Senator Tony Mulcahy

The Potential of Renewable Energy is Mindblowing!

2012-02-16T23:51:00.006Z

With some of the best Natural resources in the world, namely Wind, wave, Tidal, Hydro and Biomass, we can reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. We now import approx. €6,000,000,000 (Six Billion Euro) in various fuels every year. This money is leaving this country, yet by switching over more and more to renewables we can save vast amounts on our balance of payments and create jobs in Ireland.
This is an excerpt from my recent motion in the Senead.

Cathoirleach, Minister and members of Seanad Eireann as this
is a very long motion I hope that you will bear with me.
I will address some of the elements of it while my colleague
Senator Cait Keane will address other parts of it..
The population of the counties that stretch along the Western
seaboard and the Shannon Eastuary from Donegal to Cork
is 1,610,525 people covering an area of 38,450 Square
Kilometres which is over 50% of the country. So we have a big
area but not enough people. Why?

For decades Emigration was a fact of life for young people in
these nine counties until the Celtic tiger arrived. Well that beast
was last seen heading for Dublin and a flight to Australia.
We are loosing our people because there are not enough jobs
for them here. We are caught in a downward spiral of Financial
and Media driven doom and depression.

So what has this to do with the motion before you. Well the
answer is Everything. JOBS JOBS JOBS

We have the potential in that part of the country to reverse the
scourage of emigration and bring back the brightest people that
this country has ever produced. To live, work, pay taxes and
build up this country.

How? Renewable Energy.

With some of the best Natural resources in the world, namely
Wind, wave, Tidal, Hydro and Biomass, we can reduce our
dependence on imported fossil fuels. We now import approx
€6,000,000,000 (Six Billion Euro) in various fuels every year.
This money is leaving this country, yet by switching over more
and more to renewables we can save vast amounts on our
balance of payments and create jobs in Ireland.

We cannot afford be held to ransom by political events outside
of Ireland. The upheaval in the middle-east and north Africa
as a result of the Arab spring has resulted in higher prices
for imported oil & Gas. This is having a major affect on our
competitiveness as a country.

Industry is being hit with increased costs be it electricity prices,
transport costs or raw materials that are oil based. Domestic
consumers are also feeling this when they look at their
electricity, heating, petrol or diesel bills.
The share of electricity consumption from renewable energy
has jumped between the years 2000 and 2010 from 5.5% to
14.8%. This is above EU target of 13.2% for 2010 as per the
Renewable Energy Source Directive (RES).

So how are we achieving this?
Ireland has some of the best wind resources in Europe. The
wind that blows onshore from the Atlantic is the source of this
renewable.

As at the end of 2011 we have some 1,500Mw of connected
wind farm energy yet we expect to install a further 5,000Mw of
wind capacity by 2020. As you can see we have a hell of a lot
to do over the next 8 years.

In its 2011 -2050 Wind Energy Road Map report SEAI
estimates that “we have the potential to create 20,000
jobs in the installation operation and maintainance
of onshore and off shore wind farms in Ireland by 2040”
Furthermore it finds that “The potential economic value
of electricity generated from wind could reach €15
Billion by 2050” in addition to this we could have between
11Gw (Giggawatts) and 16 Giggawatts from onshore wind
farms and up to 30Gw from Offshore wind by 2050.

These figures are huge and emphasize the massive potential
that is out there and the amount of wind farms that need to
come on line. The European Wind Energy Association says
that for every Mw (Megga Watt) 15.1 jobs are created in the
EU. 154,000 were employed in the wind energy sector in 2007
this is forecasted to rise to 325,000 by 2020.

As Ireland sits on the edge of the Atlantic Tidal & Wave energy
renewables need to be harnessed. In SEAI’s “Ocean Energy
Roadmap 2010 -2050” it sees up to 29Gw of Ocean energy
capacity can be installed without significant environmental
impact and up to 70,000 jobs with up to €12 Billon in cumulative
economic benefit by 2030 and €120 Billion by 2050.

All of this will put huge strains on the National grid and thus
Eirgrid is in the process of upgrading and strenghting the grid
with it Grid 25 programme. This involves the investment of up
to €4 Billion.

Minister we must ensure that this programme is rolled out fast.
As we are in a downturn in our economic cycle this is the time
that projects should be fast tracked as construction costs have
fallen. Also our demands from industry for energy are lower
at the moment. This has to be viewed as an opportunity. The
seeds of recovery planted today will bear fruit in the very near
future.

I have spoken here before on the grid and the issues regarding
the Gate 3 process I will repeat that we should be looking at a
new Gate 4 process that will be directed at the export of excess
energy to the UK & Europe. As part of the programme for Government
we stated “We will ensure that future wind farms are built in locations
where wind regime is best and that they are built in large numbers
or in clusters to reduce the cost of connection to the grid under
new plan led Gate 4 process as opposed to the existing developer led
system” . If we implement this process we can let Eirgrid
target those projects that have the necessary permissions and
finance in place to proceed much quicker.

There is no point in running a new line 50 to 80 miles to
connect to a tiny wind farm just because the gate 3 process
allows for it, when you could have many projects far closer to
the existing grid connected in shorter time, that are ready to
proceed now but have been told that it could be up to 10 years
before they get a connection. There is a case in that situation
for Government to look at the construction of privately owned
grids serving specific customers or locations. There is nothing
like a bit of competition to get people focused and creative.

The East / West connector will be a huge boost to our ability
to export energy. When it goes live this 500Mw connector
will enable trade from the Single Electricity Market (SEM)
on the island of Ireland to the British Electricity Trading and
Transmission Arrangements Market in Great Britain (BETTA).
I believe that cost benefit analysis studies should be carried
out by Eirgrid into the viability of connecting with France.
Both Britain & France have ageing Nuclear power generating
stations.

Britain has said that it is willing to invest up to £5 Billion
Pounds to ensure that it’s energy requirements are achieved.
I believe that the British – Irish Council is the forum to ensure
that Ireland benefits from this.

The French Court of Audit stated in a report covered in
Yesterdays New York Post that 22 of France’s Nuclear stations
will reach their expected 40 year life span by 2022. They will
either have to extend the life span of them or else sharply
increase investment in electricity production. This would be
the equivalent of building the equivalent of 11 next generation
Nuclear Power Plants. The French have already spent €188
Billion Euro on their existing plants.

Meanwhile Germany has said all of its Nuclear power plants
will be shut by 2022. It would be far cheaper for these countries
to import electrons from locations such as Ireland.
Cathoirleach If we can open up further interconnectors vast
markets for clean carbon free energy are there for the taking. If
we do not, well then some other country will fill those needs.

