Hi there,
I have recently been appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I am looking forward immensely to tackling the work at hand at the Department and to co-operating closely with my new Cabinet colleagues.
Calling community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations. You can apply for funding to provide digital literacy training with the aim of getting more people online. To find out more about the digital skills training grant scheme, simply click here.
I warmly welcome today’s passage of the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 by the Oireachtas which will provide GP care without fees for children under six.
This is a truly historic piece of legislation and I am pleased to have played a role in making this happen. I look forward to children benefitting from this scheme in the Autumn.
It is a great honour to have been appointed as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and I look forward to working with my new Cabinet colleagues.
![BsQ6mAFIUAEC5Tg[1]](http://alexwhite.ie/new2016/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bsq6mafiuaec5tg1.jpg)
One of my last acts as Minister of State for Primary Care was to sign regulations to enable authorised cannabis-based medicinal products to be legally prescribed by medical practitioners and used by patients.
I warmly welcome live register figures released by the CSO which show that the number of those signing on the live register in the Nutgrove/Rathfarnham area has dropped by 9.21% between June 2013 and June 2014. The Dun Laoghaire region has also seen a reduction in those signing on the live register of 8.61% between June 2013 and June 2014.
Today I welcomed the inclusion of a substance misuse measure in the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2014. The Dormant Accounts Action Plan was recently adopted by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
My Final Campaign Message to Labour Members
Dear Member,
The new Leader of the Labour Party will be announced this Friday after an energising election process. I’d like to thank you and the many members who have engaged with this process whether by attending a husting, sharing your views or casting your vote.
I want to pay tribute to Ruairí for his work as Minister for Education and Skills in this Government. He has been a champion of reform and has fought successfully for investment in education in difficult times.
Speech at the Mansion House, Dublin
Thursday, June 26th 2014
Comrades and Friends,
These four weeks have been immensely energising for me as a candidate for the Leadership of this great Party. It has been an extraordinary experience. The debates have been wide-ranging and often inspirational. People have phoned me out of the blue to share their views. I have travelled all over the country to meet and listen to Party members, and I have come back with two simple messages:
Minister of State with responsibility for Primary Care, Alex White TD, today welcomed Dáil approval of the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014.
Labour Leadership Husting Speech
Portlaoise, 21st June 2014
I would like to begin by thanking Labour Youth for hosting these election hustings as part of the annual Tom Johnson Summer School. Debate, argument, and the contest of ideas has always been central in the life of the Labour movement, and Labour Youth are to be congratulated for keeping this tradition very much alive, year to year.
I once wrote to Brendan Corish, leader of the Labour Party, looking for a signed copy of the 1969 election manifesto. That was in 1971 when I was 12. It arrived shortly afterwards and I still have it.
June 16th 2014
One of my earliest memories as a child was watching the television coverage of the 1969 general election with my Dad. I was ten. I remember sharing in the disappointment of that election setback, but picking up from him a remarkable sense of optimism and commitment to changing things – a commitment that so many people in this party have -and that has stayed with me ever since that childhood experience.
HOW CAN LABOUR PRINCIPLES SHAPE THE 21st CENTURY IRELAND AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TRADE UNIONISM IN THE CENTURY AHEAD?
William Norton House, 14th June 2014
Thank you very much Chairman, Joan, friends and comrades. I want to thank you for affording me the opportunity to be here today and to participate in this debate. It’s terrific to see such interest and involvement in the Party and the trade union movement. It is also heartening to see the solidarity and collaboration that we have as a Party with the trade union movement.
Early Childhood:
Since Alex White put his hat into the ring for the position of Labour Party Leader, some are questioning how a ‘South Dublin barrister’ will capture the imagination of the Labour Party membership. It is the members of the Labour Party and not just elected representatives, who will choose their party leader.
ALEX WHITE: We must now look to harness the talents of all our parliamentarians, so as to present a more rounded view of the modern Labour Party
On the face of it what the Labour Party believes in is what most people believe in. We share a vision of society, a vision characterised by values of fairness, community, justice and equality of opportunity. We believe in the regulation of markets in the public interest. We believe in the provision of good, shared public services from our pooled resources. We believe that all of our citizens, old or young, healthy or disabled, gay or straight, people of all religions or none, are entitled to equality before the law and the best possible opportunity to live life to the fullest.
