Category Archives: Blog

Obesity Public Meeting, March 2nd, 2015

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I would like to invite you to a Public Meeting on Obesity on March 2nd at 11am in Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney.

I would greatly appreciate if you could circulate the invite to interested groups.

It promises to be an interesting and informative morning with a panel of expert speakers:

Professor Donal O’Shea – Head of Obesity Unit, St. Columcille’s Hospital

Barry Dempsey- Irish Heart Foundation

Aoife Hearne – Operation Transformation

It will start at 11am sharp and finish at 1pm. There will be a Q+A session after the guest speakers’ presentations.

Please RSVP to mary.mitchelloconnor@oir.ie by Tuesday, February 24th. Please note that there is no cover charge for this conference.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Yours sincerely,
Mary

Mortgage rules must not be an unfair solution to a problem young home buyers did not create

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“Any new mortgage rules should be phased in and should not hit people who have saved up and who are near to a viable deposit,” says to Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire.

“New Central Bank rules need to be phased in over time and not penalise people who have spent years saving and have nearly reached their goal of a viable deposit. We cannot hit these people just as they thought they were home.

“For example, phasing in the proposed new lending rules at 2% to 2.5% over the coming four to five years would mean an additional €5,380 to €6,725 deposit that would be required next year, rather than the additional €26,900 currently envisioned, going from 10% deposit to 20%. That’s on an average Dublin house price of €269,000

“Doubling the deposit rate would be an unfair measure to solve a problem these young house buyers did not create. Canada, which has largely avoided the global property related downturn, introduced reinforced deposit rules, but did it through an insurance system rather than sticking a big cash bill onto ordinary buyers.

“This insurance covers the difference between the cash deposit that the buyer can afford, and the mandatory minimum deposit set down by the central bank. This spreads the risk of default, which achieves what the central bank is seeking to do.

“The ultimate solution to rising house prices is housing supply. More houses meet demand and this in turn drives house prices and rent down, making it easier to save for a more affordable mortgage and ultimately make home ownership more affordable.

“We need a task force to combat the supply problem, bringing together planning agencies, the councils and relevant government departments, NAMA and house builders, to ensure that the houses we need get built as quickly as possible, and to a high standard. There are 6,400 acres of zoned serviced land available in Dublin for 132,000 units, and more developments could be planned if required. Taxes and levies need to be simplified and the system of getting permission for a project streamlined.”

Gender Quotas

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As a woman in the workplace I don’t want to be distinguished from my male counterparts; I feel I can do just as good a job and I am equally as capable. However, this is just not possible. I am not the same as the men I work with, I am not inferior but I am different. Women simply are not adequately represented in senior positions in the business world or as representatives in public life, and major changes are needed to tackle the deficit of female representation.

This Government recognises that change is needed and we have taken action to address this by introducing gender quotas for the next General Election. For the first time 30% of the candidates on the ticket will be female. I know many women feel gender quotas are unnecessary and distasteful; they don’t want to be token members on boards or to feel they were unduly elevated simply because the company they work for, or the party they are a member of, needs more women. However I do not accept that this is the case. I believe that there are women out there to fill the top positions, we just need to encourage them to come forward. Women in Ireland are the most educated in EU and we need to ask ourselves why they are not making it to senior positions.

The introduction of gender quotas for state boards has meant that in six years female representation has gone from 10% to 40%. Advancing this project further, each Government Department that has not yet reached 40% has been asked to prepare a plan to reaffirm their commitment to reacht he target during the lifetime of this Government. In order to support the delivery of the Government’s target on gender equality on State Boards, the Department of Justice and Equality will set up a pilot project for the development of a Talent Bank of women who would be prepared to serve on State Boards.

It is an internationally accepted fact that diverse companies, diverse boards and diverse Governments achieve the best results and this is the goal we are pursuing. During Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington’s recent case in the Equality Court it was found that in a corporate setting, men had a one in two chance of promotion, while the women who apply for the same promotion have less than a one in three chance. In companies where women are in the majority, senior positions are still predominantly held by men. This needs to change.

Only this week in Germany, one of the world’s most developed economies, it was confirmed that frauenquote, Women’s quotas, will mean that 30% of the country’s top boards must comprise of women. Writing in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, commentator Heribert Prantl said frauenquote are not the introduction of quotas, rather they are breaking through existing quotas … they are a tool to establish sensible standards. Just as children learn to swim with armbands, so the women’s quotas are the armbands of society.”

At present there are 27 women and 139 men in Dáil Éireann, this is a record for female representation. In the history of this state there have only ever been 14 female Ministers. There is something seriously wrong with these statistics. Gender quotas aim to encourage women who have the ability to come forward and assure them that they will have the opportunity to represent their constituency or to serve on a State Board.

