Archive for the 'Politics' Category

Ban on corporate donations needed more than ever – O’Gorman

Published on July 26, 2010 in Blog and Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

 

The recent revelations that big property developers whose irresponsible borrowing brought this country to its knees, are enjoying expensive games of golf with leading politicians, while the State is dealing with their massive debts, shows why more than ever, we need to ban corporate donations in this country.

The Green Party has never accepted corporate donations from companies. When we renegotiated the Programme for Government last year, we secured a commitment that corporate donations would be made illegal. The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, has made it clear that he intends to have the necessary legislation passed by Christmas.

Corporate donations are not just about corruption. They are about the perception that a politician will find it harder to make a decision or pass a law that negatively effects a particularly company, if that company has been writing big checks for his/her political party. We have seen the huge damage that has been done to our economy from the fact that a few businessmen who were tightly linked with a few top politicians during the Celtic Tiger years, managed to influence policy and get appointed to various state boards. I think that it is vital that the Green Party is successful in having this ban on corporate donations passed so we will never see abuses like these happen again.

Civil Partnership Act is major milestone for equality in Ireland – O’Gorman

Published on July 13, 2010 in Politics and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: , .

 

Dublin West Greens celebrate passage of Civil Partnership Bill

Dublin West Green Party representative, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the passage of the Civil Partnership Act as a major milestone for equality in Ireland.

“I am thrilled to see the passage of the Civil Partnership Act through the Dail and Seanad and being sent to the President for her signature. The new law will for the very first time recognise same-sex couples and give them a range of rights and responsibilities in areas such as taxation, inheritance, family property and domestic violence legislation. It will also give certain protections to both heterosexual and same-sex couples outside of marriage or civil partnership, if these relationships break down”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“While some aspects of the debate on this bill have been contentious, I believe that the vast majority of the public understand that the legal recognition of same-sex relationships is something that is long overdue. This bill has been a priority for the Green Party in Government and we have worked along with the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General to ensure that it gives the maximum amount of protection possible, within the constraints of the Constitution”.

“The taxation and social welfare provisions for same-sex couples will be finalised in the Finance Act after the Budget. This means that we can expect to see the first civil partnership ceremonies early 2011”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Report on mortgage debt has to be implemented swifty – O’Gorman

Published on July 13, 2010 in Politics, Press Releases and housing. 0 Comments Tags: , .

13/07/10

Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the report by the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group and has called for swift action in implementing its recommendations.

“I am delighted that the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group has already published its first interim report, having only been set up in February of this year. This expert group arose out of a commitment the Green Party had inserted in the new Programme for Government to look at mechanisms to avoid foreclosures on peoples homes”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“This document makes a number of interim recommendations, such as the creation of a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and the idea that those entering such a process should not face any further interest penalties or charges for falling into arrears. The expert group is also proposing a broadening of Mortgage Interest Supplement and an extension of the current Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, designed to give protection to those who cannot make repayments”.

“A substantial number of people are facing problems paying their mortgages because of job losses, wage cuts or interest rate increases. The measures being proposed by the expert group are part of a range that the Green Party are having implemented in Government to ensure that peoples homes are protected”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Press Release – O’Gorman pays tribute to Trevor Sargent

Published on April 25, 2010 in Politics and Press Releases. 1 Comment Tags: .

01/03/10

Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman has paid tribute to Trevor Sargent TD on his resignation as Minister for State for Food and Horticulture

“I’ve known Trevor Sargent since I was ten years old. During the 1992 General Election campaign he brought me out canvassing with him. I’m sure I wasn’t any use to him, but Trevor always likes to encourage anyone who has an interest in green issues”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“Even in the action for which he had to resign, Trevor’s character shines through. He was attempting to help a man who had stood up to anti-social behaviour in his community and had been assaulted for his trouble. When it was highlighted that the actions Trevor took in contacting the Gardai were wrong, he immediately accepted responsibility and resigned with dignity. In donating his €45,000 retirement payout to the St. Vincent De Paul, Trevor showed that personal gain has never been a motivation for him”.

