Today in the Dáil Deputy Patrick Nulty (Dublin West) and Deputy Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West) jointly raised the implications of last month’s European Court of Justice ruling in relation to the court case taken by former Waterford Crystal workers regarding their pension protection. The ruling contained a number of clarifications regarding the transposition of EU Directive 2008/94EC which concerns the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. The ECJ found in favour of the workers on all the major points that were at issue.

If the Government allows this case to go back to the High Court and the Waterford Crystal workers win the case, there will potentially be a very significant and immediate exposure for the taxpayer in the order of several hundred million. It would make much more sense for the Government to negotiate an arrangement to provide for staged payments to meet workers pension requirements.

Deputies Nulty and Shortall said,

“Our principal concern is that the Government should immediately engage with the former Waterford Crystal workers’ representatives to negotiate a fair and just pension settlement.

The actuaries working for the Waterford Crystal workers have calculated that annual payments of initially less than €2.5 million eventually rising to a peak of €18 million in the 2030s would fully reinstate the pensions expected by the Waterford Crystal workers. On the face of it, this approach would seem to make a lot more sense for the Irish taxpayer as well as the Waterford workers. Annual payments represent a more efficient approach than settling for an unknown capital sum through the Courts. Annual payments avoid the need to purchase annuities which are a very expensive way of generating an annual income for life. This approach would also avoid further significant legal fees.

To date, there has been no engagement with the workers by any representative of the Government. This head-in-the-sand-approach potentially exposes the Irish taxpayer to a far higher bill.

On the wider pensions issue, there is an urgent need for workers in other companies both solvent and insolvent companies to be adequately protected. Where the employer is solvent, they should be required to stand over the pension commitments that they have made to their workers in the past. Where the employer is insolvent, a safety net is urgently required, as has been implemented in the UK and other jurisdictions, and we urge the Government to produce the long-promised legislation to ensure pension protection for workers in defined benefit schemes.”

Deputy Nulty said “The revelation that the government is not proceeding with this measure is a body blow to citizens with long term illness who need to visit their GP’s on a regular basis”.

“Minister Reilly has been on his perch now for over two years. It is totally incredible that he was not aware of so called legal difficulties until now. His model for the future of health is based on an American model of for profit insurance companies not a system of universal care”.

“In my view he should resign because his policy has meant that patients, frontline staff like nurses and other healthcare professionals have lost confidence in the department of health”

“Contrary to the rhetoric of government many constituents of mine in Dublin West with serious conditions have received notice that they are losing medical cards. So in reality access to health care is becoming more difficult not better under James Reilly and his apologists in government”.

“The introduction of the Children First Bill is a commitment from the programme for Government. When I asked the Taoiseach yesterday at the order of business, he said the Government has no plans to introduce these Guidelines in the current session.”

“This delay is extremely disappointing. The Guidelines are designed to ensure that all children in Ireland grow up safely. It is of paramount importance that they are introduced as quickly as possible.”

“I am calling today for the Government to reconsider the legislative programme and ensure that there will be time in this Dáil session for the introduction of legislation to give effect to the Children First Guidelines.”

Patrick Nulty TD along with Hartstown-Huntstown FC stalwarts David Byrne and Aidan Craig alongside CEO of the FAI John Delaney

This morning was the formal opening of the all-weather facility in Hartstown Park. I was delighted to attend the event along with CEO of the FAI John Delaney.

There was a wonderful turnout from the community. Great credit is due to the volunteers who continue to keep going out in all weathers to coach young people in sport.

I fully support the demands of Hartstown-Huntstown FC and the local community for even better permanent facilities in Hartstown Park and will continue to put pressure on the government to push for greater investment in sport given the multitude of benefits both interms of public health and community development that derive from it.

Patrick Nulty TD with Iggy Keane from the Dept. of Education at the anniversary event in St. Peregines GAA club.

On Friday April 26th I was delighted to attend the 10th anniversary of the Mountview-Blakestown Educational Opportunities Programme.

Several local young people and schools displayed their musical talents to commemorate the event.

The project runs homework clubs along with many other excellent activities designed to support young people in staying in education.

Well done on a wonderful ten years of work.

Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty has welcomed the submission of a planning application from the HSE to build Corduff Health Centre.

Speaking following this news Patrick Nulty TD said “This is very good news for people in Corduff and Blanchardstown and represents a huge step forward in the campaign for our primary care centre”.

“This is a campaign that has been spearheaded by the Corduff Health Action Group and the wider community. When the primary care centre is built it will be the culmination of thirty years work by so many dedicated people”.

“Since my election I have worked closely with the community to get our long promised primary care centre built and we will not rest for one second until construction has started”.

“The pressure must be kept on the government to make sure construction starts as soon as planning permission is granted which I expect Fingal Council planners to expedite quickly”.

Parents in Carpenterstown and Castleknock are demanding the long promised extension to CCC is built

Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty has accused Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn of adopting a “belligerent head in the sand approach” to the school buildings programme.

This follows the decision of the Department of Education not to proceed with the extension to Castleknock Community College at present.

Deputy Nulty said “The school has already increased capacity above 1,000 pupils in recent years with many classes taking place in temporary rooms. There was a clear commitment given by all parties that this extension would proceed”.

“It is not credible now for government Ministers to now turn heel and tell the local community the extension will not be going ahead. It is worth remembering planning permission for this project was granted almost eighteen months ago at this stage”.

