Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD will today (Wednesday) challenge Micheal Martin on his refusal to end the credit charge surcharge rip-off, where some retailers impose an unjustified fee for paying by credit card, even though the law is already in place.

“Under Section 48 of the Consumer Protection Act of 2007, it is unlawful for any retailer to impose a surcharge on a customer regardless of whether they pay by credit card, debit card, direct debit or cash. However, for reasons best known to himself Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin has not yet commenced this section of the Act.

“Minister Martin has already put off making a decision by launching a public consultation. However, this consultation ended last September, but the Minister still cannot make up his mind.

Credit Card surcharges and other such penalties are only imposed by a small minority of retailers and businesses. They are a total rip-off and are totally unjustified.
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Cowen says ‘No’ to reviewing proposed new bodies

Brian Cowen’s promise to review almost 1,000 State agencies is dishonest and insincere because he publicly backed 19 new Bills which will set up new agencies and extend the powers of others, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD said today (Tuesday).

“Both Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern have promised a review of the massive number of State agencies, which have more than doubled since the 1990s. Responding to the damning OECD report on the state of the Government sector in Ireland, the Taoiseach-elect Brian Cowen said there is a need ‘to take a hard look at the Government’s approach to agencies, how and why they were set up and their proper reporting relationship with their parent government department.’. …[more]

Patients will suffer as a result of major cutbacks announced by Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown which include month-long closures of medical and surgical wards this summer and a ban on repairing non-essential equipment, Fine Gael Dublin West TD & Front Bench Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has said.

“The cutbacks are being instigated to ensure that the hospital does not go over budget, as the HSE and Health Minister Mary Harney have made it clear the hospital will get no additional funding in 2008.

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Image via WikipediaDempsey confirms Luas Docklands extension won’t serve Docklands train station

Ten years ago Fianna Fáil made a huge mistake by not linking up the Luas lines in the city centre. Now the Government is about to make the same mistake by not linking the Luas Docklands extension to the existing Docklands train station, Fine Gael Dublin West TD and Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has said.

“Commuters are still scratching their heads about the Government’s decision not to link the red and green Luas lines. This mistake is now being rectified at the cost of millions of euros. But Fianna Fáil is about to make the same mistake in the Docklands. The new Luas Docklands extension will not link up with the existing Iarnród Éireann Docklands train station. Once again Fianna Fáil is showing that it cannot learn from its mistakes.

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Last week, I launced a policy document on the subject of Streamlining Government. Essentially, over the past decade we have seen an expolosion in state agencies and quangos, with more than two hundred being created. These bodies frequently duplicate the work of other state bodies or government departments,, provide poor value for money and are largely unaccountable to the Dáil.

My initial analysis of the nature of of these agencies show there are forty such bodies that can be abolished or merged with existing structures which would result in annual savings of c.€50m to Irish tax-payers. This is an initial examination, and further research would most likely reveal far more savings.

Going forward, new Agencies should only be considered if-

1 the work carried out is of a specialised nature that cannot be doneby the civil service
2 the work cannot be carried out by an existing agency
3 there is be no duplication of functions with another agency orgovernment department
4 it will subject to a ’sundown clause’ after which its mandate will have to be renewed by the Oireachtas (eg. 4 years)

The policy document can be downloaded here.

Unnecessary form filling costs Irish businesses at least €500m a year

Fianna Fáil has finally agreed to do a U-turn on red tape by setting a specific target for reducing business regulatory compliance costs, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD said today (Monday).

“The Government has finally succumbed to months of pressure from Fine Gael and agreed a target to reduce the form-filling burden on business. According to a Parliamentary Question which I tabled in the Dáil, the Government has agreed to reduce red tape by 25%. I am pleased that Fianna Fáil has finally got around to agreeing a target, albeit without a clear timeframe for implementation. …[more]

Cowen squarely to blame as Irish dole queue passes UK & US

Brian Cowen’s claim to be a safe pair of hands on the economy has been blown out of the water by the latest live register figures showing that the Irish unemployment rate is now higher than the UK and the US, Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD said today (Friday).

“The live register has seen a record increase for the third month in a row. Every month since the start of the year has seen the largest ever increase in the numbers signing on. Irish unemployment is now spiralling out of control. The jobless rate had been expected to reach the psychologically important 200,000 mark by the middle of the year, but the figures for March reveal that the jobless queue is now shy of the mark by just 100 persons. …[more]

On Thursday 3rd April I highlighted in the Dail that the Dept. of Education has not honoured it’s commitment to three schools in Dublin 15.

Full Dail transcript below:

3 April 2008

Deputy Leo Varadkar: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this issue. Everyone who follows the news will be familiar with the problems being experienced in rapidly developing parts of Dublin and other cities where the provision of school facilities has fallen behind the rapid increase in population. …[more]

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey has revealed an Ireland increasingly divided between urban areas with the highest paying top grade jobs, and regions and rural areas which have been left behind with a declining manufacturing sector, Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has said.

“The latest Forfás employment survey has revealed a country which is sharply divided. After ten years of Fianna Fáil Government the country has become increasingly polarised in terms of earning potential and long-term job security. The Government’s regional development strategy is in tatters.

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