Fine Gael Meath East Deputy and the Party’s Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad abolition campaign, Regina Doherty, has said Micheál Martin’s comments on RTÉ’s Six One this evening (Tuesday) in relation to the Government’s renegotiation of the bailout deal demonstrate that Party’s determination to rewrite history and its willingness to unashamedly lie to the Irish people in its attempts to do so.
“Micheál Martin’s smug and arrogant barefaced lies this evening, under questioning from Brian Dobson on RTÉ’s Six One, were jaw-dropping to say the least. Aside from the merry dance the Fianna Fáil leader tried to engage in in terms of the 180 degree turn his Party has done in respect of the relevance of the Seanad, his comments where the Government’s renegotiation of the bailout deal are concerned cannot possible be believed, even by him.
“When asked if he would give any credit to the Government for getting us to the point where the end line is in sight and we can finally wave goodbye to the Troika, Martin said that getting out of the deal was always going to happen and that the interest rate on the bailout, as agreed by Fianna Fáil, was 3.5%. He went on to say that this Government had not renegotiated the deal, as promised.
“The simple fact of the matter is that, despite the fact that Micheál Martin claimed that the bailout deal could not be renegotiated, one of the first acts of the Fine Gael/Labour Government on coming to office was to do just that. Fianna Fáil agreed a bailout deal interest rate of around 6%. After this Government engaged with the Troika, a reduction was secured to bring that figure down to 3.5%; in anyone’s language a reduction from 6% to 3.5% equals a significant renegotiation, as well as a considerable saving for the Irish people.
“This Government has been working day and night to undo the damage inflicted on our country Fianna Fáil. Martin’s attempts this evening to play the Irish people for fools and to hoodwink them through barefaced lies demonstrate that, as suspected, nothing about that Party has changed. The truth of the matter is that Fianna Fáil, under Micheál Martin - the last link to Brian Cowen’s Government - remains as true to the Irish people as it has ever been.”
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Referendum Commission clarifies that there is ‘no question on the ballot paper about reform’
Fine Gael Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad Abolition Referendum, Regina Doherty TD, has today (Monday) welcomed clarification from the Chair of the independent Referendum Commission, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, that there will be no option for reform on the ballot paper, when voters are asked whether they want to abolish the Seanad on October 4th.
“Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne made it very clear on RTE’s Morning Ireland programme this morning, that reform is not an option when it comes to the Seanad Referendum. As Justice Dunne said, ‘the question that will be put before the people is; do you wish to abolish the Seanad, or do you wish to retain the Seanad. That’s it’. And, crucially, she added ‘there is no question on the ballot paper about reform’.
“Justice Dunne rightly described the proposal being put to the people on the Seanad as ‘very straightforward’. Her comments yet again make it abundantly clear that Fianna Fáil and Michael McDowell are misleading the public with their fictional talk of reform.
“Fianna Fáil has no credibility when it talks about reforming the Seanad. The Party did nothing to reform the Seanad during all of its years in Government. Ten reports have been published on Seanad reform; eight of them under Fianna Fáil Governments. Fianna Fáil was in favour of abolition during the 2011 General Election, and yet now it expects the public to erase the past and believe the Party this time around.
“I am glad that Justice Dunne has clarified the issue. The choice is simple; do you want to abolish the Seanad, yes or no? By voting Yes you can help to save €20 million a year, reduce the number of politicians by a third, and bring Ireland into line with other European countries of our size, all of which have just one chamber of parliament.”
“Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne made it very clear on RTE’s Morning Ireland programme this morning, that reform is not an option when it comes to the Seanad Referendum. As Justice Dunne said, ‘the question that will be put before the people is; do you wish to abolish the Seanad, or do you wish to retain the Seanad. That’s it’. And, crucially, she added ‘there is no question on the ballot paper about reform’.
“Justice Dunne rightly described the proposal being put to the people on the Seanad as ‘very straightforward’. Her comments yet again make it abundantly clear that Fianna Fáil and Michael McDowell are misleading the public with their fictional talk of reform.