We know that Irish women have the skills but we also know that there are reasons why they are not putting themselves forward. Many women feel they cannot commit to the responsibility that comes with these positions and balance their family lives at the same time. There is no doubt that there is merit in this argument. However, until more women are in these positions, nothing will change. Gender quotas  will fast-track the process of involving women in Irish public life and in State Boards, like Heribert Prantl said they are our armbands until this becomes the norm and equal representation comes natuarally in all areas. This Government has done more than any before us to address the issue of gender equality and  quotas are just the starting point to bring us to the finish line of truly representating the Irish population.

TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor joins Caremark to launch its New Deansgrange Office

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Caremark officially launched its latest office on Thursday 13th of November, bringing its number of offices nationwide to seven. This latest office based in Deansgrange, will provide Care and Support to the community in south Dublin.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor T. D was delighted to be present at the launch, and welcomed this new service being offered to the local community of south Dublin. Ms Mitchell O’Connor T.D. commented “Living at home is every older person’s first preference. It is where they feel safe, where they know best and feel happiest. They cherish their independence, they want to be close to their family and to remain part of their community”.

The Caremark ethos is to empower people of all age groups to reach their full potential. This person-centred approach is central to the Caremark philosophy and its core values. Anne Cassin, Managing Director of the Caremark Dublin South office has strong links with the community. She firmly believes in the importance of inclusion to its more vulnerable members. Anne, who lives locally, commented “ It is vitally important especially for the older members of our community to remain involved in some way with day to day happenings , be it attending local events, getting local news, or simply people dropping by for a chat. This contact is essential to the well-being not alone our older and vulnerable members, but to the entire community”.

For more information contact Anne Cassin Managing Director Caremark (Dublin South)

T: 01 2890088 Email: anne@caremark.ie or visit www.caremark.ie

Mitchell O’Connor hosts breakfast for Breast Health Day

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Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, today (Wednesday) hosted a breakfast in Leinster House to mark Breast Health Day 2014.

“This morning’s breakfast in, in co-operation with Europa Donna Ireland and Coviden, to mark Breast Health Day 2014 was a fantastic success. Irish chef Domini Kemp, who has survived breast cancer, was our guest speaker and shared her insights into battling and surviving the disease. The event was very well supported by my colleagues across all parties.

“I am delighted that this Breast Health day comes a week after Budget 2015 extended BreakCheck screening to women between 65 and 69 years old. BreastCheck currently provides free mammograms and a recall program to all eligible women aged 50-64 years. The decision demonstrates the Government’s commitment to women’s health and will greatly contribute to more early detections of the disease.

“Breast cancer survival in Ireland has improved significantly in recent years. Screenings are very important to women’s health as early detection is key in the battle against breast cancer. According to the Irish Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the country and is most commonly found in those over the age of 50.

“I passionately believe that we must do all we can to prevent this disease in as many instances as possible. I am proud to give my time and effort to this cause and I thank all of my colleagues in Leinster House for their support for today’s event.

Strong Calls to Extend BreastCheck Programme

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Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor attended the BreastCheck extension event early last week. The event, coordinated by the Irish Cancer Society called on the Government to extend the free BreastCheck screening. BreastCheck currently provides free mammograms and a recall program to all eligible women aged 50-64 years.

A constant champion of women’s health, the T.D. came out to show her support for the efforts to extend the BreastCheck programme to include women up to age 69, and to continue efforts to raise awareness about this cause that effects millions of women and their families annually. Breast cancer survival in Ireland has improved significantly in recent years due to the combined approach of screening, symptomatic detection and improved treatment.

Screenings are of the utmost importance to women’s health as early detection is key in the battle against breast cancer. According to the Irish Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the country. Breast cancer is most commonly found in those over the age of 50.

More than 70% of women offered screening accept it, which is very positive. However, acceptance rates for those invited for the first time has fallen to 66%. BreastCheck is initiating an advertising campaign to help raise awareness about the need to go for regular breast screening.

Breast cancer survival rates have improved significantly in recent years due to better screening programs and advances in treatment. Hopefully, survival rates can be improved even further through the extension of the BreastCheck program. Even with its limited scope, the BreastCheck campaign has already made an impact, over 144,000 women were screened in 2013 compared with 128,800 in 2012.

A healthy lifestyle is always the best defense against cancer. Making healthy lifestyle choices like choosing a balanced diet, practicing regular exercise, and limiting exposure to cigarette smoke, are all key to reducing the risk of cancer. A healthy lifestyle also includes preemptive screenings and body awareness.It is critical for women to know what is normal for their own bodies and to be aware of changes, be they day to day or over years.

