Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady has said that any further closures of post offices would be a devastating blow for communities right across the State.
Teachta Brady said:
“Post offices are the life and soul of rural villages and towns across the State. Our post office network is the largest retail network in the country with 1,150 offices employing 3,700 people.
“Post offices are not only vital in the services that they provide but also, as a community hub. They provide a social dimension which is crucial to so many people particularly, our older citizens in rural areas.
“The Director of Retail Operations at An Post has said that 700 post offices in the State are not sustainable. If this is in fact the case then our job is to make these post offices sustainable because without a post office many communities will no longer remain sustainable themselves.
“The Government have been all talk and no action when it comes to our post offices. The Postmaster Union have already outlined their vision for the post office network by the extension of State services with increased financial services, additional social protection services, driver licences and motor tax payments.
“These are all viable options for our post offices and would be welcome by both postmasters and customers alike. Our post offices must be invested in and they must be protected
“The Government must make post offices sustainable and take this opportunity now to preserve this invaluable service into the future.”
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow john.brady@oireachtas.ie
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Government must take real action to meet climate change targets - John Brady TD
Speaking after a Stop Climate Chaos event earlier today, Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady has said that we must be more proactive when it comes to climate change.Teachta Brady said:
“I was delighted to meet with constituents at today’s event and to listen to their views on global warming and climate change.
“We have seen the impact of climate change in our own towns and villages with flooding and particularly, flooding in areas where it has never occurred before.
“While, it is welcome that the Government have signed up to the Paris deal this is not enough, and the Government need to take action if we are to reach the targets set out.
“The issues discussed today are manageable for the Government to achieve. They call on a fair subsidy to make solar electricity affordable for homes and businesses. They focus on renewable forms of energy as oppose to over reliance on fossil fuels which will not last forever. They urge the Government to invest in clean public transport; any privatisation agenda for public transport will not deliver this.
“Climate change is not something coming in the future, it is here. The Government need to wake up to the impacts it is already having. We all have a role to play on tackling climate change and doing our bit for our environment. I commend the efforts of everyone at today’s event.”
“I was delighted to meet with constituents at today’s event and to listen to their views on global warming and climate change.
“We have seen the impact of climate change in our own towns and villages with flooding and particularly, flooding in areas where it has never occurred before.
“While, it is welcome that the Government have signed up to the Paris deal this is not enough, and the Government need to take action if we are to reach the targets set out.
“The issues discussed today are manageable for the Government to achieve. They call on a fair subsidy to make solar electricity affordable for homes and businesses. They focus on renewable forms of energy as oppose to over reliance on fossil fuels which will not last forever. They urge the Government to invest in clean public transport; any privatisation agenda for public transport will not deliver this.
“Climate change is not something coming in the future, it is here. The Government need to wake up to the impacts it is already having. We all have a role to play on tackling climate change and doing our bit for our environment. I commend the efforts of everyone at today’s event.”
Saturday, 12 November 2016
John Brady TD urges young people to register to vote today
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has urged young people to take a stand against the establishment and register to vote today.
Teachta Brady said:
"The very first people to bear the brunt of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's austerity agenda was our young people particularly, those aged under 26.
"Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have enshrined age discrimination into the Social Welfare system with those aged under 26 in receipt of reduced Jobseekers payments. This discrimination has been in place since 2009 when first introduced by Fianna Fáil.
"These cuts were a direct cause of the hundreds of thousands of young people that were forced to leave their families and their communities and emigrate.
"Budget 2017 will mean that a person aged 18-24 will now struggle on €102.70 as oppose to €100 and a person aged 25 will now struggle on €147.80 as oppose to €144. A tiny increase for young Jobseekers while every other social welfare recipient will receive €5.
"Voting is the one opportunity we have to make a change. I urge young people to take a stand, to fight back against discrimination and unfairness and to take on the establishment of this state.
"Sinn Féin cannot do this on our own. It is time to rise up and make your voice heard."