We could also use these new interconnector projects to lay
high speed fibre optic cables to enable fast data transfer
between North America, Ireland and Europe.
Pumped Hydro is another feature of the renewable mix that
we should be looking at. Presently we have Turlough Hill
pumped hydro facility in county Wicklow which can store about
1.5Gigga Watt hour of energy. Eirgrid should look further at
this in locations that have been identified by such groups as
the “Spirit of Ireland Group” and by others. There are other
potential add on benefits of such facilities. Electric Mountain in
Snodownia in Wales which attracts over 300,000 paying visitors
per year is such an example. We have locations up and down
the country that may be suitable for this, such as Corrie lakes
formed during the last Ice age in areas such as Kerry, Donegal,
Galway,Mayo.

Cathaoirleach Local authorities can identify where such
renewable projects could be feasible and county development
plans are now taking a proactive approach in setting targets for
renewable projects.

Professor J Owen Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority
of Ireland in the foreword to “Energy in Ireland 1990 – 2010” report
published in December 2011 says “ A particular encouraging
involvement of local decision makers and opinion formers
in supporting the drive towards sustainable energy.

The recent production of renewable energy strategies
in counties Mayo and Clare is a clear example of this.
Both counties highlight the positive benefits associated
with the exploitation of natural renewable resources in a
sustainable manner, while critically identifying areas in
their counties where such development would be seen in a
more positive light.”

Data storage is another add on to the mix of renewable energy
projects. Many of the major internet search internet companies
like Google, Adobe and social media companies such as
Facebook are looking for locations to store vast amounts of
data. They use huge amounts of energy keeping their servers
from over heating. It doesn’t matter where they are situated if
the climatic conditions are cool then they will use less energy.
Ireland offers such locations.

With high speed fibre links such as the The North – South
Kelvin Direct International Connectivity project which
was completed in late 2010, direct international connectivity
between the North West and Border regions with North
America and Britain can now be provided.

Further links will now be achieved through the East / West
interconnector 7,000 Giga Bytes fibre optic link to Britain.
With these strategic pieces of infrastructure we can tap into this
Data storage market. Google has spent €200 Million Euro on
such a facility in Finland to serve the Nordic market. This was
a former paper mill which closed in Jan 2008 has been given a
new lease of life following a refit by the company after it bought
it in 2009. The facility will be serviced by a 12 Mw wind farm
nearby.

If we could tap into the next
America to Europe which will be laid off the south coast. We
could open up the counties of Kerry, Cork and Waterford to this

market. Big International companies want to be associated with
clean energy and clean technology.

Large industrial bases such as Shannon Free Zone have the
potential to brand themselves as Carbon Free Zones. Situated
between the airport and the town with a population in excess
of 10,000. We could copy the Swedish model of building
Combined heat and Power plants which would use carbon
reducing Biomass fuel sources such as locally grown willow,
miscantus, and pine wood pulp which would support farmers
and forestry growers along the western seaboard and the
midlands.

The power generated could be used to power the industrial
estate. The heat generated could be used to heat the town by
piping the hot water to the houses in the town thus creating one
giant central heating system. This would offset the importation
of fossil fuels to produce electricity and oil to heat our houses.
A knock on effect of job creation would also result in our ability
to attract companies to these locations.

These projects could be rolled out all over the country where
there are population centres and industry in close proximity. If
the minister so wishes I will forward him a briefing on this issue.
But for these projects to locate here we need to look at how we
allocate the refit tarriff to such producers.

Finally Cathoirleach we need to look at why it takes so long in
this country for large projects to get off the ground. We need
to look at the criteria used in how objections to large scale
projects in this country are lodged. It is the citizens right to
object but there have been situations where renewable projects
have been objected to by individuals and entities that do not
live in close proximity to the proposed project but dozens
of miles away. And there have been cases where the same
individual objectors pop up. Local government, SEAI, EPA,
Your department and Minister Hogans department need to look
at this and at the same time look to protect the environment.

Remember We can create those jobs jobs here with a little bit
of planning and a lot of common sense.

Thank you.

Real Progress On Updating Bankruptcy laws

2012-01-26T15:14:00.002Z

I was delighted to see the Heads of the Personal Insolvency Bill published yesterday by Ministers Alan Shatter and Michael Noonan. The existing laws on bankruptcy are antiquated and unhelpful when it comes to allowing people to get out from under the burden of debt and get on with their lives.

This was a commitment in the programme for Government, it’s a requirement under the bailout and it’s hoped it can be published in its legislative form by the end of April. In the meantime, it will go to the Justice Committee for their observations and consultation.

The Bill will provide for a new framework for settlement of debt and for personal insolvency. The proposed reform will consist of following main elements:

• The bankruptcy term will be reduced from 12 years to 3 years (or potential discharge after 5 years on application to the Court and subject to conditions).
• Debt Settlement Arrangement - a new non-judicial debt settlement process for unsecured debt only amounting to over €20,000.
• Personal Insolvency Arrangement - a non-judicial debt settlement process for both secured and unsecured debt amounting to over €20,000.
• Debt Relief Certificates - a debt relief system for low level indebtedness where the debtor has effectively no income and no assets and has unsecured debts amounting to up to €20,000.

An Insolvency Service will be set up to operate the new arrangements, and personal insolvency trustees will be appointed to act on behalf of debtors – essentially they are expected to liaise with banks on behalf of those in debt.

The system will allow people to stay in the family home while sorting out their debts and the emphasis is that you pay to your best ability. The provisions of the Bill have been broadly welcomed by support groups and others including the Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC).

Signs of life for Ireland in "The Markets"

2012-01-26T00:17:00.001Z

I'm not happy and I don't know anyone that is happy (I don't personally know any unsecured bond holders!) about the repayment of the IBRC (former Anglo) senior bond of €1.2 billion. Securing the debts of this bank without due diligence was a big mistake (not ours!) but those are the cards we were dealt and at this point I do believe we have to honour our commitments. That approach will pay off and here's one immediate and practical example of why that is so.

Today the NTMA successfully exchanged €3.5 billion of a 2014 bond for a 2015 bond [30% of the 2014 bond issuance]. It was expected that approximately €2 billion of the bond would be exchanged but the demand was significantly higher. This transaction is a real positive for Ireland and illustrates that there is a demand for Irish debt.

It is the NTMA’s first significant engagement with the market since September 2010. Like all sovereign bond issuances, these extended funds will be used for the provision of key public services, such as social welfare, health and education services.

This illustrates how Government has to take a realistic view of the world if we want to be able to access money from the international markets to fund our vital public services

Help for Long Term Unemployed

2012-01-24T16:02:00.005Z

Take a look at the what the Clare Local Development Company have to offer the long term unemployed. CLICK on the IMAGE for details.

Progress on Shannon Crossing Project

2012-01-17T13:05:00.000Z

The news that Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has allocated€500,000 to Clare County Council to enable the Shannon Crossing Project be brought through An Bord Pleanála is very welcome indeed.

This is a very important piece of infrastructure for the people of South East Clare, North Tipperary and Limerick. Anyone trying to cross from one side of the Shannon to the other at Killaloe knows that it is a nightmare at peak times. The quicker the new bridge is built and the roads are improved the better.

