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Last Updated: November 25, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Sinn Féin’s questioning of Ceann Comhairle’s impartiality is unacceptable

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Thursday) condemned Gerry Adams for calling into question the position of Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett.

“Gerry Adams and Sinn Féin have this evening stooped to a new low by questioning the character of Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett.

Today’s antics in the Dáil were nothing more than a stunt by Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald who was trying to distract from the debate that took place yesterday. Deputy McDonald took advantage of her position as a member of Dáil Éireann today to serve her own purpose.

When Deputy McDonald did not get her own way, she held up the Dáil for the whole day and prevented any legislation going through the house.

The Ceann Comhairle did his job today. He controlled the time assigned to all members and when one member would not adhere to the rules of the house and when work could not continue, he had no choice but to use his powers to have Deputy McDonald removed.

Instead of using the processes that are in place to question a decision or an answer you receive Deputy McDonald dug her heels in and wasted valuable Dáil time.

The Ceann Comhairle has chaired the Dáil fairly throughout his tenure. There has never been any question as to his impartiality. Sinn Féin’s questioning of the position of the Ceann Comhairle is unjustifiable and completely self-serving.”

Last Updated: November 13, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

We must plan ahead to improve education system – O’Connor

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Monday), called for an emphasis on forward planning for education as economic conditions improve.

“In Budget 2015, funding was made available for 1,700 new teachers, resource teachers and SNAs in our schools. Great strides have been made in improving the education system in Ireland; the VEC has been restructured from 33 VECs to 16 Education & Training Boards (ETBs) and SOLAS, a new Further Education & Training Authority has been established. These changes are very positive and will make a huge difference to young people around the country, but now it is time to plan ahead and to especially think about making apprenticeships available to all and providing training for University lecturers.

“Ireland is attracting investment and creating jobs largely due to the fact that we have a highly skilled workforce available. Education has been a key driver in the economic recovery and we need to assure that this continues into the future.

“Academic excellence and research are vital, but there is also a need for more teaching skills and pastoral care training in our University sector. These educators are not supported to the degree that second level and primary teachers are, and in order to assure the highest of standards, we need to look to investing in this area.

“Although there are thousands of tradespeople in Ireland, more people are needed in this area and it is essential that we facilitate training in every way possible. It is sometimes difficult to get apprenticeships, so there should be a stimulus for apprenticeships outside the traditional master-apprentice system. IT skills should also be included in apprenticeships, and where possible, if people have the desire, they should be able to continue academic education, alongside the apprenticeship.

“Ireland is a leader when it comes to education; our 15-year-olds are the 4^th best in reading and significantly above OECD average in science and maths, we had the highest ever 2^nd level education completion rate of 93%, above OECD average in 2012. Reform is continuing with the publication of the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011 to 2020.

“However now is not the time to be complacent. As the economy improves we must be measured and strategic in how we advance our education system. Education is vital to the success of the Irish economy and I intend to work with my Government colleagues to plan ahead and continue to develop this sector.”

Last Updated: November 11, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Airing e-cigarette ads would be a major step back in fight against smoking!

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, today (Tuesday) warned against the airing of e-cigarettes advertisements as these advertisements will normalise smoking and mark a step-back in the fight against tobacco.

“We learned today that the first British television advert showing the use of an electronic cigarette is to be aired following the introduction of new rules, and as is often the case, if something happens in the UK, it won’t be too long arriving in Ireland. I feel strongly that we need to oppose this type of advertising in Ireland as it normalises the act of smoking and could prove extremely damaging.

“The regulations introduced by the UK Committee of Advertising Practice say adverts must not “be likely to appeal particularly to people under 18, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture, encourage non-smokers to use e-cigarettes or claim e-cigarettes are safer or healthier than smoking tobacco.

“The whole point of advertising is to appeal to people, to entice people to use or buy a product. I do not believe that e-cigarettes can be advertised in a harmless way.

“The advertising that has been sanctioned in the UK will show a woman exhale what appears to be cigarette smoke. This will be the first time such an act has been on television in 15 years and allowing this to air, even after the watershed is a huge step backwards.

“How long has it taken for us to move away from the image of Hollywood actors looking sexy on screen because they were smoking? We cannot regress to this image and run the risk of young people again associating smoking or vaping as being cool.

