Ireland back in the Limelight Over Lisbon

Today the German constitutional court, has found the Lisbon Treaty to be compatible with the Federal Constitution of Germany.  Ireland is back in the limelight.

Continue reading Ireland back in the Limelight Over Lisbon…

Minister Mary Hanafin Must Explain Why Waiting Lists for Job Seekers Allowance & Job Seekers Benefit in Dún Laoghaire Are So Long

Today I called on Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin to explain why the waiting lists for Job Seekers Allowance and Job Seekers Benefit in Dún Laoghaire are so long.

Continue reading Minister Mary Hanafin Must Explain Why Waiting Lists for Job Seekers Allowance & Job Seekers Benefit in Dún Laoghaire Are So Long…

IMF Report: Government Still in Denial Over Economy

Smothering debate on the economy has cost this country dearly.  Before the previous general election anyone who spoke about the economy was accused of talking it down.  We all recognise we have a serious problem.   

The Government however is still in denial.

Senator Leyden for example suggested in the Seanad that we do not talk about the economy again in case we interfere with the Government’s actions in this area.  

In April when the IMF put the cost of restoring the Irish banks at €24 billion, the Taoiseach questioned the correctness of the report.  Now however when the latest IMF report  shows a much deeper cost of restoring the banks, putting the figure at €34 billion, the Minister for Finance says it is fair.   It is for us to point out such inconsistencies in the Government’s policy on the economy. 

It is important for the Government to stop the denials.  For every report that comes out there is a soundbite which is either based on inaccurate figures or claimed as an endorsement of Government policy. The reality is quite different however. 

The IMF report clearly says that NAMA was “potentially” the right mechanism to separate good assets from bad ones.  It is not an endorsement of the Government’s approach.  It provides for quite a number of measures that the Government must undertake to ensure NAMA will work.  It may potentially be the right mechanism but I have no confidence in the Government being able to implement that strategy correctly. 

The IMF report also underlines the Government’s strategy on expenditure and tax cuts.  Fine Gael has been to the fore in pointing out the inconsistencies in these areas in recent budgets.  The IMF endorses the Opposition’s position on public finances, including expenditure.  We should have a truthful debate on the economy without trying to smother discussion on the facts of the situation. 

Hypocrisy over Firearms

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is attempting to restrict legally held firearms in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous) Provisions Bill 2009 which is currently going through the Lower House and is due to come back to us in the Seanad. 

This action will disrupt a legitimate sport in which no problems have arisen.  Many people enjoy this sport and have strict procedures to safeguard their arms which are licensed. 

The Minister for Defence however cannot even safeguard firearms in the custody of the State.  Grenades and a gun have been stolen from Limerick Army barracks. 

It is extremely unfortunate that an incident such as this can occur.  Today in the Seanad I called on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform identify what other arms of this nature in the custody of the State have disappeared in this way?

Does the Greens Seanad absence signal an ‘empty chair policy’ in operation?

The fact that no Green Senator has been present in the Upper House at any stage this week has prompted me to question whether or not the Greens’ support for the Government is waning in light of the Party’s recent annihilation at the polls and Fianna Fáil’s slapping down of a Seanad nomination for the junior Government partner. 

One has to wonder whether or not the Greens’ absence from the Seanad this week signals the initiation of an ‘empty chair policy’ first used by the French Government in the 60s when it boycotted European Community meetings in response to the implementation of a policy it strongly disagreed with. 

The Greens’ nose is clearly out of joint following Fianna Fáil’s slapping down of a Green nominee for one of the two vacant Seanad seats. Are the Greens so put out that they have adopted an ‘empty chair policy’ or can they simply not be bothered to attend Seanad sittings? 

Does their non-attendance pertain solely to the Seanad nomination issue? Or is it more fundamental in nature signalling a collapse in the Green Party’s support for this Fianna Fáil- led Government?  

Furthermore, if the Green Party has a problem in respect of prospective Seanad candidates perhaps we can assist them on a Green nomination, were they to support a candidate from the Opposition. But in order to have a discussion on the issue they will first have to make a reappearance in the Upper House.

20 June 09 Miriam Lord’s Week Irish Times

21 June 09 Absent Greens Battle for Third Seanad Seat Sunday Times