Actions speak louder than apologies

“Today in Dáil Éireann Deputy Adams admitted that Sinn Fein failed victims of sexual abuse at the hands of republicans, he acknowledged Sinn Fein's failure to deal properly with the issue and he apologised. 

“Apologies are meaningless without the actions to back up the simple words. We all know that Sinn Fein in the past covered up the sexual abuse of children at the hands of some of its own members but by continuing to deny those victims credibility in their testimony, by casting doubt as to their integrity, Sinn Fein is re-traumatising not only the brave victims Mairia Cahill and Paudie McGahon, who have gone public, but also the many, many victims who are still afraid to.

“That failure is Deputy Adams’ alone. He has it within his gift today to provide the Gardaí with all the information they require today.

“Sinn Fein/IRA conducted a damage limitation exercise resulting in the investigation of over 40 cases of both sexual and physical abuse by the hands of republicans. He stated in a recent Dáil debate arising from the allegations made by Mairia Cahill, that Sinn Fein had no corporate way of verifying what happened in the past. Well he knows, as I know he already has all the information that Gardaí would need. 

“Sinn Fein staff were issued with instructions to prepare a media strategy in the event of the report being leaked.

“So, don't wait till the report is leaked, Deputy Adams. Do the decent thing, the right thing and give the report to the Gardaí and stop re-traumatising victims today.”

Gerry in Wonderland aims to divert attention from SF tax hikes

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has rubbished Gerry Adams’s claim that working people earning between €30,000 and €70,000 have nothing to fear from Sinn Féin. 

“Sinn Féin’s latest attempt to divert attention away from their plans for massive tax hikes on working people is yet another example of Sinn Féin hypocrisy.

“On Sunday’s The Week in Politics Gerry Adams said that workers earning between €30,000 and €70,000 have nothing to fear from Sinn Féin. This is despite the fact that their tax plans would result in a 7% tax hike on working people.

“Gerry’s Adams’ latest musings strongly contrast the views of his finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty. He told the Oireachtas Finance Committee on 18^th November that some workers who earn between €32,000 and €70,000 are hard pressed ‘but a lot of them are not’.

“The fact is that Sinn Féin is determined to target middle income pay packets to fund their wild promises. 

“Gerry Adams also said he would take 200,000 people out of the USC net. This is a strange pledge considering his party voted against our tax and USC cuts in the Finance Bill that brought the number of people taken out of USC by the Government to 410,000.

“Sinn Féin is promising wonderland but we don’t have to fall through the rabbit hole to find out what happens in Gerry Adam’s nonsensical world. We just have to look to Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin is implementing wide-ranging cuts.

“Sinn Féin’s reckless policies will put the economic recovery at risk. Gerry Adam’s admitted as much yesterday when he said their policies could cost jobs. Fine Gael in Government is determined to secure the recovery by aiming to achieve full employment by 2018 and making work pay by reducing tax and USC for low and middle income earners.”

Adams admits his policies will threaten Irish jobs

“Gerry Adams has admitted his own policies will threaten Irish jobs", says Regina Doherty, Fine Gael TD for Meath East.

“It was laughable to hear Sinn Féin call themselves pro business at their Ard Fheis this weekend. We have known for a long time that Sinn Féin are a high tax, high spend party that would damage job creation. We now have the bizarre situation of Gerry Adams effectively admitting that his own policies will damage Ireland's job creation prospects. 

"When asked on RTÉ Radio's This Week show today if his policies would impact on the decisions of multinationals to locate in Ireland, he responded 'they may...' before attempting to justify the same dangerous policies. In a pathetic attempt to avert fears, all he could offer was a hope that wealthy patriotic individuals would continue to invest in Ireland.

"Adams needs to get real. This is no joking matter. 174,000 people are directly employed by multinationals in Ireland, with over 100,000 indirect jobs also dependent on foreign direct investment (FDI). Sinn Féin's fantasy economics cannot be allowed to put these, and future jobs, at risk.

"The reason Adams was the question is that it is patently clear to most right thinking people that Sinn Féin's proposal to raise the top rate of income tax would seriously endanger investment in this country and put jobs at risk. Their proposal to increase employers’ PRSI  is literally a tax on jobs.  A wealth tax will result in money, investment and jobs leaving the country.

"Thanks to the sacrifices of the Irish people, and the prudent management of the economy in recent years, this country has regained stability and is experiencing economic growth once more. The recovery is still fragile and we cannot throw it all away on a party whose own leader admits their policies may affect FDI to this country.

“Sinn Féin’s's most recent alternative budget proposed an incredible 1.6 billion in new taxes on work, enterprise and entrepreneurship. Contrast this with the approach of the Government over the last few years. The Action Plan for Jobs has seen over 90,000 additional jobs created and the Live Register has been cut by one third. We have a plan to continue to reduce tax on work in a sustainable way. People have a little more in their pockets after the last Budget and the economy is feeling the benefit with retails sales on the up.

