You are on page 1of 176

Varadkar I want Ireland to

be a country that rewards


work
Minister for Social Protection says he has no plans
whatsoever for an early election
May 21, 17
Mary Minihan
Speaking before taking part in the Streets of Dublin 5km race in the city
centre on Sunday (21 May) morning, Mr Varadkar clarified early comments
made on his campaign. Video: Mary Minihan
Leo Varadkar, who is in pole position to become Fine
Gael leader and Taoiseach, has said he wants Ireland to
be a country that rewards work.
The Minister for Social Protection who officially
launched his leadership campaign on Saturday was
asked on Sunday what he meant when he said he wanted
to lead a party for people who get up early in the
morning.

Leo Varadkar speaks to media before the Streets of Dublin race at the CHQ
Building in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar at the Streets of Dublin five
kilometre race in the city centre on Sunday morning. Photograph: Mary
Minihan/The Irish Times
He said: I want Ireland to be a country that rewards
work and that rewards people who work hard,
essentially, who want better lives for themselves, for
their families, for their communities.
And that of course includes many forms of work, its not
just paid employment. There are a lot of people, for
example who get up very early in the morning because
theyre carers, or because theyre parents.
Speaking before taking part in the Streets of Dublin five
kilometre race in the city centre on Sunday morning, Mr
Varadkar welcomed Minister for Housing Simon
Coveneys decision to stay in the Fine Gael leadership
contest and said he had no plans for an early election.
The Irish Times leadership tracker shows Mr Varadkar
has a significant lead over Mr Coveney.
Mr Varadkar said he was seeking a mandate from party
members and councillors as well as TDs, Senators and
MEPs.
/ Coveney: FG should seek to unite rather than divide
/ Coveney vows to stay in leadership race at Cork rally
/ Why should Simon give up? Coveney supporters say
hes in good spirits

Im very keen as well that the contest should continue


and Im pleased that Simon Coveney decided to stay in
the contest because its absolutely important that we
take this debate and this opportunity to reinvigorate
Fine Gael to the councillors, to the members across the
country, he said.
He said a party leader was in a much stronger position if
they had a mandate not only from the parliamentary
party but also councillors and members.

Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar at the Streets of Dublin 5km race
in the city centre on Sunday morning. Photograph: Mary Minihan/The Irish
Times
I want to seek a mandate from the members as well.
Mr Varadkar insisted he did not want to have an early
General Election.
I have no plans whatsoever for an early election. We
have a confidence and supply agreement with Fianna
Fil. We have a Programme for Government negotiated
and agreed with Independents and its my intention to
honour those agreements if Ive the opportunity to lead
Fine Gael.
Mr Varadkar was flanked by supporters Eoghan Murphy,
Minister of State for Finance, and Fine Gael Senator
Maura Hopkins.
A more democratic Fine Gael would be the hallmark of
his leadership of the party, he said.
Mr Varadkar said he would propose a rolling manifesto
that got updated two or three times a year at policy
conferences involving all public representatives as well
as representatives of party members.
Membership election and a more democratic Fine Gael
only starts with this election. Its going to be something
that will be a hallmark of my leadership if Ive the
opportunity to be leader.
He said he would publish some policy proposals
tomorrow and a document on how Fine Gael could be
modernised, reformed and energised during the week.
The leadership contest will be decided using a weighted
voting system across three electoral colleges - the
parliamentary party, councillors and party members.
Votes by parliamentary party members (TDs, Senators
and MEPs) have more weight than the other colleges.
Rank-and-file members are given more voting strength
than councillors, but substantially less than the
parliamentary party.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/varadkar-i-want-ireland-to-
be-a-country-that-rewards-work-1.3090811
Statement from Dept of Defence about the sale of LE Aisling.
Sale of former L Aisling .
The decommissioned former Naval Service vessel L Aisling, which was thirty seven years
old, was sold by way of public auction on Thursday 23 March 2017 in the Carrigaline Court
Hotel, Cork.
The sale was handled by Mr Dominic Daly, a Cork based agent and expert in the
field. Mr Daly also handled the sale by auction of the decommissioned L Emer in
2013 to a Nigerian registered company for 320,000 and the sale of the former
L Dirdre in 2001 to a UK company for IR190,000.
The auction of L Aisling was advertised by the auctioneer in specialist maritime
publications and in the national media, and there was considerable press
coverage in advance of the auction.
The vessel was sold on an as seen basis to a Dutch shipbroker for 110,000
and was removed from the Naval Base in Haulbowline on 23 April 2017.
The proceeds of the sale of the former L Aisling have been returned to the
Defence Vote as Appropriations in Aid.
The Department of Defence is aware of the proposed resale of the former L
Aisling for an asking price of $750,000. However, the Department has no trailing
obligations in relation to the vessel and any hoped for resale price is a matter for
the new owner.
Following her withdrawal from service, the former L Aisling was stored on
water at berthage facilities at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Co. Cork.
With the impending commissioning of the new L William Butler Yeats, the
former L Aisling was decommissioned.

The Minister made the decision to sell the former L vessel by way of public
auction to the highest bidder to maximise the return to the Exchequer. No
reserve price was set for the sale of the vessel.
While the vessel remained in the ownership of the Department, it continued to
be a drain in terms of both maintenance and personnel costs and resources. It
was also taking up scarce berthage space in the Naval Basin. The vessel would
also have seen a deterioration in condition and consequent reduction in value as
time went by.
In view of this, it was imperative that the vessel was sold at an early date. If a
reserve price was set and was not met, the Department would have incurred
further costs to dispose of the vessel by way of scrap in an environmentally
sound manner.
The public auction was attended by a number of interested parties, including
scrap dealers, who declined to bid on the day. Two bids were made, including the
accepted bid of 110,000.

The sale of the vessel by public auction was fully transparent and was open to
all interested parties. The Department is fully satisfied that the public auction
process used in the sale of the former L Aisling was appropriate, and in all such
situations the prevailing market determines the price achievable.

Simon Coveney: Hotels will no


longer be used to house
homeless families by July
Using hotels to house families has risen hugely in recent times.
Mar 16th 2017, 1:41 PM 14,510 Views 58 Comments
Share Tweet Email1
Image: Marc O'Sullivan
HOUSING MINISTER SIMON Coveney has reaffirmed his
commitment to ensuring that hotels will no longer be used
to house homeless families by July of this year.
Speaking this morning at the launch of the High Park family
hub, Coveney said that people in his department and others
were working very hard in order to meet this ambitious goal.
A lot of people are working very hard to make sure that we
meet that target, Coveney told TheJournal.ie.
When questioned specifically whether he thought the goal of
no longer using hotels to house families (except in very
limited circumstances) could be met by July, Coveney said:
I think so, I think so. I mean its putting a lot of pressure on
people but I think so.
He said this goal would be achieved through a combination
of rapid-build housing units, HAP tenancies and facilities
like High Park.
High Park is a family focused supported temporary
accommodation. Operated by the Respond! Housing
Association, it provides secure accommodation for homeless
families with dedicated onsite staff and key workers.
Coveney said that a number of similar units will begin to
open over the next number of months and families will
transition from hotels to these units.

View image on Twitter

Follow

Cormac Fitzgerald
Housing Minister being shown around new Respond!
accommodation for homeless families
8:48 AM - 16 Mar 2017
> 1 1 Retweetlikes
Twitter Ads info & Privacy
Source: Cormac Fitzgerald/Twitter

High Park
Situated in an old Magdalene Laundry building in spacious
ground off the Grace Park Road in north Dublin, High Park
is designed as a more suitable alternative for hotels and
B&Bs.
There are currently 82 occupants staying at the facility in
total. This includes 38 adults and 44 children (33 families in
total).
The majority of these families are single parent families,
however a number of couples with children are also staying
at the facility.
Families are given wrap-around support during the time
they spend at High Park, and are appointed staff who work
with them and help them secure long term alternative
accommodation.

From left to right: Declan Dunne, CEO Respond! Housing TDs Roisin Shortall
and Dessie Ellis, Minister Coveney and John O'Connor, chair of Respond!
Source: Marc O'Sullivan
A number of residents staying at the facility spoke
to TheJournal.ie on condition of anonymity.
They said that the accommodation was comfortable, clean
and well-kept and the staff were very supportive.
There is a curfew of 11pm at the facility. Alcohol and drugs
are strictly prohibited and children must be supervised at all
times.
The residents who spoke to TheJournal.ie all said that the
accommodation was far more preferable than staying at a
hotel or B&B. But they expressed a wish to be able to move
onto their own independent homes as soon as possible.
The centre began operating just under three months ago. In
that time, four families have moved onto longer-term
accommodation.
Speaking today, Declan Dunne CEO of Respond! said
that the purpose of the centre was for families to have a
place to stay while they waited for homes.
Our principal focus has been houses. Permanent,
sustainable houses for people to live their whole lives, he
said.
This model here is very simply a humanitarian response for
us to do something in the short term while people are
waiting for homes
Hotels
The use of hotel and B&Bs to house homeless families has
skyrocketed over the past number of years and the
homelessness crisis has worsened in Dublin worsened.
Latest figures from the Housing Department show that there
1007 homeless families with 2,046 children staying in
emergency accommodation in Dublin in January. The
overwhelming majority of these were staying in private
hotels or B&Bs at a huge cost to the state.
Dublin City Council spent 40 million trying to house
homeless families in hotels and B&Bs in 2016 alone.
Coveney first committed to ending the use of hotels to house
homeless families by the middle of this year last summer in
the Governments Rebuilding Ireland Housing Action Plan.
Charity experts expressed serious doubt that this being
possible at the time, however Coveney today remained
resolute that the goal could be achieved.
http://www.thejournal.ie/hotel-homeless-families-3291278-
Mar2017/
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local
Government Homelessness Report January 2017
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/h
omeless_report_-_january_2017.pdf

Minister Coveney announces allocation of funding of


over 24 Million Housing Investment for Local
Authority Homes
Published on Friday, 05 May 2017
Allocation of funding and targets for 2017 which will see a minimum of
1,400 void and vacant social housing units returned to productive use at
a cost of 24m.

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon


Coveney, T.D., has today, 5 May, 2017 announced the allocation of funding of
over 24 million for the return of over 1,400 vacant local authority properties
to productive use this year.

The move is a continuation of the Governments commitment under the Social


Housing Strategy to deliver 47,000 housing units by 2021 at a cost of 5.35
billion.

Minister Coveney said Under the Governments Social Housing Strategy


2020, and reaffirmed under Pillar 2 of Rebuilding Ireland(link is external) my
Department is committed to supporting local authorities in carrying out work
that both improves the national housing stock and ensures that existing social
housing stock is used efficiently. This announcement today will bring another
1,400 housing units back into use in a timely manner for homeless
households and families on housing waiting lists.

Feedback from local authorities in respect of this programme is very positive.


Since the introduction of the programme in 2014 valuable assistance has
been provided to local authorities in dealing with vacant units and significant
progress has been made in tackling the backlog. These measures will also
greatly assist local authorities in achieving quick turnaround and re-letting
times for such units.

Going forward funding will be linked to local authorities putting in place


ongoing maintenance programmes to address the issue of vacant properties.
These measures will mean that there will not be a high number of vacant
units, and local authorities will be continued to be supported in the
remediation of any such vacant units that do occur.

Im happy to be able to continue the vacant property programme and to


support the local authorities in the provision of funding for these very
worthwhile and important schemes for local authority tenants concluded the
Minister.

Since its introduction in 2014 the Departments Vacant Properties (Voids)


Programme has provided approximately 85million of funding which has
result in over 7,200 properties being return to productive use. A key priority of
this scheme is to rehouse homeless families to the fullest extent possible in
homes that have been restored to an energy efficient condition.

The Vacant Properties programme applies to both short and long term vacant
units nationwide and is being allocated, as it was in 2014 and 2015, on an
equitable and evidence-based system. The energy efficiency works on the
Vacant Property Programme has secured ERDF funding as part of the EU
Operational Programme 2014-2020 and will see EU co-financing of 50% of
eligible public investment under these programmes.

Ends

Notes for Editors:

The Allocation Process for Vacant Properties


The programme applies to both short and long term vacant units nationwide
and is being allocated, as in the previous 3 years, on an equitable and
evidence-based system, adjudicated and weighted based on the priorities
submitted by local authorities, the current numbers of vacant units and the
cost effectiveness of the proposal. Funding will be linked to local authorities
putting in place on-going maintenance programmes to address the issue of
vacant properties.

The Department requested all local authorities to submit a prioritised list of


Voids for remediating under this programme. The maximum funding of
30,000 per dwelling is being applied in 2017 as was done in 2014 - 2016. In
remediating these units for re-letting, there is a particular focus on making
them energy efficient. The Department also applies cost thresholds for
individual elements of the remediation work to control costs. The result is that
while an upper limit of 30,000 per Void unit applies, the average cost per unit
was over 11,000 in 2014 and over 12,000 in 2015 & 2016. The average
cost per unit has increased over time as the less complex and lower cost units
were largely addressed in the 2014 programme.

Efficiencies are also achieved in procurement of contractors by working with


the Local Government Operation Procurement Centre but additionally, local
authorities are also encouraged to use the services of Community Based
Organisations who recruit, train and engage long-term unemployed people to
carry out the necessary works within their local areas. Funding under the
scheme is based on evidence of the work done and confirmation that no
previous public funding has been received in recent years for similar works for
the property. It is also be a requirement that photographic evidence
(before/after) be available and details of energy savings (post-works BER at
minimum) are provided by the local authorities when submitting their claims.

EU Funding
As part of the EU Operational Programme 2014-2020, the energy efficiency
works on the Voids programme will attract funding under the ERDF. The
Regional Assemblies have created a Social Housing Retrofit Programme
within their Operational Programmes to accommodate support for the social
housing Voids and Energy Efficiency programmes. This will see EU co-
financing of 50% of eligible public investment under these programmes.

Homelessness
Local authorities will be asked to give priority consideration to making the
refurbished homes available for letting to homeless families.
Appendix: Proposed Allocations Vacant Properties

County Approved units Proposed Allocated Funding

Carlow 8 94,000

Cavan 12 221,950

Clare 24 514,308

Cork City 43 871,000

Cork County 69 1,326,850

Donegal 128 1,875,185

Dublin City 377 8,313,500

DLR 11 188,621

Fingal 151 2,108,750

Galway City 16 174,400

Galway County 30 642,500

Kerry 56 778,865

Kildare 7 140,000

Kilkenny 9 182,500
Laois 5 41,440

Leitrim 16 260,700

Limerick 32 554,000

Longford 37 225,000

Louth 7 87,500

Mayo 22 353,200

Meath 47 842,000

Monaghan 13 182,000

Offaly 7 135,500

Roscommon 4 74,500

Sligo 44 738,697

South Dublin 92 1,397,022

Tipperary 58 751,200

Waterford 52 853,820
Westmeath 8 88,371

Wexford 11 231,500

Wicklow 9 174,300

Total 1,405 24,423,180

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-
ireland/funding/minister-coveney-announces-allocation-funding-
over-eu24-million-void-and-vacant-social-housing-units

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE RIVER BASIN


MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR IRELAND (2018-2021)

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/public-
consultation/files/draft_river_basin_management_plan_1.pdf
SEA Environmental Report for the Draft River Basin
Management Plans
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/public-
consultation/files/rbmp_sea_environmental_report_1.pdf
Natura Impact Statement for the draft RBMP's for Ireland
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/public-
consultation/files/natura_impact_statement_for_the_rbmps_for
_ireland.pdf
Well, who would have guessed ? " In a statement Mr
Coveney said that during negotiations he repeated that
there is enough emergency accommodation to meet
current demand" Now tell me WHY THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY NOW AND WHERE THIS DEMAND
ORIGINATES?? HOW COME THE UTILITIES WEREN'T
OFFERED SOONER ? YOU'D THINK HE IS SAYING IT'S
GODLY INTEREFERENCE CAUSING HOMELESSNESS . THIS,
IN ESSENCE, GOOD MOVE BY THE PROTESTERS WILL
AGAIN FIZZLE OFF INTO NOTHINGNESS. IS THAT
INTENTIONAL ?
https://www.rte.ie//2017/0109/843692-apollo-house-
homeless/
Apollo House occupiers agree to leave building
Homeless campaigners who have taken over the Apollo House
building in central Dublin have said they will vacate the building
following assurances that the 40 homeless residents will get
accommodation.
RTE.IE

The Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said the Apollo


House sit-in is not the way to tackle Dublin's homeless crisis.
Apollo House on Tara Street has been renamed "Home Sweet
Home" by a group of activists and artists who have occupied
the NAMA-owned property and are converting it into homeless
accommodation.
Speaking in the Dil yesterday, Mr Coveney said that a major
homeless initiative is already working for the city.
He also praised Dublin City Council for creating 210 safe new
beds for the homeless in just one month.
The Minister said: "To occupy a building and to try and put
those supports together in an ad hoc way, while I understand
the frustration and motivation behind it, is not the way to deal
with this.
"Instead, I am a very accessible Minister when it comes to
CEOs of homeless organisations. From Focus Ireland, the
Simon Community, the Peter McVerry Trust to Vincent de Paul
- whoever, the CEOs have my phone number and can call me
directly at any point in time."

Coveney must accept water


charge ripples to avoid
election
Analysis: Minister says he will proceed with water
legislation despite his reservations
Mon, Apr 10, 2017, 11:54 Updated: Thu, Apr 20, 2017, 16:38

Sarah Bardon Political Reporter Follow @sarahbardon


Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon
Coveney: I will need to bring forward legislation for the parts of the report that
are good and legally sound. Photograph: Eric Luke
The water charges issue was always going to provide an
unstable period for this minority Government.
Fianna Fil had campaigned for their abolition in the
general election while Fine Gael was one of few parties to
stand on a pro-water charge policy.
The Government party suffered a backlash in the polls
while Fianna Fil began its resurgence. The issue was
not the sole reason for either but it was the most obvious
contributor.
As Fine Gael cobbled together a government, the future
of the levies became an integral part of the conversation.
The issue became a stumbling block during the
negotiations between Fianna Fil and Fine Gael, almost
sinking the discussions at one point.
And this week the charges threatened the stability of this
minority Government. While it was clear neither party
wanted to go to the polls on water, their provocative
language and counter threats brought us to the brink of
an election.
/ Sinn Fin accuse FG and FF of cute-hoorism in water
deal
/ Water charges: everything you need to know (and a
bit more)
/ Bathing water: what lurks beneath?
The points of contention between Minister for Housing
Simon Coveney and Fianna Fil TD Barry Cowen were
difficult to comprehend.
Both want to penalise those who waste water. One
wanted to charge, the other wanted to fine. One said it
was a matter for the Oireachtas committee to decide, the
other insisting it was a matter for the Dil.
Flawed report
Both marched their parties to the top of the hill, only it
seems for Coveney to march them back down again.
Coveney has indicated he would proceed with legislation
based on the reports recommendations even if the
report was inimical to Fine Gaels core policies on water
charges. The report is flawed and Fine Gael will not
support it. At the same time, I will need to bring forward
legislation for the parts of the report that are good and
legally sound, he said on Sunday. For some other of the
recommendations, I will need to seek the advice of the
Attorney General to make sure that Ireland does not face
fines for breaching the Water Framework Directive and
the polluter pays principle, he said.

The Minister believes the proposals are flawed and


incompatible with European law. More significantly for
the Fine Gael leadership contender, the report is in
breach of his partys policy. However, Coveney knows he
has to accept the path in front of him or face an
election.
The Minister is still insisting he will not legislate for
something that is contrary to EU law. But by accepting
this is a matter for legislation, Coveney has, in a way,
conceded defeat.
How his party members react is key. The six Fine Gael
members on the Oireachtas committee on water,
including party chairman Martin Heyden, Kate
OConnell TD and Senator Paudie Coffey, were primed to
fight this fight with Fianna Fil at the committee. Now it
seems Coveney has determined their outcome.
Faux politics
There are repercussions for Fianna Fil too. The
legislation that follows on from this report will provide
for a financial penalty for excessive usage. By engaging
in a faux political row Fianna Fil has created the
impression that it is opposed to such a thing. This will
create further difficulties for the party down the line.
Sinn Fin, People Before Profit and Solidarity will seize
on this when the legislation is eventually brought
forward. While we may have a truce now, the war is
likely to reignite at a future date.
There are also the long-term consequences for this
minority Government. Fianna Fil has engaged in faux
electionitis on one too many occasions. It will not be
long before the partys members and supporters get
restless and seek a day at the ballot boxes.
Fine Gael, meanwhile, has to wrestle with its conscience
and policies to ensure its retention in the Government. A
new leader beckons and the events of the past week have
damaged Coveneys prospects. Whoever replaces Enda
Kenny as leader must decide if they are willing to
continuously sacrifice power to remain in office.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-must-accept-
water-charge-ripples-to-avoid-election-1.3043513
With friends like Jim "take the water charges out of their dole" Daly .... I pity poor Leo. I had a
school teacher once who didn't suffer fools and when some unfortunate child gave a stupid
answer to a question the child got battered. Leo sent one of his stormtroopers, one of his
elite, one of his brightest and best - Jim Daly on to the Vinny Brown show last night to fight for
his cause. Brown asked Smart Jim a simple enough question 'what are Leo Varadkars
achievements?' Jim looked blankly at the camera. And right enough this was a difficult one,
because truth is Leo has achieved little or nothing as a government Minister since 2011. Jim
thought hard and then had a eureka moment. 'His POPULARITY' says the brightest kid in the
class of 17.

Which tells me:


(a) Jim never went to school
(b) His teacher was deaf
(c) His teacher knew he was thick and left him to it
At least if Vlad wins the coronation contest he has a brainy lad ready for instant promotion to
Education Minister

Today, we celebrate the end of a tyrant, a dictator and a traitor. (It's just a pity he didn't take
that other rotten failure Noonan with him)

Noonan will retire without his cohort... the flames of Nama investigations getting a little too hot....then, as a
retiree...he will refuse to go before any Government committee to be held accountable
Corruption increased 1000 fold under the leadership of the Mayo muppet.
I was listening to the News at One on RT and Business Editor David Murphy was asked
what did he think of the great man? (No, not Enda ya fools - he is only half way to greatness,
he has a career in Europe ahead of him first). Murphy was almost in tears as he told of the
mans many miracles, how he got unemployment down from 15% to 6% single-handedly, how
he managed to get our children and our grandchildren to pay the bondholders until 2050
because - well because we were all bold. Murphy admitted that the blessed one was not
perfect - well, sure even Jesus and the pope have had their faults, but he will be missed by all
who listened to his witticisms. At that David wiped back a tear, he probably thought of the time
the great man bought him a pint in Buswells.
Definitely, the blessed one will be a saint soon. All those miracles. Sorry now, blessed John
Sullivan, you will have to wait - Blessed Michael Noonan will be raised to sainthood first,
David Murphy of RT said so. Amen.

All thanks to Bilderberg puppet Simon Coveney, I wonder


what sort of weapons they will be testing? It's not like we
have a right to know or anything, Irish people are nothing
but lab rats to the globalists, a badge that most seem to
wear with pride...

