Wicklow Sinn Féin are to hold a protest outside Wicklow County Council on Monday 2nd February from 12noon, to coincide with Irish Water officials meeting behind closed doors with some Councillors.The six Sinn Féin County Councillors are to boycott the meetings and have urged all other Wicklow Councillors to do likewise because of Irish Waters refusal to meet in an open forum.
Speaking ahead Monday’s meeting and planned protest Cllr. Brady said "Unfortunately after numerous requests for representatives from Irish Water to attend and answer questions from Councillors at a full council meeting, they have responded by refusing to meet in a public forum, but have said they will hold a number of clinic type meetings behind closed doors with Councillors on February 2. Sinn Féin are to hold a protest outside the meeting to show our opposition to the process of secrecy that Irish Water are putting in place to meet with the democratically elected representatives of the Wicklow people".
“The Sinn Féin team of six Wicklow County Councillors have decided to boycott the meeting with Irish Water. It’s planned that councillors from the five municipal districts will be given 45 minutes per district to put questions to the officials from Irish Water on February 2, they will be held behind closed doors in secret at the council buildings. Sinn Féin will boycott the meetings and we have called on all the other councillors to do likewise”.
Cllr Brady concluded “Irish Water is toxic. It should be scrapped along with the government’s water charges. The planned meetings are an attempt to manipulate councillors into accepting an organisation that has no public credibility. In November Wicklow County Council supported and passed a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to scrap water charges, halt water metering and to abolish Irish Water. Boycotting the private meeting on Monday will send a strong message to both the Government and Irish water that it’s not business as usual and that an alternative open process of meeting councillors will have to be put in place. We will be handing the Irish Water officials a letter outlining our objections at the protest which starts at 12noon. We are asking other councillors not to attend the meetings and for the public to attend the protest".
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow john.brady@oireachtas.ie
Tuesday 27 January 2015
850 Low income families and elderly people in Bray start to feel the effects of Wicklow County Council Budget
850 low income families and elderly people in the Bray area are starting to feel the effect of the Wicklow County Council budget that was adopted by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some Independent councillors last November. In passing the budget the councillors voted to scrap the Waste Subsidy Scheme that Bray Town Council had in place. The scheme which had been in place for a number of years at a cost of €40,000 gave a subsidy to the most vulnerable in society to help cover the high costs of refuse collection.
Cllr Brady commented "Over the last couple of weeks I've been inundated by constituents contacting me about the Waste Subsidy Scheme that Bray Town Council had in place since the privatisation of the domestic refuse collection service in Wicklow. Many were very upset after being informed by the Municipal District in Bray that the scheme has now been abolished due to the passing of the County Council budget by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some Independents."
"The Waste Subsidy Scheme was put in place after the privatisation of the refuse service to help some of the most vulnerable in society to pay for the collection of their refuse. This scheme is needed now more than ever due to the exorbitant charges for the collection of refuse by the private operators. Unfortunately with the passing of the budget in Wicklow this scheme has now been stopped and many elderly and vulnerable people now find themselves in situations were they simply cant afford to put their bins out for collection."
Cllr Brady went onto say "This is just another cut that will hurt the most vulnerable in our society, these people are already struggling to cope due to Water Charges and the Property Tax which have been introduced by Fine Gael and Labour and supported by Fianna Fáil. People are getting hit at a national level and also at a local level and it exposes the myth of a recovery wide open. There is no recovery for the most vulnerable in our society and this latest cut is further evidence of that." Ends
Cllr Brady commented "Over the last couple of weeks I've been inundated by constituents contacting me about the Waste Subsidy Scheme that Bray Town Council had in place since the privatisation of the domestic refuse collection service in Wicklow. Many were very upset after being informed by the Municipal District in Bray that the scheme has now been abolished due to the passing of the County Council budget by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some Independents."
"The Waste Subsidy Scheme was put in place after the privatisation of the refuse service to help some of the most vulnerable in society to pay for the collection of their refuse. This scheme is needed now more than ever due to the exorbitant charges for the collection of refuse by the private operators. Unfortunately with the passing of the budget in Wicklow this scheme has now been stopped and many elderly and vulnerable people now find themselves in situations were they simply cant afford to put their bins out for collection."
