The Government is throwing money at providers of accommodation for asylum seekers (€1.88m/day), and Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection (€3.3m/day), but has little, if any, oversight of how many persons are ever actually in the accommodation centres for which it’s paying.
My response to Budget 2024 with a particular focus on agriculture, childcare, disability and education.
The destruction of the fabric of historical Limerick by local government has been shameful. The new, elected Mayor needs more than ceremonial powers to address the planning, housing, and commercial needs of the city. The Mid-West needs a thriving Limerick City.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2023-09-20/speech/192/
The days when young people were merely working for pocket money are, sadly, no more. Young people need to be fairly paid for the work they do.
Local authority water workers were promised there would be no change to the terms and conditions of their employment whether they transferred to Irish Water or remained as Council employees. Now, they’re being told that this will not be the case if they do not transfer to Irish Water, and strike action is imminent. I asked if the Government would intervene to ensure the promises made are kept.
The new Agri-Food Regulator will not have the power to determine who is profiteering from food price increases. Until this is changed, it will just be a waste of money.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has suggested Ennis town centre as the focus of a government pilot project aimed at bringing buildings back into residential use.
Promises made regarding the pension entitlements of workers who were transferred from the civil service to other bodies were not kept in the past. Posts and Telegraph personnel and Air Traffic Controllers are examples, and now it is proposed with regard to civil servants working in Garda stations.
The Mercosur trade deal can be concluded by the European Commission, by-passing the people in member states and their parliaments, the Taoiseach suggested today (insofar as he answered my question).
I called for the ongoing crisis in the Retained Fire Service in rural communities across Ireland to be addressed.
The low rate of Maternity Benefit in Ireland, which I raised today and previously in the Dáil, looks set to be increased substantially so that it will be linked to a woman’s pay before going on leave.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has described the announcement by United Airlines of daily flights to and from Shannon Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport as a “huge win” for tourism and business in Shannon, County Clare and the wider region.
Read MoreI asked why Ireland is one of just two European states which failed to apply for a €36bn EU funding initiative, aimed at ensuring continuity of energy supply.
In the budget, the Government is introducing a levy on all concrete products, which will be passed on to those already struggling to build a home. The Government failed to recoup any of the cost of the mica redress from the quarry owners who caused the problem. It didn’t even try.
Independent Clare T.D. Michael McNamara says the Government needs to step in to prevent electricity and gas providers from imposing significant increases in standing charges during the ongoing energy crisis.
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Ibec Mid-West Regional Executive Committee held a pre-Budget 2023 meeting at Edward Lifesciences in Limerick on Monday.
Read MoreQuarries that made huge profits from selling defective concrete blocks will be let off the hook by the Government today. A law will be rammed through by Government party TDs transferring the remedial cost to taxpayers, without even considering amendments that will ensure those quarries that provided defective blocks are pursued.
Today, I called on the government to review the funding for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) providers, which threaten small local childcare services throughout Ireland.
An emergency budget, at least on its own without other measures, will not help people deal with the rapidly rising cost of living for long.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has criticised the Government for excluding up to 20% of farmland in County Clare from the €55m Fodder Support Scheme.
Read MoreThe government needs to put measures in place now that will limit further increases in energy and food costs this winter.
In seeking to reduce our carbon emissions, the Government needs to provide affordable alternatives rather than merely penalising people with no alternative.
Energy security was and should be a fundamental part of Ireland’s independence. We need to have a national conversation about the nuclear option.
I questioned the Minister for Finance on the emerging duopoly in the Irish banking sector.
As the cost of driving to work becomes prohibitive, for those who drive their own vehicle as part of their work, the rate at which they’re reimbursed hasn’t changed since 1 April 2017.
Before reintroducing working from home across the public sector, the Government needs to put the systems in place to ensure the public still gets a service.
https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-hard-shoulder/could-we-see-a-return-to-working-from-home
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has called on the Minister for Agriculture to allow temporary adjustments to the conditions of the GLAS scheme which would enable farmers with low-input permanent pasture and traditional hay meadows to cut more hay and silage.