GREATER ACCESS TO IRELANDS


TERRITORY WILL BE GIVEN TO ARMS
AND DEFENSE COMPANIES TO TEST
WEAPONS SYSTEMS
06.11.2015

Irelands neutrality is being made a mockery of enough with the use


of Shannon airport by US military, now we have weapons systems
used by those same powers who have took part in illegal wars and
occupations will be tested on Irish territory
Plans are underway to turn Ireland into a testing ground for military weapons
it has been revealed. Minister of Defence, Simon Covney revealed plans to
turn Ireland into a testing ground for new weapon systems will see greater
access for the international Defense industry to test new weapons guidance
systems and drones, he outlined the plans in a conference with journalists.
Ireland has for a long time been used as a testing ground for foreign military powers and
intelligence agencies, namely being the UK. Not only has Ireland been a long time testing
ground by the UK but it has also been another stop off point for the US military as they fly
on to fight wars in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan.

A great percentage of the Irish people North and South are against the wars, occupations
and human rights abuses committed by these powers and rightly so, the Irish government
on the other hand have been well known for their immoral stances in regards to the illegal
wars, occupations and abuses.

Its clear that the Irish people stand to gain nothing from this decision to allow greater
access to its territory by foreign corporations and powers.

https://southfront.org/greateraccesstoirelandsterritorywillbegiventoarmsanddefense
companiestotestweaponssystems/

Simon Coveney blocks plans


for Kildare houses
Minister for Housing orders council to reverse decision on
development at Sallins site
Fri, Aug 12, 2016, 01:00
Olivia Kelly
Simon Coveney: I have responsibility to ensure the excessive zoning that
occurred in the past in some parts of the country is not repeated. Photograph:
Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times
Minister for Housing Simon Coveney has stymied plans
for the development of more than 365 houses in north
Kildare, about 10km from the Dublin border.
Mr Coveney has ordered Kildare County Council to
reverse its decision to rezone lands near Sallins for
residential use because the town was significantly over-
zoned for housing.
The council last December published a draft area plan
for Sallins which proposed zoning 36 acres for parks and
recreational use, three acres for community and
educational facilities and 30 acres for housing.
The following month the Department of the
Environment wrote to the council warning that it was
not in compliance with the planning Acts or its own
county development plan. A target of 260 new homes
had been set for Sallins up to 2022, and the department
said the new zoning had the potential to add more than
365 extra homes on an area that was peripheral and
greenfield in nature.
Leapfrogging
The department said the development, which would be
to the northeast of the town and 1.5km from Sallins
station, would be contrary to the sequential approach to
development which discourages leapfrogging to
remote areas.
However, last March councillors voted overwhelmingly
to go ahead with the zoning. The council was then
notified the Minister intended to overturn the zoning.
The draft ministerial order was released for public
consultation in April, and more than 2,000 submissions
were received. All but one from An Taisce opposed
the Ministers intention to reverse the zoning.
In a letter to the council this week, which accompanied
his order to revoke the zoning, Mr Coveney said Sallins
had been excessively zoned for housing in the past.
The recently published Government plan for housing
had the acceleration of delivery of additional housing to
meet rising demand at its heart, Mr Coveney said, but
there was a need to ensure housing was properly
planned.
I have responsibility to ensure the excessive zoning that
occurred in the past in some parts of the country is not
repeated. He said the need for recreational and
community facilities for Sallins should be dealt with
expeditiously by Kildare County Council.
Package
Local Fianna Fil TD James Lawless said the zoning had
been part of a package that would bring much-needed
facilities to the town. Everybody in Sallins understands
the problems of over-zoning, but that horse has bolted,
he said.
Sallins went from 500 to 5,000 people in the last 15
years with no accompanying amenities. This plan offered
a concrete proposal to actually deliver lands for those
amenities.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/simoncoveneyblocksplansforkildarehouses
1.2753371
The Corrib gas field off Mayo is already raking in millions for the foreign companies that were
handed it on a plate by our useless politicians. The people of Rossport put up a gallant fight
and they and all those courageous activists who supported them were brutally treated by the
Irish state and it's police and judges. You can speculate why the politicians we elected to look
after our interests decided to give away our wealth. Corruption? Ignorance? Incompetence?
Stupidity? Treason? The performance of the Corrib gas field is exceeding expectations.
Canadian company, Vermilion Energy owns 18.5pc of the field and based on Vermilion's
Corrib sales between January and the end of March of this year, the total sales from the field
for the three partners would be $241m (160m).

The 160m equates to sales of 1.7MILLION daily from the Corrib gas field.
The sales for the first quarter follow sales of $589m from the first year of production (2016).

This money belongs to the people of Ireland.

Vermilion has stated previously that its investment in the field will be a significant source of
fund flows for Vermilion "stemming from its relatively high-priced gas product".
Shell E&P Ireland Ltd has received 186m in tax credits since the project's inception.
Shell has a 45pc share in the field with its two partners - Statoil having a 36.5pc share and
Vermilion owning the remaining 18.5pc share.
So Vermilion from Canada, Shell, a Dutch/British company and Statoil from Norway are
already making hundreds of millions from the THEFT of our gas and into the future will steal
BILLIONS of our wealth.

Fianna Fil started the giveaway and we know for a fact that Ray Burke accepted bribes.
Under various Taoisigh, including Ahern, Cowan and of course - shamefully for a local Mayo
man, Kenny the theft was allowed and encouraged. Along with Fianna Fil and the
Blueshirts, the Green Party, the PD's and the Labour Party all played their part. Yet when Pat
Rabbitte or Alex White appear almost daily in the media they are never questioned about this
disgraceful act of treason.

We need to start electing politicians who will put the interests of our country and of our people
first. The Corrib and other oil and gas fields need to be nationalized and the wealth shared by
our citizens. And the above mentioned politicians and the others who colluded with them put
on trial and put behind bars in chains.

It's very hard to be a welfare cheat these days LEO because revenue and everything is registered and the
system is set up so if there are two payments being registered on PPS numbers A RED LIGHT GOES OFF ,
Concentrate on your cheating lying cronies with off shore bank accounts first maggot. Like
David Drumm, wife & kids still in the lap of luxury in the US, funny that as they're Bankrupt, but
if you can pull figures from your arse, dodge the law here, come back only after being banged
up in a real jail, sure you'll be grand here & the tax payers, the ones Leo the liar agonize over,
will pick up your VERY EXPENSIVE, FOUR BARRISTER LED, legal bill.
OUR PEOPLE POWER SUGGESTS YOU LISTEN TO THIS VIDEO OF RTE Claire BYRNE RTE with
MASTER OF THE HIGH COURT TELLING HER SOLUTIONS TO EVICTION PROBLEM IS TO ISSUE
LEGISLATION TO BUY BACK HOMES FROM VULTURE FUNDS FOR WHAT THEY PAID FOR THEM &
SAYING NONE OF OUR POLITICIANS KNOW OR UNDERSTAND THE LAW ESPECIALLY ALAN KELLY
WHOM SHE TRIED TO DEFEND! (if video does not copy please see it on my site)
Wow, Master Of The High Court puts Claire in her place and all our Disgraceful IGNORANT OF THE LAW
politicians too!!
Straight forward immediate solution to our housing crisis..
Unbelievable so this Woman was put in her Place immediately by Edmund Honohan Master of the High Court
as she rushed in to defend that CRIMINAL ALAN KELLY - CAN'T YOU NOW ALL SEE THE LIES &
MANIPULATIONS OF THESE 'UP THEMSELVES IDIOT PRESENTER'S ON RTE??DOWN WITH RTE
THEY ARE ALL BEHIND THE LIES WE HAVE BEEN TOLD! AT LAST THE MASTER of the High Courts
comes out & reaffirms what we have been shouting about that the The Judiciary are now Realising that the
Government MINISTERS haven't Got a Fucking Clue about the Law especially that Upstart ALAN KELLY
Who has cost our People a Fortune with the Illegally SET UP IRISH WATER - in VIOLATION OF THE
THREE PILLARS LAWS!He should be Horse whipped & Arrested & Jailed for His INSIDER TRADING WITH
HIS BROTHER DECLAN for CONSPIRACY along with that other evil Bastard NOONAN who could have
passed this Legislation & Helped all our People Getting Evicted the SUICIDE OF SO MANY OF OUR
PEOPLE IS ON HIS TREACHEROUS NECK! NOW ALL WE NEED IS A COUPLE OF STRAIGHT POLICE
TO ARREST THEM ALL FOR CRIMES AGAINST OUR PEOPLE! ARE THERE ANY HONEST POLICE IN
THE WHOLE OF IRELAND?THIS MAN EDMUND HONOHAN whom we thank for finally coming forward
HAS SAID LOUD & CLEAR THAT THIS GOVERNMENT COULD & CAN BUY BACK ALL THESE HOUSES
FROM THE VULTURE FUNDS AT WHAT THEY PAID FOR THEM UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION They can
bring in Legislation to do so!! TOUGH CHEESE THEY MAKE NO MONEY THE CANNOT DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT GREEDY BASTARDS REMEMBER THAT IT WAS OUR 'TRAITOR TAOISEACH' ENDA KENNY
WHO INVITED THESE VULTURE FUND'S (mostly if not all owned by Wall St which is Owned by the EVIL
ROTHSCHILDS) TO COME TO IRELAND TO BUY UP THESE HOMES FOR HALF NOTHING- NEVER
FORGET THIS TRAITOR KENNY TO OUR PEOPLE! WE NEED POLICE FROM THE FRAUD SQUAD TO
COME FORWARD TO ARREST ALL THESE MINISTERS WHO HAVE BETRAYED OUR PEOPLE &
BROKEN OUR LAWS! WE SIMPLY CANNOT GO FORWARD WITH THIS DEGREE OF CORRUPTION!
THE FF & FG COMBINED IS 49% The INDEPENDENTS ARE 51% SO DO WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED
FOR ! OUR PEOPLE POWER ABU! FOR JUSTICE & FAIRNESS IN THE JUDICIARY POLICE & RTE!
Money for nothing
Aoibhinn Kenny - expected to inherit her Father's
seat - thoroughbred Fianna Gael
Enda is Royalty - Fiounuala O'Kelly, his wife, was talent spotted
by PJ Mara, and ended up reporting to The Boos directly in
order to keep CJ in power
Moves afoot to get his daughter in after him
Fifty years a TD for Enda Kenny? It

Taoiseachs decision to run again might ease daughter Aoibhinns


political inheritance

The Blueshirt from the West was one of the Taoiseachs appointees to the Seanad on
65,000 a year plus expenses. The trouble is, the Galway man lives in Chicago.

More importantly though, he gave Endas daughter Aoibhinn Kenny a summer job on a J1
visa in 2013.

Billy maintains she probably got lucky.

But in an interview on Newstalk admitted: Why wouldnt you look after a friends
daughter? The relatives of politicians are always so lucky.

Aoibhinn Kenny later got a job as an intern to US Senator Charles E. Schumer last summer.
She's a big beast...takes after her FFer mum Fionnuala

In her first year, she thought she should be elected to the SU


Enda's girl Aoibhinn loses
election in recount drama
Louise Hogan
April 13 2012

ENDAKenny'sdaughterAoibhinnyesterdayfeltthepainofelectoralrejectionwhenshelostarecount
byafewpreciousvotesforthepostofIrishlanguageofficeratUCDstudent'sunion.

ITwasascenealltoofamiliartoAoibhinnNiChionnaith.Theyoungstudenthasbeenbythesideof
herfatherTaoiseachEndaKennyatmanyacountcentredownthroughtheyearsasnervesfrayed
duringrecounts

Thistimeitwasherturn.ThefirstyearUCDlawandeconomicsstudenthadmadeherfirsttentative
forayontothehustingswhensheputhernamedowntorunfortheparttimepostwiththestudents'
unionofOifigeachnaGaeilge,orIrishlanguageofficer.

Therewerelessthan10votesbetweentheyoungstudentandhernearestrivalfortheposition,Gabhan
OBriain.

Cocktail
MsNiChionnaithhadthesupportofplentyofwellwishersandfriendsyesterdayasshewaitedinthe
students'unioncentretoheartheoutcomeafter1,598hadcasttheirvoteswith704toAoibhinnand
713toheropponent.

Afteranotherrecount,onthisoccasiontheplaudits,hugsandwellwishesallwenttoMrOBriainwho
nabbedthepostbywhatwasdescribedas"justafewvotes".

Thestudents'unionelectionsarerunsimilartothoseinthenationalpoliticalarenawithmanifestos,
professionalleaflets,postersand,insomecases,websitesforcandidates.

Inhermanifesto,Aoibhinnjokinglydescribedherselfascomingfroma"completelyapoliticalfamily".
Shealsoquipsthatshehashappilyembracedstudentlifeand,incontrasttoherfatherwhoisknown
forhismoderateconsumption,is"bestknownforherabilitytodrinkanyladunderthetableandto
skullapintin0.02seconds".

IfelectedherplansincludedintroducinganIrishcocktailtotheUCDstudentbarandhostingaSt
Patrick'sDayparadeonthecampustopromoteIrish.

A spokesman for the UCD students' union explained the part-time positions,
such as Irish language officer, are re-elected every year and are unpaid. The
five sabbatical officers with the union, such as the president, are paid.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/endas-girl-aoibhinn-loses-election-in-
recount-drama-26842555.html

This time it was her turn. The first-year UCD law and economics student had made her first
tentative foray on to the hustings when she put her name down to run for the part-time
post with the students' union of Oifigeach na Gaeilge, or Irish language officer.
Fight for Kenny's seat is
more than a two-horse
race
When you undo the family ties to reveal
young gunslingers and old hands alike, it
could get messy

Taoiseach Enda Kenny.


Philip Ryan
August 7 2016
The race to succeed Enda Kenny as leader of Fine Gael is on a brief hiatus as
the would-be kings and queen take a break from preparing for the Taoiseach's
retirement years.

But in Mr Kenny's backyard of Castlebar, Co Mayo, the campaign to replace


him as the local Fine Gael TD is in full swing.
Potential heirs to the coveted seat, which Mr Kenny has held for a record 41
years, are already positioning themselves ahead of his imminent departure.

Mr Kenny's close confidants and loyal lieutenants know there will soon be a
gap in the market for one of the safest Fine Gael seats in the country.

Whoever fills the position, which comes with a 87,258 salary and 31,365
worth of unvouched expenses, will need the blessing of the Fine Gael leader to
ensure the local support base weighs in behind the new Castlebar candidate.

So it is believed locally that Mr Kenny will have to anoint, or at least support,


the candidacy of his successor.

However, camps are emerging in the Taoiseach's heartland in anticipation of


the next era of Fine Gael politics in Mayo.

Much of the manoeuvring may be pointless if, as many suspect, the close-knit
Kenny family decide the name which he carried from his father Henry should
remain on the ballot sheet for another generation. The Taoiseach's daughter,
Aoibhinn Kenny, is the best-placed member of the clan to carry the baton for
the Islandeady family.

Aoibhinn immersed herself in student politics while studying in University


College Dublin (UCD) and was selected for the prestigious Washington
Ireland Programme, which prepares ambitious young people for future
leadership roles.

Past pupils include none other than Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar,
who also happens to be leading the race to replace Aoibhinn's father at the
Fine Gael top table.

On a side note, the coronation of Mr Varadkar as the next Fine Gael leader
and Taoiseach being played out in the opinion polls is not translating in the
parliamentary party, where there is a slow but sure sway towards Housing
Minister Simon Coveney of late.
It seems some of those previously supporting the candidacy of Justice
Minister Frances Fitzgerald have come to the conclusion, based on polls, that
the contest will be a two-horse race. They may be wrong.

However, a Cabinet minister last week went as far as to compare the Fine Gael
leadership battle to the contest to replace David Cameron as leader of the
Conservative Party. In this instance Mr Varadkar's candidacy was likened to
Boris Johnson, who was seen as a sure bet until he pulled out of the contest,
and Mr Coveney was compared to surprise winner Theresa May, who shored
up internal party support.

I'm not sure who should be more insulted there.

But back to Castlebar.


Aoibhinn is not the only member of the Kenny inner circle tipped to replace
her father. There is also speculation around the Taoiseach's young confidante
and recently promoted deputy Government press officer Jack O'Donnell.

Mr O'Donnell was signed up as a personal assistant to Mr Kenny last year


under the pretence of building up local support for the Taoiseach ahead of the
general election.

His duties far exceeded merely liaising with local media and constituents and
he often accompanied Mr Kenny on State business - both at home and abroad.

"Kenny always seems more relaxed when Jack is about," a senior Fine Gael
strategist said of the relationship between the Castlebar pair.

Friends of the young Fine Gael activist insist he has no ambition to become a
TD.

But others point to his work as an intern for former US presidential candidate
John McCain, and as an Irish representative on President of the European
Commission Jean-Claude Junker's election campaign, as evidence of his
credentials for a future in elected politics.

Either way, he has the ear of the Taoiseach more than most from the Castlebar
cartel, and is seen as an ambitious young upstart.

Former Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere is also mentioned in dispatches due to
his hard work in Mr Kenny's constituency office in recent years, but he is an
outside bet at best.

Then there's the Burke family - Paddy and Cyril.

The Castlebar political heavyweights and lifelong Kenny supporters are all too
aware of the looming vacancy.

Paddy was rewarded for his loyalty with the position of Cathaoirleach of the
Seanad during Mr Kenny's first term as Taoiseach. During government
formation talks he was sent out to gauge the opinion of Independent TDs prior
to formal negotiations with Fine Gael. The six-time senator is a politician who
works behind the scenes and does not crave the airwaves or pages of
newspapers like some of his contemporaries. He is popular within the party
and well accustomed to the chicken dinner circuit from travelling the county
seeking the votes of Fine Gael councillors for Seanad elections.

It has also been noted that Mr Burke is showing up to more local events than
he previously would, with some believing he is seeking to boost his profile in
the constituency ahead of the next election.

Supporters note that, while he may not be a spring chicken, he is younger than
Enda Kenny and Fine Gael's Westport stalwart, Junior Minister Michael
'Ringer' Ring.
It is unlikely the Burkes will publicly make a move until Mr Kenny states his
intentions , but there is a strong belief the family are eager to challenge for the
Castlebar seat. If the Taoiseach decides his daughter or young protg should
be his successor, it could result in a stand-off with Mr Burke.

There is also the possibility, albeit slim, that Mr Kenny may be left with little
option but to run again.

If the Taoiseach is forced into calling a snap election by Fianna Fail, he may
have to run again as the party could not risk a safe seat by running a
newcomer.

He has always said he will not run for a third term as Fine Gael leader, but has
never ruled out the possibility of returning as a TD.

Outside of Castlebar, Michelle Mulherin will be anxious to return to the Dail


as will popular former Mayo County manager John O'Mahony. Mr O'Mahony
took one for the team and moved to the Galway West constituency ahead of
the general election and in doing so handed over his electoral base to the
notoriously territorial Ringer.

However, Mr O'Mahony retained most of his Mayo canvassing team for the
Galway West campaign.

There will only be two seats at most in Mayo for Fine Gael at the next election
- one is Ringer's and the other is likely to be one of the Castlebar candidates'.
Ahead of the election, Fine Gael will have tough choices to make and the party
will be eager to ensure Mr Kenny's legacy is continued into the next Dail term.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fight-for-kennys-seat-
is-more-than-a-twohorse-race-34944690.html

Coveney says some


ministers switched
sides in Fine Gael race
Updated / Sunday, 21 May 2017
Simon Coveney launched his policy priorities in Dublin this morning
Fine Gael leadership contender Simon Coveney has
said that some ministers who pledged support to him,
including some members of Cabinet, had switched
sides over recent days.
Speaking on RTs This Week, the housing minister
said he believed that he was assured of support from
more than the 20 members of the parliamentary party
who have declared for him.
He said he would not give names of those who
pledged support and then switched, adding that he
respected the decisions colleagues had made.
Asked how Minister for Social Protection Leo
Varadkar had been so certain of the strength of his
support in the party's top brass, Mr Coveney replied:
"Well, he wasn't actually, because from some of the
people I have spoken to, who would have been quite
supportive, a number of days ago, never mind weeks
ago, you know they've changed their mind.
"People make decisions in politics for all sorts of
reasons and I'm not going to start judging people. My
job now is to put a persuasive argument together
over the next ten days to change the mind of some of
those," he said.
"When leadership contests are under way some
people who know and like both candidates want to
get themselves on the winning side. And I think there
was a bit of that over the last few days. But I don't
blame any colleagues for that," he added.
Mr Coveney said he was "lucky to have people like
[Minister for Health] Simon Harris" who he said were
standing by him, and "people like Hildegarde
Naughten who came out against the tide".

The leadership contender said he was going to have


to try to win back some of the people who switched
and declared for Mr Varadkar.

He added: "I would not have spent the last few years
in politics if I was afraid of big challenges. I'm not.
Declarations are not votes."
Mr Coveney has so far garnered support from 20
Fine Gael TDs, Senators and MEPs, against the 45
backing Mr Varadkar.
Under party rules, the parliamentary party accounts
for 65% of the vote to elect a leader, councillors'
votes make up 10%, and party members around the
country make up the remaining 25%.
Nominations for the contest closed at 5pm yesterday.
Mr Coveney launched his policy document in Dublin
today.
He said that while he accepted the campaign was a
personality contest, it was also a fight for the soul of
Fine Gael.
Flanked by Mr Harris and ministers of state David
Stanton and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Mr
Coveney called for an anti-corruption and
transparency commission, where he said no one
would be immune from investigation, including the
taoiseach of the day.
View image on Twitter
Follow

Martina Fitzgerald

. says contest is not just about 73 Oireachtas members but


21,000 party members
11:55 AM - 21 May 2017
> 13 13 Retweets12 12 likes
Twitter Ads info & Privacy
He also wants to deliver a Government which will be
the greenest in the history of the State, he said.
On tax, Mr Coveney said that rather than simply
abolishing the Universal Social Charge, he wants to
reduce the overall marginal rate of tax to below 50%
in the medium term.
He also wants to raise the threshold at which people
hit the top tax rate.

Mr Coveney said he will be bringing a new national


plan for the next 20 years to Government shortly.
He said he is for making Dublin more dynamic and
focus on other parts of country to make them regional
economic drivers.
He said he cannot remember a national plan for the
country being introduced.
Mr Coveney said he is a nationalist and called for
Fine Gael to develop a positive economic and
strategic case for reunification of Ireland over time.
Mr Varadkar, meanwhile, took part in the Streets of
Dublin 5km run this morning.

