Author Archives: John
O’Donovan welcomes toll free initiative to get HGV’s using Limerick Tunnel
Added October 1st, 2013
Fine Gael TD for Limerick and member of the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the decision by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD to introduce a toll free holiday to get HGVs using the Limerick Tunnel.
The decision follows the Minister asking the National Roads Authority (NRA) to look at the feasibility of lifting tolls for heavy goods vehicles for one month on one or more motorways across the country, as a trial. In an effort to see if HGV operators can be persuaded to use the motorways more.
“I welcome the decision of the Minister to introduce this toll free initiative for HGV’s as large numbers of HGVs continue to use regional and local roads in order to avoid tolls, and are driving through towns, villages and rural areas with large populations. This has safety implications for other road users, residents and pedestrians. In addition by using local and regional roads instead of custom-built motorways, HGVs are adding to the wear and tear of the legacy roads network.”
The trial is set to begin in November. The other routes selected for inclusion in the trial will include – the M1, M3 and M6.
Court of Appeal will allow speedier access to Justice
Added October 1st, 2013
On Friday, 4th of October, voting will take place in a referendum to establish a Court of Appeal. The reasons to Vote Yes are compelling and there is widespread recognition and acceptance that the situation as it currently stands is untenable.
Currently, all appeals from the High Court, as well as appeals from the Court of Criminal Appeal, are heard by the Supreme Court. There are 36 High Court judges who preside individually. The Supreme Court, after recent appointments made to it, is comprised of 9 judges, and the Chief Justice, who sit usually in groups of 3 or 5. Appeals can be extremely complex and may involve European as well as Irish law. As a consequence, the resources of the Supreme Court are groaning under the weight of an ever increasing list of appeals awaiting hearing. An appeal lodged today can expect a delay of about four and half years before it is heard.
There are currently over 600 appeals in the queue, with new appeals being added all the time. Cases of particular urgency have traditionally been given priority but recently the President of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Susan Denham, stated that no further appeals will be added to the Priority List as there are more than 70 on it already.
Annually, the number of appeals is rising. It has gone up by 5% this year and the trend continues.
Urgent action is needed. If the present situation is not addressed, the implications are extremely serious not only for individuals whose appeals are pending, and who have a right to have their cases heard within a reasonable timeframe, but also for Ireland Inc.
Businesses operating in Ireland who find themselves embroiled in legal proceedings need to know that their case and any subsequent appeals will be heard and determined without undue delay. In particular, it is important that small and medium sized businesses do not find themselves under undue financial pressure because they are involved in a court dispute that goes on for years. Multinational companies considering establishing a presence in Ireland will, as part of their deliberations, look at the efficiency of our courts as they too need to know that, should they become involved in litigation, matters will be dealt with both speedily and efficiently. We must do everything to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive destination for multinational companies wishing to locate here, or for those already located here who wish to expand. Voting Yes to establish a Court of Appeal will ensure that our Courts operate more efficiently, which is essential to attracting investment and creating jobs
The establishment of a Court of Appeal is very much in the public interest. None of us know when we, or a family member, could become involved in court proceedings. Should you ever have to appeal a High Court Judgment, it is in your interest that the appeal does not drag on for years at great personal and financial cost. It is in your interest, and in the interest of every person who resides in the State, that we have a humane courts system that does not add to the stress involved in court proceedings.
Voting Yes will ensure that the victims of crime have speedier access to justice. At the moment, criminal prosecutions which are appealed take far too long to be completed. The Director of Public Prosecutions mentioned this issue in her most recent Annual Report, stating that undue leniency reviews and other forms of appeal against conviction and sentence have been considerably delayed, due to the backlog in the Court of Criminal Appeal. Voting Yes to establish a Court of Appeal will ensure that criminal cases are completed quicker. This will help to reduce the trauma victims of crime experience, and may help them to move on with their lives.