Read MoreI asked the Agriculture Minister what he is doing to tackle rising input costs in agriculture, especially fertiliser, which will inevitably result in food inflation next spring.
I spoke in the Dáil this evening about the need to manage changing work practices brought about by the pandemic to ensure the adequate delivery of public services.
8,208 apprentices, including 5,720 undertaking electrical, plumbing, carpentry and stone/brick laying apprenticeships, are currently awaiting off-the-job-training. This backlog needs to be cleared for their sake and ours.
In the Dáil today, I called for ‘temporary extraordinary measures’ to tackle a backlog in apprenticeships across the country. The Taoiseach said he would be open to seeing ‘what more we can do to accelerate without diluting the quality’.
The Government’s decision not to proceed with the second phase of the Northern Distributor Road lacks strategic vision. The Clare side of the University of Limerick campus needs to be developed for the benefit of the university, Clare, Limerick and the wider region, and sustainable travel links should be central to that development. The Government has sadly neglected these imperatives.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has urged the Irish government to make a fresh appeal to Brussels for approval to reduce VAT on home heating oil during the war in Ukraine, which is driving price increases.
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Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has called for Government intervention to prevent the loss of hundreds of jobs amongst subcontractors and suppliers, in addition to those directly employed by Roadbridge, in the event that the company is liquidated.
Read MoreIndependent Clare T.D. Michael McNamara has urged government to temporarily remove VAT on fuel as prices continue to soar across the country.
Speaking tonight (Wednesday) in Dáil Éireann in favour of the Government’s Financial Motion to reduce excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel, Deputy McNamara urged Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to follow in the footsteps of Poland by reducing VAT.
The Clare T.D. said rising costs are fast becoming unsustainable for people, especially rural dwellers.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has told the Dáil today (Thursday, 24 February 2022) that urgent Government intervention is required to mitigate huge food price increases in the coming months.
Government needs to intervene now to mitigate huge food price increases in the coming months.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar today has informed Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara that Moneypoint and Tarbert power stations may continue to operate “for many years to come” due to concerns over Ireland’s energy security.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has urged Clare County Council and the University of Limerick (UL) to engage fully and constructively with Limerick City and County Council and other regional interests in their bid to have the university campus in County Clare and its hinterland designated as an Economic Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).
Read MoreClare Independent TD Michael McNamara says the Government can do more to ease high timber prices and the consequent impact on construction costs by speeding up efforts to reduce the backlog of forestry license applications across the country.
Read MoreThis is not a plan to tackle inflation. It’s compensation for inflation in April, but the cost of living will continue to rise before and after then. We urgently need targeted measures by Government to tackle rising energy & housing costs, the main drivers of inflation in Ireland.
Deputy Michael McNamara has requested the Government to enable employers to provide a €1,000 Covid bonus to qualifying employees without them or their employees incurring a tax liability.
I asked the Tánaiste if the Government will enable employers to provide a €1,000 Covid bonus to qualifying employees without them or their employees incurring a tax liability.
The National Broadband Plan is behind schedule. Working from home is one of the pandemic responses most likely to remain with us but that is not possible without a proper broadband connection.
It’s time for the Government to stop blaming the public, and instead start implementing measures to enable people to live more safely alongside Covid.
Only 2,700 premises have been connected under the National Broadband Plan to date, far below the initial target of 115,000 by January 2022 which was subsequently revised down to 60,000. As I learned today, €133m has been spent on the Plan in the last two years.
Despite the rise in energy bills, food costs, building materials’ prices and the soaring cost of living, the Minister for Finance has suggested no counter inflationary measures.
I called for credit unions to be able to invest their funds in, and for the benefit of, the communities in which they are based.
Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan confirmed that Moneypoint Power Station will close as scheduled in 2025 despite Ireland’s energy shortage and the concerns I raised that we would end up importing coal-generated electricity thereafter.
“A little bit of everything and very little of anything.” I spoke on Budget 2022 in the Dáil today.
Clarification is needed on the future of all existing full-time jobs at Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. as well as the retention of the two aviation hangars used by the Clare-based operation.
