Plans to Promote St Finbarr’s Cemetery Welcomed
Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has welcomed the decision of the City Council to recognise the historical importance of St Finbarr’s Cemetery by erecting proper signage directing visitors to it and placing information panels at the republican plot.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“St Finbarr’s cemetery is the burial place of pivotal figures in Irish history, including Tomás MacCurtain, Terence MacSwiney, and Tom Barry. However there are few signs directing visitors or tourists to the cemetery, and nothing at the cemetery itself to alert them to its historical significance or tell the stories of those buried there.”
“Therefore I am glad the City Council has tonight passed a motion from myself committing it to erect proper signage for the cemetery as well as information panels at the republican plot commemorating some of the legendary figures who are there laid to rest.”
“It is particularly welcome that the council should take this decision given that the 90th anniversaries of the death of Lord Mayors Terence MacSwiney and Tomás MacCurtain took place in the year that has just ended. Encouraging a greater awareness of this significant aspect of Cork’s heritage also has the potential to bring more visitors to the city.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Council Should Assess Status of Service Pipes and Stopcocks- Cremin
Council Should Assess Status of Service Pipes and Stopcocks
Sinn Féin councillor Henry Cremin has called upon the City Council to assess the status of service pipes and stopcocks providing water to houses across the city in the wake of the big freeze, to ensure they are buried deep enough to avoid freezing in a repeat of the severe weather.
Cllr Cremin said:
“During the recent severe weather I was inundated with calls from people who were left without water because the service pipes or stopcocks providing water to their homes had frozen. Frequently this was the case because builders had neglected to place the pipes at the recommended depth to avoid freezing.”
“The City Council is responsible for the maintenance and repair of service pipes giving access to the homes of Council tenants. It is not responsible for those on private property, but I believe it should at the minimum provide advice to homeowners worried that their service pipes may be buried at an insufficient depth.”
“In the wake of the big freeze the council should now review its records of emergency calls to identify homes where service pipes or stopcocks froze and left householders without water. Where these are council properties it should ensure the pipes are either reburied at greater depth or insulated to prevent freezing. In the case of private households, the council should advise householders about the measures they should take to address the problem.”
“Particularly in the case of newer homes, where builders are found to have neglected to bury service pipes and stopcocks at the recommended depth, the householders should have legal redress.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Henry Cremin 086-2662874
Sinn Féin councillor Henry Cremin has called upon the City Council to assess the status of service pipes and stopcocks providing water to houses across the city in the wake of the big freeze, to ensure they are buried deep enough to avoid freezing in a repeat of the severe weather.
Cllr Cremin said:
“During the recent severe weather I was inundated with calls from people who were left without water because the service pipes or stopcocks providing water to their homes had frozen. Frequently this was the case because builders had neglected to place the pipes at the recommended depth to avoid freezing.”
“The City Council is responsible for the maintenance and repair of service pipes giving access to the homes of Council tenants. It is not responsible for those on private property, but I believe it should at the minimum provide advice to homeowners worried that their service pipes may be buried at an insufficient depth.”
“In the wake of the big freeze the council should now review its records of emergency calls to identify homes where service pipes or stopcocks froze and left householders without water. Where these are council properties it should ensure the pipes are either reburied at greater depth or insulated to prevent freezing. In the case of private households, the council should advise householders about the measures they should take to address the problem.”
“Particularly in the case of newer homes, where builders are found to have neglected to bury service pipes and stopcocks at the recommended depth, the householders should have legal redress.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Henry Cremin 086-2662874
Upgrading Water Supply to the Northside a Priority- O'Brien
Upgrading Water Supply to the Northside a Priority- O'Brien
Reacting to the City Manager’s report on the severe weather crisis, Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said upgrading the water supply to the Northside must now become a priority.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“There is much to commend in the response of the council to the severe weather crisis that affected the city through December and into the New Year. In particular, the council staff who put in long hours over the Christmas period gritting roads and working to fix broken pipes deserve to be congratulated.”
“However this is also the second year in a row in which large parts of the Northside experienced water shortages. This was largely due to the inadequacy of the pumping facilities at the Lee Road water station, which could not cope with the upsurge in demand caused by leaking pipes as the thaw set in. By contrast, the Southside of the city, which is supplied directly from Inniscarra, suffered significantly fewer problems.”
“Rectifying this situation must now become a priority for the council. It can either increase the pumping capacity at the Lee Road station, or put in place an inter-connector between Northside and Southside. Neither measure would involve huge expenditure. I would suggest that some of the €1 billion which the government plans to spend installing domestic water metres to facilitate the introduction of water charges might be better spent ensuring the people of the Northside can access a secure water supply in future winters.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907.
Reacting to the City Manager’s report on the severe weather crisis, Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said upgrading the water supply to the Northside must now become a priority.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“There is much to commend in the response of the council to the severe weather crisis that affected the city through December and into the New Year. In particular, the council staff who put in long hours over the Christmas period gritting roads and working to fix broken pipes deserve to be congratulated.”
