Author Archives: Administrator
FF welcomes appointment of new IDA chief
Shanahan’s first priorities must be to address to challenges in pharmaceutical sector & tackle regional inequalities in job creation Fianna Fáil Jobs Spokesperson Dara Calleary has said the top priorities of the new head of the IDA must include a strategy to protect the Irish pharmaceutical sector from the threat of asset buying companies and to address the serious regional imbalances in job creation. Welcoming Martin Shanahan’s appointment as IDA Chief Executive, Deputy Calleary said his first task must be to take decisive action to address the challenges in the pharmaceutical sector and to undertake a complete re-examination of regional priorities within the agency. “Martin Shanahan is a highly qualified […]
Read MoreCalleary calls for cross-party support for Mayo maternity services
Fianna Fáil has called on all public representatives in Co Mayo to stand up against the downgrading of maternity services in the West and North West regions. This week, Seanad Éireann will vote on a Fianna Fáil motion condemning planned cuts to local maternity services. The motion highlights the fact that Ireland has the lowest number of obstetricians per number of patients in the OECD. It calls for enhancement of obstetrician-led services at regional hospitals, rather than the dismantling of a crucial frontline health service. It comes after a confidential HSE report, seen by Fianna Fáil last week, outlined plans to downgrade up to four maternity units in the West […]
Read MoreCalleary calls for permanent reinstatement of Summer Works Scheme
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has called on local Fine Gael Deputies to make a firm commitment to permanently reinstating the Summer Works Scheme and Minor Works Grant for schools. It comes after the Government finally agreed to reinstate the Summer Works Scheme on a temporary this year. Deputy Calleary has welcomed the long-overdue announcement but has said it’s essential that this is not just an election stunt. “This scheme, along with the Minor Works Grant, was suspended for the last two years. Many schools across Co Mayo that depend on these modest supports to carry out essential maintenance works have been crippled by debt as result,” said Deputy Calleary. “I […]
Read MoreCalleary seeks greater resources for Mayo ambulance service
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary has demanded greater resources for the ambulance service in Co Mayo following a serious of alarming delays in the response time to local emergencies. The Dáil is this week debating a Fianna Fáil motion which raises concerns about a growing crisis in the ambulance service. “The Government needs to wake up to the crisis in our local ambulance service,” said Deputy Calleary. “Official figures show that last year, only one in every three people with life-threatening conditions were responded to within the target time. The situation is worse in more rural areas. Large parts of the country, including Co Mayo, have been left without any ambulance […]
Read MoreCalleary alarmed at expected jump in one teacher schools
Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary as expressed his alarm at revelations that an additional 52 two-teacher schools across the country are on course to lose a teacher in September. In reply to questions from Fianna Fáil in the Dáil, the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said there are currently 8 one teacher schools in the country, but that this could jump to 50 in September based on current enrolment figures. “These figures show the impact that the Government’s attack on small schools is having on the ground. Minister Quinn announced rolling increases in the pupil teacher ratio at small schools in his first budget in office. Already, a number of Mayo […]
Read MoreFG must stand up for Mayo post offices – Calleary
Mayo communities at risk of losing another key community service Mayo communities are at risk of losing yet another vital local service as post offices face the renewed threat of closure, according to Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary. The Fianna Fáil TD has called on Mayo’s four government TDs, including the Taoiseach, to put a stop to the threatened attack on rural post offices in Mayo. “Mayo communities have lost far too many local services in recent years. Our community garda services have been cut, bank branches have closed down, many local businesses have been forced to shut their doors, jobs have been lost, funding for local services has been cut […]
Read MoreISME report proves Govt abandonment of SMEs
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has said a new report showing more and more small businesses are being turned down for credit is further proof of a deepening credit crisis in this country. The ISME figures show that 54% of credit requests from SMEs are being turned down by lenders. That’s up 4% in just three months. It comes after a Central Bank report published last week revealed that lending to SMEs dropped by 6.2% last year. “It is clear from these figures and from the recent Central Bank report that the economy is being starved of credit,” said Deputy Calleary. “This is further proof of a deepening […]
Read MoreCalleary calls for an end to job uncertainty at Elverys
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has called on NAMA to give serious consideration to the bid by Elverys management to take over the retail chain. There are currently 6 parties interested in Elverys. It’s understood that the management bid, which has not been allowed to proceed to date, would save all 654 jobs at the company across the country. “The uncertainty about the future of this iconic Irish retailer has been going on far too long. It is crucial that the need to save all 654 jobs is not lost amid the tussling between bidders,” said Deputy Calleary. “Elverys is in 56 communities across the country. The loss […]
Read MoreGovt washes its hands of SMEs as economy starved of credit
Fianna Fáil Jobs Spokesperson Dara Calleary has accused the Government of washing its hands of SMEs as new figures show the economy is being starved of credit. The figures from the Central Bank show that lending to SMEs dropped by 6.2% last year. Gross new lending to SMEs amounted to €1.9billion. The outstanding amount of credit advanced to SMEs dropped by 5.5% last year, while SME non-financial credit fell by 5.1%. “These figures show across the board reductions in all types of credit available to SMEs in all sectors last year. It’s clear that the credit crisis is deepening, with banks restricting the working capital available to viable businesses and […]
Read MoreJobs Action Plan all about spin, not delivery
Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has expressed concern that the latest Jobs Action Plan is more about spin than delivery. Deputy Calleary has raised concerns that Government policy is leading to a two-tier recovery in this country, with unemployment in the Midlands, South East, West and border region all significantly higher than in Dublin. Alarmingly, the unemployment rate in the South East is almost 4% higher than the national rate. “Once again this Jobs Action Plan is long on rhetoric and short on detail. Unfortunately our experience to date is that this process has been more about self-praise than real job creation. It’s a clever PR campaign, with […]
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