighted to meet the National Women’s Council and to be briefed again on the critical necessity of gender proofing Budget 2018.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on my website, facebook and twitter for regular updates on my Dáil work and notices of interest to the constituency.
Tags: Brexit, Budget 2018, Irish Water, pensions, Right2Water

BLOG WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 23rd

29 Sep 2017
The Dáil officially started back for the Autumn/Winter term on Wednesday afternoon, the 20th of September. Of course, the Committees were already back last week and the Budgetary Oversight Committee, of which I am a member, is meeting twice per week throughout September as we prepare for Budget 2018. This week and last we heard again from representatives from IBEC, NERI, ESRI, ICTU and others. Next week, we will meet again with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohue.
The housing crisis continues to worsen with over 3,000 children now living in emergency accommodation, including Family ‘Hubs’. The #MyNameIs campaign visited the Dáil on the 20th to continue to highlight the growing number of young homeless children. I continue to call for the declaration of a Housing Emergency and for a major State-led building programme of social and affordable housing. I have been liaising with Parliamentary Legal Advice around necessary legislation but Opposition Deputies are unable to bring forward any legislation that would have a cost to the Exchequer. I will continue to work on this important matter throughout the Autumn/Winter Term.
On Friday morning, I visited our local Kilbarrack School National School, Scoil Eoin and talked with the Principal there about funding needs for primary education. I have also been making strong representations to Dublin City Council and the Gardaí in relation to the ongoing anti-social behaviour and joyriding in a district of Dublin Bay North.
Tags: Budget 2018, Dublin Bay North, Family Hubs, homelessness, Kilbarrack

WEEK ENDING THE 14TH JULY

14 Jul 2017
This was a week of long Dáil days in the final week of the plenary Dáil session. On Tuesday, I spoke in a short debate on the 22nd anniversary of the horrific Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On Wednesday, I attended and spoke at the Budgetary Oversight Committee which is completing its report on Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016/2021. Later that day I attended the Ceann Comhairle’s Committee on Procedure.

On Thursday, it was my turn to speak on Leaders’ Questions for my technical group. So I raised the issue of Ireland’s huge national debt and the urgency to refinance large stacks of debt arising from the 2008 financial crash in 2018/2020. The €7 billion a year interest repayments, of course, greatly impinge on available tax revenue for vitally needed housing, health, education and transport infrastructure and services.

Throughout the week, my quarterly newsletter, ‘Northsider’, was being delivered across many districts of Dublin Bay North.
Tags: Budget 2018, Leaders Questions, National Debt, Srebrenica

WEEK ENDING 23rd JUNE

23 Jun 2017
Well it was the first full week of Leo Varadkar’s period in office as Taoiseach and it was predictable to say the least. He staunchly stuck to his party’s neo-liberal approach and defended the cronyism which allowed the former Attorney General to receive a new job without due process. Of course, the so-called Independents, such as Ministers Shane Ross and Finian McGrath, facilitated this move.
On Monday evening, I had a Board meeting of the Northside Centre for the Unemployed, of which I have been a long-standing member. On Tuesday, I attended the Budgetary Oversight Committee where we received an ultra cautious report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Wednesday was my first Leaders’ Question with the new Taoiseach and I raised the urgent issue of pay restoration for staff of Section 39 health organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association and Rehab. Later that day, I visited Buswells for the pre-budget submission of the Union of Students of Ireland.
Wednesday evening I spoke on the Pre-European Council Meeting and welcomed Minister Coveney’s responsibility for Brexit but conveyed my disappointment that Ireland wasn’t a priority on the first day of Brexit negotiations. Later that night, I spoke briefly in support of the Green Party’s Motion on Building Standards and I raised the serious concerns around fire safety at Lynam’s Hotel on O’Connell St which was being used to accommodate families with young children. The Dublin Fire Brigade placed a closure order on Lynam’s that night until building works have finished and it has been made safe.
On Thursday morning, I was delighted to help launch the Irish Wheelchair Association’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020 in Croke Park. Later that day, during oral Parliamentary Questions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I again raised the export of greyhounds to countries with poor animal welfare standards.
This week I have also been putting the finishing touches to my quarterly newsletter, Northsider Vol 25 No 2 and hope to have it in circulation in coming weeks.
Tags: Budget 2018, Irish Wheelchair Association, Leo Varadkar, Students, Taoiseach

BLOG FOR THE WEEK ENDING THE 27TH OF MAY

26 May 2017
Like many other citizens, I was astonished by the Sean Fitzpatrick case. I recall the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and believe that, especially since 2008/09, the organisation has been starved of the necessary skilled personnel and resources by the current and past 2 austerity governments. (I also recall the good work of the ODCE under Mr Paul Appleby in relation to housing management companies).
On Thursday, I strongly supported my colleague Deputy Joan Collins when she raised the horrendous situation of homeless families and children being referred for shelter to Garda Stations and I called on the Tánaiste and her fellow Ministers to resign and have a General Election. I was also delighted to support my colleague Deputy Catherine Connolly on her timely Dáil motion on Caranua. Finally, I was very happy to support People Before Profit’s important Housing Emergency Bill which I spoke in support of last week.
On Thursday afternoon, myself and my colleagues had an informative meeting with Mr Tom Gallagher, the Assistant Principal Officer in charge of HAP and RAS from the Department of Housing.
Tags: Caranua, HAP, homelessness, Sean Fitzpatrick

DÁIL WEEK OF MAY 8th – MAY 12th

12 May 2017
I had the opportunity to speak on several important issues this week. On Tuesday evening, I commented on Ireland’s Brexit negotiation guidelines and later I made a brief contribution to the Labour Party motion on AIB.
On Wednesday evening, I got an opportunity to again call for major investment in Dublin public transport including Metro North. Finally on Thursday, I questioned Minister Katherine Zappone on the grave deficiencies in aftercare services for young people and raised the urgent need to restore salaries for staff in Section 39 health and disability services organisations.
On Friday afternoon, I met the Director of the NTMA, Mr Conor O’Kelly, with his colleagues, Mr Frank O’Connor and Martin Whelan, on the refinancing of Ireland’s huge national debt in 2018/2020.
Tags: Aftercare, AIB, disability, NTMA, Public Transport

Time to catch-up on planning and prep!

28 Apr 2017
The Dáil has been on recess for the past two weeks for the Easter break and it has given me time to catch-up on pressing constituency matters such as meeting constituents on local community and planning issues around Dublin Bay North. For example, I attended the opening of the new dressing rooms at Scoil Uí Chonaill on Clontarf Rd and the AGM of Le Chéile, Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre where I hold regular information clinics. I was also delighted to meet and be briefed by Ms Aisling Hedderman and Ms Aisling Kenny of the North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Committee.
Next Thursday I will have Leaders’ Questions with a representative from the Government (usually the Tánaiste). I have also been liaising with the Oireachtas Library and Research Service on possible measures to be taken to alleviate the worsening homeless crisis.
On Monday next, I will be attending the opening of a new office and drop in centre for the Northside Centre for the Unemployed at Northside Shopping Centre. I also urge citizens to attend Monday’s May Day March (with the theme of ‘Housing is a Human Right’) which will be a family-friendly event and have the Government take notice of our dissatisfaction with their response to date.
Tags: Community, Constituency, housing, Planning

ANOTHER BUSY DÁIL WEEK

7 Apr 2017
Another busy Dáil week!
On Tuesday, I asked Minister Noonan about concerns that a quarter of Ireland’s large national debt will have to be re-financed in a very tight timeframe in 2019/2020. Later that evening I spoke in a Topical Issues Debate on the Bus Éireann dispute and strongly called on Minister Ross to get involved to reach a fair settlement for the 2,600 workers and 100,000 commuters badly affected. In a Dáil Brexit debate, I called for a direct Irish presence in the EU/UK Brexit negotiations given the vital importance of the Common Travel Area to all of Ireland and of the East/West business, social and cultural connections with Britain.
On Wednesday April 5th, I hosted a briefing by the Union of Students in Ireland on their campaign against the introduction of student loans and on their proposals for the future funding of 3rd level education. The briefing was well attended by government and opposition TDs and their staffs and follow-up work is continuing on this crucial matter. I later questioned Minister Richard Bruton on the same subject and received a worrying reply on Fine Gael’s plans.
The Secretary Generals of the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform attended the Committee of Budgetary Oversight and I questioned them on the Quarter One Tax Returns and on the high level of tax expenditures. I attend the weekly meetings of the Committee reviewing 2017 government income and expenditure and preparing for Budget 2018.
On Dublin Bay North issues, the desperate need for social housing and constituents’ annoyance at the long saga of Dublin City Council’s handling of the reconstruction of James Larkin Road, Clontarf were the key problems raised with me.
Tags: Brexit, Bus Éireann, education, Finance, housing