Cllr Brady went onto say "This is just another cut that will hurt the most vulnerable in our society, these people are already struggling to cope due to Water Charges and the Property Tax which have been introduced by Fine Gael and Labour and supported by Fianna Fáil. People are getting hit at a national level and also at a local level and it exposes the myth of a recovery wide open. There is no recovery for the most vulnerable in our society and this latest cut is further evidence of that." Ends
Tuesday 13 January 2015
Wicklow patients are suffering due to the Government generated Health Crisis
Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady raised the issue of the crisis in the Health Service during a suspension of standing orders which he requested at this week’s County Council meeting. Last week seen 601 patients lying on hospital trolleys, many of whom are from Wicklow whilst the Health Service catering for Wicklow residents continues to be downgraded.
Speaking after the meeting the Sinn Féin Councillor said "After being contacted by Wicklow residents who had loved ones lying on trolleys in St Vincent's and Nass General Hospitals last week, I felt it was important to raise the current national emergency facing Irish hospitals at council level so action could be taken. Last week 601 patients were lying on trolleys, the largest ever recorded figure. Fine Gael and Labour had promised to bring this practice to an end. James Reilly as Minister for Health in 2013 said that never again would the country see more than 569 people waiting on trolleys in a single day. The sad reality is that this government seem to treat hospitals with the same disdain as they've treated all other vital services and funding that they've slashed as part of their austerity drive”.
Councillor Brady continued “Unfortunately Wicklow has been served appallingly by successive governments when it comes to the provision of vital health services. Unlike many other Counties we never had our own County Hospital, so we essentially have had to rely on neighboring counties. What services we did have in the County have been eroded by successive Governments. Fianna Fáil and the Greens closed down Wicklow District Hospital in 2010 along with 20 beds. They also closed the Orchard Welfare home in Bray with 39 beds and St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles with 23 beds”.
“Fine Gael and Labour closed down the A&E in St. Columcille’s Hospital, adding additional pressure on the already overwhelmed St. Vincent’s Hospital and we have the continued threat to Crooksling, which is in Saggart, but serves the West Wicklow area”.
Cllr Brady went onto say “At the council meeting a motion was passed calling on the Government to immediately reopen St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles to alleviate some of the pressure on the health service. I've also asked for a senior official from the HSE to attend the next council meeting to give an update on the provision of health services within Wicklow and outline what progress has been made if in in relation to the promised new Wicklow District Hospital in Wicklow Town”.
“Prior to the last general election Labour candidates promised us that a new hospital would be built to replace the then recently closed Wicklow District Hospital, they claimed a site had even been identified. Labour are now unfortunately in government and now they need to deliver. There is a national crisis in the health service and patients in Wicklow are suffering, reinstating closed wards and reopening facilities they have shut down will be a starting point in ending the crisis. I await a report that’s been requested and the opportunity to questions a senior Health Service manager at the next council meeting” Concluded Cllr Brady.
Speaking after the meeting the Sinn Féin Councillor said "After being contacted by Wicklow residents who had loved ones lying on trolleys in St Vincent's and Nass General Hospitals last week, I felt it was important to raise the current national emergency facing Irish hospitals at council level so action could be taken. Last week 601 patients were lying on trolleys, the largest ever recorded figure. Fine Gael and Labour had promised to bring this practice to an end. James Reilly as Minister for Health in 2013 said that never again would the country see more than 569 people waiting on trolleys in a single day. The sad reality is that this government seem to treat hospitals with the same disdain as they've treated all other vital services and funding that they've slashed as part of their austerity drive”.
Councillor Brady continued “Unfortunately Wicklow has been served appallingly by successive governments when it comes to the provision of vital health services. Unlike many other Counties we never had our own County Hospital, so we essentially have had to rely on neighboring counties. What services we did have in the County have been eroded by successive Governments. Fianna Fáil and the Greens closed down Wicklow District Hospital in 2010 along with 20 beds. They also closed the Orchard Welfare home in Bray with 39 beds and St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles with 23 beds”.