The Killaloe - Ballina area is a big tourist draw and a new bridge will help bring more visitors into the whole Lough Derg catchment area. In this climate of austerity it has to be welcomed that important capital programmes are getting the resources to proceed. If we as a government can make savings in departments then that money should be reallocated to other projects that are necessary and job creating. This project is worth around €41 million and has been broken down into 3 packages. The Killaloe bypass €11.93 Million, the bridge itself at €12 million and works to the R494 at €16.6 million

A Look At Progress in the Key Areas

2012-01-16T10:01:00.005Z

KEY ECONOMIC & POLITICAL TASKS

• In 2011, we stabilised the public finances, the banks and the jobs market. In 2012, we will implement the radical reforms needed to create jobs by returning the economy to strong growth (Action Plan on Jobs, NewERA, Pathways to Work, bank lending).

THE BAIL-OUT AND THE CURRENT REVIEW

• The coalition Government is delivering on its key economic commitments and the requirements of the bail-out programme.
• There is now a high and growing degree of trust between this Government and our official funders, allowing to enhance the Programme on an ongoing basis to return the Irish economy to strong growth and to restore market confidence in our public finances and banking system
• As the NTMA has confirmed, we are committed to a phased return to market funding when conditions are right, hopefully at the end of this year.
• Talk of a second bail-out is unhelpful. We have funding under the current Programme until the end of 2013, and our partners have made it clear that as long as we continue to implement our Programme we will receive continued support, without Private Sector Involvement.
• A focus of the current review is to ensure that the burden on the Irish taxpayer of recapitalizing, deleveraging and funding the banking sector is entirely manageable. We believe that progress in this area could be the “final push” needed to get Ireland back into the markets as planned. Technical discussions are proceeding at expert level on this issue.

PUBLIC FINANCES

• The deficit is likely to have come in under 10% of GDP in 2011 – compared with a target of 10.6% of GDP
• Our budget plans for 2012 and beyond are based on conservative growth assumptions (at a mid range between the most optimistic and pessimistic forecasters), and we remain confidence that the €3.8bn in measures taken in the budget will be enough to hit our deficit target this year (8.6% of GDP)
• We estimate that 70% of the austerity programme needed by 2015 is now complete. We have set out in unprecedented details our plans for closing the deficit in the coming years.
• Our plans to close the deficit are “jobs friendly”. For example, they not include any increases in income tax or corporation tax or further increases in VAT, and they maintain high levels of investment in enterprise, research and innovation.

THE EURO AND THE FISCAL COMPACT

• Membership of a strong, stable single currency area remains a fundamental pillar of Ireland’s long-term economic growth and jobs strategy.
• Market trust in the eurozone will improve when EU leaders stop the blame game and are seen to start trusting each other again.
• We are happy with the direction of negotiations on the “fiscal compact”. Long before any discussions of a new set of fiscal rules for the eurozone, the new Government had committed itself to legislate for equally challenging domestic deficit and debt rules.
• More binding, durable and enforceable fiscal rules are necessary for the eurozone, but they will only restore confidence if they go hand-in-hand with a more credible funding guarantee for countries that are pursuing sound economic policies.
• That is why we welcome the decision to bring forward the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism, and willingness to review the scale of resources available to it.
• The bigger the firewall against market contagion, the better. We remain hopeful that, as new credible fiscal rules for euro countries are agreed, the ECB will be confident that it can play a fuller role in stabilizing the eurozone sovereign debt markets without risking its anti-inflation credentials.
• We don’t expect the new fiscal rules to have any impact on the fiscal targets agreed as part of the Programme. We will continue to implement our plans to bring the deficit down to under 3% of GDP by 2015.
• As with other international agreements (e.g. Kyoto and emissions reduction commitments), the fiscal compact will be binding and durable in nature, but we will only have a referendum if we need to change to constitution to ratify the agreement.
• We have made no link between ratification of the fiscal compact and ongoing improvements in the bail-out terms. We have made it known since coming into office that, as we build up credibility through rigorous implementation, we will seek to improve the bail-out terms in order to restore market confidence and growth in the Irish economy as quickly as possible.
• Ultimately, the debt crisis will only be fully resolved through stronger economic growth. That is why the Taoiseach and UK PM David Cameron agreed at their recent meeting to work together and with the European Commission and other countries to put more emphasis on growth and jobs in the discussions at EU level. Areas that need greater focus include:
• Better use of EU budget resources to support strong growth in new industries
• Deepening and broadening the single market in areas like services, energy, transport and high-tech industries

Disability Cuts "Paused" Pending Review

2011-12-07T17:20:00.002Z

I really welcome the announcement by Taoiseach Enda Kenny that budget changes for younger people with disabilities will now be reviewed. This review will be carried out by ItaMangan Chair of the tax and Social Welfare Commission

In my view, the initial budget proposal was wrong. You cannot do this to one of the weakest sections of society. Everyone knows that money has to be saved but this was not the way to go about it. I made my feelings known in no uncertain terms on this issue in meetings and correspondence with government colleagues that I was emphatically opposed to this proposal. I am delighted that this will now be addressed. Young people in receipt of disability allowance will hopefully not now be affected. Those that will be 16 years old from the 1st of January onwards will continue to draw their benefits as before while the review takes place. The fact that the Taoiseach and Minister for Social Protection have listened to TD’s, Senators and ultimately the people is encouraging and shows that this Government will reverse decisions if they are shown to be wrong.

Would we suit a Greek style haircut?

2011-10-27T23:52:00.002+01:00

A key element in the argument that what is appropriate in the Greek case is not appropriate to Ireland is that Ireland is in a totally different situation to Greece.

In Ireland’s case, economic growth is helping to bring about a return to debt sustainability. In Greece, the economy is shrinking and this is compounding the problem of an unsustainable debt burden.

The programme is working in the Irish case

The choice for us is between working the programme and repudiating it. Importantly, working the deal doesn’t mean passively submitting to its terms. It means attempting to make the deal serve us better by renegotiating its terms. Critically, the deal is working for Ireland.
The economy has started to grow again. GDP increased in both the first and second quarters of this year and in Q2 was 3.5% above its level of Q4 2010. This was thanks to strong export growth which was due in turn to improvements in the competitiveness of Irish producers and to Ireland’s enduring attractiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment.
The public finances have stabilised and the budget deficit has started to decline. This year the deficit is expected to be just over 10% of GDP. Last year the underlying deficit was 11.5% of GDP. The 2012 budget will target a deficit of 8.6% of GDP.
Investors’ confidence in our ability to successfully tackle our economic and budgetary problems has greatly improved in recent months. For example, the yield on 10-year Irish bonds (the notional cost of borrowing for the government) has fallen from 14.5% to 8.5% since mid-July. This has occurred at the same time as yields on Greek government bonds have risen to new record levels and is a reflection of the fact that Ireland has met all its programme performance targets to date and is expected to continue doing so.
We have secured better terms under the deal. The most easily quantifiable example is the substantial reduction in funding costs in relation to the EU element of the financing package, the savings from which will be about €900m in 2012 and will rise to almost €1.2bn in 2014. But there are other ways in which the terms of the deal have been improved including (i) the acceptance by the Troika of the measures contained in the Jobs Initiative, and (ii) our securing of the Troika’s agreement to the replacement of the fiscal adjustment measures incorporated in the original agreement for the 2012-14 period by measures that the government considers to be more growth- and employment-friendly.

