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ARCHIVE CONTENT
FG creating taxes out of thin air Green Party
Green members' conference set for July
Publication of Civil Partnerships Bill marks substantial progress – Greens
Government to end upward only rent reviews
How to get kids to eat vegetables? Get them to grow them! - Sargent
White welcomes commitments on Crumlin hospital services

29 October 2010
FG creating taxes out of thin air Green Party
Dublin spokesperson Paul Gogarty TD has accused Fine Gael of creating imaginary taxes and scaremongering, following a statement from their Dublin Parliamentary Party on the issue of the Dublin Mayor today.

Deputy Gogarty said: "This is not the first attempt by Fine Gael to scaremonger on the issue of the Dublin Mayor. Perhaps the Party has something to hide from a new office, which will streamline and bring efficiencies into Dublin's Local Government?

"As I stated at the launch of an information campaign on the Dublin Mayor a fortnight ago, the Mayor is set to actually save taxpayer's money by removing waste and duplication and providing better and more efficient services. Far from costing money this change will make savings for households and businesses. Any talk of a tax to pay for the office is simply political point-scoring and bears no merit whatsoever.

"A figure of 30 staff has already been circulated for the Mayor's office - most of whom are expected to come from within existing staff structures. There will be a natural reduction when the Mayor's office takes over some of the roles currently being carried out by the four Dublin authorities.

"I also find it ironic that Fine Gael is questioning a new democratic office, whose entire aim is to make Dublin more efficient and attractive for business and tourism when the actions of some Fine Gael Councillors has led to huge inefficiencies and losses for the City. Poor rezoning decisions and their backing of incineration policy is actually costing the taxpayers millions. Perhaps the Party would be better off adding up how much their decisions have cost the taxpayer?”

30 June 2009
Green members' conference set for July
Dublin meeting will discuss Lisbon and review of programme for government
The Green Party has invited its members to a conference in Dublin on Saturday 18 July to decide the Party's position on the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and to discuss the forthcoming review of the Programme for Government.

The conference will likely take place in the Hilton Hotel in Dublin on 18 July. The Party's National Executive Committee has convened the meeting following the recent EU summit, which agreed to legally binding guarantees on the application of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, and as part of an ongoing series of internal consultations following the recent local and European elections. Party members were notified of the meeting by email yesterday.

Party Leader and Environment Minister John Gormley said: "The Greens are proudly the most internally democratic political party in Ireland. The purpose of this conference is to assess the legal guarantees negotiated by the Government with the other EU member states and to set out our Party's position on forthcoming Lisbon referendum.

"It will also seek input from our grassroots on the review of the Programme for Government, which we will be negotiating with our counterparts in Fianna Fáil in the weeks ahead.

"In June 2007, Green Party members gave our parliamentary party an overwhelming mandate to enter government. In the meantime the economic situation has changed fundamentally, and likewise the political landscape. We will continue to consult fully and proactively with our membership on all aspects of the Party's policies and strategies," Minister Gormley concluded.

* There are currently approximately 1,900 members of the Green Party.
The meeting is aimed at facilitating open discussions with members and consequently – as with the previous members' conferences that have take place across the country in the last two years. The first part of the meeting, from 10.30am – 1.30pm will focus on the review of the Programme for Government. From 2.30pm – 5.30pm there will be a debate and decision on the referendum. The debate will commence with three principal speakers from the Yes and No sides, followed by other speakers drawn by lot. This will be followed by a vote.

26-Jun-09
Publication of Civil Partnerships Bill marks substantial progress
Significant, purposeful step toward marriage equality says Cuffe
The Green Party welcomed the Government’s publication today of the Civil Partnership Bill, which will enable gay and lesbian couples to enter into a legally recognised union with rights and responsibilities. The Bill also provides a redress scheme for unmarried opposite sex couples and unregistered same-sex couples. This aims to protect people who are financially dependent at the end of a long-term co-habiting relationship, which ends due to break-up or bereavement.

Green Party justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "This Bill will be of huge practical benefit to gay and lesbian couples in Ireland and marks a significant step forward for the equality agenda in this country. Once the Bill goes through the Oireachtas and becomes law, many people in loving relationships will have the option to have their commitment recognised by the State. It represents real and substantial progress.

"I am delighted the Bill has been published; it is a key legislative priority for the Green Party in Government," he said.

“We acknowledge that the bill is not marriage equality and will not satisfy everybody but we believe that legislating now for civil partnerships provides the best means of recognising and protecting same-sex relationships," Deputy Cuffe added.