BROUGHAN’S BLOG ON THE INTERNATIONAL AGENDA

18 Jan 2016
Throughout the 31st Dáil, and in the last 12 months especially, Deputy Broughan has highlighted a wide range of issues and challenges facing Ireland on the international stage. Tommy has attempted to clarify Ireland’s position on a number of key issues and has tried to impress upon the Minister, the importance and urgency of some of the challenges facing Ireland today, in an increasingly globalised world.
Deputy Broughan has enquired with the Minister, regarding the cost of refurbishing our embassies worldwide and the exact number of staff we have deployed to these embassies. More importantly, Tommy has called on the Minister to clarify what measures are in place to assist Irish citizens who find themselves in a crisis in a county where we do not currently have an embassy or diplomatic representation.
Such crises may include a terrorist attack, such as the one which occurred in Tunisia last year, when three Irish citizens were murdered by so-called Islamic State terrorists. Deputy Broughan has called on the Minister to report to the Dáil and the Irish people on the assistance the State is giving at European Union and UN levels to combat the rise of ISIS and the steps he is taking to highlight and stop such murderous attacks on innocent civilians around the world, but especially in the Middle East. The Deputy has called on the Government to recognise the State of Palestine and also to recognise the independence of Kurdistan. Tommy has also called on a number of occasions for this Government to do more to secure the release of Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa, who is currently being held in prison in Egypt and awaiting a mass trial.
Deputy Broughan has called for more clarity regarding Ireland’s role in multi-national organisations, such as the United Nations. He has asked if the Department has put forward, or taken a role in, the development of policies to strengthen the UN’s remit, especially in relation to states where the Government and rule of law have failed. He has also raised concerns about Ireland’s preparedness ahead of a possible Brexit from the EU. On a bi-lateral level, Deputy Broughan has asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to comment on plans to strengthen Ireland’s diplomatic ties with Cuba, to report on Ireland’s current trade status with China and Japan, as well as to provide information on the level of Irish Aid provided in the life of the current government.
Tommy has called for greater transparency regarding the use of Irish Waters by international military vessels, for example their purpose, their point of origin and destination. He has also highlighted the need for a commemoration of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tags: Brexit, International issues, Kurdistan, UN

BROUGHAN RAISES ROAD SAFETY ISSUES IN DAIL EIREANN

29 Jun 2012
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: Some 92 people have been tragically killed on Irish roads so far this year. There had been 85 tragic road deaths by the same time last year. There have been 88 fatal collisions on Irish roads to date in 2012, compared with 76 fatal collisions during the same period in 2011. Tragically, seven people lost their lives on roads across the island of Ireland over the last June bank holiday weekend. Over the past decade, massive progress has been made in reducing the horrific carnage on our roads. In 2011, there were 186 deaths on Irish roads in comparison with 396 deaths in 2005. This does not include the accompanying number of devastating injuries, which can extend the suffering of families and individuals for decades.An earlier analysis of road death figures highlighted that approximately 4,500 people died on Irish roads between 1996 and 2006, which exceeded the horrific death toll throughout the Troubles. Since the number of road deaths hit an appalling 396 in 2005, the number of road deaths has decreased to 365 in 2006; 338 in 2007; 279 in 2008; 238 in 2009; 212 in 2010; and 186 in 2011. The Road Safety Authority, which is outstandingly led by its chief executive, Mr. Noel Brett, and its chairman, Mr. Gay Byrne, has done an outstanding job on the road safety front during this period. Great campaigning road safety groups like PARC, which is based in County Donegal and is led by Ms Susan Grey and Ms Donna Price, have also played an major role in driving the road safety agenda.One death on the roads each year is a death too many. Therefore, it is disturbing that the road death figures are inching up again. I understand that a new road safety strategy, to run from 2013 to 2020, is being prepared. The current strategy will end this year. Given the distressing rise in road deaths this year, I suggest that a reinvigorated road safety and enforcement campaign is needed now to prevent any further deterioration of the figures. One of the key lessons from other jurisdictions that have maintained good road safety records, such as Sweden, is that complacency cannot be allowed to set in. High levels of enforcement and continuous enhancement of road safety standards must be maintained on an ongoing basis if we are not to allow road deaths and injuries to increase steadily again.Given the need for continuous high levels of enforcement, grave concerns have been raised about the impact of current Garda cutbacks on road safety. It has been reported that 300 Garda patrol cars have been taken off the road this year. If that is true, it would be the highest number in years. The Minister, Deputy Shatter, told me last week that “on 31 December 2011 there were 375 vehicles allocated to the Garda traffic corps and there were 316 vehicles allocated to the traffic corps as at 1 June 2012”. Some 337 gardaí volunteered to retire in the period up to February 2012. How many of them have left the traffic corps? What is the current number of personnel in the traffic corps? It seems to be difficult to obtain this information.Has the new Garda roster had any impact on the traffic corps? It has been alleged that the introduction of the new roster has had a significantly negative impact on the operation of the traffic corps. Road safety groups like PARC have expressed serious concern about the impact of cutbacks on the level of general and mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints and on the number of breath tests being taken and tested. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety has reported a 20% decrease in the number of tests sent to it last year and in the previous year. It looks like less testing is taking place.PARC has also highlighted the inexplicable delay in bringing on stream the 22 extra intoxilysers that were requested by the Garda last October to facilitate the lower drink driving limits. Some 86 intoxilysers were deemed necessary but only 64 were installed. Can the Minister confirm when the 22 missing intoxilysers will be made available to the Garda by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, having been tested and approved by the bureau in 2011? Why is it not standard procedure for the Department of Justice and Equality to facilitate the training of all gardaí in the use of intoxilysers, or at least to ensure there is a garda on every Garda roster, or in every Garda station, who is trained in the use of these devices? It is unacceptable that the budget of the Road Safety Authority, which is based in Ballina, has been subjected to serious cutbacks. High standards of road safety cannot be maintained if key monitoring, testing and enforcement agencies are not properly resourced.
Minister Michael Ring: The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has asked me to apologise for his failure to be present for this debate. On his behalf and on my behalf, I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important issue. Safety on our roads affects all of our lives. It is vital that every effort is made by everyone involved to ensure our roads are as safe as we can possibly make them. The reduction in the number of road deaths has been a positive trend in recent years. Following further reductions up to the end of May of this year, this month has unfortunately proven particularly tragic in terms of fatalities.The implementation of the measures contained in the current road safety strategy has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of road fatalities in recent years. The strategy, which covers the period from 2007 to 2012, identified a number of actions to be completed by various stakeholder bodies to improve safety on our roads. The core objective of the current strategy is to reduce the number of road fatalities to no greater than 60 fatalities per million population by the end of 2012. That equates to an average of 21 fatalities per month, or 252 fatalities per annum. The number of fatalities first dropped to below 252 in 2009, when 238 deaths were recorded. This number dropped to 212 in 2010. The lowest ever number of road fatalities on Irish roads – 186 – was recorded in 2011. This represented an average of 16 road fatalities per month.A report that was published by the European Commission recently shows that Ireland has moved ahead of Germany on road safety performance. We have significantly closed the gap on other leading countries. The report states that road fatalities in Ireland dropped by 13% between 2010 and 2011. As a result, Ireland has moved up to sixth in the road safety rankings within the EU, with 42 fatalities per million population. The EU average in 2011 was 62 deaths per million population. In 2006, when the current strategy was being developed, the total number of fatalities on our roads was 365. The reduction to the 2011 figure of 186 represents a remarkable achievement in such a short time and is down to a combination of a number of factors including standard of vehicles on the road, the upgrade of our road network and increased enforcement by the Garda. In addition, the Oireachtas has played its part, with the enactment of legislation targeted at specific areas such as drink driving. l am glad to say one of the first acts of this Government was to bring through the Dáil the Bill dealing with the mandatory testing of drivers for blood alcohol concentration levels.Perhaps the biggest single contributor to the improvement in the safety on our roads has been the establishment of the Road Safety Authority. The RSA began its work only