O RIORDAIN AODHAN A3 AUTUMN NEWS 3687_Layout 1 20/08/2014 15:16 Page 1 KEEPING IN TOUCH Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD Minister of State for Equality, New Communities & Culture Autumn 2014 APPOINTMENT AS MINISTER FOR EQUALITY, NEW COMMUNITIES & CULTURE Last July, I was honoured to be asked by An Tánaiste Joan Burton to serve as a Minister of State for Equality, New Communities and Culture. It is a privilege to serve in Government and I am humbled by the opportunity that has been given to me. In 2011 many of you trusted me with your vote and gave me the chance to represent you for 5 years in our national parliament. I hope that in my new role I can continue to do this in addition to driving the equality agenda at the heart of Government. My work and experiences as a teacher in Sheriff Street continue to ground me and have always informed my values. It was there that I became encouraged to get involved in politics because I believed change was Aodhán with Cllr Jane Horgan Jones and Cllr Alison Gilliland necessary. I was inspired by the girls I taught to put my head above the parapet and make a difference. In the most recent election Dublin Bay North bucked the trend and returned 3 strong and vibrant Labour WORKING WITH Councillors: Alison Gilliland, Jane Horgan-Jones & Brian McDonagh who alongside Sean Kenny and myself will continue to work for the people of the area. AODHÁN Ó RÍORDÁIN TD As always, if I can ever be of assistance please feel free to give my office a call. Cllr. Alison Gilliland (Beaumont – Regards, Donaghmede Ward): Alison was elected last May as a first time Councillor for the Beaumont – Donaghmede Ward to represent the areas of Kilmore, Beaumont, Artane, Coolock, Edenmore, Kilbarrack, Raheny, Clonshaugh, Darndale and Donaghmede. In her day role Alison works as a Trade Union Official with the Irish National Teachers Organisation specialising in professional development. She previously worked as a teacher in Darndale and lives locally in Larch Hill. Cllr. Jane Horgan-Jones (Clontarf Ward): Jane has served as a Councillor for the area since 2011 and was re-elected last May. She continues to represent the areas of Clontarf, Killester, Donnycarney, Raheny, Fairview, Marino and Drumcondra. She is a Barrister in her 3rd year of practice specialising in criminal law. She lives locally in Clontarf on the Howth Road. Cllr. Brian McDonagh (Howth – Malahide Ward): Brian represents the areas of Howth, Sutton, Baldoyle and Bayside. He was first elected last May 2014. Originally from Portmarnack he now lives locally in Belmayne and works in publishing. Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin with Tanaiste Joan Burton and fellow Ministers of State upon their appointment. NEW LABOUR LEADER JOAN BURTON On the 4th of July, Labour Party members elected Minister Joan Burton as the new Leader of the Labour Party in addition to serving as the new Tánaiste for Ireland. Joan is the first woman to hold the office of Labour Leader and succeeds Eamon Gilmore who spent seven years previously in the post. I have known Joan for many years and was delighted with her elevation to the leadership post. In her previous role as Deputy Leader she worked tirelessly to drive Labour values at the heart of government. She has been an outstanding Minister for Social Protection and in strained times has rigorously defended her Department’s Budget, ensuring the protection of frontline Social Welfare Rates. I look forward to working with Joan in her new role and I have invited her to visit the constituency to listen to the concerns of local residents, something that I hope will be arranged in the near future. Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin with Tanaiste Joan Burton AODHÁN Ó RÍORDÁIN TD Constituency Office: e: [email protected] Minister for Equality, New Communities and Culture 01 857 4020 @AodhanORiordain 0612 O RIORDAIN AODHAN A3 AUTUMN NEWS 3687_Layout 1 20/08/2014 15:17 Page 2 1.Strengthening the Domestic STATEMENT OF NEW PRIORITIES Economy & Prioritising New Jobs In July 2014, the government agreed a statement of new priorities for the remainder of its term. These for the Unemployed priorities reflect many of the key concerns of ordinary working people. Three years since this Government took office to rescue the country from the worst financial crisis it has 2.Delivering Better Living and ever suffered, Ireland is in a much better place. The live register is down almost 3.5% and the Troika has Working Standards checked out of Ireland for the last time. 3.Improving Housing Availability & However there are still long term problems that need solutions. Affordability The shortage of housing stock is now becoming even more apparent. This is yet another legacy from the previous government who failed to build any local authority homes during the Celtic Tiger years. Reducing 4.Responsible and Sustainable the current waiting lists and building more local authority homes is now a government priority thanks to the Labour Party. Management of the Public Reform of the industrial relations system has been discussed for some time and recently, Labour Minister Finances Ged Nash has announced that new structures will be in place by the end of the year to protect vulnerable 5.Rebuilding Trust in Politics & Public workers. Furthermore, thanks to the Labour Party there is now a government commitment to establishing a Low Pay Commission to try to help those in employment who are struggling. Institutions As we approach 2016, I feel it is important that we engage with the idea of a New Republic, one where we 6.Protecting & Enhancing Peace in reflect on the past and to look to correct our mistakes into the future. I look forward to making my contribution in ensuring that this happens. Northern Ireland RIGHT TO READ CAMPAIGN In June, the Government launched the national ‘Right to Read campaign’ which will put literacy at the heart of community life in Ireland. Its National Launch was one of the proudest moments of my political career. As Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin City in 2006 I founded the initial campaign. My experiences as a teacher in the North Inner City convinced me that the challenge of defeating childhood illiteracy lay outside the walls of the classroom. Housing policy, community infrastructure and the delivery of an excellent library service are key to the lives of our more disadvantaged communities. While local authorities’ services have such a huge impact on the lives of vulnerable people, literacy has never been part of their work agenda. It has traditionally been seen as the role of the school, but our thinking in that regard needs to change and the Right to Read Campaign is key to that change. 30% of children in disadvantaged areas leave primary school with literacy problems, and poorer 3 year olds have one-third the oral language capacity of their more advantaged peers. The housing estate, the Aodhán with former Lord Mayor Oisín Quinn and some school children, celebrating Dublin City Libraries community development section and of course the library service as managed by the local authority will now be in the front line of that challenge. The Right to Read Campaign requires local authorities to put literacy at the heart of their policies, and will award a Right to Read Champion award to those who live up to this standard. Children do not live in schools – they live in communities, and this campaign adheres to the age long truism that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. It is significant that the Campaign launch took place in Charleville Mall library as this library was opened on a Saturday for the first time as a direct result of the Right to Read Campaign in 2007. Aodhán’s Clinics: Fridays: Mondays (Excluding Bank Holidays): 10:00am – Kilmore West Community Centre 6.00pm – Graingers Pebble Beach 11:00am – Marine Hotel, Sutton 18 Conquer Hill Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3 12:00pm – Constituency Office, 203 Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin 3 Please note that there are no clinics for the month of August. Contact YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM Aodhán: Constituency Office: Working with 203 Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino, Dublin 3 t: 01 857 4020 e: [email protected] @AodhanORiordain Cllr Alison Gilliland Cllr Jane Horgan Jones Brian McDonagh Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD Beaumont - Donaghmede Ward Clontarf Ward Howth-Malahide Ward 086 6015154 086 837 5219 086 385 8979 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Working with Sean Kenny TD.