€226,000 for North Meath Projects

Community groups and schools in Meath to benefit from CLÁR funding to enhance safety measures

 

€226,000 for North Meath Projects

Fine Gael TD for Meath West has welcomed the announcement of funding for community groups and schools in Meath are to benefit from new Government funding through the CLÁR programme.

 

Minister English said: “The latest round of funding under the Clár Programme is being allocated for safety measures in schools and community groups. €226,000 has been allocated to schools and community groups in North Meath who successfully applied for funding in this round.

 

‘The funding under this latest round of the Clár Programme will allow for the installation of safety measures such as pedestrian crossings, flashing lights and speed indicators in villages and adjacent to schools and community facilities.  These measures will help to keep not only our children, but all those who live in CLÁR areas, safe which is very welcome.

 

Cllr Sarah Reilly congratulated the local community groups in North Meath and stated ‘It is a testament to the hard work of the local communities in Kilskyre, Ballinacree, Carnaross, Tierworker, Killallon, Dromone and Ballinlough in attaining this vital strand of funding by Government for improving our local rural communities in North Meath.  I congratulate you and commend you for your commitment to furthering and improving our local communities.

 

“Our colleague Michael Ring T.D., Minister for Rural and Community Development, has allocated €4.8 million to 170 projects in rural areas across the country. This builds on the previous funding allocations under Clár; since 2016, the Programme has provided funding to over 1,000 projects in rural areas across the country.

 

Minister English added that “The Programme forms a significant part of Fine Gael’s Action Plan for Rural Development which was launched in January 2017.

 

“The Clár programme, which had been closed for new applications by Fianna Fáil in 2009, is hugely important to rural communities. Thanks to our recovering economy, not only have we been able to reopen the Clár Programme, but we are continuing to build on it. I am delighted to hear Minister Ring confirm today that two further rounds of Clár Funding are due this year, allocating funds for Play Areas and First Response Supports. Details of these allocations will be announced shortly.

 

“Through the Clár Programme and other supports under the Action Plan of Rural Development, such as the Rural Recreation programme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Fine Gael will continue working hard to support the economic and social development of communities in rural Ireland.”

 

ENDS

OFFICIAL SCHOOL NAME	Name of Community	Address	Project Description	CLÁR funding Allocated
Kilskyre National School		Kilskyer	installation of digital speed signage	€9,000.00
	Ballinacree Community Association	Ballinacree Village	extenstion of footpath	€30,000.00
	St. Kieran’s Well & Castlekieran Graveyard Committee	Castlekieran, Carncross, Kells	refurbish & repair access points to well	€12,240.00
St. Anne’s National School – Maio School		Maio, Tierworker, Kells	resurfacing of carparking facilities at school	€30,000.00
	Killallon	Killallon Village	upgrading of footpath	€30,000.00
Scoil Mhuire Moylagh – Moylagh School		Mullagh, Dromore, Oldcastle	resurfacing of carparking facilities at school	€30,000.00
	Dromone & District Development Association	Dromone Village, Oldcastle	construct new footpath	€30,000.00
	Ballinlough GFC	Ballinlough	resurfacing of carparking facilities at sports facility	€30,000.00
	Ballinlough Pride of Place	Ballinlough	extenstion of footpath	€16,200.00
	Killallon Graveyard Community Group	Killallon Village	provision of public lighting	€9,000.00
				€226,440.00

Short-term Lettings Bill 2018 – Speech on behalf of Government in Seanad Éireann

Private Members’ Bill

Seanad Éireann

Short-term Lettings Bill 2018

Wednesday 20^th June 2018

Check Against Delivery

Introduction

Firstly, I wish to thank Senator Humphries for bringing forward this Bill and providing us with another opportunity to discuss short-term lettings which is a priority for this Government.

 

Policy

Can I set out from the start that, “Home sharing” that is to say, people providing overnight and short-term accommodation in their own homes – is a good thing. It can be an important source of income, helping “home sharers” to meet the cost of mortgages, rents and other household expenses and hence support tenure security.  It also supports tourism and associated economic activity and even social and cultural exchange.

This does not reduce the number of residential units available in the economy.