in 2006 but its effect was immediate. The many initiatives it has brought about in six years in all aspects of road safety have saved lives. A large number of people, perhaps without knowing it, will be glad of that.Taken together, the 2007 road safety strategy has achieved its stated objective of reducing road fatalities to no more than 60 per million population, or 252 per annum. The figures for this year, however, and for this month alone, demonstrate that we must continue to examine the causes of collisions and redouble our efforts to reduce them further. Although we use figures as a means of measuring the success of the strategy, these are not just statistics. Death or serious injury to a family member, a loved one or a close friend can have devastating consequences and can affect lives way beyond those involved directly in collisions. We must never lose sight of this aspect.Unfortunately, the number of road deaths this year, to yesterday, stands at 92, seven more than the figure on this date last year. In this month alone there have been 23 fatalities, the highest monthly figure since October 2010. There appears to be no reason for the increase this month. We can expect numbers of deaths to fluctuate throughout the year but must be cognisant of any possible change in trend. The Garda and the RSA have examined the details, seeking a pattern, but there is none. The deaths cover all age groups and occurred in all parts of the country. The annual decline in recent years has been very positive but we must never allow ourselves to become complacent. The statement, “one death on the road is one too many”, has almost become a cliché but we must keep in mind that every life we save, through our individual or collective efforts, is worthwhile. Our actions as politicians, administrators, enforcement personnel or technical professionals have a direct effect on people’s lives.In terms of invigorating the national road safety campaign, the RSA is currently in the process of developing the next road safety strategy that will include measures to ensure that Ireland continues to build positively on road safety performance for the remainder of the decade and beyond. This strategy will seek to drive new and ongoing measures to ensure that our road safety standards do not slip. We have invested too much effort in road safety to allow that to happen. The RSA is working closely with the Department in drafting the next strategy, which will cover the period 2013 to 2020. Discussion with key stakeholders is taking place and a public consultation process has begun. I urge anybody who believes he or she has a contribution to make in this area to contact the RSA and provide an input. When the consultation processes have been completed, the RSA will submit draft proposals to the Minister later this year..In the meantime, there are a number of initiatives the Minister is taking that will help to enhance road safety. In the coming weeks, he will bring 11 additional road traffic offences into the penalty points and fixed charge systems. The Oireachtas joint committee is examining proposals in a Department report that recommend an increase in penalty points for certain offences such as speeding, non-wearing of seatbelts and mobile telephone usage. A steering group in the Department, with assistance from all relevant stakeholders, is examining speed limits and speed signage. In addition, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is undertaking a study of all aspects of roadside drug testing including reference to and analysis of any equipment in use or whose introduction is anticipated.The key determinant of road safety performance is the behaviour of road users and the primary focus of any road safety strategy is to influence that behaviour in a positive way. In developing the next strategy, we must aim to influence that behaviour further in order to build on the progress made to date by the current strategy.June has been a particularly bad month on our roads. The battle to make our roads safer must continue and in spite of the relative successes of recent years the onus remains on all of us to continue with our efforts. Traditionallv, July has been one of the worst months for road fatalities. I appeal to everybody using our roads, motorist, cyclist or pedestrian, to be extra careful. There has been enough tragedy caused by road collisions so let us all play our part in making our roads safer.
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: I asked about the strength of the traffic corps and its current organisation. Perhaps the Minister of State might liaise with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, in order to provide me with some answers, even outside the Chamber.I refer to learner drivers concerning whom the Minister, Deputy Shatter, recently gave me some figures. Some 45 learner drivers were involved in fatal collisions during the past three years, 26 of whom were killed in those collisions. The PARC road safety group, known very well to me and to the Minister of State’s colleague and fellow Minister of State, Deputy O’Dowd, from the time the two of us were transport spokespersons, told me that when gardaí set up checkpoints during March and April of this year, they found that 43% of learner drivers had no accompanying driver and that a further 30% were driving without “L” plates, which is completely unacceptable. Will the Minister for Justice, or the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, take some action on that?I have another query in respect of penalty points. We are told that some 300,000 people have been stopped on Irish roads who produced an Irish public driving licence but subsequently escaped having penalty points. In a previous arena, when the Minister of State, Deputy O’Dowd, and I were covering transport we sought for penalty points to be applied to drivers from Northern Ireland. I am not sure if that has been achieved but the situation with other EU drivers presents an enormous problem because some non-Irish licence holders have been involved repeatedly in serious collisions. Has anything been done about that?I refer to drug driving, a subject we used to discuss. We used to ask why we could not be more like the Australians and have the test that country has established in states such as Victoria and New South Wales. Has there been any change in that area?Cultural attitudes to drink driving have changed, We saw this recently in the Minister of State’s personal portfolio area during the European Championships which, unfortunately, did not offer a great national performance. One could see, however, that people did not risk driving to venues where they could see the game.The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is very active in the area of sports. Perhaps the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, should concentrate on the nitty gritty of his own portfolio and ensure that the key elements that need to be implemented in transport are implemented. After all, there is no transport capital programme. Most of the programme that Deputy O’Dowd and I covered has not been implemented. We could have been the senior and the junior. I would have been very happy with that. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has opinions on everything under the sun – except on transport. Seriously, we need some action. We do not want this year to go down as a bad year in terms of road casualties.
Minister Michael Ring: I am the Minister of State with responsibility for sport and tourism and have full responsibility for sport. I wish to put that on the record, as I did yesterday. I do not mind accepting help – The Deputy raised some very serious issues, as I stated in my response. There is a steering group in the Department which is looking at these and talking to all stakeholders. I will ask that group to report to the Deputy and to talk to the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality are interlinked and they must deal with this problem. Some of the questions the Deputy asked today are specific to the Department of Justice and Equality. However, the two Ministers, Deputies Shatter and Varadkar, have regular meetings and I am sure they discuss these matters.The Medical Bureau of Road Safety is undertaking a study of all aspects of roadside drug testing, an issue I raised on many occasions when I was the Fine Gael Party spokesperson. It is very important. As many people are being killed on the roads because of drugs as because of drink and we should have the equipment to hand to test people on site to see if they are on drugs.The Deputy is correct in respect of an astonishing figure. In 2006 there were 365 deaths, one for every day. I am glad to see that in 2011 the figure was 286, an improvement of almost 50%. The Deputy is correct about the figures for this month, which are very worrying. According to the Garda and the RSA there is no pattern. The deaths are represented by all age groups and in different parts of the country. We must be very vigilant. The RSA is planning a new safety strategy. I will ask the Minister and the RSA to do something about this because in recent years July has been the worst month of the year for road deaths.I cannot answer some of the issues the Deputy raised, which come under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. I will ask the steering group to ensure it raises them with the Minister because they are very important. Road deaths have an awful effect on families. There is no family in the country that has not been affected by a road death. I offer my sympathy today to anybody who has lost a loved one to a road death, this or any other year. I know families in my town and county who have been affected by such deaths for the rest of their lives. For every life we can save, for every garda who can do his or her duty and ensure that people on the roads are protected from those who are speeding or on drink or drugs, we are doing a good day’s work. All the State agencies are working together to ensure we can take that percentage of deaths below 186. That is what we are working towards.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring):
An Ceann Comhairle:
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan:
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd:
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan:
Deputy Michael Ring:
Deputy Mattie McGrath:
Deputy Michael Ring:

SPECIAL DAIL DEBATE ON CLONSHAUGH SEWAGE PROPOSAL

15 Jun 2012
SPECIAL DAIL DEBATE:WATER & SEWAGE SCHEMES
To ask the Minister for the Environment to report on the Greater Dublin Drainage project and the process to select the three “emerging preferred site options” for the proposed new regional wastewater plant in North Dublin: and if he will make a statement on the topic.
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: The greater Dublin drainage project is being directed by Fingal County Council to plan and build a new massive regional sewerage plant in north Dublin that will treat a population equivalent to 350,000 in 2020, moving up to perhaps 700,000 or more up to 2040.
Under phase 2 of the project, rural Clonshaugh, on the city boundary in Dublin north east, has been selected as one of three emerging preferred site options for this massive new sewerage plant, along with Annsbrook and Newtown Corduff near Lusk. I understand that all three project options will be considered further in detail before one emerging preferred option is decided on and a planning application is made to An Bord Pleanála.
The inclusion of Clonshaugh as one of three emerging preferred sites has rightly been described as cynical and outrageous by residents right across my constituency, including Clonshaugh, Newbury, Riverside, Carragh Park, Priorswood, Darndale, Belcamp, Belmaine, Clare Hall, Airfield, Donaghmeade, Clongriffen, The Coast, Baldoyle itself and Portmarnock. It would go against all natural justice to locate this waste water treatment plant one field north of the Fingal-Dublin border rather than in the heart of Fingal county, which is the region which the plant will service.
In my submissions to phases 1 and 2 of the consultation programme on this sewage plant I argued strongly that it would be unjustifiable to select the Clonshaugh site, in particular because of the size of the proposed plant and its certain negative affects on the huge adjacent population. Disturbingly, no socioeconomic impact survey was undertaken by Jacobs Tobin of the negative impacts on the almost 25,000-30,000 people who will be living directly adjacent to or only metres away from this monstrous sewage plant, if located in Clonshaugh. There also appears to have been no comparative analysis and appropriate weighting given to the population densities at each of the original nine sites. Clearly, the high population density around Clonshaugh will be particularly negatively affected if the plant is to go ahead at that location.
Given the range of planning challenges still facing the north fringe of Dublin, of which I know the Minister of State, Deputy O’Sullivan, is well aware, including Priory Hall and the pyrite disaster, it would be catastrophic to locate this major new sewage and waste water plant in the north fringe region, which is where Clonshaugh is located. Such a decision would wreck the two local authority plans for the region, which are currently being prepared by Dublin City Council.
In addition to its unique planning difficulties, the north fringe is also characterised by its unique environment. The core coastal area and highly protected amenity coastal district, the proposed outfall for this plan, would be at Baldoyle-Portmarnock, which is a polder. The possible location, therefore, proposes a significant environmental threat to the velvet strand from Portmarnock to Baldoyle Bay and on to the Malahide Estuary. This area is a European conservation area and Natura 2000 site. Placing a sewage outfall there would be an incredible breach of EU environmental policy. The proposed site location is also in line with the lower flight path of the main runway of Dublin Airport – it is barely outside of the Airport’s inner safety zone – and the clear danger of gas emissions to aviation aside, locating a massive sewage plant in the middle of a district which has already been designated as part of the lands of the critical airport economic zone would severely hamper the economic development of the region. In this regard, the Minister of State will be aware of the plans for a high-tech industrial hub in this region, which could potentially facilitate up to 10,000 jobs. I learned yesterday from the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, that exactly that number of people in the adjoining parishes are unemployed, a figure which is increasing daily. It would be contemptible to jeopardise these long-standing plans by locating a massive regional sewage plant at the location.
Local businesses such as the successful Bewley’s Dublin Airport Hotel will be less than 500 metres from the Clonshaugh site. Mr. Ciaran O’Donovan, manager of that hotel, has already spoken publicly of the great damage this project could do to its business. It would devastate a number of long-standing rural and new urban communities and recreational facilities from Clonshaugh-Belcamp eastwards to Portmarnock and destroy long-standing Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council plans for the region in terms of a diversion of the Malahide Road.
The feeling in my constituency is that this is being dumped on the edge of a vulnerable lower income residential district despite there being more appropriate locations, from a service and environmental point of view, in the heart of Fingal county.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): I am taking this topical issue debate on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I thank Deputy Broughan for the opportunity to outline the position on this matter.
In March 2011, Fingal County Council appointed consultants to prepare a preliminary report and environmental impact assessment for the greater Dublin regional drainage project-north Dublin treatment plant and orbital sewer. The identification of potential locations for the regional waste water treatment plant is an important step in this process. In October 2011, as part of phase 1, alternative sites assessment and route selection report, Fingal County Council identified nine potential land parcels in the northern part of the greater Dublin area within which a proposed regional waste water treatment plant could potentially be located, along with a marine outfall and an orbital drainage system.
The council carried out an eight week non-statutory public consultation seeking views on the proposals and the land parcels. These nine land parcels were then assessed as potential locations in which to site the regional waste water treatment plant. The routes for the orbital drainage system and the marine outfall pipe locations were also assessed. Site specific information, more indepth desktop research, consultations and detailed site surveys, as well as feedback from the public were used to assist in identifying the locations with the least impact under 15 criteria. Of these nine land parcels, three sites have now been identified by the council as emerging preferred site options in the phase 2 alternative sites assessment and route selection report. A further eight week non-statutory public consultation period commenced on Monday, 14 May 2012, and runs until 6 July 2012. As part of this process, four open days are being arranged by the council where the public can meet with the project team to discuss the report. I note Deputy Broughan has made submissions in this regard.
When the preferred site is identified the council will prepare detailed plans and complete an environmental impact statement. This EIS, together with a planning application under the Planning and Development Strategic Infrastructure Act 2006, will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála, which will carry out its own statutory public consultation on the project. The Minister’s main role in water services projects is to provide capital funding for the work through the Department’s water services investment programme. He may in the future have a statutory role should there be a requirement for a foreshore licence for the project. Beyond the inclusion of the project in the investment programme for planning and funding of the planning stage, the Minister has not commented on these proposals as they developed as this might prejudice his statutory role and-or the role of An Bord Pleanála. It is a matter for Fingal County Council to advance the planning of the project.
I have noted the points made by Deputy Broughan.
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: I have a few further questions for the Minister of State in regard to this proposal. If she does not have the answers to hand, I would appreciate if she could send them to me.
In my view, the Jacobs Tobin report is defective, in terms of its costings of these sites. I met with the engineers in question, who had done no homework or cost benefit analysis of any kind of the sites, including the Lusk and Clonshaugh sites. I would like to know why they did not do so. Surely, that is the first basic requirement following engineering.
During my almost 20 years as a Member of this House I have on numerous occasions raised profound issues which affect the communities that will be only a few meters from this proposed plant. They have overcome many challenges over the past two decades. It is egregious that this service is to be located cheek by jowl with these communities. Would the Minister of State agree that the outfall constraints for the Clonshaugh sites are inappropriate given the Portmarnock-Baldoyle area is a European conversation area?
My colleague, Deputy Brendan Ryan, in previous discussions on this issue in the House put forward the valuable proposal that the locating of up to seven different sites across the county, with appropriate outfall, would be better than one large site so that the burden of the plant could be shared. In recent weeks, there has been a major odour problem at the Swords plant, on which it was not possible to take action for two weeks owing to the fact that the equipment required had to be brought in from the UK. Is this not another approach that could have been, and could still be, tried?
It is madness to locate this plant on the main flight path of Dublin Airport. Aeroplanes will be required to fly directly over it. That this site is being considered is, in my view, madness. There was a debate in the House last night on planning issues. I understand the Government is to introduce further planning legislation. All of those developers who made millions, whom we are now supporting through NAMA, made no provision whatsoever for water or sewage plants in major new urban communities. They took, or lost as the case may be, all the profits. It is important action is taken to ensure this does not happen again.
Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: I note the Deputy’s serious concerns on this issue and that he has made submissions on it. The specific issues of conservation and aviation will be taken into account. The Deputy will be aware that a consultation process is currently under way. There will be further consultation processes in the context of an environmental impact assessment. Obviously whatever site is chosen will require planning permission. A foreshore licence may also be required.

MINISTER MUST ENSURE THAT HEALTH CENTRE IS URGENTLY DELIVERED FOR CLONGRIFFIN

30 May 2012
Deputy Tommy Broughan T.D. has called on Health Minister James Reilly to urgently ensure that a primary health care facility is delivered for the residents of the North Fringe, Dublin 13.

Deputy Broughan said, “It is incredible that the vast new urban district of the North Fringe including Clongriffin and The Coast, Dublin 13 still has no vital primary health care centre to serve the new and growing population. It is also astonishing that we are seeing various new proposals for the development of certain social and recreational sites at the North Fringe but there are still no basic health care services for local people.”

Deputy Broughan has asked Minister Reilly whether he has received any proposal from the developer Gannon Homes, the Health Service Executive or local general practitioners for a primary care health centre in the north fringe Clongriffin/The Coast, Dublin 13 and to outline what steps he and his Department are taking to ensure that a primary care health centre is planned for and included in the new local area plan now being completed by Dublin City Council for the North Fringe.
Minister Reilly has informed Deputy Broughan that , “The development of primary care is central to this Government’s objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health system. The development of primary care centres, through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary care and represents a tangible re-focussing of the health service to deliver care in the most appropriate and lowest cost setting. The HSE is currently engaged in prioritisation of primary care centres. A draft capital plan for the period 2012-2016 has been submitted to my Department. My Department is reviewing the proposals and following up with the HSE where further details may be required. The proposed plan requires my approval with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Details of the plan will be published by the Executive following its approval.”

Deputy Broughan said he believes that a primary health care centre must be part of the draft plan for 2012 to 2016 and must take precedence over other reported current development proposals. He intends and intends to pursue Minister Reilly on this matter in Dail Eireann.

 

BROUGHAN SUBMITS STRONG OPPOSITION TO FINGAL ON SELECTION OF CLONSHAUGH AS POTENTIAL SEWAGE PLANT SITE

30 May 2012
Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan has submitted a comprehensive submission to Fingal County Council strongly opposing the selection of Clonshaugh as one of the three emerging preferred sites for the proposed new massive regional north Dublin sewage plant.
Under the Greater Dublin Drainage Project the new North Dublin super sewage plant will “initially be approximately one sixth the size of the Ringsend plant. It will treat 350,000 population equivalent in 2020 when the plant opens and will be capable of treating up to 700,000 population equivalent, when it is at full capacity by 2040. (Population equivalent includes wastewater from industries, hospitals, schools, offices, businesses, etc as well as homes.)”
In his submission to Fingal County Council Deputy Broughan noted that, “Local residents were rightly shocked to learn that Clonshaugh was one of three preferred sites identified by Fingal under Phase 2 of the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme as the location for the sewage facility that will serve North County Dublin, Meath and beyond. It would be completely unjustifiable to select the Clonshaugh site as the location of the proposed sewage plant in particular because of the size of the proposed plant and its certain negative impacts on the huge adjacent population.
“Given the range of planning challenges still facing the North Fringe, it would also be catastrophic to locate a major new sewage and wastewater plant in the wider North Fringe region (which is where the proposed Clonshaugh site lies). Such a decision would completely wreck the two Local Area Plans for this region which are currently being prepared by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council.”
Deputy Broughan also strongly argued that, “in addition to its unique planning difficulties, the North Fringe is also characterised by its unique environment. In fact, the core coastal area of the North Fringe at Baldoyle/Portmarnock is a polder. The proposed possible location of a sewage plant at the Clonshaugh site therefore poses a significant environmental threat to the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock; Baldoyle Bay and the Malahide Estuary by any proposed southern outfall from such a plant. (Baldoyle Bay and environs, of course, is a European Conservation Area and Natura 2000 site and placing a sewage outfall there would be an incredible breach of EU environmental policy.)”
Deputy Broughan continued, “It would also go against natural justice to locate the Fingal wastewater treatment plant on the periphery of Fingal/Dublin City Council border instead of in the heart of the region within which the plant is set to provide services.”
Deputy Broughan also highlighted the fact that this site is directly in line with the lower flight path of the main runway of Dublin Airport and that locating a massive sewage plant in the middle of a district which has already been designated as part of the lands of the critical airport economic zone would severely hamper the economic development of the region. “The long developed plans to develop the ID.A. site north of Clonshaugh Woods as a high tech hub could eventually facilitate perhaps up to 10,000 jobs”, added Deputy Broughan. “It would be contemptible to jeopardise these long-standing plans to further develop employment initiatives in this area by locating a massive regional sewage plant at the location.”
Finally, Deputy Broughan strongly argued that a number of long-standing and newer communities and recreational facilities from Belcamp and eastwards to Clonshaugh would be grossly affected by the placement of a major sewage works plant in Clonshaugh and that this proposal would destroy longstanding DCC and Fingal plans for a diversion of the Malahide Road (west of the Clare Hall Avenue/Malahide Road/ N32 junction to permit the development of Clare Hall Town Square at Burnell/Clare Hall.
Deputy Broughan has urged all concerned local householders and residents groups to make their views known to Fingal County Council on the three emerging preferred site options including Clonshaugh. The consultation process will run from 14th May until 6th July 2012 and all feedback for this consultation should be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 6th July 2012. The Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme can be contacted at 1890 44 55 67 or by email at info@greaterdublindrainage.ie