Reneging on the deal would be enormously costly and disruptive

The alternative to working the deal is to repudiate it. This means walking away from a set of international commitments solemnly entered into. The costs of choosing this route would be enormous.
In the first instance, since it would almost certainly bring about a sudden stop to international funding of the government’s borrowing requirement, it would mean that that borrowing requirement would have to be eliminated by abruptly closing the gap between government revenue and (non-interest) spending. That gap currently amounts to the equivalent of over 6% of GDP, or about €10bn. To eliminate it would require measures many times harsher than those that will be necessary in Budget 2012, and would certainly plunge the economy back into recession.
Since the deal is seen to be working for Ireland and since Ireland is seen to be on the path to debt sustainability, a repudiation would be viewed by investors as a situation of ‘won’t pay’ rather than ‘can’t pay’. The result would be a large and enduring premium on the government’s borrowing costs when it eventually returned to international bond markets.
The reputational damage inflicted on Ireland by repudiation would likely have serious negative consequences for our international trade and our attractiveness to foreign direct investors.

A Greek haircut is not a panacea (even for Greece)

There is a perception that imposing big haircuts on bondholders will somehow provide Greece with a passport to painless adjustment. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even after the haircut, it is likely that the Greek debt ratio will be higher than Ireland’s. Moreover, extremely harsh austerity measures (much harsher than anything that has been implemented, or is ever likely to be implemented here) will remain the order of the day in Greece, including the following:
The tax-free threshold for income tax lowered from €12,000 to €5,000. (A married couple with one earner in Ireland enters the income tax net at €24,750; a single person at €16,500)
The VAT rate applicable to restaurants and bars to rise to 23% from 13%. (The equivalent Irish rate was cut to 9% as part of the government’s Jobs Initiative.)
Monthly pensions above €1000 to be cut by 20%, (The average cut to public sector pensions in Ireland has been 4%)
30,000 civil servants to be suspended on partial pay. (Any public sector job loss in Ireland must be voluntary under the Croke Park Agreement.)

3 Reasons To Vote for Mitchell

2011-10-26T16:32:00.000+01:00

With the seemingly endless media debates over, the public can finally take stock. Just what has the media circus all been about? It seems to me that the position of President of Ireland has been reduced to nothing more that a personality contest and given the crises we are in, we need a lot more than a 'personality' as president. We need real substance. Forget about who wrote letters or fund raised or sat on the boards of quangos and look at the candidates record of public service. That's what really matters and that's why I genuinely believe Gay Mitchell is the right choice for president.

1. This is no time for our country to take risks with its leaders. More than ever before, we need a President who is a safe pair of hands, a President who is accustomed to meeting heads of state and people with serious influence - and dealing with them on their own level. We need a President who can deal with international leaders on a peer basis. Gay's experience has been formed from 26 years as a TD and 7 as an MEP. That is serious, heavyweight political experience. He has years of building international contacts and relationships, and a knowledge base, built up through decades of having to make difficult decisions.

2. We need stability, and we someone who can have a strong, constructive relationship with the Government of the day. We also need a President with integrity, with a deep understanding of the constitutional role - and who will maintain independence and serve the Irish people. He understands tough time too having grown up during hard times, and he knows we can come through this

3. Jobs jobs jobs. We have to get away from the idea that Ireland is not open for business, especially in light of recent job losses. We also need to get away from the idea that the President cannot be a driver in the creation and attraction of jobs. The President can play a major role, with the Government, with the IDA and with international trade delegations. The message of a President who can work in harmony with the Government, and who has the international contacts to help the country is a strong one to send internationally.

I'll be voting for Gay Mitchell and I hope you will too.

Grants for Kilkee and Lahinch Pools

2011-10-19T14:29:00.000+01:00

Delighted that this money is being provided to improve pool access for people with disabilities. €54,150 will go towards Kilkee Waterworld and €42,500 will be allocated to Lahinch Seaworld in grants. The costs of the improvement works are estimated for both Pools at €63,700 for Kilkee and €50,000 in Lahinch.

Some extra cash for the County Enterprise Board

2011-09-28T15:05:00.001+01:00

The additional funding is provided from savings elsewhere in the Minister's Department, and is provided in response to specific requests from CEBs. The funding is additional to the €15million already provided to CEBs in 2011.

Please Support Gay Mitchell for President

2011-09-28T13:31:00.001+01:00

Gay Mitchell is the Fine Gael candidate for President but leaving party politics aside, I believe he is the best man for the job. He is a real statesman and has a long and successful career as a public servant. Take a look for yourselves - http://www.facebook.com/gaymitchell

Some Welcome Good News for Shannon

2011-09-23T00:31:00.002+01:00

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed the signing of a Heads of Agreement between the Shannon Airport Authority and the Lynxs Cargo Group, which proposes building a new cargo facility at the airport.

The Minister said he fully supports the project which has significant economic potential for the Shannon region and for Ireland.

The Heads of Agreement signed by Shannon Airport and Lynxs Cargo, a global airport cargo facility company, proposes the construction of new cargo warehouse facilities at Shannon Airport.

The two parties have been in negotiation on this project since 2009.

Minister Varadkar said: ‘I am very happy that Ray Brimble, CEO of the Lynxs Group, is in Ireland to sign this Heads of Agreement with Shannon Airport Authority. I hope it will lead to a dynamic business partnership to develop and expand the air cargo business through Shannon. This would benefit the airport, the entire mid-west region and the national economy’. “I see great scope for the development of the air cargo business in Shannon. The airport has a significant industrial hinterland, with a large volume of high-value products transported by air. But a very significant proportion of air cargo, around 80%, is currently taken out of Ireland by road in order to flown onwards from airports outside the country. This is something I would particularly like to see addressed by Shannon airport.

“The signing of this Heads of Agreement confirms the continued commitment of both parties to further develop the valuable air cargo market. Shannon’s lengthy runway means it can take very heavy cargo-bearing aircraft, unlike many other airports, giving it a unique capacity to exploit air cargo. “I would like to wish both parties to the venture every success in the future.”

SHANNON SWIMMING & LEISURE CENTRE TO RECEIVE ACCESS & ENERGY GRANTS

2011-08-26T16:02:00.000+01:00

Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has welcomed Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring’s announcement this morning of €4.4 million in grants to 19 swimming pools which include Shannon swimming & leisure centre.

