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30 July 2010

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Around the Oireachtas

Ó Snodaigh slams FF/Green masquerade

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh

THE Fianna Fáil/Green Government has dressed up a cut of €1billion in capital expenditure as a plan for investment.
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh described the July 26th announcement by the Government as a well-fashioned publicity stunt to masquerade a ruthless budget of cuts as investment and stimulus.
“Brain Cowen and Brian Lenihan are hiding behind this revised €39billion capital programme to mask the extent and depth of cuts that they will be making to public spending in the Budget.
“The Cabinet tolls the death bell for economic recovery. The axe of the Government’s budget will fall upon those low-income and middle-income earners who have been hit disproportionately already.”

‘Mad-cap road toll unworkable’ – Ferris

THE Fianna Fáil/Green Coalition’s bizarre proposal to put tolls on all national roads has been met with derision and widespread opposition.
Unveiled as part of a cost review of local government, the proposal would entail huge costs in implementing tolls on national routes across the 26 Counties.
For people living on and near national roads, the toll would amount to a tax on leaving and returning to their homes.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris said:
“It has been claimed that the introduction of tolls on the national infrastructure will be an incentive for people to use other transport. Which other transport? Existing public transport is already being squeezed. This measure harks back to the days of taxing windows.”
In a further bizarre twist, the capital programme announced by the Government on 26 July cut key public transport projects, including the Western Rail corridor, yet the road toll proposal they approved four days earlier was presented as a way of getting people to use public transport.

Pearse Doherty supports ABA schools

Mary Coughlan

SINN FÉIN Education spokesperson Pearse Doherty has called for a moratorium on far-reaching changes to education for children with autism being imposed by the Department of Education under Minister Mary Coughlan.
At the start of July schools for children with autism were presented with what amounts to an ultimatum from the Department of Education - either accept the department’s proposed structure for delivering education for children with autism or lose the opportunity to be fully recognised and funded.
Senator Doherty said:
“The department’s proposals are highly controversial and many parents and teachers believe it will downgrade the use of ABA, a successful one-to-one teaching method which can make a huge difference in the lives of children and families.
“There should be a moratorium on the department’s proposals pending wider consultation and full assessment of all ABA schools.”

‘Where were Public Interest Directors?’ asks Arthur Morgan

Frank Daly and Alan Dukes

ANGLO IRISH BANK issued a massive loan ‘top-up’ to its former chief executive Seán Fitzpatrick on the day it was nationalised, it has been revealed at the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee. A €14.6m loan was topped up with a further €2.6m on January 21st 2009.
Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Arthur Morgan questioned how such a huge loan was issued, apparently without the knowledge or approval of the two public interest directors appointed to Anglo prior to nationalisation. Morgan said:
“The fact that some of this loan money was used to buy a plush villa on the French Riviera rubs salt in the wounds for the millions of Irish people in this state who have been forced to take ownership of this corrupt bank and its liabilities.
“Were the public interest directors, Frank Daly and Alan Dukes, aware of this loan and how it was sanctioned? If not, why not? Was such a huge loan issued without the knowledge or approval of these directors? There needs to be an explanation.”

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Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures

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