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Last Updated: October 24, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Facebook allows decapitation videos while banning certain breastfeeding images

Social media giant needs to explain rational behind prohibition policy
Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Tuesday) called on the social media giant, Facebook, to clarify the thinking behind the company’s strategy where the banning of material to its website is concerned.
Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said the fact that violent and explicit images of decapitations can now be posted and viewed on Facebook, while certain images depicting a mother about to breastfeed her child need to be explained.
“Following on from the lifting of a temporary ban, which was put in place by Facebook in respect of graphic content, images of a violent nature can once again be posted and viewed on the site. The ban, which was put in place earlier this year following complaints from the public about certain images, among them a video of a masked man beheading a woman in Mexico, was said to allow the company a chance to examine its policy in this area.
“While this approach, in itself, is unfathomable, the situation is even more unbelievable, when consideration is given to the fact that, in Facebook’s own words, ‘photos that show a fully exposed breast where the child is not actively engaged in nursing….violate Facebook’s terms’.
“In response to reaction to this new policy from, among others, David Cameron PM, Facebook has said it will consider attaching warnings to content of a violent and graphic nature. The company asserts that the social media network should be a forum where people can post content of this nature so that it can be condemned. It maintains that its approach would be different if the content was being celebrated or the actions being portrayed were being encouraged.
“This is an astronomically naïve view being expressed by a company that really should know better. How on earth does Facebook know the motivation or intentions of the people viewing the material? The prevalence of this sort of content is desensitising people to the horrors of acts of such violence, and this is most noticeable in our young children who are increasingly viewing this material as the rule rather than the exception.
“Facebook is showing increasingly little regard for its younger users, their safety and protection from sinister practices. Just last week, a decision was taken to allow 13-17 year olds to share their posts publically on the internet, raising the risk of their welfare being compromised.
“I am calling on Facebook to explain the thought process which allows for such policies to be adopted and for the ban on beheading videos to be reinstated without delay.”

23 October 2012

Last Updated: November 14, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor calls on other telephone service providers to follow Digiweb’s lead after Budget 2014

Telephone service provider offers monthly credits to those affected by Budget discontinuation of telephone grant

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has called on other telephone service providers to follow the example set by independent telecommunications company, Digiweb, who has offered those affected by the discontinuation of the telephone grant in Budget 2014 an equivalent amount in monthly credits.

“This initiative by Digiweb, while designed to entice customers to use their service, shows great initiative and demonstrates that company’s ability to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves by making concessions such as this.

“By offering monthly credits equivalent to the €9.50 per month allowance to those who have been affected by the discontinuation of the grant, Digiweb is attempting to alleviate the impact on those affected and I suggest that other telephone companies do the same.

“The Government did not want to have to make changes such as this in the Budget but with an adjustment of €2.5 billion to make, we had to look at the least worst option in making savings to the Social Protection budget. The telephone grant was believed to be anachronistic in this day and age when the majority of people have mobile phones and the payment of the grant was largely seen as a contribution to Eircom rather than a support for elderly.

“The Taoiseach yesterday told of a pensioner he met recently whose telephone bill was €46 or thereabouts for the fixed line charge, with just €4 of calls being made. Minister Howlin said on Budget night that, in the interest of peace of mind for the elderly he would sit down with Minister Hogan, look at what resources were needed for the Community Alert Scheme and provide money for it. We must remember too that in this digital age, the pendant or the security alarm system can be administered through the mobile system and Ministers Hogan and Burton have been asked to talk to the community alert organisations to ensure a process is put in place a to allow this to happen.

“I commend Digiweb for the creativity it has shown in offering this reduction for its customers and call on others to do the same.”

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Posted: October 16, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mary Mitchell O’Connor thanks local business community for engagement on Budget 2014

Submissions made at local level were invaluable in feeding into Advisory Group for Small Business.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the engagement made by small and medium business community in Dun Laoghaire in the run up to the framing of Budget 2014.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said that the business community making its views known at government level is essential to ensuring that their needs are met. This ensures that the measures that encourage future investment are put in place to allow for the job creation we need.

“I have been working hard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) both at constituency and national level since I was elected in 2011 by holding meeting with Government Ministers who can determine, first-hand, what the business community needs most. Earlier this year, I organised an SME conference at Fitzpatrick’s Killiney Castle Hotel called, ‘Listening to Small Business’ which was attended by the Minister for State for Small Business, John Perry TD, who took careful note of the information being relayed to him.

“As recently as last week, I brought a group of local small business representatives into the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation so that they could make their case to the Advisory Group for Small Businesses. In his post-budget speech, Minister Perry stressed the importance of recommendations from the Advisory Group, which he brought to the attention of Minister Noonan during his Budget deliberations.

