Thur 2nd Feb 2012

Changes to the delivery of ambulance and nursing home services will have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of families in the east Cork area, according to local Sinn Féin TD Sandra McLellan.

Speaking in the Dáil this week on the HSE’s National Service Plan, Deputy McLellan said:

“Some of the headline issues arising from this plan have been well highlighted. It is clear that the heart will be torn from our public nursing homes. We have already seen the ball start to roll in this regard. In Laois, in Athlone, in Dublin to name but a few. In my own area of east Cork facilities and beds are under threat in Fermoy and Youghal. Youghal Community Hospital is in danger of losing eight beds. The effect of this will be to leave vulnerable elderly people and their families at their wits end. Will there be a place available for my elderly loved one? If not, why not? Home help hours are being cut at the same time, as the state seems to be abandoning their duty of care.”

“Similarly the so-called “reorganisation” of pre-emergency care is causing considerable concern, and quite legitimately. Ambulance response times for 2011 were below target right across the board, yet the HSE somehow expect that by redeploying the same staff over longer periods in less sophisticated vehicles that this system will improve. This is simply unbelievable. Areas are up in arms.  I commend the work of the Save Youghal Ambulance group which has been fighting for the retention of their ambulance service in the face of proposed downgrades. The plan as outlined will cost lives and needs to be resisted.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Sandra McLellan has condemned the Government’s
handling of the proposed septic tank charge and called for the immediate
establishment of agreed standards and an appropriate funding mechanism for
those who have to carry out repairs or upgrades.

Speaking in the Dáil on the Report Stages of the Water Services
(Amendment) Bill 2011 Deputy McLellan said:
“The fact that we don’t know what standards must be met at this late stage
is completely unacceptable. The Minister must publish standards before any
bill is passed. Otherwise we are being asked to vote for standards which
haven’t even been drafted let alone agreed. The Minister has conceded that
he will now commence on a 4 week consultation process before any standards
are published. This is not good enough. The standards need to be published
the bill voted on.
She added,
“The potential cost of repairs and upgrades that might be needed will
place an unbearable pressure on some people. It could be the straw that
breaks the camel’s back for many. Sinn Féin fully supports the upgrading
of septic tanks. We fully agree that ground water and the environment must
be protected. But the legislation before us is a knee jerk reaction to EU
regulations. The bill is brought in under threat of fines from the EU for
the failure of consecutive governments. The bill as it stands demands that
any upgrading must be funded by the householder. This again is completely
unacceptable. A fund must be established to assist householders to meet
the payment of any repair or upgrade.”
She concluded,
“Hundreds of millions of state funds were invested in urban wastewater
systems. The same support must now be given to rural householders required
to improve their septic tanks.”

 Paying Anglo bondholders while nursing home beds close is ‘senseless’ – McLellan

The Government’s insistence this week to pay €1.25 billion to unsecured, unguaranteed bondholders of the defunct Anglo Irish Bank at a time when vital health services for our elderly and infirmed are under threat has been branded as ‘senseless’ by Cork East TD, Sandra McLellan.

Speaking in the Dáil on a motion opposing the payment the Sinn Féin Deputy said:

“It is impossible to separate the decision of the Government to pay this vast sum to speculators and gamblers from their decision to guarantee cutbacks for our health services.”

“In the HSEs National Service Plan for 2012 it is proposed that almost 900 community nursing home beds in the public sector will be closed this year. Vital services in Youghal and Fermoy are under threat because of this. Retirements, the recruitment embargo, and decreased funding means more and more families will be under pressure. Funding for home help and carers, as well as the crisis in our acute and primary care services will leave older people completely vulnerable. This situation is totally preposterous.”

She concluded,

“The economic strategy being implemented by this Government is senseless. As a direct result of it devastating cutbacks to essential public services in health, education and social welfare are being forced on individuals, families and communities. Sinn Féin has proposed a real alternative. There is a better, fairer way, which Labour and Fine Gael are choosing to ignore.”

Speaking in response to the statement by Sean Sherlock yesterday asking for the postponing of the withdrawal of ambulance services in Youghal and elsewhere Cllr Michelle Hennessy has reacted with anger.

She responds “The position on the retention of our ambulance services in Youghal is not up for postponement. We in Youghal want the services kept as they are. The idea that some people are working away in the background needs to be brought out into the open. The people making the decision need to be in no doubt that the retention of the services is what the public want.

Sean Sherlock has on a number of occasions since he was elected not used his position in the cabinet to further the fight for ambulance services and the front line health services. He has sheepishly voted against motions under the protection of the whip system which directly were in favour of keeping our ambulance service. This type of politics is what people are sick of. What we want from our elected reps is a clear and consistent position on what they support. You can’t be appalled on one day and then vote with the government and HSE who are directly implementing the cuts the next.

