New Leader, Same Party
Sinn Féin’s general election candidates, Cllr Jonathan O’Brien and Cllr Chris O’Leary, will be canvassing outside the social welfare office tomorrow to highlight the fact that “New Fianna Fail” is the same party that crashed the economy and imposed deep social welfare cuts and the tax rises on the low paid.
Speaking this morning, Cllr O’Brien said:
“Fianna Fail may have a new leader, but it is the same party that crashed our economy and imposed deep social welfare cuts and an iniquitous 7% levy on low paid workers at the last budget.”
“Michael Martin was part of the government that brought in that budget. He did not criticise it then and he stands over it today.”
“He has been a government minister for 13 years. He supported the policies of the Bertie years that prepared the way for the bust, then sat at the cabinet table and did nothing as the economy crashed and jobs were lost.”
“He cannot distance himself from the disastrous policies of Fianna Fail – the bank bailout, the deal with the EU/IMF, the savage cutbacks.”
“Fianna Fail is trying desperately to reinvent itself under its new leader, but it remains the same party as a fortnight ago. The only thing that has changed is the face on the poster.”
Note: Sinn Féin activists will be outside the social welfare offices on Hanover Quay from 10am tomorrow. For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Universal Social Charge is Still Unfair- O'Brien
Universal Social Charge is Still Unfair-O'Brien
Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said the government’s universal social charge remains unfair, despite the changes announced by the Finance Minister yesterday, and called for it to be repealed.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“The universal social charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%. As such it breaches the fundamental principal of progressive taxation - that those who have more, pay more.”
“Yesterday the Minister for Finance announced that Medical Card Holders will now be taxed at the lower level of 4%. While this is welcome, it does not go far enough. Hundreds of thousands of low paid earners will still be paying 7% of their income.”
“These are the people who have opened their pay packets over the past few weeks to find a large chunk has disappeared from their wages. The Minister’s announcement has done nothing for them. The inevitable result will be that families and households cut back further on discretionary spending, damaging local businesses and costing the country jobs.”
“Meanwhile the Minister has comprehensively failed to go after those who could and should pay more – the tax exiles and the wealthy. Sinn Féin has proposed a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over €1 million (excluding the family home) and a 48% tax rate on individual incomes over €100,000. There is no evidence that either proposal was even considered by the government. Even the limited measures announced in the budget – ending the remaining property tax reliefs – are being kicked to touch, with their implementation postponed pending “review” by a government-appointed committee.”
“This Finance Bill is the sting of a dying wasp. Even in their last days in government, Fianna Fail are targeting the low-paid and welfare recipients, while letting their cronies from the tent at the Galway Races off the hook. Sinn Féin wants the repeal of the Universal Social Charge. Any party wanting to form a government after the next election should introduce a new budget as its first priority.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has said the government’s universal social charge remains unfair, despite the changes announced by the Finance Minister yesterday, and called for it to be repealed.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“The universal social charge is basically a flat tax: everyone with an income above €16,000 pays it at the same rate of 7%. As such it breaches the fundamental principal of progressive taxation - that those who have more, pay more.”
“Yesterday the Minister for Finance announced that Medical Card Holders will now be taxed at the lower level of 4%. While this is welcome, it does not go far enough. Hundreds of thousands of low paid earners will still be paying 7% of their income.”
“These are the people who have opened their pay packets over the past few weeks to find a large chunk has disappeared from their wages. The Minister’s announcement has done nothing for them. The inevitable result will be that families and households cut back further on discretionary spending, damaging local businesses and costing the country jobs.”
“Meanwhile the Minister has comprehensively failed to go after those who could and should pay more – the tax exiles and the wealthy. Sinn Féin has proposed a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over €1 million (excluding the family home) and a 48% tax rate on individual incomes over €100,000. There is no evidence that either proposal was even considered by the government. Even the limited measures announced in the budget – ending the remaining property tax reliefs – are being kicked to touch, with their implementation postponed pending “review” by a government-appointed committee.”
“This Finance Bill is the sting of a dying wasp. Even in their last days in government, Fianna Fail are targeting the low-paid and welfare recipients, while letting their cronies from the tent at the Galway Races off the hook. Sinn Féin wants the repeal of the Universal Social Charge. Any party wanting to form a government after the next election should introduce a new budget as its first priority.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Labour and Fine Gael in Cynical Political Exercise- O'Brien
Labour and Fine Gael in Cynical Political Exercise- O'Brien
Sinn Fein’s general election candidate for Cork North Central, councillor Jonathan O’Brien, has said the people should be allowed give their verdict on the budget in an immediate general election and accused Labour and Fine Gael of a cynical political exercise in supporting the government over the Finance Bill.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“Labour and Fine Gael claim to oppose last December’s budget, yet both parties are working with the government to ensure its passage through the Dáil.”