“Fianna Fáil has no credibility when it talks about reforming the Seanad. The Party did nothing to reform the Seanad during all of its years in Government. Ten reports have been published on Seanad reform; eight of them under Fianna Fáil Governments. Fianna Fáil was in favour of abolition during the 2011 General Election, and yet now it expects the public to erase the past and believe the Party this time around.
“I am glad that Justice Dunne has clarified the issue. The choice is simple; do you want to abolish the Seanad, yes or no? By voting Yes you can help to save €20 million a year, reduce the number of politicians by a third, and bring Ireland into line with other European countries of our size, all of which have just one chamber of parliament.”
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Down Syndrome children won’t take 'No' for an answer
By not classifying Down Syndrome as a disability, children are suffering
Fine Gael TD for Meath East and Chairperson of the Cross Party Committee on Equality of Education for Down Syndrome Children, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) described the situation where 219 children with Down Syndrome in this country are being denied access to supports in their classroom as outrageous.
Deputy Doherty was speaking following a presentation to the Oireachtas Education Committee by Professor Sue Buckley who has over 40 years’ experience in this area. Professor Buckley outlined to the Committee that if these children don’t get access to special needs services now, they will fall out of the system and end up in special schools.
“We have a duty of care in this country to ensure that each and every citizen has access to the supports they need in order for them to obtain an education. There are 219 children in this country who have been denied access to much needed supports in the form of special needs assistants to assist them in their schooling, because Down Syndrome is not classified as a disability in its own right.
“It is imperative that we change the status of Down Syndrome to a low incidence disability as a matter of urgency, so that children entering the new school year have access to the support they need to get an education.
“Autism has recently been classified as a low incidence disability as there are 1 in 100 children born with autism in this country. Down syndrome, however, has not been classified as a low incidence disability, despite figures showing that only 1 in 500 children are born with this disability.
“Professor Buckley advised the Oireachtas Committee this week that, by not having Down Syndrome classified as a low incidence disability, it will result in children with this disability drowning in the system and ultimately ending up in special schools, which would cost significantly more than providing a special needs assistant in the first place.
“We also have no idea how many people in this country have Down Syndrome, as we have no way of capturing this data as it is not classified as a disability in its own right or captured in the census.
“It is high time we addressed this imbalance and provide the much needed resources to all children with Down Syndrome, so that they can avail of an education like every other child in this country.”
Martin has flip-flopped on the Seanad and didn’t introduce any reform when he had the chance
Fine Gael’s Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad Abolition Referendum, Regina Doherty TD, has today (Tuesday) criticised Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin TD, for flip flopping on the Seanad, and described his current stance as hypocritical in the extreme, as Deputy Martin did nothing to reform the Seanad during his time as a senior member of Government.
“Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil have flip flopped on the Seanad, and the Party has absolutely no credibility to talk about political reform. In its 2011 General Election Manifesto Fianna Fáil described the Seanad as ‘an entity which is struggling to justify its existence after three quarters of a century’. The Party added that ‘during the last decade the Seanad did not play a substantive role in challenging unsustainable policies’ and ‘it is important to note that second chambers are not an essential part of a parliamentary democracy’. And yet now Micheál Martin believes the Seanad must be saved?
“If Micheál Martin is serious about his stance on the Seanad, I would call on him to answer the following questions:
Is Deputy Martin’s u-turn on the Seanad politically motivated?
Why does he now believe that Ireland should be the only country of our size in Europe to have two chambers of parliament, when two years ago he thought it was important to note ‘that second chambers are not an essential part of a parliamentary democracy’?
Does he think the Seanad has, in the words of his Manifesto, ‘justified its existence’ in the last two years?
Does he realise that the Seanad can only delay legislation, not overturn it, and the last time it did so was in 1964?
In 2011, Micheál Martin thought that ‘serious questions’ needed to be asked about the continued role of the Seanad. Does he think these questions have been answered?
“Listening to Micheál Martin speaking about the Seanad today was like listening to a newcomer on the political scene. Does Deputy Martin really expect the public to buy his fictional talk of reform, when he did nothing to reform the Seanad during his 14 years as a senior Government Minister? Deputy Martin was high on rhetoric today; he was not so high on action while he was in Government.