DAIL DEBATE ON PRIORY HALL MORTGAGE RESOLUTION PROCESS

15 May 2012
Topical Issues Debate
Priory Hall Mortgage Resolution Process
Thursday, 10 May 2012

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: On the Order of Business on 1 May, I asked the Taoiseach to outline what action the Government was taking to ensure that all financial institutions which provide mortgages for Priory Hall residents would be fully engaged in the proposed new Priory Hall resolution process under former Supreme Court judge, Mr. Justice Joseph Finnegan. The proposal for a new resolution process had been announced a few days earlier and was greatly welcomed by Priory Hall residents as the first potentially positive step in six months of appalling suffering for them and their families. Given the horrendous ordeal they have endured, Priory Hall residents unanimously agreed to enter the resolution process. When the resolution process was initially announced, it appeared that the banks and financial institutions were refusing to engage with residents, Dublin City Council and other stakeholders. Given that many of these banks have been bailed out to the tune of billions by Irish citizens, it was particularly galling to read comments, allegedly from the Irish Banking Federation, that these financial institutions would not participate in the process and would continue to engage with Priory Hall residents only on a case-by-case basis.
A number of days later, AIB agreed to take part in the resolution process. I understand that a significant number of Priory Hall owner-occupiers are AIB mortgage holders, so this was a welcome decision for the individuals and families concerned. I also understand that a significant number of residents have mortgages with Bank of Ireland. Residents were clearly extremely anxious that all banks and financial institutions would fully engage with the mediation process to ensure it had credibility and would be able to help resolve the unique mortgage problem for Priory Hall owner-occupiers. Some residents greatly fear that they may be forced into bankruptcy if the mortgage crisis for Priory Hall residents is not urgently resolved. They also fear that they may face mortgage, rent and storage costs even though this whole construction, legal and financial quagmire came about through no fault of theirs.
A few weeks ago it seemed outrageous that banks, including several owned by the Irish and British states, might refuse to get involved in a voluntarily resolution process and I called on the Taoiseach to undertake all possible action to ensure they got involved. The Taoiseach told me in Dáil Éireann that he had spoken to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and that he had received confirmation from the banks that they would engage in the resolution process of Mr. Justice Finnegan. He went on to say that when he was in Baldoyle at the announcement of the $500 million investment by MyIan, he met a number of the people from Priory Hall. He concluded by saying: “My views on this matter are clear. I am pleased to note the banks have confirmed they will engage in the resolution process.” I asked the Taoiseach to confirm that all of the banks and financial institutions would participate and he answered in the affirmative and said: “I understand 13 or 14 banks are involved.”
I welcomed the Taoiseach’s comments on the Order of Business last week that all the banks will now engage in the proposed resolution process under Mr. Justice Joseph Finnegan. However, residents had not been informed of this and were very anxious to get confirmation of the name of each bank or financial institution that has agreed to participate. Can the Minister of State confirm which banks have agreed to participate? Has the Department provided Priory Hall residents and their outstanding representatives, including Ms Sinead Power, Ms Ursula Graham, Mr. Graham Usher and Mr. Darren Kelly with a list of the 13 or 14 institutions concerned? What other stakeholders will be involved in the process? Will these include the developer, Thomas McFeely and Coalport? Will the Minister of State indicate precisely how many Priory Hall residents have been invited to partake in the mediation process?
I received correspondence from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, this morning and he said: “Out of respect for the process approved by the Supreme Court, I do not intend to make any comment at this point other than to ask all stakeholders to engage fully with it.” I back the Minister’s call for all stakeholders to be fully engaged in the process. However, residents are also clearly very anxious to get further details on the current status of the resolution process. Can the Minister of State confirm how long the process will take? I note that the Minister’s correspondence referred to the “adjournment of the legal proceedings for a period of three months”. Is there a three-month deadline and does the reference to three months mean we will have a conclusion in July? I would appreciate the Minister of State’s comments on this.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Fergus O’Dowd): I thank Deputy Broughan. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I acknowledge the ongoing, stressful, and distressing situation being experienced by these residents. They have been placed in a very difficult position and the Minister and all concerned wish to see their difficulties resolved as quickly as possible.
A Supreme Court hearing on an appeal by Dublin City Council against an order to pay for accommodation, storage costs and ancillary costs of residents forced to vacate their apartments at Priory Hall had been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 24 April 2012. However, on Friday, 20 April 2012, the Supreme Court agreed to adjourn those proceedings for three months to allow for a conciliation process between the parties on the understanding that a court date will be made available in July should a hearing be necessary. The conciliation process is being chaired by Mr. Justice Joseph Finnegan, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court and a former President of the High Court. It provides an appropriate context for all parties concerned to work together towards identifying a way forward in dealing with this complex problem.
The Minister, Deputy Hogan, is not a party to the legal proceedings and has no role or involvement in regard to the conciliation process. Out of respect for the process approved by the Supreme Court, and for Mr. Justice Finnegan, the Minister does not intend to make any comment on the matter at this point, other than to urge all stakeholders to engage fully with it. At this point, nobody can anticipate the outcome of the process and it is important that all concerned now afford Mr. Justice Finnegan the opportunity to complete the task he has been given.
The residents of Priory Hall have now been out of their homes for more than six months. The overriding priority continues to be to facilitate the return by the residents to their homes as early as possible. In this respect it will be necessary to ensure that these homes are made fit for purpose and that the costs of so doing fall where they should. The Minister has asked Dublin City Council to do all within its powers to achieve this objective and has asked his Department to continue to liaise closely with Dublin City Council in this regard
Dublin City Council has made commendable efforts to provide for the needs of residents to date and it continues to work proactively on behalf of the residents towards achieving the necessary and longed-for resolution of the issues. In particular, the council, with the assistance of the Department and in consultation with NAMA, has secured alternative temporary accommodation for many of the residents. The council, with some assistance from this Department, continues to bear the cost of such accommodation and has confirmed it will continue to do so while the conciliation process is underway.
In these circumstances, and on behalf of the Minister, I urge all concerned to allow Mr. Justice Finnegan the opportunity to complete the task he has been given.
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: I appreciate this reply. Is it the view of the Minister of State that all the financial stakeholders in the 187 units, referred to by the Taoiseach, should be present and should participate in order to ensure that this unique and very difficult issue will be resolved? Does he believe the stakeholders who should be present should include the original developer?
The Minister of State referred to the homes being made fit for purpose for the people concerned, those now out of their homes. Has the Department taken any view in terms of having a cost-benefit analysis or an interaction with Dublin City Council to explore whether a re-build of the entire complex might be the best way forward and part of the resolution? Would the Minister of State envisage Dublin City Council having the key role in that?
As the Minister of State will be aware, at this time, and pursuant to a proposal by me, Dublin City Council is preparing a new local area plan for the whole north fringe district. This was to be a new area of Dublin, with a population perhaps the size of that of Waterford or Tralee. That plan is entering its final stages and is returning to the city council. The Priory Hall complex occupies a key location on the main boulevard, or street. Is it important that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Dublin City Council should interact and make the resolution of the Priory Hall issue part of the final local area plan for the district?
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd: Again, I thank Deputy Broughan for his comments and I assure him I will bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and also to the Department. He has raised important points that are not part of the briefing I was given but nevertheless they represent the deep concerns of the Deputy and other public representatives, and of the community of Priory Hall in general who have been put at a very serious disadvantage as a result of all these issues.
It is important, however, that the independence of conciliation process chaired by Mr. Justice Finnegan is respected. We all accept that. The Minister recently released, for public consultation, proposed new building control regulations which will provide, first, for the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers of buildings confirming that the statutory requirements of the building regulations have been met and, second, for the lodgment of drawings, at both commencement and completion of construction, demonstrating how the building has been designed and built to comply with all parts of the regulations.
The closing date for submissions is 24 May 2012. Mandatory certification and lodgment of drawings are key reforms which will have the capacity to improve the quality of buildings and lead to the further strengthening of the regulatory regime in 2012. These reforms are necessary if we are to ensure that a situation like that in Priory Hall can be avoided in future.
I reiterate that all the Deputy’s views will be brought to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and to the Department. If there is any further information that can be shared with him that will be done.