Importantly, planning regulations have traditionally recognised that home sharing and overnight guest accommodation is permissible in certain circumstances in houses, but not apartments, without the need to obtain planning permission.

However, the Government is concerned about the growing availability and use of online short-term letting platforms, and the potential commercial opportunities they provide, may lead landlords, who normally provide residential rental accommodation, to move into short term letting to tourist and business traveller customers because of the higher returns available from this activity.

Similarly people may well purchase or rent properties specifically for short term letting as an investment option, taking them out of residential market.

Short term letting under either of these scenarios, will lead to a direct loss of units in the rental sector and by extension, the broader housing system.  This means less longer-term and secure accommodation being available to the increasing numbers of families and people who need to access it.

Of course there is the potential for positive impacts as well, such as increased economic activity and tourism revenue.  With the housing system  under severe pressure the positive impacts are outweighed by the negative ones.

The social and economic impacts faced by families experiencing difficulties in accessing accommodation are significant and will not be compensated by the broader economic benefits a shift of residential units into short term letting could bring.

Equally, increased tourism revenues or footfall in urban restaurants, shops and local businesses will do nothing to compensate the frontline worker who has to move from the city to the periphery of the commuter belt with all the associated burden that brings with increased travel time and costs and dislocation in terms of schools and social networks.

At the same time we do not want to deny people the opportunity that short term letting – in the traditional B&B manner or via online platforms provide – that allow people to let out rooms in their homes as a means of earning some extra income.  This type of activity could actually help the frontline worker pay their rent or mortgage – and keep them in their home.  It is important to emphasise that we do not want to close that down.

That said, I understand and appreciate the motivation and bona fides behind this Private Members Bill.

To specifically address your proposals, I will take the opportunity to set out the Government’s position on each proposal.

Section 2 proposes to introduce a definition of short term lettings.

At present, there is no legal definition of short-term letting.  The Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 uses a figure of 8 consecutive weeks but this does not take into consideration the cumulative effect across an entire season or year.

To accept the definition in the Bill would pre-empt the findings of the working group established under the Strategy for the Rental Sector not to mention any possible issues that may arise during discussions with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Section 3 states that, under the planning code, where a dwelling is used for short-term lettings for more than an aggregate of 6 weeks per year then its use shall be classed as commercial rather than residential.

Under the planning code, all development, including a material change of use, requires planning permission unless exempted under the Act or the associated Regulations.  For example, there is an exemption which facilitates the use of a house for overnight guest accommodation in certain circumstances, which is traditionally relied on in the context of the provision of B&B-type accommodation.

The Bill proposes that, for the purposes of the planning code, short-term letting for periods exceeding 6 weeks in a year is a commercial use not a residential one.  It is understood the intention of this provision is to require property owners to obtain planning permission for a material change of use.

However, this is already generally the case under current planning requirements, and was addressed in a circular to planning authorities in October 2017, which sets out the existing planning requirements in relation to the short-term letting of houses and apartments.

Section 4 proposes removing the exemption under Section 3(1)(l) of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 that disapplies the Act to short-term lettings.

The 2011 Act provided for, inter alia, the establishment of the Property Services Regulatory Authority – which regulates property service providers, i.e. estate agents, letting agents and property management agents.

The Act provides that the Act does not apply to –

“(l) a property service consisting solely of a short-term letting to a person where such letting—

(i) does not exceed or is unlikely to exceed 8 consecutive weeks, and

(ii) is for bona fide tourism or other leisure purposes,”

This exemption provision was intended to allow owners of holiday houses, cottages, etc. to let them directly to tourists without requiring them to use estate or letting agents with all the costs and inconvenience that involves.

The 2011 Act was designed to regulate the genuine property services sector, not the tourism sector and was quite deliberate that genuine tourism lets were incorporated in the list of exemptions provided for.

Amending the Property Services (Regulation) Act, as proposed in this Private Members’ Bill, would significantly change the manner in which the 2011 Act operates, and would potentially place a very significant additional burden on the Property Services Regulatory Authority (which would require significant resourcing) and may very well lead to unforeseen consequences.

