A view from the Left - Seamus Ryan's Blog

Flight MH17 Finally treated with dignity

2014-07-23T20:28:00.001+01:00

Just watching on television the sad removal of the 298 victims of the shooting down of Malaysian air flight MH17 back to the Netherlands and Australia. Finally these bodies are being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Russia and the Ukranian separatists continue to have serious questions to answer following this tragedy.

What is essential now is that the victims and their families receive justice and the perpetrators of this awful crime are caught and face the full sanctions of the courts.

Attack on Gaza -the silence of some is seen as support by others.

2014-07-22T15:45:00.000+01:00

I began this blog back in 2006 and in that time I have posted about many issues both locally and nationally and occasionally internationally. Looking back over this blog I noticed that the conflict in Gaza has been the subject of quite a few posts and has prompted me to begin posting on here again after a break of a few months.

The ferocity of the latest attack on Gaza by Israeli troops should not have taken many people by surprise as Israeli forces continue to launch this blistering attack which is resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths. According to the latest figures over 600 Palestinians and 29 Israelis have been killed in this latest crisis. Yet despite these horrific deaths, which include many children, there has been little or no condemnation of Israel by the major international powers. As long as Israel believe that America and Britain support their actions or at the very least fail to condemn their actions then it will continue to push the barriers and the people of Gaza will continue to suffer. Remember the silence of some is seen as support by others.

Noonan must resolve Crystal pension issue now

2013-11-20T14:34:00.000+00:00

The following is a press statement I issued this week following a meeting I had with former employees of Waterford Crystal. This ongoing injustice needs to be resolved immediately.

Labour Party Councillor Seamus Ryan has called on the Government to settle out of court with the former Waterford Crystal workers. Councillor Ryan who has written to Michael Noonan Minister for Finance stated "Minister Noonan should do the decent thing by offering a settlement to the former Crystal workers and not allow this issue to drag into another year. Since this matter arose many of those have gone to their grave without receiving any of their entitlements. Councillor Ryan went on to say that the former Waterford Crystal workers and their families he has met recently feel let down and abandoned by the failure of Minister Noonan to bring this issue to a close. The former Waterford Crystal Worker's won their European Court case unanimously however there has been little or no progress since then. "Closure is necessary and I am now calling on Minister Noonan to resolve this issue before the Christmas season kicks in" concluded Cllr Ryan

Local Election 2014 Campaign Underway

2013-11-10T15:31:00.000+00:00

The campaign for the 2014 Local Elections got underway this week following my selection as the Labour Party Candidate for the Waterford City South Area. Having represented the people of Waterford City South since 1999 I intend to build on that experience and to continue to provide honest, trustworthy and dedicated representation for the people of Waterford City.

I have a strong record of campaigning and delivery for the people of Waterford. Amongst the campaigns I was involved in were the campaign to deliver public radiotherapy for cancer patients. I also initiated the campaign to deliver BreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme for women. This campaign proved successful and as a result the women of Waterford now have access to this essential service. Currently I am a member of the Waterford City Centre Management Group where I am working with the other stakeholders in the City Centre to support businesses and retailers operating in the City Centre.

During the course of the Local Election Campaign I intend blogging the campaign and the issues I am working on. I am pictured here with members of the Waterford City South Branch of the Labour Party. If you would like to get involved in our campaign please do not hesitate to contact me at cllrsryan@gmail.com

Remembering the 1913 Dublin Lockout

2013-08-28T20:27:00.002+01:00

The following press release was issued by Waterford Municipal Library today. This is just one of a series of events taking place all across the country to commemorate the 1913 Lockout when workers and their families stood up against the might of William Martin Murphy. I would like to congratulate the Waterford women who created a Waterford panel for the wonderful historical 1913 Tapestry project. I am looking forward to seeing it.

Talented local group join forces to create a Waterford panel for the 1913 Tapestry Project

Last Wednesday (28 August) the ladies from Waterford’s 1913 Lockout Tapestry Group gathered in the Local Studies Room of The Waterford City Library to present their tapestry commemorating the 1913 Lockout to the Library.

