Seanad

In my capacity as a Senator I have spoken on, and affected change, on the following issues:-

1. Job Protection & Creation

My approach to jobs has been a two pronged one – protecting existing jobs and creating new jobs. As the owner of an SME I knows the very real challenges facing business owners and has spoken out strongly on the following:

• a. Sustaining employers – this aims to support the income of 5,000 owner managers thereby securing that particular job and also those jobs that rely on that existence of this small company.

• b. Wage subsidy for employers recruiting young people entering the workforce for the first time. This helps to get our young people onto the ladder of employment.

• c. Focussing on the need to keep the cost of utilities (electricity, costs, phone, broadband etc) in line with our European competitors. This is essential to keep our businesses competitive and secure jobs.

• d. VAT Exemption – I have proposed that the government raise the starting point for VAT registration for small businesses from €37,500 per annum to €85,000. This would allow small business owners and service providers to remain competitive and reduce the amount of administration associated with this tax. (Our nearest neighbours in the UK have an Stg.£85,000 threshold).

2. Funding for Army Barracks and the safety of Irish Troops overseas particularly in Chad

3. Social regeneration of Local Authority estates. This focuses on only on improving housing but supporting communities and developing self-reliance and enhanced educational opportunities.

4. I have been highly critical of the HSE and has sought the redrawing of the 2005 Health Act which would restore direct responsibility for the operation of the HSE to the Minister. The government are responsible for our health service and presently they have been able to offload responsibility for decisions to the HSE, an unelected, unaccountable entity. The HSE should be responsible for running the core hospital services whilst government should hold responsibility for the planning of our health services now and into the future. Mental Health, Community Care, Addiction Services should all return to the Dept. Of Health. Community Welfare should be moved to the Dept. Of Social Protection.

5. I regularly speak on issues of national security pertaining particularly to the re-emergence of violent republicanism along the border. It is vital that those working in Leinster House do not become complacent about the threat that has been so much a part of our past and has no place in our future.

6. Planning – As the Green Party Environment spokesperson in the Seanad I had the honour of guiding the new Planning and Development Act through the Seanad in July. We are now all too aware of the damage that bad and corrupt planning has done both to our communities and our economy. Henceforth all planning applications must prove beyond all doubt that they are for the good of the community and are not speculative. (The official legislative phrase applied is: That plans must be evidence based and must adhere to the national spacial strategy and regional development plans).