JOAN BURTON TD

Public Meeting DÁIL REPORT BREXIT and its consequences Spring 2017 Hotel and Country Club Tuesday March 14th at 8pm

Chair: Olivia O’Leary Speakers: Joan Burton TD BREXIT: THE SHADOW & Senator THAT WON’T GO AWAY ALL WELCOME

Then there is the question of a physical border reappearing on this island. It doesn’t help that we have a Government of National Confusion in charge with little or no authority in the Dail and subject to endless disagreements inside the Cabinet. It is simply not good enough to have Ireland’s vital and unique interests merged in with general European concerns when Brexit talks get underway. There are huge economic reasons why Ireland has to have a special place at the Brexit table. There are also political considerations that arise from the Good Friday Agreement. As things stand Ireland will be in a side room when UK-EU talks get going, just one small country among 27. One EU commissioner will carry out the negotiations behalf of all member states. I’m sure those countries recognize Ireland’s particular difficulties and interests but that is no guarantee that the ultimate agreement will protect our position. It has to be understood that a country adjacent to the one that wishes to leave the EU is in a special position and ought to have a particular place at the talks. The shadow of Brexit dominates all serious debate in Leinster House and no wonder. I have taken a very detailed interest in this topic and have closely There is an old saying that countries don’t have friends, they have interests. I questioned the on it on numerous occasions, not always to his believe the Taoiseach has to look for a way that places the specific interests of advantage. Ireland at the centre of the Brexit talks. Our country has endured a traumatic recession and, while there are clear signs of That can be done in a number of ways such as the creation of a separate component recovery and job creation, we are by no means out of the woods. within the talks that deals only with the Ireland -UK matters. Of course, the EU will have a central role in such a framework but so will representatives from the Brexit could easily upend that recovery and plunge the country into a severe UK and from Ireland, North and South. downturn and heavy job losses. The challenges that Brexit involves for Ireland are mighty and some are unique to us. They will test our relationships with the A line has been crossed now that the British PM has opted for a hard Brexit EU because of the scale of Ireland’s trade with the UK. strategy. The people get it. The Taoiseach needs to get it too. He needs to act for Ireland and to speak clearly for Ireland. It’s time for the Taoiseach to get real. It is the UK’s declared intention to exit the single market and that alone will produce great difficulties for carrying out trade between Ireland and the UK.

