Downgrading of Garda stations is unacceptable - O' Súilleabháin

Minister Alan Shatters decision to close eighty rural based Garda stations is another example of the government's policy of downgrading the Gardaí according to a spokesperson for local Sinn Féin.  Fionntán O' Suilleabháin described the decision as totally unacceptable and urged the Minister to back down.  He also called for clarification that Gorey Garda Station will not be downgraded from a district headquarters to a sub-station of Enniscorthy.

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"Minister Shatters move to close eighty rural based Garda stations is totally unacceptable and yet another example of the government's policy of downgrading the Gardaí.  These closures will leave even more communities under siege from anti social elements."

"County Wexford has already lost two Garda stations under the Ministers reign; Ballywilliam and Baldwinstown.  Any further closures must be resisted.  The IFA and the Garda Representatives Association have already voiced their opposition to these cuts.  It's time for more community groups to come out and stand against the downgrading of vital frontline services."

"Plans to downgrade Gorey Garda Station from a district headquarters to a sub-station of Enniscorthy should be scrapped.  This would be an extremely regressive move and would leave Gorey deprived of adequate Garda resources.  I have passed on a question to our TDs to be raised in Leinster House on this issue."

"North Wexford Sinn Féin will be holding a public meeting on the ongoing attacks on rural Ireland in late November."

Protest at Wexford General Hospital today

The ongoing protests over the closure of an operating theatre continue outside Wexford General Hospital later today.  Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly said that the protests would continue until operating theatre 2 was reopened and full services were resumed at the hospital. 

Following a meeting between hospital management and a Borough Council delegation which included Cllr Kelly during the week, Wexford Sinn Féin has reiterated that that these protests are not an attack on Wexford General or its hard working staff but rather an attempt to safeguard our local hospital from any form of downgrading. 

Today's protest will begin at 1.30pm outside the grounds of Wexford General.

Invest in water infrastructure instead of water tax – O’ Súilleabháin

A local spokesperson for Sinn Féin and campaigner against household and water taxes has called on the government to invest in water infrastructure instead of a water tax in Budget 2013.  Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin said that sequence investment in water infrastructure would conserve the water supply and create employment.  County Wexford currently loses 38% of its public water supply through leaking pipes every year.

Mr O’ Súilleabháin said;

“The government’s arguments for the introduction of water charges are flawed.  The introduction of water meters is not about water conservation but rather a simple minded attempt at generating revenue.  The government has learned nothing from its ill fated experience with the household tax.”

“There is a common sense alternative to water charges.  Sinn Féin is calling for sequence investment in water infrastructure beginning with counties that lead the unaccounted for water tables.  County Wexford is near the top of this list, losing about 38% every year due to leaking pipes.”

“Fine Gaels New Era document committed to investing €4.2 billion to upgrade Irelands antiquated water supply network.  They have since abandoned this promise like so many others.  Instead of paying €500 million for water meters, the government should be moving to fix the leaks in our water supply network.”

“Ireland currently spends €700 million a year just to produce clean drinking water.  This excludes capital investment.  Sinn Féin is proposing a €500 million investment over four years aimed at fixing and upgrading our water pipe lines, focusing on reservoir loss and the distribution network.”

14th consecutive quarter of decline shows stark reality for businesses - Mythen

Enniscorthy Sinn Fein Cllr Johnny Mythen has described a new report by the retail industry as stark proof that austerity is not the solution.  Commenting on the Retail Excellence Ireland report which shows that  Irish retail has declined for the fourteenth consecutive quarter, Cllr Mythen said that this decline has led to the loss of 60,000 jobs.

Cllr Mythen said;

"Every month for the last three and a half years retail sales have dropped.  In broad terms this has directly resulted in 60,000 job losses and thousands of small businesses gone to the wall in this industry alone."

"Add the startling fact that 1.8 million people are left with €100 a month after the bills are paid and there you have a fine example of how austerity policies  are wrecking our economy and the future of our nation."

"What this survey is showing us is exactly what Sinn Féin has been saying since the recession began.  If you continue to force austerity on ordinary families then it will result in less money being spent in the local economy, more shops going out of business and more unemployment.  Its seemingly simple economics that our government and their Fianna Fail predecessors could not grasp."

"While retail takes a continuous hammering, non-discretionary sectors including Grocery, Pharmacy and Hot Beverage still trade well.  This is a clear indication that people are not hoarding their money, they are simply spending what little they have on the basics.  How can retail, and our wider economy, recover under these circumstances?"

