Today I approved the allocation of €100,000 from the Drugs Initiative Fund to support the Community Safety Fora in Tallaght and Clondalkin next year.
€50,000 in current funding, which has been earmarked for the Community Safety Fora, will be made available to Tallaght Local Drugs Task Force and Clondalkin Local Drugs Task Force respectively in 2013.
The Bill before the House is a genuine attempt to give legislative effect to the Supreme Court decision in the X case. Deputy Daly’s interest and commitment on this issue is clear, and it is a commitment that is shared by many in this House and outside. It is a pity to have to acknowledge that this whole debate essentially has been forced upon us by a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C case. In any event, we are now having the debate, at last, and we are progressing towards a resolution.
Today I announced additional funding of €100,000 per annum for Coolmine Therapeutic Community, which provides residential and community services to help people end their dependence on drugs.
I welcome the announcement by Paddy Power of 800 new jobs in Clonskeagh.
I am delighted to have been proposed by An Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore for appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care.
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure & Reform will consider today’s Central Bank report on bank lending to SMEs when it meets in September.
I took part in a discussion entitled “A Broad Agenda of Reform for the Constitutional Convention” at this year’s MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Co Donegal. Below are my opening remarks to the School.
“I welcome publication by the Public Accounts Committee of an analysis of options for the holding of a parliamentary inquiry into the banking collapse.
Representatives from Ulster Bank will come before the Committee on Finance and the Public Service tomorrow afternoon 5 July to discuss the backlog of unprocessed payments caused by the glitch in its computer systems.
Deputy Alex White welcomed today’s imminent passing of the Joint Labour Committee legislation as further proof of Labour delivering on its commitment to justice and fairness.
