– Intervention needed to create a fairer system for variable rate customers –

 Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith says his party’s Bill on mortgage rates will force banks to ensure that the rates that they charge are fair and proportionate to rates across the EU.

Deputy Smith made the comments following last week’s Dáil vote which saw Fianna Fáil’s ‘Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016’ progressing to Stage 2 for further consideration by TD’s. This is the third time that Fianna Fáil has sought to address the inequalities in the mortgage market.

“There are hundreds of families across Cavan and Monaghan who are struggling with unfair mortgage rates.  Some mortgage holders are paying up to €4,000 a year more in interest than customers with comparable mortgages in Northern Ireland and other European countries.  This is deeply unfair and something which my party has been trying to address over the past number of years.

“Under our new legislation, the Central Bank would be required to carry out an assessment of the state of the mortgage market, taking into account factors such as the banks’ cost of funds, reasonable profit expectation, concentration within the market, the ease with which borrowers can switch mortgages between lenders and extent to which they are switching.

“We are committed to ensuring that mortgage customers in Ireland get a fair deal.  Over the past number of years banks have been quick to pass on interest rate increases when their cost of borrowing rose, however they have failed to reduce rates in the aftermath of unprecedented ECB rate cuts.  This needs to change so that families are given a break.

“This is an important Bill, which will mark a sea-change in the relationship between banks and their customers, and will give mortgage holders more protection against rip-off practices.  I’m glad the Government and other opposition parties have seen the merits of the Bill and have allowed it to progress through the Oireachtas. This is something which we will continue to pursue over the coming months,” concluded Deputy Smith.

-Ends-

Fianna Fáil T.D. for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has once again called on the British Government to remove all obstacles to a full and proper investigation into the bombings and the murder of innocent people in Monaghan and Dublin in May 1974.

Today marks the 42^nd anniversary of the atrocity, in which 33 people died and almost 300 were injured.

“Over the past number of years in meetings that I had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers and also with the British Ambassador I raised each time with them the need for the British Government to respond positively to the unanimous call of Dáil Éireann for British co-operation in a full and a proper investigation of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. Motions were unanimously passed in Dáil Éireann in 2008 and 2011 calling for such co-operation.  I have repeatedly called on the British Government to give access to an eminent legal person to all papers and files relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of the 17th May 1974 which resulted in the deaths of 33 innocent people”, explained Deputy Smith.

“Every obstacle must be removed by the British Government to ensure full and proper investigations are undertaken in respect of these bombings and the perpetrators of such crimes need to be brought to justice.   The least the victims and the families of all these atrocities deserve is the truth about who carried out these murderous deeds 42 years ago.

“I have tabled further Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann regarding the need for the Government to constantly pursue with the Secretary State for Northern Ireland and with the British Foreign Secretary to initiate the necessary co-operation to have full investigations undertaken”.

17/05/2016

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

624. Deputy Brendan Smith   asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade   the outcome of recent discussions he had with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, or with the British Foreign Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Philip Hammond, regarding the need for the British Government to release files and papers pertaining to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  [6130/16]

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Charles Flanagan):   Dealing with the legacy of the past relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland has been a major priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am particularly conscious of the two all-party motions of this House on the Dublin Monaghan bombings and I hope that we will continue to work collectively to advance their implementation in this new Dáil term.   In relation to Dublin/Monaghan, the Government fully supports the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I have raised this issue with the British Government on a number of occasions, including most recently on 14 January with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach has also raised this issue with Prime Minister Cameron emphasising the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions.   I am disappointed to report that despite our urging, the British Government is still considering how to respond to the Dáil motions. However, I have received assurances from Secretary of State Villiers that the issue remains under consideration by the British Government. I have made clear to the Secretary of State that there is a pressing need to provide answers to the families of the victims and underlined the fact that this will remain firmly on the political agenda of the Irish Government given that there is an all-party agreement as set out in the Dáil motions of 2008 and 2011.   I met Justice for the Forgotten on 27 January and updated the group on the Government’s more recent discussions with the British Government. I agreed that the Government will consult the group on any response from the British Government to the Dáil motions. Given the All-Party nature of the Dáil motions, it will also be important to consult the parties in this House on any such response.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade  Brendan Smith TD has called on the Government to redouble its efforts to secure the release of Ibrahim Halawa.

Commenting on the issue Deputy Smith said, “Ibrahim Halawa has been detained without trial in Egypt since his arrest in 2013. His trial has been postponed numerous times and I am calling on the Government and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to redouble their efforts to secure Ibrahim’s release.

“This is a deeply distressing situation for not only Ibrahim, but also his family. He is an Irish citizen and the Irish Government has a duty to ensure that every effort is made to secure his release.

“It is my hope that this long-running nightmare will come to an end soon for Ibrahim and his family. I have raised Ibrahim’s case several times in Dáil Éireann and will continue to do so. It is imperative that this case does not fall off the political agenda”.

13/05/2016

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the announcement by Irish Water that there will be a further investment of €3 million in the Kingscourt Water Supply Scheme.