Following today’s announcement by Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) that it has acquired Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd securing 300 highly skilled full-time workers in Shannon, there is concern for up to 180 jobs at the Clare-based operation.
The announcement is undoubtedly very positive news for AAG but the full impact of the acquisition on all 480 full-time employees and future operations at Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. has yet to be outlined. I will be seeking more clarity on the issue from representatives of AAG and Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. when I attend a briefing hosted by the companies tomorrow morning.
The employees of Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd. have played a key role in ensuring the future of the operation through their engagement with management and SIPTU over the past year. This included staff staggering work shifts with staff taking paid leave by availing of days built up over the years. While the majority of contract staff were released in the last year, particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, management at the company has continued to engage with worker’s representatives from SIPTU. Following on from today’s announcement, it is important now that clarity is provided on all full-time positions at the company.
Photo c/o Pat Flynn of The Clare Herald
The Central Bank has questions to answer following the closure today of three Clare Bank of Ireland branches and more than 80 others across the country.
Given the spin that the Budget would facilitate people working from home, I pointed out in the Dáil that a poor service from telecoms providers was a major obstacle and asked when the Government would tackle this.
Given the urgent need for construction workers to join the workforce, I asked the Taoiseach to ensure that all apprentices would complete their training on schedule despite the considerable delays to date.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has described the proposed Scariff Regeneration Project as the “biggest infrastructure investment in the town in a generation”.
Clare County Council has lodged a Category 2 application with the Department of Rural and Community Development for funding under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund. If successful, the funding would enable the local authority to proceed with the design and planning stages of the project before submitting a Category 1 funding application to deliver the works.
Deputy McNamara this week wrote to Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, TD, to pledge his support for the project which he said, “would have long lasting positive implications for the community and economy of the town and surrounding area.”
He stated, “I fully support Clare County Council in its efforts to secure funding for a series of significant infrastructure developments in the town, including a multi-service innovation and commercial space, improvements to the public realm in market square and the town centre, and the delivery of enhanced parking and ancillary facilities.
Deputy McNamara added, “As a lifelong resident of Scariff, I acknowledge the significance of this project for the town and the wider East Clare region. There was a very positive response from the local community to a public consultation process led by Clare County Council, which further underlines the desire locally for such an investment in the town.”
Deputy McNamara said the proposed project represents the first significant central government allocation for the town of Scariff since he was previously a TD from 2011 to 2016.
He continued, “The last significant funding allocation accommodated the delivery of new footpaths from the bridge in Scarriff to Market House. The proposed new regeneration project will deliver additional and significant streetscape improvements more widely through the town centre and square area of the town, which will greatly improve accessibility for all residents of and visitors to the town. The proposal to deliver extra parking capacity and ancillary facilities, including those for coaches, will help bring new tourism business to Scariff.”
Deputy McNamara said the proposed delivery of an enterprise hub in the town would facilitate local community and visitors to the East Clare area with short and long-term working space.
“Clare County Council, through the Information Systems Broadband and Digital section of the Rural Development Directorate, has developed a comprehensive network of Digital Hubs across the county in recent years,” explained Deputy McNamara. “The addition of a significant innovation and commercial space in Scariff would reap huge dividends for the town and wider area in terms of facilitating local enterprise, community organisations and remote working.”
“I look forward to the outcome of the Department’s review of Clare County Council’s Category 2 funding application, which represents the first of two stages in delivering this vitally important infrastructure project. A decision on the application is expected during November,” concluded Deputy McNamara.
In Dáil Éireann today, Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara called on Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to change the income limits for eligibility for social housing to enable working families to apply in circumstances where obtaining a mortgage is beyond their reach.
During Priority Questions to the Minister, Deputy McNamara also highlighted the growing cost of construction materials and its subsequent impact on house building across County Clare.
Speaking on the issue of social housing, Deputy McNamara said the current assessment of housing applicants was overly restrictive.