“Fine Gael and Labour closed down the A&E in St. Columcille’s Hospital, adding additional pressure on the already overwhelmed St. Vincent’s Hospital and we have the continued threat to Crooksling, which is in Saggart, but serves the West Wicklow area”.
Cllr Brady went onto say “At the council meeting a motion was passed calling on the Government to immediately reopen St. Bridget’s ward in St. Columcilles to alleviate some of the pressure on the health service. I've also asked for a senior official from the HSE to attend the next council meeting to give an update on the provision of health services within Wicklow and outline what progress has been made if in in relation to the promised new Wicklow District Hospital in Wicklow Town”.
“Prior to the last general election Labour candidates promised us that a new hospital would be built to replace the then recently closed Wicklow District Hospital, they claimed a site had even been identified. Labour are now unfortunately in government and now they need to deliver. There is a national crisis in the health service and patients in Wicklow are suffering, reinstating closed wards and reopening facilities they have shut down will be a starting point in ending the crisis. I await a report that’s been requested and the opportunity to questions a senior Health Service manager at the next council meeting” Concluded Cllr Brady.
Monday 12 January 2015
Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillors to boycott meeting with Irish Water
Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillors are to boycott a meeting with Irish Water on February 2 and urge all other Wicklow Councillors to do likewise.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Brady said "Unfortunately after numerous requests for representatives from Irish Water to attend and answer questions from Councillors at a full council meeting, they have responded by refusing to meet in a public forum, but have said they will hold a number of clinic type meetings behind closed doors with Councillors on February 2”.
Cllr Brady continued “I believe that the refusal of Irish Water officials to meet the democratically elected representatives of the people of Wicklow in a public forum is not just disrespectful to the councillors, but it’s giving a two fingered salute to the public whose taxes were used to establish the monster that is Irish Water”.
“The Sinn Féin team of six Wicklow County Councillors has decided to boycott the meetings with Irish Water. It’s planned that councillors from the five municipal districts will be given 45 minutes per district to put questions to the officials from Irish Water on February 2, they will be held behind closed doors in secret at the council buildings. Sinn Féin will boycott the meetings and we have called on all the other councillors to do likewise”.
Cllr Brady concluded “Irish Water is toxic. It should be scrapped along with the government’s water charges. The planned meetings are an attempt to manipulate councillors into accepting an organisation that has no public credibility. In November Wicklow County Council supported and passed a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to scrap water charges, halt water metering and to abolish Irish Water. Boycotting the private meetings in February will send a strong message to both the Government and Irish water that it’s not business as usual”. Ends
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Brady said "Unfortunately after numerous requests for representatives from Irish Water to attend and answer questions from Councillors at a full council meeting, they have responded by refusing to meet in a public forum, but have said they will hold a number of clinic type meetings behind closed doors with Councillors on February 2”.
Cllr Brady continued “I believe that the refusal of Irish Water officials to meet the democratically elected representatives of the people of Wicklow in a public forum is not just disrespectful to the councillors, but it’s giving a two fingered salute to the public whose taxes were used to establish the monster that is Irish Water”.
“The Sinn Féin team of six Wicklow County Councillors has decided to boycott the meetings with Irish Water. It’s planned that councillors from the five municipal districts will be given 45 minutes per district to put questions to the officials from Irish Water on February 2, they will be held behind closed doors in secret at the council buildings. Sinn Féin will boycott the meetings and we have called on all the other councillors to do likewise”.
Cllr Brady concluded “Irish Water is toxic. It should be scrapped along with the government’s water charges. The planned meetings are an attempt to manipulate councillors into accepting an organisation that has no public credibility. In November Wicklow County Council supported and passed a Sinn Féin motion calling on the government to scrap water charges, halt water metering and to abolish Irish Water. Boycotting the private meetings in February will send a strong message to both the Government and Irish water that it’s not business as usual”. Ends
Saturday 3 January 2015
Eddie Sheehy needs to guarantee nobody will be evicted for non payment of water charges
Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has called on the Wicklow County Manager Eddie Sheehy to give guarantees that no council tenants will face eviction if they go in rent arrears due to non payed water charges being added to council tenants rents. This follows confirmation from the County Manager that under new legislation the council may become debit collectors for Irish Water.
