Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has said that some leading supermarkets are cashing in on the Six Nations by running irresponsible advertising encouraging customers to buy large volumes of cheap alcohol for the rugby tournament.
“I was annoyed, but not surprised, to see full page ads running in weekend newspapers advertising the sale of cheap alcohol to coincide with the Six Nations. Not only did one ad for a major supermarket encourage the public to buy 24 cans of beer for €24, it also urged customers to start drinking in time for the rugby kick-off time at 3pm.
“This sort of irresponsible advertising proves yet again that self-regulation on the sale of alcohol is not working. It’s my view that major supermarkets and other discount stores are failing to take account of the impact of their actions when they peddle cheap alcohol as a means of getting people through their doors.
“This is made all the more clear when a national sporting event, which should be an occasion of pride, is used as an opportunity to push the sale of cheap alcohol. This just further encourages a culture of binge drinking.
“The damage that alcohol inflicts on society cannot be underestimated. According to the Department of Health, the cost to Irish society of alcohol related problems is currently in excess of €3.5 billion a year. It’s estimated that alcohol plays a role in more than 50% of all suicides here. Tackling this problem is one of the biggest challenges facing us today, from a health, societal and economic point of view.
“Introducing sensible and fair regulations on the sale of alcohol will be a major step forward. Minister of State at the Department of Health, Roisin Shorthall, is drafting legislation that will directly address the issue. I am hopeful that it will include a ban on below cost selling, restrictions on advertising multi-pack offers and restrictions on price point advertising. Forcing supermarkets and other stores to have a separate entrance point for their off-licence sales would also be a progressive move.
“Self-regulation on the sale of alcohol is failing us. I look forward to the publication of the new legislation, which should help us get a handle on this problem in a meaningful and constructive way.”
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Time for FF to say how they would increase women TDs
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Monday) called on Fianna Fáil to clarify how it proposes to increase the number of female politicians in our national parliament. Deputy Doherty’s comments come after a motion to introduce gender quotas was defeated at the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.
“Considering Fianna Fáil doesn’t have a single female TD in the Dáil, I would have thought that the Party would be particularly keen to boost the number of women politicians. But apparently not. I was shocked to learn that a motion calling for gender quotas to be introduced was defeated by Fianna Fáil members at the weekend.
“As one of the few female TDs in the Dáil, I recognise the need to address the gender imbalance in Leinster House. Our national parliament should be representative of society. This is something the Government is acutely aware of, and that’s why we have introduced progressive legislation to directly address this issue.
“The Electoral Amendment Bill will introduce gender quotas, to ensure each party has 30% of women and 30% of men as candidates. Any party that fails to comply will face a cut in State funding. This legislation is a significant step forward in making our national parliament a more representative, modern force for change.
“Increasing the number of female politicians in the Dáil will benefit society as a whole. For too long Leinster House has been a closed environment for a closeted few; Fine Gael wants to encourage men and women from all sectors to enter public life and make a contribution. Indeed, I would argue that if more women had been present, different choices may have been made on issues of national importance in recent years.
“Fianna Fáil failed to address this problem in Government; now it seems they can’t even agree on a credible approach in Opposition.”
“Considering Fianna Fáil doesn’t have a single female TD in the Dáil, I would have thought that the Party would be particularly keen to boost the number of women politicians. But apparently not. I was shocked to learn that a motion calling for gender quotas to be introduced was defeated by Fianna Fáil members at the weekend.
“As one of the few female TDs in the Dáil, I recognise the need to address the gender imbalance in Leinster House. Our national parliament should be representative of society. This is something the Government is acutely aware of, and that’s why we have introduced progressive legislation to directly address this issue.
“The Electoral Amendment Bill will introduce gender quotas, to ensure each party has 30% of women and 30% of men as candidates. Any party that fails to comply will face a cut in State funding. This legislation is a significant step forward in making our national parliament a more representative, modern force for change.
“Increasing the number of female politicians in the Dáil will benefit society as a whole. For too long Leinster House has been a closed environment for a closeted few; Fine Gael wants to encourage men and women from all sectors to enter public life and make a contribution. Indeed, I would argue that if more women had been present, different choices may have been made on issues of national importance in recent years.
“Fianna Fáil failed to address this problem in Government; now it seems they can’t even agree on a credible approach in Opposition.”
Friday, March 02, 2012
Huge hurdles still to cross on gender pay gap
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Friday) said that the European Commission study which shows that Irish women are earning 17% less than men proves there are still huge hurdles to cross when it comes to addressing the gender pay gap.
“It didn’t come as a huge surprise to me to learn that Irish women continue to earn considerably less than men. While there has been progress in recent years, we still have a long way to go when it comes to equality in the workplace.