Brendan Smith stated that the recently signed contract will enable the construction of a modern water treatment plant, a storage reservoir and the development of a well at Descart, Co Monaghan.

The Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD said that over the past number of years he was very glad to support the work of local Councillor Clifford Kelly in advocating strongly for this much-needed investment to ensure a proper and modern water supply for Kingscourt and adjoining rural areas. He said that Councillor Kelly continually highlighted this matter at Council meetings and he is glad that work will soon commence on this water treatment plant which is an important development in infrastructure for the Kingscourt area.

9th May 2016

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil T.D. Brendan Smith has been informed by the HSE that it is proposed to extend a number of services at Monaghan Hospital.

The HSE were replying to Deputy Brendan Smith in response to a number of Parliamentary Questions he tabled in Dáil Éireann in relation to the need to extend the provision and duration of services on a daily basis at Monaghan Hospital.

The HSE in their response to Brendan Smith stated –

“Dermatology 

 This would be a new service to Monaghan Hospital and be provided by visiting Consultant in Dermatology Team based at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and supported by Clinical Nurse Specialist from Cavan General Hospital on a weekly basis. If this proposal is approved this will address the waiting times for patients in Cavan Monaghan Hospital for this service.

Audiology

Extension of the existing Audiology Service to include referrals for hearing aid impressions in conjunction with Community Audiologists.

Endocrinology

Extension to the existing Endocrinology Clinics to address current wait times for patients.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) Clinic

The Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Clinic (DDH, baby hip screening) commenced in November 2015. This is a multidisciplinary clinic provided by Radiology, Paediatrics and Physiotherapy Services. There are plans to further expand this clinic due to increased attendances.

ENT Clinics

There are ongoing additional ENT Clinics being held at Monaghan in support of the SDU Outpatient primary target levels”, concluded the HSE reply.

Brendan Smith said that he has renewed his call to the HSE to ensure that the commitments are honoured at the earliest possible date. He has also called for the extension of services at Cavan General Hospital to ease the pressure on the delivery of health services in the Cavan/Monaghan area.

29th April 2016

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil T.D. Brendan Smith in a series of Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Eireann has raised again the urgent need to provide modern broadband telecommunications infrastructure for all of Co. Cavan and for all of Co. Monaghan.

In all of his contributions Deputy Smith outlined the need to provide much improved broadband infrastructure throughout specific areas of both counties and also the need to ensure that all areas of both counties have modern and appropriate broadband telecommunications to meet the needs of households and business.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in his replies to Deputy Smith stated –

“The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided.

The commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2 billion in network upgrades and enhanced services in the last four years, and is continuing to invest. These very significant investments represent a step change in the quality of broadband services available.

On 22 December 2015, I formally launched the procurement process for the State intervention to provide high quality, high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland that may not be served through commercial investment. The formal procurement process commenced with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire and Project Information Memorandum. Five responses were received from prospective bidders to this stage of the competitive procurement process by the deadline of 31 March. The responses are now being assessed in line with criteria set down by the Department with a view to selecting qualified provider(s) to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. This second stage in the process will be a formal Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted  bidders.

The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at

www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. The area of Butlersbridge and Belturbet, Co. Cavan are in a BLUE area. Based on information provided by commercial operators, which may be subject to change, the roll out of high speed broadband services is planned for Butlersbridge in June 2016, and there are services already available in Belturbet town and from the Shercock exchange, with further upgrades expected in the next  3-6 months.   The areas marked AMBER represent the target areas for the State Intervention. The Killinkere area is in the AMBER area and will be covered by the State Intervention. Consumers can see whether their individual premises is in the BLUE or AMBER area by entering their Eircode on the Map.

The County statistics for both Cavan and Monaghan are set out in the table below, which shows the percentage of premises that are expected to be covered by commercial investments, and the percentage that will be covered by the State Intervention.

The intention is to build out the network in the AMBER area as quickly as possible. The procurement process is underway and it is proposed to engage with the winning bidder(s) in due course on the optimum rollout strategy, and on the sequencing of the network deployment to maximise efficiencies during network build, having regard to business and consumer needs, and to areas of particularly poor service and areas of strong demand. All these factors will need to be balanced against the most efficient network rollout and will be agreed during the procurement process.

Engagement with industry stakeholders as part of the pre-procurement consultations has indicated that the rollout in the Amber area could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award. In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of all premises in Ireland (both commercial and intervention area) will have access to high speed broadband within two years of the contract award, with 100% of premises connected within 5 years.

I welcome recent initiatives by Cavan County Council in particular to work with the Department and with telecommunications operators to facilitate the upgrade of services in the area. Local Authorities will continue to play a key role in the efficient rollout of infrastructure in their areas”, concluded Minister White.

Brendan Smith told Northern Sound that since those replies given in Dáil Éireann there have been indications that there will be further delays in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. He stated that further delays will not be acceptable and rural Ireland needs this investment to ensure the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of much need employment throughout both counties.

29/04/2016