Daly accuses Greens of sell out on hospital Co-location

As Tallaght Hospital prepares to go to tender for a private hospital on its land, Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael accuses the Green part of selling out its values in return for inclusion in the government.

“What we are getting now is “a paler shade of Green” as policies become diluted into oblivion in return for the keys of the executive washroom. Core beliefs of equality in the health system and environmental and heritage protection on motorway routes will need a more committed Green party” claimed Cllr Daly.

“Despite the pre-election opposition to the whole notion of co-location the Green party seem to have gone silent as one of the most controversial PD proposals unfolds.

Tallaght is the first of eight hospitals which are to have private hospitals located on their grounds.

The propagation of a two tier health system where private patients have a different hospital to public patients is contrary to the opinion of the majority of this country and is a most exclusive system.

The Green party in its election manifesto promised to “scrap immediately the decision to subsidise building of private hospitals on public land” and to address “Our two-tier health system which discriminates between insured and uninsured patients”

The fact that a party could so blatantly renege on its own manifesto during its first weeks of government can justifiably lead to cynicism towards politicians. We have seen a similar U turn in relation to the routing of the M3 motorway where the Greens seem to have also lost their direction.

As the Green TDs mix their policies with those of Fianna Fail the environmentally focused voter will have to look elsewhere as one after one the “raison d’etre” policies of the party are conceded”.

ENDS

Daly calls for action on public consumption of alcohol

Calling for the erection of signage in Athy to indicate penalties for public consumption of alcohol, Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael said that a strong signal must be sent out to those who are involved in the activity.

“The enjoyment of many of our public amenities is being marred by a small group of people who abuse our facilities by public drinking. The amount of cans collected in the vicinity of the waterways in the advent of some of our water weekends shows an alarming amount of alcohol consumption taking place in our public areas.

I have called for the erection of signage adjacent to our waterways and in the People's park to remind people that we will be enforcing our Bye Laws, which have strict penalties for the public consumption of alcohol. My motion to that effect received the full support of Athy Town council and I look forward to seeing them in place” said Cllr Daly

“We are encouraging our residents, young and old to avail of our public amenities and not to have it marred by encountering groups engaging in public drinking which can lead to anti social behaviour. The time has come for us all to be more responsible in our communities.

The availability of alcohol at more off licences and supermarkets is leading to more public consumption and these premises should also post reminders of the penalties involved in breach of the law.”

ENDS

Lapple losses are a sign of our lack of competitiveness – Daly

The announced closure of the Lapple factory in Carlow will have a detrimental effect on a town and locality which is only coming to terms with the recent closure of the sugar factory according to Fine Gael Cllr Richard Daly.

“I offer my sympathy to the workers and their families employed in the Lapple factory, some of whom I know personally.

The exodus of so many of our manufacturing jobs is a wake up call for a government which has presided over an economy which has become uncompetitive on the world stage. We have government-fuelled inflation which allowed stealth taxes and energy costs to escalate to a point where manufacturers are looking outside the country to continue their business.

The town of Carlow is the latest to pay the price of a mismanaged economy where the policy of “carry on regardless” is putting workers back on the dole queue.

Towns in the commuter belt need secure industry being developed in tandem with the phenomenal housing development. It is not good enough to blame world economic trends for the demise of our industries. We need a re-examination of our competitiveness, the growth of high level value added industries and a halt in the escalating energy, telecom and insurance costs.

This is a serious blow for a workforce who represent a significant financial contribution to the area and I hope that we can start to attract rather than lose industry by developing more attractive economic conditions.” said cllr Daly

Kildare students will suffer as rents increase – Daly

Kildare students will be among those who suffer as a result of the major increase in rent which is being sought in our major towns according to Fine Gael’s Cllr Richard Daly.

“With supply of rental accommodation at an all time low there is enormous increase on the rents being demanded at this time. The surge in rental price heralds good news for the investors and the housing sector but in the interim it will place increased pressure on students who will have to compete with up to a 20% decrease in the amount of rental property and an average of 12% rental cost increase.

Students will have to compete with both the increase in interest rate and the arrival of thousands of new Europeans which are causing much of the increase in demand leading to higher rents.” said Cllr Daly

“First time college students who will need accommodation face the difficult task of trying to secure accommodation before they know their Leaving Cert results which will secure their college place.”