“As a female TD, while I may earn the same as my male colleagues, I also work in an environment that is grossly unequal. Women are severely underrepresented in the Dáil. The nature of our political system is extremely difficult to juggle with having a family, and female Oireachtas members do not receive maternity leave.
“The Government is attempting to address the inequality within our national parliament through the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will enforce gender quotas for candidates in the next general election. While this will go some way to address an aspect of the inequality associated with public life, today’s European Commission survey clearly shows that significant progress is needed to address the inequality that persists within the private sector.
“I believe we need to look as a society at how we support women in the workplace. Appropriate maternity cover and childcare supports are essential. But I think a greater cultural shift is also needed; as women must challenge casual sexism, rather than choosing to ignore it. We must also ensure we are properly valued in the workplace; there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that in many cases women are paid less, simply because they do not ask for more.
“Despite the fact that girls perform better in school and at college than their male counterparts, a gaping pay difference persists in the workplace. However, it is somewhat encouraging to see that the gap is smaller for younger women, which indicates that we are moving in the right direction.
“Discrimination must not be tolerated. Greater income transparency within companies could help to address pay gaps. But in reality, legislation and workplace standards can only achieve so much. We must demand equality in attitudes and behaviour from each other if we are truly to become a progressive and just society.”
“It didn’t come as a huge surprise to me to learn that Irish women continue to earn considerably less than men. While there has been progress in recent years, we still have a long way to go when it comes to equality in the workplace.
“As a female TD, while I may earn the same as my male colleagues, I also work in an environment that is grossly unequal. Women are severely underrepresented in the Dáil. The nature of our political system is extremely difficult to juggle with having a family, and female Oireachtas members do not receive maternity leave.
“The Government is attempting to address the inequality within our national parliament through the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will enforce gender quotas for candidates in the next general election. While this will go some way to address an aspect of the inequality associated with public life, today’s European Commission survey clearly shows that significant progress is needed to address the inequality that persists within the private sector.
“I believe we need to look as a society at how we support women in the workplace. Appropriate maternity cover and childcare supports are essential. But I think a greater cultural shift is also needed; as women must challenge casual sexism, rather than choosing to ignore it. We must also ensure we are properly valued in the workplace; there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that in many cases women are paid less, simply because they do not ask for more.
“Despite the fact that girls perform better in school and at college than their male counterparts, a gaping pay difference persists in the workplace. However, it is somewhat encouraging to see that the gap is smaller for younger women, which indicates that we are moving in the right direction.
“Discrimination must not be tolerated. Greater income transparency within companies could help to address pay gaps. But in reality, legislation and workplace standards can only achieve so much. We must demand equality in attitudes and behaviour from each other if we are truly to become a progressive and just society.”
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Make your views known on septic tank standards
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, is encouraging Co. Meath householders and interested members of the public to make their views known on the draft standards for septic tanks, which have been published today (Thursday) by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan. Public submissions will be accepted for the next four weeks before the standards are finalised.
“The Government wants to listen to the views and concerns of the public, when drawing up a finalised list of standards for septic tanks. The standards will be used as the basis of a new inspection regime, which will ensure our groundwater supplies are protected.
“The Opposition has been engaging in a huge amount of rabble rousing and scaremongering in recent months in relation to the new septic tank inspection regime. Rather than unnecessarily scaring people, it’s much more constructive to look at the fact; there will be no inspection fee, registration charges are being kept at an absolute minimum of just €5 for those who register in the first three months, and the Minister has said he will consider providing financial support to those who need major work carried out on their system.
“The draft standards set out the responsibilities of septic tanks owners. For example, you need to know where your tank is located and you should visually examine it once a year. You also need to ensure only domestic waste water is treated in your tank and that it only discharges from appropriate points.
“We need these standards, not only to comply with our European obligations and avoid huge fines, but more importantly to safeguard our groundwater supplies. Ensuring high water quality will also help to attract inward investment from sectors such as pharmaceuticals and ICT.
“This Government is taking a practical and pragmatic approach to this issue; unlike Fianna Fáil who consistently ignored it for political reasons and increased our risk of being imposed with large fines.
“So if you are interested in this issue, now is the time to make your views known. Submissions can be made by post or online over the next four weeks. The Minister will consider these submissions, before a final set of standards are drawn up. The Environmental Protection Agency is developing a National Inspection Plan for local authorities, with inspections expected to begin next year.”
“The Government wants to listen to the views and concerns of the public, when drawing up a finalised list of standards for septic tanks. The standards will be used as the basis of a new inspection regime, which will ensure our groundwater supplies are protected.