The beautiful tapestry is one of 32 panels, each depicting a different story from the Lockout. The 1913 Tapestry is an ambitious, large-scale, collaborative visual arts project commemorating the Dublin Lockout. The project was formally launched by President Michael D. Higgins in Liberty Hall in November 2012. The Waterford tapestry, which will be on display in the Library, commemorates the funeral of James Nolan, a carter and an ITGWU member. He was beaten in a baton charge by the police on 31 August 1913 and died of his injuries. Nolan was 33 years of age, married with five children when he died.

Katherine Collins, Local Studies Librarian said “We are delight to accept this tapestry, it will hang in our busy local studies room where it will be viewed by researchers, students and interested members of the public. The Lockout was a defining moment in our history, during this epic struggle an estimated 100,000 people, one third of the capital’s inhabitants faced starvation for five months in a battle for workers’ rights”.

Group member Siobhan McCarthy explained how the women involved in making the tapestry had very little previous experience of working on a project of this scale or complexity: “Through word of mouth our group grew. Most were connected in some way either through work or were friends of friends. We are a group of 11, all women. We learned or re-learned some of our history. History that involved ordinary people and the debt we owe them in looking for rights for workers” she added.

The tapestry was commissioned by SIPTU and the National College of Art and Design.

The full tapestry consists of 32 panels each depicting various aspects of the Lockout. The work was undertaken by volunteers including groups in Dublin, Galway, Waterford, members of the Irish Guild of Embroiderers, the Irish Patchwork Society, Rehabilitation through Art, Drama and Education and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, a number of schools, community arts groups, trade union activists and inmates of Mountjoy and Limerick prisons.

Central Library’s Local Studies Department is open during normal library hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am- 5:30pm, Wednesday 10am-8pm and Saturday 10am – 1pm and 2pm-5:30pm. For those who need a bit of assistance getting started in their research drop-in Local History Clinics run each Tuesday morning 10am-12:30pm and Wednesday afternoon 3pm-4pm. The Local Studies Department is running a free autumn series of genealogy talks and workshops each Wednesday at 6pm. The first workshop on 4 September will focus on using the parish records of Waterford City and will be facilitated by local genealogists Jim Burke and Erica Fay. Later sessions will include researching your military and naval ancestors, tracing fostered children and the Bureau of Military History Collection 1913 – 1921. Full details available in each of the City’s three libraries and online at www.waterfordcity.ie/library. To book phone 051 849975 or email localstudies@waterfordcity.ie

ENDS

Please phone Katherine Collins, Senior Executive Librarian 087 9268520 for further information about the 1913 Lockout Tapestry or the Genealogy series.

Distressed borrowers must be given options by financial institutions

2013-08-23T18:51:00.002+01:00

News today that 98,000 householders are in arrears with their mortgage repayments is proof that there needs to be a let up in austerity measures. The figures released from the Central Bank show that nearly 98,000 households are in arrears for a period of 90 days or more with the financial institutions. These self same financial institutions need to do more in offering householders a restructuring of their mortgages and to assist people deal with arrears. As reported by RTE today:

Today's figures reveal that the number of mortgage accounts who were over 180 days behind on their repayments increased by 3.8% during the second quarter of the year. Quarterly growth in the number of accounts in arrears over two years was 11.3%.

There needs to be even greater engagement by the banks and building societies with those who are struggling to pay mortgages. Government also must play its role and realise that austerity has hit middle to lower income families greatly and that the coming budget must recognise this and provide some relief to those families if they are to have any hope of paying mortgages or indeed other bills.