“However this is also the second year in a row in which large parts of the Northside experienced water shortages. This was largely due to the inadequacy of the pumping facilities at the Lee Road water station, which could not cope with the upsurge in demand caused by leaking pipes as the thaw set in. By contrast, the Southside of the city, which is supplied directly from Inniscarra, suffered significantly fewer problems.”
“Rectifying this situation must now become a priority for the council. It can either increase the pumping capacity at the Lee Road station, or put in place an inter-connector between Northside and Southside. Neither measure would involve huge expenditure. I would suggest that some of the €1 billion which the government plans to spend installing domestic water metres to facilitate the introduction of water charges might be better spent ensuring the people of the Northside can access a secure water supply in future winters.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Government Policies Are Making jobs Crisis Worse- O'Brien
Government Policies are Making Jobs Crisis Worse- O'Brien
The government’s austerity measures are making the jobs crisis worse, according to Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien. He was speaking in response to the latest unemployment figures, which showed a rise of 5,200 in the numbers signing on during December, bringing the numbers on the live register to 444,000.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“Today’s figures show the human cost of the government’s economic policies. Behind the statistics are real people – families struggling to pay mortgages and give their children a decent life, young people close to giving up on a future in Ireland and emigrating abroad, men and women driven to despair by the search for jobs that simply do not exist.”
“This government, which has poured almost €100 billion into our criminal banks, has done nothing for the unemployed. Minister O’Cuiv today cited Tús, the scheme whereby the government is forcing 5,000 unemployed people to work in the community sector in return for the dole, as an example of it taking action on unemployment. Is this the best he can do? The unemployed need real jobs with a real future, not a workfare programme.”
“The truth is the government’s policies are making the jobs crisis worse. By gutting the spending power of low- and middle-income earners, four hairshirt budgets have strangled economic recovery in the cradle. It is no accident that the latest rise in unemployment comes directly after the government unleashed its most savage budget to date.”
“We need a comprehensive job creation strategy as well as fiscal stimulus to get the economy growing again. Sinn Féin has put forward 80 specific suggestions about how we would create employment, while our pre-budget submission included a €7.6 billion stimulus package over three years. If a fraction of the money that has been put into the banks had been invested in creating employment, today’s live register figures would be much lower and the country would by now be well on the way to economic recovery.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907
The government’s austerity measures are making the jobs crisis worse, according to Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien. He was speaking in response to the latest unemployment figures, which showed a rise of 5,200 in the numbers signing on during December, bringing the numbers on the live register to 444,000.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“Today’s figures show the human cost of the government’s economic policies. Behind the statistics are real people – families struggling to pay mortgages and give their children a decent life, young people close to giving up on a future in Ireland and emigrating abroad, men and women driven to despair by the search for jobs that simply do not exist.”
“This government, which has poured almost €100 billion into our criminal banks, has done nothing for the unemployed. Minister O’Cuiv today cited Tús, the scheme whereby the government is forcing 5,000 unemployed people to work in the community sector in return for the dole, as an example of it taking action on unemployment. Is this the best he can do? The unemployed need real jobs with a real future, not a workfare programme.”
“The truth is the government’s policies are making the jobs crisis worse. By gutting the spending power of low- and middle-income earners, four hairshirt budgets have strangled economic recovery in the cradle. It is no accident that the latest rise in unemployment comes directly after the government unleashed its most savage budget to date.”
“We need a comprehensive job creation strategy as well as fiscal stimulus to get the economy growing again. Sinn Féin has put forward 80 specific suggestions about how we would create employment, while our pre-budget submission included a €7.6 billion stimulus package over three years. If a fraction of the money that has been put into the banks had been invested in creating employment, today’s live register figures would be much lower and the country would by now be well on the way to economic recovery.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
O'Leary Accuses Labour of Hypocrisy Over Coalition
O’Leary Accuses Labour of Hypocrisy Over Coalition
Cllr Chris O’Leary has accused the Labour Party of hypocrisy for being prepared to vote in a Fianna Fail Lord Mayor of Cork in June while their national leadership is ruling out coalition with the party. He also reiterated that Sinn Féin will not prop up either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael in government.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has loudly ruled out going into government with Fianna Fáil. Yet in a few months’ time Labour members on Cork City council will vote in a Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor.”
“They will do so under the terms of their pact with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on the council. But how can they reconcile this with their stated opposition to the government’s policies or their leader’s position on coalition with Fianna Fail?”
“Unlike Labour, Sinn Féin will not prop up either conservative party – Fianna Fail or Fine Gael – in government. Here in Cork our party has consistently opposed the efforts of the pact parties to stifle debate on Cork City Council and has provided the only real opposition. Labour on the other hand seems happy to support the status quo in return for a share of perks and perquisites.”
“If the Labour Party wants to be taken seriously as offering an alternative, I challenge them act consistently with the leader’s position on coalition and to vote against the installation of a Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor in June.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Cllr Chris O’Leary has accused the Labour Party of hypocrisy for being prepared to vote in a Fianna Fail Lord Mayor of Cork in June while their national leadership is ruling out coalition with the party. He also reiterated that Sinn Féin will not prop up either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael in government.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has loudly ruled out going into government with Fianna Fáil. Yet in a few months’ time Labour members on Cork City council will vote in a Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor.”
