Last night, I appeared on The Week in Politics on RTE One. Minister Mary Hanafin and Olivia Mitchell TD were also on the panel to discuss NAMA, the resignations of George Lee and Deirdre de Burca and the potential date of a by-election in Dublin South.
You can view the programme again by clicking here.
Yesterday, I also appeared on The Wide Angle on Newstalk.
You can listen to the show again by clicking here and selecting ‘The Wide Angle’.
The events of recent days give rise to very important issues which go beyond the personalities concerned. There is a need to have a debate on the nature and quality of representation and what we can expect from politicians and people in public life. I have just come from a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Constitution which is wrestling with issues pertaining to the electoral system and the nature and quality of representation that Deputies and public representatives are able to offer.
Leaving aside who he or she may be, the introduction of a directly elected mayor of Dublin has the potential to bring about positive and important change to our system in terms of representation and the quality of democracy in the city. I note in this morning’s newspapers that the Local Government (Office of the Dublin Mayor and Regional Authority of Dublin) Bill was apparently discussed in Cabinet yesterday. Can they not publish the scheme of the Bill now? If we have to await its publication next week or in the coming weeks, it will not be possible to have the quality of debate we need on such a profound change. I strongly support the proposal in principle and I want it to work.
There may not be sufficient time for proper debate on the very real changes that could come about. We may need to amend a host of legislation if the proposal is to work. It is not possible to introduce a stand-alone Bill on a directly elected mayor of Dublin without amending local government legislation and, perhaps, the planning and development Acts. If I argue that we need more time when the Bill is published sometime in the next three or four weeks, I do not want to be accused of raising obstacles simply because I want to debate it properly. I ask for sufficient time to tease out the issues and if we have to amend other legislation to improve the quality of our democracy, let us do so.
Earlier this month, I met some young people from the constituency at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. The projects were all very impressive. Above, you see me trying out an exhibit from Andrej Pacher of Rockbrook Park School. His exhibit was a ‘General Use Augmented Reality Project (GUARP)’.
Below, I meet Kate Lally and Lauren McCauley from St Colmcille’s Community School whose project was entitled ‘The Fear Factor: Who is more daring?’
Constituents continue to have problems with water supply in Dublin South. While the problems are not as widespread as they were earlier in the week, they continue to be a hindrance to households. The following is the latest information at 1500 on Friday.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Central Park, Leopardstown area, Balally, Sandyford Industrial Estate, South County Business Park will be without water or suffer a severe reduction in water pressure until 11 am on Saturday January 16.
Mount Merrion/ Stillorgan/Kilmacud/Goatstown areas will be without water or suffer a severe reduction in water pressure until 11 am on Saturday January 16.
Pine Valley, Kilcross, Kingston, Kellystown,Ticknock Hill, Simons Ridge, Woodpark, Ludford, Ballinteer Avenue, will be without water or suffer a severe reduction in water pressure until 11 am on Saturday January 16.
Further updates on www.dlrcoco.ie
South Dublin County Council
The council say that supplies in the local reservoir are still critically low and they will continue to stop or curtail supplies over the weekend.
The burst water main on the Knocklyon Road will be repaired tomorrow morning, however, there should be no interuption to supply.
Further updates on www.sdcc.ie
**Latest update: Wed 13 Jan at 1600**
Since Monday, I’ve been receiving calls from concerned constituents on the cuts or curtailments to water supplies in Dublin South. The latest information I have is as follows:
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council:
Water supply to the Nutgrove area was turned off yesterday because of critically low water levels at the supply reservoir. The areas affected include:
Nutgrove Avenue
Braemor Road
Loreto Avenue
Loreto Park
Upper Churchtown Road
St. Nathys
Camberley Elms
Beaumont Drive
Hillside
Stratford Haven
Orwell Road
Whitebarn Road
Landscape Gardens
Oakdown / Nugent
DLR say that supply to this area is back ON, although problems remain in Hillside Drive , Landscape Road and Loreto areas and these are being investigated.
Water supply to Kilmacud Area including Mount Merrion, Stillorgan, Kilmacud, and Pine Valley has been turned back on this morning and continuous supply should be available until 7pm this evening, when it will be turned off again.
Water supply to the Stepaside area, including Cairnfort and Kellystown, has had to be turned off because of critically low water levels at the supply reservoir.
The water will be restored at 5pm this evening.