READ TOMMYS SPEECH ON BURIAL & CREMATION REGULATION BILL

23 Apr 2012
Read Tommy’s recent Dail speech on his Private Members Bill, the Burial and Cremation Regulation Bill 2011 here:
http://www.tommybroughan.com/index.php/action-needed-to-enhance-regulation-of-cremation-burial-sector/

BROUGHAN LAUNCHES NEW BURIAL & CREMATION REGULATION BILL

19 Dec 2011
Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan T.D. has launched new legislation to regularise the practice of cremation in Ireland and to establish a self-financing Burial & Cremation Regulatory Authority to oversee the sustainable planning, building and operation of all cemeteries and crematoria.

Deputy Broughan said, “I drew up this new Private Members Bill – the Burial and Cremation Regulation Bill 2011 – in the public interest given the current lack of regulation of the crematoria sector. This is astonishing given the profound importance of any process that deals with the disposal of human remains in our society.

“Existing crematoria follow UK legislation and best practice for the certification of the cremation process. But this is done on a voluntary basis and there is no onus on any potential new crematorium operator to follow UK practice.
“There is also a need to ensure the future sustainable planning and development of cemeteries across the country.
“Recently my colleague Portmarnock Fingal Councillor Peter Coyle and myself strongly opposed an application for planning permission by private developers for a new burial ground and crematorium beside St Doolagh’s Nursing Home in Balgriffin, Dublin 13. This was an incredibly crass proposal that thankfully was rejected by Fingal County Council.
“Given the absence of any legislative framework in Ireland, comprehensive primary legislation would be the most effective way of addressing the lack of statutory safeguards in this complex and sensitive area.

“This Private Members’ Bill is hopefully an important first step to encourage the government to introduce much needed legislation to regulate crematoria and to sustainably plan for future cemeteries and burial needs.”

Note:
Link to copy of the Burial and Cremation Regulation Bill 2011
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2011/8111/b8111d.pdf

WATCH TOMMY SPEAKING IN THE DAIL ON ROAD TRAFFIC BILL NO. 2

6 Oct 2011
Watch Tommy speaking on the Road Traffic Bill (No. 2) in the Dail yesterday:

WATCH TOMMY RAISE PRIORY HALL IN DAIL DEBATE

21 Sep 2011
Tommy again raised the issue of alleged fire safety defects in the Priory Hall residential complex, Dublin 13. You can watch the video of the Dail debate here:

MICHAEL D HIGGINS VISITS DUBLIN NORTH EAST

9 Sep 2011
Presidential candidate Michael D Higgins last night addressed residents and community groups from Dublin North East at a campaign event in the White Sands Hotel, Portmarnock.
Speaking to a packed room at the White Sands hotel, Michael D Higgins said,
“I believe that after recent years in which a focus on short-term profit and property left many people marginalised, this is a time to reassert our best instincts and real potential by promoting a positive vision of what it means to be a citizen in Ireland.
“The vision I am offering as part of my presidential campaign is of an inclusive society in which everyone participates and is respected, a creative society which opens up possibilities in every area of life, and a real republic which makes us proud to be Irish in the world.
“These ideas are already being reflected in the work of the many local initiatives which are the seedbeds of Ireland’s transformation.”
Over the course of the evening Mr. Higgins spoke about a number of local projects who were putting principles into action.
“Inclusion is at the heart of the Educate Together schools who are supporting and engaging children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds in the new community of Belmayne and the North Bay School in Kilbarrack.
“Creativity is alive and well in the work of groups like Dublin North East Arts Workers. It is important to recognize that while Ireland’s financial reserves may be depleted, our creative resources have never faltered – and if supported can offer huge social, spiritual and economic dividends for our country and communities.
“At the same time, the ideals of a real republic of equals can be seen in action at the Northside Community Law Centre. Founded in 1975 as the first such resource in the Republic, the Centre is part of the State Legal Aid Scheme, and provides free advice and support to the people of Dublin North East. This in itself is a practical force for social justice, reform and the reassertion of the values of a true republic”.
Turning to the question of Ireland’s role in the wider world, Mr. Higgins pointed out that
“Living so close to Dublin Airport, residents here will be very aware of the flights bringing so many in and out of Ireland. I believe that central to the presidency, is the ability to represent Ireland abroad in its very best sense. As president I would work to strengthen every aspect of Ireland’s international reputation – while also deepening connections with the Irish abroad, a number of whom I met with while visiting the Irish in London earlier this week”.
Mr. Higgins concluded by thanking those assembled for the warmth of their support and pledged that if elected as president he would continue ” to dedicate both heart and head to the service of the Irish people, enhancing our citizenship at home and our reputation abroad”.

MEET MICHAEL D. HIGGINS IN PORTMARNOCK

6 Sep 2011

My colleague and friend and Labour Presidential Candidate Michael D. Higgins is holiding a public meeting this Thursday, September 8th at the White Sands Hotel, Portmarnock, Co Dublin.
As part of Michael D. Higgins’ Presidential campaign he is holding a number of these kinds of events with a view to meeting as many people as possible and expand on his vision for the Presidency.
The evening will start at 8 PM and all are welcome.
I look forward to seeing you there,
Tommy

ANNUAL LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS

5 Aug 2011
Thanks for visiting www.tommybroughan.com. My office is closed at present for annual staff summer leave and I hope to resume my information clinics at the end of August.

WATCH TOMMY SPEAK ON THE FINANCE NO 2 BILL IN DAIL

26 May 2011
Watch Tommy speaking on the Finance No. 2 Bill in Dail Eireann today which will give legisalative effect to the recent Jobs Initiative.

THANK YOU!

7 Mar 2011
Dear Constituents,
I was delighted and honoured to be re-elected to serve the people of Dublin North East on February 25th last. I would like to deeply thank all of you who voted for me and put your confidence in me to represent you in Dail Eireann. Once again I intend to vigorously stand up for all of my constituents across Dublin North East throughout the 31st Dail.
I was also delighted that the Labour Party performed so well in Dublin North East and that we achieved a tremendous two out of three seats through the election of my colleague Deputy Sean Kenny. Sean and I have now once again achieved a historic first in the Labour Party’s electoral history, winning two out of three and previously two out of four seats in a national election.
As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if there is any issue either national or local that you would like brought to my attention.
Very Best Wishes,
Tommy Broughan T.D.

CANVASSING WITH LABOUR LEADER EAMON GILMORE IN DONAGHMEDE

14 Feb 2011

On Saturday Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore was in Donaghmede canvassing where we also met with the Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association.

7AM START THIS MORNING IN CLONGRIFFIN DART STATION

11 Feb 2011

We had a 7am start this morning in Clongriffin DART station.

WARM WELCOME CANVASSING IN DARNDALE

11 Feb 2011

I received a warm welcome as always when canvassing in the Darndale estates today and yesterday. Here I’m being greeted by the outstanding community leader Jean Hand & her husband John.

JOAN BURTON & MYSELF AT LABOUR CAMPAIGN LAUNCH IN GUINNESS STOREHOUSE

2 Feb 2011

I met Joan Burton and colleagues from across the country at Labour’s national campaign launch in the Guinness Storehouse this morning. There were spectacular views from the Storehouse of Dublin from Clondalkin right across to Howth.

 

CANVASSING IN PORTMARNOCK WITH CllR PETER COYLE

1 Feb 2011

There was a very good reception this morning at Portmarnock Dart station which I canvassed with the great Cllr. Peter Coyle

LIKE THE FALL OF BERLIN ROUND HERE

20 Jan 2011
As I walked into Dail Eireann this morning, Deputy Michael Noonan remarked to me that the implosion in the FF/Green government “was like the fall of Saigon and that the only thing missing was the choppers lifting.” In the subsequent farcical Dail session it seemed more like the fall of Berlin with the leader holed up in his bunker and younger followers having to bear the brunt of the crisis. It seems incredible that John Gormley and Eamon Ryan could allow this farce to continue for even one more day!

 

BACK FOR THE FINAL SESSION

12 Jan 2011
Today marks the start of the last session of the 30th Dail. Once again the main Dail discussion this afternoon was the banking disaster and what the Taoiseach knew when he introduced the blanket guarantee in September 2008. Clearly he and his Fianna Fail/Green government made one of the worst errors in the history of the Republic in giving a blanket guarantee to Anglo Irish and the other banks.
Unless a new government led by the Labour Party after the General Election can renegotiate the bailout and reverse the impact of the blanket guarantee, Ireland is clearly facing (in the words of the BBC’s Newsnight programme) a “decade of penury.”

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HERE’S TO 2011

23 Dec 2010
2010 has been such a tough year for my constituents and all the Irish people. Clearly the savage cuts in benefits and the minimum wage will make life even harder for many citizens and families in early 2011.
But at least we know that the General Election should be taking place in February or March at the latest. People seem in a revolutionary mood at last and my own dream of a Labour and left government is my hope for 2011.