“There is no doubt that this Budget is pro-jobs and pro-business; a fact which is reflected in the response to it from business leaders. Among the measures included in yesterday’s announcements are a €500 million jobs stimulus package; 25 new measures to support entrepreneurs and job creation; the retention of the 9% VAT rate on tourism and hospitality; a Building Your Business initiative; a 2 year income tax exemption for long term unemployed who start a business; Capital Gains Tax relief on reinvested proceeds to encourage future investment from businesses; an increase in the VAT cash receipt threshold to €2m; the removal of Employment and Investment Incentive from Higher Earners Restriction; an improvement to R&D Tax Credit and a Training and Mentoring programme for SMEs.

“Minister Bruton estimates that more than 48,000 new jobs will be supported next year through the Department of Enterprise budget. I am delighted that the efforts of all the businesses who engaged at a local, or indeed, national level have paid off. I will continue to work for SMEs to ensure that their concerns continue to be met so that they can grow and prosper and create the jobs we need. “

16 October 2013

Last Updated: October 15, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Great news in Education as fee-charging school funding and pupil teacher ratios maintained

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the news that funding for fee-charging schools has been maintained in Budget 2014.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor, who is the chair of the Fine Gael Internal Committee on Education which has worked extensively on this issue, went on to say that the protection of the pupil teacher ratios for primary schools at 28:1, DEIS schools at 18.25:1, post-primary schools at 19:1 and fee-charging schools at 23:1 is a victory for our children’s future learning.

“The decision to leave funding for fee-charging schools untouched in the Budget was the right one. Apart from the impact reducing funding for this sector would have on the school going population in certain areas, the reality is that a large number of parents with children who are attending fee-charging school are struggling to cope with costs, as a result of job losses and wage reductions in recent years.

“In some areas, such as Dun Laoghaire, there are simply not enough public school places to cater to the number of children in the area. As a result, some parents, who want their children to attend a local school, are left with no other choice than to stump up for a fee-charging education. In border areas, or for many minority faith families, ensuring that children can avail of an education of their choosing, means attending a fee-charging school is one of necessity. The argument that the bill to mitigate against any reduction in the State subvention for these schools would be picked up by the parents of the children attending them, fails to take account of the financial reality facing a huge number of these parents.

“Ensuring that parents have choices when determining what sort of school their children will go to is so important. Whether it is an Educate Together, a single or co-ed school, or a school with a particular religious ethos, it is essential that we continue to provide a range of options that do not unfairly financially penalise parents.

“Each year, as the Government attempts to undo the economic damage inflicted on the economy by Fianna Fáil, the Budget adjustment becomes increasingly challenging. Minister Noonan and Howlin, along with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Cabinet, have crafted a Budget that is fair and equitable, which aims to support job creation in the most effective way possible and allows for our successful exiting of the Troika bailout.

“I am delighted that, despite the fact an adjustment of €2.5 billion has to be taken out of the economy again next year, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn TD recognise the contribution fee-charging schools have made to fiscal consolidation in previous years and have maintained funding and the pupil teacher ratio at current levels.”

15 October 2013

Last Updated: October 13, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Parents should not be penalised for sending children to fee-paying schools

As we head into the budget next week, all eyes are on the possible changes that may be made to allow for an adjustment of somewhere in the region of €2.5 billion.

As a former principal in a State-funded primary school, and as the chairwoman of the internal Fine Gael committee on education, I am fully aware of the importance of quality education, quality teaching and the impact the pupil/teacher ratio has on our children’s learning. A further increase in the pupil teacher ratio in next week’s budget would have a serious impact on our schools.

Some argue against the State contributing towards the education of children whose parents (who have of course paid their income tax) can afford to send their offspring to schools that charge exorbitant fees. However, the reality is much more complex.

In some constituencies, such as the one I represent (Dún Laoghaire), historical educational decisions mean that parents do not have much in the way of choice when it comes to sending their children to free voluntary secondary schools and community or VEC schools.

Due to the fact that many of the schools in and around Dún Laoghaire did not go into the voluntary system in the 1960s, we now have a large number of fee-paying schools and very few State-funded ones, which means that for many parents, sending their children to a fee-paying school is a matter of necessity rather than choice. Because of this historical overhang, and through no fault of their own, many parents of fee-paying students have been forced to stump up for their children’s education in order to send them to a local school.