Sandyford Road and adjoining estates off it including Ballally (parts), Moreen and Kilcross estates, Ticknock Hill, Simons Ridge and adjoining estates will also be without water until 5pm this evening.
Full details can be found on www.dlrcoco.ie
South Dublin County Council:
Water has been turned OFF until 5pm in the following areas:
Whitechurch Estate
Glenmore
Edmonstown Road
SDCC say that water pressures in most areas have returned to normal. Any residents who still have no water have been asked to remain patient! There are burst water mains in Knocklyon and the situation is being investigated at the moment. However, it should NOT affect local water supplies.
Supplies in Ballyboden and Edmondstown have been cut off because of low levels in the reservoirs. It is hoped to turn the water back on between 5 pm and 7 pm this evening.
SDCC will be turning supplies OFF gradually from 4pm this evening in the following areas.
Rathfarnham road
Beauford Downs
Butterfield Orchard
Wainsfort
Kilakee Ave
Delaford
Orwell Park
All areas will have a full water supply by mid-morning tomorrow.
Further details can be found on www.sdcc.ie
Members of the Labour Party in Dublin South sing carols in Dundrum Town Centre
Yesterday evening, members of Labour in Dublin South filled the air of Dundrum Town Centre with carols! All the songs were there and some even brought the guitars! It was great fun and thankfully, it was all for a good cause, as we plan to give the money we raised to St. Joseph’s House in Stillorgan.
St. Joseph’s House is a facility for deaf and deaf-blind adults and has been part of the community for over 40 years. We have no doubt it’s a worthwhile cause!
Happy Christmas!
More :: St Joseph’s House
Last night, I had an opportunity to speak in the Seanad in reaction to Budget 2010. Below is my own contribution.
I am grateful to Senator Boyle for his acknowledgement, which members of the Government find it difficult to make, that at least part of the deficit problem the Government, and by extension the people, must deal with is attributable to what has occurred in the banks. That is unquestionably the case. From time to time and mainly in the context of NAMA, Ministers attempt to suggest, in a roundabout fashion, that the NAMA borrowings are not real money or real borrowing. However, the borrowings are real and will constitute an exposure for the people in respect of the bonds that banks will be given in exchange for loans.
More immediately, the deficit has increased since September when the Department of Finance acknowledged that it amounted to just over €20 billion compared with €9.4 billion at the end of September in the previous year. The statement reads: “The year-on-year deterioration in the deficit of some €10.8 billion is primarily explained by a decline in tax receipts of €4.8 billion, the €4 billion payment to Anglo Irish Bank and €1.7 billion in respect of the frontloading of the annual contribution to the National Pensions Reserve Fund.” It is no use that Government spokespersons attempt to convey the impression that the issue of the banks and the extraordinary exposure of the taxpayer in that respect is off line and has nothing to do with the budgetary crisis. These matters are connected in a substantial way, meaning that there has been an element of dishonesty in the remarks of some Government spokespersons.
Senator Boyle, similar to Senator MacSharry, stated that these budget decisions would have been made by any political party in power, but I do not accept that the decision to reduce the pay of public servants earning €30,000 per annum would have been made by any party in government, certainly not mine. I do not accept that the decision to cut child benefit or social welfare would have been made by any party in government, as was suggested by Senator Boyle more in hope than in a belief that it was the case.
This is about politics. Perhaps I am approaching politics from a slightly different perspective than Senator MacSharry who stated that the issue has gone way beyond politics, which is an extraordinary phrase. The current situation signals the arrival of politics, not its departure. I do not know what my colleagues understand or believe politics to be, but it is my belief that politics is about making choices and deciding, for example, whether one agrees, as parties did in recent weeks, on the appropriateness of reducing the 2010 deficit by €4 billion. Politics is about where to make the savings and what choices to make, be it on cutting public expenditure and, if so, where, or on increasing taxes and, if so, where. People should not be afraid of this. When there is an argument on these issues, people refer to it as being “all politics”. In my respectful submission, the problem with the current system is that there is not enough politics or calm, measured and careful debate, contest and disagreement on issues. I am not calling for disagreement for its own sake, but the only way to determine what will next occur in any society, particularly one in paralysis and crisis like ours - I am referring to wider society, not just the economy - is to have a free flow of debate and interaction. This is called politics. I am not looking to get away from this fact. Rather, I am looking to embrace it.