The need to establish a Court of Appeal is well recognised, and enjoys widespread support. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, who has a proven track record of reform, has stated that, should the referendum be passed, the new legislation necessary for its establishment will be enacted early in the New Year and the Court of Appeal can begin its work in Autumn 2014.
On 4th October, you have the opportunity to vote in two referendums that will result in real and positive change: one to establish a Court of Appeal and, the other to abolish the Seanad.
I urge you to Vote Yes in these important Referendums.
Opposition benches empty for debate on important public service reform bill – O’Donovan
Added September 26th, 2013
Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has today (Wednesday) criticised Fianna Fáil and other members of the Opposition for failing to be present in the Dáil during a debate on public service reform.
“This just shows how hypocritical Fianna Fáil is when it talks of reform. The Opposition benches were entirely empty this afternoon for almost all of the contributions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)(Amendment) Bill 2013. This is an important piece of legislation. And yet Opposition spokespeople couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to discuss it.
“Fianna Fáil and others constantly give out about the pace of reform. If they felt so seriously about it, they should turn up in the Dáil chamber. The demands for greater Dáil reform coming from Fianna Fáil smack of hypocrisy in a half empty Dáil chamber.
“This just shows that Fianna Fáil is not serious about Dáil engagement. How can they even know what is going on in the Dáil if they aren’t willing to participate?
“This isn’t the first time I have raised this issue, and it certainly it’s the first time the Opposition benches have been empty for a debate on an important piece of legislation.”
Check out the full video clip here.
On time payment of Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will be welcomed by farmers in Limerick – O’Donovan
Added September 26th, 2013
Coveney negotiating 50% advance of the Single Payment for mid-October
Limerick Fine Gael TD, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed confirmation by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, that Disadvantaged Area Scheme payments of €125 million will begin on time this week. Over 60,000 farming families will receive the payments this week.
“I am delighted that payment runs for the Disadvantaged Area Scheme will commence today, and continue twice weekly, with payments being made as they become eligible.
“This scheme will benefit over 60,000 farming families nationally and will be of significant benefit to farmers in Limerick. This Government is aware of the importance of cash-flow for farmers, particularly those on low incomes, and is responding accordingly. Farmers who qualify for the scheme should receive their payment this week.
“I am delighted that Minister Coveney has also confirmed that arrangements are well advanced and on target to allow payment of the 50% Advance of the Single Payment, with effect from 16 October, following the EU Agriculture Commissioner’s positive response to Ireland’s request for the payment to be brought forward.
“By once again facilitating the on time payment of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and consistently negotiating an advance payment of the Single Farm Payment, this Government has shown that it is in tune with the challenges that farmers are facing.
“The Disadvantaged Area Scheme has been a major factor in keeping farmers farming. It has contributed hugely to the maintenance of a viable rural community and economy. Indeed, most of the payments from the Scheme will be spent locally.”
O’Donovan meets Bruton and IDA on Rathkeale plant
Added September 16th, 2013
Limerick Fine Gael TD, Patrick O’Donovan has said that the meeting he attended with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton in relation to the situation at Andersen (Ireland) in Rathkeale last week was held to seek clarifications from the Minister and officials from his department on issues that had been raised by the employees in the aftermath of the announcement of a voluntary liquidation of the Rathkeale plant.
Since the announcement Patrick O’Donovan has met with employee representatives and officials from the IDA in relation to the future of the Rathkeale plant. He said that his engagement is continuing and he would keep in regular contact with the employee representatives and others in Rathkeale.
O’Donovan calls for Yes Votes on the 4th of October
Added September 16th, 2013
Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan, has said that the two referenda which will take place on the 4th of October are both very important in their own ways and he is calling for a Yes vote in both. The referenda cover the abolition of the Seanad, something which Fine Gael and other parties promised before the last election and the setting up of a special Court of Appeal, which is needed to reduce the current times being taken for a person to have their appeal heard in court under the current system.
