Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan and Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs is encouraging British people living in Ireland to register to vote in the upcoming British referendum on EU membership. Deputy Smith pointed out that eligible people have until June 6th to register to vote in the referendum.

Deputy Smith said, “There needs to be greater awareness surrounding the fact that British people living in Ireland can register to vote for Irish Local and General elections, European elections and UK referenda. The registration process is straightforward and can be completed online. Once the registration process has been completed eligible voters can avail of a postal ballot to have their voice heard.

“The Brexit referendum will be held on June 23rd and the deadline for registering to vote is June 6th. Britons living in Ireland who are interested in registering to vote should note that they must have been registered in a UK constituency within the last 15 years. Votes can also be cast by proxy or by returning to the UK to vote in person. Fianna Fáil is also encouraging Irish people in Britain to register to vote for the referendum.

“According to the 2011 Census there are over 280,000 people living in the Republic of Ireland who indicated that they were born in the UK. The Brexit referendum has huge implications for Ireland and I’m sure British people living in Ireland will want to have their voices heard. Irish voters could play a key role in determining the outcome of the referendum.

“While the matter is for Britain alone to decide, a British exit from the EU would not serve the best interests of people living in Ireland,” said Deputy Smith.

21/04/2016

Fianna Fáil has secured a Dáil debate on insurance costs this week. TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has welcomed the fact that the debate has been included in the Dáil Business tomorrow, as it is an issue which is affecting hundreds of families across Cavan and Monaghan.

Deputy Smith explained, “Insurance costs have been spiralling for some time now, and over the course of the last few years we have continued to see prices increase at an unprecedented rate.  Every single sector has been affected – health, motor, home, business and farm – to the point where some people have been priced out of the market.

“Motor insurance costs have rocketed in the last year – with premiums increasing by over 32%.  Some drivers have seen their policies rise by 50%.  It is now costing families, here in Cavan, Monaghan and right across the country, hundreds of euros more to insure their car than it did 12 months ago and these rises are simply unsustainable.  What’s worse is the fact that while these costs continue to soar, the Minister for Finance has adopted a hands-off approach to the issue.

“Fianna Fáil has set out a number of measures which we believe would have a positive influence on the insurance sector including improved regulation and tougher action on exaggerated claims.

“I am pleased that this important debate has been granted and I look forward to frank discussion and engagement to ensure that insurance costs can be brought under control and that consumers are not only protected, but will be able to avail of value for money instead of being ripped off for essential insurance cover”.

19/04/2016

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has said supporting the self-employed and small to medium sized businesses will be one of his top priorities in the months ahead.

Deputy Smith pointed out that Fianna Fáil has a detailed jobs plan which aims to create 250,000 new jobs by 2021 by supporting Irish enterprises.

“One of the issues that arose again and again throughout the election was how self-employed people feel abandoned by Government.  I believe much more needs to be done to support self-employed people in creating employment in communities in Cavan, Monaghan and across the border region.  To help achieve this we plan to equalise tax treatment of the self-employed by increasing the earned income tax credit by 300% to €1,650”, explained the Cavan based Deputy.

“I will also work with my colleagues to reform commercial rates to make the system work for small businesses.  At the moment commercial rates are prohibitively high and are preventing start-up businesses from expanding.  There needs to be some degree of flexibility in the system to give small businesses the breathing space they need to grow.

“Fianna Fáil is also pushing for a move towards a social welfare safety net for self-employed people. Currently entrepreneurs are reluctant to commit their time and money to starting up their own business as they are fearful of not having a safety net should they fail.  We will overcome this problem by allowing self-employed people to make full Class A PRSI contributions in order to qualify for Jobseekers Benefit and Invalidity Benefit.

“We also need to strengthen businesses operating in rural Ireland.  Fianna Fáil is proposing a significant programme of investment in infrastructure, such as broadband, to ensure SME’s can continue to operate in rural Ireland.  We are committed to the appointment of a Minister for Rural Affairs who will have responsibility for attracting new jobs and investment into rural areas,” said Deputy Smith.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith has expressed his sympathy following the news that the prison officer caught up in a car bomb attack in East Belfast earlier this month has died.

Deputy Smith commented, “I wish to express my condolences to the family and colleagues of the prison officer who died this morning.  The attack, which led to his death is a stark reminder of the fragility of the peace process in Northern Ireland, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“This married father of three was a committed public servant who was senselessly targeted by a group determined to destabilise a process which had brought about an end to decades of violence across the North.

“The people who perpetrated this barbaric attack must be brought to justice.  I am urging anyone who has information about this incident to contact their local PSNI station or to ring the Crimestoppers confidential line”.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Border Region Development Brendan Smith will outline his concerns in relation to the forthcoming Brexit Referendum and the possible implications for the island of Ireland of Britain leaving the EU at the SDLP Annual Conference in Derry this weekend.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD is participating in a policy session, “The EU – Central to our Economic Future”.

Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “The benefits of European Union membership are visible throughout all of this island and many of the social, cultural and economic relationships between North and South and between Ireland and Britain is simplified by the fact that both are EU members.  This has allowed us to forge common bonds at EU level and to foster good working relationships.  Undoubtedly, the positive relationships and common bonds developed at EU level were, and continue to be, central to the workings of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process.

“European Union funds have also played an integral role in facilitating peace and improving relations on the island of Ireland.  These funds have been used to support peace and reconciliation initiatives, cross-border projects, as well as the disparities that arise from peripherality, which are all the more acute in the border regions themselves.

“I look forward to participating in the policy session, “The EU – Central to our Economic Future” along with Glyn Roberts CEO NIIRTA, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell MP,  Margaret Ritchie MP and Patsy McGlone MLA.   Such policy sessions and conferences are needed to create a much better awareness of how critical the forthcoming British Referendum is to everyone on this island”, concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.

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Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil T.D. Brendan Smith has been informed by the Health Service Executive that the recruitment process is underway to recruit additional staff to ensure that the full complement of beds is utilised in the Virginia Residential Care Centre.

The HSE were responding to Deputy Brendan Smith’s ongoing representations and Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann with regard to the need to recruit the staff to enable the opening of the 26 additional beds in the Virginia Residential Unit.

Brendan Smith was further informed by the HSE that the beds will be opened on a phased basis as directed by the Health Information & Quality Authority.

Deputy Smith has renewed his representation to the HSE asking that the process be expedited as quickly as possible to ensure that these new facilities are operational. The new 26 beds in the Virginia Residential Care Centre will enhance the delivery of health services for the elderly in Cavan/Monaghan and help to relieve pressure on Cavan General Hospital and other health facilities.

ENDS 8/03/2016

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith has repeated his call for the Government to step up its efforts aimed at securing the release of Irish born citizen Ibrahim Halawa from an Egyptian prison.

Deputy Smith made the comments after it was confirmed that Ibrahim’s trial has been postponed for the 13^th time.

“Ibrahim has been in prison awaiting trial since 2013 and has been subject to dubious court proceedings ever since. He has been denied the opportunity of a fair trial and he is essentially undergoing indefinite detention,” said Deputy Smith.

“It’s unacceptable that an Irish citizen, who was aged just 17 when taken into custody, is being denied a fair trial. Reprieve, a prominent Human Rights organisation, have pointed out that Ibrahim has been subjected to torture while in prison.

“The Government needs to step up its efforts with the utmost urgency to secure the release of Ibrahim as it is evident he is not being afforded a fair trial.”

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