Europe 2014

I am pleased to confirm that, following encouragement from some Fianna Fail members and Councillors across Dublin, I will seek a nomination from Fianna Fail to contest the 2014 European Election in the Dublin constituency.  I am delighted to have the backing of Fianna Fail members and elected City and County Councillors from the four Dublin Local Authority areas.

This is a very big decision for me and my family. It is both a huge opportunity and challenge. I take great encouragement and strength from the fact that some Fianna Fail members and Councillors are supporting my candidacy and I thank them for putting their trust and faith in me.

Like a lot of people in the 80’s and for far too many again today I had to emigrate. Although I grew-up in a political home and was involved in politics from a young age I spent many years working in Europe and new York before returning to Ireland and first seeking election in 2004. When I first stood for public office, I did so because I wanted to use politics to make a positive contribution to my community and my city.

For the past 10 years I have dedicated myself to working fulltime for my constituents on Dublin City Council. I have campaigned for real political reform, housing, value for money for public services, supports for small businesses, education, equality and the environment. Most of that time I have been on the opposition benches but it has not stopped me calling the parties controlling Dublin City Council and indeed our national government to account on issues such as water metering, property tax and removing access to resources for the disabled.

The European Union plays an increasingly important role in Irish society in terms of legislation and structural funding. Over the next five years the European Parliament will pass laws that will affect the lives of Dubliners and approve budgets that can make a real difference to the lives of Dubliners. If selected as a candidate and elected as an MEP, I will use my experience as a public representative, as a campaigner and as an experienced International business person to fight for the best outcomes for Dublin. If successful, I will act as a conduit between the people of Dublin and the European parliament.

Dublin needs an MEP who is able to work effectively with other MEPs and the influential committee system

to ensure that the needs of our city are recognised and catered for. Dublin needs an MEP that will help open doors and facilitate positive change for Irish interest groups. Dublin needs an MEP that will make the European parliament more relevant to its people. I believe that I am the person for the job and that is why I am seeking Fianna Fail’s nomination to contest the European Election in May 2014.  Mary

Irish Water

At a special meeting of Dublin City Council in December 2013, Councillors voiced strong criticism of the arrangements to transfer water services from DCC to the super quango, Irish Water. I thank City Councillors from all parties and none for voting for the motion I, as leader of the Fianna Fail group proposed, as follows:
"The elected members of Dublin City Council are extremely concerned about the transition of water services from DCC to Irish Water. Based on the report from the Dublin City Manager we believe this is a very bad deal with considerable risk for Dublin City. We call on the Minister for the Environment to meet with a cross party delegation of Councillors and the Manager to address the issues raised in the Managers report before the services are transitioned."
The Minister and Irish Water treated the elected representatives of the people of Dublin and the staff of Dublin City Council with contempt by refusing to attend the special meeting. The Minister railroaded legislation through the houses of parliament before Christmas which will directly impact Dublin cities commercial competitiveness. The Minister’s plan will not only lead to new water charges for homeowners in the city but also to increased commercial water charges for businesses.  Through his legislation the Minister is dictating the disposal of more than €2billion worth of assets, removing democratic input into the future provision of services, saddling Dublin City Council with €330million pension liability and providing no guarantee that water services will not be sold-off and/or privatised in the future. The City Manager presented a damning report to Councillors that highlighted his serious concerns about the following arrangements:
· Dublin City Commercial Water charges will increase and Dublin City Council will not be able to compensate businesses for the increase

· Dublin City Council is to transfer €2billion of assets without any compensation

· Dublin City Council is to retain €330million pension liability for staff who transfer to Irish Water

· Dublin City Council is unable to recoup the full costs incurred under the Service Level Agreement

· Councillors will have no role in agreeing annual service plans for water services in their area

· The Service Level Agreement is still not agreed, 11 days before the transfer

· For the next 12 years there is no get out option in the Service Level Agreement, no matter how unfavourable it is for DCC

The provision of secure and reliable water supply is critical to the city economy. The Minister’s “plan” is bad news for Dublin and just another blow to Dublin from the Minister.  This whole plan exposes the lie that is Minister Hogan’s promise to “put people first” in reforming local government. In reality the Minister is stripping the people of valuable assets, burdening them with excessive costs, removing from them any democratic in-put into future decisions and preparing water services to be potentially sold-off.  Mary