“They will do so under the terms of their pact with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on the council. But how can they reconcile this with their stated opposition to the government’s policies or their leader’s position on coalition with Fianna Fail?”
“Unlike Labour, Sinn Féin will not prop up either conservative party – Fianna Fail or Fine Gael – in government. Here in Cork our party has consistently opposed the efforts of the pact parties to stifle debate on Cork City Council and has provided the only real opposition. Labour on the other hand seems happy to support the status quo in return for a share of perks and perquisites.”
“If the Labour Party wants to be taken seriously as offering an alternative, I challenge them act consistently with the leader’s position on coalition and to vote against the installation of a Fianna Fáil Lord Mayor in June.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
A Small Investment Would Prevent Future Water Shortages- O'Brien
A Small Investment Would Prevent Future Water Shortages
Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said a relatively small investment in the city’s water system would prevent ongoing problems with the water supply to the city’s Northside in coming years.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“The immediate cause of the water shortages over the past couple of weeks has been burst pipes due to the big freeze. However the problem has disproportionately affected the city’s Northside - which is the same pattern as occurred last winter.”
“The reason is that while most areas of the Southside draw their water directly from the reservoir at Iniscarra, water for the Northside comes through the pumping station on the Lee Road. This means that when there are leakages within the system due to broken pipes, there is sufficient pressure and volume remaining to supply most areas on the Southside; however this is not the case on the Northside, leading to the kinds of problems we are currently seeing.”
“In response to a number of questions from myself, the City Manager yesterday stated there are two ways of rectifying this; either to increase the pumping capacity at the Lee Road or to put in place an interconnector between the Northside and the Southside. Neither of these measures would cost a fortune; an interconnector, for example, would cost no more than €2 million. This should be seen in the context of the government’s plans to spend €1 billion over the next few years installing domestic water metres in all homes to facilitate the levying of water charges. It is Sinn Féin’s view that this money would be better spent upgrading our existing water supply.”
“Both the problem and the solution have been known to council officials since the water crisis last winter. Nothing was done, and as a consequence hundreds of families were left without water for the New Year. The council and central government must now prioritise upgrading the city’s water system to ensure this situation does not occur again. Otherwise the water shortages we have seen in the past week will become a recurring feature of life for people in the Northside each winter.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said a relatively small investment in the city’s water system would prevent ongoing problems with the water supply to the city’s Northside in coming years.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“The immediate cause of the water shortages over the past couple of weeks has been burst pipes due to the big freeze. However the problem has disproportionately affected the city’s Northside - which is the same pattern as occurred last winter.”
“The reason is that while most areas of the Southside draw their water directly from the reservoir at Iniscarra, water for the Northside comes through the pumping station on the Lee Road. This means that when there are leakages within the system due to broken pipes, there is sufficient pressure and volume remaining to supply most areas on the Southside; however this is not the case on the Northside, leading to the kinds of problems we are currently seeing.”
“In response to a number of questions from myself, the City Manager yesterday stated there are two ways of rectifying this; either to increase the pumping capacity at the Lee Road or to put in place an interconnector between the Northside and the Southside. Neither of these measures would cost a fortune; an interconnector, for example, would cost no more than €2 million. This should be seen in the context of the government’s plans to spend €1 billion over the next few years installing domestic water metres in all homes to facilitate the levying of water charges. It is Sinn Féin’s view that this money would be better spent upgrading our existing water supply.”
“Both the problem and the solution have been known to council officials since the water crisis last winter. Nothing was done, and as a consequence hundreds of families were left without water for the New Year. The council and central government must now prioritise upgrading the city’s water system to ensure this situation does not occur again. Otherwise the water shortages we have seen in the past week will become a recurring feature of life for people in the Northside each winter.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
HSE Must Clarify Situation at South Infirmary- O'Leary
HSE Must Clarify Situation at South Infirmary – O’Leary
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has said the HSE must clarify the situation at the South Infirmary Hospital after reports that parts of the building have been without heating for the past four days.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“There are reports that the heating in the male medical ward at the South Infirmary has been failing for the past four days. Extra blankets have been issued to some patients but there have not been sufficient supplies to accommodate them all.”
“This is a very serious situation for patients and the hospital and reflects badly on health service management. It is appalling to contemplate a situation where patients are left without adequate heating in the middle of winter.”
“I am calling on the HSE to clarify what the situation is at the South Infirmary Hospital and to state clearly when it expects the problem to be resolved.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has said the HSE must clarify the situation at the South Infirmary Hospital after reports that parts of the building have been without heating for the past four days.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“There are reports that the heating in the male medical ward at the South Infirmary has been failing for the past four days. Extra blankets have been issued to some patients but there have not been sufficient supplies to accommodate them all.”
“This is a very serious situation for patients and the hospital and reflects badly on health service management. It is appalling to contemplate a situation where patients are left without adequate heating in the middle of winter.”
“I am calling on the HSE to clarify what the situation is at the South Infirmary Hospital and to state clearly when it expects the problem to be resolved.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
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