"This report should be a wakeup call for the government.  Its time they stopped trying to convince us that austerity is working and that we are moving out of recession when the statistics point to the opposite."

Temporary rebate on fuel could save jobs – O’ Súilleabháin

Sinn Féin is calling for the introduction of a temporary fuel rebate for transport firms.  Local spokesperson Fionntán O’ Súilleabháin said that such a rebate was common in other European nations and stressed that its introduction here would save jobs.  Mr O’ Súilleabháin highlighted the recent loss of local jobs due to the closure of Target Express as an example of why a fuel tax rebate was a necessity.

Mr O’ Súilleabháin said;

“Last year the Irish Road Haulage Association claimed that this state is losing €200 million a year in revenue because we don’t offer a fuel tax rebate for hauliers.  Haulage licenses have dropped by 1300 in the last three years.  This is estimated to represent 10,000 job losses.  We have seen this close to home with the recent local job losses brought on by the closure of Target Express.”

“Under an EU energy directive member states have the right to lower their diesel tax rates for commercial vehicles, which are defined as lorries over 7.5 tonnes.  Several member states including Belgium, Spain and France make these fuel tax rebates available.  This results in Irish haulage companies being forced to buy their fuel in these countries in order to compete.  This results in a loss of revenue for our state.”

“The introduction of a rebate here would have a net positive effect for the economy if a deal could be struck with haulage firms to purchase the bulk of their fuel in this state.  The IRHA has estimated that the government is missing out on €650 in excise and €340 in VAT per week from each haulier who filled his truck with diesel while abroad.”

Slurry spreading deadline must be reviewed - O' Connell

As the deadline for spreading slurry approaches the Chairperson of County Wexford Sinn Féin has called on the government to show leniency to farmers who have been unable to meet the deadline due to extraordinary bad weather this year.  Oisin O' Connell said that the current deadline in place for slurry spreading is unrealistic, should be reviewed and compared to more practical systems such as the six counties model which allows for spreading throughout the winter months.

Mr O' Connell said;

"The Department of Agriculture's Nitrate Directive the spreading of slurry is prohibited between the October 15th and January 31st every year.  This year the Minister extended the deadline to October 30th after taking into account just how wet farm land is after our extremely poor summer.  While this was a welcome move, it is not enough."

"A recent survey by IFA of over 300 farmers around the country shows that 60% of respondents still have half their slurry to spread, with a quarter having 75% left.  80% said that they are not confident that they will be finished by the new deadline.  Many farmers around County Wexford cannot travel on their land and will not be able to do so by the 31st of October."

"The current deadline is unrealistic.  I'm calling on the Minister to review this deadline and to look at another extension.  Recently my party colleague in the six counties, Minister Michelle O' Neill, has enacted rules that allow any farmer with legitimate excuses to spread slurry during the winter months.  If it can be done in the north, it can be done here."

Education is not being valued by FG/Lab coalition - O' Súilleabháin

Speaking after the value education protest outside the Dail yesterday, Wexford Sinn Féin spokesperson on education Fionntán O' Súilleabháin accused the government of not honouring its promises concerning education.  Mr O' Súilleabháin, a teacher and INTO member, said that Fine Gael and Labour had completely back tracked on promises not increase class sizes and to protect the quality of the educational experience received by our children.

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"In 2011 Fine Gael and Labour made a string of promises regarding what they would do to protect our education system when in power.  They have not honoured these promises.  Enda Kenny said that he wished to protect the quality of the educational experience received by our children.  That was before he initiated serious life altering cuts to the SNA programme."

"Many newly qualified teachers are now earning 20% less than their colleagues  who entered the profession a couple of years earlier.  Incredibly those are the lucky ones.  Many cannot find full employment and are forced into short term or part time work contracts.  This is having a demoralising effect on teachers across this state."

"What makes it worse is that we need more teachers.  The government has failed to honour its promise to prevent an increase in class sizes.  The last thing we need now is for young teachers to be forced to emigrate while many children fall through the cracks in our education system due to over sized classes."

"The government continues to preach the need for a strong educated workforce in order to return to sustainable employment levels.  Its time they practised what they preached and moved to safeguard education and our children's future."