Speaking after raising the issue at Mondays council meeting Councillor Brady said "At Mondays council meeting I raised the issue of Wicklow County Council becoming a debit collector for Irish Water, collecting any unpaid water charges from its 4,301 tenants. I have a real concern that struggling tenants may have any unpaid charges added to their rents, possibly pushing them into arrears leading to possible evictions".
Cllr Brady continued "Irish water have said that where a customer goes into arrears for more than 12 months and a late payment has accrued they will advise local authorities that by law they must recover the outstanding amount over a 12-month period. This means that Wicklow County Council will effectively become a debit collector for Irish Water. In Wicklow there are 4,301 council tenants and many aren't in a position to pay water charges and due to their circumstances may already be in arrears with their rent".
Cllr Brady went onto say "Any attempt to add unpaid watercharges to tenants rents will only compound difficulties many are facing and could put their tenancy in jeopardy by going deeper into arrears. At the meeting the County Manager confirmed that these powers have been extended to Irish Water but no further information had been forthcoming".
Cllr Brady concluded "I told the County Manager that it would be totally wrong for Wicklow County Council to do the dirty work for Irish Water by becoming their debit collector. Local authorities should have no role in this issue and Eddie Sheehy must not let the council get embroiled in this that will ultimately damage the relationship between the council and tenants. He must give assurances now to all 4,301 householders in Wicklow who are tenants of the council that they will not face eviction due to these measures. The Sinn Fein team on the council in Wicklow will fight this all the way to stop Wicklow County Council being used by the Government and Irish Water for their dirty work".
Speaking after raising the issue at Mondays council meeting Councillor Brady said "At Mondays council meeting I raised the issue of Wicklow County Council becoming a debit collector for Irish Water, collecting any unpaid water charges from its 4,301 tenants. I have a real concern that struggling tenants may have any unpaid charges added to their rents, possibly pushing them into arrears leading to possible evictions".
Cllr Brady continued "Irish water have said that where a customer goes into arrears for more than 12 months and a late payment has accrued they will advise local authorities that by law they must recover the outstanding amount over a 12-month period. This means that Wicklow County Council will effectively become a debit collector for Irish Water. In Wicklow there are 4,301 council tenants and many aren't in a position to pay water charges and due to their circumstances may already be in arrears with their rent".
Cllr Brady went onto say "Any attempt to add unpaid watercharges to tenants rents will only compound difficulties many are facing and could put their tenancy in jeopardy by going deeper into arrears. At the meeting the County Manager confirmed that these powers have been extended to Irish Water but no further information had been forthcoming".
Cllr Brady concluded "I told the County Manager that it would be totally wrong for Wicklow County Council to do the dirty work for Irish Water by becoming their debit collector. Local authorities should have no role in this issue and Eddie Sheehy must not let the council get embroiled in this that will ultimately damage the relationship between the council and tenants. He must give assurances now to all 4,301 householders in Wicklow who are tenants of the council that they will not face eviction due to these measures. The Sinn Fein team on the council in Wicklow will fight this all the way to stop Wicklow County Council being used by the Government and Irish Water for their dirty work".
Road safety measures needed at the 21 Bends on the Enniskerry Road
The Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Bray John Brady has called on the council to put in place further road safety measures on the R117 Enniskerry Road at the 21 bends. This follows a number of crashes into a newly replaced crash barrier at a lethal section of the road. The barrier is on top of a steep embankment over the Glencullen River.
The Cathaoirleach Councillor Brady said "In December a section of crash barrier was replaced at a lethal bend on the Enniskerry Road, it had been badly damaged after a car crashed into it. Since it was replaced at least another three vehicles have crashed into the barrier at the same location, serious damaging it."
Brady continued "This is a lethal section of road and unfortunately there have been a number of fatalities at this location. This is an accident blackspot and the council needs to look at further safety measures at this location. The barrier needs to be immediately replaced because of the damage to it and the fact that the Glencullen River is located on the other side of the barrier down a steep embankment."
"Additional illuminated road signage warning of an accident black spot needs to be looked at as well as the installation of an anti slip road surface at this particular section of road along the R117 other wise know as the 21 bends."