New Campaign to extend BreastCheck Service launched

2013-08-22T22:32:00.000+01:00

Cllr Ryan calls for BreastCheck availability to be extended

Waterford City Councillor and HSE Regional Health Forum member Seamus Ryan this week called for the extension of BreastCheck the National Breast Cancer screening programme to women under the age of 50 and to those over the age of 65. Currently BreastCheck is only available for women between the ages of 50 and 64. However according to Councillor Ryan, who led the initial campaign for BreastCheck, the evidence now shows that women under the ages of 50 would benefit from an extension of the scheme. Breast cancer is the biggest single killer in Ireland of women between the ages of 35 and 50 for example however only women between the ages of 50 and 64 are included in the BreastCheck national screening programme, under which women over 50 get checked for breast cancer whether or not they have any symptoms.

Under 50s breast cancer cases make up around 25% of the total of around 2,500 new cases each year, with the 40 to 50 year age-group making up 18% of the total. According to Cllr Ryan these statistics show the need to expand the availability of BreastCheck immediately.

Ken Loach's The Spirit of '45 to be screened in WIT

2013-04-05T01:01:00.001+01:00

Ken Loach's The Spirit of '45 to be screened in WIT

Waterford City South Labour is proud to present a screening of acclaimed Director Ken Loach's new documentary film the Spirit of '45. An impassioned documentary about how the spirit of unity which buoyed Britain during the war years carried through to create a vision of a fairer, united society. 1945 was a pivotal year in British history. The unity that carried Britain through the war allied to the bitter memories of the inter-war years led to a vision of a better society. The spirit of the age was to be our brother’s and our sister’s keeper. Director Ken Loach has used film from Britain’s regional and national archives, alongside sound recordings and contemporary interviews to create a rich political and social narrative. The Spirit of ‘45 hopes to illuminate and celebrate a period of unprecedented community spirit in the UK, the impact of which endured for many years and which may yet be rediscovered today. Ken Loach's documentary The Spirit of '45 is an impassioned call for a return to the public unity of the post-war years in Britain. Are there lessons for us here in Ireland.?

What: The Spirit of '45
When: Thursday 2nd May
Where: The Auditorium WIT
Time: 7.30pm
Admission: €10 and €8 unwaged

Labour Party - Time for change

2013-03-31T09:31:00.000+01:00

Events of the last few days have prompted me to put this post together regarding the current situation in which the Labour Party finds itself. The result in last weeks bye election and today's further dismal showing in the Sunday Times Poll for the Labour Party came as no surprise to me or indeed to many Labour Party members and supporters that I have spoken to in Waterford and around the country since . The first thing I should say is that Cllr Eoin Holmes was a fine candidate that deserved better but was always going to suffer the backlash from the electorate in Meath East. This result should serve as a wake up call to the Party and in particular to our parliamentary party who continue to support policies of austerity. These policies are hitting those on middle and low incomes to a greater extent than those on higher incomes. Broken promises and complete arrogance shown by some of our Ministers have contributed to the the Party reaching this new low. Broken promises along with the introduction of a property Tax which does not take ability to pay into account are all having a detrimental effect on the lives of ordinary families the length and breadth of this country. All of this along with the failure to deliver on the jobs crisis in any substantial way has resulted in the current crisis in the fortunes of the Party. And crisis is what it is despite what some who seem to be blind to our problems.

In my opinion the Labour Party should undertake a renegotiation of the Programme for Government with Fine Gael with coupled with a cabinet reshuffle. This renegotiation must put greater emphasis on Labour Party policies and must put people first. The Party Leader needs to take on an economic Minister where he can be at the centre of the economic recovery rather than his current position in Foreign Affairs which takes him out of the country for long periods. But more than that there needs to be a change in the direction of the Party and of the government . It is all very well talking about the need for the austerity but surely we must put the welfare of people and community at the centre of any government decision that is taken. This is something that seems to have been relegated and put on the back burner by this government. The policies of austerity are just not working. We can't keep reducing disposable income of people and then wonder why shops are closing or businesses are going under. People are hurting at the moment and are looking for leadership and with change I believe the Labour Party can still provide this.

New Measures to deal with mortgage arrears

2013-03-15T16:26:00.001+00:00

The following is a copy of a statement I issued today.

