Latest news with #Dáil
RTÉ News
43 minutes ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Supplementary register recommended for Seanad elections
A review by An Coimisiún Toghcháin of the conduct of the Seanad elections last January has made a number of recommendations to improve the electoral process for the upper house. Chief among those is a recommendation to introduce a supplementary register ahead of the next election. Unlike Dáil elections, current law does not allow for a supplementary Seanad register, meaning there is one fixed deadline that people must be registered by or risk missing out on their Seanad vote. The review also recommends improved checks on the register of electors to ensure accuracy. The Comisiún said issues with incorrect addresses and deceased electors remaining on the register likely contribute to perceived low turnouts. Another recommendation is for the inclusion of a standardised stamp or watermark on all ballot papers before they are issued and amending legislation to allow individuals decline a nomination or withdraw their own nomination. It also recommends all announcements in count centres are delivered in English, Irish and Irish Sign language and a review of procedure regarding the delivery of Seanad ballot papers by registered post. The Seanad with its 60 members has a unique electoral system. Six senators are elected by the Higher Education constituency and 43 through vocational panels, with only TDs, outgoing Senators and local councillors entitled to vote. The remaining 11 are nominated by the taoiseach of the day. The upper house has constitutionally defined roles in the consideration and passing of legislation and initiating bills.
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wexford defends its Norman heritage following comments from Sinn Féin TD – ‘We're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity'
Many of those events will take place across Co Wexford as places like New Ross, Carrig-on-Bannow, and Wexford town mark the legacy of the Normans since their arrival to Ireland over 900 years ago. However, Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has criticised the decision to take part in the celebrations, asking if this will be a precursor to 'a Festival of Cromwell or a Famine Queen Jubilee?' 'William was a foreign king who never set foot in Ireland, and had nothing to do with Ireland, and yet his birth will be given a higher honour than bestowed by an Irish Government on any figure from Gaelic Irish history,' said the Sinn Féin TD. 'This is not a commemoration for Ireland. Marking the birth of a future English king is not for us, even if it was 1,000 years ago. 'Of course we should acknowledge, protect, take pride in the rich architectural, cultural, and literary heritage that stands testament to Anglo-Norman Ireland, which lives on today in surnames and songs, and celebrate those brave Irish heroes of Norman descent who rebelled against the imperial yoke of England, as early as the 1360s through to the Desmond Rebellion through to United Irishman Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in whose Leinster House our Dáil now meets, and beyond. 'We should make the most of Ireland's Norman heritage to boost tourism, to create jobs, to support communities, and reinforce links with families tracing their Norman Irish roots and with other places who share a Norman heritage, but celebrating England's William the Conqueror, however, is a step too far.' At the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), following confirmation that the council was in contact with Normandy regarding events for 2027, Deputy Ó Snodaigh's remarks were discussed in the chamber by Councillors Lisa McDonald and John Fleming. 'His comments were unpalatable and unfortunate,' said Cllr McDonald, 'we've proven that we're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity.' 'I've never heard such negative, dour comments, I can't understand it,' added Cllr Fleming. 'We're proud of New Ross and its Norman connections, Hook Head, Tintern Abbey, and we have the Norman Visitor Centre coming next year. Now we have some silly comments trying to put a stop to that. ' Director of services Eamonn Hore took time to clarify his feelings on the matter, admitting that it had taken him a while to 'calm down' when he'd first read the deputy's statement. 'If he wants to come down to Wexford we'll show him all that's good about the area and its heritage,' he said. 'And with regards to to Cromwell, Wexford people don't need any history lesson on that. I had a particular problem with him saying this wasn't well-prepared; since 2016 we've had the Norman Way in place and when we invited the president of Normandy to New Ross he was amazed at the influence of the Normans there. "This is a way for the two regions to celebrate their history and culture – I must say I was very disappointed in what he said.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘A load of bull' that Sinn Féin is on the side of working people, Tánaiste says
Tánaiste Simon Harris has defended the Government's rent pressure zone (RPZ) reforms in the wake of the Central Bank's finding they will be 'painful' for renters and rounded on Sinn Féin as the 'wealthiest party' and property owner in the Dáil. He claimed it was a 'load of bull' that they were on the side of 'working people'. He also reiterated his comments that the Government will be taking specific measures to support students and that 'we have their backs' as Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane accused the Government of 'spin and bluster'. Responding to Mr Cullinane, Mr Harris hit out at Sinn Féin as the 'biggest property owners in Dáil, the biggest property investors' with 40 to 50 properties, including seven in Belfast. READ MORE 'So don't give me this 'oh we're on the side of the working people'. This is a load of bull that people see right through,' Mr Harris said. Mr Cullinane, quoting the Central Bank, said the Government measures 'will hurt students and their families', would affect young people and their ability to save for their own homes and 'this will hurt ordinary working people'. He said rent controls will not apply to new builds and will not apply to existing homes after a renter moves out voluntarily. They would also not apply to off-campus student accommodation , Mr Cullinane said. The Waterford TD said the reforms 'will hurt tens of thousands of people' and 'there is absolutely no guarantee that these changes will increase supply'. He asked 'when are you going to stop punishing renters?' and called on the Tánaiste to accept that 'students will be one of the first to be affected'. [ Will rent reform hitting holiday lets irk Coalition's own Ministers? Opens in new window ] Government housing policy 'has always been about investors and giving vulture and cuckoo funds free rein to squeeze rents out of hardworking people', Mr Cullinane said. Mr Harris said Mr Cullinane was only quoting parts of what the Central Bank said. The bank 'also said that our rent pressure zone reforms will have a positive effect on supply', Mr Harris said. 'They themselves acknowledge that housing projections are subject to uncertainty, but they've said this morning that it's not impossible to reach the target,' the Tánaiste added. 