He said he is pleased that Mr Coveney has decided


to stay in the leadership contest, saying "it's
absolutely important that we take this debate and this
opportunity to reinvigorate Fine Gael to the
councillors and members across the country".
Mr Varadkar said he will be publishing some policy
proposals tomorrow and a document on how Fine
Gael can be modernised and energised during the
week.
He said his campaign is going very well and he is
feeling very confident but taking nothing for granted.
When asked if he would appoint a Brexit minister he
said there is only one country with a Brexit minister
and that is Britain.
Mr Varadkar said while it would useful to have a
spokesperson, an actual minister for Brexit does not
make sense.
He said he has "no plans whatsoever" for an early
election if he becomes taoiseach.
He said there were teething problems at the start of
the current Government arrangement but it has
become more stable.
He said he feels he has built up good relationships
with colleagues over the past few months and is
confident the Government can continue.
But he said the real test is not whether a Government
works for politicians but whether it works for the
people "and the key thing we have to do as a
Government is to implement our programme to
improve peoples living standards and deal with some
of the problems the country is facing".
Next week, both leadership candidates will take part
in four regional hustings in Dublin, Carlow,
Ballinasloe in Co Galway and Cork city.
Candidates have signed a code of conduct drawn up
by the party's executive council.
This code will be binding on both leadership election
candidates and governs their behaviour for the
duration of the leadership election.
Voting for almost 21,000 eligible party members will
take place nationwide at 26 polling stations over four
days beginning tomorrow week.
All votes will be brought to a national count centre in
Dublin on Friday 2 June, where they will be verified
and counted under the supervision of the national
returning officer.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0521/876767-coveney/
Simon Coveney has said that while he accepts the Fine Gael
leadership race is a personality contest, it is also a fight for the soul
of Fine Gael 21st May2017
https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.9040-
2/10000000_1216043378493916_7340874337576026112_n.mp4?
efg=eyJybHIiOjE1MDAsInJsYSI6NDA5NiwidmVuY29kZV90YWciOiJzdm
VfaGQifQ%3D
%3D&rl=1500&vabr=378&oh=5e9bb8c06b6e147afffadc165cfed88c
&oe=59221217

New National Planning Framework


due by mid-year Coveney
Words:
Roger Milne

Irish housing and planning minister Simon


Coveney has confirmed that his department
expects to publish a new National Planning
Framework (NPF), following consultation, by
the middle of this year.
This will serve as a strategic plan for Ireland up to 2040,
pulling together relevant government policies and investment
on national and regional development.
It will focus on economic development and investment in
housing, water services, transport, communications, energy,
health and education infrastructure.
This NPF will succeed the National Spatial Strategy.
Also on his departments agenda is making progress on the
Maritime and Foreshore Area (Amendment) Bill in order
provide a new consent regime for development.
In addition, the departments latest strategy document for the
period up to 2019 commits to developing and supporting
initiatives to promote urban renewal and regeneration.
The blueprint stressed that tackling Irelands housing crisis
and delivering the governments action plan remained key.
This will involve a significant increase in the supply of social
housing, doubling the output of overall housing from the
current levels to at least 25,000 per annum by 2020.
The aim, according to the government, is to accelerate all
types of housing supply social, private and rental, resulting
in a dramatic increase in the delivery of homes in the right
locations at more affordable prices.
Coveney said: Driving a national effort to tackle Irelands
housing crisis is the governments top priority and the biggest
challenge we face as a country.
This strategy reflects that fact, but also highlights the broader
agenda and work of my department in terms of how we plan
for development, how we manage our water resources, how
we fund and structure our local government and how we
support vibrant, inclusive communities.
Statement of strategy 2016-2019 can be found here.

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local


Government Statement of Strategy 2016-2019
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/20170
106-statement-of-strategy-eng.pdf
Housing minister Simon Coveney has ordered Kildare County Council
to reverse its decision to rezone lands near Sallins for residential use
because the town was significantly over-zoned for housing. Kildare
County Council
http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/Planning/DevelopmentPlans/SallinsLo
calAreaPlan2015-2021/Ministerial%20Direction%20Sallins%20LAP
%202016-2022.pdf

PLANS IN FOR
DUBLIN STUDENT
DIGS
18 May 2017 Ireland

Plans for a 232-bed student accommodation scheme in


Dublin have been submitted.
Crosslane Student Developments is behind the proposal,
which would be its first purpose-built scheme in the
Republic of Ireland.
The project is earmarked for a site at the junction of
Carman's Hall and Garden Lane, which is a short walk
from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of
Surgeons' campus.
Subject to planning approval, the scheme is due for
completion in time for the 2019/20 academic year.
The development would comprise four residential blocks
which would be at stepped heights between three to six
storeys, with two private outdoor landscaped courtyards. It
would also feature a common room, gym and study room.
Lisa Timberlake, development manager at Crosslane
Student Developments, said: "At 232 beds, the scheme
would have a significant impact in easing the
supply/demand fundamentals which persist for purpose-
built student accommodation in the Dublin."

D4 residents launch final


appeal against 50m
luxury apartment plan
Gordon Deegan

May 13 2017

A group of Dublin 4 residents have made a bid to overturn the green light for a
50m luxury apartment plan by a company backed by businessman Denis
O'Brien.

Residents from Nutley Square lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanla against
a decision by Dublin City Council to give planning permission for the five five-
storey apartment blocks containing 90 apartments.

In its ruling, the City Council ordered that the top floor in the fifth block be
omitted.

Mr O'Brien acquired the site in Donnybrook from UCD in 2008 when he gave
UCD 15m in cash and another three-acre site at Roebuck to the college in a
land-swap plus cash deal.

Mr O'Brien's Purleigh - in a bid to maximise the return on the investment -


lodged plans for the 90-unit development at the end of last year to replace a
previous 71 unit plan granted planning permission by the appeals board.

Now, the residents' appeal is the last remaining barrier facing Purleigh in its
plans to develop the scheme in one of the most sought-after addresses in the
country.

In their objection against the plan, Nutley Square Management Co claim that
the Purleigh apartments development is overbearing, out of scale and out of
character in terms of its appearance with the exiting housing in the area.

The residents' group argues that the Purleigh proposal "does not respect the
existing character, context and urban form of the surrounding area".

The residents have also stated that the development does nothing to protect,
provide or improve the residential amenities of our neighbourhood.

They argue that the development "is compatible in relation to character,


height and density within existing developments in the area".

In the planner's report recommending that planning be granted, the planner


stated that the proposal is considered to be acceptable and in line with the
proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
t 00:25
Consultants for Purleigh, Hughes Planning and Development Consultants,
told the City Council that "the development proposal seeks to deliver a high
quality residential development at a scale and density which makes the most
efficient use of serviced land within Dublin's metropolitan area".
The consultants also pointed out that the development seeks to enhance the
appearance of the area through high quality design.

A group of Dublin 4 residents have appealed the green light for a 50 million
luxury apartment plan by a company backed by businessman Denis O'Brien.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/d4-residents-launch-final-appeal-
against-50m-luxury-apartment-plan-35709268.html

Coveney publishes details of


further progress on Social
Housing Schemes, including
a further 1,600 new Social
Houses in the pipeline
Published on Thursday, 18 May 2017

During a visit to Mayfield Park, Clondalkin, a new Local


Authority housing scheme, on which 18 homes at a cost of
4.1m are under construction, the Minister for Housing,
Planning, Community & Local Government, Mr. Simon
Coveney T.D. today (18 May 2017), published an updated
status list of social housing schemes that are advancing
nationwide following on from the status list published on
20 February 2017.
Im delighted to say that since the publication of the last
status report, the number of social housing schemes in the
pipeline nationwide has risen from 504 to 607 and from
8,430 units to over 10,072 units. This shows that
significant progress is being made in terms of social
housing delivery and in Q1 2017 alone, over 1,600 new
social housing units have been added to the pipeline. I am
very pleased with this progress and of course I'm keen
that all local authorities advance these social housing
projects, as speedily as possible, and I have assured all
involved in the delivery of these units, that funding is in
place to support their activity.
Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, and the
Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government have been advancing a suite of social
housing projects, through a range of delivery mechanisms
and programmes, and a strong construction pipeline is in
now place, which will see over 10,000 new social houses
being delivered over the coming years, some of which
have already been completed in 2016 and the first quarter
of this year. This represents a major escalation and
acceleration in the social housing build programme.
In terms of immediate delivery, just over 650 new social
houses were built in 2016 and we aim to increase this
significantly in 2017 to over 2,400.
Projects continue to be prepared and brought forward by
local authorities and approved housing bodies. The
Department will continue to approve projects to ensure
that there are sufficient projects advanced and ready to
avail of the significant increases in funding that will be
available over the coming years. In the context of the
Housing Needs Assessment, published in 2016, we will
also ensure that new homes are delivered in the
communities that need them most.
It should be noted that Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan
for Housing and Homelessness sets out the Governments
ambitious social housing programme to deliver 47,000
new social housing units by 2021, with funding in place of
5.35 billion. Of these 47,000 new social houses that will
be delivered for households, 26,000 of these will be
homes that will be delivered via construction or in some
cases through major refurbishment works.
The Department will continue to approve projects to
ensure that there are sufficient projects advanced and
ready to avail of the significant increases in funding that
will be available over the coming years. As can be seen
from the list, we now have a rich pipeline of projects which
will come to fruition. I have full confidence in the Local
Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to continue to
build on the momentum that we have and to get on with
the job of building them, concluded Minister Coveney.
ENDs
Notes for Editors
Whats in this Report?
This Report includes details of all construction projects,
broken down by programme and Local Authority. It shows
progress at each stage of the project life-cycle, from
projects that are just commencing to projects that are
completed.
This delivery includes:
G Construction by Local Authorities and Approved Housing
Bodies,
G Regeneration Projects,
G Capital Assistance Schemes (CAS) projects - which
delivers specialist social housing for specific groups such
as people with disabilities and older people,
G Rapid Delivery projects, and,
G Projects funded under the Capital Advance and Leasing
Facility (CALF) - where Approved Housing Bodies receive
an upfront Exchequer amount, borrow the rest and receive
on-going Exchequer payments (Payment & Availability
Agreements).
The Report does not include:
G The projects under the Social Housing Public Private
Partnership programme,
G Voids - Homes Local Authorities have refurbished (2,300
in 2016),
G Acquisitions.
In total, there are 607 schemes listed delivering 10,072
homes.
The Schemes are broken down by Local Authority and
their stage of approval through the 4 Stage approval
process.
G 155 are @ Stage 1 (delivering 2,555 homes)
G 104 are @ Stage 2 (delivering 1,675 homes)
G 52 are @ Stage 3 (delivering 539 homes)
G 82 are @ Stage 4 (delivering 2,069)
G 130 are on site (delivering 2,378)
G 84 completed (delivering 856)
The Report will be updated and published quarterly.
Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and
Homelessness
Backed by funding of 5.35 billion, Rebuilding Ireland is a
whole-of-Government Plan split into 5 key pillars designed
to:
1. Comprehensively address homelessness;
2. Increase the supply of social housing by 47,000
units by 2021,
3. Increase the total output of all housing supply
(social, private and rental) to at least 25,000 per annum by
2021,
4. Improve and modernise the rental sector, and,
5. Make the best use of the housing stock
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/coveney-
publishes-details-further-progress-social-housing-schemes
Planning Framework
Envisages Towns Cull
Ireland has too many small towns says government
consultation paper

02 Feb 2017

Planning minister Simon Coveney has started a national


consultation process to prepare a strategic planning and development
framework for Ireland between now and 2040. This equivalent of a
national spatial strategy will be known as Ireland 2040: Our Plan.

Coveney is leading a cross-departmental team in developing the


Ireland 2040 Plan, which is intended to address the big issue of how
Ireland will change in the next 23 years, including:

A national population increase of around one million people

More than one-fifth of Irelands total population being over 65

More than 500,000 additional people at work

500,000 homes needing locations much closer to services and


amenities
Rebuilding community and commercial life in the hearts of
cities and towns and protecting the many qualities of our rural
communities
The minister is now seeking the publics views on what the issues
are and to address sprawl and lop-sided development, better
utilisation of the potential of both urban and rural areas and avoid
congestion and adverse impacts on peoples lives and the
environment. Full details are available on
an Ireland2040website.

Views should be submitted by March 16, and will be used to shape a


draft plan which should be published for further consultation by
summer. A final version of the plan is likely to be submitted to
government in the autumn.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: Our plan is a discussion about how


to secure sustained, long-term and regionally balanced progress on
social, economic and environmental fronts. Now is the time to think
about the longer-term future of all parts of this island, and how to
plan for that future. This paper is the start of a major consultation
process so that we can avoid the planning mistakes of the past. Every
community and every region needs to have their say.

Coveney added: As well as considering what future we want for our


people and communities, this process will have implications for the
types of infrastructure that we may need in the future.

Lop-Sided Development

Coveneys view is that under the Business As Usual scenario, the


current lop-sided pattern of development of the state will continue,
which in the longer term will be neither beneficial to Dublin nor the
country as a whole.

However the minister cautioned that should the Dublin City region
suffer a loss of competitiveness and become a less attractive place in
which to invest as a result of housing and infrastructural bottlenecks,
investment and influence will inevitably be attracted to other similar
city-regions in Europe not to rural Ireland.

The policy document underpinning the consultation says that


regional cities appear to offer potential to be the focal point to drive
growth and development in their regions. Beyond the city
catchments, there is a network of towns that can play a similar role.

At the tier below the four cities outside Dublin Cork, Galway,
Limerick and Waterford the policy document says there are a
number of towns which, due to their level of service provision and
extensive catchments, serve an important role for those areas that fall
outside the reach and influence of the cities.

However, the ministers department officials signal that in effect


Ireland has too many small towns and not all will be deserving of
central government spend in the future. In some cases, towns can
complement the role of the city. However, lessons from the past
suggest that if we continue to focus on multiple towns, this will
continue to undermine the performance and potential of our cities
and ultimately the wider regions.

Photo: Enda Kenny (left) and Simon Coveney. (Pic:


RollingNews.ie)

Mel Reynolds checks Coveney's statements on housing


Truthcheck: Simon Coveney and key housing facts
In an article on 27 March in the Irish Examiner Simon Coveney
Looking at All Means of Getting more Houses, the Minister for
Housing made serious and precise statements about the housing
market. M
VILLAGEMAGAZINE.IE
It's proving difficult for Enda to leave

Simon Coveney hopes to welcome up to 12,000 refugees to


Ireland in the next two years
Aug 21, 2016
"In 2 Years Ireland will be welcoming 10,000 - 12,000 Refugees... Next Year ERSI is
projecting we will have net immigration of 10,000. That figure combined is more than all of the
houses completed last year. Unless we have a dramatic ramping up of supply (of housing)...
we are going backwards quickly- Simon Coveney Fine Gael, Minister for Housing, Planning
and Local Government.
Coveney is a landlord and he sees the migrant crisis as an excellent means to put tens of
millions in taxpayer money into the pockets of himself and his fellow landlords. He is a traitor
to Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKsNL5BsTlc
Simon Coveney heaps praise on Michael Noonan as he steps
down as Finance Minister
May 18, 2017
Finance Minister Michael Noonan is set to step down from the role.
He says he does not wish to be considered for cabinet by the candidate who succeeds Enda
Kenny as Taoiseach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_UvPK8xYyA

No houses have been built with


400 million from Bord Gis
sale
The government said that no provision and/or financing of social
housing on an off-balance sheet basis could be identified.
Mar 31st 2017,

THE GOVERNMENT HASNT built one social housing unit


with the money they got from selling Bord Gis Energy,
despite promising thats how proceeds would be used.
In Budget 2015, the government announced the 400
million sale money was to be used to build additional
housing units in support of the Social Housing Strategy.
In response to questions posed by Dara Calleary of Fianna
Fil, housing minister Simon Coveney said that there was no
evidence any social housing had been built with the funds.
Work on this activity was carried out by my Department in
consultation with the Department of Finance
and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
However, despite a high level of engagement with a wide
range of potential providers and financiers of social housing,
no new model of provision and/or financing of social
housing on an off-balance sheet basis could be identified.
Source: Shutterstock/Mr Ucarer
Calleary, who is Fianna Fils public expenditure
spokesperson, called the finding completely unacceptable.
It is startling that in the middle of a housing crisis, this
government, which claims to be prioritising the issue, has
done nothing with 400m specifically earmarked to build
social housing units.
The latest figures from the Department reveal that there
were 4,875 people classified as homeless last month an
increase from January.
Calleary added that he was also concerned about the
government using proceeds from the sale of its stake in AIB
to pay down EU debt, saying it beggars belief.
Coveney said that the government would respond by
committing 10 million per annum from the Bord Gis
proceeds, over a longer period, which could be used to
secure the development of a pilot affordable rental scheme.
http://www.thejournal.ie/bord-gais-sale-social-housing-3313108-
Mar2017/

Coveney to open new centre for the homeless today


Wednesday, June 22, 2016
The Minister for Housing Simon Coveney will today
officially open a new centre for the homeless on Sean
McDermott Street in Dublin's north inner city.

The building will home people who have been rough


sleepers and those who have presented to the homeless
services.

It has been refurbished from 36 single-bed


accommodation units into 18 self-contained one bedroom
apartments for single people and couples requiring
support to live independently.

Yesterday, figures from the


READ MORE:
Dublin Region Homeless Executive showed that
1,054 families are currently homeless around the
country.

913 of those families, including 1,847 children, are in


homeless accommodation in Dublin.

1,054 families are homeless around the country according


to new figures released today.
913 of them, including 1,847 children, are in homeless
accommodation in Dublin.

The statistics from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive


show a 34% increase in homelessness since December.

Kerry Anthony of homeless charity Depaul believes an


increase in housing stock is absolutely critical.

On a daily basis in our services we are seeing more and


more families who are facing the devastation of
homelessness, said Anthony.

We urge that the recommendations included in the report


from the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and
Homelessness be delivered as a priority. It is absolutely
critical that we increase the housing stock in Dublin by
supplying the recommended 50,000 additional housing
units over the next five years.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/coveney-to-
open-new-centre-for-the-homeless-today-741167.html
Well, Simon, I'm sure you will sweat night and day to
alleviate the present housing situation.. You will provide all
families living in Hotels a suitable home no later than
Christmas this year.. You see Simon, we know that your
privileged backround is a wonderful incentive to end the
misery your Party has inflicted on the Citizens of Ireland
( less the privileged of course) You are drawing a
handsome salary and therefore we expect performance to
match and to justify your very existence in our
Government ... a Government you have formed once again
on false pretences .. FF both in support AND opposition -
together wit the man with an Enlish accent, who only last
October claimed Kenny was a political corpse (necrophilia
comes to mind)

Coveney facing 'out of


control' housing crisis

Fr Peter McVerry

Newly appointed minister for housing Simon Coveney is facing a housing and
homelessness crisis that is "out of control" according to social justice
campaigner Fr Peter McVerry.

Mr Coveney succeeds former minister for the environment Alan Kelly in the
new role that had been called on for some time.

Fr McVerry was speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning where he


criticised the previous government saying it did not have an appreciation of
the crisis the country is facing.

"He (Minister Coveney) has to face up to a homeless and housing crisis, which
is out of control. You have five new people becoming homeless in the Dublin
area alone every day.

"If the figures from January and February are to be continued and theres no
reason why they wouldnt be, we have over 100 families a month becoming
homeless.

"I think Simon Coveney has the greatest problem of all the ministers in this
new Government," he said.

Fr McVerry was speaking ahead of the publication of a new report, devised by


the Workers' Party, that recommends the State should link the amount you
pay in rent to the amount you earn.
The new proposal would look for the State to rent half the homes of any new
development to those that currently qualify for social housing and the rest for
those that are not eligible.

"Im very interested in this proposal, it ought to be debated and it ought to be


discussed because I think there are some very very good ideas in it.

"The first is that housing is not a commodity to be bought and sold, housing is
a right for people to have as a home," he said.

The Government has denied there is an "agreement or understanding" with


Independent TD Michael Lowry in return for his support of Enda Kenny as
Taoiseach.

The Tipperary TD was the first to vote for Mr Kenny in the series of Dil votes
for Taoiseach, although he was not involved in government formation talks.
Mr Lowry this weekend said he had an "understanding" with his former party
in relation to his support for Mr Kenny.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, he refused to say whether he got


concessions for his constituency or in other policy areas in return for his
support.

"I'm not getting into that. But let's just say I have an understanding with
them," he said.

However, last night a government spokesman denied there was any


arrangement with Mr Lowry.

"There is no agreement or understanding with Deputy Lowry in relation to his


vote for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach," he said.

"All issues discussed and agreed upon during the process of government are
contained in the Programme for Government," he added, referring to the
agreements reached with the other Independents that backed Mr Kenny.

Mr Lowry declared soon after the election results became known that he
would be voting for Mr Kenny as Taoiseach.

He previously said he would support Mr Kenny because he's leading "the


biggest party and it's the one that's in a position to lead a minority
government".

This weekend he said: "I'm no different from any other deputy walking
through the gates of Leinster House. I made my decision to get necessary
stable government for the country which is required for business and jobs."

http://www.independent.ie/news/coveneyfacingoutofcontrolhousingcrisis34697421.html
The Government has denied there is an "agreement or understanding" with
Independent TD Michael Lowry in return for his support of Enda Kenny as
Taoiseach.

The Tipperary TD was the first to vote for Mr Kenny in the series of Dil votes
for Taoiseach, although he was not involved in government formation talks.
Mr Lowry this weekend said he had an "understanding" with his former party
in relation to his support for Mr Kenny.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, he refused to say whether he got


concessions for his constituency or in other policy areas in return for his
support.

"I'm not getting into that. But let's just say I have an understanding with
them," he said.

However, last night a government spokesman denied there was any


arrangement with Mr Lowry.

"There is no agreement or understanding with Deputy Lowry in relation to his


vote for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach," he said.

"All issues discussed and agreed upon during the process of government are
contained in the Programme for Government," he added, referring to the
agreements reached with the other Independents that backed Mr Kenny.

Mr Lowry declared soon after the election results became known that he
would be voting for Mr Kenny as Taoiseach.

He previously said he would support Mr Kenny because he's leading "the


biggest party and it's the one that's in a position to lead a minority
government".

This weekend he said: "I'm no different from any other deputy walking
through the gates of Leinster House. I made my decision to get necessary
stable government for the country which is required for business and jobs."
These 3 Cork boys are doing very well for themselves!

Simon, is Fine GaelTD for Cork SouthCentral since 1998 and in March 2011 was appointed
by Enda Kenny as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. He was appointed as
Minister for Defence as part of a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.
Coveney is not interested in Irish neutrality and has got Irish soldiers involved in war games
with the British army while making our army available to the EU militarists in conflict zones
including Chad 450 troops, including 50 Army Ranger Wing (special forces) operatives and
two helicopters. Simon also continues the fine tradition of turning a blind eye to the movement
of US troops and their bombs and guns (and abducted hostages) through Shannon airport.
But he still found time to attend the infamous and highly-secretive Bilderberg Group summit in
Copenhagen in 2014 with his pal Peter Sutherland (former Fine Gael Attorney
General/Goldman Sachs). Simon is being touted as a future Blueshirts Taoiseach (though
dropped the ball badly when he said Irish Water was up for negotiation in government
formation talks with Fianna Fil)

Rory worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2002 - 2007 where he played a key
role in both communicating and developing Irelands overseas development assistance
programme. In 2012 he was appointed by Noel Curran (former DG of RT) as his Strategic
Advisor.
His role included the following broad responsibilities:
Working on behalf of the Director General with the Executive Board and other senior
management on the development and implementation of key strategic initiatives
Developing and managing strategic external relationships on behalf of the Director General
Advising the Director General on key developments in broadcasting policy and regulation in
Ireland and abroad. "
Rory is just the right man to be working in the State/Government Broadcaster then making
sure those horrible anti-water protesters are vilified and not given any positive publicity. Or
deflecting attention away from bro Simon's military adventures? (or Patrick's free company
shares?)