CLLR SEAMUS RYAN WELCOMES NEW MEASURES TO DEAL WITH MORTGAGE ARREARS CRISIS

Waterford City Councillor Seamus Ryan, has welcomed this week’s announcement by the government of new measures to deal with the mortgage arrears crisis.

“The mortgage arrears crisis is one of the most serious social and economic issues facing Ireland. There are currently 94,500 private residential properties in arrears of over 90 days, and while figures released by the Central Bank show that the rate by which mortgages are falling into arrears is falling, it remains a cause of huge distress to many families, and an impediment to economic recovery. According to Cllr Ryan many Waterford families are currently in mortgage arrears and continue to experience great distress.

“The measures announced this week show that the government is serious about tackling this issue. The targets set by the Central Bank will ensure that long-term, sustainable solutions will be sought by the banks, easing the burden on families, and allowing them to see a better future for themselves.

“The banks must engage with homeowners in a fair and transparent manner, and the actions taken by this government – such as the establishment of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, the creation of a revised Central Bank Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, the mortgage-to-rent scheme, and the creation of a new information and advice service to help those in arrears – will ensure that they do s

Greater controls needed in Cash for Gold industry

2013-01-19T12:14:00.000+00:00

Copy of my recent statement issued following the recent increase in the number of burglaries in the City

Greater control required over Cash for Gold Shops - Ryan

Waterford City Councillor Seamus Ryan has insisted the controversial Cash for Gold industry must be reformed urgently. Cllr Ryan pointed out there had been considerable concern expressed by local residents about this industry in recent months and said he is pressing the Government for urgent controls on the purchase of such precious metals.

“The ever increasing “Cash for Gold’ trade is causing concerns in local communities right across the country and in Waterford. The fact is that with the price of gold at historic highs, jewellery has become an easy target for burglars. I believe that this has led to an increase in burglaries in Waterford over the last year. There must be a targeted, proportionate and balanced response to any potential crime that is linked with this trade. Despite the best efforts of staff in these shops it can be difficult for them to judge where the gold has come from.

“I have received many concerned queries from people in Waterford about this trade. Changes need to be made which when a transaction takes place the seller has to produce a valid passport and two recent utility bills. All the gold is also photographed and sent to the police so nothing can be done with that gold for thirty days. Other countries operate along similar lines and I don’t see why Ireland should be any different.”

“On foot of the increase in burglaries in Waterford I am calling on the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to introduce similar constraints in relation to this trade in Ireland. There appears to be specific rules and regulations for pawnbrokers, but the same does not seem to apply to the Cash for Gold industry. Many Cities, towns and villages have seen an expansion of these shops and there are now 124 operating in the State.

“The Government report on the 'Cash for Gold' industry has said there are grounds for considering the introduction of some controls on the purchase of jewellery at such outlets. It says while existing criminal law is adequate for dealing with the issue, it proposes that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Equality and Defence should consider its findings, hold hearings if required and make recommendations to the Oireachtas and Government.

Waterford Regional Hospital - the fight goes on in 2013

2013-01-02T20:30:00.000+00:00

As we start into 2013 there are many issues facing Waterford and the South East. Not least of all is the ongoing situation regarding the status of Waterford Regional Hospital. This week I issued a statement calling on the Minister for Health James Reilly to commit to the future status of Waterford Regional Hospital. The following is a copy of that statement.

Waterford City Councillor Seamus Ryan has called on the Minister for Health James Reilly to commit to the future of Waterford Regional Hospital.

Speaking prior to the publication of the Higgins report on the future of the South East Hospital Network Cllr Ryan stated that WRH continues to provide exceptional health service for over 500,000 people in the South East particularly in disciplines such as Cancer Care , Dialysis, Cardiology and Vascular to name just a few. There is a genuine concern in Waterford and the South East that the report due to be published by Professor Higgins will result in a reallocation of resources from Waterford Regional Hospital and the South East Region to Cork and Dublin. If this goes ahead it will undoubtedly result in the downgrading of Waterford Regional Hospital to County Hospital Status within a short time. The people of Waterford and the South East along with the dedicated staff of Waterford Regional Hospital have invested too much in the development of the hospital for it to be sacrificed at this stage. According to Cllr Ryan "Minister Reilly must ensure the current status of the hospital will remain intact and that financial control and governance remains with Waterford Regional Hospital in order to allow it fulfill its role as the Regional Hospital for the South East"

Bike scheme for Waterford next year.