'There's a number of steps that need to be taken and many of the steps that they've outlined are areas where the Government has a priority focus on.' He said an additional 11 counties would be included in the RPZs and protected. Mr Harris also insisted the Government 'will be taking specific measures to support students'. 'Do not worry because we have their back,' he said, adding that the Government would include additional measures in the budget to protect students. He added that Sinn Féin planned to abolish RPZs and was in favour of reference rents which he said were unworkable. Mr Harris also rejected claims by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín that the Government was underestimating the homeless population by almost 1,000 based on figures the party got through freedom of information requests to local councils. Mr Tóibín said the local authorities listed 16,472 people as homeless while the official figures are 15,580, some 892 fewer people. The Tánaiste said the monthly figures were official, impartial State statistics and not those of Government. He said in relation to figures compiled by Aontú that often those seeking housing are registered with more than one council creating duplication in the statistics. Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes Listen | 35:51
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘It is wrong' – Ceann Comhairle urged to meet Oireachtas broadcast staff working on ‘contract basis'
In a letter, party whip Paul McAuliffe suggested she meet the Oireachtas staff who manage broadcasts of Dáil, Seanad and committee proceedings as soon as possible to resolve their grievances. He said he was writing on behalf of Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members in relation to the workers' pay and conditions and an upcoming contract review for their employer, PI Communications. Political pressure has ramped up for the workers who claim some earn around €12,000 a year and have no income during summer and Christmas breaks. In the letter sent on June 17, Mr McAuliffe said members of the Dáil were asked to sign a petition to support this group of 'essential workers'. 'It seems extraordinary that this group are only employed on a contract basis,' he said. 'It is not as if their work is temporary as it is through their good work that all of the Dáil's deliberations, debate and discussions get communicated to all of the public. 'This is crucial work for every elected representative and goes to the core of our democracy.' He said it is crucial and 'only fair' that their grievances are addressed as soon as possible. Mr McAuliffe told the Irish Independent it is up to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to make a decision, as it tenders for the service, and the ceann comhairle is the chair. 'I believe it is wrong that these staff are not on the same terms as other who contribute to the parliamentary community, including ushers and catering staff,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT A PI Comms spokesperson said it provides a range of video and streaming services to public and private sector organisations of which the Houses of the Oireachtas is one. He said the company is contracted on a pay per public minute model for coverage of live proceedings and can only bill for broadcasts that are capable of public transmission. The spokesperson said all part-time employees in this group have a guaranteed entitlement to a fixed amount of work each full sitting week, certainty of income for their contracted work, and are free to work on other projects or for other employers. He said they earn substantially more than the national living wage, with attractive bonus arrangements, and get paid leave and sick pay. They are eligible to enrol in pension schemes, have collective agreements that are recognised, and are provided with training and other staff benefits, he added. 'Furthermore, all salaries and payments are regularly benchmarked and are commensurate with roles, skills, experience and responsibilities,' he said. He said the company is currently engaged in trade union negotiations with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Commission. 'We operate in a very competitive sector and are immensely proud of both the service and value we provide our clients and the access, opportunity and supports we provide to our valued staff, many of whom are also engaged in roles for other employers,' he said. 'We are surprised and disappointed that some who have commented on our operations did not first fact-check the accuracy and veracity of ill-founded claims.'
Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Justice minister found out from Labour TD that gardaí had supplied Carlow shooting gun
Labour TD Alan Kelly has told the Dáil that he informed the justice minister of the details of a gun that was supplied by the gardaí in the Evan Fitzgerald case. The 22-year-old was on bail for gun charges when he fired shots in a Carlow shopping centre before fatally shooting himself. It emerged that Mr Fitzgerald was supplied with guns and ammunition by undercover gardaí as part of a controlled operation. Speaking under Dáil privilege, Mr Kelly said that under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the garda commissioner must inform the justice minister about any major issues, before asking: "Why did the garda commissioner not brief the minister for justice on the details of this case and the facts that there was an undercover operation and that the guns were supplied by An Garda Síochána?" He added: "More important, is it appropriate and right that I, as a member of the opposition, had to ring the minister for justice about this and inform him about it? Is it correct that I had to tell him to go to the garda commissioner to ask him about the full details of this case? "Would we have ever known the full details of the case considering what was said in court on March 4 last year? Would we have ever known the full details if I had not to ring the minister for justice on June 3 in relation to this?" Responding, Tánaiste Simon Harris extended his sympathy to Mr Fitzgerald's family, but described it as a "complex case". "Obviously, I am not privy, nor should I be, to when the garda commissioner does or does not use the provision in the act. That is a matter between the commissioner and the minister, but I understand the minister for justice has sought further information from the garda commissioner on the case." A spokesperson for Mr O'Callaghan confirmed that Mr Kelly had rang him on June 3. The minister then made contact with the garda commissioner. Appearing before the Oireachtas Justice Committee last week, Drew Harris confirmed that the guns Fitzgerald had purchased from the dark web were part of a "controlled delivery" operation. "I would say that controlled delivery is very sensitive police methodology," Commissioner Harris said. "We use it for both organised crime and for our terrorist defence." Mr Harris said Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, had looked into the issue. "They have since examined the investigation file that was submitted by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to the DPP, and they've responded that they have no further action that they wish to take in pursuance," he said.