The Government also has genuine concerns for small operators in the short-term tourist letting sector, many of whom will almost certainly fail to satisfy qualification and other licensing requirements, if this exemption is removed. This would then mean that such small operators (e.g. owners of tourist cottages, etc.) could not legally directly let their properties on a short-term basis and would instead, have to engage a licensed property service provider to conduct such lettings, with the consequent incurring of expenses and administrative complications.

Section 5 of the Bill proposes to place the obligation on short-term letting service providers to provide specified information to planning authorities.  It also proposes to require planning authorities to request, collect and collate such data and share this information with the Revenue Commissioners on request.

The purpose of the planning system aims to facilitate and support proper planning and sustainable development in a balanced manner, ensuring that the right development takes place in the right locations at the right time.  However, it is not the function of the planning code, nor is it the appropriate vehicle, to provide a wider regulatory framework for the short-term tourism-related letting sector or related tax requirements.

 

Government Efforts

The Strategy for the Rental Sector, recognised the potential issue of significant numbers of properties being withdrawn from the long term rental market for use as short term tourism-related lettings.

The negative impact this would have for the supply and availability of residential rental accommodation and that the growing use of online platforms, such as AirBnB, could, if not adequately regulated, facilitate and encourage this trend.

That is why we established a Working Group, made up of representatives from my Department, the Departments of Finance and of Business, Enterprise & Innovation, An Bord Pleanála, Fáilte Ireland, the Residential Tenancies Board, and Dublin City Council, to develop proposals for the appropriate regulation for management of short term tourism related lettings taking into account the Government’s overall housing and rental policy objectives.

The working group has submitted its report to the Department and Minister Murphy is currently considering same.

 

Proposed Regulation

The primary goals of the regulatory proposals are to:

• Reduce the market impacts of short-term rentals on the long-term residential rental market;
• Facilitate the use by resident householders of unused capacity in their homes for short term letting and the associated economic benefits for them and the local economy;
• Ensure the quality of accommodation services provided, consumer protection and safety; and,
• Limit and mitigate the costs associated with high volumes of short-term lettings borne by residential communities.

 

What is currently envisaged is a licensing system for both intermediaries – such as websites and management companies – and persons renting out both single rooms and entire properties as a short term lets.

The precise details regarding inspection, monitoring, enforcement limit setting, fees as well as consideration of local factors have still to be finalised.

However, it is clear that different approaches will be needed for those wishing to let properties on an ongoing commercial basis and those wishing to let a room in their home or to let their home while away for a short period, perhaps on holiday.

The regulatory approach also intends to recognise the huge difference across different areas of the country.  In some places increases in short term letting poses a risk to the rental stock, while in others it could provide an important opportunity for landlords to make profitable use of properties that they have difficulty letting.

 

Conclusion

To conclude, I would like to thank Senator Humphries for introducing this Bill and the sentiment which it contains, which is and will continue to be extremely helpful as we move forward with the design and establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework to both protect our housing and rental supply and also take advantage of the benefits that this new and growing economy provides.

 

ENDS

Private Members Motion – Seaweed

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY PLEASE

Speech by Minister Damien English – Minister for Housing and Urban Development

I wish to thank Deputies Connolly and Pringle for bringing this Private Members’ motion before the House today. While it is a motion that I cannot fully support, I think it is an opportune time to have a debate on this issue and I very much welcome this opportunity to listen to your views on this subject. In particular, I am anxious to hear your concerns regarding issues around traditional seaweed harvesting which is one of the central messages in the motion which we will debate today.

At the outset of this debate, I would like to reiterate, as I have on a number of occasions in this House, my concern regarding issues relating to traditional seaweed harvesters. Indeed, it was for this specific reason that my Department placed “on hold” the applications we have received from various companies who sought to harvest seaweed until my Department has an opportunity to thoroughly research and clarify all of the legal issues involved. Indeed, the 2015 report by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht highlights clarity around this issue as being key to enhancing the potential of the sector.

At the outset, it is important to note that the Government has set out its policy by which Ireland’s marine potential can be realised in our integrated marine plan: Harnessing our Ocean Wealth (HOOW). HOOW has three high level goals, of equal importance, (i) a thriving maritime economy, (ii) healthy ecosystems and (iii) engagement with the sea. Within this plan, to support the goals are eight enablers covering such areas as governance, clean – green marine, research, knowledge technology and innovation. Within the eight enablers areas are 39 further issues for action.