“Rather than rushing through the legislation to implement Brian Lenihan’s disastrous budget in the dying days of this government, they could have taken advantage of the government’s minority status to trigger an immediate general election. Every party would then have the opportunity to put its economic strategies before the electorate and voters could choose between them. By facilitating the passage of the Finance Bill, Labour and Fine Gael are further committing the country to the government’s slash and burn economics without letting the people have their say in an election.”
“This shows how little difference there is between Fianna Fáil and the so-called opposition on the economy. It is a cynical exercise to spare these parties the political cost of implementing policies similar to those of Fianna Fail if they are in government after the election.”
“Sinn Féin has consistently opposed both the budget and the Finance Bill. We want the Irish people to be given an open and democratic choice about the economic future of this country and we are calling on any party which wants to be part of the next government to give a commitment to introducing a new budget as soon as they come into office.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907
Sinn Fein’s general election candidate for Cork North Central, councillor Jonathan O’Brien, has said the people should be allowed give their verdict on the budget in an immediate general election and accused Labour and Fine Gael of a cynical political exercise in supporting the government over the Finance Bill.
Cllr O’Brien said:
“Labour and Fine Gael claim to oppose last December’s budget, yet both parties are working with the government to ensure its passage through the Dáil.”
“Rather than rushing through the legislation to implement Brian Lenihan’s disastrous budget in the dying days of this government, they could have taken advantage of the government’s minority status to trigger an immediate general election. Every party would then have the opportunity to put its economic strategies before the electorate and voters could choose between them. By facilitating the passage of the Finance Bill, Labour and Fine Gael are further committing the country to the government’s slash and burn economics without letting the people have their say in an election.”
“This shows how little difference there is between Fianna Fáil and the so-called opposition on the economy. It is a cynical exercise to spare these parties the political cost of implementing policies similar to those of Fianna Fail if they are in government after the election.”
“Sinn Féin has consistently opposed both the budget and the Finance Bill. We want the Irish people to be given an open and democratic choice about the economic future of this country and we are calling on any party which wants to be part of the next government to give a commitment to introducing a new budget as soon as they come into office.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien 085-2133907
Community Wardens Must Be Preserved- O'Leary
Community Wardens Must Be Preserved-O'Leary
Sinn Fein’s general election candidate for Cork South Central, councillor Chris O’Leary, has welcomed the City Manager’s commitment to maintain the community warden service in the city, despite a 50% cut in funding from the Department of the Environment.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Community wardens provide a vital service which we cannot afford to lose. This is particularly so as Cork was recently named as the dirtiest city in the country in the Irish Business Against Litter Survey.
“In response to a question from myself last night, the City Manager confirmed that funding from the Department of the Environment for the Community Warden scheme had been reduced by 50%. However he also gave a commitment to try to find alternative money within the council’s budget to maintain the service.”
“It is important that this commitment is fulfilled. Since the closure of local housing offices in areas like Togher, Community Wardens have become important contact points for the community in addition to their primary function of preventing illegal dumping and litter. The 50% cut to funding for the programme is one more example of how government policies are hitting ordinary people.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Fein’s general election candidate for Cork South Central, councillor Chris O’Leary, has welcomed the City Manager’s commitment to maintain the community warden service in the city, despite a 50% cut in funding from the Department of the Environment.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“Community wardens provide a vital service which we cannot afford to lose. This is particularly so as Cork was recently named as the dirtiest city in the country in the Irish Business Against Litter Survey.
“In response to a question from myself last night, the City Manager confirmed that funding from the Department of the Environment for the Community Warden scheme had been reduced by 50%. However he also gave a commitment to try to find alternative money within the council’s budget to maintain the service.”
“It is important that this commitment is fulfilled. Since the closure of local housing offices in areas like Togher, Community Wardens have become important contact points for the community in addition to their primary function of preventing illegal dumping and litter. The 50% cut to funding for the programme is one more example of how government policies are hitting ordinary people.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Monday, January 24, 2011
Councils Should Set Up Clinics to Facilitate Voter Registration- O'Leary
Councils Should Set Up Clinics to Facilitate Voter Registration
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has called on the council’s franchise office to take special measures to facilitate registration of voters in advance of the election.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“We are facing into the most important election in our recent history. Yet there is broad agreement that the electoral register is deeply flawed, riddled with inaccuracies and excludes many voters.”
“The electoral register is now closed and voters wishing to be registered for the election can only be included on the supplementary register, which requires presenting themselves at a Garda station. Many would-be voters may be turned off by the bureaucracy involved and effectively disenfranchised.”
“Sinn Féin is calling on the franchise departments of the city and county council to set up voter registration clinics in communities around the city and county. These would be staffed by officials from the franchise departments, who would give voters any advice they required in filling in the registration forms, and community Gardai. This would facilitate a significant number of electors who would otherwise be disenfranchised to register and have their say in this critical election.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has called on the council’s franchise office to take special measures to facilitate registration of voters in advance of the election.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“We are facing into the most important election in our recent history. Yet there is broad agreement that the electoral register is deeply flawed, riddled with inaccuracies and excludes many voters.”