I would also like to call on the Cllrs who are members of the government parties to put it up to their masters. This issue is only the beginning of what this government are planning to cut in the future and the grass root members need to make this a red line issue and stand up for their communities. The protest this Saturday is another way of showing that Youghal and its hinterland is very serious about the retention of its existing services and I am calling on everybody to turn up and support the event”

Related Video:

Speaking yesterday following a protest in Cork against the budget Cllr Michelle Hennessey (SF) said “In February the people of Ireland voted for a change in way this country was run. After the release of this budget there is no doubt but this government is following the same path of austerity and inequality as the last. The decision to cut the fuel allowance by €120 is scandalous and will cost lives. This cut will hit older people and those with disabilities worst. This follows cuts of up to 25% to fuel allowance and the household benefits package imposed by the Government in September. And it comes at a time when fuel prices are increasing sharply.

By cutting Back-to-School Allowance, Child Benefit, payments for lone parents on CE , reducing the age cap to seven for One Parent Family Allowance, cutting the part-time jobseekers’ payments, increasing the tenants’ contribution to rent allowance and by cutting CE supports, the minister is taking food out of the mouths of the poorest in society.

The cuts are primarily on the neediest in society. There is still protection for the higher paid in the country. The promise of fairness and equality did not last long with the newly elected. It is particularly disappointing that the labour party are standing over and implementing these savage cuts. A family on social welfare is being asked to contribute more than a family with over 150000 euro coming into the household. We are calling on people to contact your local TDs and voice your concern at these cuts.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, Sandra McLellan, has claimed the ambulance service in the HSE South area is at breaking point and that the planned reconfiguration of the service will drive it over the edge.

Speaking in response to leaked HSE memos Deputy McLellan said:

“Internal HSE memos revealed by the Corkman this week confirm that there were several instances when areas in Cork were left without adequate ambulance cover due to new work directives. The HSEs answer to this appears to be to ask ambulance crew to routinely cover on-call after already working a 16 hour day. This is completely outrageous and in direct contradiction to earlier instruction issued in May.”

“It beggars belief that the HSE would expect ambulance staff to be in any fit state to deliver appropriate care after such a long day. The role paramedics play in the pre-emergency care of patients is vital. I have said from the outset that the HSEs plan to reconfigure ambulance services is seriously flawed. I have called on the Government and the HSE to invest in the ambulance fleet and in ambulance personnel. The recruitment embargo continues to have a devastating effect on the service.”

“This series of internal communications highlights the fact that the service is at breaking point, with insufficient staff and an inappropriate skills mix to deliver the service in the new dispensation. That the HSE would even contemplate reconfiguring the service without addressing these deficiencies is life threatening.”

Related Video: Save Youghal Ambulance – Protest Walk 29 July 2011

Sinn Féin have marked the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hungerstrike by unveiling a portrait of three hungerstrikers in Leinster House. The piece which was painted by Kildare artist Billy McAndrew is of Mid Cork TD and Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney, Cavan/Monaghan TD Kieran Doherty and Fermanagh/South Tyrone MP Bobby Sands. All three were elected representatives when they died on hungerstrike, MacSwiney in 1920 in Brixton Prison in England, Doherty and Sands in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh in 1981.

The painting, which will hang on the Sinn Féin floor of Leinster House, was unveiled in a ceremony attended by family and friends of former hungerstrikers, as well as senior Sinn Féin figures. Speaking at the launch, which was chaired by Gerry Adams, the party’s arts spokesperson, Cork East TD Sandra McLellan said:

“I am proud to represent the same county and the same party as Terence MacSwiney in the Dáil. The sacrifice that he and his fellow hungerstrikers made had a profound and lasting effect on the political landscape in this country. This beautiful piece by Billy McAndrew is our way of marking their significant contribution and continues the long tradition of celebrating our history and culture through art. The painting will have pride of place on the Sinn Féin floor in Leinster House and act as a constant reminder of the sacrifices that so many have made to give us the peace we now have.”

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on sport, Cork East TD Sandra McLellan, has congratulated the Irish soccer team on their successful qualification for the Euro 2012 Championships in Poland/Ukraine.

Speaking after Ireland’s 5-1 aggregate play-off win over Estonia Deputy McLellan said:

“I want to congratulate the squad of players, the management team and all of the supporters on their tremendous achievement. Last night’s result was fantastic for Ireland.

“The 1-1 result was the culmination of a gruelling qualification campaign which began over a year and a half ago. In that time the Irish team has put in some sterling performances full of skill, determination and commitment.

“It is a real lift for the whole country and gives us something special to look forward to next summer, when we’ll compete amongst the best teams in Europe for the first time in twenty four years. I’m sure thousands of dedicated fans will be planning their trips already.

“A lot of people will have very fond memories of our last outing in the European Championships in 1988 and hope that we can replicate some of those performances in Poland/Ukraine.”

Sinn Féin TD for Cork East Sandra McLellan has said that the government is contradicting itself on the issue of voting rights in presidential elections for Irish citizens in the north and abroad.

