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

Wicklow Sinn Féin to table a motion to reduce the property tax in Wicklow

Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has called on all Wicklow County Councillors to support a Sinn Féin motion to reduce the Local Property Tax by 15%. The motion will be before the council on Monday.

Councillor Brady said "Sinn Féin continues to actively oppose the government's property tax. It is an unfair, unjust tax that puts the burden on middle and low-income households. We are committed to reversing this tax if elected to government. But in the meantime we aim to reduce the burden of this tax for households here in Wicklow by reducing the tax by the most allowed under the current legislation”.

“The motion will be tabled at the council meeting on Monday  will commit Wicklow County Council to supporting the maximum cut of 15% for 2015. Sinn Féin will also defend jobs and local services. We will be working with Councillors across all local authorities to defend funding for local government. We will also be calling on Wicklow TDs to guard against any further cuts to local authorities’ grants.”

"Sinn Féin will be looking for cross party support for our motion this Monday and in our campaign against government cuts. This will be putting money back into people’s pockets, which will benefit the local economy. The property tax is an unjust tax burden on middle and low-income households”.

Brady concluded “Under the legislation the council must undergo a 30 day public consultation regarding the proposed introduction of the tax. This will give householders an opportunity to demand a full reduction of the tax. Wicklow Sinn Féin will be running a campaign to get as many people to make submissions before the closing date which is 25^th August. The responses will be gathered and applied to a report, which will be presented to city Councillors in September and its important as many people as possible let their voices be heard.” Ends

Sinn Féin to Oppose Privatisation of Wicklow Bus Routes

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has sharply critised plans to privatise over 20 routes currently operated by Dublin Bus as well as some Bus Éireann services. The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed that the privatisation of the routes will proceed by 2016. A number of Wicklow routes are included in the plans.

Speaking after the announcement Councillor Brady said “What we have seen over the last few years is the slow death of public transport in Ireland. Government subsidies have been continuously cut under the previous government of Fianna Fáil and now under Labour and Fine Gael. The announcement that up to 20 Dublin Bus routes are to be privatised will however be the final nail in the coffin for public transport”.

“The decision was made following a consultation process which discussed the principle of direct award contracts. Under these plans Wicklow will be particularly affected with Dublin Bus routes 45a, 184, 185 all planned for privatisation. Thatcher's privatisation of public transport in the 1980s has been a disaster for transport workers and the public, unfortunately that's exactly where this government want us to go”.

Cllr Brady continued “The privatisation of public transport will result in massive fare hikes and a deteriorating service. Public transport is a service which belongs to the people as a right. The notion that it should be run on the basis of profit is a dangerous one which will leave individuals and communities isolated. Experience has shown that once public transport is privatised the logic of profit overrides all other considerations.   What this will mean is a reduction in services for areas that cannot provide a frequency of use suitable to the companies need for profit.  In practical terms people will be left standing at the bus stop until the company is sure it can fill a bus. They will regard it as inefficient to run a bus at anything less than full capacity”.

Cllr Brady concluded “The NTA can only proceed with the approval of the Labour Party and Fine Gael. These plans are illogical unless you see it in ideological terms where both parties in Government see privatisation in terms of ideology.  It is an ideology that disregards the rights of the marginalized and the elderly but let’s face it this is a Government that has shown scant regard for those sections of society. Sinn Féin have a proven track record of fighting to save public transport and we will also fight to stop the privatisation of our public transport and that includes the 45a, 184, 185 that are planned to be privatised by 2016”

Wicklow Sinn Féin launch Pre-Budget Submission

Wicklow Sinn Féin has launched their party’s alternative budget. Wicklow councillor John Brady said Sinn Féin’s budget would lower the tax burden on ordinary families, protect public services and invest in jobs.  He said ordinary people would be better off under Sinn Féin.

Councillor Brady said; “The Sinn Fein budget will reduce the tax burden on ordinary families. It will protect public services and invest in jobs.

