Budget is good news for family farm income, disadvantaged farmers and beef sector in Limerick – O’Donovan

Added October 16th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has said that Budget 2014 will protect the incomes of family farms, support small farm holdings in disadvantaged areas and invest in the future of the national suckler cow herd.

“I believe that the measures announced in Budget 2014 will safeguard family farm income and I am delighted by the €23 million extra funding for the suckler cow scheme. The income of farmers in disadvantaged areas has also been protected. That this has all been achieved despite the enormous budgetary pressure is highly commendable.

“The €23 million increase in the suckler cow scheme is a clear statement of the importance the Government places in the beef sector. This will be allocated towards the Beef Genomics Scheme and is a wise investment in the future of our national herd, which will benefit farmers in the short and long term.

“The Beef Genomics Scheme will provide suckler farmers with a payment of €40 per calf in return for which the farmer will be required to take samples from stock bulls and a selection of suckler cows for genotyping. This will help to accelerate the kind of genetic improvement that will drive efficiency and increase profitability at farm level. Together with the Beef Data Programme, this will provide for payments of up to €60 per calf in the suckler herd.

“The suckler herd is the cornerstone of our beef industry which more than 100,000 farm families contribute to. The beef sector is responsible for employing almost 8,000 people in processing, sales and marketing, and driving exports valued at approximately €1.8 billion per annum.

“I am delighted that the current level of payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has been maintained at €195 million despite the budgetary pressures that exist. The fact that the Grassland Sheep Scheme has been increased to €15 million makes it a good budget for farmers in disadvantaged areas.

“This Government is determined to further develop the agri-food sector which is one of the shining lights of the Irish economy. Budget 2014 will help to further contribute to the future growth and prosperity of the sector and will be welcomed by farmer families throughout Limerick and the Country.”

Legislation to deal with Independents receiving leaders’ allowance to be introduced in new Dáil session – O’Donovan

Added October 8th, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed confirmation by An Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore TD, that the legislation to address the un-vouched nature of Independent TDs and Senators receiving a leader’s allowance will be introduced during this new Dáíl term, and is he said a further example of the Government commitment to real Dáil Reform.

 “I welcome the fact that this issue is to be finally rectified during this Dáil term, after being allowed get completely out of control under the last two Fianna Fáil Taoisigh, where Independents needed to be kept onside in order to keep the then FF/PD/Green Government in office. It is a clear example of where no accountability exists and is a relic of a time where the public’s money was splashed around without any reason whatsoever.

 “Fifteen Independent TDs are paid a leaders’ allowance of €41,152 and Independent Senators are paid €23,383 in addition to their salary and expenses, with the total amount being paid out since 2001 adding up to €4.19 million.

 “The purpose of a leader’s allowance is to provide funds to political parties that they can use for administration, policymaking and advice. Why this allowance was ever made available to Independent TDs and Senators is beyond me, considering they are supposed to be “Independents” who exactly are they claiming to be leading?.”

Visitor numbers double in Desmond Castle

Added October 3rd, 2013

Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed figures he has received from Minister of State Brian Hayes that there has been a doubling of vistor numbers over twelve months to the Desmond Banqueting Hall in Newcastle West. Figures given by Brian Hayes to Patrick O’Donovan in response to a Dail question showed that 4,290 visited the Castle in 2012 and 8,538 had visited in 2013 up to the middle of September, showing that the final figure for 2013 could be over 9,000.

Patrick O’Donovan congratulated the staff of the Office of Public Works in the Castle together with the local voluntary castle committee, local community organisations and traders for the increase in visitor numbers in 2013, and said that with a small amount of help, there is no reason that the figure cannot go over 10,000 early in 2014.

“While visitor numbers have doubled in twelve months it is clear locally that there are still huge numbers of people here in West Limerick who haven’t visited the site and it is important for OPW to look at ways of getting local people to visit the historical sites that they have control of here in Limerick, including Askeaton, Adare, Kilmallock and Newcastle West.”

“I am very pleased with the approach of Minister Brian Hayes since he came to office. He has since coming to office visited the sites and towns in Limerick where OPW have places under their control. He has seen at first hand the work that OPW has completed and the work that is being carried out and the co-operation between his office and local communities across Limerick. We need to ensure that this co-operation continues and I am working with OPW to try to have a package in place that markets all of the sites in Limerick together, and encourages people who are visiting one of the sites to consider visiting the others as well.”

O’Donovan seeks way forward on Adare Bypass

Added October 2nd, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has asked the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD to convene a meeting to include the Minister, the Department of Transport, Limerick County Council and the National Roads Authority to discuss the current situation regarding the proposed bypass of Adare.

Patrick O’Donovan said that he has been contacted by several landowners, business people and residents of Adare who are anxious to know what the State Agencies are proposing to do now that An Bord Pleannála have made their decision on the proposed route. He said that the people of the area are anxious that some degree of certainty be given to those affected and that a plan which will ultimately be put forward for planning permission can be submitted.

“It is well known that huge sums of money have already been spent in the planning of this proposed road up to now, and I believe that it is only fair that the residents and public representatives of the area are told what is going to happen now. We have all been left in a virtual limbo since the decision of An Bord Pleannála was announced and I believe it is vital that a way forward be found. “

“I have personally asked the Minister to organise this meeting, so as to ensure that a plan can be put in place for Adare. I have made the Minister aware of the concerns of the people who contacted me, some of who have different views on the route etc., but all of whom agree that a clear decision one way or another is needed.”

Patrick O’Donovan expects the meeting with Minister Varadkar and the State Agencies to take place over the coming weeks.

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, 4^th 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 4^th 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.