Monthly Archives: October 2012

October 12, 2012 · 2:54 pm

Senator Daly calls for a debate on the growing democratic deficit in the country and local government reform

To view video of this speech please click here

I call for a debate on the growing democratic deficit in the country.  Previously I have spoken on the issue of Seanad reform. We are all awaiting the final report of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on local government reform.  Ireland has the lowest level of local representation of anywhere in Europe next to the United Kingdom.  Yet we are talking about abolishing town councils, and merging city and county councils.  Having served there himself, I am sure the Leader is unhappy about getting rid of Waterford City Council and moving it – as I understand it – to Dungarvan, which will only raise the cost rather than implement reform.  It will also result in less public representation in a country that already has the lowest level in Europe.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the report of the local government efficiency review body published in July which made 104 recommendations, giving widespread scope for changes to local government.  It is proposed to reform it now without the input of the elected Members of this House or of local government.  This group was appointed by a previous Minister, yet these reforms are now being implemented without being analysed to ascertain if they are appropriate for local government in Ireland.  When will the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government finally publish this reform proposal?  How can he defend that we will continue to lie at the bottom of the European league table when it comes to local democracy?

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Filed under Transparency in Government & E.U. Scrutiny

October 11, 2012 · 5:47 pm

Captain Chris Reynolds, Director of the Coast Guard, is expected to appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee on October 24 following continued work by Senator Mark Daly

BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE COASTAL RADIO STATIONS

http://afloat.ie/blogs/island-nation/item/20051-boat-break%E2%80%93ins-free-fish-in-kilmore-the-battle-for-coastal-radio-stations

I am told that Captain Chris Reynolds, Director of the Coast Guard, is expected to appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee on October 24. It appears that Senator Mark Daly has succeeded in getting a hearing about the proposals by Coast Guard management to close Valentia and Malin Coastal Radio Stations and centralise the service in Dublin, where it was also suggested that a support station to the main Dublin centre would be located in the constituency of the Minister for Transport in Blanchardstown. With a political row on-going about the location of health facilities in the constituency of the Minister for Health – though the reasons for this are different – and concern about the downgrading of rural areas, this whole affair could assume major proportions. However it has to be said that the national media is not giving it enough attention. There are serious issues about safety at sea involved.

As far as I remember the last time the Coast Guard had to defend a proposal in this manner was back in July 2008 when Minister Noel Dempsey, then responsible for the marine and Coast Guard management were also then trying to shut down the coastal radio stations.

That was a bit of a turning-point in that proposal which was shown to have a number of shortcomings – the basis for the proposal and the facts quoted became public issues. Eventually Noel Dempsey and Coast Guard management were faced down and had to admit defeat. It will be interesting to see what happens this time, but what has been disclosed of the background to the current closure attempts through freedom of information requests raises many questions about the management proposals. October 24 should be an interesting day at the Transport Committee.

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Filed under Active Citizenship

October 11, 2012 · 12:11 pm

Senator Mark Daly calls for time to reintroduce the NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2012

 

To view video of this speech click Here

 

Senator Mark Daly: Will the Leader allow time for the reintroduction of the NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011?  As of August, 2,500 properties had been sold by NAMA for €4.6 billion, yet the Minister for Finance is unable to tell us how many of those were sold in an open and transparent manner.

NAMA refuses to tell him how many were put on the market, publicly advertised or sold in private back room deals.  As the Taoiseach indicated at a British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting, some developers are buying back their own properties.

NAMA paid €32 billion for those properties, yet we do not know and the public is not told how many of them have been sold in an open and transparent manner, as is required under the NAMA legislation.

Previously, I asked that the Attorney General attend the House under Standing Order 56, yet she has not appeared before us to explain why NAMA is not selling property in an open and transparent manner.  Under the legislation, NAMA must sell those properties as if they were State assets, which must be sold by auction or tender.  As Senator Paul Coghlan is aware, most of the time we only find out after the event that properties have been sold.  In some cases, the people who took out the large loans in the first place are the buyers.  The programme for Government reads: “We will insist on the highest standards of transparency in the operation of NAMA, on reduction in the costs associated with the operation of NAMA, and that decision-making in NAMA does not delay the restoration of the Irish property market”.

The highest standards of transparency are not being achieved by any measure.

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Filed under NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011

October 9, 2012 · 6:45 pm

Vote YES on childrens referendum

To find out more information on the upcoming childrens health referendum please see the attached link. The referendum will take place on Saturday the 10th of November and polling stations will be open from 9am to 10pm.

www.childrensreferendum.ie

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Filed under Active Citizenship

October 9, 2012 · 4:16 pm

FF Dáil motion calls for full restoration of AEOS & DAS – Daly

Action needed to protect jobs in agriculture & agri-food

The Dáil will debate a Fianna Fáil motion this week calling on the Government to reverse its cuts to the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) and to tackle rising diesel prices.

Kerry Senator Mark Daly says the motion criticises the lack of leadership from the government in protecting jobs in the farming and agri-food sectors.

“We need clear and decisive action from the Government to support the agriculture sector, which is the engine of the economy in Kerry and across the country.  There are 300,000 jobs in the agri-food industry alone and it contributes €24 billion to the economy,” said Senator Daly.

“I am concerned about the lack of leadership from the Government in addressing the serious issues facing farmers and food producers. Small farmers across Co Kerry have had a particularly difficult year and they are facing more difficulties after the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney scaled back the AEOS and made changes to the minimum stocking density required under the DAS.

“In the Dáil this week, Fine Gael and Labour have an opportunity to show their commitment to farmers and food-producers. Fianna Fáil has tabled a motion calling on the Government to recognise that the crucial role that the agriculture sector plays in job creation and economic growth in this region.

“The motion calls on the Government to stop scaling back payments that are essential for small farmers in Co Kerry. We are calling on the Agriculture Minister to expand the new AEOS to 8,000 places and restore the original maximum payment of €5,000.  It also calls on the Agriculture Minister to reverse changes he introduced to the minimum stocking density ratio under the DAS.  We are also urging the Government to take decisive action to tackle rising diesel prices and to introduce an effective user rebate scheme that will alleviate the rising financial pressure on farmers, agriculture contractors and farmers.

“I am urging the Government Deputies in this constituency to show their commitment to local farmers by supporting this motion in the Dáil this week,” said Senator Daly.

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Filed under Active Citizenship