These grants will be used depending on the pool to improve access for people with disabilities. These will include providing ramps, hoists, widening doorways or new changing facilities where necessary. Additional heating improvements will also be installed to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings.

Welcoming this announcement Senator Mulcahy who is Fine Gael Seanad spokesman on Communications Energy & Natural Resources said that he was “ Delighted to hear that Shannon Swimming pool has been included in these new grants. Any money that Government spends on helping those with disabilities access the leisure centre pool in Shannon has to be good for the community. The spin-off to the local economy through people being employed on this project is also a welcome boost. By investing in these improvements more and more people will be able to use the centre. The energy efficiency improvements which will form part of the money to be spent will help cut the heating bills for the centre. Heating bills for swimming pools are the largest cost that has to be covered every year and if we can reduce this cost to the taxpayer and cut our carbon footprint at the same time then we are in a win win situation. ”

Broadband for Secondary Schools

2011-08-25T16:12:00.001+01:00

Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has welcomed Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD commitment to roll out high speed broadband on a phased basis to all post primary schools. This follows on a very successful pilot scheme which saw speeds up to 100 Mbs been received by 78 schools.

Senator Mulcahy who is Fine Gael Communications Energy and Natural Resources spokesman in the Senate commented “I welcome this commitment by the Pat Rabbitte working in cooperation with the department of Education to find the resources to enable this programme to be rolled out. We need our students to have the best resources available. This will give them the skills necessary when they leave secondary school. Having IT skills and access to the high speed broadband is so important nowadays that it is in the country’s interest that the financial resources are found to enable this project to be rolled out across Ireland. If we are to get back to the situation where Ireland was in the 90’s where we were seen by the rest of the world as THE SILICON ISLE then we need to examine where we can achieve this. Education is key to achieving this. Everyone knows we are in a very difficult financial situation with high levels of unemployment caused by the previous government who did not control spending and just threw taxpayers money around like a drunken sailor. This country can be turned around. Irish people are fantastic communicators we need people to start looking for solutions and not being negative the whole time. The media has a powerful part to play in this, let’s start getting Ireland out of the negative news headline and start selling Ireland again to the world. Large multinationals are based here in Clare and the Midwest because they have access to European markets, a well educated work force, 3rd level colleges, a benign tax environment, an International Airport that has huge growth potential. High speed broadband whether it is to Industrial estates, Education facilities, Homes or Businesses is essential for Irelands recovery and anything that facilitates this has to be welcomed”
END
Media queries to Senator Mulcahy on 086 2436345. E mail: tony@tonymulcahy.com

Mulcahy Welcomes €100m Eircom Broadband Investment

2011-08-03T15:54:00.001+01:00

Senator Tony Mulcahy today welcomed the announcement by Eircom that it is to invest over €100 million in Phase 1 of planned Fibre Rollout. The announcement made this morning by Eircom will see an initial 100,000 homes and business been able to access superfast broadband by summer 2012.

The existing network will be up graded from a copper based network to a Fibre optic cable network in a multiyear planned programme which should see 1,000,000 homes and businesses benefit from the latest in broadband technology. Mulcahy speaking from the Senate said “ This announcement by Eircom this morning shows their commitment to provide their customers with Next Generation Broadband and services such as video on demand, Television and Social Media via TV. With further announcements expected from other broadband providers I can see a great future for the communications industry in Ireland”

END

Media queries to Senator Mulcahy on 086 2436345. E mail: tony@tonymulcahy.com

Electricity Transmission Assets To Remain With ESB

2011-08-03T15:22:00.002+01:00

Fine Gael Senate Spokesman on Energy, Communications and Natural Resources Senator Tony Mulcahy has welcomed Minister Pat Rabbite’s decision that the ownership of the electricity assets will remain with the ESB while EirGrid will continue to operate and develop the transmission system.

This Goverment decision has followed months of consultations and the report carried out by Frontier Economics Limited under the independent chairmanship of Mr Fergus Cahill. Senator Mulcahy said “This decision ensures that Ireland complies with the E.U. Third Energy Package directives the objective of which is to facilitate cross border trade, reduce energy costs for consumers and businesses alike. This is most important in the single energy market that operates on the island of Ireland”

Progress on new Shannon bridge

2011-07-29T17:12:00.001+01:00

Press release: Fine Gael Clare Senator, Tony Mulcahy, has welcomed the progress in making
the Shannon Bridge Crossing a reality, following an encouraging
announcement by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar.

“Minister Varadkar has approved the publication of the Statutory Orders in
relation to the Shannon Bridge Crossing and Killaloe. This will allow
Clare County Council to get approval from An Bord Pleanála for the
Environmental Impact Statement and the associated Compulsory Purchase
Order.

“This announcement means that the much needed new bridge is moving closer
towards becoming a reality. If this stage of the process is successful the
scheme could be approved and land could be bought within the next two
years.

“Local representatives have worked tirelessly to get this project
approved, in a bid to improve the lives of local residents in both Clare
and Tipperary. The current situation where people have to cross the
existing narrow bridge cannot be allowed to continue. The construction of
the new bridge will improve traffic flow and eliminate safety concerns.

“The cost of delivering the entire scheme, at €41 million, is significant.
However it can be divided into three phases; the Killaloe Bypass
(€11.93m), the Shannon Bridge Crossing (€12m) and the works on the R494
(€16.6m).

“I am hopeful that the project can now move forward swiftly, and that the
people of Clare and Tipperary can look forward to a better, smoother route
between Killaloe and Ballina in the future.”

Delighted with Clare boundary decision

2011-07-19T12:29:00.008+01:00

Minister Phil Hogan has created a merged local authority in Limerick City and County. The new authority will have a combined population of 187,000 people and will leave the boundary with Clare Untouched. This is something I have fought long and hard for. Click Here

Back to "normality"

2011-03-04T17:50:00.002Z

Spent the week getting the business back in gear and I must say I'm feeling very positive after reflecting on the great vote that my team and I achieved. The general goodwill and support that I have received has been incredible and I am looking forward to the future with great confidence. I posted a little video here to say thank you - Click Here

The Morning After

2011-02-27T15:01:00.000Z

The political orgy of the count centre is behind us and after all the effort and optimism of the past few weeks, there's the inevitability of the 'downer' now that it's all over.

It is an incredible result for Fine Gael with 76 or 77 seats now looking a certainty. It won't be long before the dust settles and the reality and enormity of the task ahead of us begins to sink in. The honeymoon period won't last long but we all need to pull together, back the new government to the hilt and play our part in getting this country working again.

Voting Card Problems - don't worry!

2011-02-25T00:37:00.000Z

If it didn't arrive or the dog ate it or whatever - don't panic. As long as you are on the register and have your passport/photoID with you, it will be fine.

Have you seen our Manifesto?