“The electoral register is now closed and voters wishing to be registered for the election can only be included on the supplementary register, which requires presenting themselves at a Garda station. Many would-be voters may be turned off by the bureaucracy involved and effectively disenfranchised.”
“Sinn Féin is calling on the franchise departments of the city and county council to set up voter registration clinics in communities around the city and county. These would be staffed by officials from the franchise departments, who would give voters any advice they required in filling in the registration forms, and community Gardai. This would facilitate a significant number of electors who would otherwise be disenfranchised to register and have their say in this critical election.”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Concerns Over Future of Farranree CDP- O'Brien
Concerns Over Future of Farranree CDP- O'Brien
Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O'Brien has expressed concern about the future of the Community Development Project in Farranree, after it became known that a number of staff at the project had been let go.
Cllr O'Brien said:
"The CDP is an invaluable asset to this area, and is one of its largest employers. It provides a range of services including childcare, after-school services, assistance with jobseeking and CV preparation, and support to ex-prisoners and families at risk."
"In the current economic climate, the work of the project in tackling poverty and disadvantage has never been more vital."
"Due to government cutbacks the project has this month been forced to let go two members of staff. I have since received a large volume of phonecalls and personal approaches from local residents concerned about the project's future."
"It is critical for the community that this project be sustained. In a week dominated by the squabbling among Fianna Fail ministers, it is in communities like Farranree that the effects of their failed economic policies are being felt most."
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O'Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin Councillor Jonathan O'Brien has expressed concern about the future of the Community Development Project in Farranree, after it became known that a number of staff at the project had been let go.
Cllr O'Brien said:
"The CDP is an invaluable asset to this area, and is one of its largest employers. It provides a range of services including childcare, after-school services, assistance with jobseeking and CV preparation, and support to ex-prisoners and families at risk."
"In the current economic climate, the work of the project in tackling poverty and disadvantage has never been more vital."
"Due to government cutbacks the project has this month been forced to let go two members of staff. I have since received a large volume of phonecalls and personal approaches from local residents concerned about the project's future."
"It is critical for the community that this project be sustained. In a week dominated by the squabbling among Fianna Fail ministers, it is in communities like Farranree that the effects of their failed economic policies are being felt most."
For further information or comment contact Cllr Jonathan O'Brien @ 085-2133907
Retiring Ministers Should Forgo Double Pensions- O'Leary
Retiring Ministers Should Forgo Double Pensions- O'Leary
Sinn Fein councillor Chris O’Leary has said retiring ministers should show leadership by forgoing either their ministerial or Dail pension and not accept a double payment.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“In the last budget, the weekly incomes of social welfare recipients were cut and workers on low and middle incomes were hit with a 7% levy.”
“Several of the Ministers who sat around the cabinet table and approved that budget are now retiring with massive pension entitlements, paid out of the public purse. Health Minister Mary Harney, for example, will receive a €300,000 pay-off followed by an annual pension of €120,000. This while her department is suffering massive cutbacks, and unprecedented numbers of patients are waiting on hospital trolleys this winter.”
“Given the hardship being suffered by so many people at the moment, is it too much to ask these ministers to forgo just one of their dual pensions? In the case of Mary Harney, for example, she could choose to retain either her Dáil pension of €50,600 or her ministerial pension of €70,000, and forgo the other. Either would be a multiple of the sum her government believes social welfare recipients or employees earning the minimum wage require to survive.”
“At a time when public cynicism about politics has never been so high, is it possible that at least some members of this government might provide leadership?”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Fein councillor Chris O’Leary has said retiring ministers should show leadership by forgoing either their ministerial or Dail pension and not accept a double payment.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“In the last budget, the weekly incomes of social welfare recipients were cut and workers on low and middle incomes were hit with a 7% levy.”
“Several of the Ministers who sat around the cabinet table and approved that budget are now retiring with massive pension entitlements, paid out of the public purse. Health Minister Mary Harney, for example, will receive a €300,000 pay-off followed by an annual pension of €120,000. This while her department is suffering massive cutbacks, and unprecedented numbers of patients are waiting on hospital trolleys this winter.”
“Given the hardship being suffered by so many people at the moment, is it too much to ask these ministers to forgo just one of their dual pensions? In the case of Mary Harney, for example, she could choose to retain either her Dáil pension of €50,600 or her ministerial pension of €70,000, and forgo the other. Either would be a multiple of the sum her government believes social welfare recipients or employees earning the minimum wage require to survive.”
“At a time when public cynicism about politics has never been so high, is it possible that at least some members of this government might provide leadership?”
For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
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