2012-11-28T16:30:00.001+00:00

Plans to introduce a bike scheme in Waterford City within the next year.
I was interviewed on WLRFm news today about plans to introduce a bike rental scheme in Waterford next year. This came about following a proposal I brought forward to Waterford City Council earlier this year. The sponsorship contract will allow naming rights to the bike scheme and advertising and branding on the bicycles and at bike stations. A similar scheme has been operating in Dublin successfully for the last number of years.

Response from Minister Reilly re Waterford Regional Hospital

2012-11-20T14:08:00.001+00:00

Following my letter to Minister Reilly about WRH last week the following is the response I received from him. This letter is somewhat positive however it does not address the key issues of governance and budget and financial considerations for Waterford Regional Hospital. I believe strongly that we must continue to support the Save Waterford Campaign on December 8th and turn out in even greater numbers for the protest on that day. Needless to say I will be continuing to fight for the future of our health services and the future of Waterford Regional Hospital, its patients and its staff.

19th November 2012

Cllr Seamus Ryan
cllrsryan@gmail.com

Dear Cllr Ryan,

I wish to thank you for your recent letter concerning Waterford Regional Hospital.

A key stepping stone towards the introduction of Universal Health Insurance will be to develop independent not-for-profit hospital trusts in which all hospitals will function as part of integrated groups.

The rationale behind the establishment of hospital groups and trusts is to support increased operational autonomy and accountability for hospital services in a way that will drive service reforms and provide the maximum possible benefit to patients.
The work on hospital groups is not about downgrading hospitals. It is about bringing together groups of hospitals into single cohesive entities to allow maximum flexibility in management, budgets and service delivery. It is about ensuring that hospital groups are broadly comparable in size and scope so that they can attract high-quality staff and trainees across all health care specialties and professions. It is about creating efficiencies by using common business processes and economies of scale and avoiding unnecessary duplication. Most importantly of all, it is about maximising the range of services available to deliver internationally comparable quality care for patients, regardless of where they live.

With specific regard to Waterford the intention is that the hospital will retain its current suite of services, including invasive cardiology, trauma services and cancer services. In addition, significant capital investment has gone into the provision of a new ED and neonatal unit which is fully constructed and is currently being fitted out. As part of the project the existing ED is being refurbished and will be completed in February.

A Project Team has undertaken a comprehensive and rigorous consultation process, including consultations on 2 separate occasions with each hospital in the South East region, in order to form recommendations on the composition of hospital groups, governance arrangements, current management frameworks and linkages to academic institutions for the consideration of a Strategic Board.

The Strategic Board is currently considering a draft report from the project team and hopes to finalise that report in the coming days.

The Minister expects that he will receive the report of the Strategic Board on the Establishment of Hospital Groups later this month and that he will be able to bring this matter to his cabinet colleagues for decision shortly thereafter. Finally, it should be remembered that the hospital groups are an interim, collaborative measure pending the legislation required to establish hospital trusts: before those trusts are established, the composition and functioning of the Groups will be reviewed and if changes prove necessary then they will be made with Government approval when the hospital trusts are being formed.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for you.

Yours sincerely

Dr. James Reilly, T.D.
Minister for Health

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Waterford Regional Hospital Campaign must continue.

2012-11-17T01:34:00.001+00:00

This morning I attended a meeting in Cork with the Minister of Health James Reilly . The main issue I raised with the Minister was the future of Waterford Regional Hospital. I sought a commitment from the Minister that the south east hospital network would be retained with WRH at its Centre. The other key issues that I raised were the importance of WRH retaining control over Governance and financial and budgetary matters.