Teachta Brady said:
"The very first people to bear the brunt of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's austerity agenda was our young people particularly, those aged under 26.
"Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have enshrined age discrimination into the Social Welfare system with those aged under 26 in receipt of reduced Jobseekers payments. This discrimination has been in place since 2009 when first introduced by Fianna Fáil.
"These cuts were a direct cause of the hundreds of thousands of young people that were forced to leave their families and their communities and emigrate.
"Budget 2017 will mean that a person aged 18-24 will now struggle on €102.70 as oppose to €100 and a person aged 25 will now struggle on €147.80 as oppose to €144. A tiny increase for young Jobseekers while every other social welfare recipient will receive €5.
"Voting is the one opportunity we have to make a change. I urge young people to take a stand, to fight back against discrimination and unfairness and to take on the establishment of this state.
"Sinn Féin cannot do this on our own. It is time to rise up and make your voice heard."
Thursday, 10 November 2016
Sinn Féin’s John Brady votes against pay rise for politicians
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady TD has today voted not to accept the pay increase which will increase TDs’ pay to €92,672.
Deputy Brady is the only Wicklow/East Carlow TD to do decline this pay rise.
Teachta Brady said:
“I, along with my colleagues in Sinn Féin committed from the outset that we would not, under any circumstances, take this pay increase and will instead, return it to the Exchequer.
“There is no TD in Leinster House that deserves a pay rise of any kind. In fact, the current pay rates for elected representatives are excessive and obscene.
“My Fine Gael constituency colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, has a basic take-home pay of €157,540 a year. My Fianna Fáil colleague Deputy Pat Casey has a basic take home pay of €87,258 a year with Deputy Andrew Doyle, as a Minister for State, taking home €121,639 a year. My Independent colleague, Deputy Stephen Donnelly has a basic take home pay of €87,258 a year.
“Today, in the Dáil I voted not to take the pay rise however, all other Wicklow/East Carlow TDs, with the unfortunate exception of Deputy Donnelly who was not present for the vote, voted for a pay rise.
“In my mind, without any pay rise, the current rates of take home pay for all of my colleagues are far too high already.
“On a number of occasions in the past Dáil, Sinn Féin tabled legislation in the House to reform those payments substantially. Other parties, including Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, in particular, opposed them.
“Sinn Féin believes that politicians should lead from the front when it comes to their pay. We are committed to cutting TDs salaries to €75,000 and Senators to €60,000. We want to reduce the salary top-ups of An Taoiseach and Ministers by 50% as well reducing the excessive pension payments to former Taoisigh, Ministers and top civil servants. We include these figures year on year in our party manifesto.”
Deputy Brady is the only Wicklow/East Carlow TD to do decline this pay rise.
Teachta Brady said:
“I, along with my colleagues in Sinn Féin committed from the outset that we would not, under any circumstances, take this pay increase and will instead, return it to the Exchequer.
“There is no TD in Leinster House that deserves a pay rise of any kind. In fact, the current pay rates for elected representatives are excessive and obscene.
“My Fine Gael constituency colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, has a basic take-home pay of €157,540 a year. My Fianna Fáil colleague Deputy Pat Casey has a basic take home pay of €87,258 a year with Deputy Andrew Doyle, as a Minister for State, taking home €121,639 a year. My Independent colleague, Deputy Stephen Donnelly has a basic take home pay of €87,258 a year.
“Today, in the Dáil I voted not to take the pay rise however, all other Wicklow/East Carlow TDs, with the unfortunate exception of Deputy Donnelly who was not present for the vote, voted for a pay rise.
“In my mind, without any pay rise, the current rates of take home pay for all of my colleagues are far too high already.
“On a number of occasions in the past Dáil, Sinn Féin tabled legislation in the House to reform those payments substantially. Other parties, including Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, in particular, opposed them.
