The Dáil is in session today and it’s Pink Day in Leinster House. This has been suggested by Wicklow Labour TD Anne Ferris to Fine Gael’s Mary Mitchell O’Connor after the remarks overheard on Tuesday evening. Members of the house have been encouraged to wear pink, should be no problem for Mick Wallace. Donations will be encouraged to the Irish Cancer Society.
I hear that the press gallery will also be suitably attired. If you would like to donate you can do so here. And yes I have.
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Yes I know it’s rather early but there’s a lot of ground to cover and I think I’m finally over #GE11 and ready for the next campaign. And Seán Gallagher today helpfully launched the website for the campaign with bells and whistles including Facebook, Twitter, donate, sign up, diary and of course a video.
Gallagher has been quietly travelling the nation working the councils and seems to have secured 5 nominations in September. Phase two of building the canvassing base and the campaign funds appears to now be underway and he is still looking at securing other nominations just in case.
The former (?) Dragon and entrepreneur strongly maintains his independence from Fianna Fáil of whom he was a member until 2009, whilst recognising the value of party politics but it’s not for him – not in this campaign anyway. Fianna Fáil have yet to decide what they are doing about the Presidential Campaign – by the by did you hear they might change their name?
Anyway back to Seán – here’s the first video. His slogan? Together… Let’s Be the Change
More of this between now and October 21. I’m sure you are only delighted! More Hope, Change, Conversation, to come from all the candidates whilst they are keeping within executive powers of course.
» 2 CommentsTags:#aras11
It’s nearly there – the Finance Bill No. 3 2011 which deals with the tax affairs of civil partnerships (and children of civil partners) has passed all stages of the Dáil and is now in the Seanad for consideration. It passed the second stage yesterday. The debate which took place can be read here. There were speeches from the Minister for State Brian Hayes, Senator Ivana Bacik and Senator Katherine Zappone and many other Senators welcoming the bill.
There is also a speech to be read by Senator Rónán Mullen if you are really into flagellation – you’ll be unsurprised to note that he has not changed his mind from when the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitation 2010 Bill was debated.
Then there’s also the bit where the Minister for State calls Senator Mullen a fundamentalist.
Deputy Brian Hayes: It does because it is a logical extension of what we passed in law. If we are suggesting that the tax treatment of civil partners should, by and large, be the same as the tax treatment of married couples, it follows, ipso facto, that this treatment of children of a civil partnership should also exist. That is the majority view in the context of this legislation which was passed last year. I only make these points to be helpful. The common will is to implement this legislation and, at the very least, give people protection in the tax code for their relationships. It would be nonsensical to enact legislation to give fundamental rights to civil partners, which excluded the tax code as part of it.
Senator Rónán Mullen: That is creeping in again.
Deputy Brian Hayes:I am not a fundamentalist, unlike the Senator.
Senator Rónán Mullen:The Minister of State might wish to withdraw that comment, on reflection.
Deputy Brian Hayes:If it is the view, which I suspect it is, that the support is there for the civil partnership legislation, it logically follows that the support should be there for these tax changes. We will have an opportunity next Tuesday to go through this in greater detail.
Senator Rónán Mullen:On a point of order, I ask the Minister of State to withdraw that comment, if he does not mind. I know he probably said it in jest, but it was about me being a fundamentalist, if I heard him correctly.
Deputy Brian Hayes:I apologise.
Senator Rónán Mullen:I do not think he really meant that, did he?
Deputy Brian Hayes:No, I did not mean that at all.
Senator Rónán Mullen:I just wanted to put that on the record.
Deputy Brian Hayes:It just popped out, as these things do sometimes.
Senator Rónán Mullen:It was a pun of a kind.
Deputy Brian Hayes: I apologise to Senator Mullen.
It just popped out eh?
The Bill passed the second stage without a vote and will enter committee stage on Tuesday 19 July.
» 2 CommentsTags:#cpbill·Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitants Act 2010·Ronan Mullen·Seanad
The Department of Social Protection have announced that the Government today agreed €65 million in savings in the areas of fuel, telephone, gas and electricity allowances. By savings they mean mainly cuts. The payments are made to many older people, carers and people with disabilities. Lone parents and those on unemployment payments are also in receipt of fuel allowances.
Fuel allowance is being cut to €20 a week over its 32 week payment period. (September to April) The Department previously paid more to those living in smokeless coal areas but now believes there is less than a 2% difference in the cost of smokey and smokeless coal so the lesser payment is now applicable.
The Department have done a deal with Eircom to pay them less for the Telephone allowance but recipients still get the same monetary value. No other phone providers have been consulted with.
The Household Benefit Gas and Electricity allowances are being cut with the Department not having done any deals with suppliers. In fact they say that those on social welfare should go and do the deals. Echoes here of Mary Coughlan eh?
The Electricity allowance is being cut from 2400 units to 1800 per year. The value of the Gas allowance will be cut from from €489 to €393 per annum – the Department of course don’t say cut – they say adjusted.
However the Department say that 21% of those in receipt under use their allowance and that many will continue to be able to carry over units unused from one billing period to the next.
This announcement comes the day after it was announced that Bord Gais and other energy providers will seek increases in charges by up to 28%
The Minister has stated that
‘Help will also continue to be available for vulnerable people with special or additional heating needs through the Heating Supplement and Exceptional Needs Payment Scheme under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.”
I look forward to the Department widely advertising this scheme to potential recipients as many are unaware and there remains huge stigma surrounding having to apply to for these payments in Community Welfare offices.
Age Action Ireland have criticised the cuts.
“The €65 million in savings on fuel, phone and electricity and gas payments come at a price, and that price is going to be paid by some of the most vulnerable in our society,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.
The older people’s charity accepted that cuts had to be made in the light of the current economic crisis, but believed that the Government would work to protect those who could least afford to take further hardship. “We are shocked by today’s cuts which directly hit some of the most vulnerable people in society,” Mr Timmins said.
Age Action was particularly concerned at the reduction in gas and electricity units to pensioners, at a cost of €96 per year. This follows news this week that Bord Gais is set to increase electricity prices by more than 10 per cent and will apply for a gas price rise of 20% to 30%.
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It’s like a scene from the Muppets. Up in the eaves of the Dáil sit Deputies Ming Flanagan, Mick Wallace and Shane Ross amongst other members of the technical group.
During the order of business this afternoon the microphones were left on during a vote. Waldorf Wallace and Statler Ming without ties along with Comrade Ross view the members around them and start chewing the cud. Seemingly still annoyed at the discussion on the proposed new rules on the standard of dress of members, the talk turns to those around them.
From 1:09
Mick Wallace “…Miss Piggy has toned it down a bit today.”
Shane Ross: “Who’s that?”
Wallace: “Ms Piggy has toned it down a bit.”
Ming Flanagan: “That Mary Mitchell O’Connor one. I couldn’t remember her name on Vincent Browne.”
Ross: “Was she on with you?”
Ming: “No (indecipherable)…the one who drove off the plinth. They’d want to ban her wearing pink.”
Ross: “Ha Ha Ha. Oh yeah, that’s right. She’s nothing sensational [today] she normally wears the most garish colours (trails off)…”
Updated transcript thanks to Broadsheet.ie
Oh dear oh dear all that bull about clothes not mattering lads and getting the job done eh?
» 39 CommentsTags:Mary Mitchell O'Connor·Mick Wallace·Ming Flanagan·Shane Ross