Fine Gael Spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD (Dublin West), has accused Tánaiste Mary Coughlan of turning a blind eye to the alarming rise of youth unemployment.

According to figures (see below) provided to Fine Gael by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, people under 35 now make up more than half (52.9%) of the total number of people who were added to the Live Register in the past year. The figures also show that there are now 97,071 people under the age of 35 who are on the live register, the highest figure recorded since records were fully computerised in 2003 and that the number of people in the 20 to 34 age group who are unemployed has increased by 45% in the past twelve months. …[more]

Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman and local TD Leo Varadkar has today (Wednesday) expressed his deep regret at the announcement of 50 job losses at Creative Laboratories in Blanchardstown.

“This announcement is very bad news for the Blanchardstown area which has seen unemployment increase by more than 30% in the last year. I personally know some of the people who have lost their jobs and my thoughts are with them and their families as they face this terrible news facing into the exam period and the summer holidays.

“This area has already suffered job losses at Xerox and Lucent, as well earlier redundancies at this facility. Taken together with Davy Stockbrokers’ latest economic projections published, it is further evidence that Ireland’s economy is sliding into a prolonged slump. …[more]

My colleague Phil Hogan launched a policy document last on the issue of management companies in residential areas. It contains detailed proposals on this subject, a summary of which can be downloaded here whilst the full document can be downloaded here.

Image via WikipediaI will be hosting four meetings on the Lisbon Treaty over the course of the next two weeks. The purpose of these meetings is to allow members of the public to hear the case for a yes vote, and to have their questions on the Treaty and its implications answered.

The meetings are as follows:

1. Tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 8pm in Myos (upstairs), Castleknock;
2. Thursday the 29th, Clonsilla Inn @ 8pm;
3. Tuesday, June 3rd at 8pm in the Parish Hall, Blanchardstown; and
4. Thursday, June 5th at 8.30pm in the Tryellstown, Park Plaza.

The decision to roll back some of the cuts at Connolly Hospital is ‘not good enough according’ to Fine Gael TD, Leo Varadkar.

‘I understand a proposal to close one medical ward and one surgical ward for a full month in the summer has been abandoned. However, out-patients clinics will still close for two full weeks in August and two full weeks in December and the Day Ward will still close for two weeks over the summer. This partial roll back of hospital cuts is noty enough and Fianna Fail and the Greens are mistaken if they think we are going to let this issue drop’ …[more]

St Francis Xavier Senior School in Roselawn is one of forty national schools around the country that will lose a teacher as a consequence of the Fianna Fail – Green government’s decision not to honour their commitment to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio by one point every year.  Specifically, the Programme for Government promised to reduce the staffing schedule ratio for 27 to 26 in 2008 and to reduce it by one every year until a target of 24 is reached by 2010/11.  This provision was one of achievements that the Green Party trumpeted when they decided to go into government with Fianna Fail last year.  …[more]

Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has accused Tánaiste Mary Coughlan of insulting consumers by suggesting that a meeting with the toothless National Consumer Agency will tackle rip-off prices.

“The Tánaiste has a very poor grasp of the reality of Rip-off Ireland if she thinks that a meeting with the National Consumer Agency will benefit consumers and bring down prices. Irish customers are sick of being charged significantly more than their UK counterparts for identical goods. But her decision to pass the buck on to a toothless quango is an insult to consumers’ …[more]

Young men losing their jobs at startling rate

Ordinary workers and families continue to suffer from Fianna Fáil’s botched handling of the economy as a new CSO analysis shows the number of men signing on has risen by 50% since the election.

“The CSO has revealed that the number of men signing on has risen by 50% since the last election. There has also been a steady increase in long-term unemployment, particularly among young men where there has been a 59% increase in men aged between 20 and 24 signing on. This backs up the FÁS analysis that the collapse in the house-building industry has closed off vital opportunities for well-paid employment for young men in the construction sector, particularly in the regions. …[more]

Fine Gael Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD has accused the Green Party of disenfranchising tens of thousands of young voters by waiting until two days before the postal vote deadline before placing advertisements in the newspaper.

Students studying away from home and, any voter who is out of the country on polling day for work or business reasons, is entitled to a postal vote. However, the deadline for applying for a postal vote kicks in two days after formal order for an election or referendum is signed. Last Monday John Gormley placed ads in the newspapers informing voters that they had until Wednesday to apply for postal votes.

“The fact that the Referendum was going to be held on June 12th was no secret to anyone in Government. Former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern announced it six weeks ago, Ministers spoke about the date publicly in the media and the Government Campaign was formulated around June 12th as polling day.

“Minister Gormley should have used this as his cue to place advertisements in the newspaper reminding people of their right to a postal vote. Instead, he waited until the last minute to do so. Young people in particular will feel particularly aggrieved. There are 650,000 people in Ireland between the ages of 19 and 28 and instead of encouraging these voters to exercise their right, John Gormley has effectively disenfranchised a great swathe them. At least 50,000 voters will be denied their right to vote.

“This effective disenfranchisement of thousands of voters will certainly rank as one of the Greens biggest ‘accomplishments’ in Government.”

Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael TD for Dublin West, has welcomed the news that Brian Cowen will take up residence in the Stewards Lodge in Farmleigh in Castleknock. The Taoiseach and his family will continue to live in Tullamore but Brian Cowen will stay in Farmleigh while he is in the capital.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Varadkar said:

(Extract from Dail record)

Deputy Leo Varadkar: I would like to raise promised legislation from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. It is well known that this is not one of the Departments that produces much legislation, so there should not be too much delay in coming up with it. I refer specifically to the heritage fund Bill, which is designed to establish a fund to assist with heritage properties, private properties and others. One of those properties will probably be Farmleigh House. I understand the Taoiseach is waiting on a decision from the Garda Síochána on whether he should take up residence in the steward’s lodge there. I would like to welcome the Taoiseach, should he choose to become a part-time resident of my constituency.

The Taoiseach: I look forward to receiving the Deputy’s literature.

Deputy Leo Varadkar: If he has any problems at all, such as needing access to the gate at White’s Road, then he should not hesitate to contact me.

The Taoiseach: I thank Deputy Varadkar for his good wishes. It is probably the kindest thing he said about Fianna Fáil since he started his political career.

(End of extract)

Deputy Varadkar added:

‘I warmly welcome the Taoiseach to Dublin 15. With the President in the Phoenix Park and the Taoiseach in Farmleigh, Castleknock will be enhanced as one of the most desirable residential areas in Dublin. I hope Mr Cowen will not treat Dublin 15 as a dormitory and will take the opportunity to learn about some of the problems in the area in particular the traffic situation’