"This week we heard that Sinn Féin's own business backers in the United States have expressed concern at their economic policies. It is surprising now to hear Gerry Adams agree with them. How can people possibly have faith in his party? The truth is they would put our hard won economic recovery in severe jeopardy."

Wind farm incidents raise serious safety concerns

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has said today (Thursday) that two serious incidents in the last week involving wind turbines raises legitimate safety concerns about the structures.

“In the last number of days an 80 metre wind turbine collapsed in Northern Ireland while a 30 metre blade fell from a turbine in Co. Kerry. Nobody was injured in these incidents but it does raise legitimate questions about the safety of these structures and how close to houses they should be located.

“I raise these concerns because in North County Meath a planning application has been lodged for 46 turbines with a maximum height of 169 metres.

“It is proposed that this development would be located in what is a rural, but highly residential area. I have been very clear about my feelings on the current planning regulations and the inadequacy of the current planning guidelines related to wind farms.

“I urge the Minister for Environment to urgently publish and implement the long-planned new guidelines related to wind turbines and apply these guidelines to present applications such as the one in North Meath.

“The size of wind turbines has increased threefold and it is accepted that the planning guidelines as they stand are not fit for purpose.”

Rise in number of planning permissions approved will relieve housing shortage

“The number of planning permission applications approved has increased by 52% since this time last year. It will take some time for the effect of these approvals to filter through the housing sector but there is no doubt that this is good news”, says Regina Doherty, Fine Gael TD for Meath East.

“Living on the commuter belt of County Meath, there is a big demand for housing but very few new builds. The number of planning permission applications had fallen dramatically in recent years with only 9,000 houses built in 2013 compared to 90,000 at the height of the boom.

“We need 30,000 houses per year so it is very encouraging to see such a sharp rise in the number of applications made this year.

“According to the CSO, in the third quarter of 2014, planning permissions were granted for 2,144 dwellings, compared with 1,409 units for the same period in 2013, an increase of 52.2%.

“The Government has committed in the Construction 2020 Strategy to supplying 35,000 additional social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion over the next 6 years. This will create 29,000 jobs in construction and it will reform the way in which social housing is delivered and managed in Ireland.

“There is a shortage of available housing in this country and this is being felt most acutely in areas like my own constituency of County Meath. Plans are in place to address this shortage and it is very positive to see that things are moving in the right direction. I expect further progress to be made in 2015 and I am hopeful that this time next year we will see an even greater increase in the number of planning permission applications that have been approved.”

Neglect of patient safety cannot continue

Fine Gael TD for Meath East Regina Doherty has said today (Thursday) the shocking HIQA Report on the Redwood Extended Care Facility demonstrates the urgent need for Safeguarding legislation for vulnerable adults. HIQA found 772 incidents of physical restraint within an 11 month period at Redwood.

“Legislation would provide for clear powers of investigation and prosecution to deal with these horrible revelations. It would result in clear demarcation of roles for statutory agencies and clear definitions of offences relating to the abuse of vulnerable adults.

“The well-being and interests of residents would also be well-served by enhanced and complimentary legislation that enshrines in law the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, a number of whom are in receipt of care services. The legislation would be similar to that in respect of child protection.
“HIQA raised this issue with the Department of Health and at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children of which I am a member, and they believe the development of more effective legislation and underpinning national policies would go some way in addressing this issue.

“Clearly something is very very wrong and we need to act now.  We will not tolerate the revelations contained in the HIQA report, which are compounded by Tuesday’s Prime Time programme. We are clearly failing patients.

“Inspectors found that there was a significant denial of residents’ civil, legal and human rights and a lack of adequate safeguards to ensure that the deprivation of and restriction of resident liberty was lawful and/or in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law.

“They found that residents did not have freedom to exercise choice and control in their daily lives and saw residents who were subjected to a locked door policy, and the nurse manager informed inspectors that this was for their own safety or the safety of others.

“Inspectors read records where up to eight staff were involved in the restraint of residents and inspectors observed an incident where a resident was restrained and there were 13 staff members present for the intervention.

“HIQA needs more power and patients’ safety needs to covered by legislation because the HSE Patient Safety department are sadly lacking.

“This needs to happen urgently”

Medical card changes will be more sensitive to need

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has said that the reforms to the medical card system will result in a medical card system which is more sensitive to the health and financial issues faced by people and their families.

“The reforms introduced today will lead to a fairer, more sensitive medical card system. It will ensure that people with serious illnesses will get access to the care that they need.