Dear Member,
I have decided to enter the contest for the leadership of the Labour Party, and I am asking for your support and your vote. This is a decisive moment for our Party.
Announcing I will be a candidate for Leader of the Labour Party alongside Dublin Lord Mayor Oisin Quinn, Senator John Gilroy, Derek Nolan TD, Ciara Conway TD and Michael McNamara TD
I am today announcing that I will be a candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party. My grandfather was an active trade unionist and a Labour candidate in this city in the 1950s. As a child I helped my dad canvass for the party. So I grew up with the principles of social justice, equality, and democracy.
Second Stage Speech – Dáil Éireann by Alex White TD
28th May 2014
It is my pleasure today to introduce the Second Stage of the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 to the Dáil. The Bill will provide for a GP service to be made available without fees to all children aged five years and younger.
I’m deeply impressed by the support given to our candidates in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Local Elections – Cllr. Grace Tallon, Cllr Lettie McCarthy, Cllr Richard Humphreys, Peter Leonard and Peter O’Brien – and delighted with the return of our three sitting councillors in Dundrum, Stillorgan and Glencullen, who will be joined by a fresh voice, newly elected, Cllr Peter O’Brien pictured here with his electoral team early this evening at the count centre, Citywest.
The hallmark of Labour councillors, has and always will be, their hard work and dedication to their local communities. That is what Labour councillors do. They work day after day on the issues that matter most to people in their local areas.
Cllr. Grace Tallon, Alex White TD, Cllr Lettie McCarthy, Emer Costello MEP and Peter O’Brien
I know this is true of Labour’s local team in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Cllr. Lettie McCarthy, Cllr. Grace Tallon and Cllr Richard Humphreys have demonstrated their work ethic, integrity and commitment to their local communities. I am hopeful that their efforts will be recognised by the electorate on Friday. Additionally, two new candidates have put themselves forward– Peter O’Brien and Peter Leonard; their vibrant and energetic campaigns coupled with their enthuasism and ideas have garnered a positive response on the doorsteps.
I warmly welcome the announcement by Ruairí Quinn T.D., Minister for Education and Skills, that a further eight schools in Dublin South will be able to undertake school improvements this summer as part of the second round of the Summer Works Scheme.
It was great to attend the official opening of a new all-weather pitch in Marlay Park , on Wednesday last, alongside the manager of the Republic of Ireland national soccer team, Martin O’Neill and local colleagues Cllr. Lettie McCarthy and Cathaoirleach Carrie Smyth.
We have come a long way since the defeat of Dr Noel Bowne’s Mother and Child Scheme in 1951. Our health services are immeasurably better than they were in the past despite enormous pressures, especially since the economic collapse of 2008.
I warmly welcome the awarding of €206,900 by the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn to seven primary schools in Dublin South. This will enable the schools to establish book rental schemes.
Minister Alex White, Labour TD for Dublin South has welcomed the announcement that seven schools in Dublin South will receive funding to establish a book rental scheme.
Alex White T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health has welcomed Government approval today of the text of the Health (General Practitioners Service) Bill 2014 and the Cabinet’s agreement that the Bill should be published and introduced to the Oireachtas.
Alex White TD, Grainne Kelliher (CEO of Airfield) and Grainne Millar (Director of Innovation & Development)
I was delighted to attend the official re-opening of Airfield farm after three years of extensive refurbishment and development.
I welcome the €211,000 funding awarded to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council and the €123,000 awarded to South Dublin County Council as part of the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014.
National Convention Centre
April 2nd 2014
Introduction
I would like to thank Pat Harvey, Executive Chairman of the Alcohol Forum for inviting me back to your annual conference to deliver the opening address. The work that the Alcohol Forum does in raising awareness of the damage caused by the abuse of alcohol is of vital importance in changing our attitudes and reducing our levels of harmful drinking. It was an honour to attend and open last year’s conference and I’m delighted to begin proceedings again today. As you’re all aware, this year’s conference is entitled, ‘Alcohol Harm to Others: When Their Drinking Becomes Your Problem’.
As many of you know my constituency office is now based in Churchtown, in what is the old office of the late Seamus Brennan who worked as a TD for many years in our constituency. On Monday we replaced Seamus’ sign with mine and I was delighted that Shay Brennan, my old electoral competitor from the 2009 by-election was there to collect his father’s sign.
I want to commend Minister Ruairí Quinn for securing Cabinet approval for drafting of the Admissions to Schools Bill.