2011-02-17T11:39:00.004Z

Read the Manifesto - CLICK HERE

Of course we will get out of this mess!

2011-02-11T13:13:00.000Z

We are known for our humour and creativity - undoubtedly two of our finest national traits - just look at this! It really made me laugh at the end of a long day canvassing. Slap a bit of hard work and innovation on top and a government that puts the right policies in place for business and employment to flourish, (and then gets out of the way), and we will get this country working again - from the bottom up.

It's official!

2011-02-07T17:06:00.000Z

With my daughter Coleens help, I registered for GE11 today.

Ennis Hospital

2011-02-05T21:09:00.000Z

We had a great public meeting on Friday night where a lot of issues were aired. There must have been a thousand people there. I want to leave no on in any doubt so here is the Fine Gael position. Fine Gael are committed to retaining Ennis Hospital in its current form as an acute medical facility.

This is Real Change

2011-02-04T13:55:00.004Z

Like many people, you may not be all that interested in politics but you still want real change. You may be an undecided voter, wondering who really has the stomach and policies to tackle our broken system of government and politics. You probably doubt anyone will! I want to promise you right now that major change will take place under Fine Gael and only Fine Gael. Click 'Read More' at the bottom of this post and I spell it all out in detail. If you only read one thing during this election, read this.

Please help elect Fine Gael with a single party majority. I'm strong in the Shannon region and with just a few votes for me, from each town around the rest of the county, I can make it in with my two colleagues. A strong Fine Gael majority in the Dail will mean we don't have to make compromises to Labour. Make no mistake, Labour will run a mile from the changes we outline in detail here. If after reading our proposal, you agree with us, then please use your vote wisely.

An overview of Fine Gael policies

Our policies taken together offer our overall vision of Ireland – of a republic that serves the people, of a politics that the Irish people can be proud of, of an efficient public sector that delivers for the people the services they need, of a health service that offers every citizen proper treatment, and of an economy that once again offers the prospect of jobs to our jobless.

As a member of the biggest political grouping in Europe, the European People’s Party, Fine Gael has studied best practice to bring the best of the world to Ireland. So we studied the acclaimed Dutch health service in planning FairCare. We studied political systems from Canada to Sweden and New Zealand in planning our reforms of the political system, for example. Reinventing Government and NewEra looked in detail at international examples and comparisons.

The bottom line is simple: other parties just talk about reform. We have made real, detailed proposals that will return Ireland to prosperity. We offer real change, not just sound bites, to the Irish people.

Fine Gael’s key policies

New Politics

New Politics is the most radical program of constitutional and political reform ever proposed by an Irish party. Its vision is of a new republic for 21st Ireland, one with fewer politicians (35% fewer politicians through abolishing the Seanad and cutting the Dáil by 20) a radically reformed Dáil which will provide better scrutiny of lawmaking, have a more efficient committee system, and a new budget system. Openness and transparency will be the hallmark of our new republic – so appointments to State boards will be publicly vetted for the first time, while a new Freedom of Information Act will give the citizen a right to information that will be far greater and more extensive that is the case right now. Whistleblowers will be protected to encourage reporting of wrongdoing. lobbyists will be required to be registered, to ensure full openness in their relationship with

Government. A major shake-up in local government will also take place.

Some of these changes will require constitutional amendments so a series of referenda will be held early in the Government’s lifetime to make the changes. Citizens will also be directly involved in shaping this agenda. We will, for

instance, establish a citizens’ assembly on electoral reform – a highly successful model used in both Canada and the Netherlands whereby groups of citizens help devise proposals for change.

While other Parties have recently become converts to the idea of political reform, Fine Gael was the first Party to make detailed proposals in our widely praised ‘New Politics’ document, with our proposal to abolish the Seanad capturing headlines and forcing all parties to consider whether we need Seanad Éireann. New Politics is about setting the agenda for change and delivering it. Our

aim is nothing less than to restore people’s trust in the political process by delivering real, tangible change, with all the changes we propose implemented in our five year term. To bring the best of international experience to Ireland we have studied international political systems worldwide.

NewERA

NewERA promises the biggest shake-up in the Irish economy and in the semi-state sector since the days of Sean Lemass. The aim is to create tens of thousands of jobs. Just as past generations of leaders from Cosgrave to Lemass kick-started the economy through strategic state investments that created the ESB in the 1920s, Bord na Móna and CIE in the 1940s, and other state companies, Fine Gael in government will invest in areas that will be crucial for economic development in the 21st century – so an additional €7 billion will be invested in energy, Communications and Water infrastructure over four years to boost long term competitiveness, significantly enhance energy security and eliminate the “digital divide”.

The new state companies to be created include “Smart Grid”, which will merge ESB Networks and Eirgrid to focus on developing the current energy supply and develop it into new areas, and Bio energy and Forestry Ireland, which will combine Bord na Mona and Coillte in order to allow it to become a global leader in the commercialisation of next generation bio-energy technologies. Another new company, “Broadband 21”, will invest over €2 billion over four years to build

a high-speed fibre infrastructure throughout the country.

To fund this development, state assets that are no longer “mission-critical”, that is, can now be operated by others, will be sold to fund the creation of the next generation of mission-critical assets. These will include ESB PowerGen & Supply and Bord Gáis energy.

Reinventing Government

Just as New Politics will change the face of Irish politics, so our policy ‘reinventing Government’will bring about the biggest shakeup in how our public sector works since independence. Fine Gael’s viewpoint is clear: our system of Government is broken. It has failed the public it is designed to serve and it is failing those who are trying to make a broken system work.We have world class doctors, nurses, teachers, Gardaí and carers but we have a governance structure that causes systems to fail and fail and fail again. our aim is to deliver a world class public sector that will help the rebirth of post-Celtic Tiger Ireland.

Reinventing Government will make our Government smaller, cheaper and better. This will mean in practice that we end up having fewer politicians, fewer bureaucrats, and much fewer quangos eating in to your hard earned taxes. It will also deliver better services, more accountability from those in charge and greater transparency in the way Government operates. 145 quangos will be abolished, with two of the biggest and most wasteful, FÁS and the HSE, broken up or replaced by smaller, more focused, less bureaucratic organisations. Reinventing Government will produce a saving of over €5 Billion or 1 euro in 10 spent by public bodies, by confronting waste, duplication and inefficiency.

How the public sector functions will be reformed to increase the build-up expertise and knowledge – so external recruitment of new high level specialists in banking, taxation and macro economic forecasting will be to improve the department of Finance’s capacity to deliver on key tasks. To bring in new experience, at least 1/3rd of all appointments at a senior level in the Public Service (above PO level) will be made from outside the current system for a period of five years.

To add more expertise, and offer an independent viewpoint, Fine Gael will establish an Independent Fiscal Council to advise the Oireachtas on issues such as borrowing levels, debt reduction and taxation planning. The Fiscal Council will be accountable to the Oireachtas Finance Committee.