“This reformed medical card system will still use income as its main criteria, however it will show greater flexibility to people with a serious and financially onerous medical condition who would not normally qualify for a medical card. People with a serious illness who hold a discretionary card will retain their card up to the introduction of these reforms. 

“Importantly from now on, people with terminal illnesses will no longer face the prospect of having their medical cards reviewed. 

“The medical card scheme had, in the last fifteen years in particular, become too inflexible. The HSE will now to develop a more simplem single, integrated process for people to apply for a medical card, a GP visit card, the Long-Term Illness scheme, and the Drugs Payment Scheme. I welcome that access points are being established in health offices around the country to help people to apply for a medical card. 

“These reforms will help make the system more accessible and understandable to people. Most importantly, it will result in a medical card system which is more sensitive to the health and financial issues faced by individuals and their families.”

Tax relief to help elderly people remain in their homes

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the introduction of a new tax relief to help elderly people remain in their homes in their later years. Deputy Doherty was speaking after Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, introduced an amendment to the Finance Act this week to assist families to care for elderly relatives at home by employing a nurse or carer. 

“A new tax relief introduced this week by Minister Noonan will be extremely welcome for elderly people who wish to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. 

“Often elderly people need extra support and care in order to stay in their own homes. The new tax relief will assist families financially to look after their elderly relatives at home by employing a nurse or carer. The amendment to the Finance Act will raise the level of tax relief available to employ a professional nurse or carer in the home from €50,000 to €75,000 per annum. This will make a big difference to families. 

“Older people do better at home. They retain their independence and are more comfortable in their own surroundings. Of course it is not always possible for people to remain in their own homes for as long as they wish for medical and other reasons. However this new tax relief aims to help people with the financial costs involved in staying at home where they need additional support.”

Comhairle na nÓg shows we need to listen to young people

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, today (Thursday) urged increased engagement with young people by politicians and public services. Deputy Doherty was speaking after her attendance at Comhairle na nÓg in Croke Park to mark the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. 

“The Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, which I am a member of, held a special session at Croke Park where the young people presented to us some of the issues that affect them such as drugs, mental health, cyber bullying and facilities. 

I was so impressed with the outstanding quality of the contributions of those attending and I can tell you we learned a thing or two. Their engagement and commitment was a real reminder of the fact that we don’t engage with and listen to young people enough.

“It really strikes me that young people are seeking and sharing information in very different and rapidly evolving ways. Just a few years ago websites were cutting edge but now they are being passed over in favour of more interactive forums like Snapchat, Twitter or Facebook.

“Politicians, and everyone involved in providing public service, including myself, have to rethink how we communicate and engage with young people, as information flows move from traditional platforms like television, newspapers and even websites, to more social platforms. Our society is all the poorer because we are not hearing the views of a certain age group.

“Comhairle na nÓg is one great way of doing this and I was delighted to have the opportunity to attend with the Taoiseach and my colleagues on the health committee. I was particularly happy to see a strong delegation from Meath – Shane McGoldrick (Rathoath), Marta Ni Riada (Dunshaughlin), Tara Dunne (Athboy) and Sean King (Kells).

Simple and affordable plan for water provides certainty and secures investmen

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has said the Government’s water charges package announced today (Wednesday) provides a fair, simple and affordable plan for people ahead of the introduction of water charges. Deputy Doherty welcomed today’s announcement that addresses the concerns expressed over the last few months.

“To ensure simplicity, charges will be capped at €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households. Once the universal water conservation grant of €100 is applied the maximum net charges will be €60 per year, or just over €1.00 per week for single adult households. All other households’ maximum net charge will be €160 per year, or €3.00 per week.

“All eligible households will receive the water conservation grant of €100 per year from the Department of Social Protection, once they have registered with Irish Water. All workers will have their tax bill cut next year and will be better off in 2015 even after paying for their water charge.

“The installation of water meters will continue – meters reduce bills and find leaks. People with meters will be charged the capped or metered rate, whichever is lower, allowing them to beat the cap by conserving water. If metered households can reduce their water consumption by between ten and fifteen per cent, then approximately half of Irish households will be able to ‘beat the cap’ and receive bills lower than the capped charges. and receive bills lower than the capped charges.

“The focus on water conservation will continue. Irish Water’s investment programme will stop the leaks, ensure everyone has good, clean water and the country has the water infrastructure it needs to secure investment and grow the economy.

“The start date for water charges has been moved to 1^st January 2015 and the first water bills will arrive next April. We will introduce legislation that will allow capped charges to continue to be set from 2019 onwards.

“Water will remain in public ownership. The Government will legislate to ensure any proposed change in the ownership of Irish Water would be required to be put before the people.

“We have listened to people and arrived at a fair and affordable solution that gives people certainty while allowing the country to invest in our broken water infrastructure.