Despite the spin the Anglo Irish Promissory deal is a bad one thats clearly Frankfurts way

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady, has said that the
government’s “much-hyped deal on the Anglo Irish promissory note
doubles the cost to the taxpayer of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank and
straddles our children with a massive debit. Despite the spin the
Irish Government without even asking for a write-down has given into
Frankfurts way.”

Cllr Brady said “When you cut through all the spin and hype of the so
called deal on the Anglo Irish promissory note is bad for the
taxpayer. The Government have traded the €28bn promissory note debt
for a sovereign liability to the state of up to €60bn. Rather than
seek a write down in the debt the government has kicked the debt can
further down the road. In doing so, it has cranked up the long-term
costs to the state. This debt will now not only be paid by this
generation of citizens but by our children and our children’s
children, for the next 40 years."

Cllr Brady continued “While it may provide the state with some short
term deficit relief it significantly increases the cost of bailing out
Anglo Irish Bank. Across the country today ordinary people are asking
themselves has the debt been reduced and will it mean less tax hikes
and spending cuts next year and the years after that. The answer to
the first question is an unequivocal ‘no’. The answer to the second
question is not yet clear and will be determined following discussions
with the Troika."

Cllr Brady went onto say "It not surprising that the establishment are
trying to build this up as something that it’s not. Sinn Féin has been
consistent since we first raised the issue of the unfair Promissory
Notes payments. They should not be paid. They are not the people’s
debt, not our debt. Extending an unfair repayment period does make a
debt fair or just. When the first payment on Promissory Notes was paid
in 2011, only Sinn Fein members raised the issue in this House. Fianna
Fail didn’t raise a whimper. The first vote ever in Leinster House on
Promissory Notes was called by Sinn Féin. We have been clear on this
and consistent. Others can defend themselves. The people know where
Sinn Fein has stood on this issue. This is Fianna Fáil’s legacy to the
Irish people. This €48 billion debt was taken on by cabinet in which
Michael Martin sat and did not object, by a government in which
Michael McGrath diligently supported to the very bitter end. Today
however it become as much a Fine Gael and Labour party debt as it is a
Fianna Fail one. It is a debt created by bankers and criminals which
we the people are paying off and after this charade is over it will be
more difficult than n ever for the people to throw this debt off.

Brady concluded “This week the government had a historic opportunity
to secure a real reduction in the cost of the toxic banking debt
foisted on the people by Fianna Fáil. Not only have Fine Gael and
Labour wasted that opportunity, they have increased the cost of that
burden for decades to come.”

Keeping Communities Safe document will lead to a poorer Fire Service in Wicklow

Wicklow Sinn Féin and the Irish Fire and Emergency Services
Association (IFESA) are jointly holding a public meeting to discuss
the fire service in Wicklow and the impact that the new Government
policy will have on Wicklow. The new policy was enacted by Minister
Phil Hogan, T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government on the 7 February, 2013. The new national policy which is
to be implemented immediately is based on the “Keeping Communities
Safe” (KCS) document which is the blueprint for the future direction
of the fire service. The public meeting will take place on Monday 18
February at 8pm in the Royal Hotel, Bray

Cllr Brady said" There is a lot of concern around the direction the
government is taking the fire service. The Keeping Communities Safe
document which is the blueprint for the future direction of the fire
service was officially adopted by the government as policy on 7
February. I had asked that any new proposals should not be implemented
while the reasons for the deaths of two Bray Fire fighters remain
unknown 5 years on, however this unfortunately fell on deaf ears."

Cllr Brady continued "There is a real fear that the new policy which
is contained in the Keeping Communities Safe document will result in
the loss of hundreds of front line fire fighter posts around the
country, with over a 100 posts being lost in Dublin Fire Brigade
alone. These plans if implemented will see fire fighter numbers
reduced and fire stations closed, it will also seriously restrict the
type of emergency the service can respond to, this in turn will
compromise the safety of the public and communities throughout the
country. Both SIPTU and IFESA who represent front-line fire fighters
have serious concerns about these plans and their members are being
balloted for industrial action such are their concerns."

"Wicklow Sinn Féin and  IFESA are holding a public on Monday 18
February in the Royal Hotel, Bray to discuss the impact this new
policy will have on the service in Wicklow. As we already know the
service in Wicklow has serious issues and the fear is this will
compound those problems and lead to greater risk for both the public
and front line fire fighters."