October is the international Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to take a moment or two to learn more and find out how you can stand with Mary in making sure women aged 50 to 69 have access to preemptive care.

The system has been too slow to help students with special needs reach their potential.

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Special people have special needs. Truly wonderful, unique, vibrant people sometimes require and always deserve extra support and a little more attention. This is something that really hit me years ago as principal of The Harold School, Glasthule. Ciara was enrolled in our school when I was appointed principal. At the time, I tried to inform her mother, Anne, that in a class of 30 pupils, I was concerned that we could not facilitate her daughter’s additional needs.

Last week, as Ciara accepted her award at a Special Olympics ceremony we held in Dun Laoghaire, having won three medals at the event in Limerick in June, her mother and I looked back on this first fractious meeting. She recalled her anxiety and frustration as a mother of a six-year-old girl with Down Syndrome, who was being directed away from the local school where her siblings were already in attendance.

I remembered, with embarrassment, my initial assertion that Ciara’s educational needs may be better served in a ‘special school’.

I recalled how Anne vociferously reminded me that it was my job, as principal, to ensure that Ciara’s educational needs were met. I remember clearly that at one stage, Anne looked me straight in the eye and said, forcibly: “Principal, what would you want for your sons if they had Down Syndrome?”

This was a moment of true understanding and awareness; it changed me forever in my professional role and set me on a path of setting up a Special Education Department in the school.

The school diversified and adapted over the following years, and when appointing teachers we looked for expertise in dealing with special needs. We welcomed children with special and additional needs. It was their right to access the school, as much as any other pupil attending. A right, not a privilege.

As Ciara, a wonderful girl with a huge personality and bags of talent, accepted her Special Olympics award last week, I was thankful that special education has advanced so much in the past number of years, but I know that there are still massive deficits that need to be addressed.

The reality faced by parents of children with disabilities was highlighted to me again recently when my friend’s little boy was diagnosed with autism. In the past, a family would present at our school, usually with a diagnosis, and we would put in place resources and individual education plans. What I didn’t know was the horrible struggle families had to face to get that diagnosis. My friend’s family are in the same position as thousands of others.

Getting a diagnosis for autism seems to be the first major hurdle to overcome. Waiting lists, lack of appointments and a deficit of resources meant, in the case of my friend, it took over two years for her son to be diagnosed. She already knew he was autistic but you cannot enter the system until it’s official. This whole process was exhausting and extremely stressful for the family. My friend is checking every website, Facebook page and following Twitter accounts to learn as much as she can. There is information out there but it is inconsistent and I have learned that the support available is piecemeal depending on where you live.

County Wicklow has a very good reputation for autism services while support in my own area of Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, is dismal.

Fine Gael supports diversity in the education of children with special needs, we recognise that both intensive education and mainstreaming can be seen to work for individual children.

As the economic situation improves, we are working towards improving conditions for families and I am committed to representing the families of children with special needs in working to improve the systems in place.

We need to provide more specialised training for teachers and encourage practising teachers to consider masters and diplomas in teaching of special needs. All children in mainstream schools benefit from the attendance of children with special needs.

This promotes integration, understanding and diversity, so we need to make sure schools are adequately equipped with dedicated classrooms and speech and occupational therapists.

A child with a stammer can access speech therapy, but a child with autism or Down Syndrome or other syndromes has to jump through hoops.

Special needs assistants are hugely helpful in schools but I firmly believe they should be trained to deliver programmes tailored to meet the needs of the child.

I am proud of the work that I have done as a teacher and as a TD to advance support available in schools to those with special needs, but I know more can be done. If I was back in my office at Harold School and I was sitting down to mark the copybook of the Department of Education and Skills, I would write in bold red pen: “Has improved in the past 10 years, but needs to do much better.”

– See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/schools-must-do-more-for-special-pupils-30461992.html#sthash.2DT12DFP.dpuf

 

 

Proposed Closure of Dun Laoghaire Courthouse

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Please see the below letter and Parliamentary Question response I recently sent out to local solicitors and business people regarding the proposed closure of the Dun Laoghaire Courthouse

Dear ____________,

I know it has been of concern to you that Dun Laoghaire Courthouse has been threatened with closure.

Since late last year, I have had meetings with solicitors and Business Associations about the impact the closure would have on local legal cases, and also the impact it would have on the business community in Dun Laoghaire. Closing Dun Laoghaire Courthouse will entail the public, Gardai, and solicitors travelling to courthouses in either, Blanchardstown, Dolphin House or The Courts of Criminal Justice in the city.

I have also met with The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, about the threatened closure, outlining the impact it would have. In the Dáil, I put a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Justice and Equality and she has sent me her reply.