“The last time a Seanad reform plan was agreed under a Fianna Fáil Government, in 2004 while Micheál Martin was a senior Minister, it proposed increasing the number of Senators by five. Is this what Deputy Martin means when he talks of reform?
“Fianna Fáil is talking about a reform plan that will never materialise for a second chamber of parliament that we don’t need in the first place. The Party is determined to maintain the status quo and shelter the Seanad as a breeding ground for aspiring Fianna Fáil politicians. Fine Gael is instead giving the public a very real and simple choice; do you want to abolish the Seanad, reduce the number of politicians by a third and save €20 million a year, yes or no?”
“Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil have flip flopped on the Seanad, and the Party has absolutely no credibility to talk about political reform. In its 2011 General Election Manifesto Fianna Fáil described the Seanad as ‘an entity which is struggling to justify its existence after three quarters of a century’. The Party added that ‘during the last decade the Seanad did not play a substantive role in challenging unsustainable policies’ and ‘it is important to note that second chambers are not an essential part of a parliamentary democracy’. And yet now Micheál Martin believes the Seanad must be saved?
“If Micheál Martin is serious about his stance on the Seanad, I would call on him to answer the following questions:
Is Deputy Martin’s u-turn on the Seanad politically motivated?
Why does he now believe that Ireland should be the only country of our size in Europe to have two chambers of parliament, when two years ago he thought it was important to note ‘that second chambers are not an essential part of a parliamentary democracy’?
Does he think the Seanad has, in the words of his Manifesto, ‘justified its existence’ in the last two years?
Does he realise that the Seanad can only delay legislation, not overturn it, and the last time it did so was in 1964?
In 2011, Micheál Martin thought that ‘serious questions’ needed to be asked about the continued role of the Seanad. Does he think these questions have been answered?
“Listening to Micheál Martin speaking about the Seanad today was like listening to a newcomer on the political scene. Does Deputy Martin really expect the public to buy his fictional talk of reform, when he did nothing to reform the Seanad during his 14 years as a senior Government Minister? Deputy Martin was high on rhetoric today; he was not so high on action while he was in Government.
“The last time a Seanad reform plan was agreed under a Fianna Fáil Government, in 2004 while Micheál Martin was a senior Minister, it proposed increasing the number of Senators by five. Is this what Deputy Martin means when he talks of reform?
“Fianna Fáil is talking about a reform plan that will never materialise for a second chamber of parliament that we don’t need in the first place. The Party is determined to maintain the status quo and shelter the Seanad as a breeding ground for aspiring Fianna Fáil politicians. Fine Gael is instead giving the public a very real and simple choice; do you want to abolish the Seanad, reduce the number of politicians by a third and save €20 million a year, yes or no?”
Friday, September 06, 2013
Referendum Commission comments make it clear that the Greens’ fictional reform option isn’t on the ballot paper
Fine Gael Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad Abolition Referendum, Regina Doherty TD, has today (Thursday) said that voters should not be fooled by the Green Party’s fictional talk of reform. Deputy Doherty added that comments from the Chair of the Referendum Commission, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, have made it abundantly clear that the question voters will be asked on October 4th is a very simple one; do you want to abolish the Seanad - Yes or No?
“The Green Party has joined Fianna Fáil and Michael McDowell in a bid to save the Seanad, an institution which is costing us €20 million a year. They all have something important in common; when the Greens, Michael McDowell and Fianna Fáil were in Government, they did absolutely nothing to change the Seanad.
“Like many others, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, cannot explain why the Seanad is worth saving. Instead he is talking about a fictional reform plan. But speaking earlier, the Chair of the independent Referendum Commission made it clear that there is no option for reform, and that choice facing the public is a straightforward one; do you want to abolish or retain the Seanad?
“The Green Party had its chance to reform the Seanad when it was in Government, and just like its predecessors, it chose to do nothing about it. Ten reports have been published on reforming the Seanad, and nothing has changed. It is now time to ask ourselves whether we need a second chamber that doesn’t do anything that isn’t already done in the Dáil, and costs €20 million a year to run.