Our Reinventing Government reforms is envisaged to produce a reduction of 30,000 ‘back office’ public sector jobs, through a combination of scheduled retirements and voluntary redundancies. The reductions will be in administration, not frontline services.

Our vision is a simple one: a smaller, more efficient, more focused and more specialist public sector, with greater accountability, less bureaucracy and less centralisation. Reinventing Government contains over 100 specific proposals to improve how Ireland is governed and those reforms will be delivered in the lifetime of the next government.

Faircare

As policies like ‘New Politics’, ‘NewERA’ and ‘Reinventing Government’ show, Fine Gael

believes in studying best practice in other countries and bringing their experience and lessons to Ireland. Nowhere is that more in evidence than in our Faircare policy, which will bring a revolution in Irish healthcare. Having studied a number of healthcare systems, we concluded that the acclaimed dutch healthcare model was best suited to Ireland.

A key change is a move from a centralised system known as ‘command and control’ to what is called the “money-follows-the-patient” budgeting system, under which hospitals are paid for how many patients they treat. Patients will no longer be seen as “costs” to the health service, but as sources of “income”. Heavy emphasis will be placed on developing “primary care” centres whereby groups of GPs with other health care professionals will treat patients free out of modern purpose built

premises with access to x-ray, ultrasound and endoscopy so that patients can be diagnosed in their communities by the doctors who know them best.

The core of Faircare will be the delivery of universal Health Insurance where every man, woman and child will be insured, some fully subsidised, some partially subsidised by the Government. This will end the principle of a two-tier health system, whereby those with private insurance get priority over public patients. under Faircare, every Irish person will have equal access to all the health care they

need.

Introducing Faircare will take place over three phases, with most of the implementation done within our first term. It will offer a revolution in healthcare to Irish people, with a quality and service far higher than is possible under the current centralised, bureaucratic and wasteful system.

Our Cutbacks, including Quango abolitions

Finance

1. Application of €200,000 pay caps to the NTMA and NAMA

2.We will replace the existing Sectoral Policy division and the Public Service Management division of

the department of Finance and the Public Service Modernisation division of the department of An

Taoiseach,merging them into a new office of Public Spending and Modernisation, cutting the current

staff numbers in these areas by at least one third.

3. Fine Gael will reduce the numbers in the public service by an additional 18,000 over and above the

12,000 reduction set out in the Government’s 4 year plan, beginning an additional 6,000 in 2011.

4. The number of Government quangos, regulators and inspectorates will be cut by 145, ending the

confusing, wasteful fragmentation in service delivery.

Environment, Heritage & Local Government

We will deliver at least 80%of the spending savings recommended by the local Government efficiency review, including:

1. Cutting the number of county/city managers from34 to 24;

2. Reducing senior managers in the Dublin and Cork local authorities by 15%;

3. Centralising recruitments through the Public Appointments Service;

4. Greater use of shared services in procurement

Enterprise, Trade and Innovation & Communications, Energy and

Natural Resources

1.We will merge Forfas back into the department and will be given a central role in coordinating the

implementation of Jobs Strategies. Administrative savings achieved.

2.We will merge the Competition Authority, National Consumer Agency (NCA), Commission for

Communications regulation (Comreg) and the Commission for energy regulation (Cer) into the new

Commission for Competition and utilities regulation. Major administrative savings achieved.

3.We will merge the Health and Safety Authority, the new National employment rights Authority and

element of the National Consumer Agency into a Business Inspection and licensing Authority (BIlA).

Major administrative savings achieved.

Education

1. New Training System for Unemployed

We will eliminate the waste and inefficiency which has been the hallmark of FÁS by transforming our

approach to training. Through the new one stop shop for getting back to work, the Payments and

entitlements Service, we will bring an end to the excessively bureaucratic, top down approach of FÁS. A new training voucher system will give the unemployed a greater say in choosing the right training for their needs and will root out waste in the system.

2. Greater Flexibility in Third Level Contracts

We will bring about greater efficiencies at third level through the revision of contracts and greater

flexibility and efficiency in work arrangements for academic staff. Greater flexibility must be achieved at third level to respond to the changing needs of the third level sector and deliver greater accountability, transparency and mobility to meet new demands. (McCarthy identified approx €140min staffing efficiencies at third level –most recent figures from dept suggest €50machieved to date).

Agriculture

1. Single Food Safety Authority

Building on the existing Food Safety Authority, Fine Gael will create a single food safety monitoring

agency responsible for food safety and inspection from farm to fork. This will enhance the food

traceability system and reduce the burden of red tape on business by streamlining functions currently carried out by a myriad of agencies including the department of Agriculture, dept of Health, HSE, local Authorities and the FSAI.

2. Payments and Entitlements Service

Fine Gael will overhaul the way the department of Agriculture operates, moving from a grants

processing facility to a department focused on driving agri-food policy. We will achieve this through the creation of a Payments and entitlements Service, which will process a variety of citizen entitlements including agricultural grants. Streamlining these services will bring about greater efficiencies, reducing costs and providing farmers with a speedier an more responsive service.

Justice

1. Amalgamation of Probation Service and Irish Prison Service into offender Management Service.

2. Reform of Immigration system by establishing independent appeals mechanism will reduce costly

High Court judicial review cases.

3. Cut Garda allowances by minimum of €50million (McCarthy cut).

4. Reduce judicial pay for remaining 22 judges who have not voluntarily give up a proportion of their pay into the pension levy, reform of judicial expenses, abolish tip staff grade.

5. Extend court sittings - this will facilitate extra sittings which, among other things, will reduce the

length of asylum list and clear backlog who need to be accommodated pending their hearing.

6. Sentencing reform.

7. Reduction in quangos by total of 15. Quangos to be cut include

• The amalgamation of the data Protection Commissioner an ombudsman Commission.

•Merge the Property Services regulatory Authority into the Private residential Tenancies Board.

• Transfer the functions of the Irish Film Classification Board into the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

• Merge the Publications Appeal Board and the Censorship films appeal board.

• Merge 15 Prison Visiting Committees into 6.

• Abolish the National Crime Council.

• Merge the Valuation office and the ordinance Survey of Ireland with the Property registration Authority.

Tourism

We propose to generate savings, reduce the level of fragmentation involved, as well as greater

efficiencies in the tourismarea by bringing about closer co-operation between tourismbodies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland–developing a one-stop-shop called the National Tourism Development Authority.

Health

The current fiscal crisis means that now more than ever we must get value for money for every euro

spent on the health service or else risk wide-scale withdrawal of services to patients. FairCare introduces the reforms necessary to protect frontline services even as we see savings in the health budget.

1. Pay Hospitals for the Work they do: International research shows that introducing a “Money Follows The Patient” payment model for hospitals, as proposed in FairCare, can save up to 10%in the hospital budget. Efficiency savings will be used develop and improve frontline services.