CHAIRING THE DUBLIN NORTH SELECTION CONVENTION

17 Dec 2010
Last Sunday I was delighted to chair the Dublin North General Election Convention. It was wonderful to meet all the Dublin North members again and in particular my great friend and colleague, former Deputy Sean Ryan and his wife Patricia.
Labour’s Organisation Committee had recommended that one candidate be selected at this stage and Senator Brendan Ryan was chosen on the first count with over 50% of the votes cast. There was a huge turn out in the Ballroom of the Bracken Court Hotel and the meeting then unanimously decided that the constituency would request the leadership to approve a second candidate for the General Election.
I was happy to bring that decision back to the Party Leader and General Secretary. I finally addressed the meeting and stressed the importance of maintaining the strong independent stance of the Labour Party which has decisively moved us up in the polls. I noted especially how closely Fine Gael’s economic policy resembles the disastrous Fianna Fail/Green programme.

BUDGET 2011

8 Dec 2010
8 Dec 2010
The outgoing Fianna Fail/Green government has turned Ireland into an EU Protectorate (perhaps like Kosovo) and Budget 2011 felt like a draconian programme imposed on Ireland by the EU/IMF. The repeated and self-interested crazy banking policies of Fianna Fail since 2008 have left the Irish economy in its worst depression since independence and yesterday’s budget makes the task of recovery by 2015/2020 even harder. Only a totally new jobs-first approach by a new government including a renegotiation with the EU/ECB/IMF can address Ireland’s now dire economic prospects.

POSTER TIME AGAIN

24 Nov 2010
On two occasions in the past week I’ve gone postering. Last Saturday in the Donegal by-elections around Convoy and Raphoe, I put up a few diamonds posters for our local candidate Cllr. Frank McBrearty. This morning I’ve been putting up posters across Dublin North East for our public meeting on Monday next (November 29th) on Budget 2011, the Four Year Plan and the current economic disaster. Clearly it won’t be long till the General Election posters are also going up. Afterwards, of course, Dublin North East Labour Party always removes and re-uses or recycles every poster (including all poster ties).
STARDUST DAIL MEETING
15 Nov 2010
The Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee were in Dail Eireann on Wednesday last. I accompanied Eamonn Gilmore to a meeting in the Labour Parliamentary Room where Ms. Antoinette Keegan, Ms. Gertrude Barrett and the other members of the Stardust delegation outlined the continuing failure of Taoiseach Cowen and his government to respond to the Coffey Report. I’ve now tabled a series of parliamentary questions on the Stardust Committees continuing fight for justice.

HEADING FOR DONEGAL AND A GENERAL ELECTION?

8 Nov 2010
I hope to go on the election trail shortly in Donegal South West. It will be great to return to one of Ireland’s most interesting and beautiful counties. I last visited the county to address a public meeting on the future of Irish fisheries in Killybegs when I was Marine Spokesperson. For the first time in over a decade Labour (and our new candidate Cllr. Frank McBrearty) will be mounting a serious challenge to take a Donegal Dail seat.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR STRATEGIES 2010-2015

24 Sep 2010
I am a member of the Dublin City and Fingal County Policing Forums. Both bodies are now completing work on their draft Anti-Social Behaviour Strategies for 2010 to 2015. Given the horrendous impact of anti-social and often downright criminal behaviour on vulnerable citizens and households over recent decades, the development of these strategies is a crucial response to prevent and end the suffering of many citizens. The essential partnership between local communities, An Garda Siochana and the Local Authorities which has developed under the Garda Act will hopefully create an environment where anti-social behaviour will be much rarer and rightly not tolerated in any way by communities.

PYRITE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

8 Sep 2010
I have again been in contact with the Environment Minister John Gormley, Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Fingal County and Dublin City Council Managers to ask them to finally address all of the outstanding legal and remediation issues caused by the ongoing scandal of pyrite contaminated homes in Dublin North East, as well as in other parts of North and West Dublin and the wider Leinster region. Parents of young householders badly affected by the awful pyrite problem have recently been in touch.
You can read dozens of statements and speeches in the press and speeches section of my website about the pyrite scandal and the appalling lethargy of Minister Gormley, Taoiseach Cowen and the Dublin City and Fingal County Managers on perhaps the biggest disaster in the history of the Irish construction sector.

WHY ARE WE SELLING EBS BUILDING SOCIETY?

3 Aug 2010
I know that the state has been prepared to recapitalise the society for under €1 billion, a relatively small sum compared to the black hole in Anglo-Irish and even the horrendous costs of bailing out Irish Nationwide. I suspect that the Fianna Fail/Green government included EBS in the September ’08 Bank Guarantee to cover the incredible errors in permitting Anglo and Nationwide to continue as going concerns and which may cost the state up to €35 billion. But even at this stage, given EBS’s historic role in housing hundreds of thousands of Irish families, I cannot see why the Society should not be retained in community/state ownership to continue the activity for which it was founded 75 years ago.
EBS is a key Irish institution with some 600,000 members before nationalisation and with over 20% of the Irish residential mortgage market. Like many of my constituents, I remain suspicious of the conduct of the residential mortgage market given the appalling scandals of the past including the endowment mortgage scam (and which the Central Bank and Regulator and the Department of Finance have steadfastly refused to investigate). The creation of an Irish ‘Third Force’ in banking would be laudable if there was confidence in the leadership of the organisations taking part, but that is simply not the case.
Clearly the key failure of the Department of Finance, the Central Bank and the Regulator in relation to building societies lies in a refusal to update and improve democratic accountability. This contrasts with the accountability which seems to exist in the UK’s Co-Operative Group or the John Lewis Organisation (in fact the Co-Op is paying a dividend this year to its 5 million members following strong performances by its bank and supermarket chain).
The 2009 EBS Annual Report clearly shows that EBS is a very profitable business (when the NAMA bound loans and other ‘bubble’ loans are excluded). Why doesn’t the Minister for Finance therefore reconsider the sale of EBS and examine how it might develop as a state-owned mutual association for affordable housing with strong accountability to its members?

BUDGET 2010

11 Dec 2009
The disastrous government decisions on the banks’ and developers’ loans since September 2008 have impacted ferociously on lower income citizens in the disastrous budget for 2010.
With the Labour Party, I voted against every Budget motion and against the appalling Social Welfare Bill since Wednesday. The brutal Fianna Fail/Green attack on lower paid workers and families continues next week with the bill butting public sector workers’ pay.
All of these savage cutbacks have been carried out to protect the vested bankers’ and developers’ interests always represented by Fianna Fail.

RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT

2 Dec 2009
This week I launched Giving Rural Ireland A Lift, Labour’s proposals to ensure continued funding of the very important Rural Transport Programme.
Hopefully next week’s budget will accept the arguments we made to save this vital transport service and to expand it into a full National Rural Transport Network.

NAMATIZED

17 Nov 2009
I voted against the final Report Stage of the NAMA Bill last Thursday afternoon. Remarkably the first of final votes on the bill was only carried by three votes! The present unelected Fianna Fail/Green government, of course, has no mandate for this thoroughly bad piece of legislation which may crucify people and our economy for years. The crazy banking policy of the government is also the direct cause of much of the huge deterioration in our national accounts. In the October 31st Exchequer Statement for example at least €7 billion of the €22.7 billion exchequer deficit is money squandered in bad banking transfers. Yet some of our most vulnerable citizens are now being forced to pay for this lunacy through budget cutbacks in 2009 and 2010!

LABOUR TRANSPORT FORUM

23 Oct 2009
Last Friday morning I chaired the third meeting of our Labour Transport Forum at Dublin’s Mansion House. Lord Mayor Emer Costello kindly hosted and opened the event.
Our keynote speakers included Professor James Wickham of TCD, David O’Connor of DIT, Rory O’Connor of the Railway Procurement Agency, Frank McDonald of the Irish Times, Cllr. Andrew Montague, Damien Tobin of the Rural Transport Network, Liam Berney of ICTU, Ray Coyne of Dublin Bus and Independent Transport Consultant Brian Guckian.
The general theme of the meeting was defending public and sustainable transport in the recession and a wide ranging and very progressive discussion went on until almost 2pm. The Labour Transport Forum is a discussion group for members and supporters to have a continuing input into the formulation of Labour’s Transport policies especially in the run-in to the next General Election.

RTE’S HISTORIC LIVE WEB DEBATE

13 May 2007
Last Wednesday, May 9th, I took part in RTE’s first ever web-exclusive debate. Minister Noel Dempsey, Bernard Durkan T.D. of Fine Gael and the Green Party’s Eamon Ryan T.D., who are all their party’s Spokespersons on Communications, joined me in the live online discussion. Members of the public had submitted a range of interesting questions related to issues such as broadband access, innovation and investment in ICT, regulation, and high-tech jobs.
You can listen again to the debate and read the entire transcript at:
http://www.rte.ie/news/elections2007/debate/

TOMMY CAMPAIGNS WITH PAT RABBITTE IN NORTHSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE

6 May 2007
The general election campaign for the 30th Dail is now a week old. It has been a very busy week in terms of getting posters up, canvassing and keeping up with the ongoing regular work of a public representative. On Thursday last I campaigned in Northside Shopping Centre with my colleagues Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, Cllr. Anne Carter and Senator Derek McDowell. Local residents that we met again and again brought up very serious issues regarding the state of the health service. The accompanying photo was taken in Northside and shows me with Pat, Anne and local community activist Sean Clarke.