“During the Green Party’s term in Government with Fianna Fáil, the Party’s then leader John Gormley championed a Seanad reform group in 2009. But they didn’t even manage to come up with a set of proposals. That says a lot about how seriously the Greens took the Seanad while they were in Government.
“The Greens should stop trying to confuse voters about what they are being asked in the Referendum on October 4th. It is a simple question; do you want to abolish the Seanad? Yes or No? If you agree that we could better spend elsewhere the €20 million a year it costs to run a chamber that is elected by 1% of the population and which hasn’t even delayed a piece of legislation since 1964, then I urge you to vote Yes.”
“The Green Party has joined Fianna Fáil and Michael McDowell in a bid to save the Seanad, an institution which is costing us €20 million a year. They all have something important in common; when the Greens, Michael McDowell and Fianna Fáil were in Government, they did absolutely nothing to change the Seanad.
“Like many others, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, cannot explain why the Seanad is worth saving. Instead he is talking about a fictional reform plan. But speaking earlier, the Chair of the independent Referendum Commission made it clear that there is no option for reform, and that choice facing the public is a straightforward one; do you want to abolish or retain the Seanad?
“The Green Party had its chance to reform the Seanad when it was in Government, and just like its predecessors, it chose to do nothing about it. Ten reports have been published on reforming the Seanad, and nothing has changed. It is now time to ask ourselves whether we need a second chamber that doesn’t do anything that isn’t already done in the Dáil, and costs €20 million a year to run.
“During the Green Party’s term in Government with Fianna Fáil, the Party’s then leader John Gormley championed a Seanad reform group in 2009. But they didn’t even manage to come up with a set of proposals. That says a lot about how seriously the Greens took the Seanad while they were in Government.
“The Greens should stop trying to confuse voters about what they are being asked in the Referendum on October 4th. It is a simple question; do you want to abolish the Seanad? Yes or No? If you agree that we could better spend elsewhere the €20 million a year it costs to run a chamber that is elected by 1% of the population and which hasn’t even delayed a piece of legislation since 1964, then I urge you to vote Yes.”
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Temporary Closure of Roads R147 (Dunshaughlin Village) Saturday 28th September 2013 for the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival
Notice is hereby given that Meath County Council intends to close the R147 (old N3) in Dunshaughlin Villageto through traffic from it’s junction with the L2208 (Drumree Rd)/R125 (Ratoath Rd) to it’s junction with the L5029 (Lagore Rd).
This closure is required to facilitate the hosting of the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival.
Duration:
The proposed closure will take place from 3p.m -11.30pm Saturday 28th September 2013.
Alternative Routes:
•Traffic Travelling southbound will be diverted towards theR125 Ratoath Rd, then turn right onto the L5040 (Gransheen Rd), then right onto the L5029 (Lagore Rd) and left back onto the R147 (old N3)
•Traffic Travelling northbound will be diverted right onto the L5029 (Lagore Rd), then left onto the L5040 (Gransheen Rd), then left onto the R125 and then right back onto the R147 (old N3).
Diversion signs will be in place.
Local Access:
Residents and property holders will be facilitated with access throughout the closure period.
Submissions on the proposed temporary road closure should be made in writing to The Area Administrator, Meath County Council, Dunshaughlin Civic Offices, Drumree Road, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath on or before 4p.m Wednesday 28th August 2013.
This closure is required to facilitate the hosting of the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival.
Duration:
The proposed closure will take place from 3p.m -11.30pm Saturday 28th September 2013.
Alternative Routes:
•Traffic Travelling southbound will be diverted towards theR125 Ratoath Rd, then turn right onto the L5040 (Gransheen Rd), then right onto the L5029 (Lagore Rd) and left back onto the R147 (old N3)
•Traffic Travelling northbound will be diverted right onto the L5029 (Lagore Rd), then left onto the L5040 (Gransheen Rd), then left onto the R125 and then right back onto the R147 (old N3).