"I have previously raised this issue with the council engineer and intend on following it up until something is done to address the issue. I've also asked for a report from the Gardaí outlining details of reported accidents at this location" concluded Councillor Brady.
The Cathaoirleach Councillor Brady said "In December a section of crash barrier was replaced at a lethal bend on the Enniskerry Road, it had been badly damaged after a car crashed into it. Since it was replaced at least another three vehicles have crashed into the barrier at the same location, serious damaging it."
Brady continued "This is a lethal section of road and unfortunately there have been a number of fatalities at this location. This is an accident blackspot and the council needs to look at further safety measures at this location. The barrier needs to be immediately replaced because of the damage to it and the fact that the Glencullen River is located on the other side of the barrier down a steep embankment."
"Additional illuminated road signage warning of an accident black spot needs to be looked at as well as the installation of an anti slip road surface at this particular section of road along the R117 other wise know as the 21 bends."
"I have previously raised this issue with the council engineer and intend on following it up until something is done to address the issue. I've also asked for a report from the Gardaí outlining details of reported accidents at this location" concluded Councillor Brady.
Friday 2 January 2015
Arklow Fianna Fáil Councillor lets the mask slip on coalition with Fine Gael
Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has stated that comments made by Arklow Fianna Fáil County Councillor Pat Fitzgerald regarding going into coalition with Fine Gael after the next election are the reason the electorate don't trust most politicians. His comments are also further evidence that there is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and they should stop trying to fool people and merge.
Councillor Brady said "I was surprised but not shocked when I heard the comments from Arklow Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Fitzgerald when he let the mask slip and stated that if the figures stacked up after the next election he believes Fianna Fáil will enter a coalition with Fine Gael and form a Government. His comments certainly call into question the sincerity of statements made by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin who said that option out was ruled out."
Brady continued "It reminds me of the comments Labour TD Pat Rabbitte made when questioned about promises Labour had made prior to the last election and subsequently broken he said 'Isn't that what you tend to do during an election."
"Fine Gael along with the Labour Party in Government have introduced many austerity polices that have hammered ordinary families. Many of the policies such as water charges were designed by Fianna Fáil, so it comes as no surprise to me that Fianna Fáil Councillors such as Pat Fitzgerald would see Fine Gael as a party they could prop up in Government and enter a coalition with, as in essence they are two sides of the one coin."
Councillor Brady went onto say "We need honesty in politics, not doing and saying things simply to get into power. Councillor Fitzgerald's comments give us a glimpse at how the establishment parties view the electorate and elections. This however doesn't come as a surprise because here in Wicklow Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have for many years carved up control of Wicklow County Council and continuously support each other's policies and budgets."
Cllr Brady concluded "There are no political or policy differences between the conservative parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael either at a local or national level. They should stop trying to fool the electorate and merge." Ends
Councillor Brady said "I was surprised but not shocked when I heard the comments from Arklow Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Fitzgerald when he let the mask slip and stated that if the figures stacked up after the next election he believes Fianna Fáil will enter a coalition with Fine Gael and form a Government. His comments certainly call into question the sincerity of statements made by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin who said that option out was ruled out."
Brady continued "It reminds me of the comments Labour TD Pat Rabbitte made when questioned about promises Labour had made prior to the last election and subsequently broken he said 'Isn't that what you tend to do during an election."
"Fine Gael along with the Labour Party in Government have introduced many austerity polices that have hammered ordinary families. Many of the policies such as water charges were designed by Fianna Fáil, so it comes as no surprise to me that Fianna Fáil Councillors such as Pat Fitzgerald would see Fine Gael as a party they could prop up in Government and enter a coalition with, as in essence they are two sides of the one coin."
Councillor Brady went onto say "We need honesty in politics, not doing and saying things simply to get into power. Councillor Fitzgerald's comments give us a glimpse at how the establishment parties view the electorate and elections. This however doesn't come as a surprise because here in Wicklow Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have for many years carved up control of Wicklow County Council and continuously support each other's policies and budgets."
Cllr Brady concluded "There are no political or policy differences between the conservative parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael either at a local or national level. They should stop trying to fool the electorate and merge." Ends
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