“I am delighted that parents are mounting a sustained and vigorous campaign of lobbying and pressure to force the government to undertake this work and they have my full support”.

Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty has called on the Government to fully respect the impending decision by a clear majority of public sector workers to reject the Croke Park extension.

Speaking after the release of results of the SIPTU ballot, Patrick Nulty TD said:

“This decision must be respected, particularly by the Labour Party. Any attempt by the Government to proceed with pay cuts following the rejection of Croke Park 2 will lead to revolt within the ranks of public sector workers, and this must be replicated within the Labour parliamentary party. Labour Party TDs, elected on a platform to protect wages and conditions, should find a decision to proceed with cuts unconscionable.”

“Further cuts to public sector wages can only lead to further job losses in the private sector by further undermining domestic demand in the economy. The cuts are part of an agenda to lower pay, terms and conditions across the workforce.”

“Public sector workers have made available an alternative course to the Labour Party and to the Government. This is the course where an economic growth agenda is pursued with vigour, rather than the policy of continual cuts. The Labour Party must listen to trade union members and respond with a plan for growth, job creation and the protection of basic pay, terms and conditions.”

Government cannot be sure that the Croke Park extension will pass through a Dáil vote

Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty has warned that in the event that the Croke Park extension proposals are rejected, it cannot be assumed that there is a majority in the Dáil to cut the wages of public sector workers.

Deputy Nulty said:

“Elected TDs, especially those in the Labour parliamentary party, have no mandate whatsoever to cut wages. In the last election they campaigned on the basis of working Croke Park, not tearing it up and slashing wages.”

“In my view massive pressure will be placed on TDs to do the right thing and not vote to cut the pay of ordinary workers. It would be astonishing and unforgiveable for a Labour TD to vote for pay cuts to workers particularly given that this year is the centenary of the lockout in Dublin of 1913.”

“This is particularly the case since the current proposals are unlikely to achieve any significant savings. When the impact on tax revenue and consumer spending are factored in, cutting wages are an extremely inefficient means of reducing the deficit. If the current proposals are brought before the Dáil, the lack of any real savings will become a significant factor”.

“Brendan Howlin’s intervention is an attempt to bully workers into accepting an agreement. This is deeply unhelpful and I know workers are well able to make up their own minds and that they will not be intimidated by threats from Government ministers.”

You can find out how to make a submission by going to www.fingalcoco.ie or you can contact my office at 618 3133.

My submission is below:

 St. Catherine’s Master Plan  Submission from Patrick Nulty T.D.

Ms. Maria Quill

Fingal County Council

Main Street

Swords

Co. Dublin

Dear Ms. Quill,

On behalf of my constituents of Dublin West I would like to strongly welcome the proposed Master Plan for St. Catherine’s Park, Lucan by Fingal County Council. St. Catherine’s Park is an important regional amenity and its development and completion to the highest standards will provide local residents with much needed recreational facilities.

The Masterplan includes a Children’s playground; a coffee shop, public toilets, exercise circuit, paths, directional and interpretive signage; litter bins, benches, tree and spring bulb planting, a fishing pond, cattle field; a dog park/ dog run; a BMX bike track; an overflow car park, par 3 golf course/ pitch and putt, cricket pitch, repair of St Catherine’s Church; restoration of farm yard and historic buildings and regional pedestrian cycle links between the Royal Canal, Lucan and Leixlip.

I wish to strongly support the proposed development of this amenity and these plans. These proposals will transform St Catherine’s Park from an under-used amenity into a fantastic regional park and amenity for local residents. I have no doubt that the earmarked investment will be money well spent and that these new facilities will be utilised for many years to come.

In particular I wish to welcome the provision of an extensive natural area playground catering for children of a variety of ages. The Master plan proposals seek to accommodate several different types of park users including cyclists, pedestrians, joggers, dog owners and mountain bike users. The balancing of these various uses with appropriate and separate facilities for specific groups such as mountain bike users and the provision of an enclosed dog run are extremely welcome.

However if this amenity is to be of full benefit to residents of nearby parts of Fingal it is essential that a key component of this Master plan is the development of good transport links including pedestrian and cycle corridors to the park.

A dedicated and direct cycle/ pedestrian route must be provided from Laraghcon. Given national policy to encourage sustainable forms of transport and alternatives to car use it is unacceptable that the only safe mode of access is by car. Laraghcon is located within easy walking and cycling distance of St. Catherine’s Park, however the current road infrastructure mitigate strongly against walking and cycling to the park for recreational users and especially families with young children.

A dedicated off road cycle and pedestrian route should also be provided to link St. Catherine’s with Ongar. While Ongar is quite some distance from the park an alternative to car transport should be provided. A limited shuttle bus service should also be explored to make the park accessible to residents living in Ongar who do not have access to private transport.   Such a dedicated cycle route to Ongar would also open up access to St. Catherine’s to the wider community in Dublin 15 through the extensive network of cycle paths and routes that are connected to Ongar.

In conclusion I would like to strongly welcome the proposed Masterplan for St. Catherine’s.  To complement the proposed enhancement of the park strong pedestrian and cycle links between St. Catherine’s and Laraghcon and Ongar should with the park to ensure that this amenity is fully accessible to neighbouring residents, families and communities.

Sincerely,

Patrick Nulty T.D.