“We have identified a series of taxation and savings measures, fully costed by government departments, to reduce the deficit and pay for new spending measures.

“These include giving 1.8 million homeowners a tax rebate by abolishing the property tax, restoring the respite grant for 86,000 carers, taking 296,000 low income workers out of the USC, providing free school meals to five hundred more schools and halving the cost of school books, giving every child under five free GP care, extending the fuel allowance by three weeks, protecting the vulnerable – no more cuts to disability payments, no more cuts to Child Benefit, no more cuts to social welfare and introducing a stimulus to create thousands of jobs.”

Bray Sinn Féin representative Oliver O’Brien said “Austerity isn’t working. The government’s priority in this budget should be to protect citizens rather than meeting European diktats. Some 415,000 people are on the live register while 300,000 emigrated in the last four years. There are 49,000 people waiting for hospital treatments. 

One in ten children are living in consistent poverty with 47% of households living on less than €100 a month after bills. There are 90,000 households languishing on social housing lists while 180,000 households are in mortgage distress. This will be the seventh austerity budget from Fianna Fáil and this government which together will have taken €30 billion out of the economy.”

“People need a break. Sinn Féin’s alternative budget reduces the tax burden on ordinary families, protects public services and invests in jobs.” concluded O’Brien

Councillor Brady finished by saying “These proposals are all fully costed by the government’s budgetary costing unit.The document also sets out proactive measures to assist job creation, SMEs, the agriculture sector, and people in mortgage distress. It deals with corporation tax and natural resources and also stresses our commitment to equality budgeting.

“Our adjustment is just under €2.5billion. We believe that families need to be given a break.  Austerity is not working. The government needs to take its foot off the necks of the people. With this document we show how people are better off under Sinn Féin.” Ends

Monument for Wicklow Fire Fighters unveiled, National recognition now needed

Wicklow Sinn Féin councillor has called for national recognition for the sacrifices that were made by Wicklow Fire-fighters Brian Murray and Mark O'Shaughnessy who died in the town on 26th September 2007. The councillor was speaking after the unveiling of a monument in Bray on Saturday which is dedicated to the two brave men. He has reiterated the call that was made at the unveiling for medals to be given to the families in recognition of the men’s bravery and sacrifice.

Cllr Brady who is a member of the committee which was formed to oversee the installation of the monument said “I am absolutely delighted that after a huge amount of work over the last two years a monument is now in place to honour fire-fighters Brian Murray and MarkO'Shaughnessy, both men lost their lives whilst tackling a blaze in the town on 26th September 2007. In 2011 a committee was formed comprising of family members, serving fire-fighters and myself and our objective was to get a permanent monument erected in Bray in a prominent location to serve as a reminder of the huge sacrifice the two men made to protect and serve their community."

Brady continued "Thankfully the beautiful monument which was designed and manufactured by local artist Ciaran Patterson has now been unveiled and will serve as a reminder into the future the sacrifice the men made; it will also remind people of the problems within the service. I have always stated that ultimately the only fitting tribute to Brian and Mark would be the established of a full time fire service in Bray and the creation of a National Fire Authority which would have the funding and the powers to fix the problems within the service."

John went onto say "We have done what we can here in Wicklow to remember the two men and to ensure that moving forward lessons are learned from their deaths. I am now calling on the powers to be at a national level to do their share and that should be the creation of a National Fire Authority, this is Sinn Féin policy but the Labour Party in 2007 also committed themselves to it. At the unveiling of the monument on Saturday a representative of the fire-fighters called on the government and the fire service to award medals to the families for the bravery of the two men that died serving their community."

Cllr Brady concluded "I am reiterating the call for medals to be awarded posthumously to the families of Brain and Mark. The Walter Scott Medal for Valour is a medal awarded annually for bravery to members of the Gardai. I think a medal based on the Scott medal should be designed and awarded to the families of Brian and Mark to recognise the bravery of the men who died in the line of duty whilst serving their community."