In the area of seaweed, it is important that I set out clearly my responsibilities. Under the Foreshore Act 1933, I have responsibility for regulating activities and development within the foreshore area. The foreshore area stretches from the high water mark out to a distance of twelve nautical miles – a total area of approximately 39,000 sq kilometres. This area is considered State property under the State Property Acts. The Foreshore Act controls development within this area and we are approached by individuals, companies and organisations pursuant to this legislation seeking consent for developments such as marinas, slipways, coastal protection measures and port development. Consent is also sought for activities such as one day events such as horse racing, sand or gravel removal and the harvesting of seaweed.

I do not have responsibility for the regulation or development of any industry that utilises the foreshore space, although I can insert specific clauses in foreshore leases. It should also be noted that I do not have, contrary to some who argue otherwise, the means under the legislation to sell either any area of the foreshore or to sell seaweed rights. Consent to applications under the Foreshore Act is given by way of a lease to confer exclusive use (generally for long term semi-permanent or permanent development) or a licence for non-exclusive use (generally shorter term, non-permanent activities such as one day events, telecommunications cables or seaweed harvesting). During the period of the lease, the area remains the property of the State with the lessee paying rent to the State.

The role of my Department in relation to the harvesting of wild seaweed is to regulate the activity in accordance with the Foreshore Act. In carrying out this task, there is a need to ensure that the resource is suitably managed, with the twin aims of protecting the marine environment and allowing for a sustainable level of harvesting.

While it is not directly relevant to the issues of traditional seaweed harvesters, I am aware that a delegation from West Cork is making its views known today outside the House. My officials have met with them and I look forward to meeting with them in due course. It is disappointing that an Eco Eye programme took a very one sided view of the issue of the licence in Bantry Bay, which was granted by the then Minister John Gormley in 2011. Accordingly, I welcome the recent ruling by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in relation to the complaint it received regarding this programme and acknowledged “that the programme did not include a range of perspective on the topic sufficient to meet the requirements of fairness, objectivity and impartiality, in a context where it was evident that there were other views, including the views of the complainant.” While I appreciate that this Group have a number of concerns regarding the licence, it is disappointing that the programme did not mention the baseline study and monitoring programme which were specifically included in the terms of the licence to underpin the sustainability of the resource.

2. Seaweed as a Resource.

Seaweed represents a valuable natural resource that if sustainably harvested can maintain and stimulate further economic development in coastal rural areas. While this has always been the historical position of seaweed in Ireland, to contribute positively to economic growth, we have moved from a position of using seaweed mainly for food, as fertilizer and as an animal foodstuff to a position where we have enhanced applications and uses for seaweed.

Seaweed is now the raw material in cutting edge bio-pharma products such as animal pro-biotics, anti-coagulants in blood products. There are Irish companies using seaweed or seaweed derived products in bio-pharma and other areas such as body care, cosmetic products and artisan foods.

To maximise the economic potential of this valuable resource, these are the sectors that we must look to support. If we wish to encourage further high value growth, to provide high quality jobs at both graduate and PHD level, in the areas of research and development, technology and advanced production process and sales and marketing then investment is needed. Companies based in Ireland such as Oileann Glas Teoranta (OGT), Bioatlantis, and Brandon Bioscience have made significant investment in these areas and are already producing high value products that compete in global markets.

3. Applications and Interaction with Traditional Rights.

I can confirm that my Department is currently in receipt of 17 applications for licences under the Foreshore Act to harvest wild seaweed on hand of which 13 are from companies who wish to harvest and process seaweed. The applicants produce products that range from artisan food products to animal health products to high grade fertiliser. While assessing these applications we discovered that certain rights to harvest seaweed exist in coastal communities, particularly along the western seaboard, in the same geographical area that the companies had applied for.

To learn more about the extent and nature of existing rights to harvest seaweed, my Department engaged with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland to determine the number of appurtenant rights specified in Land Registry folios. On foot of this request, the PRAI provided my Department with aggregate data detailing the extent of the rights in seven of the western seaboard counties: Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal. The data showed that there were approximately 6500 rights relating to seaweed spread across those seven counties. However, while there is not a definitive number of those engaged in traditional harvesting of seaweed estimate are that somewhere between 250 to 400 of these rights are currently being exercised.