"Speakers on the night will include IFESA National Vice Chairman, Ros
Mac Cobb and Margaret Cahill who has been campaigning for a full time
fire service in Bray since the death of her sister Teresa and her
13-months-old baby boy Chris in a fire in the Oldcourt Estate in Bray
12 years ago."

NAMA confirms it has No properties in Wicklow suitable for Social Housing

Sinn Féin councillor John Brady has called on the Fine Gael/Labour
Government to change their failed social housing policy and to bring
forward a Social Housing Initiative to allow the immediate
commencement of the construction of social housing projects across the
Country to help try resolve the housing crisis in Wicklow. His appeal
to the Government follows confirmation from NAMA that there are no
suitable housing units for social housing on their books in Wicklow.
The Government has said it expects to reach its target of getting
2,000 residential units from NAMA across the state for social housing.

Cllr Brady said "Their is a serious housing crisis in Wicklow and the
current housing policies of Fine Gael/Labour are compounding the
problems for families who are on housing lists with the local
authorities in Wicklow. The Government has adopted a policy of
building no more council houses, this is partially because of the
number of vacant properties across the state on the books of the
National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). However following a question
i had submitted to Wicklow County Council it has been revealed there
are no suitable housing units in Wicklow currently held by NAMA."

Cllr Brady continued "A total of 27 properties, in 3 estates in County
Wicklow were initially identified as potentially suitable for Social
Housing in 2012. 2 of the estates are in Bray and 1 in Greystones.
After further investigation by the Housing Agency, none of the
properties have been deemed suitable for social housing. The estate in
Greystones and one of the Bray estates are no longer available and the
remaining estate in Bray is not suitable due to the size of the
properties."

"There are over 5,000 families on housing waiting lists in Wicklow,
families are now being told that it could be 10-12 years before they
are even considered for a council house. This is completely appalling,
I have always argued that Wicklow is not like other Counties, we don't
have expanses of ghost estates across the County that can be used for
social housing and this has now been proven in the response i have
received. The other Government housing initiatives have also failed
completely. Private landlords have not signed up to the Rental
Accommodation Scheme (RAS) in the numbers they were hoping and only 1
build to lease scheme has progressed in the County, this is mainly
because developers cant secure the funds to progress any major housing
developments. Many people in receipt of rent allowance are now in dire
straits because their allowances have been cut and their landlords are
simply refusing to reduce rents to reflect the reduction, this has
resulted in many families being forced from their rented properties
and desperately looking for a council house."

Cllr Brady went onto say "The current Government policy of not
building any more social housing is a flawed one. Over the last 5-10
years the local authorities in Wicklow have spent millions of Euro
purchasing land for housing, 2 sites alone cost Bray Town Council and
Wicklow County Council over € 9 million, the plans for hundreds of
houses have been drawn up at great expense by the councils in Wicklow,
but unfortunately these plans have been shelved by the Government and
the local authorities have been told that there will be no council
houses built for at least the next 2 years."

Cllr Brady concluded "Over 5,000 families in Wicklow are on the
housing list in Wicklow. It is safe to say their is a housing crisis
and the current Government policy is adding to this crisis. We don't
have the vacant ghost estates like other Counties and the response
from NAMA proves that. The Labour Minister for Housing Jan O'Sullivan
must look at the failed policy of not building council houses and
reverse it. What is required is a Social Housing Initiative, this will
stimulate the building and construction industry, both through funding
additional dwellings and increasing expenditure on repairs and
maintenance. This will help stimulate businesses which supply
construction materials and help to retain jobs in the industry and
also house the thousands of families currently lingering on lengthily
housing lists. The Minister has up until now refused to met public
representatives from Wicklow, I intend on writhing to the Minister and
asking her again to meet a delegation from Wicklow and i will be
requesting special meetings of the councils to take place to address
the housing crisis in Wicklow."

Bray Town Council funding towards a new clubhouse for Bray Boxing Club is welcomed

Bray Sinn Féin Councillors John Brady and Rossa Murray have welcomed
the provision of €40,000 in funding for a new clubhouse for Bray
Boxing club which is the home of Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor.
This funding is on top of the €190,000 that was allocated towards the
new facility in December through the Sports Capital Funding programme.