“E-cigarettes are too new to judge their health effects. We should not allow the endorsement of products we do not know about. It is also very worrying that new flavours of e-cigarettes such as candy flavour and popcorn have been created. These are clearly targeting children.

“Ireland has developed a strong reputation as being a world leader in the fight against tobacco; we were the first country in the world to introduce a workplace smoking ban, and the first country in the EU to introduce plain cigarette packs. In recent years we have been loosening the grip of the tobacco industry with smoking rates falling but we must remain vigilant.

“Seven thousand people die from smoking related diseases in Ireland every year, and half of all smokers will die as a result of their tobacco habit. E-cigarettes are an unknown entity and the acceptance of vaping in society is re-socialising smoking. It is vital that we continue to work to prevent smoking and I believe that advertising for e-cigarettes would mark a huge step back in de-normalising the act of smoking.”

Last Updated: November 3, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD urges youth projects in Dún Laoghaire to apply for capital grant funding

Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor has urged youth projects in Dún Laoghaire to apply for capital grant funding which has been made available. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly TD, has announced the availability of €500,000 capital funding for small to medium youth projects in disadvantaged communities in 2014.

“The funding announced by Minister Reilly will be extremely useful in allowing youth projects in disadvantaged communities in Dún Laoghaire to upgrade or replace equipment. Youth projects will be able to buy new computers, sports equipment, multi-media equipment or furniture.

“These youth projects are extremely valuable to local communities; they provide an outlet for children and bring people together. The money will assist in improving the quality of the services and their facilities to the benefit of young people involved. The provision of the funding underscores the Government’s commitment to enhance the quality of services which add such value to our communities.

“A lot of energy and resources go into supporting youth projects; they are largely funded by donations and they are kept going thanks to the hard work of volunteers. I hope that all the excellent youth projects in Dún Laoghaire will apply for this funding to upgrade the services available to young people in the area.

“The capital funding scheme for small to medium grants is open to applications from Department of Children and Youth Affairs funded projects under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY), Youth Information Centres (YICs), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) and Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF). As a once-off, exceptional measure the scheme is also open to a number of national youth organisations. I would urge all organisations to check to see if they are eligible for this funding.

“The grant scheme also calls for applications in early 2015 for capital projects related to health and safety improvements to premises such as improved access for young people with disabilities and upgrade or refurbishment of premises.

“Details of the scheme and how to apply are on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs website at www.dcya.gov.ie.”

Last Updated: October 29, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Students should be eligible for free water allowance

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Wednesday), appealed to Irish Water to consider extending the age for the children’s water free allowance to students up to 23 years of age who can prove they are in full time education.

“Water charges are needed as up until now we have been spending €1.2 billion to produce water, almost half of which leaks away through broken pipes. Significant investment in our long neglected water infrastructure is needed to allow us to cater for a growing population and to support job creation and investment. However, we need to ensure that these charges are fair and affordable for all.

“The Government has gone to great lengths to ensure that supports are available to assist with payment of the water charges. A free allowance of 30,000 litres has been approved for all households, charges will be capped for people with medical conditions who use more water, the Households Benefits Package will include a water support payment of €100 and income tax relief worth up to €100 per household per year will be available.

“In order to assist families, a free allowance of 21,000 litres per child has been introduced. This will be of great assistance to young families across the country, but I believe that we also need to ensure that families with dependent children still in education are supported in a similar way. Many young people over 18 are still in education and are fully dependent on their parents.

“There is no avoiding the fact that we need to invest in our water system, but we need the charges to be fair and affordable.“

Last Updated: October 23, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor hosts breakfast for Breast Health Day

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.

Last Updated: October 16, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor welcomes abolition of pension levy

Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, has welcomed the Government’s decision to abolish the 0.6% Pension Levy at the end this year, with the additional 0.15% levy expiring at the end of 2015.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said: “The end of the Pension Levy is something I have discussed with Minister Noonan on many occasions. It has allowed the Government maintain the 9% VAT rate for tourism services. However now that jobs are being created and the recovery is underway I am glad that we are lifting this burden.

“The Irish people have made huge sacrifices to get the country to this point. Those sacrifices are starting to bear fruit but we acknowledge that many people have not yet felt the benefits of a recovering economy in their daily lives.

