BIlly Kelleher

Cork families are being forced to drop out of the health insurance market as the Government continues to take decisions that are increasing the cost of private cover, according local Fianna Fáil deputy Billy Kelleher.
“The Government is causing real fear and anxiety among families struggling to keep up their private health insurance. People are really worried about the prospect of further increases, possibly up to 30%, in the cost of their family plan by the end of the year.

“Nationally we’re looking at an average of 6,000 people a month dropping out of the private health insurance market altogether. That’s having a huge impact on the ground in Cork. Families are facing impossible choices when renewing their health insurance – do they keep paying their household bills or hold off and try to cover the massive increase in their insurance policy? Families here are already under huge pressure with mortgage repayments, reduced wages and increased costs.

“The Government’s decision to charge private patients the full cost of using public hospital beds could lead to a 30% rise in the cost of cover, resulting in more than 300,000 people leaving the private health insurance market. Even if we take the Minister at his word – that the insurance companies are scaremongering and this will not happen – does he really expect people to believe his actions will have no impact whatsoever?

“Earlier this year Fianna Fáil put forward proposals in the Dáil to encourage younger customers into health insurance market. We believe the market is fundamentally and dangerously unbalanced. We need to incentivise younger customers and young families in Cork to enter and re-enter the market. This will only be done by driving down costs.

“We are calling for lifetime community rating to be phased in. This means that anyone joining the market at age 25 would be treated just the same at 45 and 65. However, if they deferred taking out insurance until they were 45 they would pay a higher rate than if they joined at 25.

“With warnings that we could be left with just a third of the population with private health insurance by 2015 we’re a long way from Universal Health Insurance. The reality is the Government is dismantling the health insurance market by its actions.

“No one is pretending there are any easy solutions to this problem but we have to confront it. Fine Gael and Labour have failed to do this over the past two years. We have seen the cost of cover for families in Cork spiral out of control and it’s time for the Government to wake up.”

Dara Murphy

Fine Gael Cork North Central Deputy, Dara Murphy, has called on cash strapped small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to engage fully with their banks as a range of measures have been put in place in recent months to assist business owners, many of which they may not be aware.

“SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, employing hundreds of thousands of people across the country. While our exports have exceeded even pre-crisis figures, significant challenges persist in the domestic economy. This is impacting on SMEs, many of whom are finding it difficult to cope.

“While a more responsible approach to lending had to be adopted by the banks, the onus is on them to ensure that viable businesses have access to the credit they need to run their daily operations. In many instances, businesses are assuming that the banks will deny them credit due to having had negative experiences in the past. In the majority of cases, as long as the business is viable, banks have the funds and are willing to lend.

“In the case of AIB, a range of measures have been put in place to support SMEs. These include a new simplified loan application process, with decisions on loans of up to €25,000 being made at the local branch by the next business day. AIB, in conjunction with Amárach Research, is also conducting a series of reports that examine and analyse key issues facing different sectors of Irish industry that are under pressure, such as the pub trade, construction and the hotel sector.

“It is important to acknowledge that both the pillar banks have been meeting the lending targets set down by the Government and that refusals can be appeals to the Credit Review Office which sees in the region of 55% of decisions overturned.

“The Government is also seeking to assist businesses having difficulty accessing credit through finance schemes worth more than €2 billion, including the €90 million Micro Finance Loan Scheme, the €450 million Credit Guarantee Scheme, the €150 million Development Capital Scheme and the €10 million international start-up fund. I would implore business owners not to listen to rhetoric and to engage directly with their banks in a bid to having their credit needs met and keeping their businesses up and running.”

“I would like to welcome this positive response from the Minister on this particular issue.

“It is important to assure parents and students that the current criteria in place will bestrengthened to prevent a reoccurrence of such errors in the coming years.

“Students are under massive pressure during an exam situation, all their months of study leads up to this exam.

“Undue stress was caused by this error and I’m sure this would have been felt outside of this particular question.

“I hope that these factors are considered when devising a marking system for the papers which were affected.

“I was assured by Minister Quinn that this will be taken into account by the Chief Examiner whenfinalising the marking schemes for these exams.

“The SEC is ensuring that no candidate is disadvantaged as a result of an error that has occurred.

“This is an extremely worrying forstudents and their parents, particularly Leaving Certificate students to whom CAO options and points levels are of critical concern.