“Sinn Féin believes that politicians should lead from the front when it comes to their pay. We are committed to cutting TDs salaries to €75,000 and Senators to €60,000. We want to reduce the salary top-ups of An Taoiseach and Ministers by 50% as well reducing the excessive pension payments to former Taoisigh, Ministers and top civil servants. We include these figures year on year in our party manifesto.”
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Sinn Fein TD John Brady: “Government’s Housing Policy is A Hamster Wheel of Horror.”
Speaking after Daft.ie released their most recent report on the state of the Private Rental Market, Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Social Protection and TD for Wicklow/East Carlow said the shocking figures for Wicklow alone are an indication that this government housing policy has become a Hamster Wheel of Horror.
Teachta Brady Said:
“Figures released by the online site Daft.ie suggest the cost of renting a home has shot up by 10.5% in the last quarter of last year and is still rising. This represents an increase of 45% since 2011 and is the strongest indication yet that the chronic housing shortage in Wicklow and across the Country is set to continue. These figures prove beyond doubt that the government’s failure to initiate measures giving rent certainty to tenants is allowing the price of rental accommodation to spiral out of control and out of the reach of the average worker. The only people benefiting from the governments failures are landlords operating in the private market. The figures come on foot of a report last week which showed the continued growth in the numbers of families with young children becoming homeless.”
Teachta Brady went on to say that the governments housing policy is in tatters:
“The government’s patch work policy of housing initiatives is in tatters. Even if the plans were implemented in full; it would hardly put a dent in the figures of homelessness which are now growing a rate that is beyond comprehension. The lack of social housing and the failure of the government to commence a realistic house building programme means almost every day another family in private rental accommodation is forced out onto the streets due to spiralling rent costs; with no hope of securing accommodation in social housing. It is a hamster wheel of horror for thousands of frustrated parents and frightened children. Fianna Fail’s policy of placing the responsibility of house building solely in the hands of private developers has led to a disastrous over reliance on the private housing market which clearly cannot meet demand even at a modest level. Fine Gael and labour compounded the problem by ignoring the warnings coming from Sinn Fein and homeless organisations such as the Peter McVerry trust over the last number of years, as a result we now have a vicious cycle of dysfunction which is sucking more and more families into it unending wheel of despair.”
In terms of the future prospects for those in rental accommodation or languishing on the housing list Teachta Brady had this to say:
“At a certain point in any crises the natural human reaction is to throw out the book and deal with the immediate danger. Here, Minister Simon Coveney and the entire Fine Gael/ Fianna Fail coalition are failing in their responsibilities on every level measureable. Rent certainty is needed right now to put a cap on rising rents and force a reverse in costs. This would immediately relieve the stress on the tens of thousands of people who are literally sitting on a ledge waiting to fall into homelessness. The lack of social housing has shifted from a Crises situation to an Emergency, and is now in the realm of catastrophe. Sinn Fein is calling on the government to declare a National Housing Emergency and release the funds needed to allow local authorities and other agencies to immediately commence a nationwide building programme. No level of Hyperbole could exaggerate this housing emergency. Time is running out fast before the housing requirements of the nation move well beyond the capacity of the state to deliver while this government dithers with useless plans and pointless platitudes. Fiddling while Rome Burns.”
Fianna Fáil support for Social Welfare Bill is shameful – Brady
Speaking this evening on the Social Welfare Bill, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Social Protection John Brady TD has said that Fianna Fáil’s support for Fine Gael in this Bill is shameful.
Teachta Brady said:
“Fianna Fáil fell over themselves this evening to support the Social Welfare Bill.
“Fianna Fáil has shown tonight that their concern for young Jobseekers after the Budget were false. The outrage that Deputy O’Dea voiced in relation to the €2.70 increase for 18-24 year olds and his claim that Fianna Fáil would work to reverse it was clearly lies.
“Not content with running thousands of our young people out of the country when they purposely cut Jobseekers in the first place, Fianna Fáil have played a part in ensuring that the discrimination for our young people that they started in 2009 continues in this Bill.