Diversion signs will be in place.
Local Access:
Residents and property holders will be facilitated with access throughout the closure period.
Submissions on the proposed temporary road closure should be made in writing to The Area Administrator, Meath County Council, Dunshaughlin Civic Offices, Drumree Road, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath on or before 4p.m Wednesday 28th August 2013.
Temporary Closure of Roads in Dunboyne Village - Sunday 29th September 2013
Having given Notice, Meath County Council intends to close the following roads in and around Dunboyne Village:
(a) The L-2228 (old R156) from it’s junction with the L-2221 (Rooske Road) to it’s junction with the
L-2227 (old R157) – 12 noon to 6pm
(b) The L-2227 from it’s junction with the L-2228 to it’s junction with the L-2224-0 (Barracks Road) – 2pm to 5pm
(c) The L-2224-0 from it’s junction with the L-2227 to it’s junction with the L-2228 – 2pm to 5pm
(d) The L-2228 from it’s junction with the L-2227 to the roundabout at Newtown on the R157 – 2pm to 5pm
(e) The R157 from the roundabout at Newtown to the Maynooth Road roundabout – 2pm to 5pm
(f) The L-2227 Maynooth Road (old R157) from the Maynooth Road roundabout on the R157 to it’s junction with the L-2228 – 2pm to 5pm
This closure is required to facilitate the staging of the Spirit of Dunboyne Motor Parade 2013 in Dunboyne Village
Duration:
The proposed closures will take place (times as outlined above) on Sunday 29th September 2013
Alternative Routes
Diversion signs will be in place.
Local Access:
Residents and property holders will be facilitated throughout the closure period.
(a) The L-2228 (old R156) from it’s junction with the L-2221 (Rooske Road) to it’s junction with the
L-2227 (old R157) – 12 noon to 6pm
(b) The L-2227 from it’s junction with the L-2228 to it’s junction with the L-2224-0 (Barracks Road) – 2pm to 5pm
(c) The L-2224-0 from it’s junction with the L-2227 to it’s junction with the L-2228 – 2pm to 5pm
(d) The L-2228 from it’s junction with the L-2227 to the roundabout at Newtown on the R157 – 2pm to 5pm
(e) The R157 from the roundabout at Newtown to the Maynooth Road roundabout – 2pm to 5pm
(f) The L-2227 Maynooth Road (old R157) from the Maynooth Road roundabout on the R157 to it’s junction with the L-2228 – 2pm to 5pm
This closure is required to facilitate the staging of the Spirit of Dunboyne Motor Parade 2013 in Dunboyne Village
Duration:
The proposed closures will take place (times as outlined above) on Sunday 29th September 2013
Alternative Routes
Diversion signs will be in place.
Local Access:
Residents and property holders will be facilitated throughout the closure period.
COUNTY MEATH JOINT POLICING COMMITTEE PUBLIC MEETING
Wednesday 25th September 2013 at 8.00pm in the Conyngham Arms Hotel, Main Street, Slane
The public meeting will be concerned with matters affecting the policing of the administrative area of County Meath.
Members of the Public are invited and encouraged to attend and have a right to make their views known and ask questions of the Members of the Joint Policing Committee.
Questions will be accepted from any person affected by the policing of the area.
Questioners should give their name and address, which will not be publicised,
The public’s views are also welcome on what should be discussed at the public meeting and also how the said meeting should be conducted.
Please note that in some circumstances it may not be possible to provide the information requested.
Questions / Views may be submitted in any of the following ways:
In writing addressed to the County Meath Joint Policing Committee, C/O Corporate Services, Meath County Council, County Hall, Railway St, Navan, Co Meath
via e.mail addressed to meathjpc@meathcoco.ie or verbally by contacting a member of the County Meath Joint Policing Committee Team on 046 9097000.
The closing date for submission of questions/views from Members of the public is on or before 4pm on Friday 13th September 2013.
The public meeting will be concerned with matters affecting the policing of the administrative area of County Meath.
Members of the Public are invited and encouraged to attend and have a right to make their views known and ask questions of the Members of the Joint Policing Committee.