Last Sunday, I featured in an item on RTE’s This Week programme regarding Child Benefit.
You can listen to the report by clicking here.
Yesterday, the Seanad met for the first time since Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny proposed the abolition of the Upper House. Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment, I only got to put forward my view at this morning’s Order of Business. Below is a transcript of my contribution:
Senator Alex White: I wish to comment briefly on the issues which exercised Members yesterday. I listened to the proceedings on the radio in my car and what I heard was quite bleak. It pains me to say it.
Senator David Norris: We missed the Senator.
Senator Alex White: Over and over again, Members were exploding with indignation. I include in that the Senator who has just—-
Senator Paschal Donohoe: Exploded.
Senator Alex White: Yes.
Senator David Norris: If that was an explosion—-
An Cathaoirleach: Members should cease interrupting. There should not be a repeat of what occurred yesterday.
Senator Alex White: There is a serious point to be made in respect of this matter. It was stated on the radio a few moments ago that in the eyes of many members of the public, the show was over for the Seanad.
It may seem I am adopting a holier-than-thou attitude. However, I accept that I am sometimes not behind the door in interrupting other Members.
Senator Terry Leyden: Why was the Senator not present yesterday?
Senator Alex White: Members of Parliament should have a better sense of what—-
Senator Terry Leyden: The Senator should have been here.
Senator Alex White: This is another example of that to which I am referring.
An Cathaoirleach: Senator Leyden should not interrupt. This type of behaviour marked yesterday’s proceedings.
Senator Alex White: People who have been Members of Parliament for 20 years or more do not appear to be able to act with a basic level of decorum.
Senator Paschal Donohoe: At least we were here.
Senator Frances Fitzgerald: Yes, we were.
A Senator: Please allow the Senator to finish.
Senator Alex White: During yesterday’s proceedings Senator Regan took the opportunity to misquote me. I never stated this House served no useful purpose. I am not a supporter or member of the Fine Gael Party. However, for Senator O’Toole to describe what seems to be a genuine proposal that we consider the concept of institutional reform - including as it relates to this House - as harking back to the 1930s is so absurd as to draw the level of debate so far down that said debate is almost not worth having.
More :: Read the full transcript of yesterday’s Order of Business by clicking here
More :: See RTE’s report on the proceedings
Before we went away for the summer we were told three major reports would be published during the holiday period to which we should all pay attention, which we should all read, understand and be ready to debate when we returned to the House. They were the report on the outline of the legislation on NAMA which has been published, the report of the McCarthy commission and the report of the Commission on Taxation. These three important documents which were flagged at the start of the summer were to form the basis of the debate we would have in the Houses and the broader community on the future of the economy and the country generally.
It has been made clear to the people in the NAMA report how serious, fundamental and historic the exposure of taxpayers will be to the wrongdoing of others. Every time an issue was raised in the Houses about taxation or taxation policy we were told by Senator Dan Boyle and others that it was a matter for the Commission on Taxation. If I heard that once, I heard it 50 times in my two short years in the House. It is not just that the Taoiseach appears to have sidelined the report, rather it has been abandoned. The report of the commission has been jettisoned by the Government and we are now asked to accept that it will play no part in forming policy, but that the Government will pick one good proposal from it, namely, the proposal on carbon tax, and abandon the rest. When we ask whether it is a good idea to have a debate on taxation and public services, Senator Boyle will not be able to say the answer will be found in the report of the commission or that the report will form the basis of our discussion because it has been jettisoned.
Regarding the McCarthy report and what happened today: two things were said by Ministers about the report. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said it would form a key part of budgetary strategy, while the Tánaiste said large parts of it did not make sense.
Can anybody explain which of those two positions is the Government’s? Does the report not make sense, as the Tánaiste has said? Should we take it seriously, as the Minister for Finance has suggested? At the start of the summer, the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said the Opposition would have nowhere to hide when the report was published. His own colleagues have spent the summer looking for somewhere to hide.
The Ministers, Deputies Ó Cuív and Cullen, do not like the report. The Tánaiste does not like it. When people come into the Gallery of this House, they wonder how Senators on the Government side very often make speeches that disagree with Government policy. I remind them that senior Ministers are making a laughing stock of their own Government. They are contributing further to what the Minister, Deputy Gormley, quite correctly described a couple of weeks ago when he bemoaned the complete breakdown in trust in this country’s Government.