Speaking after the Bray budget meeting which was held on Tuesday
evening Cllr Brady said "I warmly welcome the provision of €40,000
towards a new clubhouse for Bray Boxing club. There is fantastic
talent in the club and this money coupled with the €190,000 the club
received in December through the sports capital funding will go along
way towards building a state of the art facility for the club which is
home to the Olympic champion Katie Taylor. A site has been identified
in Ballywaltrim for the development of the clubhouse which must now go
through the planning process.  Unfortunately due to an illness in the
family i missed the meeting on Tuesday but i fully support and welcome
the provision of the funding".

Cllr Murray added "The funding from the council coupled with the
provision of a site has to be welcomed. It has been a long process and
for many years the club received no support at council level and only
for the work and continued pressure from my party colleague councillor
John Brady the club would have never got its current facility in the
harbour and probably would be still homeless. It has to be said the
added interest in the club since Katie won gold last year has sped
things along and ultimately helped secure this funding. Whilst i had
to vote against the overall budget on Tuesday because of the Home Tax
and the councils provision of €82,000 to pay Phil Hogan and the
Government the tax for the councils housing stock, i however fully
supported the inclusion of the €40,000 for the Boxing Club".

Cllr Brady concluded "Hopefully things can now move along smoothly and
swiftly to ensure the new clubhouse is constructed to cater for the
club and its new members who have taken up the sport because of the
exploits of their hero Katie Taylor. The allocation of the funding is
little more than the club deserves from the council and is a
recognition of the excellent talent within the club from the boxers to
the coaches".

Brady slams vulgar fake letter claiming to be from Little Bray Residents

Sinn Féin councillor John Brady has reacted angrily to a letter that
has been posted to a number of media outlets in Wicklow and to at
least one school and to other public representatives. The vulgar
letter which claims to be from Little Bray Residents objects to the
flood protection scheme on the Dargle River and claims councillor
Brady is the guest speaker at a protest on 26th January to oppose the
scheme.

Cllr Brady speaking after a tip off from a local school said "On
Monday last i was contacted by the principle of a Bray school who
received a copy of this very vulgar letter in the post. The principle
brought it to my attention because they were so concerned about the
content of it and the fact that my name was attached to it. I
immediately got a copy of the letter and i am truly appalled at its
content and i am very angry that my good name has been included on the
letter which claims to be from the Little Bray Residents. The letter
strongly objects to the ongoing never ending works on the river
Dargle, however it is not signed by anyone or no contact details are
given. The letter goes onto to name other locals in Little Bray and
claims there is a protest on the 26th January to oppose the works and
that i am the guest speaker. Since Monday i have been informed that
the letter has also been posted to some media outlets within Wicklow
and to some of the TD's"

Cllr Brady continued "Firstly it has to be said that i am fully
supportive of the Dargle River flood protection scheme having
campaigned and worked tirelessly for many years to get it to the stage
its at. I have also worked with campaign group SWAP and the community
of Little Bray to ensure that the scheme is done to the highest of
standards which will ensure the people of Little Bray are protected
from the risk of flooding. Secondly i am not aware of any group in
Bray, particularly from the Little Bray area that is campaigning
against the scheme and certainly i have never been asked or indeed nor
would i agree to speak at a protest to stop the works on the Dargle.
There are some concerns from local people about elements of the work
such as noise from trucks at night time, the height of the wall in the
Peoples Park and the width of footpaths. However i am working with the
officials from the council and engineers from SIAC to have these
issues addressed"

Cllr Brady went onto say "I have spoken to many constituents, friends,
family and supporters from the Dargle area who are also puzzled by
this bizarre letter and they are also unaware of its origin and they
are also appalled at its vulgar content and certainly don't agree with
its content. It is quite clear that whoever was behind this letter
does not enjoy the support of the community which it claims to come
from, nor does it have any support from me or Sinn Féin and i totally
disassociate myself from it".

Cllr Brady concluded "I am taking the sending out of this letter with
my name on it very serious. It appears that someone for some reason,
whether its politically motivated or not is trying to bring my good
name into disrepute. They have gone to some effort typing out this
letter, handwriting envelopes and posting out these letters, however
they are very cowardly as they would not put their name to it. I have
taken legal advice on the matter and i will get to the bottom of who
sent these out and i urge anyone, any group or organisation who may
have received one of these letters to please contact myself and to
ignore the fabricated non existent protest that is advertised for the
26th January"

Demolition of Dawson's Amusement eyesore begins on Bray Seafront

Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the commencement of work on the Seafront in Bray to demolish the old unused Dawsons Amusements which is located at the Bray Head end of the prom. In 2012 Bray Town Council gave permission for the demolition of  the unsightly building and the instillation of 130 surface carparking places.