“I wouldn’t be involved in politics if it wasn’t for Trevor. He is an inspiration to me and to countless other Greens. I’m delighted that he is going to continue his work on behalf of the people of Dublin North and on behalf of the Green Party”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Further Information

Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

Cuts to council expenses at national level are welcome

Published on January 18, 2010 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

 

I am very pleased that the Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD has acted to put a cap on the amount of money being spent on trips abroad by councillors across the country. Recent freedom of Information requests and figures obtained by the Department of the Environment show extremely high amounts being claimed by certain local authorities.


For example, county councillors claimed on average €6,769, with the highest claim being on Longford County Council where the elected reps were claiming a whopping €12,333 average [see press release below]


In Fingal, the Sunday Tribune recently discovered that just over €52,000 was spent by councillors – at that time the highest figure in the country – on 40 trips.


While no doubt some of these trips have value, at a time when the Council is cutting back on vital services, surely the first reductions should be in the area of travel expenses for conferences? A number of local authorities were not making the necessary reductions, which is why John Gormley has taken this action.


The high level of claims being made for so many conferences raises the wider question of the need to reform the huge range of committees and policy groups that spring up around councils. The directly elected Mayor of Dublin, combined with the proposals contained in the soon to be published White Paper on Local Government, will bring us closer to a slimmed down and more effective system of local government in this country.

 

 

Expenditure by Councillors on Conferences

The maximum limits are –

·      Counties and cities – €4,700

·      Boroughs and certain large towns that were formerly UDCs – €3,000

·     Towns that were formerly UDCs and certain large former town commissioners – €2,000

·      Towns that were formerly town commissioners – €1,000

Where the expenditure of a local authority is currently below the maximum limit, any increase in expenditure will be prohibited.

The limits will be imposed by way of Regulations made by the Minister.

 

Councillors’ travel and subsistence rates, in keeping with all public servants, were reduced by 25% in early 2009. This cut will in itself reduce the cost to local authorities of sending Councillors to conferences.

General guidance stresses:  

·         That the limits are maxima, i.e. local authorities will be encouraged to adopt the utmost care and prudence in providing for and incurring expenditure, particularly in the current difficult budgetary and economic circumstances 

·         While the limits are not to be interpreted as giving each councillor an individual entitlement to expenditure up to that average amount.  

·         The general need for a greater level of discretion, oversight and control to be applied by local authorities to expenditure on attendance at conferences and seminars. This would cover the points raised by the Associations in their submission, including –  

§  the choice of events to be attended 

§  increased focus on the use of the allocation for education and training type activities as opposed to conferences and seminars

§  proper practice by councillors in relation to attendance at events 

§  the strict adherence by councillors to their requirement to report back to their council following events.

 

Details for each type of local authority

County Councils

Position in 2009 Budget

Average expenditure per councillor – €6,769, ranging from €3,588 (Kilkenny) to €12,333 (Longford), and with two other local authorities having an average in excess of €10,000, i.e. Carlow and Cork 

City Councils

Average expenditure per councillor – €5,454, the range being from €2,780 (Dublin) to €12,558 (Limerick) 

Data received from all 5 city councils

City Councils 

Average per councillor – 2009 (€)

Cork

7,061

Dublin

2,780

Galway

4,467

Limerick

12,558

Waterford

4,333

County/City Councils combined

Average expenditure per councillor – €6,576

Boroughs and certain large towns (former UDCs)

Average expenditure per councillor – €4,591, the range being from €1,700 (Kilkenny) to €9,964 (Sligo).