Patrick is the chief executive of food firm Greencore. He joined the Greencore board in 2005
and was named chief executive in 2007, taking over from David Dilger. He earned just over
2m (2.5m) in 2013. (his pay is reported in sterling as Greencore, whose shares are listed in
London, reports its financial data in that currency).
That pay packet included a basic 625,000 salary, a 462,000 cash bonus and a 462,000
deferred share award. He was also awarded 237,000 in long-term incentives.
The Stock Exchange filing shows that just over 1m shares were awarded under the
companys deferred bonus plan to Mr Coveney in 2013/14 who immediately sold them at
2.94 each. The place of the transaction is noted as Jersey and London.

(Greencore was established by the Irish Government in 1991 when they privatised Irish
Sugar. Greencore is today the world's largest sandwich manufacturer).

The Brother's Coveney.....


Agriculture Food & Marine, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Sandwiches, RTE, Bilderberg, Fine
Gael,Broadcasting policy and regulation in Ireland and abroad ..... wonder what do they talk
about at family get-togethers?
The brother of the Fine Gael Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, is
emerging as the 'dark horse' in the contest for the top job at RTE.

Rory Coveney - who is currently the strategic adviser to the outgoing Director
General, Noel Curran - is being tipped as the one to watch ahead of the
favourite, Kevin Bakhurst, the station's managing director of news and current
affairs, who is also deputy to outgoing DG, Noel Curran.

Reports that Lucy Gaffney, the chairman of Communicorp and a former board
member of Independent News & Media, was up for the job were dismissed as
"total rubbish" by sources who know her.

The first round of interviews, with a "long list" of 20 to 25 candidates,


wrapped up last week and candidates are expected to be told this week which
of them are through to the next round.

Ten are internal candidates and the remainder are from outside the
organisation. A small number of candidates were interviewed in the UK last
week.

The internal candidates also include: Glen Killane, director of television;


Muirne Laffan, who is managing director of digital; and Jim Jennings,
managing director of radio. External candidates include David McRedmond,
chief executive of TV3.

The DG post currently combines the role of chief executive and editor-in-
chief.

According to informed sources, candidates with commercial talent may have


the edge in the competition.
The Sunday Independent understands that the prospect of splitting the top job
into separate editorial and commercial roles was mooted at RTE board level
and was "looked at" by the Dept of Communications but could not be done
without a change of legislation.

Speculation has centred upon Kevin Bakhurst, a former controller of BBC


News Channel, who has a strong track record in broadcast and digital content.
He is also taking Irish lessons.

He has been credited with leading the turn-around of the broadcaster's


current affairs division following the Mission to Prey debacle.
25
An informed source said: "The funding crisis has never been more acute. RTE
hasn't seen a rise in the last nine years- and they will need to tackle that. The
big issues they will need to get on top of are public funding and the digital
future.

"Rory Coveney is very well placed to do both. He is the strategic advisor to the
DG, so he is very well placed as someone who has been an apprentice style
figure to Noel. If anyone is at the coal face of it all, it's him.

After the government's defeat in the High Court regarding the


Penalty Point System against us fishermen, Simon Coveney just
signed another SI ( Statutory Instrument ) as if nothing happened,
disrespecting our Constitution and the Judiciary in the same way as
previous Governments have done over decades. This seems to be a
common occurrence and we are taking it lying down ...As Minister
for Defence Simon Coveney committed over 1000 of our Defence
Forces personnel to the 1st European Battle Group, a standing
Military Unit in defiance of our Constitution and our traditional
neutrality. This 1st European Battle Group is part of NATO's planning,
as I've recently found out, so we are effectively a member of NATO
through the back door !
I strongly believe that we fishermen should make our concerns
heard. The penalty point system has to go and the criminalization of
us has to stop !
Simon Coveney as a caretaker minister has to learn that he can't get
away with everything. He has ... for far to long. I find it imperative
that our Industry joins up forces with the protest movement now and
participate in the upcoming protests for a better and fairer Ireland
for all.

United we stand, Divided we fall !

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveneys businessman


brother has publicly questioned how so many people have
been left behind in what he described as the
unprecedented economic recovery of recent years.

While hailing the achievements of the Government in


turning around the economy, Greencore CEO Patrick
Coveney said the great mystery of the recovery is that
no-one feels it.
At a business conference in Cork, Mr Coveney questioned
the success of the Government in ensuring the benefits of
the economic recovery were evenly felt across all sectors
of society.
Mr Coveney described the revival in the countrys
economic fortunes as unprecedented. But he said the
rising tide hasnt lifted everyone and loads of people
have been left behind.
He was one of a number of business leaders addressing
the University College Cork Business Conference at the
Kingsley Hotel in Cork.
Tackling the uneven distribution of our hard-earned
economic rewards will be one of the most important
challenges of the next government, Mr Coveney added.
Both the tenor and the timing of Mr Coveneys criticisms
of the failure of the recovery to spread throughout society
will increase the pressure on Fine Gael, which has endured
a rocky start to its election campaign.
Last night, several Fine Gael ministers voiced their
annoyance and frustration at the confusion over the
partys spending plans during the lifetime of the next
government.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan scrambled yesterday to
try and contain the growing furore over Fine Gaels
estimated 12bn of extra spending, which is considerably
higher than the 3.2bn estimated by the Irish Fiscal
Advisory Council.
Mr Noonan was forced onto the back foot, admitting that
Fine Gaels projections did not take account of inflation,
rises in welfare and pension payments, or a new public
sector pay deal.
He insisted governments did not take account of these
changes when projecting spending plans or the fiscal
space and that it was at budget time that these figures
were included.
Mr Noonan insisted that there was no great divergence
between his figures and those proposed by IFAC chairman
John McHale.
Hes giving net figures on certain assumptions which the
government of the day might not make. But his figures are
very similar to ours when you net it out, Mr Noonan said.
There isnt a divergence between the gross and the net
figures, it is just that the figures are built on different
assumptions.
However, one leading economist was critical of the figures
being proposed by the political parties.
University of Limerick lecturer Stephen Kinsella said the
estimated figures are based on hypothetical assumptions
and the gravest of doubt must be put on them.
And, there was further embarrassment in store for the
Department of Finance, Fine Gael, and Fianna Fil after it
emerged they had overestimated the fiscal space by 2bn.
This overestimation was as a result of a double counting.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fils Michael McGrath ruled out a deal
with Fine Gael, insisting he and his party want Enda
Kenny gone.
He accused Mr Kenny and Fine Gael of acting like the
government in North Korea by strictly limiting the
questions allowed to be put to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Its a sad state of affairs when the Taoiseach of the day


conducts his first press conference with a limit of two
questions, he said.

Typical response from a lying toe rag !

Simon Coveney says Irish Water is not going to be


scrapped
The Minister has said Fine Gael will not compromise on its core
principles

And who determines Coillte's decisions? Whe I see Simon


Coveney here , Bilderberg immediately comes to mind
(the annual convention of the richestand most influential
people on the Planet where the delegates return to their
Countries with orders of what to implement in the coming
year) Coillte is responsible for the failure of thousands of
acres of tree disease because they mono cultured ..
something every Housewife knows is counter productive.
Dd anyone see this piece of illuminati shit say on Prime
Time Special last night ,that we need not worry -- and be
reasured that ther IS NO threat to Ireland

Coveney: we face terror threat


Tom Brady
August 27 2015

Defence Minister Simon Coveney has said Ireland faces more


complex security threats than ever before, with international
terrorism, radicalisation and cyber security among the new chall
M.INDEPENDENT.IE
Defence Minister Simon Coveney has said Ireland faces more complex
security threats than ever before, with international terrorism, radicalisation
and cyber security among the new challenges.

The new defence white paper, which was launched by the minister in Dublin
Castle yesterday, will see new armoured personnel carriers for the Army, three
new vessels for the Naval Service to ensures its fleet is maintained at eight,
and replacements of the CASA maritime patrol and Cessna aircraft in the Air
Corps.

More specialist niche units are also to be developed in the Defence Forces as
the military prepares to meet an expanded role in the future. This will involve
an increase of 50pc of the strength of the current elite unit, the Army Ranger
Wing.

Mr Coveney said Ireland's defence focus had changed significantly and that we
now face a raft of new challenges, including international terrorism,

"Traditionally, Ireland has taken a view that everybody likes the Irish, so
therefore there is no military threat to Ireland.

"And I think traditionally our focus on defence has been related to Northern
Ireland and the Troubles there and international peacekeeping, but not a
whole lot else. This white paper develops significantly our ambitions."

He said Ireland had been under-investing in defence and currently has the
second-lowest defence spend in Europe.

The white paper, which plots out the future of our military for the next decade,
plans to replace the CASA maritime surveillance craft with larger and more
capable craft,

The Naval Service's existing eight-vessel fleet is considered to be a minimum


requirement.

However, if additional funding becomes available, Mr Coveney said, then the


acquisition of additional ships will be a priority for the service.

The minister said he was impressed with the performance of the Ranger Wing,
which is currently operating at its existing establishment strength of around
100.
advertisement
Advertisement 00:25
It is due to be expanded by 50pc during the lifetime of the white paper. A new
recruitment programme for Rangers will begin shortly.

The tough standards set on the course result in a high attrition rate and by the
end of the five-phase programme only about a sixth of those who started out
will be successful and be taken into the Wing.

The Rangers will be given an enhanced role and will train to deal with
challenges ranging from counter-terrorism to public riots.

Mr Coveney again ruled out any more barracks closures and said the military's
strength would not be allowed to fall below the base level of 9,500 after the
present recruitment campaign has brought numbers back up to that level.

aken from wiki leaks,about his father,shows the calibre that


he came from.... March 1998 it became publicly known that
the Moriarty Tribunal had questioned Coveney about
whether he had a secret offshore account with Ansbacher
Bank, a bank which had become notorious for facilitating
tax-evasion. Ten days later, on 13 March 1998, Coveney
visited his solicitor to change his will. The next day, 14
March 1998, Coveney died in a fall from a seaside cliff while
out walking alone. His son, Simon Coveney, insisted that his
father had never held an Ansbacher account.[3] It later
emerged that Hugh Coveney had $175,000 on deposit in
the secret Cayman Island-based bank. The account was
closed in 1979.[4]
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/coveney-we-face-terror-threat-
31481517.html

I really would like to see the subject of "emissions" in the


sky publicly addressed Mr. Coveney
Coillte's 2016 Graduate Programme Opening in
March
Coillte employs 900 across rural Ireland and it will be promoting its
2016 graduate development programme at the Farmers Journal and
open eir Agri Careers Fair writes Mary Phelan.

Irish Defence Minister Simon Coveney has stated he


expects a new Irish government later this week. Speaking
on Sunday he stated, I think we will have a Government
this week. If you are asking me to guess I would probably
say on Thursday.
We cannot be sure and it could even be Friday.

"The public are very impatient at this stage. They have been waiting
a long time for a Government. We have been working very hard,
night and day, to make that happen."

Ireland has been without an elected government since February 26


when there was an inconclusive general election.

Now acting leader Enda Kenny looks set to become the first leader
of his party ever to hold onto the job of Taoiseach for two
consecutive elections. After agreeing to lead a minority government
he needs to convince eight independents to vote with him which
most observers believe he can achieve.

4
Micheal Martin and Enda Kenny. Credit: Photocall Ireland.

The toughest stumbling block, to get main opposition party


Fianna Fail to agree not to bring down the government for
at least a few years has been achieved.
Dil ireann, the main house of the Irish parliament, is due
to meet again on Wednesday, and, although it seems
unlikely to happen on that day, there is a widespread
expectation that Kenny will shortly secure majority support
in a vote to fill the office of Taoiseach, a position he
currently holds in a caretaker capacity.
After protracted negotiations, agreement has been
reached in principle between Fine Gael and their longtime
political rivals, Fianna Fil, whereby the latter party will
abstain in the vote for Taoiseach. The deal is subject to
formal approval by TDs and Senators of both parties at the
start of this week but no serious difficulty is expected in
this regard.
Kenny also needs to win the support of at least eight
Independent TDs to be sure of a majority. Two
Independents are backing him already and Fine Gael is in
contact with others in the same non-party category with a
view to achieving that objective. The Fine Gael leader's
task will be made easier if the seven Labour TDs and two
from the Green Party abstain in the vote.

Since Fine Gael has only 50 out of a total of 158 seats in


the Dil, the new government will be a minority
administration, dependent mainly on abstention or support
in key votes by Fianna Fil, who will be the largest party in
opposition, as well as the backing of sufficient
Independents.

The most difficult issue in the talks between Fine Gael and
Fianna Fil was the future of the water charges imposed
by the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition.
Although the level of water charges had already been
reduced to a $3.50 (3) a week for most families, it
continues to be a matter of major political controversy.
Far-left groups such as the Socialist Party and People
Before Profit have taken a hard line of opposition to the
charges and their stance has influenced Sinn Fin to
strengthen its own stand on the issue.

4
Water charge protests in Dublin. Credit: Photocall Ireland.

In February's general election, the Fianna Fil manifesto


included a pledge to end the charges and abolish Irish
Water, the company which was set up to manage the
scheme.
This restricted the party's room to manoeuvre in the recent
talks with Fine Gael. In the end, agreement was reached
to set up an independent commission to conduct an
investigation of the issue, with a parallel suspension of
water charges for nine months.
The commission's report will then be discussed by a
committee of TDs and it is understood that no charges will
be collected while that Dil committee is carrying out its
deliberations, although this is subject to further
clarification.
The deal between the two parties on water charges was
denounced by outgoing Minister for the Environment, Alan
Kelly, who has had responsibility in that area. He told the
Dil: "A suspension or scrapping of water charges will
result in the loss of billions of euro of potential investment
in water services. I believe we will have water shortages in
this very city in the near future."
The Minister, who is a brother of Irish-American
businessman Declan Kelly, recalled how his former party
leader, Eamon Gilmore, once accused Fianna Fil of
economic treason and Mr Kelly added that " Today, Fianna
Fil is guilty of environmental treason".
Fianna Fil also came in for criticism from outgoing
Minister for Health, Dr Leo Varadkar. Although he was
himself part of the Fine Gael negotiating team which
agreed to the suspension of water charges, he said the
demand was "wrong" and "not in the public interest".

Minister for Health, Dr Leo Varadkar


In a move that augured badly for the stability of the inter-
party arrangement, Dr Varadkar described Fianna Fil's
concentration on water charges during the talks as "a little
bit surreal" and "ridiculous". He added: "It's the wrong
thing to do; it's not in the public interest to do this."
There was angry reaction to his remarks from Fianna Fil
but that party's finance spokesman Michael McGrath, who
was centrally involved in the talks, said they would not
"throw the toys out of the pram" although the Minister's
comments were "not helpful".
The Fine Gael-Fianna Fil pact is scheduled to last for
three annual budgets, i.e., till late 2018, at which time it
will be subject to review.
Fianna Fil is reported to be backing the Lansdowne Road
Agreement, introduced under the outgoing government, for
a gradual restoration of pay cuts imposed on public
services.

There are also believed to be measures in the agreement


for assisting people with mortgages or who live in rented
accommodation and to reduce waiting-lists in the health
service.

Why is Ireland being


signed up as a testing
ground for weapons
technology?
July 28, 2015
This week, the LE Eithne was given a heros welcome as it
arrived back in Ireland, after completing its humanitarian
mission in the Mediterranean. The naval vessel was
responsible for saving the lives of 3,400 migrants,
including almost 170 children, and families cheered as the
ship berthed in Cork with parents, wives, children, friends
and navy comrades all gathered at the dockside. Among
those there meet them at the quayside was our Minister
for Defence, and local Cork TD, Simon Coveney.
Meanwhile, Ireland is to accept 600 extra Syrian and
Eritrean migrants as part of efforts to ease the terrible
migration crisis in the Mediterranean. This is in addition to
the 520 migrants that the State is already accepting as
part of an EU separate resettlement initiative.
Ireland has a long standing policy of assisting people
abroad and helping those in need, from our participation
in UN peace-keeping missions, to offering our expertise in
conflict-resolution learned from bitter experience in
Northern Ireland. It is part of our neutrality: our soft
power response to war and crisis. It goes back to the
missionaries in ancient times and more recently the work
of the Catholic missions, feeding the poor. And it continues
right up to our present extensive programme of overseas
aid, which is still about 800m annually, and goes to a
developing and war-torn Africa.
However, Minister Simon Coveney has also said something
this month that seemed the complete opposite to all of
this. He spoke of his plans to make Ireland a testing zone
for advanced military and weapons guidance system,
including drones and submarine drones and other such
high-tech hardware. Under proposals he has brought to
Cabinet, the international defence industry is to have
increased access to the Irish Defence Forces for product
testing, no less.
Apparently, the Minister has been working on a White
Paper setting out his aims. We are planning to do a lot
more of this, he said in a rather expansive mode to link
defence infrastructure and the skillset of the defence
forces with innovators in the private sector, so that
actually we can create products that are good for defence.
Also we can potentially develop products that can be put
to good use in the market for the private sector as well.
Coveney said the plans wouldnt involve the testing of
actual weapons like guns or rocket launchers, but what is
the difference between a missile guidance system and a
missile? This is like saying we only make the gun, or the
sun sights, but we dont make the bullets. Its all military
hardware, after all, and especially these days when so
much of military warfare has become high-tech and
remote although the consequences are far from remote
for the victims.
Indeed, it is worth looking at the companies that have
already been working with the Irish military, such as the
US manufacturer Moog, whose products are used in
missiles, military and commercial aircraft, satellites and
space vehicles and launch vehicles. Our army has also
been working with the Reamda company on a project that
develops the software and hardware for weapons
simulators, and with law-enforcement agencies and
security services from the UK, France, Germany and Spain
on a project to develop novel monitoring systems and
miniaturised sensors that improve evidence-gathering
abilities. Really, this means spying and surveillance
equipment, possibly welcome in our current climate. But
these are all NATO countries. Is there not a slippery slope
here?
Minister Coveney has dressed this all up in the language
of enterprise. It is about trying to plug in innovators and
entrepreneurs, he said, obviously in a controlled and
managed way, to the infrastructure that is there in the
Defence Forces, in a way that can help those innovators
develop, but also can have a broader application and
obviously lead to company growth and job creation and so
on.
He enthusiastically described a company which is
designing unmanned aircraft or drone technology to
actually use off the deck of ships, to be able to observe
what fishing boats or doing. He then added, in a sentence
that must surely sound alarm bells, that that this type of
unmanned drone is also being used in the army in terms
of securing targets. Securing targets: like the weapons
that pick out Al Qaida militants but which have also killed
scores of innocents Pakistanis and Afghans.
Minister Coveney is very excited about all of this and
thinks it does not compromise Irelands long standing
neutrality and strong aversion to participating in the arms
industry. However, despite this principled stand- which he
actually reminds us of ! he goes on to talk about our
advanced software industry and the exciting possibilities
that these the new military developments offer.

Theres a kind of a principled view he concedes and its


been the case in Ireland for a long time, that we dont
develop weapons here. Were not really part of the arms
industry in this country. But we have a very advanced
software industry in Ireland and thats why youre seeing
IT developments around telecommunications, drone
technology, kite technology and power from that, and
around improving observation both at sea and in the air.
Youre also seeing developments around submarine
technology.
Is this a sort of Irish official position however where
despite some long standing principle or kind of
principle, as Coveney puts it you actually proceed to do
the very opposite?
One doesnt have to be a dogged defender of full Irish
neutrality to be alarmed by this. Many of us feel do admit
that our long national principle of neutrality has been too
often evasive and even hypocritical as we shield under an
EU/NATO umbrella. It dates from our opposition to fighting
with the British in World War Two and by now it is outdated
as the Irish army increasingly participates in EU military
missions in cooperation with NATO. This is especially
important in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain
world.
However, precisely because of such dangers and the
consequences of provocative interventions overseas by
NATO countries, we should be all the more careful about
our military co-operation and about how we preserve our
neutrality and support for peacekeeping above the
industry of war.
There is a quite a difference, after all, between limited
missions of military cooperation and allowing our army
and country to be used as a testing ground for the latest
advances in military technology.
The reality is that the Irish policy of neutrality does have a
distinct value and service, connected to our UN
peacekeeping role, and our contribution to conflict
resolution and, for example, to our leading role in
developing an international nuclear proliferation treaty
(NPT). This was a keystone of Irish foreign policy and goes
back the efforts of Frank Aiken and Eamon De Valera, who
fought hard against international militarism precisely
because they had seen too many guns in Ireland.
So where does Coveneys weapons testing fit into all this?
We are against nuclear proliferation but support the
proliferation of conventional weapons and their
technology?!
Many of us would have a serious aversion to the modern
military industry and its commercial objective of pouring
more and more sophisticated and deadly hardware into all
parts of the globe. Unmanned drones are an especially
sinister development. Is this something we want to be
involved in? And bear in mind that once we are in this
sphere, of international military development, it will be
very hard to reverse.
Has Minister Coveney, in his gushing excitement, checked
out all this with his colleagues? How can he square his
enthusiasm with our long standing policy of neutrality and
not supporting arms development?

And how come our anti-militarisation lobby have not been


speaking out about this and asking questions? And what
will this do to our potential as a target for future terrorist
attack if we are perceived as a testing ground for the
drone and missile capability of our US friends, with whom
we already offer considerable military assistance with the
Shannon stop over? The Minister needs to tell us the full
story.
ThisisallIllegal,asweNeverhadaReferendumonThisitisinourConstitutionthatIrelandisneutral

https://eamondelaney.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/whyisirelandbeingsignedupasatestingground
forweaponstechnology/

Ireland to test new military


weapons
By SW Editor on 3rd August 2015Comments Off on Ireland to test new military weapons

Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, is planning to


make Ireland a testing zone for advanced military and
weapons guidance systems, including drones, submarine
drones and other such high-tech hardware.
Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, is planning to make
Ireland a testing zone for advanced military and weapons
guidance systems, including drones, submarine drones
and other such high-tech hardware.
He spoke to journalists about his white paper outlining the scheme whereby
the international defense industry is to be granted far greater access to this
country to test out their weapons. He is opening up our public defense forces
to serve private, foreign companies.

Our military currently works with private arms companies like Moog and
Reamda. Given the revelations from Edward Snowden about the reality of the
horrors of drone warfare- the detached murder of civilians in Afghanistan and
Pakistan- we need to reject Ireland becoming a servant of the Western war
machine.

During last summer when Israel massacred thousands of Palestinians with


their Operation Protective Edge; medical personnel on site described
injuries that were indicative of new, experimental technology as well as
banned weapons such as DIME bombs (Dense Inert Metal Explosives).