Questions will be accepted from any person affected by the policing of the area.
Questioners should give their name and address, which will not be publicised,
The public’s views are also welcome on what should be discussed at the public meeting and also how the said meeting should be conducted.
Please note that in some circumstances it may not be possible to provide the information requested.
Questions / Views may be submitted in any of the following ways:
In writing addressed to the County Meath Joint Policing Committee, C/O Corporate Services, Meath County Council, County Hall, Railway St, Navan, Co Meath
via e.mail addressed to meathjpc@meathcoco.ie or verbally by contacting a member of the County Meath Joint Policing Committee Team on 046 9097000.
The closing date for submission of questions/views from Members of the public is on or before 4pm on Friday 13th September 2013.
Doherty and Twomey welcome AIB commitment to step up mortgage writedowns
Fine Gael TDs and members of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Regina Doherty and Liam Twomey, have welcomed a commitment from AIB CEO, David Duffy, that the bank will write down hundreds of millions of euro in distressed mortgages over the coming 12 months. The Deputies were speaking after Mr Duffy appeared before a meeting of the Finance Committee earlier today.
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Doherty said: ‘A new broom sweeps clean, and today I was encouraged by the approach being taken by the new management team in place at AIB, in relation to the mortgage crisis. We have all been frustrated by the heel dragging by the banks in dealing with unsustainable mortgages. But if we can believe even half of what Mr Duffy had to say today it seems AIB is finally facing up to its responsibilities’.
“According to Mr Duffy, AIB has €3 billion in its provisional fund for mortgage write-downs. A fund of this scale has the potential to make a significant difference to AIB’s thousands of customers who are struggling with their mortgages. The bank says that residual debt will be written off after voluntary sales, and that it is committed to coming to debt compromises. This is essential if long-term sustainable solutions are to be found for distressed mortgage holders.
“David Duffy made some big promises at today’s meeting of the Finance Committee; he and the bank must live up to these commitments for the sake of struggling mortgage holders, and the wider economy.”
Deputy Twomey said: ‘The AIB Chief has said that the bank intends to write off hundreds of millions of euro in distressed home loans in the coming year. This is in stark contrast to the €38 million which the bank has written off this year to date. Clearly the process must be accelerated. The frustration felt by the public on this issue is palpable. It is about time that AIB is finally stepping up its response to the mortgage crisis. This is due in no small part to the new targets on restructuring mortgages being imposed on the banks by the Central Bank’.
“David Duffy today outlined how the bank has changed its internal practices to ensure it is dealing with distressed mortgage cases faster. I look forward to questioning the chiefs of the other main banks in the coming days to examine the approach to the mortgage crisis that is being taken by the entire sector.”
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Doherty said: ‘A new broom sweeps clean, and today I was encouraged by the approach being taken by the new management team in place at AIB, in relation to the mortgage crisis. We have all been frustrated by the heel dragging by the banks in dealing with unsustainable mortgages. But if we can believe even half of what Mr Duffy had to say today it seems AIB is finally facing up to its responsibilities’.
“According to Mr Duffy, AIB has €3 billion in its provisional fund for mortgage write-downs. A fund of this scale has the potential to make a significant difference to AIB’s thousands of customers who are struggling with their mortgages. The bank says that residual debt will be written off after voluntary sales, and that it is committed to coming to debt compromises. This is essential if long-term sustainable solutions are to be found for distressed mortgage holders.
“David Duffy made some big promises at today’s meeting of the Finance Committee; he and the bank must live up to these commitments for the sake of struggling mortgage holders, and the wider economy.”
Deputy Twomey said: ‘The AIB Chief has said that the bank intends to write off hundreds of millions of euro in distressed home loans in the coming year. This is in stark contrast to the €38 million which the bank has written off this year to date. Clearly the process must be accelerated. The frustration felt by the public on this issue is palpable. It is about time that AIB is finally stepping up its response to the mortgage crisis. This is due in no small part to the new targets on restructuring mortgages being imposed on the banks by the Central Bank’.
