Posted on January 22, 2011
We wish it to family, friends and neighbours, but let us hope that this really is Happy New Year for all of us. Let us make it a year where real change happens in Ireland and equality, fairness, hope and confidence return to this country. It must be a year where we look after all our citizens: old or young, urban or rural, working or unemployed, business man or farmer. We can only do this when we have confidence in the health, education, economic and social structures in our land.
Posted on October 25, 2010
I am amazed at how little national coverage there has been for the shocking closing of county VEC authorities. The ongoing campaign by Minister Gormley at County Council level to centralise services run by a local accountable authority is being perpetuated by Dept of Finance officials who feel it is ok to draw circles on a VEC map with no real audit of potential savings. We need only look at the HSE to see how that works. Now if the government are really interested in savings how about starting with the countless quangos introduced during the Bertie era which in many cases have no real basis in service provision. Or maybe the authorities under their control that can spin out a non quality assured course in a hotel room on a Monday morning. These are left untouched while a VEC service running since 1930 providing second level education, Adult Education and literacy, PLC provision, as well as youth, community, traveller and prisoner education is targeted. When you look in recent years at VTOS, back to education courses, English language services, school transport, grant allocation, night classes and Youthreach you begin to understand the depth of what could be shipped off the Offaly along with our hospital. Why is Westmeath always the target for downgrading of facilities or shipping them out to Tullamore (as Deputy Penrose pointed out in your article in last weeks Examiner)?
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Posted on October 11, 2010
So much hardship visited on so many by so few who still walk the streets while the ordinary person worries, scrimps, emigrates or goes under. Thursday, 30th September 2010 is definitely “Black Thursday” and the Minister for Finance, his party, the bankers and the profiteers will be remembered for visiting it upon this country.
The blanket bailout of the banks two years ago, which the Government called “the cheapest bailout in the world”, has turned into a disaster of historic proportions. .We have heard about €50 billion of costs and losses to be borne on the backs of the Irish people in this generation, the next generation and probably generations still to be born. This is the legacy Fianna Fáil is now proposing to place on us.
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment
Posted on July 11, 2010
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Posted on July 11, 2010
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Posted on February 21, 2010
As Chair of the Transport SPC I am calling on Westmeath County Council and Irish Rail to ask the Dept of Transport to make a review of transport links in County Westmeath form an intrinsic part of the overall review that is taking place in 2010. Transport 21 was always a Dublin centred and motorway reliant document which after two decades of massive investment would leave Westmeath with just two rail stations and very poor rural bus links. This surely cannot tally with Minister Noel Dempsey’s Smarter Travel document which was meant to supersede Transport 21 and put the emphasis back on public transport. There are six very clear reasons why this review is essential:
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment • Transport
Posted on November 23, 2009
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Posted on May 21, 2009
The skilled workers who helped build the boom should now be central to the recovery process. There are so many skilled workers out of work today who could be building schools and railway stations, community centres and health facilities. Let’s bring forward the national development plan, give employers a PRSI holiday and make local jobs and training accessible for all. Some of the most important infrastructure in the country was built during some of the most challenging economic times. We are not thinking outside the box. If we were to prioritise local projects, and bring forward job intensive projects whether they are in local towns or in agriculture we could see real green shoots. For example, why do we need to import so many of our vegetables when we grew our own for centuries? Maybe because so many of our supermarkets have disincentivised so many home producers? Some of these supermarket giants treat workers as expendable and do not give them the rights they are entitled to and the respect their loyal service deserves.
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Posted on April 12, 2009
Our environment and our economy are inextricably linked and this is the Climate Change Budget from Hell. Instead of tackling real Climate Change and working towards the commitments we need to honour in relation to Kyoto and to Copenhagen this year the Greens in conjunction with Fianna Fail have slashed €13 million from sustainable energy and energy research programmes. The jobs that could be created in this area are enormous. As a result of this policy we will now pay a lot more in fines and have a lot less capital for essential programmes like local school and public transport that would further cut carbon.
Permanent link | Categories: Enterprise Trade & Employment
Posted on April 01, 2009
Speech for Labour Conference 28th March 2009
Good afternoon Denis Leonard Kinnegad Branch, and Local Election candidate in Mullingar East with Cllr Michael Dollard and the wonderful Longford Westmeath Constituency team.
As I have walked the estates from Mullingar to Kinnegad and the roads from Milltownpass to the Downs and from Gaybrook and Gainstown to Coralstown and Curraghmore, I have met so many stories of unemployment, daily struggle and sometimes lack of real hope. From Wrights of Milltownpass to Johnny Owens many employers have let almost their entire workforce go. Countless small business have done the same. Now people with 25 and 30 years experience and expertise cannot find a place to use their skills and talent.
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Ireland.
Tel: +353 1 6784700
Fax: +353 1 6612640
Email: info@labour.ie
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