Sinn Féin: Hospital Protest will continue

Following on from a meeting last night, the officer board of County Wexford Sinn Féin has confirmed that its weekly protest outside Wexford General Hospital will continue until operating theatre 2 is reopened.  A spokesperson for Wexford Sinn Féin said that Sinn Féins only concern was the future of the hospital and reiterated that these protests were not an attack on the hospital or its hard working staff.

"Cllr Anthony Kelly was part of a delegation that met management at Wexford General Hospital last Tuesday night.  Cllr Kelly agreed not to make a statement on the issue but has urged the party to continue with its weekly protests outside the hospital grounds calling for the immediate reopening of operating theatre 2."

"While Sinn Féin welcomes any possible good news concerning the future of the Wexford General Hospital, operating theatre 2 remains closed.  It has been repeated over and over again that emergency cases are still being dealt with in the hospital but the fact remains that operations have been cancelled as a direct result of this closure.  Many people who have had their operations cancelled have been on waiting lists for years."

"Sinn Féin would certainly welcome the opening of the rumoured third operating theatre at Wexford General but funding should be available to keep the second one opened first.  This is the third time that theatre 2 has been closed for a period in order to balance the books.  What if there was a sudden surge of patients needing emergency care? This would certainly drain the budget.  Would it result in other services being closed to balance the books?"

"Have we now reached the stage where our hospitals are to be run like a business in receivership?"

"Health care is a right.  Sinn Féin is committed to the protection of services at Wexford General.  When the A&E was under threat people power on the streets forced the then Fianna Fail regime to back down."

"It is no secret that Sinn Féin has no confidence in health minister James Reilly.  It is also common knowledge that the Minister plans to cut another €1 billion from the health budget next year.  How long will it be before we have more 'temporary closures' at our hospital?  We would sincerely welcome a positive outcome from this mess but, under the circumstances, will maintain extreme vigilance."

The third protest against the closure of operating theatre 2 will be held outside the grounds of Wexford General Hospital this Saturday at 1.30pm. 

€500 million handed over to finance the ESM

An Enniscorthy Councillor has said the government payout of €500 million to the European Stability Mechanism is taking money from the weakest economy in the union to finance bigger countries.  Cllr Johnny Mythen said the Irish government must stop standing in the soup line of Europe and take our rightful place as an equal memberstate.  The Irish government paid €500 million into the ESM fund last week.

Cllr Mythen said;

"Under the terms of the recent austerity treaty the Government has committed €11 Billion to the ESM.  According to the latest information €500 million is the upfront payment which our government handed over last week."

"If you examine the way this mechanism is set up, Ireland is way down the pecking order in terms of receiving any aid from such a mechanism.  The bigger countries like Spain and Greece are first in line and will empty the kitty in one go leaving Ireland in another precarious position and with growing unsustainable debt."

"This fund is turning out to be another austerity measure being forced on an already weakened economy.  We should be demanding that the Government stop standing in the soup line of Europe and take our rightful place as a participating equal nation with the right of equal financial treatment."

Future of operating theatre 2 is not guaranteed - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly has raised questions over the legitimacy of the HSEs claims that the closure of operating theatre 2 at Wexford General Hospital is a temporary cost saving measure.  Speaking at the second protest outside the hospital in consecutive weeks, the Sinn Féin Councillor said that similar promises had been made concerning the closure of St Aidan's ward in  2010, and had clearly been broken with the failure to return 25 beds to service. 

Cllr Kelly said;

"I would have serious reservations in accepting the HSEs word that the future of operating theatre 2 will be secure after the eleven week 'temporary closure' comes to an end.  According to the timeframe given, operating theatre 2 in Wexford General Hospital is due to be closed only until the 24th of December." 

"However considering the massive cuts to the health service rumoured to be contained in budget 2013, which will be announced in early December, and taking into account the hospitals inability to operate within their restrictive budget this year, I would have justified fears concerning the future of the unit."

"We have had broken promises from the HSE in the past.  In 2010 St Aidan's ward was closed as part of a cost saving measure with the loss of twenty five beds.  The ward was only to remain closed during the summer months.  To this date those twenty five beds are still out of action."

"I have submitted a parliamentary question through the office of Deputy Caoimhghín O' Caoláin asking the Minister for Health can he guarantee that operating theatre 2 will be reopened at the end of this eleven week period, regardless of budget cuts.  In the meantime protests will continue outside the grounds of Wexford General Hospital at 1.30pm every Saturday afternoon until our theatre is reopened."