Irish Governments have allowed US warplanes to use Shannon Airport on


their way to bomb the Middle East.
Although the plans for Ireland are not to test rockets, but targeting drones and
missile guidance systems; it still raises serious concerns about facilitating
private concerns to gain profit from the destruction of lives across the world.

http://www.socialistworkeronline.net/irelandtotestnewmilitaryweapons/

Fitzgerald eyes
ombudsman for
crime victims
Justine McCarthy
May 21 2017, 12:01am,
The Sunday Times

<imgclass="Mediaimg"
src="//feeds.thetimes.co.uk/web/imageserver/imageserver/image/methode
%2Fsundaytimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F1bf30bc23d9d11e7
b634f092f9c2e791.jpg?crop=1500,844,0,78&resize=320,"alt="">
Frances Fitzgerald will examine the proposal
CHRIS BELLEW/FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Frances Fitzgerald, the justice minister, has said


she will examine the possibility of establishing an
ombudsman for victims of crime but indicated it is
unlikely to be created before 2019.
It would be a significant decision to create another
position of ombudsman for victims, she told the
Dails justice committee on Wednesday. I will
examine the proposal, but it would require a
government decision because it would involve
significant resources. It will be on the agenda in the
medium term, if not in the immediate future,
because these are significant issues.
Fitzgerald was speaking at the committee stage of
the Criminal Justice (Victims Rights) Bill, which will
transpose an EU directive into Irish law, ensuring
supports and access to information for crime
victims.
Asked

Legislation delay for EU


Victims' Directive
Updated / Monday, 16 Nov 2015
John Whelan (pictured with his sister Sharon who was murdered in
2008) has welcomed the directive
The EU Victims' Directive comes into effect in Ireland
from today, however legislation to transpose the
Directive into Irish law is still being drafted.
The Victims' Directive establishes minimum
standards on the rights, support and protection for all
victims of crime.
It includes a victim's right to information, right to
access support services, right to avoid contact with
the offender and right to protection of privacy.
The Department of Justice published the Heads and
General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Victims of
Crime) Bill in July 2015 in an effort to transpose
the EU Victims Directive into Irish law.
However, the Bill itself has yet to be published. It is
expected in the coming weeks.
According to Maria McDonald BL, of the Victims'
Rights Alliance (VRA), the coming into force of the
Directive means that from today, victims in Ireland will
have legally enforceable rights, and they can go to
the courts to enforce them.
Ms McDonald said it was regrettable that Ireland had
missed the deadline to transpose the EU directive
into law by means of legislation, and raised concerns
about the proposed Bill.
Ms McDonald said that the proposed legislation
needed to be strengthened and in its current format
was in breach of the Directive.

"Aspects of it [the Directive] have been dealt with, but


really an awful lot more in depth work needs to be
done to ensure that all the rights are afforded to
victims of crime," said Ms McDonald.
John Whelan, whose sister Sharon and nieces Zara
and Nadia were murdered on Christmas Day in 2008
welcomed the fact that the EU Victims Directive had
now come into force.
"We weren't offered any counselling at the time,"
John Whelan told RT at a VRA event this morning.
"The fact that now with the Directive, counselling will
be offered free of charge to the families is a huge
thing," he said.
However, Ms McDonald said that currently this right is
not included in the draft legislation, and while the
Minister for Justice has increased funding to the
Victims of Crime Office by 21% for 2016, that
amounted to an extra 5,000 for each of the 50
organisations involved, which Ms McDonald said was
insufficient.
Lucia O'Farrell, whose son Shane was killed in a hit
and run, said that she felt so let down by the system
that she felt no optimism that the Directive or any
forthcoming legislation would make a change in how
victims would be treated into the future.
On a visit to one of 28 new Garda Victim Service
Offices on Friday, Minister Frances Fitzgerald
described such "service innovations", as being
"central to ensuing the implementation of the EU
Victims' Directive..." and said that these would be
"further augmented" by the new Criminal Justice
(Victims of Crime) Bill which she would publish in the
coming weeks.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Claire
Loftus, welcomed the coming into effect of the
Directive.
Ms Loftus said "today marks an important
development, encouraging a more compassionate
and consistent approach to assisting victims and their
families and is to be warmly welcomed". et
https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/1116/742271-eu-victims-
directive/
DPP welcomes new rights for victims of crime under
EU directive
uesday, November 17, 2015

As part of the EU Victims Directive, which came into effect


yesterday, victims will have a greater right to information
about developments in their case and will also be able to
formally request a reason for non-prosecution in a case by
the DPP.

It also includes a victims right to avoid contact with the


offender and a right to the protection of privacy.
Under the EU directive, victims will be entitled to
protection from intimidation and will be allowed to provide
evidence via television link if necessary.
They will also have the right to be referred on to services
offering free support, advice, counselling, and treatment.
Today marks an important development, encouraging a
more compassionate and consistent approach to assisting
victims and their families and is to be warmly welcomed,
said DPP Claire Loftus.
Under the directive, victims will now have, upon request,
a right to a summary of reasons for a decision not to
prosecute in all our decisions made on or after November
16, 2015, subject to some limited exceptions.
The directive will also entitle a victim to ask for a review
of a decision not to prosecute. The review will be carried
out by a lawyer who was not involved in making the
original decision.
Ms Loftus said victims come into contact with the criminal
justice system through unfortunate and often tragic
circumstances.
For the first time, victims will now have rights to
information.
They will also have procedural rights during court
proceedings, she said.
A victim is defined in the directive as a person who has
suffered harm, including physical, mental or emotional
harm or economic loss which was directly caused by a
criminal offence or a family member of a person whose
death was directly caused by a criminal offence and who
has suffered harm as a result of that persons death.
While the new measures came into effect yesterday,
legislation to transpose it into law is still being drafted. It
is expected in the coming weeks but no specific date has
yet been set.
While members of the Victims Rights Alliance (VRA)
welcomed the directive itself, they criticised the
Government for the delay in making it a part of Irish law.
We call on Government to strengthen existing draft
legislation in line with the directive in order to provide for
measures to avoid unnecessary questioning concerning
the victims private life not related to the criminal offence,
said the VRAs Maria McDonald.
I cannot exaggerate the positive impact the Victims
Directive and the Victims of Crime Bill 2015, if transposed
fully, will have on victims of crime in Ireland. The Victims
Rights Alliance acknowledges the commitment of the
minister for justice to implementing the Victims Directive
into Irish law and the work which has been done to date
by the Government and the relevant state agencies to
ensure that victims will be able to access their rights
under the directive from November16, 2015.
Rape Crisis Network Ireland echoed these sentiments and
said it continues to engage with Minister for Justice and
Equality Frances Fitzgerald and her team who are finalising
the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/dpp-welcomes-new-rights-for-
victims-of-crime-under-eu-directive-365338.html

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (Victims of Crime) BILL 2015


http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/CRIMINAL%20JUSTICE%20(Victims
%20of%20Crime)%20BILL%202015.pdf/Files/CRIMINAL
%20JUSTICE%20(Victims%20of%20Crime)%20BILL%202015.pdf

Submission by the Ombudsman for Children


on the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Victims of
Crime) Bill 2015

https://www.oco.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2014/03/Submission_Criminal-Justice-
Victims-of-Crime-Bill-2015_12102015.pdf

Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016

http://www.oireachtas.ie/docume
nts/bills28/bills/2016/12116/b121
16d-memo.pdf
Bill entitled an Act to give effect to provisions of Directive 2012/29/EU of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum
standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing
Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA; for that purpose to amend the Criminal
Evidence Act 1992, the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and the Courts Service Act 1998;
and to provide for related matters
POLL: Do you think there should
be a General Election rather than
the next Fine Gael leader being
the defacto Taoiseach?
May 21, 2017 18:30 James Brennan Irish News

In light of Enda Kennys departure during the week, were


asking our readers do you think there should be a General
Election rather than the next Fine Gael leader and defacto
Taoiseach? Take the poll below:
Thank you for voting!

Do you think there should be a General Election?


Yes 83.2% - ( 708 votes )

No 16.8% - ( 143 votes )


http://theliberal.ie/polldoyouthinkthereshouldbeageneralelectionratherthanthenextfinegael
leaderbeingthedefactotaoiseach/

Taoiseachs pension package


would cost 5m to buy
experts
Retiring politicians and public servants also benefit from
favourable tax rules
Taoiseach Enda Kenny: entitled a pension of about 126,000 a year, plus a
lump sum on retirement of 378,000, the Dil was told. Photograph: Cyril
Byrne

Cliff Taylor, Marie O'Halloran


Updated: Sat, May 20, 2017, 10:49

The pension to which Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be


entitled when he retires as a TD would cost some 5
million to buy for a private-sector employee, according to
expert estimates.
The Dil was told that the Taoiseach would be entitled a
pension of about 126,000 a year, plus a lump sum on
retirement of 378,000, though the Department of Public
Expenditure has declined to provide an exact figure.
A pension of this level would cost in excess of 5 million to
buy, according to the Association of Pension Trustees of
Ireland. However, they point out that such a pension is
inaccessible in the private sector, where pensions over 2
million are taxed at around 70 per cent.
Related
/ Our politicians win on the double when they get their
pensions
/ Dil row erupts over Taoiseachs 378,000 retirement lump
sum
/ Taoiseachs pension likely to be almost 130,000 a year
This level of tax arises because the amount of a pension
pot over 2 million is subject to tax at the higher marginal
income tax rate of 40 per cent, while the money is also
subject to tax and PRSI when drawn down by the taxpayer.
A number of private-sector pension experts said that a
pension of the level which the retiring Taoiseach will
receive would cost at least 4 million to buy in the private
sector and probably 5 million or more when inflation
adjustments are accounted for.
Not retired
The department has declined to outline the likely pension
of the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance on the grounds
that they have not retired. A department spokesman said
they would not speculate on the likely pension as both
Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan were still in office.
Retiring politicians and public servants and private-
sector employees on defined-benefit schemes also
benefit from tax rules which ensure that only those on the
highest pensions are judged to have accrued benefits of
more than 2 million. This is despite the fact that buying
these pensions on the private market would cost much
more.

While there is no official estimate of Mr Kennys pension


when he retires as a TD, it will be be close to those of
former taoisigh Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern, who
receive an estimated 128,900.
Mr Noonans pension is likely to be almost 97,000. Mr
Kennys pension lump sum has been estimated at about
378,000 and Mr Noonans at 290,000.
A pension of this level would cost in excess of 5 million to buy, according to the Association
of Pension Trustees of Ireland. However, they point out that such a pension is inaccessible in
the private sector, where pensions over 2 million are taxed at around 70 per cent.
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/taoiseach-s-pension-
package-would-cost-5m-to-buy-experts-1.3089737?mode=amp
Oliver Callan: Why I wont
miss the accidental
Taoiseach
Enda Kenny squandered majority and focused on trivia
and spin
Thu, May 18, 2017, 01:00 Updated: Thu, May 18, 2017, 05:35
Oliver Callan

Departing Taoiseach Enda Kenny photographed in Dublin on Monday. He


bounds out of office with that cheese-wire cut grin of his, ever youthful and
excited about the glow of three-pension heaven that awaits him. Photograph:
Cyril Byrne
As Enda Kenny prepares to leave office, the State remains
as corrupt as it was when he arrived in 2011 with a massive
majority and mandate for reform. That is his ultimate
failure.
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/oliver-callan-why-i-won-t-miss-
the-accidental-taoiseach-1.3085369?mode=sample&auth-
failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com
%2Fopinion%2Foliver-callan-why-i-won-t-miss-the-accidental-
taoiseach-1.3085369
The show must go on .... Dinny's mouthpiece Fionnn Sheahan writing in the Indo today has
done a hatchet job on poor Enda (before he even clears his desk). O'Brie ... sorry, Sheahan
writes "the Kenny era will also be remembered as a time when a leader was presented the
greatest opportunity to bring about fundamental change to our country and appallingly
wasted it."
After all Enda has done for Dinny! That's gratitude for ya.

Next ...
Fionnan Sheahan on
Enda Kenny: A man of
the times who butchered
a golden opportunity

2
Taoiseach Enda Kenny: So, is it ok if I go now?

Fionnan Sheahan

May 18 2017

Doheny and Nesbitt, that well-known watering hole just


around the corner from Leinster House and Government
Buildings, was the scene for a latter-day celebration, akin
to the Captain's table on board the Titanic.
It was a sunny evening in mid-July 2014. The beating Fine
Gael had taken in the local elections was offset by some
canny campaigning in the European elections to get
Deirdre Clune elected and was utterly overshadowed by
the swift bloodletting in the Labour Party, which
dispatched Eamon Gilmore as leader and saw him
replaced by Joan Burton.
The tail end of the succeeding reshuffle had taken place
that day with the appointment of a new corps of junior
ministers.
Kenny was mingling with his new Ministers of State in the
pub, cracking jokes and getting to know the new team with
his trademark punch on the shoulder.
It's a big deal getting the nod; an acknowledgement of
time put in or foresight of promotion to come.
At the opposite end of the bar were a few disgruntled
backbenchers looking fed up.

Enda Kenny with John McNulty. The Seanad election debacle


showed how the Taoiseach failed to understand the public wanted
an end to stroke politics
But getting a junior ministry wouldn't matter a squat to
many there that night when the time would come two
years later.
The iceberg was dead ahead.
Kenny's day had come - and gone. The last three years had
just been about clinging on.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
Read more: Lucky general lacked courage - and
conviction
A grateful nation was supposed to hail the Fine Gael and
Labour Party coalition for bringing back a semblance of
authority to the running of the country after the rag-tag
chaos of the last months of the ancien Fianna Fil regime.
Kenny's government had restored stability to the public
finances and taken the country out of a bailout.
Worn out by austerity and not seeing the new dawn of a
political era they were promised, the voters astounded
them with their ingratitude.
The arrogance was always going to creep in when Fine
Gael returned to power.
The party had been out of office for the best part of a
decade-and-a-half, so it was hard for them not to feel
invincible.
The public didn't believe they owed Kenny and his
coalition any thanks.
Besides, the Taoiseach was singularly failing to answer the
post-bailout question: what next?
Kenny had always struggled with the 'vision' issue. He had
no shortage of soundbites and focus-grouped policies, but
he just never had the ability to inspire belief that he had a
notion of how the country and society could and should
develop over the next generation.
He spoke repeatedly of Ireland becoming "the best small
country in the world in which to do business, grow old and
raise a family". But he could never articulate what this
actually meant.
Moreover, there was always the sense that - deep down -
driving Fianna Fil out was an end in itself for many in
Fine Gael, particularly those around Kenny who he placed
in positions of influence.
He is a politician of the old school, where a two-party State
was always the game in town.
Read more: Enda: the unlikely Taoiseach who rose
without a trace
There's a tale told by a former Fine Gael staffer about the
Mayo West by-election of June 1994.
Arriving 'over from Dublin' to work in the by-election
office, the handler innocently asked about the identity and
prospects of the Labour Party candidate.
"We don't get the minority parties round here," came the
abrupt reply.
At the time, Labour had a then-record number of Spring
tide TDs and was in government.
Mayo is one of those few places left now, probably along
with Limerick West and Cork North-West, where the
"minority parties" rarely get a look in and the swing in
seats is mainly between the two Civil War parties.
Kenny is of this mindset, where the Fianna Filer is the
only opponent worth talking about.
In their early days back in power, senior Fine Gael figures
spoke of the need for the party to get in for a decade to
purge the system of the influence of Fianna Fil
appointments.
And replace them with what? Well, Fine Gael
appointments, of course. The view in Fine Gael was there
was nothing wrong with that, as their cronies were honest
and decent people.
In anyone else's language, it was still cronyism.
This partisan view of politics would also manifest itself in
government, where Labour advisers would be taken aback
at how ideological their Fine Gael counterparts would
become, behaving as though they were brave Horatio at
the bridge defending Rome from the barbarian hordes of
Tuscany.
The Doheny and Nesbitt celebration wasn't the last
chapter of the local and European election fallout, though.
Later that summer, when it came to a Seanad by-election
to replace Clune - who had gone to the European
Parliament - Kenny's Fine Gael picked a party activist
from Donegal called John McNulty.
They appointed him to the board of the Irish Museum of
Modern Art to ensure he would qualify as a Seanad
candidate.
And then they got caught.
McNulty famously didn't get elected.
Nobody in Fine Gael ever took the blame for the debacle,
either internally or externally, for what was an act of
supreme political avarice that failed to see the wider
picture that the public wanted an end to the days of the
'stroke'.
The saga was vomit-inducing and showed Fine Gael had
learned nothing from the crisis.
Yet this lack of true reforming zeal reflected itself across
Kenny's approach to so many areas. He would go only so
far, back someone only so far, push the limit only so far -
such that the effect would invariably become meaningless.
His downfall has appropriately been the failure to act on
the rot that has set in at the heart of An Garda Sochna.
Unfortunately, that sums up the culture of Enda Kenny's
administration. He deserves credit for restoring stability to
the country, for being a man of the time. But the Kenny era
will also be remembered as a time when a leader was
presented the greatest opportunity to bring about
fundamental change to our country and appallingly wasted
it.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fionnan-sheahan-on-
enda-kenny-a-man-of-the-times-who-butchered-a-golden-
opportunity-35727460.html

HOUSING Minister Simon Coveney is holding strategy


meetings with his closest advisors amid mounting
pressure for him to end his Fine Gael leadership bid given
the near unassailable lead already boasted by his rival,
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar.
Mr Coveney cancelled a planned media event at 2pm
outside his Carrigaline, Co Cork constituency office just
minutes after Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald endorsed Mr
Varadkar as Taoiseach Enda Kenny's successor.

The Cork TD instead decided to address the media at a


campaign rally in the Capitol Complex in Cork city centre
at 8pm.
The rally, planned to be attended by hundreds of his Cork
supporters, will be one of the first major events staged in
the multi-million Euro new complex.
Mr Coveney will spend the afternoon lobbying and
consulting with local councillors who now offer his best
chance of a comeback in the race.
A spokesperson this afternoon insisted he would not be
withdrawing his name.
Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney Photo: Frank McGrath
There was mounting speculation today that Mr Coveney
would quit the competition after Social Protection
Minister Leo Varadkar today unveiled 45 parliamentary
party supporters at his campaign launch.
It is understood some members of his team believed he
should pull out of the race and instead seek to unify the
entire party behind Mr Varadkar.
However, Mr Coveneys spokeswoman confirmed this
afternoon he would not be pulling out of the competition.
(Hes) definitely not pulling out and wants to see it
through, she said.
However, key supporters admitted that matters have
significantly changed over the past 48 hours.

"It is an uphill battle, that is for sure. But it is still


possible," Senator Jerry Buttimer said.
However, other key advisors to Mr Coveney have urged
him to consider whether persisting with the full two week
election campaign would run the risk of generating
damaging splits in the party.
Mr Coveney has himself repeatedly warned that the
campaign to elect a new Fine Gael leader should not be
allowed prove fractious or threaten to generate divisions
within the party.
"Party unity is absolutely vital," he warned at a Kinsale
event two weeks ago.
Some are now concerned at the media headlines generated
by comments from key Coveney supporter, Kate O'Connell
TD, where she described Mr Varadkar's supporters as
"choirboys."
One advisor, who asked to be unnamed, admitted that the
flood of senior Cabinet endorsements for Mr Varadkar has
substantially changed the electoral landscape.
"It is simply stating the obvious to say that the momentum
is now with Leo's campaign. There's a mountain to climb
for us," he said.
"Whatever decisions need to be taken, I have absolutely no
doubt but that Simon will take them."
The Coveney campaign was left reeling by senior Cabinet
members including Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie
Flanagan, Education
Minister Richard Bruton and Public Reform Minister
Paschal Donohue endorsing Mr Varadkar.
The Coveney campaign suffered a further blow when
support expected from specific people including
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed failed to materialise.
But European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy, a key
Coveney supporter, still insisted that the campaign could
take a twist.
"I would not be concerned. We have a big parliamentary
party. We have a large number of councillors and the
largest membership of any political party in the country."
Mr Murphy challenged analysts who said Mr Varadkar was
virtually at the finishing post.
"I am not sure (about that)- the only poll that matters in
when people vote."
"Of course our electoral system allows our 20,000
members and our hundreds of councillors to also have the
opportunity to contribute to this."
"There is plenty left in this campaign for sure."
Senator Buttimer said while the parliamentary party vote
was important, a close race will be decided by the party's
councillors and their 20,000-strong membership.
"It is very hard to predict," he said.
"I always felt it would be a very close race between two
hugely talented politicians who are two excellent
candidates."
"I still believe that everything is there to be campaigned
for."
"I don't think anyone was actually that surprised by the
early declarations of support for Leo."
Mr Murphy said the importance of the election cannot be
overstated.
"We have two excellent candidates in the field. Enda
Kenny did a great job for the country and he stood aside at
a good time particularly with a bit of a gap in the Brexit
process," he said.
"We will know in the next few weeks which of the two will
take over the party."
"It is a very, very important time for the country and we
need strong, stable Government."
"I worked beside and known Simon Coveney for many
years. I think he has got the qualities we need at this time
to lead our country."
Simon Coveney reveals
national 'Ireland 2040
plan' as details of policy
priorities published
Leo Varadkar welcomes decision by his
rival Simon Coveney to stay in FG
leadership race

1
Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney
Housing Minister published details of his policy priorities at an event in
Dublin on Sunday morning on the first full day of campaigning for the Fine
Gael leadership race.

Commenting at the publication of his roadmap to change Party, Government


and the country, Minister Simon Coveney said:

"At a time of deep scepticism about politics in Ireland and elsewhere, I believe
it is vital that every elected representative to declare what they stand for and
to commit to the hard work of delivering positive change," he said.

"That is the reason I asked to lead Fine Gaels referendum campaign in favour
of marriage equality and it is why I sought to become Minister for Housing. It
is wh Minister Coveney said he is optimistic about the future of Ireland but
also understands the anger and frustration of many who feel that they have
been left behind.

"Despite the very real progress we have made since the days of Costello and
Fitzgerald, we remain a country with deep divisions," he said.

"Our political system has splintered into a range of new parties and alliances,
some of which represents only a narrow section of our population."

Minister Coveney said that Fine Gael should be a party for everyone "which
seeks to unite rather than divide".

Is why View image on Twitter


Follow

Leo Varadkar

. Great start to Day 4 doing Streets of Dublin 5k with


9:42 AM - 21 May 2017
> 21 21 Retweets74 74 likes
Twitter Ads info & Privacy
"Our goal should be nothing less than the creation of a
society in which everyone can participate, and an economy
from which everyone can benefit," he said.
He said if Ireland is to become a compassionate, tolerant
and progressive society through Fine Gael leadership three
things need to be done:
1.Set out a clear reform agenda for the Fine Gael party,
drawing on the lessons we learned from the last General
Election.
Just watched last nights RTE 9 oclock news. Frances
Fitzgerald going all demogogic "Leo is the only leader who
can call out the hypocrisy of the fantasists on the hard left,
the scripted populism of Sinn Fein and the revisionists in
Fianna Fail"...... wow stirring stuff......... but no mention of
Labour..... oh well I live in Barcelona out of Ireland no less
than 21 years. What the fuck do I care? I am a hard left
fantasist hypocritical scripted populist.

I am now running for the leadership of Fine Gael."

2.Modernise Government to make it much more effective at delivering


ambitious policy goals; and

3.Deliver a clear vision for transforming Ireland into a country in which every
person has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

"My personality is about constantly pushing boundaries and being more


ambitious," Simon Coveney said at the event.

The housing minister also said he wants to create an 'Anti Corruption and
Transparency Commission' to respond to whistleblowers and corruption.