My Department has also undertaken work to establish the implications of the interaction between these existing seaweed harvesting rights and the applications for licences by companies and my officials have met with the Attorney General’s Office on a number of occasions to examine these issues. Once this work is complete, it is my aim to bring clarity to the regulatory regime applying to wild seaweed harvesting, seeking to balance the existing rights of traditional harvesters and commercial potential, while also ensuring sustainability of the resource and compliance with the State’s obligations under domestic and EU environmental law.

4. Private Members Motion.

The Government cannot support a motion that looks to focus on the issue of seaweed or the development of the seaweed industry while only concentrating on a singular viewpoint: that of the traditional seaweed harvester. Any regulatory regime must take into account the interests of a multiplicity of stakeholders.

The private members motion by Deputies Connolly and Pringle does not reflect the symbiotic relationship between traditional harvesters and companies. Quite simply, both entities need each other. The main source of raw material for companies comes from the seaweed harvested by traditional harvesters while the main income derived by traditional harvesters from selling seaweed comes from companies.

It is in this context of listening to all views that I have agreed to meet with the different stakeholders to hear their viewpoints. I recently met with a processor of seaweed and had hoped at this point to have met with Coiste Cearta Cladaí Chonamara, a group of traditional harvesters from the Gaeltacht area in Connemara and the Ascophyllum Nodosum Processors Group (ANPG) who represent a number of the larger producers. However, given the recent weather conditions these meetings have not yet taken place. I hope to meet both of these groups and the Bantry Bay group in the next couple of weeks.

It is also our view that the need to prevent the over-exploitation of this valuable resource while also providing for an environment that will support the growth of jobs in local area is the principle that must underpin the regulation of wild seaweed harvesting. All leases and licences granted by my Department under the Foreshore Act include clauses specific to sustainability of the resource, environmental protection and compliance appropriate to the activity and the area in which it is granted.

5. Counter Motion.

I believe that the counter motion that I am proposing on behalf of the Government today will allow for the interests of all stakeholders to be taken into account. It acknowledges the importance of wild seaweed harvesting in rural communities particularly along the western seaboard. It recognises seaweed harvesting as one of the sources of income for some families in rural communities, it also however recognises that to continue to grow the seaweed industry in Ireland we must look to the production of high value products that will provide graduate and PHD level opportunities in these communities. It focuses not only on traditional harvesters but also on those companies that have the ability to turn a naturally occurring marine resource into cutting edge products which can be supplied to global markets.

The counter-motion also highlights the fact that all harvesters of seaweed, whether they be a traditional harvester or a company equally share the responsibility for ensuring the sustainability of this valuable natural resource.

It notes and reaffirms the on-going work of my Department to progress the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill which will bring much needed reform to the regulation of all development and activity regulated under the Foreshore Act 1933.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again assure everyone that no decisions have yet been reached on the commercial seaweed harvesting applications which have been received by my Department. These 17 applications are essentially on hold while my officials continue to work on this complex legal issue. I wish to re-affirm my commitment to the work necessary to bring clarity to the regulatory regime in relation to wild seaweed harvesting and while this work is now in its final stages, I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the next two months.

Finally, while I cannot support all aspects of the motion today by Deputies Connolly and Pringle, I am very conscious of the traditional role played by seaweed harvesters up and down the west coast of Ireland over many generations. I am very aware of the economic value and the positive economic contribution which their efforts have made to their communities. I also respect the heritage of seaweed harvesting and the way in which they have protected and safeguarded the resource through sustainable harvesting practises. I am deeply conscious of all of these aspects and the integral part that seaweed harvesting has played in people lives along the western seaboard. As I have outlined earlier, I look forward to hearing about these issues at first hand when I meet with representatives of traditional harvesters shortly.

Number of ‘ghost’ estates further reduced by 91% since 2010

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Damien English TD, today 8 March, 2018 published the Sixth Annual Progress Report and seventh housing survey on tackling the issue of unfinished housing developments.

This reveals a “91% reduction in the unfinished developments since 2010 from almost 3,000 to 256. 2017 saw the resolution of 165 developments”.