“David Duffy today outlined how the bank has changed its internal practices to ensure it is dealing with distressed mortgage cases faster. I look forward to questioning the chiefs of the other main banks in the coming days to examine the approach to the mortgage crisis that is being taken by the entire sector.”
Monday, September 02, 2013
Fine Gael poster campaign gives the people a clear choice on the Seanad referendum
Fine Gael launched its poster campaign for the abolition of the Seanad today (Sunday) with a promise to deal with facts and reality – unlike those that want to retain the Seanad. Speaking at the launch, Fine Gael’s Director of Elections, Richard Bruton, TD, said that the people were being given a simple choice – to abolish the Seanad, or to keep it as it is.
“In Ireland we have 30% more politicians than other similar sized European countries and have an upper House that costs €20m per year to run.
Our posters give the simple facts about the upcoming campaign – the country can save that €20 million a year and reduce the number of national politicians by voting Yes to Abolish the Seanad. We don’t need two chambers of parliament that do almost exactly the same thing.
Abolishing the Seanad will bring us in line with progressive European countries like Denmark, Sweden and Finland – all of which survive perfectly well with one house of parliament and far fewer politicians than Ireland.
“People should not be fooled about the No campaign’s motives to retain the Seanad.
When they talk about reforming the Seanad they really mean ‘keep things the same’.
They know that there has never been any reform of the Seanad in its 75 year existence despite ten different reports being published recommending changes to the Seanad.
“Fine Gael believes that, like every family and business in this country, politics needs to do more with less. That is why on October 4th, the Irish people will be offered a straightforward choice to abolish the Seanad or to keep it.
I am convinced that now is the time to Abolish the Seanad and continue the changes to our political system that this Government has introduced that will ensure that the failings of the past cannot be repeated again.”
Fine Gael’s Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad campaign, Regina Doherty TD, said:
‘It’s important that the Irish people know the facts. This Seanad was elected by just 1% of the population. It duplicates almost everything the Dáil does, and has no real powers of its own. It isn’t any kind of check on the Government or the Dail.
It can’t stop legislation, it can only delay it, and it hasn’t done that for 50 years. As recently as last Friday, the No campaign couldn’t think of a single significant thing the Seanad has ever done. It’s up to the people to decide if we really want or need a mirror image of the Dáil, which has almost no power, and which most people aren’t even allowed to vote for.”
“In Ireland we have 30% more politicians than other similar sized European countries and have an upper House that costs €20m per year to run.
Our posters give the simple facts about the upcoming campaign – the country can save that €20 million a year and reduce the number of national politicians by voting Yes to Abolish the Seanad. We don’t need two chambers of parliament that do almost exactly the same thing.
Abolishing the Seanad will bring us in line with progressive European countries like Denmark, Sweden and Finland – all of which survive perfectly well with one house of parliament and far fewer politicians than Ireland.
“People should not be fooled about the No campaign’s motives to retain the Seanad.
When they talk about reforming the Seanad they really mean ‘keep things the same’.
They know that there has never been any reform of the Seanad in its 75 year existence despite ten different reports being published recommending changes to the Seanad.
“Fine Gael believes that, like every family and business in this country, politics needs to do more with less. That is why on October 4th, the Irish people will be offered a straightforward choice to abolish the Seanad or to keep it.
I am convinced that now is the time to Abolish the Seanad and continue the changes to our political system that this Government has introduced that will ensure that the failings of the past cannot be repeated again.”
Fine Gael’s Deputy Director of Elections for the Seanad campaign, Regina Doherty TD, said:
‘It’s important that the Irish people know the facts. This Seanad was elected by just 1% of the population. It duplicates almost everything the Dáil does, and has no real powers of its own. It isn’t any kind of check on the Government or the Dail.
It can’t stop legislation, it can only delay it, and it hasn’t done that for 50 years. As recently as last Friday, the No campaign couldn’t think of a single significant thing the Seanad has ever done. It’s up to the people to decide if we really want or need a mirror image of the Dáil, which has almost no power, and which most people aren’t even allowed to vote for.”
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