He outlined a 'Ireland 2040 plan':

"Essentially what it is is a vision for what the country could look like in 20
years time, if we actually got things right around planning and investment and
looking to the future with real ambition and, if necessary, quite radical
thinking in terms of where we live and how we live and how we move around
and so on."

"I cant remember in my lifetime a national plan for Ireland and Ive always
wondered why this isn't the case," he said.

Mr Coveney said that is a nationalist: "I want to see a United Ireland, I wont
apologise for that."

"If I am ever Taoiseach, I will spend a huge amount of time talking to and
relating to Unionist communities and try to understand them".

"I do think it is possible to unite this Ireland and I want this project to go
ahead in a spirit of engagement."

Earlier, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar welcomed the decision by his
rival Simon Coveney to stay in the Fine Gael leadership race.

Despite chasing an unassailable lead Mr Coveney has said he will take part in
four hustings around the country later this week.

Some supporters have urged the Housing Minister to accept Mr Varadkar is


destined to be Taoiseach and pull out of the contest.

But speaking before taking part in Athletics Ireland's Streets of Dublin 5k run
today Mr Varadkar said he wants the leadership vote on June 2 to go ahead.

"Im very keen as well that the contest should continue and Im pleased that
Simon Coveney decided to stay in the contest because its absolutely important
that we take this debate and this opportunity to reinvigorate Fine Gael to the
councillors, to the members across the country," he said.

Mr Varadkar said he wants councillors and the party membership to have a


say as it will give the new leader a stronger mandate.

He also moved to try reassure people that he is not planning a snap General
Election.

I have no plans whatsoever for an early election. We have a confidence and


supply agreement with Fianna Fil. We have a Programme for Government
negotiated and agreed with Independents and its my intention to honour
those agreements if Ive the opportunity to lead Fine Gael.

Mr Varadkar took part in the city run along with his campaign director and
junior minister Eoghan Murphy and Roscommon senator Maura Hopkins.

At Minister Coveney's event at Dublin's Dean Hotel this morning, Simon


Harris said that he is "particularly proud to support Coveney now because the
last days have been tough - but when the going gets tough the tough get
going."
"As we grapple with the challenge of Brexit we must ask ourselves who is best
to step up to that challenge?," he said.

"We don't need a coronation. We need a conversation. We need a debate".

Mr Coveney insisted last night that he was not withdrawing from the race,
saying that if Mr Varadkar wins, he will "wish him well."

"When this process is over, and completed in full, if Leo Varadkar (does) win
out, and he is chosen to lead this party, then fair play to him," Mr Coveney
said.

"I will shake his hand - I might even give him a hug.

"I will wish him well and I will work with him as I hope you will to ensure that
this party is stronger at the end of this process not weaker. To ensure that this
party is more united than ever at the end of this process rather than divided -
because, believe me, if there is any other outcome to this process this party
will not do itself justice in the context of the leadership process that is now
underway.

"Let me be equally clear - we are not done just yet," he added.

The votes from Fine Gael TDs and Senators will account for 65pc of the overall
vote, with 25pc of votes coming from party members and the remaining 10pc
from local representatives.

Nominations for the leadership contest closed at 5pm yesterday.

Voting for almost 21,000 eligible party members will take place nationwide at
26 polling stations over four days from Monday, May 29.

The new leader of Fine Gael will be in place by June 2.

http://www.munster-express.ie/front-page-news/general-stories/assembly-
preparing-its-submission-for-ireland-2040-plan/

IRELAND 2040
by Caroline Herlihy - 9th February 2017
The much anticipated launch of the IRELAND 2040 policy
document was made in Maynooth University recently by Minister
for Planning and Housing, Simon Coveney.
Key elements of the policy document;
> Increase in population by 750,000 to 5.6 million.
> An absolute minimum requirement of 500,000 new houses needed
to be built by 2040.
> The number of people at work will increase by 600,000 to 2.5
million.
> An estimated 400,000 post-primary pupils in 2040.
The credibility of the new plan, which aims to spread development
towards regional cities such as Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford
and Sligo, will depend on how much compromise will be necessary
to get the policy document through the Dail. An encouraging
precedent has been set by the Minister in that he stood up to
opposition parties, especially Fianna Fail, in resisting any changes
to his proposals to fix house rental increases throughout the
country before Christmas. The central policy is to shift investment
away from the Dublin region, by massive investments, both PPP
and State in Infrastructure, Broadband services, Roads and Power.
Architects & Engineers
There is a huge demand currently for Architects, Engineers and
Technicians to participate in the roll out of the massive investment
in the built environment. There is no expectation of a fall off in the
demand for Architects, Engineers and Technicians in the medium
or long term future, a major factor in expatriate professionals
determining whether to return to Ireland. Lack of job security was
the primary reason for emigration after the collapse of the
economy a decade ago. Job security will be a major factor in
determining whether to return home or not.
Irish Emigrants in Australia
In a recent article in the Irish Times, Irish emigrants in Australia
were interviewed by Clara Kenny about how they feel about life in
Australia, and whether they would consider returning to Ireland and
what factors would influence them most. Not surprisingly, the
numbers moving from Australia back to Ireland has almost doubled
in the past twelve months to 5,500. The number of emigrants to
Australia has reduced by two thirds from 2012, to 2016, as Irish
unemployment figures continue to fall dramatically. Reasons most
often cited for returning home are loss of friends and family;
missing out on significant events like friends weddings, family
funerals and missing out on births of siblings children. The travel
time home is another major consideration. In many cases, the
desire to return home at some stage is a given, its just deciding
when is the right time to make the move.
There is little doubt that, taking all the essential factors into
account, there has never been a more encouraging a time to
consider returning home than in the past ten years.

http://gpcireland.com/ireland-2040-architects-engineers/

If you are considering a move back to Ireland and wish to discuss


the current opportunities within the Architecture, Engineering and
Construction industries, contact me on
c.herlihy@gpcireland.com or call Caroline + 353 86 8055216.
Taoiseach and Minister
Coveney launch public
consultation for Ireland
2040 Our Plan, the new
National Planning
Framework
Published on Thursday, 02 Feb 2017

***Important announcement ***


Minister Simon Coveney today (Friday 10th March 2017)
announced that he has extended the public consultation
phase of the National Planning Framework Ireland 2040
Our Plan, from 16th March to Friday 31st March 2017.
To afford time to those who have been unable to make a
submission at this important stage in the process but plan
to do so, anyone intending to make a submission by 31st
March is asked to email npf@housing.gov.ie on or before
the 16th March indicating that they intend to make a
submission before the new closing date.
The Taoiseach and Minister Simon Coveney, today
(Thursday 2nd February) launched a major national
consultation for the preparation of a strategic planning and
development framework for Ireland between now and
2040, in Maynooth University. Todays event is the first of
two public consultation exercises and a series of regional
and stakeholder events in preparing Ireland 2040 Our
Plan.
Speaking at the launch , the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said:
Ireland 2040 Our Plan is a discussion about how to
secure sustained, long-term and regionally balanced
progress on social, economic and environmental fronts.
Now is the time to think about the longer-term future of all
parts of this island and how to plan for that future. This is
important and it is why it was included in our Programme
for Government. With the return of stability there are a
number of projections and challenges that are likely to be
realised that we need to start planning for today. This
paper is the start of a major consultation process so that
we can avoid the planning mistakes of the past. Every
community and every region needs to have their say."
Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government Simon Coveney who is leading a high-level
cross-Departmental team in developing the Ireland 2040
Plan set out the issues its preparation will address:
While we face many challenges presently, we know we
need to think ahead for a radically different Ireland of 2040
including;
G A national population increase of around 1 million people;
G More than one-fifth of Irelands total population being over
65;
G More than 500,000 additional people at work;
G 500,000 homes needing locations much closer to services
and amenities; and
G rebuilding community and commercial life in the hearts of
our cities and towns and protecting the many qualities of
our rural communities
We are now seeking the publics views on what the issues
are and how we can together address sprawl and lop-
sided development, better utilisation of the potential of
both urban and rural areas and avoid congestion and
adverse impacts on peoples lives and the environment
Damien English, Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal
highlighted the publics opportunity in contributing to and
shaping the Plan, saying:
Ireland 2040 - Our Plan must be the Peoples Plan
formed by the peoples views on the future shape of our
country, its urban and rural places both at this initial stage
and in the publication of a further draft strategy prior to the
Summer, which will be subject to the consideration of the
final strategy by the Oireachtas later this year. I anticipate
that people will highlight the need to build up and improve
existing communities, whether they be rural villages and
small towns that have suffered much in recent years or the
renewal and enhancement of the inner parts of many of
our larger cities and towns, some of which are badly in
need of regeneration and re-population which is the part of
the Plan I will be focusing on
At the conclusion of the launch, the Taoiseach and
Ministers thanked the facilitator and the panel for
participating in the Q&A forum. They were particularly
grateful for the support of the President of Maynooth
University, Professor Philip Nolan and the staff of MU. In
response, Professor Nolan said I warmly commend An
Taoiseach and Ministers Coveney and English for
providing the people of Ireland with an opportunity to
consider the many issues and choices that will have such
a significant impact on our country over the next two
decades.
Full details are available on www.Ireland2040.ie
(link is external)
and the public are invited to contribute initial views by
March 16th next. Those views will be used to shape a
draft copy of the Plan which is likely to issue for further
consultation prior to the Summer. After further
incorporation of the publics views, a final version of the
plan is likely to be submitted to Government in the
Autumn.
Follow us on Twitter @ire2040 #Ireland2040
ENDS
Notes for Editors
What Is the National Planning Framework?
G The National Planning Framework - Ireland 2040 Our
Plan - will set a new strategic planning and development
context for the Ireland and all its regions in the period
between now and 2040, setting a strategic, high-level
framework for the co-ordination of a range of national,
regional and local authority policies and activities,
planning and investment.
G Development of the framework is timely given the need to
put in place a long-term plan for sustainable growth, now
that we have stabilised the national finances and are
making significant progress again in areas of economic
and social development, notwithstanding economic
headwinds given issues such as Brexit.
G As a successful and dynamic open economy with strong
east west and north south links with the UK, EU, US and
globally, a new framework is needed to both succeed the
National Spatial Strategy, which had a 2002-2020 timeline,
and to build on and draw together sectoral Government
initiatives in areas such as housing, (Rebuilding Ireland)
rural issues (Action Plan for Rural Development)
employment (Action Plan for Jobs) and many more.
G At a practical level, the National Planning Framework will,
amongst a range of other issues, provide crucial new
policy guidance on:
1 Providing for future trends and growth in relation
to employment and housing;
2 The most effective way to enable all Irelands
regions to play their full part in overall national
development;
3 Equipping the regions with the right mix of
physical and social infrastructure working within
available resources in a prioritised manner;
4 Making our development more sustainable and
greener; and
5 Strengthening the opportunities for an island
approach to our development.
G As a strategy, the Framework will identify where, across
Government, both central and local, policy co-ordination
and prudent investment can combine to deliver the best
outcomes for our country as a whole and its regions.
G The National Planning Framework will address emerging
trends such as:
1 A population that could increase by up to 1
million, more than a fifth of whom will be over 65
by 2040;
2 Over 500,000 more people at work, a lot of
which will be high skilled jobs that are
increasingly tending to cluster in and around
cities;
3 At least 500,000 extra homes needing to be
provided and close to services and amenities;
and
4 Where we plan for future development and how
we manage existing development to ensure that
we address major environmental challenges
such as protecting air, water quality, biodiversity
and climate change, transforming our energy
and transport systems away from a dependency
on fossil fuels towards green energy.
G The National Planning Framework will also address the
trends that, unless managed differently, around three
quarters of the extra population and homes will happen on
the eastern side of the country, much of it clustered
around, but not necessarily happening in, our capital city.
This will further exacerbate massive and increasingly
unmanageable sprawl of housing areas, scattered
employment and car-based commuting, presenting major
challenges around lop-sided development, under-utilised
potential, congestion and adverse impacts on peoples
lives and the environment.
G In fact, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that a lop-
sided approach to strategic national development would
irrevocably harm Irelands broader prospects from the
economic, social and environmental perspectives.
Therefore, the Framework will address the question of the
expansion of Dublin as the primary engine for the growth
vis--vis enabling credible counter-balances to emerge, as
well as the following issues;
1 Housing: We will need somewhere between
25,000 and 30,000 new homes provided every
year to meet peoples needs for well-located
and affordable housing, with increasing demand
to cater for one- and two-person and older
households. In terms of location, housing is
increasingly linked to employment and bringing
homes and jobs close together helps to
minimise congestion and commuting and makes
services and infrastructure much easier to
provide.
2 Employment: Jobs will become more high-
skilled and people are likely to change jobs
more often. There are two million people at work
in Ireland and there is evidence to suggest that,
notwithstanding wider economic challenges and
taking long-run past trends into account, Ireland
has the capacity to develop economically such
that there could be an extra 500,000 people at
work by 2040, with many of these jobs being
generated in or close to our cities and towns.
3 Infrastructure Services and Amenities:
Ensuring our countrys sustainable development
means we must plan for the educational, health
and community facilities that increasingly define
quality of life and personal well-being as much
as the must-have traditional physical
infrastructure like water services, transport,
communications, broadband and energy
systems.
4 Place: Place-making is a major part of Irelands
enterprise policy under the Action Plan for Jobs
and is increasingly recognised as the key in
creating such economic eco-systems in both
urban and rural areas, where people want to live
and work, drawing on pools of skilled
employees, a wide choice of well-located
housing and employment options, as well as a
broad range of other lifestyle opportunities,
including leisure activities and a variety culture
and entertainment options. We have seen this in
Ireland with the regeneration of parts of our
cities such as Dublins Docklands and the
vibrancy and draw of cities like Galway and
Cork as well as successful rural areas of our
country as highlighted in the recent Action Plan
for Rural Development.
5 Successful places, large and small, urban and
rural, in Ireland and abroad, show that through
planning and carefully targeted policy-led
investment, under-performing locations can
become really successful places that people are
drawn towards.
6 Delivery: It will be important to learn from the
previous National Spatial Strategy, which
launched in 2002 and was a mixed bag in
terms of achievements. While the NSS brought
about planning reforms and triggered capital
investment in areas like transport, water
services and housing to support it, the lack of its
overall implementation coupled with the
economic downturn in 2008 and afterwards
meant the NSS never fully realised its potential
as a framework for development. It is only now
after sustained Government actions have
stabilised the economic fortunes of our country
that we can think about the long-term.
7 The National Planning Framework will be a
strategic, concise document, with clear actions,
responsibilities and timelines and will be
resilient in adapting to economic headwinds,
whether due to external factors like Brexit or
otherwise.
G What Will Happen if We Do Nothing?: If we dont plan to
do anything differently and continue as we have been over
the past twenty years, we are almost certain to get more of
the same over the next twenty - with congested roads and
city centres, ever expanding suburbs and a sense of a
country characterised by an over-heating East Coast and
under-utilised potential regionally meaning:
1 Dublin will continue to dominate and potentially
overheat drawing in more and more of overall
national development, while at the same time
sprawling into the surrounding Leinster
counties;
2 Regional cities such as Cork, Limerick, Galway
and Waterford will grow but not at the scale
needed to making any ground in relation to
Dublin;
3 We will continue to build our housing further and
further away from where the jobs are tending to
cluster, due to wider international and economic
trends in both urban and urbanising rural
doughnuts around the cities, leading to rising
costs and impacts in terms of commuting,
service provision, peoples health and the
environment; and
4 Many smaller rural towns and villages and their
wider rural catchments outside the orbit of major
cities and towns and tourism hot-spots like the
Wild Atlantic Way, will increasingly stagnate and
decline.
Business as usual cannot deliver shared national values
and goals such as maintaining a competitive and open
trading economy and place, ensuring a decent standard of
living for all citizens, creating safe, vibrant and inclusive
communities, ensuring life-long health and well-being and
meeting our environmental obligations and carbon
emissions targets.
A Different Path: The National Planning Framework will
emerge in draft form for a further round of public
consultation after Easter before being finally considered
by Government and thereafter by the Oireachtas (a key
recommendation of the Mahon Tribunal) later in 2017.
Thereafter, the Framework will be the top-level plan for the
Irish planning process and in relation to:
Charting a path for the sustainable development of Dublin,
not running ahead of, but running in tandem with, the rest
of the country;
Identifying mechanisms to tap the considerable levels of
under-utilised potential in the regional cities by carefully
focused policies and investment as additional
national/international level counter-balances to the
Greater Dublin Area;
Ensuring that the enormous potential of the rural parts of
our country are maximised, including both the terrestrial
and marine dimensions.
Moreover, the Framework will be outward looking too,
recognising the opportunities for working within a wider
Island context (with Northern Ireland), as well as on an
east-west basis with the wider UK area, the EU and
international context and in tandem with the national
planning frameworks in neighbouring administrations in
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
What Happens Next? Consultation papers were
published on 2nd February for citizens, stakeholder
organisations, public bodies, indeed anyone with an
interest in our countrys future and willing to share their
ideas, to inform and engage in creating this new
Framework Plan. This will be followed by a series of
regional events and communications activities which will
support the development of the process during the course
of 2017.
Further details will be available at (www.ireland2040.ie
(link is external)).
The launch in Maynooth University included a Q&A forum
which was moderated by economist and broadcaster
David Mc Williams.
The panel consisted of:
Anna Marie McHugh, General Secretary of the World
Ploughing Organisation
Carole Pollard, President of The Royal Institute of the
Architects of Ireland
Fergal O'Brien, Director of Policy and Chief Economist
IBEC
Michael Walsh, Chief Executive Waterford City and
County Council
Stephanie Keogh, National Centre for GeoComputation
Maynooth University
Tom Arnold, Director General of the Institute of Irish
International and European Affairs
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/launch-public-consultation-
ireland-2040-our-plan

Assemblypreparingitssubmissionfor
Ireland2040plan
By Dermot Keyes. Published on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Coveney due in Waterford next Monday as NPF submission deadline
approaches
The OConnell Street-based Southern Assembly is currently
preparing a comprehensive submission for the Ireland 2040
National Planning Framework (NPF), the details of which will be
made known locally in due course.
But more than a few hints about the Assemblys approach to the
development of a long-term development framework for the county,
region and wider area between now and 2040 may well be disclosed
come Monday next, February 27th.
At the time of writing, Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government Minister Simon Coveney is due to attend an Ireland
2040 forum to be held at Garter Lane Arts Centre next Monday
morning.
Waterford-bound: Housing, Planning and Local Government Minister Simon
Coveney. PHOTO: Noel Browne

This forms part of the Governments national consultation period


with stakeholders, which Taoiseach Enda Kenny said has been
devised so that we can avoid the planning mistakes of the past.
Every community and every region needs to have its say.
Speaking to The Munster Express, Assembly Director Stephen Blair
said that Assembly members, including Waterford Councillors
Damien Geoghegan (FG) and Jason Murphy (FF) are scheduled to
discuss the submission at length when next they meet on Friday,
March 10th.
Following the meeting, a workshop is due to be held at Assembly
House during which members will discuss the draft submission, prior
to the submission deadline which falls on Thursday, March 16th.
Were in the middle of preparing our submission at present, said
Mr Blair, which, once finalised, will represent a comprehensive
document given the significance of this far-reaching strategy.
Our next assembly meeting and subsequent workshop come at an
opportune time given the pending submission deadline. Added to
that, were also looking forward to having Minister Coveney here in
Waterford on Monday morning next to further discuss the plan.
According to Minister Coveney, this process intends to address
sprawl and lop-sided development, better utilisation of the potential
of both urban and rural areas and avoid congestion and adverse
impacts on peoples lives and the environment.
Assembly House on Waterford's O'Connell Street.

The Assemblys role in helping to drive this process is not to be


underestimated given the role it is empowered to play in the
development of regional spatial and economic strategies, and in
linking local economic development with regional and national
planning strategies.
Even more significantly, the Assembly manages European structural
and investment fund programmes, including the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF), which is a major financier in the
redevelopment of Waterfords Apple Market and adjoining retail
spine.
Business group IBEC, which has produced a timely and informative
report titled Local Economic Indicators: Doing Business Locally, has
called for formulating the NPF without delay. The report reads:
The framework must be the key strategy in the allocation of future
capital funding at both local and national level. It would better guide
regional population growth and address growing imbalances
between the greater Dublin region and elsewhere.
IBEC also re-iterated its call for the development of an Atlantic
Cities strategy, stating the need to unlock the full economic
potential of cities such as Waterford.
Better functioning, sustainable and more vibrant cities will ensure
economic growth, employment and continued social advancement
not only in urban areas but right across the region in which theyre
located.
Speaking to this newspaper following the launch of the NPFs public
consultation phase at Maynooth, Waterford City & County Council
Chief Executive Michael Walsh said the NPF represented a good
blueprint, but it will have to be adequately resourced to ensure that
we can develop a substantial economic counterbalance to the
overheating greater Dublin region.
He added: Not only do we a strong Dublin performing well as the
economic engine of the national economy, but the reality is that we
also need planned, strategic and co-ordinated approaches which
ensure that cities like Waterford grow in a manner as envisaged at
the launch.

