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Sunday 28th June 2009
Joint Statement By Dr James Reilly & Jan O’sullivan
Fine Gael, Labour Joint Motion Calls For Investigation Into Michael Shine Abuse Cases
Fine Gael and Labour have today published a joint motion, calling for an investigation into how complaints relating to Michael Shine were handled and urging the Government to put in place protocols and procedures to prevent a similar abuse occurring again. The motion, which is to be debated in Dáil Private Members time on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, also calls for the provision of appropriate support services to Michael Shine’s sexual assault victims.

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD said: “Clearly there are many deeply worrying aspects to this case. Mr Shine was struck off after a Medical Council enquiry found him guilty of professional misconduct in relation to the allegations of three patients, although there are many more, and there has been no further investigation.

“There should be an investigation into all aspects of this case and how complaints were handled. It is clear that the guiding principle of any doctor – first, do no harm – was trampled by Michael Shine. It is now incumbent on the Dáil to ensure that the level of harm that was done to his patients, including children, is exposed in full, that justice is done and that his victims receive all the support it is possible to offer.”

Labour Health Spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said: “Michael Shine was a serial abuser, who was protected by a culture of deference, professional loyalty and a profound lack of respect for those without power.

“It is clear that we need an investigation into this abuse, which went on for decades and which is believed to have involved dozens of victims. We need to know why it happened and how it happened so that such a thing cannot happen again.

“In addition the Michael Shine case has highlighted the need for greater protection for whistleblowers and I would have to say that track record of the Government in this regard has been lamentable.”

Note: Motion available on the Oireachtas Website at following link;
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/ThisWeek/PMB-DAIL-2009/document22.htm

Sunday 28th June 2009
65 people sex trafficked into Ireland in 12 months, 14 of them minors - Naughten
Responding to information released to him, Fine Gael Immigration Spokesperson Denis Naughten T.D., today expressed his shock at the first official figures on victims of sex trafficking which reveal disturbing levels of sex trafficking in Ireland. The figures highlight the need for adequate protections and services to be put in place immediately, so prosecutions against the criminals driving this repulsive activity can take place.

“65 people, 14 of whom are children, have been identified by An Garda Siochana in the last 12 months as potential victims of human trafficking. A report by the Immigrant Council of Ireland has also identified 102 women and girls between 2007 and 2008 who suffered the same fate. Its one year since the introduction of Human Trafficking legislation, yet the Government has failed to establish adequate protections and secure accommodation for these victims and to ensure prosecutions against traffickers occur.

“151 investigations have been undertaken by the Gardaí in the last 18 months into alleged trafficking but there have been no prosecutions to date. The reality is that unless we adopt a decisive and practical approach to protection and support systems, victims will not come forward to Garda authorities. This is fundamental to securing convictions against those directly involved in this trade. By doing this, we are hitting the supply end of the industry.

“Indeed, Government policy currently places trafficked adults into asylum centres and unaccompanied children into HSE hostels, many of which have been found to be unsuitable and unsafe. NGOs believe that in some instances traffickers are targeting asylum seekers hostels and identifying women and young girls who they attempt to lure into a life of prostitution.

“In Ireland, this is a relatively new and nasty phenomenon and without decisive Government action, it will be extremely difficult to secure prosecutions at the supply end of this disturbing phenomenon. Everything must be done to prevent human trafficking gaining a permanent foothold in Irish society.”

Sunday, 21 June, 2009
FF Govt more interested in PR strategy than economic recovery as it softens up public for social welfare cuts
Fine Gael Social & Family Affairs Spokesperson, Olwyn Enright TD, today (Sunday) accused the Fianna Fail Government of having no coherent economic strategy following Sunday newspaper reports of cuts to social welfare payments after the report of An Bord Snip Nua.

"You would almost imagine it was the week before Budget day reading the Sunday newspapers which are full of the kind of Government finance briefings we normally only see pre-Budget. This time they are softening people up for social welfare cuts and terrifying those who have already lost their jobs and those who are in danger of doing so.

"One thing that's clearly missing is any consistency. In the last Budget the Christmas bonus was cut in order, we were told, to avoid cuts to social welfare payments. Now they're talking about giving back the Christmas bonus and going ahead with cutting social welfare. The absence of any coherent Government strategy is pointed up by a report in one paper that the Department of Finance is relying on emigration as a safety valve.

