Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Border Region Development Brendan Smith has congratulated Arlene Foster on becoming First Minister of Northern Ireland.

Deputy Smith said, “I want to extend my congratulations to Arlene Foster on becoming First Minister of Northern Ireland. This is a proud day for her and her family, and I want to take this opportunity to wish her every success in her role.

“No doubt the road ahead will be challenging, and I along with the Fianna Fáil party offer our full support to the First Minister in her new role.

“It is imperative that the Good Friday Agreement is safeguarded and that peace and stability is secured in Northern Ireland. To this end, I would call on the newly elected First Minister to address outstanding issues such as the legacy of the past which was omitted from the ‘Fresh Start’ Agreement. For Northern Ireland to truly progress and move forward we need to put in place mechanisms that deal with the legacies of the past. We can no longer sidestep those seeking answers and justice. I hope that the First Minister will, as one of her first priorities in office, work towards a satisfactory outcome to this issue for all concerned”.

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– Cavan-Monaghan has NO drugs unit and has seen Garda numbers gutted –

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has slammed the Government for its outright denial about the seriousness of the rural crime epidemic across the country.  The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s refusal to even consider reopening some of the 139 stations that they closed over the past five years demonstrates her complete denial about the gravity of the situation.

Deputy Smith commented, “This Government has completely lost touch with reality and appears to have no idea of how serious the crime wave has become.  Every community across Cavan and Monaghan has been affected by crime, and over the past year the situation has deteriorated steadily.  The latest figures reveal a 90% increase in burglaries across the Garda division.  In the three months to the end of September last year, there were 146 recorded incidents, up massively from 78 for the same period in 2014.

“There is no doubt that this huge increase is as a direct result of the decimation of the Garda force in the Cavan-Monaghan district over the past five years.  There are now 75 fewer officers across the two counties.  Nine Garda stations have closed under Fine Gael and Labour.  Communities are now genuinely living in fear, and the crime statistics would indicate that they have every right to be worried.

“Not content with slashing the number of rank and file officers across the districts, the Government has now also effectively disbanded the Garda Drugs Unit.  In 2010 the force had 8 Gardai attached to the drug unit, but as of 2013 the numbers were cut and there is now no dedicated drugs unit in the entire division.  This is a completely unacceptable situation, especially given the fact that Cavan-Monaghan is particularly vulnerable given its proximity to the border.

“I have highlighted the seriousness of the increase in crime in this region for some time but unfortunately my concerns are falling on deaf ears.  This Government has begun believing its own hype and is refusing to address the situation.  Communities across Cavan and Monaghan are being put at unnecessary risk because of the Government’s reluctance to acknowledge the problem and invest in proper resources.  The past five years has seen an arrogant Government preside over the serious depletion and neglect of public services and a two-tier recovery.  This cannot continue. Fianna Fáil wants to see an Ireland built on strong, safe and enterprising communities.  We will not ignore the escalating crime levels and have already put tangible proposals forward to tackle rural and urban crime”.

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6/01/2016

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has hit out at the Government for failing to tackle exorbitant motor insurance costs.  Tánaiste Joan Burton has once again refused to commit to taking any action to address rising premiums.  Fianna Fáil raised the issue during Leaders’ Questions this week but the Government is continuing to sit on the fence.

Motor insurance costs have rocketed over the past year, increasing by 30%.  And there are warnings that more price hikes are on the way.

Deputy Smith commented, “These rising costs are completely unsustainable.  In fact, motor insurance costs have increased more than any other item examined in the CSO’s basket of consumer goods.  The agency has also warned that further increases of up to 20% could be on the cards in 2016.  This is extremely bad news for motorists, who will be forced to take another hit next year. At this rate, the cost of insuring an average size family car will increase by around €300 next year.

“These huge cost burdens must be addressed but this Government appears reluctant to advocate for consumers or businesses here in Cavan and Monaghan, which are having to fork out for these dramatically increasing insurance costs.  Families and small businesses are being squeezed as a result of these high costs but no one in Government seems prepared to fight their corner.

“My party colleague and Finance spokesperson Michael McGrath has been extremely active on this issue calling for the establishment of a taskforce similar to the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB).  The recommendations from the MIAB successfully achieved a fall in insurance costs of 40 per cent in real terms between 2002 and 2013. Any new taskforce should bring together representatives of the industry, consumer advocates, the Garda Transport division and the regulator to bring forward practical proposals to reverse this very worrying trend.

“Fianna Fáil has set out a number of measures that we believe would have a positive influence on insurance premia including calling for full transparency on the profitability of the industry, improved regulation and tougher road safety measures.