Minister Coveney addresses


Dundalk Institute of
Technology students and
key stakeholders on Ireland
2040 Our Plan
Published on Wednesday, 15 Mar 2017
Simon Coveney, Minister for Housing, Planning,
Community and Local Government today (Wednesday,
15th March) sought the views of students on the
preparation of a strategic planning and development
framework for Ireland between now and 2040 at the
Dundalk Institute of Technology Campus, Dundalk. The
event is being hosted in the Muirhevna Building, School of
Health and Science which is a fitting setting for todays
discussion and, like Ireland 2040, it has peoples health
and well-being at its core.
While in DkIT, Minister Coveney participated in a student
discussion, chaired by Ciaran Mullooly. In encouraging the
students to make their views known on the Ireland 2040
Our Plan, the Minister told them I am engaging on Ireland
2040 through regional events like this one today in
Dundalk, organised in conjunction with Higher Education
Institutes to listen and learn about how you think. I am
confident that together we can develop a clear, consistent
and compelling vision and strategy for our country.
You are the future. Your ambitions and your hopes need to
be reflected in a plan of this scale and this
importance. What we are embarking on today is the first
serious attempt to set out a planning and development
strategy for Ireland in nearly 20 years, both learning and
moving forward from the previous National Spatial
Strategy.
The meeting with the students included a discussion with
a panel comprising of Tom Dooley, A/Head of School of
Engineering and Edel Healy Head of School of Health &
Science. The Minister told the audience that Ireland 2040
Our Plan is a discussion about how to secure sustained,
long-term and regionally balanced progress on social,
economic and environmental fronts. Now is the time to
think about the longer-term future of all parts of this island
and how to plan for that future. This paper is the start of a
major consultation process so that we can avoid the
planning mistakes of the past."
Minister Coveney, who leads a high-level cross-
Departmental team in developing the Ireland 2040 Plan,
took the opportunity to set out the issues its preparation
will address:
While we face many challenges presently, we know we
need to think ahead for a radically different Ireland of 2040
including;
G A national population increase of around 1 million people;
G More than one-fifth of Irelands total population being over
65;
G More than 500,000 additional people at work;
G 500,000 homes needing locations much closer to services
and amenities; and
G rebuilding community and commercial life in the hearts of
our cities and towns and protecting the many qualities of
our rural communities
We are now seeking the publics views on what the
issues are and how we can, together, address sprawl and
lop-sided development, better utilisation of the potential of
both urban and rural areas and avoid congestion and
adverse impacts on peoples lives and the environment
Full details are available on www.Ireland2040.ie
(link is external)
and the public are invited to contribute initial views by 31st
March. Those views will be used to shape a draft copy of
the Plan which is likely to issue for further consultation
prior to the Summer. After further incorporation of the
publics views, a final version of the plan is likely to be
submitted to Government in the Autumn.
Follow us on Twitter @ire2040 #Ireland2040
ENDS
Notes for Editors
What Is the National Planning Framework?
The National Planning Framework - Ireland 2040 Our
Plan - will set a new strategic planning and development
context for the Ireland and all its regions in the period
between now and 2040, setting a strategic, high-level
framework for the co-ordination of a range of national,
regional and local authority policies and activities,
planning and investment.
Development of the framework is timely given the need to
put in place a long-term plan for sustainable growth, now
that we have stabilised the national finances and are
making significant progress again in areas of economic
and social development, notwithstanding economic
headwinds given issues such as Brexit.
As a successful and dynamic open economy with strong
east west and north south links with the UK, EU, US and
globally, a new framework is needed to both succeed the
National Spatial Strategy, which had a 2002-2020 timeline,
and to build on and draw together sectoral Government
initiatives in areas such as housing, (Rebuilding Ireland)
rural issues (Action Plan for Rural Development)
employment (Action Plan for Jobs) and many more.
At a practical level, the National Planning Framework will,
amongst a range of other issues, provide crucial new
policy guidance on:
G Providing for future trends and growth in relation to
employment and housing;
G The most effective way to enable all Irelands regions to
play their full part in overall national development;
G Equipping the regions with the right mix of physical and
social infrastructure working within available resources in
a prioritised manner;
G Making our development more sustainable and greener;
and
G Strengthening the opportunities for an island approach to
our development.
As a strategy, the Framework will identify where,
across Government, both central and local, policy co-
ordination and prudent investment can combine to deliver
the best outcomes for our country as a whole and its
regions.
The National Planning Framework will address emerging
trends such as:
G A population that could increase by up to 1 million, more
than a fifth of whom will be over 65 by 2040;
G Over 500,000 more people at work, a lot of which will be
high skilled jobs that are increasingly tending to cluster in
and around cities;
G At least 500,000 extra homes needing to be provided and
close to services and amenities; and
G Where we plan for future development and how we
manage existing development to ensure that we address
major environmental challenges such as protecting air,
water quality, biodiversity and climate change,
transforming our energy and transport systems away from
a dependency on fossil fuels towards green energy.
The National Planning Framework will also address the
trends that, unless managed differently, around three
quarters of the extra population and homes will happen on
the eastern side of the country, much of it clustered
around, but not necessarily happening in, our capital city.
This will further exacerbate massive and increasingly
unmanageable sprawl of housing areas, scattered
employment and car-based commuting, presenting major
challenges around lop-sided development, under-utilised
potential, congestion and adverse impacts on peoples
lives and the environment.
In fact, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that a lop-
sided approach to strategic national development would
irrevocably harm Irelands broader prospects from the
economic, social and environmental perspectives.
Therefore, the Framework will address the question of the
expansion of Dublin as the primary engine for the growth
vis--vis enabling credible counter-balances to emerge, as
well as the following issues;
Housing: We will need somewhere between 25,000 and
30,000 new homes provided every year to meet peoples
needs for well-located and affordable housing, with
increasing demand to cater for one- and two-person and
older households. In terms of location, housing is
increasingly linked to employment and bringing homes
and jobs close together helps to minimise congestion and
commuting and makes services and infrastructure much
easier to provide.
Employment: Jobs will become more high-skilled and
people are likely to change jobs more often. There are two
million people at work in Ireland and there is evidence to
suggest that, notwithstanding wider economic challenges
and taking long-run past trends into account, Ireland has
the capacity to develop economically such that there could
be an extra 500,000 people at work by 2040, with many of
these jobs being generated in or close to our cities and
towns.
Infrastructure Services and Amenities: Ensuring our
countrys sustainable development means we must plan
for the educational, health and community facilities that
increasingly define quality of life and personal well-being
as much as the must-have traditional physical
infrastructure like water services, transport,
communications, broadband and energy systems.
Place: Place-making is a major part of Irelands enterprise
policy under the Action Plan for Jobs and is increasingly
recognised as the key in creating such economic eco-
systems in both urban and rural areas, where people want
to live and work, drawing on pools of skilled employees, a
wide choice of well-located housing and employment
options, as well as a broad range of other lifestyle
opportunities, including leisure activities and a variety
culture and entertainment options. We have seen this in
Ireland with the regeneration of parts of our cities such as
Dublins Docklands and the vibrancy and draw of cities like
Galway and Cork as well as successful rural areas of our
country as highlighted in the recent Action Plan for Rural
Development.
Successful places, large and small, urban and rural, in
Ireland and abroad, show that through planning and
carefully targeted policy-led investment, under-performing
locations can become really successful places that people
are drawn towards.
Delivery: It will be important to learn from the previous
National Spatial Strategy, which launched in 2002 and was
a mixed bag in terms of achievements. While the NSS
brought about planning reforms and triggered capital
investment in areas like transport, water services and
housing to support it, the lack of its overall implementation
coupled with the economic downturn in 2008 and
afterwards meant the NSS never fully realised its potential
as a framework for development. It is only now after
sustained Government actions have stabilised the
economic fortunes of our country that we can think about
the long-term.
The National Planning Framework will be a strategic,
concise document, with clear actions, responsibilities and
timelines and will be resilient in adapting to economic
headwinds, whether due to external factors like Brexit or
otherwise.
What Will Happen if We Do Nothing?: If we dont plan to
do anything differently and continue as we have been over
the past twenty years, we are almost certain to get more of
the same over the next twenty - with congested roads and
city centres, ever expanding suburbs and a sense of a
country characterised by an over-heating East Coast and
under-utilised potential regionally meaning:
Dublin will continue to dominate and potentially overheat
drawing in more and more of overall national
development, while at the same time sprawling into the
surrounding Leinster counties; Regional cities such as
Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford will grow but not at
the scale needed to making any ground in relation to
Dublin; We will continue to build our housing further and
further away from where the jobs are tending to cluster,
due to wider international and economic trends in both
urban and urbanising rural doughnuts around the cities,
leading to rising costs and impacts in terms of commuting,
service provision, peoples health and the environment;
and
Many smaller rural towns and villages and their wider rural
catchments outside the orbit of major cities and towns and
tourism hot-spots like the Wild Atlantic Way, will
increasingly stagnate and decline.
Business as usual cannot deliver shared national values
and goals such as maintaining a competitive and open
trading economy and place, ensuring a decent standard of
living for all citizens, creating safe, vibrant and inclusive
communities, ensuring life-long health and well-being and
meeting our environmental obligations and carbon
emissions targets.
A Different Path: The National Planning Framework will
emerge in draft form for a further round of public
consultation after Easter before being finally considered
by Government and thereafter by the Oireachtas (a key
recommendation of the Mahon Tribunal) later in 2017.
Thereafter, the Framework will be the top-level plan for the
Irish planning process and in relation to:
o Charting a path for the sustainable development of
Dublin, not running ahead of, but running in tandem with,
the rest of the country;
o Identifying mechanisms to tap the considerable levels
of under-utilised potential in the regional cities by carefully
focused policies and investment as additional
national/international level counter-balances to the
Greater Dublin Area;
o Ensuring that the enormous potential of the rural parts
of our country are maximised, including both the terrestrial
and marine dimensions.
o Moreover, the Framework will be outward looking too,
recognising the opportunities for working within a wider
Island context (with Northern Ireland), as well as on an
east-west basis with the wider UK area, the EU and
international context and in tandem with the national
planning frameworks in neighbouring administrations in
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
What Happens Next? Consultation papers were
published on 2nd February for citizens, stakeholder
organisations, public bodies, indeed anyone with an
interest in our countrys future and willing to share their
ideas, to inform and engage in creating this new
Framework Plan. This will be followed by a series of
regional events and communications activities which will
support the development of the process during the course
of 2017.
Further details will be available at www.ireland2040.ie
(link is external)
.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/national-planning-
framework/minister-coveney-addresses-dundalk-institute-technology

western_people_public_notice_0

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/foreshore-
applications/application-
documents/western_people_public_notice_0.pdf

Ireland 2040 Our Plan Issues and Choices February 2017


http://npf.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Position-Paper-Issues-and-
Choices-Ireland-2040-web.pdf
IBEC Submission on Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, ... Property Industry
Ireland outlined the need for a visionary document with clear
guiding ... Property Industrial Estates Ireland Our Plan 2040
https://www.ibec.ie/Sectors/PII/PII.nsf/vPages/Publications~submissio
n-on-ireland-2040---our-plan,-national-planning-framework-31-03-
2017/$file/PII+Submission+-+Our+Plan+2040+FINAL.pdf
SUBMISSION ON IRELAND 2040 - OUR
PLAN, NATIONAL PLANNING
FRAMEWORK
Below you will find PII's submission to the Ireland 2040 - Our Plan issues and
concepts paper. Property Industry Ireland outlined the need for a visionary
document with clear guiding principles, including the following recommendations:

1. Clearly define a Vision and Guiding Principles to be followed by Regional


Assemblies and Local Authorities in the Regional Spatial and Economic and
Local Development Plans
2. Introduce a mechanism to allow for deviation from the National Planning
Framework where it is in the national interest
3. Distinguish the goals to be achieved through the plan in the short, medium
and long-term
4. Establish a National Zoning Authority to guide and prioritise national
development
5. Focus of growth on key cities of Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway, and
on Dublin/Belfast corridor towns
6. Introduce a directly elected Lord Mayor for whole Greater Dublin Area to
improve co-ordination on planning and infrastructure matters between the
four Local Authorities
7. Improve co-ordination on planning matters between local authorities and
overseen by Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local
Government, including through the introduction of directly elected Mayors for
Irelands key cities
8. Active engagement, including through guidance and other means, by the
Office of the Planning Regulator where increased density/height is needed in
Local Authority areas to meet national interests

9. Introduction of special planning use category for retired/semi-retired


populations needs with aim to promote this sector
10. Regional Spatial and Economic Plans and Development Plans to take into
account changing demographics on house size and required need for smaller
units and increased services
11. Establish an independent National Infrastructure Authority to identify and
prioritise areas of spend on infrastructure
12. Review taxation arrangements of property with aim of ensuring that
infrastructure and services are adequately financed proportionate to benefit
and how central government fund Local Authority projects
13. Promotion of speculative construction of commercial and industrial space
in key growth cities through ISIF
14. Engagement with business and civil communities on both sides of the
border to ensure minimal disruption due to Brexit
https://www.ibec.ie/Sectors/PII/PII.nsf/vPages/Publications~submissio
n-on-ireland-2040---our-plan,-national-planning-framework-31-03-
2017!OpenDocument

Submission to the public consultation for Ireland 2040

https://www.icsh.ie/sites/default/files/attach/icsh-news/1184/icsh-
npf2040submission310317.pdf

Implementation of Directive 2014/52/EU on the effects of


certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA
Directive) Advice on Administrative Provisions in Advance of
Transposition

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/file
s/circular_pl1_2017_implementation_of_directive_201452eu_o
n_the_effects_of_certain_public_and_private_projects_on_the_
environment_eia_directive.pdf

Implementation of Directive 2014/52/EU on the effects of


certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA
Directive) Advice on Administrative Provisions in Advance of
Transposition I have been asked by Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.,
Minister for Housing

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/file
s/circular_pl1_2017_implementation_of_directive_201452eu_o
n_the_effects_of_certain_public_and_private_projects_on_the_
environment_eia_directive.pdf

Housing Supply Coordination Task Force for Dublin


Background - Construction 2020
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/wp-
content/uploads/2014/05/Construction-Strategy-14-May-
20141.pdf

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) - List of


approved projects; Project descriptions; FAQs

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/file
s/list_of_approved_projects_under_lihaf.pdf
Application by Ireland-France Subsea Cable Ltd. for proposed fibre optic cable
route scoping from France to Ireland, making landfall at a proposed location in
Ringaskiddy, including 100m inland and comprising geophysical survey, site
investigation works, etc

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/foreshore-
applications/application-
documents/consultation_with_dahrrga.pdf

Ireland-France Subsea Cable Limited IFC-1 Summary


schedule of works 242080-00_SOW002 Issue 1 | 28 March
2017

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/foreshore-
applications/application-
documents/summary_schedule_of_works.pdf

339 Million Swindle by Permanent TSB 1958 - 1993, ... Swindle


339 Million Fraud by TSB Bank 1958 -1993. ... Conspiracy of
Carmel Foley (GSOC) in TSB

Jul 22, 2016


http://windlestopsswindle.com

TSB Dublin and Cork & Limerick Savings Bank tricked most depositors from
1958 -1993 by not disclosing in the application forms for the accounts and in
newspaper advertisements of interest rates that interest is calculated on the
lowest monthly balance ( Rule 18) when the ordinary and customary practice
of banks was to pay interest on adaily balance.

Please see http://windlestopsswindle.com for details

Thanks
Devrajan Srinivasan

On 2 September, 2016, Permanent TSB complained to YouTube about breach


of their trade mark in this video. However, YouTube reject their complaint and
refused to remove this video. Three cheers for freedom of speech and the rule
of law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSy27mRyEEg&feature=share

Swindle at TSB/ 2016, and 1958 to 1993 | Village Magazine

JUNE 2016
The day before Brexit, Permanent TSB shares soared amid speculation that the 75%-state-
owned bank may eventually merge with another lender. Shares surged by 10 per cent though
they had fallen by more than half since the government sold shares last year. Michael
Noonan said: The share price has been under pressure for a myriad of reasons. He listed
some of them but failed to include the important legacy issue of under-paid depositors.
After the vote for Brexit, Davy Stockbrokers reported: Brexit has clearly heightened the
uncertainty around the timing and price of the sale of PTSBs residual UK assets, delaying
the banks normalisation. The shares had sunk by around another quarter. If the bank ever
merges, its partner may have to address legacy issues that just might create significant
liabilities.
RECENT OVERCHARGING
Meanwhile in June the bank consented to Joseph Wallace, a mortgage holder from Mahon,
Co Cork, being discharged from his bankruptcy after it overcharged him interest. Wallace
claimed he would not have had to go bankrupt, after being unable to meet repayments on his
home, if he had not been overcharged. He told the High Court he only learned of the
overcharging after becoming bankrupt. The outstanding mortgage at the time of Wallaces
bankruptcy was around 326,000 with 75,000 arrears, his barrister told the court.
However, the actual amount, without the overcharge, was around 284,000 with 52,000
arrears. Wallace was charged interest at a rate of 4.5 per cent when he was entitled to 1.5
per cent. David Hall of the Irish Mortgage Holders Association welcomed the judges decision
and said his organisation was in discussions on behalf of a number of other people in similar
situations who had cases pending.
In 2014 the TSB shareholders challenged the constitutionality of laws permitting the banks
4bn recapitalisation by the State. The matter was referred to the European Court of Justice.
Another headache.
THE ENORMOUS PRECEDENT
From 1958 to 20 February 1993 TSB Bank, a forerunner of Permanent TSB, did not disclose
the basis of calculating interest in its application form for new accounts, in the notice of
interest rates in its branches and in the daily newspapers with a view to defrauding most
depositors. The bank was convicted and fined 1000 for breaching the Consumer Information
Act 1978, as a result of a private prosecution by me, after the aptly named William Fagan
refused to prosecute. Mere days after the convictions and fines, the bank started paying
everyone the full advertised rate.

DISCOVERY OF FRAUD
In April 1990, I had opened an Investment account with TSB Dublin, lured by its offer of
significantly higher interest than other banks. Ten months later, I lodged a bank draft and
enquired as to when the draft would attract interest. I was shocked to find that interest was
paid from the 21st of any month on the lowest monthly balance.
I closed the account in January 1991. Two months later, I wrote to the bank requesting a copy
of the rules Swindle at TSB 2016, and 1958 to 1993 Victims of Windle-stopped-Swindle
never reimbursed 339m leaving PTSB open to possible claims by Srinivasan Devrajan
Depositors or their successors who held a deposit or investment account with TSB Dublin or
in Cork and Limerick Savings Bank between 1958 and 20 February 1993 are invited to
contact the author July 2016 1 5 of the bank and whether interest was calculated on a daily
basis. The bank sent me a cheque for about 62 on an ex-gratia basis, without prejudice.
Smelling a rat, I sued the bank in the High Court.
On 2 September 1992 TSB settled with me, out-of-court, for 30,000 and a commitment that
I did not inform other depositors that they had been defrauded. As part of answers to
interrogatories raised by me, the bank conceded that the accounts were not strictly
investment accounts though that is precisely what they were called. Six months later I
launched a private, criminal action against TSB.
ORDINARY AND CUSTOMARY PRACTICE OF BANKING
The ordinary and customary practice of banks and building societies in the State is to pay
daily interest on deposits.
MODUS OPERANDI OF THE FRAUD ON MOST DEPOSITORS FROM 1958 TO 1993
TSB Dublin and Cork and Limerick Savings Bank defrauded most depositors from 1958 to
1993 by not paying the clearly and categorically advertised interest on savings and
investment accounts.
The banks tricked depositors by not disclosing, in the application forms for accounts and in
newspaper advertisements of interest rates, the following material information:
1. Interest was calculated on the lowest monthly balance (Rule 18 certified under the Act of
1863)
2. Monies could be held for up to 60 days (from the 21st of any month to the 20th of the
second following month) without earning any interest, regardless of the sum of money lodged
or withdrawn.
3. Money earned only 11/12ths of the clearly advertised rate, except for deposits lodged or
withdrawn on the 21st day of any month.
CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND AWARE OF THE FRAUD
Dr Michael Casey, Senior Adviser to the Central Bank, advised by letter dated 6 March 1990
to TSB Dublin and Cork and Limerick Savings Bank that they should publish the gross and
compound annual rate of deposits so that depositors could make an informed choice
between the rates offered by different banks.
The Central Bank knew that TSB was advertising Compound Annual Rate 1/12th higher than
in fact paid, in breach of the Trustee Savings Banks Act 1989 section 27 (1), as is evident
from the letter of Dr Casey which stated:
While we understand that the TSBs traditional method of crediting interest to deposits might
lead to some difficulties with expressing annual interest rates, we feel that these should not
be insurmountable.
This is a subtle acknowledgement of the fact that the advertised annual interest rates were
what most people would call fraudulent. The question arises on whose behalf Casey felt
surmounting was needed. It was certainly not that of the consumer or the public interest.

Conviction for breach of Consumer Information Act 1978


COMPLAINT TO DIRECTOR OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
I complained about the fraudulent advertising to the Consumers Association of Ireland (CAI)
and copied the letter to the then Director of Consumer Affairs, William Fagan, TSB Bank, the
Central Bank of Ireland and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI).
INVESTIGATION BY WILLIAM FAGAN
In 1991, Fagan refused to prosecute the bank for not disclosing, in the application forms for
accounts and in newspaper advertisements of interest rates, that interest was calculated on
the lowest monthly balance. Moreover, TSB has not redressed the fraud perpetrated on
most depositors after the investigation in 1991, such as it was, by Fagan.
WARNING BY CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND IN CONSUMER CHOICE
MAGAZINE
The CAI published two letters from me warning about the misleading advertising of TSB, in
the magazine Consumer Choice in 1991, but did not see it fit to approach the High Court for
an injunction restraining the bank from continuing to perpetrate the fraud.
ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF IRELAND (ASAI)
ASAI did nothing all to stop the bank the bank from misleading its depositors, despite the
warnings in Consumer Choice magazine and my complaint.
TSB MISLEADS FAGAN
TSB wrote to Fagan admitting that all depositors were, and would continue to be, paid on
their lowest monthly balance. However, TSB did not disclose to Fagan that some depositors
including trustees and employees of the bank were being, and would continue to be, paid
interest on the basis of their daily balances. In fact, the bank distributed passbooks in 1985
with a note advising, Investment accounts a daily rate may be paid in certain cases.
TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEES OF TSB BENEFITED FROM MORE FAVOURABLE
REGIME
So, the banks trustees and employees were helped to the daily interest, despite the banks
own Rule 18 which prohibited interest for any period less than one full calendar month.
WINDLE STOPS 339 MILLION SWINDLE ON MOST TSB DEPOSITORS
I, a lowly colonial alien, took and won a private prosecution of the TSB for advertising an
interest rate of 8% pa on its Investment Account and 3.5% on its Deposit Account in the Irish
Times of 5 June 1992, when the true rates were 7.333% and 3.208%. The bank pleaded not
guilty, and elected for summary trial in the District Court.
On 17 February 1993, District Judge Desmond Windle convicted TSB Bank, fining it a total of
1000 on two counts for breaches of s8 of the Consumer Credit Act 1978 which states:
A person shall not publish, or cause to be published, an advertisement in relation to the
supply or provision in the course or for the purposes of a trade, business or profession, of
goods, services or facilities if it is likely to mislead, and thereby cause loss, damage or injury
to members of the public to a material degree.
The judge declared that the fine would have to be the maximum of 500 on each count,
highlighting the Courts displeasure at the severity of the offences.
Though the bank appealed the convictions and fines, it started paying the full advertised
interest interest on the aggregated daily balance on the two accounts to all depositors
from 21 February 1993. Significantly, the bank elected to pay the full advertised interest rate
to all depositors from 21 February 1993 rather than to disclose its extraordinary method of
calculating interest in the application forms for the accounts and in newspaper
advertisements.
The convictions had no impact the minority of depositors who received daily interest.
HARRY LORTON, TRUSTEE & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF TSB ASHEN-FACED
On 21 October 1993, the convictions and fines were affirmed by Dublin Circuit Court, after
TSB withdrew its appeal on the day of the hearing. I remember clearly that Harry Lorton,
Chief Executive of TSB, was ashen-faced outside the Court almost as though he was staring
at death.
KPMG AND PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS
KPMG and Price Waterhouse Coopers certified the accounts of the TSB Bank for the year
ending October 1991, despite the convictions being reported in the daily newspapers and on
RT. They must have tried very hard not to detect the fraud, as interest on deposits would
have shot up after 21 February 1993, when the bank started paying everyone interest on a
daily rate.
CARMEL FOLEY REFUSES TO REOPEN INVESTIGATION
In 2003 I presented Carmel Foley, the then Director of Consumer Affairs, with documentary
evidence that TSB hoodwinked Fagan in 1991 by claiming that all depositors were, are and
would be, paid interest on the lowest monthly balance. Foley asked only,What do you want
me to do?.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Silvia Scatizzi of the Commission was of the expert and considered opinion that Ireland had
not failed to uphold the Misleading Advertising Directive, despite the convictions and fines.
SOME SETBACKS IN THE COURTS
In 2006, the learned Justice Hanna considered that the convictions and fines were for
misleading advertising, not fraud. I would be of the view that not paying the clearly advertised
interest for 35 years is fraud in anybodys language. Though he was technically and legally
correct. The issue arises because there is no statute of limitation for a possible civil action for
fraud.
An application by me to the District Court in a further private prosecution, this time for
breaches of the Larceny Act, Section 8 of the Consumer Information Act 1998 and Section
27(1) of the Trustee Savings Banks Act was dismissed by Judge James Paul McDonnell on
the grounds of abuse of process.
In 2011 Judge Mella Carroll refused me an injunction against TSBs misleading advertising
on grounds that damages would be an adequate remedy.
In 2000 Judge Paul Butler dismissed a civil action taken by Alfie Smyth against TSB on the
ground that the sum sought, 8.80 was too small to be heard in the High Court.
Ireland (officially the Republic of Ireland) is a country in north-western Europe, a member of
the European Union since 1973.
The economy of Ireland has been transforming since 1980s from agricultural to modern
knowledge economy, with the focus on development of high technology industries and
services. Key sectors of the Ireland's economy are production of pharmaceuticals and
medical devices, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and
brewing.
Irish banking sector was affected by post-2008 banking crisis, resulting in the government's
bank bailout, in particular nationalization and recapitalization of the troubled banks. Now Irish
banking sectior is dominated by 'Big Four' domestic banks.