“The Opposition has been engaging in a huge amount of rabble rousing and scaremongering in recent months in relation to the new septic tank inspection regime. Rather than unnecessarily scaring people, it’s much more constructive to look at the fact; there will be no inspection fee, registration charges are being kept at an absolute minimum of just €5 for those who register in the first three months, and the Minister has said he will consider providing financial support to those who need major work carried out on their system.
“The draft standards set out the responsibilities of septic tanks owners. For example, you need to know where your tank is located and you should visually examine it once a year. You also need to ensure only domestic waste water is treated in your tank and that it only discharges from appropriate points.
“We need these standards, not only to comply with our European obligations and avoid huge fines, but more importantly to safeguard our groundwater supplies. Ensuring high water quality will also help to attract inward investment from sectors such as pharmaceuticals and ICT.
“This Government is taking a practical and pragmatic approach to this issue; unlike Fianna Fáil who consistently ignored it for political reasons and increased our risk of being imposed with large fines.
“So if you are interested in this issue, now is the time to make your views known. Submissions can be made by post or online over the next four weeks. The Minister will consider these submissions, before a final set of standards are drawn up. The Environmental Protection Agency is developing a National Inspection Plan for local authorities, with inspections expected to begin next year.”
Local Heroes Making an Impact
Sean Nolan, Associate Director, of Amárach Research, which carried out part of the research on Local Heroes, commented that the campaign is "hitting the nail on the head in terms of matching the public's mood."
More importantly, that goodwill is having a positive impact on behaviour. In an online survey conducted by RTÉ Audience Research, seven people in ten, who had come in contact with the campaign, said they intend to shop locally more often as a result. Local Heroes provides communities with the inspiration and start-up material needed to support local jobs. For more information about how to get your community involved log on to www.rte.ie/localheroes
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Almost €1 million approved to improve homes of elderly and disabled in Meath
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the news that almost €1 million has been approved for Meath County Council to improve or adapt the homes of older people and people with a disability. Deputy Doherty said that the improvements will make a huge difference to those who benefit from the grant aid.
“This funding is being made available as part of an overall national allocation of €67.75 million by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan. It is specifically aimed at making improvements to the homes of elderly people or those with a disability.
“This will be very welcome for many residents in Meath, who have been badly in need of some small remedial or improvement works that will make a big difference to their daily lives. I think the most positive aspect of this funding is that it allows people to remain in their own homes, rather than being forced to move into long term residential care.
“I also find it very encouraging that, despite our economic difficulties, the Government has chosen to prioritise these grants. The works carried out under the grants will also provide a welcome boost to the local economy in Meath, by boosting activity among suppliers and tradespeople.
“Allowing people to live independently in the community is one of the central planks of the Government’s new Housing Strategy for People with a Disability. It sets out a framework for the delivery of housing to people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy, to help them stay in their own homes.
“The grants under this scheme will allow for a range of works to be carried out. Mobility Aid Grants, of up to €6,000, can be used to install facilities such as stairlifts. Up to €10,500 can be granted for older people who need to have repairs or improvements carried out in their homes, while up to €30,000 can be secured for improvement works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability.”
“This funding is being made available as part of an overall national allocation of €67.75 million by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan. It is specifically aimed at making improvements to the homes of elderly people or those with a disability.
“This will be very welcome for many residents in Meath, who have been badly in need of some small remedial or improvement works that will make a big difference to their daily lives. I think the most positive aspect of this funding is that it allows people to remain in their own homes, rather than being forced to move into long term residential care.
“I also find it very encouraging that, despite our economic difficulties, the Government has chosen to prioritise these grants. The works carried out under the grants will also provide a welcome boost to the local economy in Meath, by boosting activity among suppliers and tradespeople.
“Allowing people to live independently in the community is one of the central planks of the Government’s new Housing Strategy for People with a Disability. It sets out a framework for the delivery of housing to people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy, to help them stay in their own homes.
“The grants under this scheme will allow for a range of works to be carried out. Mobility Aid Grants, of up to €6,000, can be used to install facilities such as stairlifts. Up to €10,500 can be granted for older people who need to have repairs or improvements carried out in their homes, while up to €30,000 can be secured for improvement works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability.”
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
EU Treaty will help ensure economic recovery continues
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Tuesday) said that ratifying the European Stability Treaty through a referendum will help to ensure Ireland continues on the road to economic recovery. Deputy Doherty was speaking after the Government confirmed that a referendum will be held, following advice from the Attorney General.
“The Irish people will be asked to ratify the European Stability Treaty through a referendum later this year. By doing so, we will be sending out a clear message that Ireland is determined to continue on the road to economic recovery.
“We have made considerable progress over the last year, with a major improvement in international confidence in the Irish economy. We now need to build on this progress by implementing a set of rules that will help to stabilise the Eurozone and ensure the mistakes of the past will never be allowed to happen again.
