Strategic Measures Will Address our Serious Over-Consumption of Alcohol
Today I published a government-approved package of measures, which for the first time will comprehensively address our societal misuse of alcohol.
Today I published a government-approved package of measures, which for the first time will comprehensively address our societal misuse of alcohol.
The government has decided to extend free GP access to all children aged 5 and under. It is a move that will benefit many young families. But it is much more than a budget ‘gain’ for one group or sector. Rather, it is the first step in achieving universal access to GP care without fees, and the ultimate transformation of our health services.
Dublin South TD, Alex White has welcomed the Government agreement for a new, national postcode system to be rolled out by 2015.
Each home in the country will receive a unique seven-character code, meaning that Ireland will be the first country in the world to have a public database of unique identifiers for all properties.
“This has been long promised and I want to commend Minister Rabbitte for concluding this in Government. Our postal system has needed modernising, as up to 30% of all domestic addresses are not unique. With the new post-code system, addresses will be far easier to locate.
“Many people use sat-nav and drivers will now be able to insert the new postcode into their devices rather than a lengthy address. This will make life considerably easier for our emergency services and especially ambulance drivers who need to get to specific locations quickly in order to save lives.
“The Postcode will be a seven character code in the format D16 B2CD. In South Dublin, existing postal districts will appear as the first three characters of the new postcode. For example, a house currently located in Dublin 16 will have a new postcode beginning with D16.
“Householders will be informed of their postcode in early 2015 and will be able to use it from then on.
“The new system, which will be operational in Spring 2015, will bring Ireland in line with other European countries where postcode systems have been the norm for many decades.”
I recently visited Scoil Mhuire in Ballyboden to help raise their third Green Flag, which the school was awarded for water conservation.
On Friday I had the honour of launching the Dublin Simon Community’s new respite and stabilisation unit for people with HIV. Here are some of the remarks I made:
In Maia Dunphy’s RTE Documentary ‘What Women Want’ she explored increased benzodiazepine use amongst women in Ireland. She interviewed me as part of her documentary which you can watch on RTE Player here.
Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. This policy has been subject to recent debate. Evidence-based research proves that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health policy.
Alex White visited Scoil Mhuire in Ballyboden to help raise their third Green Flag, which the school was recently awarded for water conservation.
Congratulating the children, Alex White TD said, “What a marvelous start to the school year on this beautiful Monday morning. I’m honoured to help the pupils and teachers of Scoil Mhuire raise their third Green Flag. This is an amazing achievement. Congratulations to all of the children and their teachers for their incredible hard work and commitment to environmentalism.
“The dedication of the school is very impressive. To think that Scoil Mhuire has already won a green flag for litter reduction and a second green flag for energy conservation. Now they have been awarded their third green flag which commends water conservation. There really is no stopping the success of Scoil Mhuire.
“It is great to see the next generation taking responsibility for our environment and showing adults how it’s done.”
On Friday people have an opportunity to improve our democracy, to reform our government and legislature, and to change the way our politics works.
For those three reasons it is vital that people use their ballot and get out in numbers and vote Yes for the abolition of the Seanad.
On Friday people have an opportunity to improve our democracy, to reform our government and legislature, and to change the way our politics works.
For those three reasons it is vital that people use their ballot and get out in numbers and vote Yes to the abolition of the Seanad.
In doing so people will be voting for real reform. Not only by doing away with an outmoded second chamber that is no longer fit for purpose. But also by precipitating further reforms of the Dail to ensure that we have a more effective and better functioning parliament.
In the absence of a yes vote, the status quo will remain. We will still have a second chamber that is unrepresentative, undemocratic, and unnecessary. People must understand that a no vote will not lead to a reformed Seanad. Rather, it will mean that a chamber that has long outlived its sell-by-date will remain in place.
Throughout this campaign I have heard the arguments from the No side.
Largely they concentrate on the potential of the Seanad, rather than anything it has done to date.
I have seen various proposals for reform. But none of these offer a new purpose or vision for the Seanad that can’t be done in a properly functioning Dail.
I have listened to suggestions to change the way we elect people to the second chamber. But none of these address the elitism that is inherent in drawing exclusively from special interest groups.
The Seanad belongs to a different time and a different period in Irish history. It was established to ensure representation for a particular group – unionists – that would not otherwise have been heard.
That concern no longer exists, and there is no clearly identifiable ethnic, social, or other group that requires such representation.
The case for retention of the Seanad has failed. The people now have the opportunity to have their say, and I would urge as many as possible to come out and cast their vote in and support Friday’s referendum.