I warmly welcome the announcement by The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., that seven schools in Dublin South will be able to undertake school improvements this summer.
Seven local schools will receive money to improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This first round of funding will allow these schools to carry out small and medium scale building works across three categories of projects – Gas, Electrical & Mechanical.
I was in Moscow for the St Patrick’s Day Parade, held at Sokolniki Park in central Moscow on Saturday, 15 March. I was also a guest of the Irish Business Club at the charity Emerald Ball on Saturday evening.
As a country we have so much to be proud of; whether it’s our history, culture, diaspora or our recovering economy – we have an incredibly powerful story to tell. With all we’ve been through, we can sometimes lose our connection with what we believe is great about Ireland. Over this weekend I look forward to playing my role in the Government’s continuing efforts to rebuild Ireland’s reputation worldwide.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmIZEl1nSo]
People in Dublin South have a few days left to share their views with the Government on cyberbullying. A public consultation process on cyberbullying is currently underway and the deadline is Tuesday, March 18th. Views gathered from members of the public will feed into the work of an expert panel set up by Minister Pat Rabbitte to advise him on the issue of cyberbullying. You can submit your views on the Department of Communications website here.
Alex White TD, Cllr. Lettie McCarthy, Martina Queally, Dr. Colm Smyth, Teresa OMahony and Deirdre Ryan at the Leopardstown Primary Care Centre
I was pleased to meet with the Leopardstown Primary Care Team on Monday while visiting the Leopardstown Primary Care Centre.
I’m delighted with the news that the Department of Education has purchased Loreto Abbey on the Grange Road, which will operate as a permanent home for the Gael-Choláiste from September 2014 onwards.
I’d like to thank the many groups and individuals who participated in the public consultation process relating to the content and scope of a new GP contract to underpin the provision of GP care, free at the point of use, for all children aged under six years of age.
Belkacem Belfedhal, Alex White and Ammar Ouamar cutting the ribbon at the Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop in Dundrum.
I was humbled to open the Human Appeal Ireland Charity Shop in the old Apollo building on the Dundrum Road. Proceeds from the new charity shop will go to alleviate poverty in Syria, the Philippines, Palestine and Burma. Human Appeal Ireland is one of the few charities that have managed to gain access inside Syria. It was a great honour to meet all of the local volunteers who have worked so hard to make this impressive initiative happen.
Since the closure of Mount Carmel Hospital, there has been considerable speculation about the use of the facilities in the future.
The Programme for Government pledged to introduce radical and fundamental reform of our health service. A central part of this reform agenda is the introduction of free GP care for all.
![eHealth_Strategy_cover[2]](http://alexwhite.ie/new2016/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ehealth_strategy_cover2.jpg)
I spoke in the Seanad yesterday regarding amendments to the Health Identifiers Bill 2013. The Health Identifiers Bill 2013 is a crucial step in modernising and transforming our health services. In fact, it’s a key component of the Government’s eHealth Strategy. With this legislation, every single patient and health service provider will be given their own unique health identifier/number that will work across the health service, both public and private.
The danger associated with excessive alcohol consumption is under the public spotlight again following at least one tragic death linked to the ‘neknomination’ craze; a crush outside a ‘Messy Mondays’ event at a Dublin night club, and an incident involving drink and drugs at a concert in Belfast on Thursday night. Understandably, the reaction has been one of sadness, concern, and condemnation of our pervasive drink culture.
One of many public activites run by the the DLR Sports Partnership
I’d like to commend the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Participation Strategy which was officially launched in Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel recently. I was delighted to attend the launch and I want to compliment the work of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership.
Senator Lorraine Higgins & Alex White TD
The consultation process on the content and scope of a new GP contract for the provision of GP care, free at the point of use, for all children aged under six years of age began today.
On a personal level and as a local TD I was sad to hear the news that Mount Carmel is to be placed in liquidation.
This is a difficult time for all of the hard working and committed staff at the hospital. Mount Carmel is a Churchtown landmark and an important local employer.
There is a tremendous opportunity for South Dublin sports clubs and organisations to secure funding with the 2014 Sports Capital Programme. The fund totals €40m and I’d recommend local clubs to study the detail of the Programme and to get their applications in as soon as possible.
I’m delighted that the landlord tenant system will be reformed with an initiative for a deposit protection scheme and stronger provisions against anti-social behaviour in the private rented sector.