Wicklow Sinn Féin to launch Seanad Referendum campaign

Wicklow Sinn Féin to launch Seanad Referendum campaign

Wicklow Sinn Féin will launch their Equality Not Elitism campaign on Friday 20^th September and they are calling for a YES vote to abolish the Seanad.

Wicklow County councillor and campaign spokesperson John Brady along with Sinn Féin representatives from across Wicklow will launch the campaign for a yes vote on Friday 20^th in the Glencormack Inn, Kilmacanogue.

Speaking ahead of the launch Cllr John Brady said:

“This referendum is hugely important and I am calling on people to turn out in big numbers and vote YES to abolish the Seanad in the referendum on Friday 4 October. Sinn Féin supports abolishing the Seanad because it represents a blatant inequality at the heart of the Irish political system.”

Cllr Brady continued “We know that the Seanad has failed to hold the Government and the Executive to account. In fact in the last two-and-a-half years, the Seanad has supported the government on every single occasion, including the introduction of the Property Tax, cuts to Disability Payments and the Promissory Note deal which is costing Irish tax payers €30 billion.

“The Seanad has promoted political cronies and allies rather than ideas or vision of change. Fianna Fáil, who now seeks to preserve the same Seanad, is the party which has done the most to reinforce the perception of the Seanad as a hot house of cronyism. The most damning feature of the Seanad is the elitism, inequality and discrimination that is at its core.” Continued Brady

The Wicklow Sinn Fein spokesperson went onto say “By restricting votes to an elite of those educated in a number of select colleges as well as City and County Councillors, the Seanad is anomaly in a modern democracy. There can be no place in a real republic, based on equality, for an elected office to which only a tiny percentage of the population have the right to vote. It runs in the face of the core principle that all citizens are equal. It is obviously wrong to most people that any elected office or parliament would discriminate against its own citizens based on where they were educated.”

Cllr Brady concluded “Sinn Féin seeks to build a New Republic on this island based on inclusivity and equality for all citizens. We want to see an end to privilege and elitism, and to the cronyism and the influence of vested interests that have so damaged politics in this country. Fairness, democracy and equality of citizenship demand that the current Seanad be abolished. Sinn Féin is appealing to voters to get out and vote in this referendum on October 4th, to vote for change and Vote Yes.” Ends

Sinn Fein select Bray candidates for Local Elections

Sinn Féin members from the Bray area held their selection convention
on Friday last to choose candidates for the Local Elections which are
due to be held in May next year. Sinn Féin members selected Cllr John
Brady and Oliver O'Brien to contest the elections after Cllr Rossa
Murray decided not to stand for re-election to the new reconfigured
local authorities.

Bray Sinn Féin councillor Rossa Murray stated "On Friday last a large
number of party members from the Bray area attended the selection
convention to choose candidates to contest the local elections in the
Bray area. I had previously informed the party of my intentions not to
put my name forward for reelection, come the elections i will have
spent five years representing the people of Bray at council level. I
believe getting elected to represent the people is the highest honor
that anyone can be given and i am both honored and privileged to have
done so. However it is very time consuming and it has a tendency to
take over your life,its also very difficult with my job as a bus
driver because of the shifts i work. I will have served the people for
five years and i believe the time is right for me to take time out to
spent with my family."

Cllr Murray continued "On Friday at the convention i had the honor of
proposing my party colleague Oliver O'Brien as a candidate to contest
the elections, this was unanimously supported by all the membership.
Oliver is a very popular teacher in St. Fergals senior school were he
has taught for over 30 years. He is also the chairperson of the Fergal
Ógs GAA club in Bray. I believe he will make a excellent candidate and
will make a fantastic Councillor when elected. He has served the
community in the Ballywaltrim area well over many years and he will
bring a new dynamic and energy to the council."