“We can no longer sit back and do nothing while motor insurance costs continue to rise.  We need tangible measures that will prevent premia getting out of control and give a much needed break to families and businesses across Cavan and Monaghan”.

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18/12/2015

Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith expressed his serious concerns to the Office of Public Works, Cavan County Council and the ESB following extensive flooding in the Crossdoney/Farnham/Killeshandra areas.

Deputy Smith met with Senior Management at the ESB on Thursday to discuss water level controls on the River Erne at Belleek and Ballyshannon.

“Once again we have a situation where residents and businesses in these areas have been impacted by flood waters.  Homes have been badly damaged and people’s possessions ruined and many will be forced to spend the next few days and weeks cleaning up the aftermath.  For others, their businesses have been hit and they’ll be unable to trade in the busy period coming up to Christmas.  It is a terrible situation for people to be left in”, explained Deputy Smith.

“It is extremely important that the Office of Public Works work along with Cavan County Council to carry out the necessary drainage and remedial works to address these flooding issues.

“At the meeting yesterday, ESB management assured me that they have taken the necessary actions to control the level of water on the Erne system to the greatest extent possible in order to ease the flooding problems in the River Erne catchment area.  The safe discharge of flood waters needs constant vigilance and attention and is critical in trying to ease flooding problems in areas in County Cavan near the source of the Erne River system.”

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith has accused the Social Protection Minister of threatening the future of companies who operate under the Community Service Programme.  Minister Burton has announced an increase in the national minimum wage, but has failed to sanction a corresponding increase in funding for CSP companies.

Deputy Smith commented, “The increase in the national minimum wage is a welcome development however the Minister has been extremely short-sighted in refusing to allocate additional funding to the Community Services Programme to ensure that those companies will be able to pay the increased wage bill.  These companies are extremely important to local communities right across Cavan and Monaghan, and they operate on a not-for-profit ethos.  The fact of the matter is that if they are not given extra funding they will have to source the money from elsewhere, and that will ultimately lead to service cuts.

“In many parts of the country CSP companies are the lifeblood of the local area.  They provide much needed employment and carry out essential community services.  These services are now being jeopardised by the Minister’s refusal to approve additional funding for the CSP scheme to cover the higher staff costs as a result of increasing the national minimum wage.  The Department claims that wage costs are supplemented by the service providers, but the majority of people involved with this programme are well aware that this is not the case.

“These companies are now facing a choice of either reducing services or letting some of their staff go.  This will come as a major blow to communities which are already regarded as disadvantaged.  This is a grave error on the part of the Minister and will only result in the downgrading of services in these areas.  I am calling on Minister Burton to urgently rethink this decision.  CSP schemes have breathed life back into many rural communities by creating jobs and improving services.  They should not be penalised by the Minister’s failure to ensure that she increased funding for these programmes in line with the minimum national wage and I am urging her to reconsider her position”.

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The Dáil will today debate a new Fianna Fáil Bill to set up a special Cross Border crime agency. The new agency draws together police forces, Revenue and environmental agencies from both sides of the border to help tackle fuel laundering and cigarette smuggling.

The Bill is being introduced following the murder of two Gardai in the region in recent years and comes in the wake of publication of the PSNI/MI5 report, which confirmed the continued existence of the Provisional IRA and concluded that its members were involved in criminality.  It also builds on the outline of the recent “Fresh Start” agreement in Northern Ireland and recommendations of the British Irish Parliamentary Council report on the issue.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Border Region Development Brendan Smith commented, “We need to set up a specific taskforce to deal with the problem of criminality across the border region. The tragic murders of two Gardai, instances like the brutal murder of Paul Quinn, massive environmental damage and significant loss of revenue to the State are having a massive impact on the area. There is a specific criminal threat linked to paramilitarism, as the PSNI/MI5 report outlined, that needs to be dealt with. A wall of silence and fear has descended across these areas, as people feel threatened by the paramilitary gangs operating there.  These communities suffer at the hands of a small number of individuals who have huge financial resources available to them. Stamping out cigarette smuggling and fuel laundering with a co-ordinated effort will help to free these communities from the shadow of paramilitary crime.”

“This legislation is also a clear chance for the government to kick start the new “Fresh Start” agreement. It gives them a clear document to bring into next month’s meetings with British and Northern Irish Ministers about a new crime agency. Our proposal is a comprehensive approach that brings together police, Revenue and environmental agencies, and will deal with all aspects of cross border crime. If the Government is serious about getting to grips with the problems affecting ordinary communities along the border, which are suffering under the atmosphere of criminality then it should fully support this Bill”.