Disability Grants Cuts

This week Minister Jan O’Sullivan was on the air-waves brazenly defending the Governments latest attack on the sick and elderly by saying she is increasing funding for grants to help the elderly and disabled. This is simply not the case. In Dublin funding for these grants has been cut by 33% over the past year. In 2013 Dublin City Council had a budget of €8.8million in 2014 we are facing a cut of €3.2million leaving only €5.6million.  The Ministers latest decision to change the qualifying criteria now means that not only will there be less money for these grants it will be much more difficult for those who need the funding to access it.   I have consistently campaigned for more funding for these grants because they are really important for elderly and sick people. They can mean the difference between being stuck in hospital or a nursing home or coming home. They allow many elderly people to continue to live independently and with dignity in their own homes. Last summer Dublin City Council had to close the scheme and stop accepting grants because it had ran out of funding. Going into 2014 Dublin City Council has a massive backlog of applications, new applications being made every day and less funding from the Government to meet demand.
The Governments attempt to try to disguise the level of demand by amending the qualification criteria is cynical. The fact that the minister is defending her changes to the scheme and at the same time pretending that there is increased funding is unacceptable. The minister has either been mis-informed or is deliberately misleading people. I would call on the Minister to examine in greater detail funding for these important grants and make available adequate funding to meet demand.  Mary

Ashtown Pelletstown Local Area Plan

At the December 2014 monthly meeting Dublin City Council  the Ashtown Pelletstown Local Area Plan was approved by the elected representatives and it came into effect on 30th December 2012. A final copy of the Ashtown/Pelletstown Local Area Plan is available to view/download here.  Mary

Bad Water deal for Dublin

At a special meeting of Dublin City Council yesterday evening myself and my Fianna Fail colleagues voiced strong concerns over the arrangements to transfer water services from DCC to the super quango, Irish Water.  This is a bad deal that will shortchange Dubliners.

I’d like to thank City Councillors for voting for the motion I proposed with the support of the leader of the Labour Group Cllr Dermot Lacey and Cllr Gerry Breen Fine Geal and the Fianna Fail group. The motion reads as follows:

The elected members of Dublin City Council are extremely concerned about the transition of water services from DCC to Irish Water. Based on the report from the Dublin City Manager we believe this is a very bad deal with considerable risk for Dublin City. We call on the Minister for the Environment to meet with a cross party delegation of Councillors and the Manager to address the issues raised in the Managers report before the services are transitioned.

The Minister and Irish Water have treated the elected representatives of the people of Dublin and the staff of Dublin City Council with contempt by refusing to attend this evenings meeting.

The Minister is railroading legislation through the houses of parliament this week which will directly impact Dublin cities commercial competitiveness. The Minister’s plan will not only lead to new water charges for homeowners in the city but also to increased commercial water charges for businesses.

Through his legislation the Minister is dictating the disposal of more than €2billion worth of assets, removing democratic input into the future provision of services, saddling Dublin City Council with €330million pension liability and providing no guarantee that water services will not be sold-off and/or privatised in the future.

The City Manager presented a damning report to Councillors that highlighted his serious concerns about the following arrangements:

· Dublin City Commercial Water charges will increase and Dublin City Council will not be able to compensate businesses for the increase

· Dublin City Council is to transfer €2billion of assets without any compensation

· Dublin City Council is to retain €330million pension liability for staff who transfer to Irish Water

· Dublin City Council is unable to recoup the full costs incurred under the Service Level Agreement

· Councillors will have no role in agreeing annual service plans for water services in their area

· The Service Level Agreement is still not agreed, 11 days before the transfer

· For the next 12 years there is no get out option in the Service Level Agreement, no matter how unfavourable it is for DCC

The provision of secure and reliable water supply is critical to the city economy. The Minister’s “plan” is bad news for Dublin. The Minister has so little confidence in his own plan neither he nor his staff attended this evenings meeting to defend it.

This whole plan exposes the lie that is Minister Hogan’s promise to “put people first” in reforming local government. In reality the Minister is stripping the people of valuable assets, burdening them with excessive costs, removing from them any democratic in-put into future decisions and preparing water services to be potentially sold-off.  Mary