Patrick O’Donovan said that many countries of the size of Ireland have already abolished their upper houses, which were in many cases based on the UK’s House of Lords and had no democratic basis. He said that here in Ireland we established a Senate when the Irish Free State was established in 1922 and changed it in 1937 when the current Constitution came into force. In the period up to now there has been no serious attempt to reform or modernise the Seanad with the result that the Taoiseach gave a commitment before the last election, that if the people elected him to office, he would give them the choice to keep the current Seanad or to abolish it.
Patrick O’Donovan said that he did not accept that the proposal to abolish the Seanad was undemocratic. “There is practically no democracy in the current method of electing Senators. Most people have no vote in Seanad elections whereas I have six. If you are a County Councillor or member of the Dáil you automatically get five, and if you are a graduate of Trinity College or that National University you get one, so a person could potentially have seven votes in the Seanad when most people have none. Add to that the fact that the Taoiseach of the day gets to fill eleven seats, to ensure that the Government has a majority, and while Enda Kenny has appointed Independent Senators who vote freely, almost every Taoiseach since 1937 has used the eleven nominations to build their own party membership in the Seanad.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that the Taoiseach has stated regularly that the political system had to get smaller and had to show that if changes were being made in every other element of public spending that politics had to change as well, and that the political system needed to get smaller to reflect the Modern Ireland. That is why, he said, that County Councils were being amalgamated, Town Councils were being abolished, the number of TD’s was being reduced, State cars were removed, the number of Dáil committee’s was reduced, salaries have been cut and other changes that have reduced the number of quango’s have also been introduced. Last week the Taoiseach and the Chief Whip announced major changes on how the Dáil works, and with the abolition of the Seanad these changes will make the running of the Dáil a lot more effective than what we currently have.
In relation to the establishment of the Court of Appeal, Patrick O’Donovan said that this is an opportunity for Ireland to modernise our Courts Service, to allow the Supreme Court to focus on Constitutional issues and will ensure that people who have cases that are being appealed from the High Court will be able to do so a lot sooner than the current system, which has people waiting for four years and longer for a case to be heard. He said it was an old saying that “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” and that is why it is so important to establish this new Court of Appeal here in Ireland.
He concluded by saying that these two issues were part of the Programme for Government which was adopted by both parties and we committed to putting them before the people in these referenda which we are now asking people to vote Yes in.
Reforms will result in Dáil working harder and better – O’Donovan
Added September 16th, 2013
Fine Gael TD For Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement by An Taoiseach and Government Chief Whip, Paul Kehoe TD, of measures to reform and improve Dáil Eireann.
“I welcome these common sense measures which will result in our national parliament working harder and better. After these reforms have been introduced, Dáil Eireann will work longer hours and will scrutinise legislation and national budgets far more effectively.
“Legislation has a huge impact on all our lives and I believe that these very practical measures will lead to better quality legislation.
“The role of Oireachtas Committees in creating legislation and reviewing budgetary measures will be greatly enhanced. Significantly there will be a much increased involvement of expert members of the public and civic groups to advise Oireachtas Committees at the early stage of legislation. This will be a requirement for all pieces of legislation.
“With the budget having been moved to October, Committees will, under these proposals, have the time from October to January to scrutinise the budgetary measures before a single cent is spent. This means that your local TD will have the opportunity to assess budgetary measures and, if necessary, push for changes before the budget is implemented.
“More time in the Dáil means more time examining legislation which is surely the primary role of an elected legislator. These reforms will see our Oireachtas Members spending an increased amount of time in the parliament, debating legislation. Tuesday sittings have been moved forward to 12.30pm (from 2.30pm) and Wednesday sittings have been brought forward to 9.30pm. Furthermore, Friday sittings will now take place every second Friday to discuss Private Member’s Bills and Committee Reports.
“This is about making our parliament and its members work better. I want to commend Paul Kehoe for his role in bringing forward these measures and I look forward to partaking in a much improved Dáil as a result of these reforms.”