“When asked about theprecautionary measures which are being taken for the future, the Minister stated that the SEC will review its existing processes and procedures in order to implement measures to strengthen the quality assurance underpinning the preparation of examination papers.

“I fully intend to follow upon this SEC report to the Minister, it is essential that such an incident does not occur again therefore we need to know what exactly what went wrong and why.”

Deputy Kelleher commented: “Under the Nitrates Directive, the dates under which substances like slurry can be spread are set. At present this is causing great difficulty for farmers in Cork due to the fact that during the time slurry and fertiliser can be spread, the weather can be totally unsuitable.

“A much more flexible approach should be considered that takes into account weather conditions and optimises the time that slurry can be spread, both from a farmer’s point of view and to minimise pollution.

“Prescription farming does not work and it would be much better to base our policies on the outcomes rather than rigid dates that take no account of the weather.

“Farmers and farming organisations in Cork have made submissions to the nitrates review. These submissions need to be given full consideration by both the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”

According to the Fianna Fáil Deputy, the temporary reprieve provided by a short-term extension to mobility allowance payments only adds to the uncertainty, distress and confusion over future supports for those with severe disabilities.

“There was uproar when Fine Gael and Labour axed the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant in February without any warning or consultation with those affected. This decision directly impacts approximately 566 in the Cork who faced a 20% cut in support as a result,” said Deputy Martin.

“The Government had absolutely no replacement scheme in place when it announced this decision. Four months later, it still has no replacement. As a result of the excellent efforts of people with disabilities, their families and carers, the Government has now been forced to extend mobility allowance payments until October. However, Ministers made it clear that the scheme is in fact closed, no new applicants can apply and this extension is merely temporary. In addition to this, they have made no commitment whatsoever in relation to the Motorised Transport Grant.

“The Government’s indecision, procrastination and refusal to make any long-term commitments is causing extreme distress to people with severe disabilities who have no idea what kind of income they will have beyond October. Many of these people cannot work, cannot leave their homes without help and are dependent on this funding to live. They simply cannot take another 20% cut in their incomes on top of all the other cuts to disability supports introduced by this Government.

“Fine Gael and Labour have been engaged in a sustained attack on people with disabilities and their carers over the past two years. Enough is enough. The Government needs to make a firm commitment that it will not end the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport schemes without other schemes in place that will provide at least the same level of support and will apply to those over the age of 65,” Deputy Martin concluded.

Colm Burke

The Health Service Executive is guilty of recklessly undermining the capacity of the Irish hospital system to delivery a  quality health care service according to Fine Gael Senator Colum Burke.

“For almost a decade now the HSE has stood idly by while thousands of well trained young Irish Doctors have emigrated.  The HSE has been  happy to replace these Irish doctors by doctors from developing countries  like India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sudan.

“In 2010 a survey carried out by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Trinity College Dublin, it identified that more than one third (33.4%) of all registered doctors  in Ireland were non Irish Medical Graduates.  In 2000, the equivalent figure was 13.4%.  The number of doctors registered in Ireland but trained in non EU Countries increased from 972 in 2000 to 4,740 in 2010.  By 2020 if this trend continues the majority of doctors in all Irish hospitals will be non-Irish.  There are very serious issues surrounding the quality of training, language skills and the cultural differences of doctors recruited from developing countries.

“Young Irish doctors are highly trained, dedicated and among the brightest of their generation.  They are trained at great expense to the State, yet the HSE seems casually indifferent to the haemorrhaging of the medical talent from the Irish hospital system.

“Senior  Medical Consultants are now expressing alarm at the on-going trend.  They are rightly concerned about the quality of care, the reputation of  the service, and of  the draining  of medical talent from Irish hospitals.

“There is now an urgent need of outside intervention to address this issue.  I believe the Labour Court should be asked to examine as a matter of urgency the terms and conditions and hours worked by Irish junior doctors and compare these to those that are offered in countries such as Canada, Australia, USA and the UK.

“At the same time the ESRI should be tasked to carry out a wide ranging study to examine the training programmes in Ireland and how these compare with the training programmes offered in countries which are attracting Irish graduates.  High level  medical skill, expertise and professional capacity is essential  to quality hospital care.  The human resources policies and programmes being pursued by the HSE is undermining the Irish Medical system.  If allowed to continue, quality of care which is required for Irish patients will be greatly reduced.  There is now an urgent need for a new approach as to how junior doctors are trained and employed within Irish hospitals.”