Data received from all 5 boroughs                                                                                                                                                                                   

Borough Councils

Average per councillor – 2009 (€)

Clonmel

4,833

Drogheda

2,416

Kilkenny

1,700

Sligo

9,964

Wexford

4,042

 

Towns (former UDCs)

Average expenditure per councillor – €3,288, ranging from €89 (Trim) to €13,333 (Longford).   The other town councils exceeding €5,000 are Carlow (€6,433), Letterkenny (€7,500) and Mallow (€6,944).

It is suggested that this limit would also apply to the town councils (former town commissioners) of Droichead Nua (average expenditure per councillor in 2009 – €1,432), Greystones (€674), Leixlip (€556), Portlaoise (€111), Shannon (€1,056), and Balbriggan and Mullingar (data not available), to maintain consistency with the banding of towns used for the purposes of determining the Annual Expenses Allowances paid to councillors.

Town Councils (former Town Commissioners)

Data received from 13 of 26 towns, three key ones being as follows:  

Towns (former Town Commissioners)

Average per councillor – 2009 (€)

Droichead Nua

1,432

Greystones

674

Leixlip

556

For the remaining 10 former town commissions, the average provision per councillor is €626, the range being from €56 (Mountmellick) to €1,076 (Edenderry).

 

 

 

Press Release – O’Gorman wishes Brian Lenihan and his family well

Published on January 5, 2010 in Politics and Press Releases. 0 Comments Tags: .

 

04/01/10

 

 

Green Party Dublin West representative, Roderic O’Gorman has wished the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and his family well. He was speaking after the Minister announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

 

“I would like to give my very best wishes to Brian Lenihan and his family as he begins his treatment. There has been a huge groundswell of support for him across the political spectrum as he faces this illness. I am sure this must be a time of great uncertainty for Brian and his family. Irrespective of political differences, I believe everyone genuinely wants to see him beat this illness”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

 

 

Ends

 

Further Information

Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

O’Gorman condemns COIR’s lies on minimum wage

Published on August 31, 2009 in Europe, Politics and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

 

31/08/09

 

 

Green Party Dublin West representative Roderic O’Gorman has condemned as lies, posters put up by the anti-Lisbon organisation COIR about the minimum wage.

 

“Over the last few days, the anti-Lisbon organisation COIR has been putting up posters around Dublin 15 stating that if Lisbon is passed, the minimum wage will become €1.84. As someone who lectures in European Union law, I can say that this claim is completely and utterly false”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

 

“I’ve run in 3 separate elections over the last five years. While I often strongly disagree with the policies of some of my opponents, I have always tried to maintain a respectful tone in debates with them. As such, I don’t go throwing a word like ‘liar’ around lightly. However, what COIR is saying about the minimum wage and Lisbon is a complete lie, and they need to be called out on it”.

 

“The decision on whether or not we vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty is one that is hugely important for this country and the European Union. There is no place for people who are prepared to lie to the general public in this debate”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

 

 

Ends

 

Further Information

Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

Thanks for your support

Published on June 8, 2009 in Blog, Planning and Politics. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me in Friday’s local elections and everyone who helped out in my campaign. I’d like to say a particular thanks to the members of the Dublin West Green Party, my campaign manager Barra and my family.

 

Obviously I am very disappointed not to have taken a seat on this occasion. I take comfort from the fact that I almost doubled my share of first preference votes and on the final count 1 was only 600 votes short of taking a seat.

 

I think the fact that the Green Party failed to win any seats on Fingal County Council is deeply concerning, particularly with the new Fingal County Development Plan being drawn up. On the doors over the last few weeks, people were very supportive of the ideas I was proposing for inclusion in the new Development Plan, including no rezoning of land for housing in the Dublin 15 area, a new section on Safe Routes to School and an emphasis on new community facilities.

 

Unfortunately, I will not be in a position to directly input these proposals into the Development Plan as a member of the Council. However, I fully intend to campaign on these and other quality of life issues for residents of Dublin 15. The need for proper planning is the reason I stood for election in the first place and I intend to continue to work on this and other issues as a member of the Green Party over the next few years.

 

Thanks again for your support.

 

Roderic