Cycle lanes make for better photo-ops than sewerage pipes but Ireland’s sewerage infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed with far greater urgency. Unsewered settlements are not even mentioned in the latest EPA report.
The Nature Restoration Law will significantly impact agricultural and maritime communities areas but it’s not clear the Government will introduce the necessary measures to ensure they can remain viable.
97 on trolleys today at UHL in the middle of summer but the government offers no new solution when I raised issue with the Tánaiste today.
An Bord Pleanála delays as interest rates rise mean homeowners will pay higher mortgages.
Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin doesn’t want any State agencies tasked with ascertaining the minimum cost of production of essential food items in Ireland. It can’t be that he doesn’t understand the issue as he was the Trade Minister that removed the ban on below-cost selling of groceries.
The Dáil may agree with the government’s funding of, and participation in, the EU Military Assistance to Ukraine but unless/until it does, is the Constitution being adhered to?
The proposed demolition of six houses at Francis St, Ennis, recently purchased by Clare County Council, needs to be reconsidered, and the Tánaiste agrees.
Only 7 WTE (Fulltime /Whole-time Equivalent) healthcare professional positions in Acute Services were created at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) during 2022 despite UHL being the most overcrowded hospital in the country last year.
Read MoreMicheál Martin confirms that the Coillte scheme to facilitate the purchase of land across Ireland by British investment funds will not be affected by his proposed Government review.
Micheál Martin and his government failed the people of the Midwest by refusing to tackle the mounting problems at UHL. Leo Varadkar must now intervene.
I was shocked that the only proposal from the Government representative on today’s show was to call for mandatory face masks and “other restrictions”, and to call for young doctors and nurses to be forced to work in a chronically mismanaged health system.
Autism supports to children and adolescents exist in theory but when parents in Clare seek them for their children, they encounter a wall of bureaucracy and no supports.
Chronic and persistent overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick is not being addressed.
The Mercosur trade deal can be concluded by the European Commission, by-passing the people in member states and their parliaments, the Taoiseach suggested today (insofar as he answered my question).
Despite lip service to the importance of science in the Dáil last night, poor funding of PhD students in Ireland continues.
I called for the ongoing crisis in the Retained Fire Service in rural communities across Ireland to be addressed.
The Derelict Sites Act is under-utilised by local authorities to bring such sites back into use. Only 1,415 derelict sites were on the Register on 1st January, 2022. Key instruments at the State’s disposal are not being used to end the housing crisis.
Government policy is hindering our ability to develop our energy sector and meet our needs.
I asked why Ireland is one of just two European states which failed to apply for a €36bn EU funding initiative, aimed at ensuring continuity of energy supply.
Contrary to what the Taoiseach told me yesterday about the proposed transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council: “the Minister is working on this with all the stakeholders to try to get this resolved”, Councillors were told this morning that the Council was informed on Budget Day that the required funding was being refused. This is no way to treat the workers there.
Unfortunately, there is still no update from the Taoiseach on the future of the Shannon Heritage sites in Clare.
Clare TD Michael McNamara today raised the issue of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil today.
Speaking after the debate, Deputy McNamara said, “It is very disappointing that the Taoiseach tried to wash his hands of overcrowding in UHL today, having previously told me he’d “come back” to me with details of the expert group sent there and their terms of reference.”
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has called on the Government to publish the terms of reference for an expert team that is being deployed by the HSE to review the issues surrounding chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
I raised the issue of ongoing overcrowding at University of Limerick with Taoiseach Micheál Martin today.
In the Dáil today, I called for ‘temporary extraordinary measures’ to tackle a backlog in apprenticeships across the country. The Taoiseach said he would be open to seeing ‘what more we can do to accelerate without diluting the quality’.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has urged the Irish government to make a fresh appeal to Brussels for approval to reduce VAT on home heating oil during the war in Ukraine, which is driving price increases.
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Following calls from Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara last week, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has introduced a further one-year extension to the derogation allowing for the burning of green waste.
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Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara today called on the Government to continue the derogation that was in place up to now that enables farmers to burn green waste such as hedge cuttings and trimming and dead scrub that was previously cut and left to dry out.
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Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara today called for an independent investigation into ongoing overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where a record 111 patients were on trolleys this morning.
Addressing Taoiseach Micheal Martin during Promised legislation in Dáil Éireann today, Deputy McNamara said the exponential growth in trolley numbers at UHL was unlikely to be halted by the introduction of additional beds alone and that consideration should be given to upgrading other hospitals within the UHL Group.