"The Fianna Fail Government has already had a taste of the public anger that results when they attack the most vulnerable and what we are witnessing now is a media strategy to minimise the next backlash rather than a coherent plan to get us out of the economic mess they landed us in."

Sunday, 21 June 2009
Green's should lead party colleagues to vote in favour of Fine Gael motion on Crumlin Children's Hospital cutback
Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, has called on Green Party Deputy Leader, Mary White, to have the courage of her convictions and lead her party to vote in favour of Fine Gael's Private Members' Motion next week seeking the reversal of cutbacks at the Crumlin Children's Hospital.

"I don't doubt that Mary White is genuine in her upset at the painful conditions of young children who are on waiting lists for surgery at Our Lady's in Crumlin while Government cutbacks have forced the indefinite closure of a ward and an operating theatre at the hospital. However, I do have doubts that the Green Party Deputy Leader and her colleagues have the courage to vote according to their consciences and stand up to their senior Government partners in the face of these indefensible cuts. It is time to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk like so many Government Deputies on issues like cystic fibrosis facilities, the cervical cancer vaccination programme and cuts to special needs education.

"Mary White is quoted in a newspaper this weekend as saying that 'no budgetary restraints should impede vital surgery for children in pain' and that limitations on the Crumlin Children's Hospital's ability to deliver services must be addressed urgently. Fine Gael believes that it is possible to find the €9 million savings being made at Crumlin elsewhere, notably by tackling waste and excess bureaucracy, and allow children to have the surgery they need.

"The recent confidence motion passed by the Government was passed by six votes, the same number as there are Green Deputies. Mary White should have the courage of her convictions and lead her party colleagues to vote in favour of the Fine Gael motion which will provide the urgent response to the Crumlin cutbacks she says she desires."

Sunday June 21st 2009
National Forum on Education now crucial
FG Education Spokesperson calls on Education Minister to respond to Archbishop Martin’s invitation
Fine Gael’s Education Spokesperson, Brian Hayes TD, has today (Sunday) called on the Minister for Education to establish, without further delay, a National Forum on Education to address in a public way all of the issues concerning governance, patronage and management of our school system.

“Two years ago I called for such a National Forum. Minister Hanafin, who was Education Minister at the time, refused to consider the idea and instead gave way to a one day conference, which was totally inadequate.

“In light of Archbishop Martin’s recent comments, an open invitation now exists, and I believe that if the Forum is not established, a great opportunity will be missed.

“It is now high time to deal with all of the complicated issues surrounding this issue in a measured and up front way. A new National Forum on Education would present all of the partners in education, the public and all political parties with a vehicle to do so.

“Ireland is undergoing a period of profound change. This change is manifesting itself in a very direct way in our schools, particularly at primary level. Our schools are places of learning but they are also places where much of a child's social formation takes place. Schools nurture and develop a child's sense of identity, of belonging and of community.

“From comments made by the Catholic Hierarchy, it is clear that the Church wants a debate on these issues and I believe that all of the Education Partners would welcome such a public engagement.

“Traditionally, the vast majority of our children went to the local national school where children of all social backgrounds mingled together. In recent years, particularly in our large urban centers, the primary school system is becoming fragmented. This fragmentation is being driven by social and economic divisions, by religion, by language and by ethnicity. There are huge dangers in what is happening. It is critical that all our citizens, regardless of their background should share a sense of Irish identity. This is best done by educating children together, particularly in their early years.

“There is now an urgent need for a national debate on the ownership, patronage, management, funding, access and selection policies of our schools. I am calling on the Government to establish a National Forum on the Future of Education which will address these critical issues in a detailed and comprehensive way.

“The terms of reference of such a Forum and its work programme should be the result of a preliminary debate. I believe the Forum on Education should be established by the Dáil with All-Party agreement. The Dáil should appoint a chairperson of national standing assisted by a panel of assessors. The Forum should hold public hearings in various venues and take submission from all interested parties and from the general public. Finally, it should have a time mandate of no more than two years.

“There are complex and difficult issues surrounding the future of education. We need to think carefully about these issues in an open, honest and non-confrontational way. Some of these issues include questions such as;

Where school ownership and control really starts and finishes?
The role of denominational and non denominational education provision?
How far can the state, effectively the paymaster general for the system, demand accountability from the system?
How can the church go about divesting itself from schools and what new system do we put in its place?
Who ultimately is the employer for the teacher within our system?
How realistic is it to suggest that parents have an absolute right to decide the type of school that they want for their children and how far can we implement what the constitution provides for?"