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Pat Rabbitte TD LABOUR NEWS Eamonn Maloney TD & Pat Rabbitte TD Summer 2013 6 BILLION JOBS BOOST The government has established a Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) which will take over 6.4 billion Euro from the National Pension Reserve Fund to stimulate investment in job creation. The funds can be accessed for projects of merit on commercial terms. “More jobs is our biggest challenge. Given our financial circumstances, this is the first time we will have a dedicated fund to generate economic activity and create jobs. Up to now the NPRF has been investing our pension funds abroad; in future this money will be creating jobs in Ireland,” local Minister Pat Rabbitte told us. Already €250 million has been transferred to Irish Water the new water utility where some 2,000 workers will be employed starting from July in the installation of water meters. The idea is to maximise our resources to support and attract investment into Ireland and, most importantly, to create jobs. BANKING BREAKTHROUGH THE GLOOM LIFTS Twelve months after the decision by European heads of government to break the toxic link A return to modest growth (not enough); a small between bank and sovereign debt, progress has finally been recorded by Finance Ministers. The increase in the number of people at work (not decision that the new bank bailout fund – the ESM – can be used to “retroactively” help member enough); the creation of the Strategic Investment states will be a big help to Ireland. The previous government at the behest of the ECB put 32 Fund (6.4 billion) for job creation; a hopeful billion into the Irish so-called “pillar bank”. For the first time in writing there is now the prospect breakthrough on bank debt and completion of of the taxpayer getting some of that back a cautious Finance Minister, Michael Noonan told the EU Budget are all hopeful signs. journalists. Separately the government has already renegotiated and restructured the infamous promissory note to Anglo-Irish Bank which will free up about one billion for next years’ Budget and will save The approval by the European Parliament of the government having to borrow another 20 billion between 2015 and 2022. €960 billion Europe-wide budget, as recommended on behalf of Member States by Tanáiste Eamon Gilmore, it will help get economic activity going throughout Europe. Ireland badly needs Eurozone stability and progress on bank supervision and resolution and these are now in prospect. Where normal bank credit is in short supply, the Strategic Investment Fund will allow major projects to get underway. This is the worst recession in living memory. Whereas the struggle to maintain social services is painfully demanding, the greater challenge is to put people back to work. For almost a year now every month has added 2000 people to the work force. However, unemployment remains unacceptably high. The recent CSO figures showed how difficult it is for a small trading economy to grow when every other EU country is in recession. New Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr. Dermot Looney with Labour colleagues, new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Oisín Quinn and Cllr. Carrie Smyth, Mayor of Dun Laoghaire. Honest and Effective Representation NEWS SNIPPETS POSTCODES Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte T.D. has invited final tenders for the implementation of a national postcode project. Apart from quality improvements in the mails sector, it will deliver greater efficiencies with regard to logistics – including the emergency services e.g. ambulance and fire services. Government Departments in terms of efficiency, quality and the development of new services will greatly benefit. NATIONAL DIGITAL STRATEGY While older sectors of the economy have been contracting, the digital economy has been growing at 16% per year according to Indecon Consultants. Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte T.D. has got Government approval to publish a National Digital Strategy to take advantage of this growth. The first phase of the strategy will focus initially on increasing overall levels of digital engagement. Irish consumers are now spending 3.7 billion on online purchases mostly from abroad. Ireland must compete. A pilot “trade- online voucher system” designed to get 2,000 small Minister Pat Rabbitte opens new offices of businesses trading online over 2 years is part of the Wincor-Nixdorf at Citywest. The company strategy. There are jobs and economic benefits if more has grown employment from 35 to 110 SMEs move to transacting business online. employees in the last 3 years. National Digital Strategy available at www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/nds OIL AND GAS MAGDELENE LAUNDRIES Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte T.D. has welcomed as Eamonn Maloney T.D. has welcomed the financial arrangement put in place, at the request of “encouraging” prospects for an oil strike by Providence Resources at Barryroe, off Cork. “There certainly is oil there” government, by former High Court Judge John Quirke. “For many women these were prisons not the Minister told us “but it will take another couple of laundries,” Deputy Maloney said. He called on the Religious concerned to make a contribution drillings to establish that it is commercially viable.” A towards the financial settlement. “I never believed that these laundries never made money,” he said. further 200 million euro-well has just commenced being drilled at Dunquinn by a consortium of oil companies amidst increased activity in the Irish off-shore. ABOLISH THE SEANAD ELECTRIC CARS “The Seanad is not a democratic Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte T.D. announced Europe’s first institution, it never was and it has cross-border Electric Vehicle Fast Charger Network linking major intercity routes here and in Northern Ireland. The become a costly political quango we joint initiative has won 4.2m Euro from the E.U. It can no longer afford,” Deputy Maloney facilitates the expansion of a fully interoperable EV Charge told us. He traced the major political Point network that allows drivers to charge their electric cars seamlessly in both jurisdictions. figures through history who at various stages held a similar view such as William Norton, Sean Lemass and Noel TALLAGHT VILLAGE Browne. We have one elected democratic Saturday 2pm - 3pm parliament of the Irish people and, just T.W.S. - Trustus as many similar countries have decided, we don’t need to replicate that 1 Main Street, parliament in a second chamber. The Tallaght Village government has committed to allowing the people to decide on the future of (Except August and Bank Holidays) the Seanad in a Referendum this Pat Rabbitte formally opens Scoil Solas Chríost, Belgard after Autumn. €4 million refurbishment. Eamonn Maloney TD CONTACT LABOUR & ADVICE CENTRES Dáil Eireann, Dublin 2 Ph: 6184833 ADVICE CENTRES FETTERCAIRN E: [email protected] (excluding Bank Holidays & Monday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Pat Rabbitte TD August) Fettercairn Community Centre Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources OLDBAWN GREENHILLS Dail Eireann, Dublin 2 Monday 6.00pm to 7.00pm Thursday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Ph: 6183772 / 6782011 Dominic’s Community Centre Greenhills Community Centre E: [email protected] (Eamonn Maloney) Cllr Paddy Cosgrave Cllr Chris Bond Cllr Marie Corr Cllr Mick Duff PC Cllr Pamela Kearns Cllr Dermot Looney 25 Orchardstown Drive 42 Allenton Drive 35 Sundale Park 26 St Aongus Crescent 203 Orwell Park Heights 1 Temple Manor Close Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 Tallaght, Dublin 24 Jobstown, Dublin 24 Tallaght, Dublin 24 Templeogue, Dublin 6W Greenhills, Dublin 12 Ph: 085 1742709 Ph: 086 1917159 Ph: 085 7359200 Ph: 087 2865570 Ph: 087 7756718 Ph: 085 7089955 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] 0612.
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