Minister English was speaking at the launch of the report that includes the results from the 2017 National Housing Development Survey which tracks progress on unfinished housing developments since 2010. Among the key findings of this year’s survey are:

91% decrease in the number of unfinished developments over the last 7 years;
165 developments resolved in 2017;
256 unfinished developments remaining;
74% of local authority areas now contain less than 10 unfinished developments;

and
Four local authority areas have no occupied unfinished developments.

Minister English indicated that his objective is to resolve all remaining unfinished housing developments especially those within high market demand locations and strive for 100% turnaround.

The Minister acknowledges the results of the 2017 survey which indicate that the parts of developments that are occupied are, in the vast amount of cases, now well established and finished to a good standard. Minister English added “in the last twelve months we have resolved 165 developments and intend to build on that success with a further push in 2018 to resolve as many as possible of the remaining unfinished developments.”

Local authorities and on-the-ground teams have excellent local knowledge and have signalled that a number of sites with ‘unfinished’ elements are now coming back in for new planning permission. In a number of cases this was at pre-planning stage and throughout 2018 should move on to the determination of planning applications clearing the way for development subject to developer capacity, funding and demand.

Unfinished Housing Development teams established in local authorities to address the ‘unfinished’ issue have gained enormous experience and knowledge in matters of successful resolution from enforcement through to bonds and effective collaboration with receivers and financial institutions. This knowledge and expanded capabilities can also now be applied towards matters of Taking in Charge and Vacant Homes Action Plans with the need for Empty Homes Officers.

In conclusion, the Minister signalled that “in the last twelve months we have resolved 165 developments and intend to build on that success with a further push in 2018 to resolve as many as possible of the remaining unfinished developments. I am very pleased with the progress made by my Department and look forward to working with Department officials and local authorities in reducing the number of unfinished developments further throughout 2018.”

ENDS

RTE’s Morning Ireland 3rd August 2016

I joined Keelin Shanley on RTE’s Morning Ireland on Wednesday 3rd August 2016 to discuss Student Accommodation.

You can listen here:

http://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21030542_48_03-08-2016_

Official opening of Respond 67 housing units in Waterford

I congratulate Respond for the development of St. John’s College. Delivering these 67 units was no small feat and I’m aware that Waterford City and County Council was very anxious to see this project progressed in the context of protecting the architectural heritage of the City.

The inclusion of up to 10 additional single units for special needs including homeless households on the ground floor was also a significant addition to the project.

Pictures by Patrick Browne.

Future proofing the Irish economy through Skills, Research & Innovation

Check Against Delivery

Speech at Fine Gael Ard Fheis – Damien English TD, Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation

Fine Gael in Government has a long term economic plan to secure the recovery, put people back to work and build a sustainable robust economy. 200,000, 70,000 returning home.

Firstly we stablised the national finances and created the conditions for a return to growth. People now have hope for the future.

Then we used the Action Plans for Jobs process to drive job creation, creating more than a 1000 jobs a week.

More people in work means more tax revenue to invest in delivering improved and reformed public services.

Make no mistake Ireland is in full recovery mode. We now have the fastest growing economy in Europe.

More importantly more and more Irish people are back working in good jobs with good prospects.

We will not sit back, we can’t take growth for granted. We have to future proof the economy through investment in research and skills.

All the other parties out there are eager to spend the fruits of the recovery but have no plan on how to keep it going.

While they have wish lists, we have a long term economic plan to future proof the economy and prevent a return to the boom and bust.

In a marathon you hit the pain barrier about six miles from the end.

A few years ago the Irish people, and the Irish economy hit the pain barrier but we have kept on going on the road to recovery.

Now a few miles short of the finish line to achieve full employment, who pops up at the final water station with burgers and beers encouraging you to party again but Micheal Martin. When really what you need is an isotonic drink that will steady you and keep you going. Likewise Fine Gael’s Long Term plan is the isotonic drink that will keep the will keep the economy steady and well on the road to full employment.

Fianna Fáil have no economic plan to create jobs, to keep the recovery going. In fact when Micheal Martin was last in charge, Ireland saw 300,000 jobs destroyed.

If we follow his advice, it will be like Groundhog Day and we will be back at the start of the marathon again, with more pain to go through.