O’Donovan applauds Limerick Winners in Tidy Town Competition
Added September 9th, 2013
Fine Gael TD for County Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has today welcomed the results of the 2013 National Tidy Towns Awards and has congratulated Limerick’s winners.
“Close on seventy Tidy Town groups from the various villages and towns across Limerick took part in this year’s competition and I would like to congratulate the many volunteers and groups who give their time and effort, year on year, in order to make their communities better places”.
“I would like to congratulate Limerick’s winners in the competition, we have three medals returning to the County this year following the competition, and while some places did exceptionally well, in my eyes all the towns and villages that participated in the competition are winners.
These wins have not alone brought acclaim to the villages and towns associated with the wins, but are a great endorsement that ripples out to encompass the entire county. There is no doubt that the work carried out by the Tidy Town’s committees across the county has greatly developed the local communities and enhanced the local areas”.
The Tidy Towns movement has to be commended for its work in the various towns and villages across Limerick. It creates fantastic community involvement. The amount of work that goes into winning awards like these is unknown, except to those involved on the ground. I would like to congratulate every person involved in many Tidy Towns Committees across the county and wish in future competitions.
O’Donovan welcomes announcement of two new classes for children with special needs in Newcastle West
Added September 9th, 2013
Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the news this morning that Newcastle West is to benefit from two new classes for children with special needs which will be opening this month.
Both Scoil Iósaf and the Desmond College in Newcastle West are to receive new classes to pupils with accommodate with special needs. This follows an announcement by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that 118 new classes for children with special needs are opening this month. These new classes are catering for over 700 children with special needs in 113 mainstream primary and post primary schools. It will bring the total number of special classes to over 740 in mainstream schools nationwide catering for over 5,000 children with special needs when all classes are open.
“I am delighted with the announcement this morning that Scoil Iósag and the Desmond College with receive are going to be able to provide these new classes. Scoil Iósaf will receive an ASD Early Intervention class and the Desmond College will receive an ASD class. The provision of these classes will have a huge impact on the pupils and their families.”
“Education is being prioritised by this Government within extremely limited spending options. In 2011, 33 such classes were created, and this was increased to 91 last year. The additional 118 classes opening this month means that 242 special classes have been created during the lifetime of this Government – a 50% increase in the availability of special classes.
Special classes in mainstream schools are one of the options available to parents of children with significant needs who cannot be educated in a mainstream class. These classes have lower pupil-teacher ratios than mainstream classes, ranging from one teacher for six pupils to one teacher for eleven pupils. The provision of these classes will mean that fewer children with special educational needs have to travel long distances to schools.
O’Donovan calls for the provision of free Wi – Fi hotspots across Limerick
Added September 4th, 2013
Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has called on Limerick City and County Council to look at introducing an initiative to provide free public Wi-Fi hotspots across the county in an effort to help create jobs and support business and tourism locally. In recent weeks Deputy O’Donovan has been in contact with the County Manager, Conn Murray about the prospect providing of free Wi-Fi in specific areas including public places and buildings across Limerick. Already various Town, City and County Councils across the country have initiatives like this in place.
“I have no doubt that the provision of free Wi-Fi would encourage visitors to the County and City and it would give something back to businesses in the area. For instance free Wi-Fi was provided in Dun Laoghaire as a result of people coming into the area on cruises, so would it be worth looking at having on street free Wi-Fi for Limerick and some of towns in county.
“Free Wi-Fi would for example enable tourists to upload pictures from some of our best-known tourist spots, and thereby help to further promote Limerick worldwide. There is also potential for local businesses to create and develop digital tourist aids, and a free Wi-Fi scheme would help smartphone users use shopping apps, social networks or check maps while they are visiting the County or City. This initiative would showcase Limerick as leading the way in terms of new technologies.”
“From correspondence I have received from the Limerick City and County Council I have been informed that the initiative is presently under consideration and in the time ahead I will continue to encourage the Council to provide such a scheme across the County and City.