Modest Budget allocation will do little to meet commitment to double Ireland’s global footprint11/10/2017
Just €2m allocated under Budget 2018 to increase diplomatic presence overseas
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has said that more substantial capital investment is required if the Government is to deliver on its commitment to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. The Deputy made his comments following the announcement that €2m has been allocated to the initiative in Budget 2018. O’Brien commented, “A number of months ago the Taoiseach made a very bold commitment to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025, yet just a modest €2m has been budgeted to fully develop this initiative. “There is no doubt that we should welcome Minister Coveney’s decision to open new diplomatic missions in Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Vancouver and Mumbai on a phased basis throughout 2018 and 2019. “My concern however, is that it is clear that significantly more investment will be required in the years ahead if the Government is to deliver on their ambitious target. He added, “Any measure to increase our diplomatic presence overseas requires a clear road-map to ensure that this commitment is delivered upon. “Considering the grave challenges that Brexit will impose particularly over the coming months, this Government must be assiduous in their research of new markets, and strategic in their thinking. “In light of Britain’s impending exit from the European Union it’s important that Ireland makes moves to increase its presence across Europe also, however, the degree of capital announced yesterday will simply not fund an adequate response to diplomacy overseas. “If this initiative is to be anything more than the PR it has proven to be to date, or indeed prove to be of any substantial worth, then Ireland must specifically target resources towards the countries and regions where we can have the greatest impact and return. “The €2m announced in this budget is modest, even more so when we consider the €5m ring fenced to fund the Government’s spin unit. Going forward the Government must ensure that their commitments are matched with adequate investment. “I intend to continue to urge the Minister and his Department to publish a focused, detailed and phased strategy which outlines priority regions. It is equally important that there will be an opportunity to debate this plan in the Oireachtas,” concluded Deputy O’Brien. - Not a single home included under the scheme’s exceptional circumstances -
Local Fianna Fáil TD, Darragh O’Brien has once again raised the shortcomings of the Government’s Pyrite Remediation Scheme and its failure to support hundreds of families in Fingal that continue to be left in limbo. In figures received by the Deputy through Parliamentary Question, not a single affected dwelling or home has been approved for inclusion in the Pyrite Remedial Scheme under the exceptional circumstances clause, since its inception. Commenting on the figures, Deputy O’Brien said, “Over 70,000 homeowners nationwide are left affected by pyrite, many of which are finding it increasingly difficult and even impossible to sell their pyrite infected properties. “It had been hoped that long over-due changes to standards for pyrite affected property would provide home owners with more certainty and support to remedy a situation that has been taken entirely out of their hands. “Sadly, the figures I have received from the Minister for Housing this month indicate that the Government’s Pyrite Remediation Scheme continues to fail so many severely affected homeowners. “The majority of homes affected across the east coast do not qualify for the remedial scheme under the limited scale drawn up by the Pyrite Resolution Board. Those who don’t meet the criteria must also be catered for and protected. “These standards have made no real improvement whatsoever and this latest information is further proof that the Pyrite Remediation Scheme is grossly inadequate. “It has never been more apparent that the whole issue of pyrite should be revised to overhaul a remediation scheme that is wholly unfit for purpose. “I have been raising the importance of a comprehensive review of the pyrite scheme for some time now and my party and I have long been committed to expanding the Pyrite Remediation Scheme so that all homeowners affected by pyrite can have their homes fixed should their insurers not pay. "It is time for the Government to do more to support the thousands of families across the North County who have been left in limbo,” pointed out the Deputy. Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Darragh O’Brien TD has expressed his and his party's condolences following the atrocity which took place in the early hours of this morning in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Deputy O’Brien said, “This particularly brutal attack has resulted in the deaths of scores of innocent people and the injury of so many while enjoying a music festival. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. “On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I want to offer my sincerest condolences to the families of all of those murdered in this horrifying and reprehensible attack. “I will be writing to Mr Reece Smyth, Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy here in Ireland, expressing our condolences to him and the American people. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed, and we wish a full recovery to all those injured." |
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