“As the threshold is currently set in Clare, if two people in a household are working or even if just one person is working and is just a little over the minimum wage, those people are not entitled to go on the social housing list,” he explained. “Effectively, only people in receipt of social welfare can get social housing in Clare because of where the limits are set I have no problem with people in receipt of social welfare getting social housing but it should not be limited to that because it will cause ghettoisation of social housing, which nobody thinks is a good thing, and there is a disincentive to work, especially when it is low-paid work.”
“We need to look at those income thresholds for the sake of society and housing in Clare, to even get back to where we were in the 1980s,” Deputy McNamara informed the Dáil.
Meanwhile, Deputy McNamara also asked if the Department has consulted the construction sector regarding the growing impact on housing construction on the shortage and inflating cost of timber.
“House building is becoming increasingly expensive. There is huge material inflation, especially, but not just, in timber. This affects one-off builds, but it also affects the capacity of local authorities to deliver houses,” stated Deputy McNamara.
He added, “Small one-off builders and self-builders are important to the supply of housing in Ireland, particularly in rural areas. Accessing materials is increasingly difficult as the supply is drying up. A simple length of 4″ X 2″ was €8 last year and is now €13. One of the main builder’s suppliers in Clare is no longer stocking timber. Builders will not give quotes of more than a month’s duration because of inflation in the cost of supplies. I refer not just to timber, but to materials generally?”
“There is a lot of timber growing in Ireland and much of that is past the point of maturity. Many landowners across Clare are looking for felling licences. There is chaos in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, particularly in its forestry section. I would ask the Minister of State to speak with Senator Hackett, who is the Minister of State with responsibility for this, and tell her to get things moving,” stated Deputy McNamara.
Responding to Deputy McNamara about the rising cost of building materials, Minister O’Brien said, “There have been material increases in timber, plastics and metals, some of it Covid-related and some of it Suez-related and supply chain-related. This is being monitored by the Department’s market surveillance unit. The increases we are seeing could be temporary, but we are monitoring the situation. The Deputy asked if this has an effect on delivery. There is no question that it does.”
The meaning of the word “logjam” is now clear to builders and those building their own home. Forestry owners can’t get a felling licence so timber mills can’t get logs so builders can’t get timber so homes can’t be built. I asked Government to tackle this.
I fear our borrowing levels are as unsustainable as our GDP, which is reliant on corporate tax structures that are being targeted by our EU and US allies.
The Aer Lingus announcement will cast serious doubts over the retention of early morning and late evening flights to Heathrow which are essential to business connectivity.
Pregnant women who receive €350 through the pandemic unemployment payment currently face a reduction to the maternity benefit of €245. Maternity benefit must be increased so that women are not financially penalised for giving birth.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has said the proposed development of a 270km2 flagship floating offshore wind development project off the coast of counties Clare and Kerry could place Moneypoint at the centre of Ireland’s offshore energy strategy.
Read MoreRural Ireland needs more than vague plans without any funding or targets. “Our Rural Future” is a misnomer in the absence of the maintenance and development of services like broadband, banks, post offices and wastewater treatment.
Bank of Ireland informed me today it will continue to provide an ATM service in Kilkee after the local branch closes. I have asked bank officials to reconsider their decision to close the ATM in Miltown Malbay.
I am shocked to learn the Central Bank Governor did not request a meeting with the Bank of Ireland CEO following BOI’s notification to the Central Bank of its plans to close 88 branches, given its impact on banking on Ireland and banking services in the affected communities.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the Bank of Ireland that it will continue to provide an ATM service in Kilkee after the local branch closes.
Read MoreBank of Ireland has let down customers and communities across Clare and across Ireland.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara says Bank of Ireland’s decision to close its branches in Kilkee, Miltown Malbay and Tulla and at 85 other locations throughout the Republic of Ireland underpins the financial sector’s push towards online banking at the expense of many people in rural Ireland.
Read MoreThe Health (Amendment) Bill is being rushed to avoid scrutiny. We have been told that quarantine facilities will not be up and running for weeks regardless of whether the legislation is passed tomorrow or given more time for adequate scrutiny.