Deputy McLellan said that despite commitments from the Taoiseach, Fine Gael and Labour Senators last week voted down a Sinn Féin motion in the Seanad on the issue.

Deputy McLellan called for clarification from the government.

She said:

“The Taoiseach Enda Kenny recently gave a commitment to my party leader Gerry Adams that the proposed constitutional convention will consider the issue of voting rights, including those of Irish citizens in the north, for future Presidential elections. However his commitment does not tally with the actions of his government colleagues who voted down a Sinn Féin motion last week on this issue.

“Clearly the government is contradicting itself.

“Fine Gael is on record as stating that Irish citizens living outside the 26 counties should be allowed to vote in presidential elections, subject to certain conditions, and likewise the Labour party is on record as advocating the extension of voting rights.

“However we now have the bizarre situation where both government parties talk about supporting the extension of voting rights, but when it comes to a vote, they stand in opposition to the idea.

“The government cannot continue to pay lip service to Irish citizens in the north and abroad. They must clarify their position on this important issue.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with all political parties and organisations including the One Voice, One Vote campaign to ensure that the rights of the people in the six counties are the same as those in Galway, Dublin and Cork.”

Large crowds attended the funeral services of former town councillor Tommy O’Connell over the weekend. The town was shocked and saddened on Friday 23rd as news spread that the popular and outspoken personality had died suddenly aged 66, at Cork University Hospital.  Mr. O’Connell had battled against illness for some months but his indomitable spirit and joie de vivre had never diminished.

Tommy’s passing came only days after his official letter of resignation on health grounds had been read to September’s town council meeting. The members in turn paid tribute to him and it is without doubt that he would have expressed a wry if good-humoured response the words of endearment from colleagues with whom he would never shirk from crossing swords if the occasion demanded it.

Tommy O’Connell first served as a Youghal Sinn Féin councillor in 1974, before resigning from the party four years later. He topped the poll as an Independent in 1979, joined Labour in 1981 and was re-elected under that party‘s banner in 1985. However he resigned from local politics a year later when his family emigrated to London for some years. In October 2010 he was co-opted onto Youghal Town Council a replacement for Labour colleague Donie Daly who resigned in controversial circumstances when the monthly council meetings were re-scheduled for Tuesday mornings. That co-option was withdrawn by the Labour party on protocol and procedural grounds. The councillor had to wait until the following February to be officially re-instated.

Humour

Tommy’s council chamber jousts with opposing views and factions were never shirked or half-hearted but his honesty and conviction inevitably earned the respect of friend and foe alike. Equally, regardless of the intensity of a political argument, he never carried his gripe into the personal domain and within minutes of a council meeting. A man blessed with a wonderful and mischievous sense of humour, he would engage in friendly chat and banter over a post-meeting cup of tea with all and sundry.

Mr. O’Connell’s contribution to the council stretched far beyond independence of mind and individual pursuit. His love for Youghal and its people was consistent and deep and he applied insight, reasoning and intelligence to that commitment.

Ever capable of fashioning a new initiative, Tommy frequently shone light on dark areas of economic and political stagnation. In recent times he advanced two prominent proposals to benefit the town. He sought a feasibility study into the re-introduction of drift net salmon fishing. He also proposed 50% rent & rate reductions for new businesses ion premises that had been idle for two years or more, which is the subject of on-going consideration by the town council and the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
The many who mourn his passing will remember Tommy O’Connell with a fondness that was well-earned and deserved in a community from which he asked for little and to whom he gave a lot. May he rest in peace; preferably of course with a fresh pint amongst former colleagues and friends who had pre- deceased him!

SINN FÉIN CORK EAST TD, SANDRA MCLELLAN, has called on the Government to challenge the excessive pay, pensions and lump sums of senior public and civil servants.

Speaking in the Dáil on the Judges’ Remuneration Bill, which seeks to reduce judges’ pay in line with the pay of other public service employees, Deputy McLellan said:

“While the average industrial wage in this state is somewhere around €35,000, judges can expect to earn multiples of that, anything between €147,000 and €295,000.  This, while more than 440,000 people are unemployed and signing on the dole, and many many more don’t even qualify to do that; and while untold hardship is being visited upon ordinary people right throughout this state, as a result of cuts, cuts and more cuts, with no end in sight.”

“In addition, the obscene figures which have emerged over recent weeks are further evidence of the continuing practice of excessive pay and privileges, including severance and pension provision, for senior members of the civil and public service. This must be tackled head on. Government cannot continue to hide behind the excuse of contracts or precedent.”

“Sinn Féin has called for, and continues to call for, the capping of all public sector pay at €100,000. Similarly pension pots should be reduced for senior public servants.”

“The Government has promised legislation to deal with excessive senior public sector pensions and to end the practice of ‘added years’ but these changes look likely to apply only to new entrants. This is unacceptable. Methods must be looked at to tackle the excessively high pension arrangements for existing public and civil service top dogs. Increasing the tax rate applied to the balance of lump sum payoffs is just one option.”