Fianna Fails preferred bedfellows are proponents of the Slab Murphy School of Economics.
Keep hitting the honest worker to pay for everthing.

Sinn Fein don’t believe in low taxes for jobs. Instead they believe in the approach taken by Syrzia in Greece, look where that got them.

Put the two together and you get the coalition from hell who will tax and squander the recovery into a savage recession.

Fine Gael know we can’t take growth for granted.

The recovery is not an accident.

The recovery is the result of the hard work and sacrifice of the Irish people good Government and prudent policies.

It’s a tough competitive world out there. Growth in China is slowing, the US stock market is falling, there is crisis of confidence in Europe and the West.

If we take growth for granted we will lose it.

We have to stay competitive and we have to focus on the future.

Which is what I have been doing as Minister for Skills Research and Innovation.

We have been putting in place the strategies to create the jobs of the future and make sure the Irish people have the right skills to fill these jobs.

Last month we published Innovation 2020 Ireland’s strategy to become an global leader in research and innovation.

Already ten percent of Intel’s research is done in Ireland Intel’s new Chips are not just built in Ireland they are designed in Ireland.

Kerry Group are now the world’s leading taste and nutrition company their research is reinventing food to make it tastier and healthier.

Innovation 2020 will ensure more companies do research and create the jobs and the companies of the future in Ireland.

Ireland is now in full recovery mode, and within striking distance of full employment.

As we approach full employment making sure Irish workers have the skills that enterprise needs matters more than ever.

If we are to secure the recovery and future proof the Irish economy we need to put in place a long term skills strategy to ensure all of our people can reach their full potential and play an active role in building a better Ireland.

We are doing just that.

Next week we will publish our new Skills Strategy to ensure the Irish people have the skills to fill the jobs of the future.

This strategy sets an ambitious trajectory for the next ten years for skills development in Ireland.

It marks an important step in the evolution of Ireland’s dual track educational system to a system which fully supports life learning and is more responsive than ever to the changing needs of enterprise.

This strategy is based on partnership with enterprise. We are putting in place regional skills fora to ensure business in every region can tell us they skills they need to grow.

At a National Level we are putting in place a new National Skills Council to use real time intelligence to proactively manage emerging skills gaps.

We are also reinventing Apprenticeships for the 21stCentury to provide a low cost high quality path to good jobs and good careers for our young people.

This year will see the doubling of Apprentice Schemes in a host of new areas like IT and Finance.

I want to stress that Apprenticeships are not some kind of second best option for people who can’t get into college.

They are a tried and tested method of training talented people, just ask former Apprentices like Jamie Oliver or Alex Ferguson.

Fine Gael are committing to delivering 50,000 apprenticeships andtraineeships by 2020.

I have three things I want to ask all you here today to help me with.

Firstly we can’t reach our job creation targets unless we bring our emigrants home.

If you have a son or daughter a niece or nephew or friends working abroad tell them its time to think about coming home.

Secondly if you know young people who are trying to figure out what to do in life. Get them to check out an Apprenticeship.

There are literally thousands of well paying jobs out there for people with the right skills. College is not the only option and often it’s not the best option for a host of well paying jobs.

Finally, canvass hard to get this Government back into office.

Leave no door unknocked and no voter in any doubt of the need to keep Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein as far away from power as possible.

Fianna Fail have squandered one boom Sinn Fein want to turn us into a second Greece.

Only Fine Gael has a long term economic plan and with your hard work and commitment we will deliver it and a better brighter future for this country.

ENDS

 

Now Fianna Fáil is claiming credit for the economic recovery — English

Fine Gael TD for Meath West and Minister of State, Damien English has dismissed attempts by Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin to credit Fianna Fáil with the economic recovery. Speaking on national radio this morning, Deputy Martin said that the bailout deal negotiated by Fianna Fáil was the reason our economy is now recovering.

“Given the hardship that Fianna Fáil imposed on the Irish people, it is in poor taste for its leader to claim credit for our economic recovery. Ordinary people listening to Deputy Martin this morning will have been infuriated by his desperate attempts to make a virtue of his Party’s role in Ireland’s economic collapse.

“Let me be clear, the economy is not recovering because of the bailout deal which Fianna Fáil negotiated after it had ruined our economy.

