Every few months, the newspapers publish details of expense claims made by TDs and Senators.  This information is made available by using the Freedom of Information Act, something that I found very useful in exposing mismanagement and misappropriation at FAS. 

TDs and Senators expenses are paid by the House of Oireachtas Commission subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance.  I really do not understand why the Commission doesn’t publish details of our expenses every six months as a matter of course.  It would be a lot more transparent. …[more]

Companies forced to lay off staff during credit famine

The Government’s €10 billion re-capitalisation plan to rescue the banks should include a dedicated credit fund for small and medium businesses, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD said today (Tuesday).

“Over the past few months, profitable and viable small and medium businesses have found it increasingly difficult to get access to credit. In some cases, overdrafts have actually been reduced. Credit is the oil in the machinery of commerce and, without it, businesses cannot get money to expand and make new orders. Businesses also need credit to maintain cash flow and meet payroll costs from time to time. …[more]

Last night saw the conclusion of the Dáil debate on Fine Gael’s motion on Consumers.  My final contribution to the debate is below. The full transcript of the debate on Tuesday and Wednesday is now available from the Oireachtas Website.

I took the 7.38 a.m. train from Coolmine Station this morning. I try to use public transport as often as possible but sometimes the will does not meet the expectation. It is the first time I have travelled on this particular train for some six weeks and I immediately noticed that there was plenty of space in the carriage. My first thought was that additional carriages had been provided, but I discovered on disembarking at Connolly Station that this was not the case. Although I am aware of all the statistics, it was then that I was struck by the extent to which the recession is being reflected on train services and main streets. For the first time in four years, there are seats on the train in the morning. …[more]

Last night saw the opening of a Fine Gael debate on consumer issues. As Fine Gael’s spokesperson in this area, I led the debate, and will conclude it tonight. Please find my contribution to the debate below. The transcript is not up on the OIreachtas website yet, but I’ll add it when it is.

Two thirds of Consumer Strategy Group recommendations still not implemented Ireland is now deep in recession. More than 100,000 people have lost there jobs and many more will lose their jobs in 2009. Real incomes for most people are stagnant and for most, take-home pay will fall next year as a consequence of the tax increases introduced in the Budget.

Inflation is starting to fall and is likely to fall further. However, with household budgets feeling the pinch, issues such as rip-off, value for money and consumer protection are now more important than ever. It is in this context that I move the motion which says:

That Dáil Éireann:

• Notes with concern that inflation in Ireland remains higher than the Eurozone average and noting in particular the ex-tax price of diesel, petrol and home heating oil is 10% to 20% higher than the EU average.

• Notes the Government’s failure to rein in price increases created directly by Government departments (eg prescription charges, accident and emergency, school transport and hospital charges) or sanctioned by regulators (eg the Commission for Energy Regulation, the Taxi Regulator and the National Roads Authority), and concerned at the impact that these increases will have on consumers and notes with concern that many consumers are travelling to Northern Ireland or overseas to purchase goods and services

And calls on the Government to:

• Reverse the decision to increase the higher rate of VAT in the Budget;

• Freeze Government charges and levies imposed on business and consumers;

• Require regulatory organisation to hold public hearings prior to the decision on price increases and outlaw surcharges imposed by retailers on credit cards, debit cards and e-payments.

…[more]

Courtesy of an IPA program, I have had an American intern, Caitlin Minarchek (right), working in my office over the past few months. She is finishing up today (thanks very much to her for her good work) and has kindly put together her observations on Irish politics.

I recently went on a trip to Barcelona and met a couple from England on holiday. They asked what I what I was doing in Ireland and when I explained that I had an internship in the Irish Parliament they looked shocked. Believe it or not they were surprised to hear that Ireland had a real, functioning government similar to their own. After 3 ½ months of working in the Dail it’s hard to imagine not understanding (at least at a basic level) Ireland’s political system and government.

Picture of Caitlin

However, when I think back to before I arrived in Ireland I realize that I had never given the Irish government a thought. Coming from a democratic country (the US), I instinctively assume that every other democratic nation is similar to my own. On the contrary, the other US interns and myself have found the political system here and the Dail sessions in particular to be quite interesting and unique.

Considering the fact that Ireland is a much smaller nation than the United States, it should have come to no surprise how dramatically less formal the entire political arena is here. I can not imagine coming into such close contact with political leaders in the US as I do in Ireland; this is not just my own experience, but the other interns are equally as surprised to be shaking hands and chatting with the most influential leaders of government.

…[more]

Figures released on Friday showed that an extra 286 people joined the Dole Queues in Dublin 15 over the course of November, a rise of over 5% in one month. This brings the numbers signing onto the Live Register at the Blanchardstown Social Welfare Office to 5,715 – an increase of more than 70% in

Local TD, and Fine Gael Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar highlighted the continuing inaction of the Government to deal with the massive growth in unemployment across the country.

Commenting on the matter he said:

“For the past year, we have seen the dole queues increasing massively across the country, and yet the government have showed no willingness to tackle the problem. They talk about international factors contributing to the current situation, but are doing nothing to come up with Irish solution. We need clear and decisive action. Already unemployment is back at the levels of the mid nineties and is increasing ever month at record rates.

…[more]

FG Dáil Motion will reduce cost of living & strengthen consumer protection

The Government should lower VAT and freeze Government stealth taxes, according to Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD, who was announcing a Fine Gael Private Members’ Motion which will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow and Wednesday.

Calling on Government TDs to back the Motion in the interests of consumers, Deputy Varadkar said: “As Ireland slips deeper into recession, tens of thousands of people are likely to join the dole queues and millions will experience a fall in their income as a consequence of lower pay and tax increases. Ensuring value for money for consumers is now more important than ever.

“The Fine Gael motion calls for:

• The reversal of the Government’s decision to increase VAT;
• The freezing of Government charges and local authority levies imposed on business and consumers;
• A requirement that utility regulators should hold public hearings on price increases and publish the formula they use to decide on prices;
• A ban on surcharges imposed on people use credit cards and debit cards to pay their bills. …[more]

Following Enda Kenny’s example, I recently sent a letter to the Paymaster General asking that my salary as a TD be reduced by 5%, and forgoing the 3.5% pay increase under the National Pay Agreement due in September of next year. A scanned copy of the letter can be read here.

Fine Gael Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, has today (Sunday) called on the Government to publish, in full, the report issued to the Government in 2002 by the European Commission, which warned of serious financial mismanagement within Fás.

“Statements in today’s media suggest that a report by the European Commission, which was issued to the Government in 2002, warned of serious internal and financial control problems which existed within the State agency at that time. The confidential document identified ‘weak and unreliable’ internal controls, ‘unsound’ applications for EU funds and no clear paper trails for some major projects. …[more]

As part of the Fairer Budget campaign, I will be at Carlow Town Hall meeting this coming Monday.

It’s taking place at the Dolmen Hotel in Carlow at 8pm.  To date, there has been a great response at the meetings which are taking place around the country, and there has been a phenomenal interest in the website, so if your from that part of the country and are interested in hearing Fine Gael’s alternative, your please come along.