Cllr Murray went onto say "My friend and colleague John Brady was also
selected to contest the elections again after receiving the continued
support of the membership of the party to continue the work he has
been doing over the last 10 years."

The newly selected Bray Sinn Féin candidate Oliver O'Brien said "I am
delighted to have been selected  to contest the upcoming local
elections for Sinn Féin. I am truly humbled to have been proposed by
Rossa and i hope i can be at least half as good of a Councillor as he
is. I believe the time is now right for me to take on this new
challenge. I have been a school teacher in St. Fergals now for over 30
years, i think the issue that has driven me to take the decision to
put my name forward for election are the cuts in education. I am on
the front-line and i know only too well how the cuts to education will
impact on the children of today. I have seen Bray develop over many
years, whilst there have been many positives, unfortunately there have
been negatives too. I have seen communities break down and people
getting left behind. I have been involved in community work all my
life and i am currently chairperson of the Fergal Ógs GAA club, i
believe i can use my skills to help put communities and people first
and help build a better Bray for everyone."

Oliver O'Brien concluded "I look forward to the challenge that lies
ahead, Sinn Féin in Bray and right across Wicklow continues to go from
strength to strength. I am looking forward to working alongside my
colleague John Brady, i believe we make a very strong team that will
put people and communities first."Ends

Brady welcomes the installation of Dog Litter Bins in the Ballywaltrim Recreation Park

Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has welcomed the installation of a
number of dog litter bins in the 23 acre Ballywaltrim Recreation Park
in Bray. Users of the park have been campaigning for Bray Town Council
to tackle the serious problem of dog litter in the area. The issue has
in the past resulted in a child being hospitilsed and football matches
being abandoned, it has become a public safety issue.

Cllr Brady said "I welcome the installation of the dog litter bins in
the Ballywaltrim Recreation Park, signs are due to be erected in the
coming days. The bins were installed recently and have received a
broad welcome from users of the park. The park is widely used by
Gaelic teams, soccer teams, walkers and joggers. However the issue of
irresponsible dog owners not picking up dog waste has become a very
serious problem which poses a serious threat to all users".

Brady continued "The council has come under a lot of pressure from the
Ballywaltrim Users Group and many of the sporting clubs that use the
park, who had been calling on them to address the problem. Dog feces
poses a serious health risk which may contain parvovirus, whipworms,
hookworms, roundworms, threadworms, campylobacteriosis, giardia, and
coccidia. If left unattended, these parasites will contaminate the
water, soil, and can even cause infection in both pets and humans,
especially children. The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to
another pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental
ingestion as can other bacteria. There is also the threat of being
infected by toxoplasmosis which can result in blindness".

Cllr Brady concluded "Whilst I welcome the action Bray Town Council is
taking to tackle the problem in the Ballywaltrim area of the town. The
problem is a much bigger one which affects many other areas.
Installing bins for dog owners to dispose waste in is part of the
solution; however education is another key thing that needs to happen.
Unfortunately there are many irresponsible dog owners who must be
educated so that they are made aware of the risks they are putting
other members of the community under". Ends

Outrage as Council Threaten to remove personal items from Graves in Springfield Cemetery

Bray Town Council has sparked outrage among locals after the council
erected a number of signs in the Springfield Cemetery demanding that
they remove any personal items or mementos placed on the graves before
1st September.

Speaking after the signs were erected Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor
John Brady said “The signs that were erected on Friday last have
sparked outrage among locals, many of whom have been tending to the
grave plots for several years. The first many family members heard
about the council policy was when they attended the blessing of the
graves on Sunday afternoon in the cemetery and they seen the signs
that were erected around”.

The councillor continued “The council are saying that Springfield is a
lawn cemetery, however this has not been enforced and families have
not been informed of this when burying their loved ones. It’s totally
wrong for the council to move in heavy handed like this after allowing
families maintain the graves, in many cases for the last 10-15 years.
For many people a grave is all they have to remember their loved one
by and they have placed candles, flowers, ornaments etc. on the grave
and maintain them to the highest of standards”.