The Minister was largely non committal in his response to me. Without a doubt this campaign must continue and we must not allow ourselves to be deflected in our aim to provide a first class health service for the people of Waterford and the South East.

Domestic Violence in Waterford

2012-11-14T21:24:00.001+00:00

At a recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee which was held in Waterford City Hall I raised the issue of Domestic Violence in the City. It was confirmed to me by the Gardai that we continue to see a rise in the number of cases of Domestic Violence in the City. I raised this issue because of the number of cases that have been brought to my attention recently. Whereas the majority of victims are women we are also seeing an increased number of males becoming victim to this cowardly crime. Domestic violence can be physical in nature but also in an increasing number of cases we are seeing instances of mental abuse being perpetrated on victims. There are a number of organisations that work closely with victims in Waterford City and County. One of those is the Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in the City who provide a professional and confidential service. Victims can also be confident of the professional and confidential service provided by Waterford Gardai. The key message for victims is that there is help out there and do not hesitate to contact any of the above organisations. At my request the Gardai have also agreed to provide up to date figures on domestic violence at our Joint Policing Committee meetings in the future and to keep it a priority issue and firmly on the agenda.

Useful numbers:

Waterford Gardai 051 874888

Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 1800 296 296

Low turnout but Referendum passes

2012-11-11T19:59:00.001+00:00

The result of the Referendum today is most certainly welcome. However the low turnout has got to be a concern to all of us. This was an important issue yet it failed to capture the hearts and minds of the public. Despite what some commentators are saying I believe that
It would be wrong to abandon Saturday polling. Rather I think political parties should really examine their own conscience and ask whether they did enough to bring the issue to the people and get out the vote.

In my own constituency of Waterford the turnout was just 35 per cent with 55.9 in favour and 44.1 against. With 3 government TD's in the constituency you would expect a higher turnout. During my canvass of Waterford I failed to see any other political party on the doors. It makes you wonder dosen't it?

People power in Waterford

2012-11-10T20:09:00.001+00:00

Today was an amazing day in Waterford when over 15000 people from all over the South East took to the streets to protest against the downgrading of Waterford Regional Hospital. Full credit must go to the organisers for the enthusiasm they brought to this march. I have no doubt that this is only the start of a long campaign. However a strong message was sent to the HSE and the government today that the people of the South East value the WRH dearly and will not stand for its downgrading.

Over to you Minister!

Supporting Waterford Regional Hospital

2012-11-09T11:28:00.000+00:00

This Saturday is a very important day for the people of Waterford and the South East. On Saturday we have an opportunity to come together and express our support for two very important issues 1. Waterford Regional Hospital 2. Retention of City Status. The march that is commencing at 12 noon from Ballybricken along the Quay and into John Roberts Square to link up with the Waterford Gives a Shirt

campaign should be supported by as many people as possible. The organisers are to be commended for keeping this march non party political and a genuine march of the people. I am aware of people travelling from surrounding areas such as Clonmel, Carrick on Suir, Kilkenny and Wexford to take part. We all have our personal experience with Waterford Regional Hospital and the staff at that hospital. The one thing I will say is that my experience is that the staff both medical and non medical are excellent and are worthy of a couple of hours of our time on Saturday. We owe it our families and friends who have been patients there in the past and who will be patients there in the future to turn out on Saturday. Lets come out and support our hospital. See you there!!

Let the Games begin

2012-07-24T19:48:00.000+01:00

Like many others I am looking forward to the start of the Olympic Games in London this weekend. I was particularly pleased with the announcement that Boxer Katie Taylor is to carry the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony. There are many fine athletes on the Irish team but I don't think you will find one person that thinks that Katie is not worthy of carrying our flag on this special occasion. Let's hope that the games will be a success and I have no doubt our athletes will do both themselves and their country proud. Let the Games begin.