“Over the last three budgets we have restored the public finances without taxing income and jobs. This has been crucial to our economic recovery and helped the creation of 70,000 jobs since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs in February 2012.

“Today’s decision on the pension levy is part of a bigger four year tax reform plan, including the reduction of the top rate of income tax from 41% to 40% and to increase the standard rate tax band above which the top rate of tax is paid by €1,000 to €33,800. This will make a significant difference for working families and individuals.

“We will ensure that the progress we have made as a country is maintained and the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.”

Last Updated: October 16, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

BreastCheck extended to older women in Budget

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said today (Tuesday) the decision to extend BreastCheck to 65-69 year olds in 2015 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of Irish women.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said: “I have been a strong advocate of the extension of the BreastCheck programme since my election to Dáil Éireann in 2011. I passionately believe this decision, announced by the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD as part of Budget 2015, will contribute to improving the health of older women in Ireland and preventing breast cancer.

“Earlier this week, I urged the Government to extend the BreastCheck programme to include women up to age 69. Breast cancer survival in Ireland has improved significantly in recent years due to the combined approach of screening, symptomatic detection and improved treatment.

“Early detection is a key part of 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.

“October is breast cancer awareness month and today’s Budget announcement will better arm us to fight this disease.”

Last Updated: October 16, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

€88 million investment and 1,700 new posts for Education

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the news that €88 million is to be invested in education and that 1,700 new full time posts are to be created.

“An investment of €88 million will make a huge difference to schools and to children in Dun Laoghaire. An estimated 1,700 additional new full time posts are to be created; this will mean 920 new mainstream teaching posts, 480 resource teachers and 365 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

“There will be no reduction in the pupil teacher ratio, there will be no increase in class sizes and this investment will allow for a €530 million capital expenditure investment.

“Over 150 new schools have been built since this Government came into power and over 100 schools have been refurbished. Further investment in buildings will be possible due to the Budget funding announced today. €10 million will also be available for Institutes of Technologies during 2015.

“I am particularly pleased to see that funding has been made available to invest in highspeed broadband in schools, to invest in the Junior Cycle and in literacy and numeracy. A new team of early years education inspectors will also be recruited to help improve the quality of the free pre-school. The free pre-school year is hugely important, this is a key time of development for children so it is essential we use this year to its full advantage.

“Looking after the education of our young people is essential and it is an investment in our future. A key aspect of the recovery is job creation and the fact that we have the talent in this country to attract the best companies in the world. We need to nourish and develop this talent through investment and supports in education. Further investment in education is needed but the economic recovery is still fragile and this Government is committed to securing the recovery and maintaining the advances that we have achieved with the help of the Irish people.”

Last Updated: October 10, 2014 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Sinn Fein’s pre-Budget 2015 proposal to withdraw private school subsidy would jeopardise 1,500 jobs and cost millions

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has strongly criticised Sinn Féin’s pre budget proposal to withdraw the private school subsidy over five years on the grounds that this move will put 1,500 jobs at risk and cost the state tens of millions per year.

“Sinn Féin claim that by withdrawing the private school subsidy over five years, €20.6 million will be saved. In reality five schools have moved from the private to the public stream in recent years adding over €10 million in annual running costs and capital expenditure to the Government balance sheet.

“There are currently seven additional private schools who are considering integrating into the public stream and this would mean a total cost of over €25 million per year to the state. With 53 fee-paying schools in the country, it is clear that while withdrawing the state subsidy may save some money in the short term, this will only be small change in comparison to the additional bills the taxpayer would have to meet in the longer term.

“Fee paying schools support 1,500 jobs across the country. If private schools were integrated into the public system, the state would have to pay to employ additional teachers and this is another bill that would have to be paid.

“I have been clear on my view of fee paying schools; I openly support choice for parents. But from a financial point of view, Sinn Féin’s figures just don’t add up. Their plan reinforces their position as a high tax, anti-jobs party; it is nothing but populist and it is extremely short sighted. They have failed to account for the long term costs that this measure would bring onto the taxpayer.

“Numerous holes have been found in Sinn Féin’s budget proposals and this is just another that shows Sinn Féin is a party willing to make rash and misjudged decisions that would put the economic recovery at risk.”