“Ratifying the Treaty is a key step to full economic recovery. We have restructured the banking sector and re-negotiated the EU/IMF deal. The Government has developed a comprehensive jobs strategy which tackles the issues facing both the domestic and export sectors. This approach, and the improvement in sentiment to Ireland since the Government took office, is already bearing fruit, with thousands of jobs announced in recent weeks.
“Ireland has benefitted hugely by being a small, open economy, at the heart of the Eurozone. The Treaty gives the Irish people the opportunity to reinforce their commitment to remaining an integral part of the single currency.
“This is about economic recovery and stability. Before any discussions had begun on the Treaty, the Government was committed to enacting stronger fiscal rules to ensure our domestic deficit is never allowed to spiral out of control again.
“The Government is taking the right steps to return our economy to a sustainable level of growth. Ratifying the European Stability Treaty will ensure this progress is not put in jeopardy.”
“The Irish people will be asked to ratify the European Stability Treaty through a referendum later this year. By doing so, we will be sending out a clear message that Ireland is determined to continue on the road to economic recovery.
“We have made considerable progress over the last year, with a major improvement in international confidence in the Irish economy. We now need to build on this progress by implementing a set of rules that will help to stabilise the Eurozone and ensure the mistakes of the past will never be allowed to happen again.
“Ratifying the Treaty is a key step to full economic recovery. We have restructured the banking sector and re-negotiated the EU/IMF deal. The Government has developed a comprehensive jobs strategy which tackles the issues facing both the domestic and export sectors. This approach, and the improvement in sentiment to Ireland since the Government took office, is already bearing fruit, with thousands of jobs announced in recent weeks.
“Ireland has benefitted hugely by being a small, open economy, at the heart of the Eurozone. The Treaty gives the Irish people the opportunity to reinforce their commitment to remaining an integral part of the single currency.
“This is about economic recovery and stability. Before any discussions had begun on the Treaty, the Government was committed to enacting stronger fiscal rules to ensure our domestic deficit is never allowed to spiral out of control again.
“The Government is taking the right steps to return our economy to a sustainable level of growth. Ratifying the European Stability Treaty will ensure this progress is not put in jeopardy.”
Monday, February 27, 2012
Work continues on Navan rail link – Doherty & English
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, and Meath West Deputy, Damien English, have welcomed confirmation from the National Transport Authority (NTA) that work is progressing on the design and planning of the rail line extension from Pace to Navan. The NTA says the project has been postponed, not cancelled, and remains part of the overall draft Transport Strategy for the region.
Deputy Doherty said: ‘It was very disappointing for many residents of Co. Meath that the planned rail extension to Navan had to be delayed under the Government’s Capital Spending Plan, due to the severely reduced budgets each department must function under. However it is very encouraging to receive confirmation from the NTA that Irish Rail has been instructed to complete the design and planning work up to the preparation of a draft railway order’.
“This project has been suspended, it hasn’t been scrapped. This is a very important distinction. I am hopeful that as the economy recovers, and Exchequer funding improves, the Navan rail link can become a reality.”
Deputy English said: ‘I have been pursuing this project for a number of years now, and I am glad to receive reassurance from the NTA that it remains on the agenda. The Government had no choice but to scale back infrastructure projects over the next couple of years, due to the huge gap in spending that needs to be narrowed. But the Navan rail link remains a longer term objective’.
“The rail link will make a massive difference to the lives of thousands of people in Navan and its environs. The NTA is currently preparing guidance documents for Meath County Council to make sure the identified rail corridor remains free from development. This will ensure that the project will be able to progress without delay when funding becomes available.”
Deputy Doherty said: ‘It was very disappointing for many residents of Co. Meath that the planned rail extension to Navan had to be delayed under the Government’s Capital Spending Plan, due to the severely reduced budgets each department must function under. However it is very encouraging to receive confirmation from the NTA that Irish Rail has been instructed to complete the design and planning work up to the preparation of a draft railway order’.
“This project has been suspended, it hasn’t been scrapped. This is a very important distinction. I am hopeful that as the economy recovers, and Exchequer funding improves, the Navan rail link can become a reality.”
Deputy English said: ‘I have been pursuing this project for a number of years now, and I am glad to receive reassurance from the NTA that it remains on the agenda. The Government had no choice but to scale back infrastructure projects over the next couple of years, due to the huge gap in spending that needs to be narrowed. But the Navan rail link remains a longer term objective’.
“The rail link will make a massive difference to the lives of thousands of people in Navan and its environs. The NTA is currently preparing guidance documents for Meath County Council to make sure the identified rail corridor remains free from development. This will ensure that the project will be able to progress without delay when funding becomes available.”
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)