Cllr Brady went on to say “I have checked the forms and paperwork that
family members have to fill out and sign when purchasing a plot or
having a grave reopened and there is no mention whatsoever of
Springfield being a lawn cemetery or that they are not permitted to
place flowers, candles or small ornaments on the graves. This is
deeply distressing for many families who were already suffering as a
result of the loss of their loved ones”.

Cllr Brady concluded “Threatening to remove items from the graves and
disposing of them has caused a lot of anger in Ballywaltrim and right
across Bray. The council needs to withdraw the signs immediately and
come up with creative solutions that would include allowing families
to maintain their loved ones graves”. Ends

Unelected Council Officials must respect principles of Democracy

Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has stated that senior public
servants with Bray Town Council have seriously overstepped the mark by
denying citizens the right to democratic representation by their
democratically elected public representatives. The councillor made the
comments following the refusal of council officials to meet two
homeless women in the presence of a councillor.

Speaking on the issue councillor John Brady said “Last week we had an
unprecedented event in Bray when two homeless girls staged a sit in of
the Bray Town Council offices seeking the basic right to suitable
emergency accommodation for themselves and their children as opposed
to the unsuitable homeless shelter over 40km away in Rathdrum. After
26 hours sitting in the council offices a resolution was reached and
key to that was that the girls, the chair of the council Mick Glynn
and I sat down with all relevant officials to try resolve their
homeless situation. However the officials moved the goalposts when
they refused to meet the girls in my presence or the presence of the
chairperson. This unfortunately resulted in another sit in being
staged by the girls and it only ended after I asked the girls to do so
to prevent them getting dragged into a political squabble between the
unelected, unaccountable officials and the elected members. ”

Cllr Brady continued “There are clearly two key and totally separate
issues in all of this. One is the critical issue of the girl’s
homelessness and the need to find a lasting solution to it. The second
is the unprecedented attack on the basic principles of democracy and
the primary function of a councillor which is to provide a
representational function. I think it important that the two issues
are kept separate and dealt with likewise and that’s why I asked the
girls to end their sit in. I am continuing to work with the girls to
try put in place suitable long term accommodation.”

“The second issue to come out of this is the two fingered salute given
to all councillors by the senior officials dealing with this issue. It
is outrageous that Bray Town Council has refused to meet two citizens
in the presence of their democratically elected representative.
Representing constituents is one of the primary roles of a councillor
and any attempt to stop this is a blatant attack on the entire
democratic process itself and is the right of any citizen or group to
have.”

Cllr Brady continued “We are supposed to live in a democratic society
where public representatives are mandated by the people to represent
them. This is legislated for in the Local Government Act 2001 and
strengthened in the Putting People First, Action Programme for
Effective Local Government 2012. This is not just an attack on me as a
councillor; it’s an attack on all councillors.”

Cllr Brady concluded “This issue has been raised with the Minister of
the Environment and Local Government Phil Hogan. I am also getting
legal advice.  Council officials are public servants. They are there
to serve the public and fulfil their public duties. It is important
that Bray Town Council and other councils get the message that this
type of behaviour is not acceptable and maybe if they stuck to their
jobs, Bray and Wicklow would be a better place.” Ends

Brady slams Council for sending Mothers and Children to Homless Shelter in Rathdrum

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has labelled the
Housing crisis in Wicklow as despicable, he also stated that the
actions of Bray Town Council in sending young families to a homeless
shelter in Rathdrum as a totally unacceptable solution to the crisis.