The Bill will be published on the Department of Justice's website: http://www.justice.ie

26 June 2009
Government to end upward only rent reviews
White welcomes step forward for business community
Green Party spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary White TD has welcomed the announcement by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern that he is to address the issue of upward only rent reviews for businesses and the retail sector by tabling an amendment to Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill.

Deputy White said: “For some time now I have been highlighting in the Dáil the problems being experienced by the retail sector and businesses because of high rents. Across the country, shops, retail outlets and many businesses are still suffering from punitive rents at a time when the retail sector and others are experiencing sharp falls in business. All economic indicators show how extensive the drop in retail sales has been. Many shops in shopping centres and on the high street have gone out of business because of this lethal mix.

“Whilst I welcome this proposed amendment to deal with the issue of upward only rent reviews for all new business leases, the problems experienced by current leases remains. I intend raising this issue with Minister Ahern and the Tánaiste in the coming days to see what can be done to alleviate the pressures faced by businesses because of the punitive rents being charged. Landlords must also be open to reducing rents and service charges at times of punitive recessions."

25 June 2009
How to get kids to eat vegetables? Get them to grow them! - Sargent
A successful new school gardening programme may hold the key to one of modern life's great dilemma for parents: how to get children to eat vegetables, Food Minister Trevor Sargent suggested today.

He said a programme to encourage schoolchildren to grow their own fruit and vegetables can change the dietary habits of the next generation. Speaking at the final of Agri-Aware’s Incredible Edible’s growing challenge today in the RDS, Minister Sargent said early learning on food would last a lifetime.

Minister Sargent said: “Most of today’s schoolchildren have not had the opportunity to experience growing food at home or on an allotment. Previous generations would have grown up with vegetable patches in the back garden, but much of that has been lost.

“By introducing a new food growing challenge into schools, we’ve taught children how to grow food and to consider wider issues such as nutrition and healthy eating, food security, air miles, the agriculture industry and food costs Experience shows that kids are more likely to eat food that they’ve been involved with growing, particularly in the home. This programme has encouraged children to involve their parents and continue the food growing experience at home.”

Two thirds of all primary schools in Ireland took part in the Incredible Edibles programme, which was introduced last Autumn by Minster Sargent and Agri-Aware following the success of the Grow your Spuds campaign. It is estimated that 100,000 schoolchildren grew potatoes, lettuces, cabbages, scallions and strawberries in their classroom this year.

“As obesity levels continue to soar, I hope that the experience of growing fresh healthy food, will stay with these children and encourage them to eat healthily and choose home-grown nutritious foods over processed convenience foods,” said Minister Sargent.

The Green Party’s www.getgrowing.ie campaign, launched last March also aims to get people growing food at home, on an allotment or in a community garden. “This is not about gardening,” said Minister Sargent. “This is about getting to a place where we are capable and have the resources to supply our island-nation with our own food.”

23 June 2009
White welcomes commitments on Crumlin hospital services
Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White TD has welcomed the news that cutbacks in Crumlin hospital services will not go ahead. Speaking ahead of a Dáil debate on the issue this evening, Deputy White said children should not be affected by budget deficits.

Deputy White said: “I welcome the news that planned closures for two wards and an operating theatre will not now go ahead at Crumlin Children’s Hospital. This means that surgeries will go ahead as planned and admission numbers will be maintained.

“The HSE plans to advance surgery for children with scoliosis, by scheduling further theatre sessions. This will help lower the numbers of children on waiting lists and help to improve the quality of life of those who are suffering.”

Deputy White said that she and her Green Party colleagues had worked together with the Minister for Health Mary Harney and the HSE to ensure a way forward could be found.

Savings have been found that ensure children will not be affected by these cuts. I’m delighted that a solution has been found, particularly for the families involved, who have had such a difficult time. I am also pleased that there will be no reduction in the 8,843 outpatients as suggested by Fine Gael and that cut backs in admissions, estimated at 1,100, will not now be implemented. In a debate involving the health and welfare of children, we should have the facts, not scaremongering.”

Deputy White accused the opposition of making false claims. “It was said that children with scoliosis could not be treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This is not the case. The Government has an obligation to ensure the most vulnerable in our society are not affected by cuts to budget expenditure and I am happy that today, we have been able to do that. I will continue to advocate the needs of children at Crumlin. Recession or no recession, cutbacks must not affect sick children."