Speaking after the commencement of works on site Cllr Brady said "I must welcome the fact that over the next few weeks we will see the old Dawsons Amusements building removed from the landscape. The buildings was erected in the 1980's and it received enormous amounts of controversy because of its appearance and its proximity to Bray Head. In 2012 Bray Town Council gave the go ahead to demolish the unsightly building and to construct a new surface carpark. This week has seen the contractors move on site and the process of stripping the old building has begun".

Cllr Brady continued "Once the eyesore is removed it will visually enhance the area. Other plans that had been in place to erect apartments on site have been shelved and any long term plans to redevelop the area must go through the planning process and be respectful of the location. For now however there are plans in place to enhance the area and to make it vibrant again and this has started with the demolition of the old amusements"

Cllr Brady concluded "Whilst everyone will be happy to see the back of the unsightly structure, one must bare in mind the amount of employment it did provide over the years particularly to young students during the summer months. This really is the end of an era for many reasons".

Wicklow County Council Budget pushed through by Hypocrites in Fianna Fáil, Labour and Fine Gael

Wicklow County Councils annual budget was pushed through at Mondays
council meeting, but it has been described by Sinn Féin County
Councillors John Brady and John Snell as hypocritical, unfair and
doing the Governments dirty work of introducing unfair stealth taxes.
After a lengthily debate the budget was pushed through by Fianna Fáil,
Labour and Fine Gael with Sinn Féin opposing it.

Speaking after the meeting Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady said
"The Wicklow County Council budget meeting which was held on Monday
last was nothing short of a joke. We seen the established party's of
Fianna Fáil, Labour and Fine Gael circle the wagons to protect their
own lavish expenses whilst agreeing a budget which cuts from frontline
services and does the Governments dirty work of paving the way for the
introduction of the Home tax and Domestic water Charges."

Cllr Brady continued "Myself and my party colleague John Snell went
into the budget meeting with the intention of protecting frontline
services, funding to community groups and ring fencing funding for
economic development and at the same time tackling the lavish expenses
some of the select Councillors are given. Unfortunately what we
witnessed at the budget meeting was the circling of the wagons by the
establishment parties on the council. Sinn Féin put forward an
alternative budget proposal that would have seen cuts of 20% to the
lavish expenses paid to some Councillors, this proposal included cuts
to the Chairpersons allowance which is €37,918.60 a year and including
his other expenses and allowances results in a total of €60,628 a year
or €1,165.92 a week. We also proposed further cuts of 20% to the
€6,564 paid to the vice chair of the council which is given on top of
his other payments, a cut of 20% which is given to the 5 chairs of the
Strategic Policy Committees (SPC) which is €1,500 per meeting and
further cuts to the Junket fund which contains over €100,000."

Cllr John Snell went onto say "The cuts that Sinn Féin proposed would
account for some of the funding that was needed to balance the books
it would have shown leadership and not to be hypocritical by imposing
cuts whist protecting their own lavish expenses. Unfortunately after a
lengthily debate on the Sinn Féin proposal and every excuse given not
to cut their expenses the Sinn Féin proposal was voted down by the
majority of Councillors."

Cllr Brady stated "The budget that was adopted by Labour, Fianna Fáil
and Fine Gael is an attack on frontline services and results in
funding being cut from the maintenance of local authority housing, the
fire-service, Economic and Development promotion, and Beeches to name
a few areas. The passing of the budget also paves the way for the
introduction of domestic water charges with €171,000 provided for
domestic water meter surveying staff. The budget also makes provision
for the unjust Home tax which i stated at the meeting would be final
nail in the coffin of many families who are already on the breadline
living with distressed mortgages and in negative equity and coupled
with domestic water charges would compound the difficulties families
are enduring. The County Manager Eddie Sheehy also stated that there
was no provision in the budget for the payment of property tax on
local authority houses even though the government said that local
authorities will have to pay for the tax for local authority
dwellings, he informed the meeting the council will now have to carry
out an evaluation exercise on local authority houses to calculate what
they owe starting from 1 July and he refused to rule out rent
increases to those in council houses."

Cllr Brady concluded "The budget which was adopted by the County
Council and rejected by Sinn Féin is unjust and unfair and has been
imposed on the people of Wicklow by hypocrites who are only too
willing to do the governments dirty work whilst protecting their own
outrageous and lavish expenses."