Councillor Brady stated "The housing crisis in Wicklow is continuing
to spiral out of control, there are 4,154 families in Wicklow in need
of social housing. Over the last 2 years the situation facing families
has dramatically deteriorated and its now resulted in young families
being referred to a homeless shelter in Rathdrum. The current
government policy has put a stop to the construction of social housing
and a new policy of social leasing enacted. The government has also
cut the amount paid for rental assistance which is forcing people out
of their private rented accommodation because the landlords are
unwilling to reduce the rent. This coupled with a huge shortage to
houses under the Rental Accomodation Scheme (RAS) have created a
ticking housing time bomb that's about to explode."

Cllr Brady went on "I am currently dealing with a number of families
who have been and are in the process of being made homeless. One young
mother from Bray and her 3 children were sent to the homeless shelter
in Rathdrum last week were they still remain. She had to move out of
her private rented accommodation because the landlord needed the house
back for another family member. She has been unable to find another
house in Bray within her price bracket and has had to present herself
and her children as homeless to the Town Council. Even though she has
been on the councils housing list for 7 years the council stated they
have nothing for her and told her to stay with family members or go to
the homeless shelter in Rathdrum, which is 40 km away and served with poor 
public transport."

"It is disgraceful that things have got this bad, but to add insult to
injury for the council to send a young mother with 3 children, one of
which attends school in Bray, to a homeless shelter in Rathdrum is
totally unacceptable. I am aware of at least one other young mother
who is facing the same prospects in 2 weeks time unless action is
taken. This i believe is only the tip of the iceberg, many other
families simply refuse to go to Rathdrum and end up on the floor of a
friend or family member." Brady continued.

He concluded by saying "We need immediate action to be taken in
Wicklow to deal with the housing crisis. It is disgraceful that houses
remain boarded up in Bray whilst young families are forced into a
unsuitable homeless shelter. We need emergency accommodation in Bray
to cater for young families who find themselves homeless and
ultimately we need to force Fine Gael and Labour to get their heads
out of the sand on this issue, we need a change to the flawed housing
policy that's created this human tragedy." Ends

Brady welcomes N11 project, but local jobs needed

Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the deal that was signed to complete the Rathnew to Arklow bypass on the N11 in Co. Wicklow. However he is looking for assurances to be given that locals will be employed on the project and that guarantees will be given that at no point in the future tolls will be introduced.


Speaking after the deal was signed Brady said "I warmly welcome thesigning of this contract, its been long awaited and unfortunately wehave had far too many false dawns on this scheme in the past. The dealinvolves the construction, operation, maintenance and financing of the16.5 kilometres of four-lane dual carriageway linking the existingArklow Bypass with the existing Rathnew/Ashford Bypass in Co.Wicklow.The contract has been awarded to BAM civil limited in a publicprivate partnership and is worth 282 million euro. It’s expected tocreate up to 1,000 jobs during development of the Bypass which isbeing bundled in with the N7 Newlands Cross free-flow system in westDublin. I think its important that the vast majority of these jobs goto people in Wicklow who have the necessary skills and that thematerials for the project would also be sourced from suppliers in theCounty."
Cllr Brady continued "What the people of Wicklow want now isguarantees that some of the thousands of unemployed people from thecounty will benefit from the construction of the dual carriageway.Guarantees are also needed that at no point in the future will theroad be tolled."
"We have been told that the provision of tolls are not to beimplemented at this point, however we need assurances, that at nopoint in the future will they be installed on the N11. The signing ofthe contract is welcome if somewhat long overdue." Brady concluded.

Brady calls for an emergency extension to the fuel allowance payment

Wicklow Sinn Fein County Councillor John Brady has called for an
emergency extension to the fuel allowance payment for the elderly and
those in receipt of social welfare payments. Brady wants the
government to reverse the cut of 6 weeks to the payment which was
introduced in Budget 2012.