“When it comes to lone parents this Bill fails to address poverty among lone parents and it fails to acknowledge the perverse effect that lone parent reforms have had. The recent Millar report concludes that the policy implemented by Fine Gael has left lone parents in paid employment being financially worse off.
“I welcome the €2 million to be provided for projects which provide pre-activation support for people with disabilities in 2017 – however, we need to know where this money is going and we need the detail on this.
“This Social Welfare Bill in its present form does not do everything it could have done. It is the result of a Budget that further marginalises our young people, lone parents and those living alone.
“As the main opposition party here, there is little room for Sinn Féin to bring forward amendments to this Bill given the fact that as an opposition party we cannot table amendments that constitute a charge on the Exchequer or on the public.
“Having said that, it is my full intention to frame amendments in such a way as to bypass the restrictions so that a proper debate can take place on the many issues that should have been in this Bill.”
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Sinn Fein Welcomes Decision to Protect the Rocks Area of Kilcoole
Speaking after Wicklow County Council voted to accept an amendment to the councils development plan which will protect The Rocks area of Kilcoole from future development, Sinn Fein TD for Wicklow / East Carlow John Brady, and The Party’s Leader in Wicklow County Council Cllr Nicola Lawless have described the decision as a great victory for both the local community and the native wildlife.
Teachta Brady Said:
“This issue has been bubbling away for quite some time. The council’s plans to disrupt the natural habitat of the Rocks which would have had a devastating effect on an ancient area of natural beauty and ecological significance have been opposed by Sinn Fein and local residents from the outset. Studies confirmed that the area is of historic geographical importance and a rare example of an untouched ice age glacial valley with a diverse range of wildlife. Whilst continued development in County Wicklow is very important and can often have very positive outcomes on a number of levels; here was one example of where a costly plan was quite simply not in the best interest of anybody. ”
Cllr Nicola Lawless spoke of her relief when the decision was taken after a long battle against the plans:
“On a personal level I am relieved that this issue has been put to bed once and for all to the satisfaction of local residents and environmental groups. Concerns had been raised at plans to dump 280,000 tonnes of river bed material from the Dargle into the site, turning the area into a so-called Eco park. From my own perspective it was hard to imagine how anything could replace such an exceptional legacy of natural beauty with a variety of plant and animal life and an inimitable landscape. This view was shared by local residents and many council colleagues who have fought to protect the area in its current form. After dozens of meeting and numerous representations to elected representatives I am delighted with the outcome. I would like to commend the dedication and resilience of the ‘Save The Rocks’ campaigners; they are the true heroes in this saga.”
Teachta Brady Said:
“This issue has been bubbling away for quite some time. The council’s plans to disrupt the natural habitat of the Rocks which would have had a devastating effect on an ancient area of natural beauty and ecological significance have been opposed by Sinn Fein and local residents from the outset. Studies confirmed that the area is of historic geographical importance and a rare example of an untouched ice age glacial valley with a diverse range of wildlife. Whilst continued development in County Wicklow is very important and can often have very positive outcomes on a number of levels; here was one example of where a costly plan was quite simply not in the best interest of anybody. ”
Cllr Nicola Lawless spoke of her relief when the decision was taken after a long battle against the plans:
“On a personal level I am relieved that this issue has been put to bed once and for all to the satisfaction of local residents and environmental groups. Concerns had been raised at plans to dump 280,000 tonnes of river bed material from the Dargle into the site, turning the area into a so-called Eco park. From my own perspective it was hard to imagine how anything could replace such an exceptional legacy of natural beauty with a variety of plant and animal life and an inimitable landscape. This view was shared by local residents and many council colleagues who have fought to protect the area in its current form. After dozens of meeting and numerous representations to elected representatives I am delighted with the outcome. I would like to commend the dedication and resilience of the ‘Save The Rocks’ campaigners; they are the true heroes in this saga.”
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