“It recovered because of the hard work of the Irish people and because of sensible economic policies conceived and implemented by this Government.

“Our economy is recovering because 135,000 jobs have been created in the last four years. This has been made possible because of sensible measures like the reduction of VAT in the hospitality industry and the abolition of the travel tax.

“The restoration of our international reputation which Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan worked so hard to achieve has been crucial in helping to attract tens of thousands of FDI jobs and the negotiation of the promissory note deal which has been instrumental in reducing the debt burden of the State.

“The tax and USC reductions contained in the last two budgets have been made possible because of our improved economic situation and are facilitating employers to make more jobs available.  

“These are the reasons our economy is recovering and people are facing the future with more hope. Micheál Martin’s efforts to underplay the role of this Government in our recovery lacks any credibility.

“We are seeing economic progress, with over 135,000 more people at work, but we cannot take for granted that stability and recovery will continue. We cannot go back to the same old Fianna Fáil who wrecked the economy, have learned nothing from the past and are still the high tax, high spend party.”

English representing Ireland at World Trade Organisation talks this week

Local Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation and Meath West Fine Gael T.D. Damien English is this week in Nairobi, Kenya for 4 days, representing Ireland at the World Trade Organisation talks, and a related meeting of the E.U. Foreign Affairs Council.

Minister English is the first Irish Minister to visit Kenya following the opening of the Irish Embassy in Nairobi in 2014. Ireland’s Ambassador is Dr Vincent O Neill. While in Nairobi, in addition to attending the E.U. Foreign Affairs Council and the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference, Minister English will meet the Irish community in Kenya, Irish and International NGOs, visit projects supported by the Irish Aid programme and facilitate contacts between Irish and Kenyan Business organisations and companies.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations. It has 162 members, with 2 new members, Afghanistan and Liberia acceding to membership at the talks this week. The WTO accounts for about 95% of world trade. Over 20 other countries are negotiating membership. The WTO agreements are negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

Speaking before his departure, Minister English stated: “This week in Nairobi, from an Irish perspective, we hope to see advancement on a key element of the Doha Development Agenda of the WTO. We will be working towards the conclusion of an important Sectoral Agreements namely the Information Technology Agreement and progress on the Environmental Goods Agreement. These are important sectoral trade deals for Ireland and Irish based firms in the technology sector stand to gain by tariff reductions. “

 

FF efforts to claim credit for recovery are an insult to people’s intelligence – English

Fianna Fáil is guilty of the worst type of political revisionism according to Fine Gael TD for Meath West, Minister Damien English. Minister English was speaking after Fianna Fáil today tried to claim credit for the Irish economic recovery. Fianna Fáil TD Micheal McGrath today claimed that the economic recovery now underway is due to Brian Lenihan’s economic plan which ‘is now working’.

“It’s a bit of a sick joke that Fianna Fail is now trying to claim credit for Ireland’s economic recovery. I doubt those whose lives turned upside down when Fianna Fáil’s property fuelled economy collapsed will see the funny side.

“Let me be very clear, the 125,000 jobs that have been created since this Government launched the Action Plan for jobs in 2012 is by a distance the most significant factor behind our economic recovery. Is Fianna Fáil now trying to take credit for these jobs?

“And as for the notion that this Government implemented Fianna Fáil’s plan, let’s look at the facts:
80% of the taxes introduced by Fianna Fáil were taxes on work. We rejected that approach and set about incentivising work from the start. One of the first acts of this Government was to reverse the €1 cut it made on the minimum wage. We have removed 410,000 from Fianna Fail’s USC tax and reduced its impact on those paying it. Next week’s Budget will, I believe, further diminish its impact on Irish workers.

“Fianna Fail is still fixated on high taxes as is proved by their pre-budget submission today. Today’s pre-budget submission and Michael McGrath’s farcical assertion about Fianna Fáil’s role in the recovery provide further evidence of why they are not fit to be trusted with our economy.

“Thanks to the Irish people, the country is moving in the right direction but the future stability cannot be taken for granted.

“People are not fools. Fianna Fáil should have more respect for their intelligence than to try and rewrite history on a topic which is still a sore point with the Irish people.”