Deputy Martin commented: “Today’s announcement of the creation of 200 jobs in Cork by EMC is welcome news and co-insides nicely with the company celebrating 25 years in Cork.

“The ICT sector in Ireland is expanding rapidly and with both UCC and CIT supplying hundreds of high quality graduates every year, there are numerous opportunities for employment in EMC and other IT companies.”

Áine Collins

Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Áine Collins, has said the announcement of 200 highly skilled ICT jobs, which are to be created by EMC in Citygate, Mahon, demonstrates the important role Cork is playing in building Ireland’s reputation as the internet capital of Europe.

“EMC has had a long and very successful history in Ireland, with the company now employing approximately 3,000 people across the country. The company’s expansion will see fresh investment of €100 million being made and 200 additional jobs being created over the next two years at the company’s new offices in Citygate.

“EMC has already begun recruiting for the positions which include engineering, customer support, sales, finance, research and development and IT roles. The new facility is expected to be opened in August with the hope that all positions will be filled by the end of the year.

“The Government has been working diligently to create a favourable environment in which companies like EMC are able to expand and develop. Through the Action Plan for Jobs sectors, such as ICT, which have been identified as having significant growth potential have been targeted for job creation. I am delighted that this work is bearing fruit today in the form of 200 additional jobs for Cork.

“Ireland’s economy is in transition, moving from the failed old economy of the past, which centred around construction and people buying and selling houses to one another to one that is focused on exports, innovation and enterprise. Cloud computing, big data and trusted IT is the future and we need to do everything we can to enhance the reputation Ireland has been building as a global internet hub and the internet capital of Europe.

“As part of his Disruptive Reforms in the Action plan for Jobs, the Minister for Enterprise, Richard Bruton TD, recently announced a €1 million investment in a research programme in data analytics, to take advantage of the fact that the big data industry is growing at up to 40% per annum. We hope to make Ireland a world leader in this area. By aiming big, we will continue to attract new companies to Ireland and to give confidence to the ones already based here that Ireland is a great place in which to invest.

“I commend EMC on the contribution it is making to Cork and to Ireland as we rebuild our economy and position Ireland as a world leader in ICT. The company is also to be congratulated for 25 successful years spent in Ireland to date. I hope it is looking forward to many more.”

“The Defined Benefit Pension Schemes have been essentially wound up by the bank with devastating consequences for Permanent TSB workers in Cork. The Government’s Mercer Report recommended that the bank make savings of 10%, the response was to target the Defined Benefit Pension Schemes, instead of addressing the salaries of bank executives.

“Someone on a pension of €30,000 stands to lose 70% of their pension, which could now be reduced to as little as €5,000 per year. This will affect 70% of workers at Permanent TSB and it is savaging their pensions. No account has been taken of how much has been paid by these individuals into the scheme or the length of service of the employee.

“The Minister for Finance has said he would not advise the bank on how the savings recommended in the Mercer Report would be made. The Taoiseach and the Minister need to engage with management of the bank to bring about a reversal of this unfair targeting of ordinary Permanent TSB workers.

“It is not right for the Government to wash its hands of this, the workers at Permanent TSB in Cork and throughout the country deserve better.”

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Moynihan TD, has expressed his disappointment at the fact that the Minister for Communications has refused to review the role of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) despite the escalating number of families that have had their gas and electricity cut off.

Deputy Moynihan has questioned the Minister in the Dáil and expressed his concern about the apparent lack of interest being taken by the CER in energy prices that have risen considerably in recent years. This has led to 20,000 homes in Ireland having their gas or electricity cut off last year.

“Over recent months I have continuously asked Minister Pat Rabbitte about the alarming rise in disconnections,” said Deputy Moynihan.

“This has come about as a consequence of the high cost of electricity and gas in Ireland and the hardship faced by many families at this time. In fact, the Minister confirmed yesterday that gas prices reached their highest ever level in March.

“People will remember that our unusually cold spring meant households were using extra electricity and gas to heat their homes and increased prices means there may be even more disconnections this year.

“The passive approach of Minister Rabbitte is a cause of huge concern. His refusal to engage with the CER, whose role is to protect the interests of consumers, is puzzling. Does the Minister realise that families are struggling to put food on the table? Households are going to be hit with an unfair property tax this year, while the Government has failed to adequately address the mortgage arrears crisis. Increased energy costs are adding to the struggles of families and yet again this Government has failed to respond in any meaningful way to help these people.”