All parents make choices regarding their children’s education based on a number of factors; whether or not the school is a local one, whether it is a single-sex or a co-ed school or has a particular religious ethos. I strongly believe that parents should have that choice and that they should not be unnecessarily financially penalised for it.
Parents of a minority faith have particularly little choice because most schools of their ethos are fee-charging secondary schools, most are co-educational, have boarding facilities and teach a wide curriculum for a diverse population of pupils. Moreover, these schools are few in number and often small and situated in rural areas such as Cavan, Monaghan, Offaly, Louth and Donegal. Any suggestion that these schools should be penalised for catering for their minority community, irrespective of means and abilities, is totally at odds with the principles and values for which Irish society should stand for.

During the course of the debate about fee-paying schools, a realistic view of our financial circumstances has been lacking. Some suggest that reducing or withdrawing the State subvention to fee-paying schools will save the State money, the slack for which will be taken up by parents. The reality is, however, that if the State ceased or reduced funding to fee-paying schools, many parents who send their children to private schools, and who were once able to afford a fee-paying education but are now struggling, would be forced to take them out of private education and instead send them into the public system. This will increase demand for public school places, which are already seriously limited in some areas, heaping additional costs on the State in the process.

The spotlight being placed by the Department of Education on fee-paying schools will cost jobs, hurt children, and, in many cases, force schools to join the State sector, where they will cost the taxpayer more than they do now.
Many parents in constituencies that do not have a sufficient number of public school places, like Dun Laoghaire, are paying colossal mortgages for modest 3/4 bedroom semi-detached homes. Many of these people have lost their jobs due to the recession or have taken serious cuts in their salaries, making providing for a private, and locally based, education for their children a struggle.

Now is not the time to have an ideological debate that would result in exorbitant additional costs to the State while putting serious pressure on and doing damage to our public school system in the process.

Published in the Irish Times, Friday 11th October 2013

Last Updated: November 14, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Our Constitution must not pigeon hole women

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has said that our Constitution must not pigeon hole women into a particular role. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was speaking in the Dáil this week on the recommendations put forward by the Constitutional Convention on the Article 41.2 of the Constitution, which refers to the role of women in the home.

“As a mother of two, who has worked both inside and outside the home, I take particular issue with the specific reference in our Constitution to a mother’s ‘duties in the home’. I have a huge amount of respect for women who work full time in the home, just as I have huge respect for those who work full time outside the home. But our Constitution should not pigeon hole women into one particular role.

“Gender roles have changed greatly in Ireland in recent decades, and I believe this change should be reflected in our Constitution. Article 41.2 enforces a sexist view of women, which does not give recognition to the reality of modern families, where caring in the home is shared by mother and fathers, grandparents and others.

“Women account for 47% of the Irish workforce. And just over half of women with children are in employment. We should not stand over a situation where women in the workforce are defined as neglecting their duties at home. This places an unfair societal stigma on working women.

“Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg put it well when she said that most people assume that women are responsible for household chores and child care, and this fundamental assumption is holding women back. We must ensure that our Constitution does not contain a fundamental assumption that holds Irish women back.

“It is particularly appropriate that we would discuss this topic today on the UN International Day of the Girl, which aims to support millions of girls around the world to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives. Ireland should strive not only to address the plight of women in the developed world, but to lead by example here at home.

“I strongly support the recommendation that any change to Article 41.2 should be gender neutral, and rather than just referring to women it should instead refer to ‘carers in the home’ and ‘carers beyond the home’. Although research shows that the majority of carers are women, our Constitution should not promote a narrow view by defining this as an exclusively female role.

“Our Constitution must reflect the realities of a modern Ireland. It should not enforce stereotypical roles on either gender, and instead should be a document that we can look to with confidence to guide generations to come. I look forward to further progressing the report from the Constitutional Convention.”

ENDS

Last Updated: November 14, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Mitchell O’Connor asks Dun Laoghaire for its views on Irish Rail services

Dun Laoghaire Deputy asks local commuters to engage with survey so that experiences can be recorded

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has called on the people of Dun Laoghaire to make their views known on the service provided by Irish Rail through her online survey launched today (Wednesday).

The survey was the brainchild of Deputy Mitchell O’Connor’s Party colleague, Simon Harris TD, who has been inundated with complaints following a reduction in services being provided by Irish Rail.

“Last month, Irish Rail dramatically scaled back the number of carriages on its trains in a bid to reduce costs and streamline services. It was initially envisaged that the reduction in carriages would be applied only to off-peak services, however, anecdotal evidence suggests that that is not the case and that reduced capacity trains are being run during peak times of 7am-9am and 4.30pm-7pm. This is resulting in massive overcrowding of trains at best and passengers unable to board trains at worst.

“People pay a lot of money to travel by train in this country and have a right to expect a reliable service in return. I appreciate the fact that Irish Rail is attempting to make savings but biting the hand that feeds you in order to do that makes little or no sense.