Stimulus Plan - a step in the right direction

2012-07-18T10:05:00.003+01:00

The announcement yesterday by the government of the new €2billion investment package is definitely a positive step that will assist in our economic recovery. It is expected that the measures outlined in the plan will create 13,000 jobs over the course of the plan but there will also be those jobs that will come from the economic activity that will be generated by the construction and ongoing employment of those associated with the many jobs projects announced yesterday. Have a listen to Minister Howlin on the Plan.

Sinn Fein and the politics of hypocrisy

2012-05-25T12:52:00.002+01:00

The following is a link to an interview I did with Deise AM's Billy McCarthy last week on WLRFm. Since then a number of people have asked me to post a link to it. The early part of the interview was about the Health Information and Quality Authority's report on Tallaght Hospital and its relevance to Waterford Regional Hospital. However the majority of the interview was given over to a discussion on Sinn Fein's recent hypocritical attacks on the Labour Party were Sinn Fein continue to promote one policy here in the Republic but in the North where they are in government they do the exact opposite.

See what you think!
http://www.wlrfm.com/podcasts/DeiseAM/Deise%20AMMay18th2012Part2.mp3

May Day - A Workers Celebration

2012-04-30T16:06:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow is May Day, a day celebrated by workers across the world. It is a day of solidarity, a day of celebration of the achievements of ordinary people in this country and across the world. A day when we remember the struggle of workers worldwide.

This struggle continues today for a fair wage, safe conditions and a decent quality of life for ordinary working class people. Issues such as equality of access to decent health services, housing and accommodation, education and training, universal childcare and a safe and healthy environment still remain a priority for the Labour movement. It is my view, that, as trade unionists and members of the Labour Party in the tradition of Connolly and Larkin we have a very important role to play in this regard. We need to continue this fight across the many issues which are still denied to a sizeable number of our communities for at the very least, a basic decent quality of life. On this May Day we should remember workers worldwide who are denied their basic rights such as the right to organise or the right to a decent wage or indeed those who are denied their pensions! Solidarity!

Tramore Road Riverside Walkway - a hidden gem

2012-04-25T11:59:00.002+01:00

One of Waterford City's hidden gems undoubtedly is the Tramore Road Riverside Walkway. Starting at the Tramore Road Roundabout the walkway runs adjacent to the Tramore Road and provides a wonderful opportunity for local residents to enjoy a touch of nature in the middle of the city. Full credit must go to Waterford City Council Environmental Department who continue to maintain the walkway to a high standard.

Another excellent amenity for locals and visitors alike will be the new Nature Park which will be opened on 1st June next by President Higgins. This 50 acre nature park in the heart of the city will provide a wonderful opportunity for young and old to explore nature with walkways throughout the park. Access to the new Nature Park will be next to Kingfisher on the Tramore Road and in fact you will also be able to start your walk on the Tramore Road walkway and continue it into the new Nature Park.

Please contact me if your require further information about these wonderful free amenities in the city.

Happy Walking!!

Adding fuel to the fire- the Taoiseach and Water Charges

2012-04-18T21:28:00.000+01:00

Taoiseach Enda Kenny should know by now that there are times when it is better to say nothing at all rather than to make statements that only succeed in adding fuel to the fire or to the "water" as it is in this case. His statement today warning people that he has not ruled out cutting off water supply to householders who do not pay their water rates will only succeed in hardening peoples resolve against this charge.

How someone could countenance cutting off the water supply to any residence for whatever reason is beyond me. There comes a time when government must ask themselves whether it can continue to ask people to pay something they just do not have. I believe we have now reached that point. The middle to low income earners continue to be hit for every charge and to be hit by every cut to the point that I now think that there is a significant group of people who just cannot afford to pay these charges. I am hearing a lot of debate about the merits and demerits of a property task or water charges from well heeled economists and commentators . The main question that is not being addressed is what if the householder just cannot afford to pay. What happens then? It's not just property tax, household charge or water charges it is all the other cuts to income including job losses that people have suffered that is making this particularly difficult.

Accepting that this country is in an unprecedented economic crisis the government needs to be creative and to re-examine how to bridge the deficit between income and expenditure. We can't continue to come back to the same group of people for every charge or cut. Something must change.