Brady stated “The fuel allowance payment to the elderly and those on
social welfare is an essential payment of €20 a week to help cover the
cost of heating the family home. The Fuel Allowance season was reduced
by 6 weeks in Budget 2012 from 32 weeks to 26 weeks for all
recipients; it’s now paid for 6 months from mid-October to mid-April.
The last payment is due in two weeks; however there is no end in sight
to the cold weather”

Brady continued “The reduction of 6 weeks for the payment coupled with
higher fuel prices and the coldest March in 50 years has left
vulnerable people struggling to heat their homes.”

Brady went on “It has been estimated that 3,000 excess winter deaths
of people aged over 65 were recorded in Ireland between 2005 and 2009,
over 400 were directly linked to the temperature inside their homes. A
survey released in December found that more than half of older people
in Ireland go without food or clothing in order to meet the costs of
heating their homes. Almost one in ten older people surveyed said they
use their ovens to provide extra heat during cold snaps.”

Cllr Brady concluded “I am appealing to the Minister for Social
Protection Joan Burton to provide an emergency extension to the fuel
allowance. I am also calling on Wicklow Labour TD Anne Ferris to come
out of her self imposed exile and take a stand on this issue. Ferris
had been very vocal on this issue in the past and very critical of the
previous government. However there has been nothing from her in
relation to the cut of 6 weeks to fuel allowance that her government
imposed, she can now make amends for that by demanding an emergency
payment to the most vulnerable.”

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the Sinn
Fein bill to repeal the Family Home Tax that was introduced to the
Dail this week and said his party is committed to repealing the tax if
in government after the next general election.

Speaking after the launch of the Financial Local Property Tax Repeal
Bill Councillor Brady said:

“This bill is a key part of Sinn Fein’s alternative to austerity for
lower and middle income families. These families have borne the brunt
of austerity budget after austerity budget under Fianna Fáil and Fine
Gael/Labour.  They need a break.

“This tax was signed off on by Fianna Fáil and has been taken up by
the Fine Gael and Labour. There are a wide range of alternatives as
Sinn Féin has consistently pointed out.

“The method of collection of this new tax is brutal. Those who are
accepted as being unable to pay face a 4% penalty next year while
those who can’t pay but are not recognised as being unable to pay face
a 8% penalty. The government will raid salaries, social welfare
payments and pensions to extract this tax on the family home.

“We know the reality that one in four mortgages are in distress yet
these same households who may be in negative equity and have paid
stamp duty now face this extra tax. That is blatantly unfair.

“We saw in last week’s list of exempted ghost estates just how few
exemptions will be tolerated.

“Sinn Féin in government will repeal this tax. Our bill would refund
the tax paid by citizens for the year in which it is scrapped.

“This bill which has been introduced on the floor of the Dáil this
week and will be debated during our Private Members’ Time at the
earliest opportunity.

“We will continue to campaign across the state to win support for this bill.”

Wicklow Sinn Féin has announced details of its Easter Commemoration.

Wicklow Sinn Féin has announced details of its Easter Commemoration.

Sinn Fein County Councillor John Brady has announced the Wicklow
County Easter commemoration will assemble at Bray Town Hall on Easter
Saturday at 1.30pm and parade to the 1798 monument on Castle Street.

This year's oration will be delivered by Eoin O Broin. Eoin is a Sinn
Fein Ard Comhairle member and Dublin Mid West activist; he is the
author of a number of books and is Sinn Fein political advisor in
Leinster Hse.

Cllr Brady stated "Easter is an important time for Irish Republicans
and we would ask that as many people as possible join with us in what
is the main Easter Commemoration to be held in County Wicklow. We
would also ask that people would wear an Easter Lily as a token of
remembrance to all those who died for Irish Freedom," Clr. Brady said.

Cllr Brady continued “The Wicklow County commemoration this year will
be held in Bray on Easter Saturday 30th March. Everyone is welcome. As
we near the 100th Anniversary of 1916, it is important that as
republicans we keep the memory and the vision of the 1916 Proclamation
alive and part of the politics and discourse of the Irish people. The
vision contained within the proclamation is now more relevant and
required than ever before.”