Burning Money: Tough Year for Motorists The Dail’s Finance Committee has now issued a detailed examination of insurance costs and the factors that have given rise to the extraordinary increases that have shocked motorists of all ages as their premiums come up for renewal. It is not just individual motorists who have been affected. Most businesses also carry a big car insurance cost and the scale of increases they have experienced does have a negative effect on their capacity to increase investment and create jobs. It is an extra worry for business at a time of much uncertainty due to Brexit and other factors. Another aspect that is causing anxiety is the number of cases where insurance companies are refusing to quote at all. These extra costs are falling on drivers who have a clear no claim cover for years and have not gotten any penalty points and have full NCT certificates. Obviously, this 2017 has started on a bad note for motorists as prices at the pumps have risen group feels especially bitter at the new costs they have to bear. suddenly and unexpectedly. The price per litre of both petrol and diesel is now higher than at any point since 2015. This means that most family cars will cost There are more cars on the road now as the rate of unemployment has fallen month around €280 more to run this year and that could be more if crude oil prices on by month. For many, their personal cars are essential to getting to work and hence international markets continues to rise. the extra costs are a considerable penalty on their efforts to obtain and keep their jobs. Bad as this particular blow is to family budgets, it is made much worse by the continuing rise in motor insurance costs. The Dail Committee has made 71 separate recommendations. Over the coming months, it is my intention to follow up progress on each of these. Some may require This is an issue that has concerned TDs of all parties this past year. All of us have new legislation and this present Government has been dreadfully slow in proposing heard from angry constituents who have shown renewal notices with 38% price new laws. There is a general agreement in Leinster House that the present situation hikes for last year alone. The official figures for 3 years show a cumulative 70% cannot be allowed to fester. increase. AT LAST: APPRENTICESHIPS 2017 Priorities for West In my time as Tanaiste, Minister GET ATTENTION and local TD I have continually lobbied for a wide range of improvements to public facilities in Dublin West. I regard these as essential to meet the needs of this part of Ireland where there continues to be sizeable increases in population and in new home construction. All public services come Clonsilla Train station under strain if there is under investment. I am listing here a number of projects which were approved in my time in Government. It is my intention all through this year to keep a watchful eye on all these so that they can be progressed to completion as soon as possible. One of the most damaging features of the recession since 2008 has been the I hope to publish a scorecard every 3 months setting out what progress has been decline in apprenticeships. 80% of places disappeared largely due to the collapse made and to establish where there are delays and bottlenecks. of construction activity. In my view, they were all fully costed and approved within the national budget limits. Labour Ministers of Education in the last Government, set out to address this There is no excuse for dilly dallying and indecision at this time. issue and to increase the number of sectors that could offer training places to young people. Health: The superb new These reforms are now in place and a new investment programme is underway to health Centre at Corduff has create 50,000 places over the next 3 years. been completed and is open for business. Connolly Hospital This is vitally important for Ireland’s economic recovery. Countries with successful has 3 important projects in the economies have training schemes that lead to well-paid employment. Germany pipeline, the construction of a and Austria stand out as examples of countries that have a long history of offering satellite children’s facility, the a wide range of apprenticeships schemes, as many as 300 in the case of Germany. development of a new unit for Here in Ireland we have lagged behind in directing funds to develop apprenticeships. elderly patients in long term Instead we have devoted most attention to offering college places. These don’t care to replace Woodlands always meet the needs of young men and women who want a more practical type and also the transfer of the of training. Rotunda Maternity Hospital to Navan Road Health Centre Young women, in particular, have found it very difficult finding training schemes . that suit their ambitions. In fact, the number of places on offer to Ireland’s young Schools: The demand for school places in Dublin West continues unabated. In women in recent times is shockingly low and this has to be remedied as a priority. 2017 I want to see construction work fully underway at St Mochta’s, Clonsilla and Another matter of importance is the esteem in which this part of our education at St Patrick’s, Corduff. system is held. A new secondary school has been approved for Carpenterstown - Castleknock and For too long apprenticeships have been undervalued. The fact that Ireland has a we need to progress planning work and the choice of site to allow this project to world beating reputation for its young skilled apprentices hardly merits a mention advance. in many quarters. Pelletstown and Ashtown parents will want to see more movement for the provision This has to change. of the promised schools in their area. School league tables are produced that highlight what percentage of school leavers Transport: This is a very vexed issue as all commuter roads, buses and trains go on to Universities and there is no attention paid to the numbers who go on to are close to extreme congestion at peak hours. There are reports of passengers who apprenticeships. There needs to be exhibitions and open days to showcase what cannot get onto trains at certain peak times. kind of places are on offer and what opportunities can arise for school leavers The new Luas line to Broombridge should be ready later this year bit its success who take on this route. depends very much on good co-ordination between Irish Rail and Luas timetables to Apprenticeships can also offer an alternative pathway to higher education than enable a simple transfer between one service and the other. the traditional CAO route and many colleges now recognise these qualifications I do want some definite steps forward on the proposals to have a rapid express bus for admission to courses. services on the 39 route. Parents, schools and students can get more information from the national If Dublin West is to attract investment in new housing and industry it will need a first organisation Solas which is charged with expanding apprenticeships. class transport service. I wish Minister Ross would display some real commitment to The website is Solas.ie his job and deliver results.

Public Meeting BREXIT and its consequences

Joan visiting one of Dublin 15’s oldest enterprises, Flower Power at Blakestown Community Centre Joan supporting local Tesco workers in Roselawn Shopping Rathborne Candles at the Design Ireland exhibition Centre - Mandate Trade Union members defending good Castleknock Hotel in the RDS quality permanent full time employment and Country Club Tuesday March 14th at 8pm JOAN’S TEAM IN DUBLIN WEST Contact Phone: 01 618 4006 Chair: Olivia O’Leary Joan: Email: [email protected] Speakers: Joan Burton TD Web: www.joanburton.ie & Senator Ivana Bacik Working with CLLR. MARY MCCAMLEY CLLR. BRENDAN CARR Dublin City Council 087 6501441 087 207 5921 ALL WELCOME [email protected] [email protected]

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