2.Waste and Bureaucracy: Fine Gael will tackle inefficiencies, cut waste and reduce expenditure in the back room. Significant savings will be found by reducing the cost of agency staff, taxis, drugs,

absenteeism and non-core pay such as premium, overtime and allowances for example.

3. Cost of drugs: Fine Gael will introduce reference Pricing and reduce the cost of generic medicines in order to make savings in the state drugs bill.

4. Salaries: Fine Gael will introduce a salary limit of €200,000 that will apply to all public sector staff

including consultants and senior management of the HSE, as outlined in our reinventing Government

document.

Social Protection

Further reductions in working age and other social welfare payments can be minimised if greater

progress is made in reducing social welfare fraud, mistakes and the administrative costs associated with the existing social welfare system. Current fraud is estimated to be over €2b. (RTÉ Prime Time

Investigates)

1. One Stop Shop: Fine Gael will create a “one stop shop” Payments and entitlements Service (PeS) to process citizen’s entitlements – such as jobseekers’ supports, training supports, medical cards and

housing supports – that will cut administrative costs, expose fraud and improve citizens’ access to

entitlements.

2. Fraud: Fine Gael will initiate a major campaign to tackle social welfare fraud which will draw from

international best practice ideas such as public rights and obligations campaigns, a new Smart

Identity System and a National Fraud Helpline.

Defence

1. Total saving of €40.5m(4%on overall budget in 2011) with a cumulative saving in the defence area

in the Government's Four Year Plan of €106mby 2014.

2. Capital saving in 20111: €3.6mthough postponement of expenditure on equipment and capital

Works.

Specific savings - costs included in the overall budget saving of €40m

1. Retirement and non-replacement of Gulfstream IV aircraft in the MATS (Ministerial Air Transport

Section)

2. Non-participation in MINURCAT peace-keeping mission in Chad - The PDF returned from Chad in 2010.

3. Reduction in pension costs due to expiry of some pensions (through deaths, etc).

Expenditure commitments - replacement of two ships in the naval flotilla already budgeted for by the government.

Examples of some Quangos to go:

• Merge Coillte and Bord na Mona into Bio energy Ireland

• Merge ESB Networks and Eirgrid into Smart Grid

• Merge the Commission for Communications regulation (Comreg) and the Commission for energy

regulation (CER) into a new Commission for Competition and utilities regulation

• Merge ordinance Survey Ireland and the Property registration Authority

• Merge the Higher education Authority into the department

• Absorb National education Welfare Board into the department

• Rationalise Vocational education Committees from33 to 20

• Merge the State examinations Commission into the department.

• Merge National roads Authority and railway Procurement Agency.

• Merge the Commission for Aviation regulation into the National Transport Authority.

• Merge the Health and Safety Authority and the new National employment rights Authority into the

Business Inspection and licensing Authority (BILA)

• Merge the functions of the registrar of Friendly Societies and Companies registration office and secure additional efficiencies

• Merge the Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency (NCA) into the new Commission for Competition and utilities regulation

Political System Has Failed People Of Ireland

2011-01-26T22:01:00.002Z

Political System Has Failed People Of Ireland

People have been left alienated by the political system, which has totally disengaged itself from their concerns and well being. There has been a breakdown in the social fabric of communities across County Clare as a result of the failings of the current administration and an over emphasis on the “requirement to protect the financial well-being of the well-to-do”.

Families and entire communities across Clare have been ripped apart by the scourge of emigration which has been forced upon them by a failing political system and a complete void of policies that encourage social as well as economic recovery. In my own community of Shannon I have witnessed scores of young people reluctantly emigrating as they see no hope of securing employment in this country. Politics and politicians have failed these people.

The very institutions set up to protect the citizens of Ireland have failed these people by disengaging themselves from the needs of and issues affecting citizens. Politics and those operating within the system need to take a step back and adopt more of a social conscience in their policy making decisions. We need a change of mindset to not only reinvigorate the political system but restore confidence among the electorate, particularly our young people.

The ESRI’s prediction that some 50,000 people will emigrate this year, and 25,000 jobs will be lost in 2011 is a damning indictment of the approach adopted by the current administration to addressing the economic situation now facing the country. Up to a few years ago you would have been forgiven for thinking that the mass emigration we are now experiencing was an aspect of Irish life long confined to the history books. For a country whose people were often driven from their native land by a repressive foreign power, it is deeply regrettable that our own elected Government are now responsible for giving our people no alternative but to leave Ireland in search of a better life for themselves and their families in places like Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. There is however an alternative, and the people of County Clare will be able to vote for this alternative on February 25 next.

The creative energies of Ireland’s young people that we have fostered and are now losing to emigration will be placed at the forefront of every policy adopted by Fine Gael in Government. Fine Gael and I, as a candidate for the party in the forthcoming election, are committed to putting the interests of communities across Ireland back to the top of the agenda, replacing the ‘protecting the minority’ type approach of the present Fianna Fail led Government. In its strategy for Reinviting Government and getting Ireland back on track Fine Gael has clearly outlined how it intends to do this by re-imagining our country and reinventing how we run our Government.

Policies should be formulated and implemented from the bottom up as opposed to the top down. Under a Fine Gael led Government the interests, concerns and needs of the people of Ireland will take precedence over the commercial interests of the very few who have brought this county to its knees, both economically and socially. February 25 represents the beginning of this policy shift, one that will have positive consequences for a people who are in desperate need of having a restored sense of confidence in the political system as well as in their country’s capacity to return to economic growth and self sufficiency.

Let me give it to you straight!

2011-01-14T13:40:00.006Z

I'm absolutely livid and I hope you are too.

The country is full of unecessary and ineffecient quangos stuffed with vastly overpaid crony appointees. Keeping these people in the style to which they have become accustomed is quite literally killing the country. So, while you now see a huge reduction in your wages, assuming you still have a job, these guys are cemented in place with contracts they wrote for themselves.

Someone has to sort this out and I'm putting my hand up. When HQ asked me to run in this campaign I said I would only do it if they were totally committed to taking on these vested interests, be it in the HSE or the upper reaches of the civil service or wherever. I spoke directly and bluntly with the party leaders - Kenny, Bruton, Coveney, Hayes etc. and I can tell you they are just as annoyed as I am and just as determined to put things right, no matter what. I believe them and I'm asking you to believe us too.

It is time to give the people who caused this disaster, the kick in the backside they deserve and give others a chance to sort out the shameful waste in the public finances, fix the health system, get people back to work and stop the scurge of emigration. I will give every ounce of energy to reverse the mismanagement of the past decade.

It's easy to believe that all politicians or political parties are the same. We'll they're not. It's a cop-out to say that you can't change anything. Yes you can.

Give me your vote and even if you are not a traditional FG voter - just lend it to me this one time. I will make your vote count. Thanks for your time and don't forget to leave a comment below.