Read MoreI requested the Minister for Finance to include adventure / outdoor activity tourism providers and events companies under the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). The Minister said he will review the matter.
Essential workers who recently contracted Covid but have since recovered and are no longer infectious are being unnecessarily prevented from travelling, as I explained to the Tánaiste today.
In the Dáil today, I outlined why I am opposed to the CETA and Mercosur agreements – their impact on Irish agriculture, food standards, the environment and investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.
Instead of importing offshore energy from Denmark, we should be developing our own offshore energy sector utilising the existing transmission network from Moneypoint.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara is asking the Government to place ESB Moneypoint in County Clare at the centre of any future plans by Government to develop offshore energy in Ireland.
Read MoreBanks are refusing mortgages to persons employed under Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme. Up to now, the Government has insisted that these were sustainable jobs, temporarily affected, but now it seems this is no longer the Government’s position. Many of these jobs are in sectors shut down by the Government.
I raised the implications of a no-Brexit deal for Irish agriculture and spoke about the wider ramifications for Ireland’s relationship with the EU.
The short-term funding for airports announced by Government is welcome but more needs to be done given the state’s long-term reliance on aviation.
Ireland’s domestic economy is forecast to shrink by a massive 22% in 2020, by far the biggest contraction, according to the European Commission.
I spoke on RTÉ Primetime about the impact of Level 5 restrictions on retailers.
Our economy cannot endure another sustained shutdown – RTÉ The Week In Politics
Reacting to the news that Ryanair is to close its bases in Cork and Shannon for the winter, Independent TD Michael McNamara has said the Government needs to introduce a system of rapid testing at airports in the short term and must also develop a new State aviation policy to ensure international transit carriers do not fly exclusively into Dublin.
Read MoreIn response to the news that Ryanair is to close its bases in Cork Airport and Shannon Airport for the winter, I am requesting Government to introduce a system of rapid testing at airports in the short term and also develop a new State aviation policy to ensure international transit carriers do not fly exclusively into Dublin Airport.
Read MoreReacting to Budget 2021 this evening, I spoke about mental health services, the childcare sector, family carers and broadband, amongst other issues.
At today’s COVID Committee, I asked the GAA, IRFU and FAI about the economic and social impact of COVID-19 on their organisations and the wider community.
We must increase healthcare capacity instead of shutting down aviation, sporting and cultural events, pubs etc, to deal with the threat posed by COVID-19.
Tonight on RTÉ Primetime, I pointed out that the numbers in hospital with COVID-19 are thankfully, nowhere near those that prompted the lockdown in March.
At the COVID-19 Committee today, I questioned Dr. Ronan Glynn (Acting Chief Medical Officer) on meat plant and restaurant inspections, the impact of Covid-19 on mental health and the implications of an economic slowdown on our health service.
Some interesting points made, and serious questions raised about the direction being taken in dealing with the virus at the COVID-19 Committee today.
This government like the previous government simply doesn’t understand how the economy works in rural Ireland and how the seasonal hospitality sector works.
The impact of COVID-19 and the soaring cost of insurance is having a devastating impact on many businesses. Tuamgraney’s Sean Kilkenny, who runs a vintage carriage business operating out of the grounds of Dromoland Castle, last week took his horse-drawn carriage all the way to the Dáil. I spoke to him during yesterday’s ‘Save Our Heritage’ protest in Shannon.
I today asked Taoiseach Michael Martin when Government intends providing guidance to pub/nightclub workers and owners around the proposed reopening date of July 20th. I was informed that a decision will be issued following a Cabinet meeting at 5.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday).
The Dáil Covid Committee, of which I am Chair, this week shone a light on meat industry practices during the COVID-19 restrictions.
During the Dáil COVID-19 Committee meeting today, I questioned the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland on banking practices around personal and business loan approvals.
In this morning’s meeting of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, I asked members of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Recovery Ireland about the impact of COVID-19 on the SME sector.
During today’s COVID-19 Committee meeting, I questioned John McKeon, Secretary General for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, on whether the Department has plans to centralise existing Intreo Centre back office services throughout the Midwest to Limerick.