“Deputy Harris and I plan to seek a meeting with the Chief Executive of Irish Rail to relay the concerns of the commuter classes with him. I would encourage all those who use the Dun Laoghaire line to engage with this survey so that their concerns can also be expressed to management.”

The survey can be accessed here: surveymonkey.com/s/QZWCYFR
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Last Updated: November 14, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

New education provision contains anomalies which need to be addressed

Section 30 of Teaching Council Act may see some schools disadvantaged

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has called for anomalies which may arise following the implementation of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, which is due to be commenced at the beginning of next month, to be addressed so that colleges of further education, senior colleges and those teaching at ITs are not disadvantaged.

“Section 30 of the Act, which will come onto force on 1st November, will compel all those who are delivering education programmes, who are employed in State-funded teaching positions, to be registered with the Teaching Council. While this is designed to meet the Department of Education’s objective of ensuring that a registered and fully qualified graduate teaching profession is in place, a number of colleges could be negatively impacted unless a degree of flexibility is introduced into the system.

“One of these anomalies centres on the fact that there is currently no provision in some of the new Education and Training Boards to employ someone whose Teaching Council registration is pending; a situation which is causing serious difficulty for some institutions. While the supervision and substitution scheme can be used to provide some cover for short-term absences, it is only a temporary solution and certainly not an ideal one.

“On another issue, Minister of State at the Department of Education, Ciarán Cannon TD, has confirmed to me, on Minister Quinn’s behalf, that a provision may be introduced to forgo the requirement for industry specialists, in certain roles, to register with the Teaching Council under section 30 of the Act. I have no doubt that this fact will be welcomed by colleges of further education and senior colleges especially, as these institutions by their very nature, offer specialist classes, such as theatrical make-up and cloud computing, which are better suited being taught by industry experts who are more appropriately competent in these areas. I await further developments on this.

“Consideration must also be given to the fact that those who are qualified to work in third level institutions, such as Institutes of Technology (IT), do not require Teaching Council registration. This means that, after 1st November, they will no longer be eligible for employment in further education colleges once Section 30 has been commenced.

“I agree with Minister Cannon that we must be able to stand over the quality of education being delivered in our schools and colleges but I am calling for some degree of flexibility so that students are not disadvantaged and we can ensure the most appropriate professionals are properly trained and teaching our students to an acceptable level. A further circular is due to be published shortly containing the procedures for people and schools upon the commencement of section 30. It is my firm hope that these issues will be addressed at that time.”

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Last Updated: November 14, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Below cost selling of alcohol harming hospitality industry

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today (Wednesday) called for the issue of below cost selling on alcohol to be addressed as a matter of priority, as it is harming the hospitality industry and encouraging more people to drink in the home.

“The issue of below cost selling is becoming more and more damaging to the hospitality industry as restaurants and pubs are experiencing a significant shift of customers away from their doors. With supermarkets being able to buy in bulk, they can offer significant reductions on beer and wine which people are purchasing and drinking in their homes.

“Two worrying aspects of this for me are that, not only are pubs and restaurants unable to keep up with below cost retailers due to the increased excise tax introduced last year, but the rise in alcohol consumption in the home is cause for concern from a health point of view.

“I am concerned for the future of small struggling retailers who will simply not be able to keep up with this unfair competition between them and the supermarkets and I am urging the Minister for Finance to consider introducing measures to make ban the below cost selling of alcohol to ensure a level playing field for those competing in this sector.”

ENDS

Last Updated: August 30, 2013 by Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Road Safety Improvement on Johnstown Road, Dun Laoghaire

Funding has been made available under the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport current programme of Low Cost Safety Improvements Grants for road safety improvements on a section of Johnstown Road.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Traffic Section has designed an accident investigation and prevention (AIP) scheme, see link to pdf drawing, which is presently out to Tender for construction.
The purpose of the scheme is to improve Road Safety for vulnerable road users on a section of Johnstown Road.

The project is to be carried out along Johnstown Road between the two bus stops at the North Western end of Johnstown Road adjacent to Johnstown Court, and Oakdale Drive.

The scope of the Works will involve:
• Construction of new footpath:-
• The provision of a signalised pedestrian crossing on Johnstown Road near the shops at Johnstown Park, and
• Other general civil works to facilitate the upgrade of the link between bus stops.

This is a heavily trafficked road with traffic speeds recorded with an 85th. percentile speed of 64 km/hr.
There are shops, residential housing estates and a health centre at this location all of which generate significant pedestrian and vulnerable road user volumes.
As noted above the scheme is presently out to tender and it is the intention to carry out these works in Oct. 2013 in order to be in a position to draw down the 2013 funding allocation.

For further details, contact the Transportation Department.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire.
Tel: 2700100 Fax: 2054319