IRISH INDEPENDENT, IRISH EXAMINER, IRISH TIMES AND RT


I tipped off the Indo, Examiner, Times and RT about the consequences of the fraud by
TSB. They studiously ignored me.
RIGHTS OF DEPOSITORS
TSB Bank has its origins in the penny savings banks established to help the poor. It behoved
TSB not to defraud its depositors. It should have paid the outstanding interest, compounded
annually at the then prevailing interest rates.
Ironically, TSB now pays interest rates that are in general above market rates. According to
Davy stockbrokers: PTSB continues to pay 75bps [basis points. One basis point is equal to
1/100th of 1%] for one-year money compared with 25-45bps at Bank of Ireland and 30-40bps
at AIB (EBS 55bps).
LEGAL ACTION
Depositors or their successors who held a deposit or investment account with TSB Dublin or
in Cork and Limerick Savings Bank between 1958 and 20 February 1993 are invited to
contact the author by email for a draft copy of a Statement of Claim for an action to right this
wrong. Based on a claim of fraud, which would not be statute-barred.
Srinivasan.Devrajan@gmail.com is a Tamilian who failed maths at school and lives in Meath.
www.windlestopsswindle.com
By Srinivasan Devrajan
Modus operandi of the fraud by TSB Bank, TSB Dublin and Cork & Limerick Savings Bank
on most depositors 1958 - 1993.

The banks tricked depositors by not disclosing in the application forms for the accounts and in
newspaper advertisements of interest rates the following material information:

- interest is calculated on the lowest monthly balance ( Rule 18 certified under the Act of
1863) when the the ordinary and customary practice of Irish banks and building societies was
to pay daily interest on deposits.

I, a lowly colonial schmuck, who failed maths at school prosecuted TSB for advertising
interest rate of 8% pa on the Investment account and 3.5% on the Deposit account in the
Irish Times dated 5 June 1992, when the true rate was 7.333% and 3.208%.

On 17 February 1993, District Judge Desmond Windle convicted & fined TSB Bank a total of
1000 for fraud on 2 counts.

Significantly, the bank elected to pay the full advertised interest to all depositors from 21
February 1993 rather than disclose its extra-ordinary method of calculating interest in the
application forms for the accounts and in newspaper advertisements.

Please see the link below for the convictions & fines for fraud and admission by Jo Doyle that
the trustees and servants stole from the bank ( daily interest in breach of Rule 18 and
Larceny Act 1916 section 21 theft by trustees)

https://drive.google.com//fol/0B_-K1rbHnkOXZUZlWDZVVVM0ak0

Please contact me for the "Statement of claim" to claim the outstanding interest and damages
for fraud, theft and breach of Consumer Information Act 1978 section 8.

Please share with friends and requests your friends to share again
Amen

Srinivasan Devrajan
Am looking for any one who held a deposit or investment account with TSB Dublin, Cork &
Limerick Savings Bank, TSB Bank between 1958 to 21 Feb 1993.
There is a High action against the bank for fraud and theft.
It will be to their advantage. Please share with friends and family
many thanks
Devrajan 089 237 1088
Windle Stops Swindle. Fraud of 339 Million by Permanent TSB 1958 -1993. Fagan Fumes.
Jul 22, 2016
http://windlestopsswindle.com

TSB Dublin and Cork & Limerick Savings Bank tricked most depositors from 1958 -1993 by
not disclosing in the application forms for the accounts and in newspaper advertisements of
interest rates that interest is calculated on the lowest monthly balance ( Rule 18) when the
ordinary and customary practice of banks was to pay interest on adaily balance.

Please see http://windlestopsswindle.com for details

Thanks

Devrajan Srinivasan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSy27mRyEEg&t=62s

If there's a national crisis, a sovereign


debt crisis, and Patrick Honohan lifts
up the phone at 3am to call the
Taoiseach, who do I want to answer
that call?'
Enda Kenny was never the best in his
political cohort but managed to fight his
way to the top, writes Eoin O'Malley
Eoin O'Malley

May 21 2017

Enda Kenny.
June2010wastheturningpoint.ItwasthemakingofEndaKenny.

KennyturnedupatameetingoftheFineGaelparliamentarypartywithhiscareerontheline.Allthe
workhehaddonerebuildingthepartycouldcometonaught.

MostofhisfrontbenchhadcomeoutagainsthimafteryetanotherpollshowedthatFineGaelwas
failingtocapitaliseonthecountry'seconomiccollapse.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/iftheresanationalcrisisasovereigndebtcrisis
andpatrickhonohanliftsupthephoneat3amtocallthetaoiseachwhodoiwant
toanswerthatcall35737695.html

Leader faces long post-


Brexit slog

1
'The next Taoiseach is chosen he will have to realise that he will be
the equivalent of a war-time leader. The potential consequences
for this country of Britains exit from the European Union are that
serious

When the crash came, we thought it was the worst we would ever have to face.
People lost their savings, their pensions, their homes and their jobs; our young
people had to emigrate, and we had to spend 64bn of taxpayers' money
bailing out our native banks, very little of which has come back to us yet.

AIB, for example (and it was by far the biggest example), needed help to the
tune of 20.8bn. So far, we have received 3.3bn by way of return, and if
Michael Noonan proceeds with the sale of the first 25pc of our AIB shares, as
he seems determined to before he ends his political career, we could get
another 3bn, which suggests that selling the rest will leave us a long way
short of full repayment.
But bad as all that was, there is worse to come. So much so that when the next
Taoiseach is chosen he will have to realise that he will be the equivalent of a
war-time leader. The potential consequences for this country of Britain's exit
from the European Union are that serious.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/leader-faces-long-
postbrexit-slog-35737647.html
In her first year, she thought she should be elected to the SU

This time it was her turn. The first-year UCD law and economics student had made her first
tentative foray on to the hustings when she put her name down to run for the part-time
post with the students' union of Oifigeach na Gaeilge, or Irish language officer.
Whoever fills the position, which comes with a 87,258 salary and 31,365 worth of
unvouched expenses, will need the blessing of the Fine Gael leader to ensure the local
support base weighs in behind the new Castlebar candidate.

...the close-knit Kenny family decide the name which he carried from his father Henry
should remain on the ballot sheet for another generation. The Taoiseach's daughter,
Aoibhinn Kenny, is the best-placed member of the clan to carry the baton for the
Islandeady family....was selected for the prestigious Washington Ireland Programme, which
prepares ambitious young people for future leadership roles.
Irelands first overseas senator Billy Lawless says accusations of cronyism made against
him for giving the Taoiseachs daughter a J1 job are absolutely ridiculous.
...
He said Aoibhinn Kenny was lucky and she was one of first ones to apply. He said he knew
her and why wouldnt you look after a friends daughter?
Even in Mayo they've figured him out
Quite a few people in the Taoiseachs home town of Castlebar were scratching their heads
yesterday after reading a headline in the Connaught Telegraph saying Kenny will run
again.
Should there by a dynastic inheritance like this ? Also what of her
start in life
I'm uncomfortable about the way you go after the blueshirts cYP.

Now I've gone after them for years, don't get me wrong, they're legitimate targets, but you
make it very personal. Did you edit the photo in the OP?
Whats more personal than the Darling Daughter being groomed for succession in
Mayo-God-Help-Us?

Havent you figured out by now that all politics here is personal? Who do you think
inherits the seats
Doesn't matter.

All that matters is if the voters in EKs constituency think the daughter is worth it.

Selection conventions can be tricky sometimes too... but not maybe for a former
TS's daughter.

But seems she has kept her powder dry up to now.

That is the reality


GDP UP
GNP UP
Retail Sales UP
Employment UP
Live Register down from 15%+ to about 7%
Tourism UP
Tax Revenues UP
Wages UP
Inflation DOWN
Construction UP
Services Sector UP
Manufacturing UP
Confidence UP
Bond rates DOWN
IMF Gone
Mortgage arrears DOWN
Vat receipts UP
USC Cut
Top rate of tax CUT
To be honest it would be real proof of the adage - you get the government you deserve.

If the people of Mayo were to elect her, then they certainly deserve another 50 years of
gombeen politics.

If there was ever a case for national politicians being elected nationally - i.e., a list system,
this would be it.
It aint only Mayo. Its everywhere.
To be honest it would be real proof of the adage - you get the government you deserve.

If the people of Mayo were to elect her, then they certainly deserve another 50 years of
gombeen politics.

If there was ever a case for national politicians being elected nationally - i.e., a list system,
this would be it.
It can also be said that some Dublin constituencies have elected some gobs---e
who did not inherit seats from family members even in the Dail today.
What landlords were protected. Not the small one`s anyway. They were hammered.
Fine Gael didn't implement the Kenny report which recommended that local
authorities would acquire land for 25 percent above agricultural value. This would
have stopped speculation on the cost of land. It would have stopped big
landowners sitting on large land banks to watch their value appreciate. Fine Gael
didn't acquire the land because it suited the property classes to see prices rise
again and Fine Gael wanted to make money back on NAMA. So now we have a
housing and homeless crisis, which Fine Gael still seem to be unable to solve.
Landlords are doing very well in Ireland. And under the new Finance Bill
commercial landlords will be virtually tax free.
Landlords are exiting the market.
No houses were being built as most developers were bankrupt and most banks wouldn`t
lend.

It was accidental that rents started to rise.

The AirB&B business model didn`t help either taking 3000 apartments out of the system.

The 14,000 per annum tax break available to home owners to rent rooms hasn`t worked
as well as it should YET.
What are you talking about? How do landlords not benefit from land prices going
up, property prices going up, and rents going up.

The State could have acquired the land at 125 percent of agricultural value and
have stopped prices rising again. But it didn't do it. The rise rents was not
accidental. The Government knew it was happening and sat back and did nothing.
It wanted prices to rise because this suite the property classes and they wanted
to make money back on NAMA. Deny it all you want but you have no credibility as
a Fine Gael shill.
Mossy as a landlord its slightly different. You haven`t a clue as to what happened.

What about all those landlords that were around in 2006-2011, what happened
them ?
Relatives of outgoing TDs should start behind, not ahead. They should be
challenged by all and sundry to prove that this odd state of affairs is justifiable on
the basis of exceptional merit. In short, it should be embarrassing to do this. The
days of ruling families should be long behind us.
even the most ordinary politicians have pension funds worth millions. Politics not just about
the salary you get today, it's as much about the permanent access to the teat long after
the people have rejected you.
You may recall a post from yesterday about Fine Gaels Brian Walsh.

It explained that, if the former TDs application for early retirement on grounds of ill
health was granted, he could start to receive his pension now, instead of waiting until he
is 66.

This is despite Mr Walsh, who didnt contest the general election, previously
promising that he wouldnt draw down the pension before he reached 66.

Well.
The Irish Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that Mr Walsh has already been granted
permission.

John Lee and Valerie Hanley reported:

The Oireachtas this week refused to say if the early retirement on grounds of ill health
pension had been granted. But a source this weekend confirmed that it had.

Ordinarily, the former TD would be entitled to a pension at 66 years of age, calculated on


the basis of his service. As he has served five years, this would amount to around 900 a
month.

Under the early retirement scheme, as well as getting his pension 23 years early,
he has been credited with notional service. This is based on the assumption
that, but for his retirement due to illness, he would have won at least one more
election. As a result, he will receive 10 years service thats around 1,800
month. Over 23 years this amounts to a pension fund worth about 500,000.
You may recall a post from yesterday about Fine Gaels Brian Walsh.
It explained that, if the former TDs application for early retirement on
grounds of ill health was granted, he could start to receive his pension
now, instead of waiting until he is 66.
This is despite Mr Walsh, who didnt contest the general election,
previously promising that he wouldnt draw down the pension before he
reached 66.

Well.

The Irish Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that Mr Walsh


has already been granted permission.
John Lee and Valerie Hanley reported:

The Oireachtas this week refused to say if the early retirement on


grounds of ill health pension had been granted. But a source this
weekend confirmed that it had.
Ordinarily, the former TD would be entitled to a pension at 66 years of
age, calculated on the basis of his service. As he has served five years,
this would amount to around 900 a month.

Under the early retirement scheme, as well as getting his pension 23


years early, he has been credited with notional service. This is
based on the assumption that, but for his retirement due to illness, he
would have won at least one more election. As a result, he will
receive 10 years service thats around 1,800 month. Over
23 years this amounts to a pension fund worth about
500,000.
While [Fine Gael TD] Brian Walsh, 43, announced he would not be
standing for re-election in his Galway seat last November, he told a
local radio station that he would most certainly see out his term until
election day.

Walsh resigned his seat on January 14, three weeks before President
Michael D Higgins dissolved the Dail and the election was called.

On November 11, Walsh told the Keith Finnegan Show on Galway Bay
FM he would not be getting a gravy train payout, or any pension
until he was 66. The TD promised he would most certainly
fulfil his mandate right up until election date.
However, on December 16, Walsh wrote to the Oireachtas to apply for
early retirement on grounds of ill health. {Walsh said he had been
admitted to hospital in 2013 with acute diverticulitis and spent nine
days under a consultants care]
If his application is granted he can get his pension now instead of
waiting 23 years until he is 66.

The decision will be made by Labours Brendan Howlin, the ceann


comhairle Sen Barrett and the Seanad cathaoirleach Paddy Burke,
who are trustees of the Oireachtas pension scheme.

They could grant Walsh a notional extra five years service if


they assume he would have been re-elected were it not for his
illness.
The total benefit before retirement age could be worth
almost 500,000over 23 years.

Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh has said he will not be contesting in the next general election.

In a statement tonight, Mr Walsh said he would not be seeking re-election due to medical
advice.

The 43-year-old said recent health problems were likely to relapse or worsen, and he was
making the decision with deep regret.

His withdrawal follows months of speculation locally as to whether he would stand in the 2016
election.

It leaves outgoing Deputies Sean Kyne and John O'Mahony along with Senator Hildegarde
Naughton as the party's three representatives in Galway West next time round.

Mr O'Mahony has moved from the neighbouring constituency of Mayo, after boundary
revisions saw a chunk of territory in south Mayo transferred to an expanded Galway West.

Mr Walsh's decision not to stand will increase Mr Mahony's chances of winning a seat.

The reduction in the number of candidates also leaves Fine Gael without a Galway city based
contender in the general election.

Mr Walsh said: "I have informed An Taoiseach Enda Kenny of my decision, and I would like to
thank him for his support throughout my political career and, in particular, his understanding
and support in recent days."
First elected to Galway City Council in 2004, Mr Walsh was one of two Fine Gael TDs elected
in Galway West at the last election.

It was the first time the party had returned two Deputies in the constituency since the early
1980s.

He lost the party whip in 2013 after he voted against the Protection of Life during pregnancy
bill.

He was readmitted some months later, having voted with the coalition, while he was outside
the parliamentary party.

Some judges too quick to


make child care orders,
conference told
Success rate for applications varies from 66 to 99 per cent
in study of three counties
Mon, Apr 13, 2015, 16:01 Updated: Mon, Apr 13, 2015, 16:07
Fiona Gartland

Dr Conor OMahony, a senior lecturer in Constitutional law and child law at


University College Cork said some judges are much quicker to make orders
than others and some are potentially a bit too quick. Image: screengrab via
Youtube
Some judges are too quick to make orders putting
children into the care of the Child and Family Agency,
the co-author of a new study of child care proceedings in
Ireland has said.
Speaking at an international conference on child
protection and the law, Dr Conor OMahony, of
University College Cork, said in a recent qualitative
study of three counties, the success rate for child care
applications by the agency varied from 66 per cent to 99
per cent.
The interdisciplinary study, a Qualitative Analysis of the
Irish District Court, undertaken by Dr OMahony and
colleagues at UCC, involved interviews with judges,
social workers, solicitors, barristers and court-appointed
guardians in three counties, making up 50 per cent of all
applications over three years.
It examined seven topics including parental
representation and participation in District Court child
protection proceedings, which involve the agency
seeking care orders for children.
Some judges are much quicker to make orders than
others and some are potentially a bit too quick, Dr
OMahony said.
He said in one county, one judge never refused an
application by the agency, while another judge refused
half the applications.
He quoted one judge as telling the study an
unsuccessful applicant is almost unknown the fact that
the [CFA IS]involved indicates that there is a problem
and something needs to be done about the problem.
The judge also said he had made orders that tended to
favour the parents and frequently found he was wrong
and the children were damaged.
Dr OMahony said the theory was that parents have a
very strong hand in court, but in practice, it looked
different.
He highlighted concerns about legal representation for
parents and said orders are made in some venues
without it.
He also said legal aid solicitors just dont have the time
they need to prepare their cases properly. And he said
the Legal Aid Board fee structure for experts, at 385 per
report, meant they just cant get people to do it, while
the agency arrives in court with a team of experts.

Dr OMahony said there needs to be more legal aid


solicitors to deal with caseloads and more resources to
access experts.
Child Care Law Reporting Project director, Dr Carol
Coulter, told the conference it was essential parents in
child protection proceedings have access to qualified and
experienced experts.
She also highlighted differences in the volumes of
applications in various towns of roughly similar size and
big differences in the types of orders sought by the
agency in different parts of the country.
She said 25 per cent of applications in Waterford were
for supervision orders, when children stay in their own
homes and are visited by social workers, while the figure
was only 4 per cent in Dublin.
Dr Coulter also said multiple adjournments and delays
in proceedings must be eliminated as soon as possible.
The conference, hosted in Dublin by the project and the
Law Society of Ireland, was opened by Minister for
Children James Reilly and chaired by Dr Geoffrey
Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection and
Tanya Ward, director of the Childrens Rights Alliance.
Speakers included retired Supreme Court judge, Mrs
Justice Catherine McGuinness, Janice McGhee,
Edinburgh University, Sophie Kershaw, family drug and
alcohol court in England and Professor Tarja Poso,
University of Tempere, Finland.
SHERIDAN created a full 'care' order in only TWO MINUTES: ignoring an affidavit and
summons DESPITE THE INTERIM 'CARE' ORDER BEING UNDER APPEAL TO CIRCUIT
COURT!
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/some-judges-too-
quick-to-make-child-care-orders-conference-told-1.2174168

O'Connell under fire over 'choirboys'


jibe at Varadkar backers
Outspoken Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell has come
under fire for her attack on Leo Varadkar supporters
at a campaign rally for Simon Coveney in Co Clare.
Ms O'Connell branded Mr Varadkar's supporters
"choirboys" who are "singing for their suppers" and
personally attacked her constituency colleague
Eoghan Murphy, who is the minister's campaign
director.
The Sunday Independent has learned Ms O'Connell
was contacted by officials from Fine Gael
headquarters about the comments and told to
refrain from launching further verbal attacks during
the campaign. A senior source in Mount Street said
Ms O'Connell was told there would be
consequences if she stepped out of line again at
future campaign events.
"The word was passed back to her and the camp
that the comments were outrageous. The
comments were very close to the line," a source
said.
The leadership candidates are bound by rules set
out by Fine Gael's ethics committee which were put
in place to ensure the contest is fair and balanced.
Fine Gael headquarters is anxious that the contest
does not become personal and split the party.
Last Friday night, Varadkar supporters were told not
to respond to Ms O'Connell's comments when they
emerged online soon after a Fine Gael event in
Ennis, Co Clare.

Yesterday, TDs were privately critical of the


comments but would not speak publicly.
At his campaign launch in Dublin, Mr Varadkar was
asked about Ms O'Connell's remarks but refused to
comment. During her speech in Co Clare, Ms
O'Connell described TDs who have come out in
support of Mr Varadkar as "boys that are singing for
their supper".
"I am very disappointed at the last few days. At the
choreographed, coordinated choirboys that came
out," she said.
She later attacked Eoghan Murphy for his role in
running Mr Varadkar's campaign.
"I have watched the campaign manager of the other
side for a long time as a member of Dublin Bay
South. And I know the form and I am not shocked at
what has happened over the past 48 hours," she
added.
She said Fine Gael has "members of their
parliamentary party that are afraid of what is ahead
of them".
"We need a Fine Gael leader that puts manners on
the Cowens and puts manners on the Martins who
destroyed the dignity of this country," she said.
Some of Mr Coveney's supporters yesterday also
privately questioned the appropriateness of Ms
O'Connell's comment and suggested they would not
help the Housing Minister's campaign.
Ms O'Connell did not respond to requests for
comment last night but a source close to the Dublin
Bay South TD sought to play down the reaction to
the comments from Mr Varadkar's supporters.
Well Leo, if that is what you want, the start by BANNING
zero hour contracts, and make global companies pay
proper taxation to be used for the 'greater good' or the
people.. But we know you won't!
Put your money where your mouth is...
I want Ireland to be a country that rewards work and that
rewards people who work hard, essentially, who want
better lives for themselves, for their families, for their
communities.
And that of course includes many forms of work, its not
just paid employment. There are a lot of people, for
example who get up very early in the morning because
theyre carers, or because theyre parents.
Varadkar: I want Ireland to be a country that
rewards work
Minister for Social Protection says he has no plans whatsoever for
an early election
IRISHTIMES.COM
Provided by Irish Independent OUTSPOKEN: TD Kate OConnell is
backing Simon Coveney Picture: Tom Burke
Fine Gael leadership candidates have been asked
to sign a code of conduct ahead of the vote next
month.
"They have to enter into a contract with us and that
has been hammered out with the candidates," a
source said.
The rules centre on candidates' spending, access to
membership data, polling and canvassing during
the campaign.
There are restrictions on what polling companies
campaigners can use and headquarters insisted
they use industry standard research.
There were some concerns among party officials
about research being used to canvass supporters
by both candidates.
There are also restrictions around electioneering,
putting out posters and what they can spend
funding on.
The candidates are also expected to abide by rules
on election spending and donations received. All
donations will have to be declared with the
Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).
They will also have to declare with the party what
they plan to spend during the election campaign.
However, there will be no limit on spending as they
told officials it would be hard to implement.

You might also like