Responding to Deputy McNamara, the Taoiseach said he would request the Minister for Health and the HSE to review the Clare TD’s proposal around the causes of ongoing overcrowding.
Deputy McNamara commented, “There is no clear indication as to why UHL is consistently the most overcrowded hospital in the country. I don’t know whether it is how admissions and discharges are managed in the hospital or if Ennis, Nenagh or St. Johns need to be upgraded to Model 3 Hospitals. An investigation needs to be commissioned without delay.”
I asked the Taoiseach why the HSE has been keeping at least 1.5 million antigen tests in storage and has only dispatched 35,000 (2%) to date. The Government decision not to distribute them for free is inexplicable.
Figures c/o @RachelLavin https://www.businesspost.ie/coronavirus/hse-sitting-on-stock-of-15-million-antigen-tests-8f55c87e
Only 2,700 premises have been connected under the National Broadband Plan to date, far below the initial target of 115,000 by January 2022 which was subsequently revised down to 60,000. As I learned today, €133m has been spent on the Plan in the last two years.
Given the urgent need for construction workers to join the workforce, I asked the Taoiseach to ensure that all apprentices would complete their training on schedule despite the considerable delays to date.
With more than 900,000 people on hospital waiting lists, I asked the Taoiseach to take responsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare and to examine the increased use of operating theatres in the UHL group.
I asked the Taoiseach when he thought civil disobedience became legitimate if democracy is reduced to a tyranny of a narrow majority.
The latest proposals from NPHET to restrict indoor hospitality to the vaccinated only are practically unworkable, legally dubious, and contrary to a decision already made by a democratically elected government.
Read MoreGiven the establishment of another task force on Shannon and the failure to implement previous reports on aviation and on antigen testing, I asked the Taoiseach who’s running the country and for whose benefit.
The Government’s response to the pandemic has been blunderbuss and one of the few targeted measures is being removed. None of the Covid-19 Committee or Expert Panel recommendations regarding nursing homes and care of the elderly have been implemented.
How can the Government defend a policy of mandatory hotel quarantine – to the European Commission or before the Courts – that it stated to be impossible to enforce here and not proportionate?
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has criticised the Government’s Mandatory Hotel Quarantine strategy, which he described as “a half-baked exercise in optics” and a “flawed measure” in the context of an unchecked border with Northern Ireland and when the majority of persons arriving in the state whether by air, sea or over land are not tested for variants of Covid-19.
Read MoreThe Government, supported by most of the Opposition, is strangling the aviation and tourism sector in this State, and driving business to Northern Ireland. We’re told the virus doesn’t recognise borders. Neither does the Government or most of the Opposition. Businesses have to.
fter the fiasco appointing a new Chair of Shannon Group, the Government must urgently appoint someone with the experience to provide strategic direction to its aviation, tourism and property businesses.
I raised the future of Shannon Group, Shannon Airport, tourism in the region and Shannon Heritage with the Taoiseach and will continue to press him and his Government to deliver.
Having launched the Sage Advocacy ‘Choice Matters’ report this morning, I questioned the Taoiseach about the lack of support available to older people at home or in the community which is leading to people with little choice but to go into congregated settings.
Closing marts and moving cattle sales online is counterproductive and ill-considered.
80 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick on a day when we learn that only 23 additional critical care beds have been delivered nationally since March and publication of the HSE Winter Plan is delayed for a further week. The State must step up, not just individual citizens.
I fear that, while people are doing what is asked of them in responding to COVID-19, the State is not meeting its own targets.
I asked Taoiseach Micheal Martin today what will be done for people out of pocket as a result of foregoing holidays due to Covid-19. Ordinary people should not have to bear the brunt of everything. Aer Lingus and Ryanair will be appearing before the Dáil COVID Committee, which I Chair, next Tuesday.
Keeping pressure on the Government to deliver for Shannon Airport, Shannon Heritage, their staff and the many businesses, both big and small, across the Mid-West that rely on them.
I today asked Taoiseach Michael Martin when Government intends providing guidance to pub/nightclub workers and owners around the proposed reopening date of July 20th. I was informed that a decision will be issued following a Cabinet meeting at 5.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday).
This evening in the Dáil, I questioned the Taoiseach on his plans to re-balance aviation policy and to support Shannon Heritage sites.