Greendale Community School

28 Mar 2007
A few weeks ago RTE’s 9’o clock news featured a long report about the pending closure of Greendale Community School in Foxfield St. John Parish Kilbarrack, Dublin 5. The coverage highlighted the farewell reunion of the 3,000 or so students who had passed through the school in the past 30 years. It was an astonishing turn-out on the night, with many famous faces, including former teachers such as Roddy Doyle and Paul Mercer, two of our great writers, and Brian Mullins, one of greatest Dublin athletes, who with the rest of the staff under the valiant principal, Mr. Anton Carroll, contributed so much to Greendale and the wider Kilbarrack community over the years.
I have been campaigning to keep Greendale Community School open for nearly three years now and recently attended a meeting organised by the Parents’Association of Greendale Community School. The association again made disturbing points about the negative impact of the closure on the current generation of second level students in Kilbarrack. There has also been a very negative impact on the wider community with the grave fear of many local residents that the whole site will fall prey to developers who will try to put a high density, high rise development there because of the location’s proximity to the DART.
There is still time to reverse this disgraceful decision and to seek other sponsors to create a new school board that would relaunch Greendale Community School. In Dublin North East a major new city of 25,000 housing units is being built at the North Fringe and children living there could access Greendale Community School by DART so why should we close such a school?
United Irelander – 2007-03-22
I was interviewed this week on one of Ireland’s most notable political blogs United Irelander.
You can read the interview here:
http://unitedirelander.blogspot.com/2007/03/

IN MEMORIAM LUCY WILSON

16 Mar 2007
Last Sunday, March 4th was a very sad and traumatic day for the Labour Party in Dublin North East. Our constituency office secretary Ms. Lucy Wilson died suddenly at her home in Seagrange, Baldoyle. The news was devastating for her family and very faithful and wide circle of friends. For her comrades in the Dublin North East organisation, Lucy’s sudden death was deeply shocking and a profound loss.
As our senior member and former Chairperson Mr. Seamus O’Reilly noted, Lucy was the quintessential political volunteer. Before my own time and throughout the 1980s she was deeply involved in a host of local and Labour campaigns. She loved Baldoyle in particular and was a great supporter of local causes like the refurbishment of Seagrange Estate, the protection of Baldoyle Bay, the campaign for the flood relief programme and the conservation of the Racecourse lands which are to become Baldoyle Millennium Park.
From the late ’80s, Lucy was ever present in my own campaigns and meetings and held numerous officerships of Dublin North East Labour Party. It was very appropriate that she spent the last five years of her life as a professional political worker running the Dublin North East office with her colleague Ms. Diane O’Reilly.
Lucy loved the media and followed the newspapers, radio, and TV with a keen eye. She was herself a reporter for several years with North East Access Radio (NEAR FM) and attended all the great meetings of the mid-90s as a very fair, local journalist. Her favourite papers were the Irish Independent, the Evening Herald and the Examiner. She often noted or cut out stories which she felt should be brought to my attention and that of the Labour Party.
I was honoured to give a short eulogy for Lucy at her funeral mass in St. Laurence O’Toole’s Church at Grange Road, Baldoyle, beside her beloved Seagrange Estate. We were grateful that so many Labour Party workers and public representatives attended either the evening service or her funeral mass and especially grateful for the attendance of Party Leader Pat Rabbitte.
I concluded my comments last Thursday by thanking God and the Wilson family for the gift of Lucy Wilson’s life. We’ll miss her dreadfully, not least in the coming ten or twelve weeks of the election campaign which she always enjoyed and approached so positively.

AR DHEIS DE GO RAIBH A ANAM DILIS

3 Mar 2007
On Wednesday morning I was a guest on the panel of RTE’s Leaders’ Questions programme which reviews the performance of the Taoiseach and Opposition Leaders in Dail Eireann that morning. In many ways it is like being a soccer commentator – with Bryan Dobson in the Bill O’Herlihy role and myself Shane Coleman and David Davin Power in the Giles, Dunphy and Brady roles.
The three opposition leaders raised important issues with the Taoiseach including drug abuse, the health system and the use of public hospital lands for private hospitals and energy security. One of the most astonishing things about the Taoiseachâ’s performance was how out of touch he appeared to be on critical matters such as health and the widespread availability of drugs throughout the country. Remarkably for the Taoiseach he ended up blaming the media for highlighting important issues neglected by his government.
On the health system the Taoiseach unequivocally defended an unequal, two-tier system and said; “The advantage in the system is that medical consultants can work in private and public hospitals. It is my absolute conviction that the public patient gains most out of that system. A high-powered consultant who has worked anywhere in the world, comes back to this country and operates in public and private hospitals in our system. It means that Joe and Mary Bloggs who have little other than welfare, or Mr. X or Mr. Y, who are millionaires or billionaires, can be seen by the same consultant. It happens every day in our hospitals, very successfully.”
What the Taoiseach doesn’t seem to be aware of is that Mary or Joe Bloggs can often be waiting months if not years to see that same consultant with detrimental and sometimes dire effects on their health. The Taoiseach also referred to his former workplace, the Mater Hospital as a good example of how public and private hospitals worked well together on the same site. I reminded the T.V. audience of course that every Saturday for the last four years my Dail colleague Joe Costello protests over unacceptable waiting times in the Mater A&E and the long delays for public patients waiting to access consultant care.

POLITICS IS A NUMBERS GAME, AS EVERY TEACHER SHOULD KNOW — CLLR. NED BRENNAN T.D. (at the February 1982 Count)

9 Dec 2006
Budget ’07 was the political highlight of this week. Since much of Brian Cowan’s presentation had already appeared in the Sunday papers, the occasion was curiously dull and flat. The Fianna Fail backbenchers did their best with their ‘spontaneous’ standing ovation when Brian had finished but the event lacked the often misplaced bravado and controversy of the McCreevy years. On Thursday, I welcomed the increase in benefits and particularly the improvement regarding carers who already had a social welfare allowance or benefit. Most of my speech was concerned with the failure of Ministers Cowan, Noel Dempsey and Dick Roche to respond with remotely the necessary urgency with measures to develop renewable energy and cut carbon emissions. I contrasted the woeful performance of Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowan on energy and climate change with the proactive and diligent approach of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in the U.K.
Since I entered Dail Eireann, I have never changed my view that Ireland needs a root and branch reform of taxation. V.A.T. rates are backbreaking and this regressive tax is a severe burden on hard pressed low income households. I didn’t believe Brian Cowan’s puerile repetition of the Dept of Finance’s mantra regarding the outrageous levels of stamp duty on family homes. A bad tax is not a good enough reason to avoid regulation of the housing market. It is also bizarre that low income workers enter taxation at a rate as high as 20% (with P.R.S.I. on top), the same rate as capital gains tax. The plethora of tax breaks and loopholes which make up nearly all the annual Finance Bills do absolutely nothing for 90% of taxpayers. My colleague, Joan Burton T.D. deserves great credit for pushing the tax fairness agenda but this struggle is only just beginning. By any standards (not to mention Adam Smith’s famous canons of taxation), Ireland’s tax system is neither efficacious nor fair. The 16 or 18 pages of the P21 tax return for P.A.Y.E. workers is just one example of a confused, cumbersome and grossly unequal tax system

MAN IS, BY NATURE, A POLITICAL ANIMAL — ARISTOTLE

2 Dec 2006
This week I attended functions marking important occasions for three great Irishmen. On Monday last, there was a reception and dinner at the Darndale Hilton Hotel to mark the retirement of Padraic White from the chairpersonship of the Northside Partnership. Since he arrived in Coolock in 1990 to assist community activists, like myself, Padraic has played a hugely valuable role in a host of local projects and initiatives. He always gave freely of his time and with C.E.O., Ms. Marian Vickers and her staff established the Northside Partnership as perhaps the model local development agency in Ireland, pioneering many new approaches to training, education, job placement and small business set-up. Padraic of course continues to serve as Chairperson of the Coolock Development Council.
On Tuesday, I attended the launch of my colleague, Michael D. Higgin’s new book, a collection of essays entitled, ‘Causes for Concern’. Michael gave a typical highly stimulating speech outling the genesis of many of the essays as articles from his column in Hot Press magazine. Declan Kiberd presided over the occasion and gave an entertaining account of Michael’s earlier public career. The common thread in all the essays is Michael’s rights based approach to every political issue, also clearly evident over the years in all his Dail and P.L.P. contributions.
Later on Tuesday, I attended a function to mark the 45 years spent in Dail Eireann by another colleague, Leas Ceann Comhairle, Seamus Pattison T.D. The function was a surprise organised by Seamus’ Labour colleagues and was fairly unique not only for Seamus’ astonishing 45 (almost 46) year record but also because of the attendance of three Ceann Comhairles. Besides Seamus himself, Dr. Rory O’Hanlon and Sean Treacy were also present. Seamus’ amazing record will likely never be equalled (given steadily falling political longevity). He later entertained the company present with many interesting and funny anecdotes from his long representation of Carlow-Kilkenny in Dail Eireann.