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24th May 2016 • Volume 23, Issue 17 • Leader House, North Street, Swords. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Disappointment As Farrell Is Overlooked When Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced the names of the Government’s new junior ministers last Thursday, there was great disappointment locally that Malahide based Fine Gael TD, Alan Farrell was overlooked for one of the posts. In a recent edition of the County Leader, By Patrick Finnegan we expressed the great disappointment of many locals that this constituency minority led Fine Gael government. was overlooked when senior ministries Speaking to the County Leader, Farrell, were doled out. As reported at the while clearly disappointed with being time, constituencies with cabinet minis- overlooked, was philosophical about ters statistically fare better than those the situation. “It would have been great without them when it comes to major to have been selected, but there are infrastructural projects and jobs being other areas, which are less high profile, distributed. We expressed the hope that where it is possible to influence policy the appointment of Deputy Farrell as and legislation and I will be seeking to operate there. I served as the junior minister would go some Fine Gael Chair on the Public way to compensate for this, but Expenditure and Reform this was not to be. This is particcommittee and later on the ularly surprising when one Justice committee. I have a lot considers the fact that Farrell of knowledge and experience, polled very well at the last especially in Justice and I general election to retain his intend to apply for this posiseat, one of a minority of Fine tion again. I am now in my 13th Gael candidates to increase his year as a public representative vote substantially, whilst a and hopefully, I will be major heave against his party Alan Farrell TD successful in any future was taking place. He has also served with distinction on promotions that may come along.” “In the meantime, I intend to work hard various Dail select committees, including Justice. Many insiders have on issues that affect my own suggested that Farrell would have been constituency, where the demographic a welcome addition to the ranks of has changed dramatically. The most junior ministers, with reports that pressing issue is now housing, followed various Government departments by education and childcare and I will do my utmost to devote my energies in that regarding him as an asset to them. What is also curious to many people is direction,” concluded Farrell. the fact that 15 of the junior ministers With Dublin Fingal and the former came from the ranks of Fine Gael, which Dublin North constituency having the when you consider the greatly reduced youngest, fastest growing population in Dail representation of the party, the the state, the decision to exclude both a odds would have been stacked in senior and now a junior minister is Farrell’s favour, with less to choose baffling to say the least. Even when from. Three of the posts were filled by Dublin North was a four seater, we had Independent deputies, as part of the a government Minister, in Dr James
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Health, Louise O'Reilly paid a visit to Swords Fire Station on Friday last, where she met firefighters/paramedics and discussed the lack of resources in the Ambulance service. She is pictured here with firefighters and ambulance crew members, Stephen Cushen, Tom McLoughlin, Finbarr Lambert and Gregg Hannon
Local Sinn Féin TD and Health spokesperson, Louise O’Reilly has said that there is a need to secure the necessary resources for the ambulance service, which it has been starved of, in order to provide the public with the service it deserves. Speaking to the County Leader on a visit to Swords Fire Station, after the publication of the comprehensive National Ambulance Service of Ireland capacity review, O’Reilly highlighted that the paramedics in our health service are working under growing pressure, with rising numbers and increasingly complex callouts. The local TD called for immediate engagement with all stakeholders, including SIPTU. She said: “The National Ambulance Service is a key public service. We recognise that the paramedics in our health service are working under growing pressure, with rising numbers and increasingly complex callouts. We need to secure the resources, which it has been starved of, in order to provide the Ambulance Service which the public deserves. The State must guarantee basic levels of care across the country.”
Reilly at the cabinet table. Now that it’s a five seater is an even more compelling reason to have representation at this level. Dublin Airport, one of the fastest growing airports in Europe is located in this constituency, as well as the promised Metro North project. Many residents will now begin to doubt if this project will ever come to fruition, and now with no minister to guide it over the line, doubts may well creep in, as to whether it has a future. Other major infrastructural projects that need urgent attention include the completion of the Wastewater system in Rush, without which raw sewage is continuing to flow
“Now that the report has finally been published, it is imperative that the Government engage with all stakeholders and representatives of ambulance professionals to agree on a way forward that ensures we have an operational, properly funded and well-resourced national ambulance service that is fit for purpose,” she added. She continued, “I think the Capacity Review Report, now that it has been published, needs to be read carefully by department officials, who need to move to implement it. We have asked some questions in terms of how much this is going to cost and we need those answers. The Minister has had this report now, as well as the previous Minister and they haven’t provided us with any reason why there’s a delay. We need action now, as the report showed that there are serious deficiencies in funding for both the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) Ambulance and the National Ambulance Service.” She continued, “If Minister Harris is serious about patients and patient care and safety, he needs to resource the Ambulance Service, be it the DFB Ambulance or the National Ambulance Service,” she said.
on to the beaches, making tourism there impossible. The electrification of the DART line as far as Balbriggan is another essential project that has been promised, but will these be delivered without a voice at Cabinet, or input at departmental level?
It will be interesting to see if the neighbouring constituency of Meath East, which received two junior ministerial posts, with a much smaller population than Dublin Fingal, will see a boost in job figures over the lifetime of this Dáil.
Pictured after making their Holy Communion at St Cronan's Church Brackenstown, Swords are, Erin Ryoo, Jessica Finnegan, Caoimhe Curry, Abby Masterson and Emma Lyne. See picture page on page 12