I draw your attention to a paragraph stating that the consultation period on Dun Laoghaire Courthouse has been extended and I would urge you to make a submissionto dublinreview@courts.ie  by 5 September 2014:

‘The Courts Service had originally sought submissions by the end of June but it has now agreed to extend the timeframe for submissions to early September to allow for the fullest possible consultation. I have been assured by the Courts Service that all submissions received on the proposal will receive consideration. It is intended that proposals arising from the review including the closure of the court venue in Dun Laoghaire will be considered by the Courts Service Board at a meeting in October.’

I will continue to make representations to keep Dun Laoghaire Courthouse open. Please share this information with your colleagues. If you need to contact me, please call my Blackrock Office at 01 210916. My email address is: mary.mitchelloconnor@oir.ie

Yours sincerely,

Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD

——————————————————————————————————–

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Ms. Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor
for WRITTEN on Tuesday, 8th July, 2014.

* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason Dun Laoghaire courthouse is being considered for closure in view of the fact that it will result in a breakdown of the administration of justice and increase financial costs for the State in the long run; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

– Mary Mitchell O’Connor

REPLY.
As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and I have been informed that following a review undertaken in 2013 into the delivery of court services in the greater Dublin Area, the proposals which have recently been published by the Courts Service include a proposal to close the District Court venue in Dun Laoghaire. The purpose of the review was to examine options to ensure that the Courts Service can continue to maintain an appropriate level of front line services to court users throughout Dublin city and county. The review has been the first comprehensive assessment of the delivery of court services in Dublin in many decades. In addition, the proposals arising from the review are designed to ensure the maximum utilisation of court accommodation and resources while at the same time providing opportunities for efficiencies across the justice system.

The Courts Service recognises that the proposal to close the court venue in Dun Laoghaire would inevitably have an impact on a range of organisations and courts users. In this context, I welcome the consultative approach which is being adopted by the Courts Service in seeking submissions on the proposal from any interested parties or local interests. The Courts Service had originally sought submissions by the end of June but it has now agreed to extend the timeframe for submissions to early September to allow for the fullest possible consultation. I have been assured by the Courts Service that all submissions received on the proposal will receive consideration. It is intended that proposals arising from the review including the closure of the court venue in Dun Laoghaire will be considered by the Courts Service Board at a meeting in October.

I have been assured that any impacts on the administration of justice and/or any possible increased costs to the State will be among the matters which will be taken into consideration by the Courts Service Building Committee and the Board when considering the proposals. It should, of course, be noted that the final decision in relation to the closure of any court venue is a matter for the Board of the Courts’ Service.

Photograph from South Dublin Today

 

Congrats to Monkstown Educate Together National School on their new beautiful garden!

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The weather this weekend was perfect for the opening of Joan Mallon’s Cape Cod Garden at Monkstown Educate Together National School. This was Joan’s first solo garden project and she won a silver medal at the Bloom Festival this year! Her garden design was inspired by the creative and romantic gardening styles that she saw on her trip to Boston and Cape Cod in June 2013. After seeing this garden at MENTS I can say you do feel like you are in Cape Cod when you are looking at it!

Thanks to the help of Joan, Jennie, Anne Marie, Rosario, Parent Volunteers and most of all PUPILS of METNS for making the replanting of Cape Cod Escape at MENTS possible! MENTS has a Green School Status and uses its other garden to teach kids about the environment. I am excited that MENTS has agreed to take care of the garden and as a fellow educator I am glad that students will be able to use it as a resource!

Again, congratulations to Joan Mallon on her accomplishments at Bloom Festival and I am delighted that MENTS is able to use her beautiful garden as a resource to teach kids about the environment.

Dalkey Book Festival

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We had gorgeous weather this past week for the Dalkey Book Festival! Starting on Thursday, each day was filled with a variety of lectures, interviews, and exhibits. There were many big names including Salman Rushdie, Robert Fisk, and BBC broadcaster Kirsty Wark. Other speakers included Irish writers Joseph O’Connor, John Banville, Sebastian Barry, and many more.

The Apres Match comedian group provided some light entertainment at the end of the festival. St. Patricks Annual Art Exhibition was just one of the many different events that the Festival was showcasing this year.

Overall, the Book Festival was a huge success and I really enjoyed the events I attended. Congratulations to the Festival Founders, David McWilliams and Sian Smyth for another successful year! Well done to all the speakers, volunteers, and personnel who made this possible. It was great to see the support of the sponsors of the festival, the Dun Laoghire-Rathdown County Council, Key Capital, RTE Radio 1, Failte Ireland, The Irish Times, Verso, and Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre.  I look forward to seeing what next year will bring!