How are your local reps

LeoB

Well having finally met 2 elected reps last week there are still a few I have yet to meet on the street. This got me thinking as to how we are being served by the people we elected Fingal C.C. and Dail Eireann.
So, How do you feel we are served by our local reps?
Are they on the ground in your area?
Are they attending local meetings?
Can you contact them easily?
Do they respomd to your queries?
Are they true to their election promises?

We are not dealing with national issues here so keep your comments to local N.C.D. issues PLEASE. It is important if this thread is to be allowed to develop we dont get into a slagging match or insult posters or politicans.

Maybe if some here are a little disgruntled the reps will get some feedback and act on it, so please best behaviour:)

Corsendonk

LeoB wrote: »

Well having finally met 2 elected reps last week there are still a few I have yet to meet on the street. This got me thinking as to how we are being served by the people we elected Fingal C.C. and Dail Eireann.
So, How do you feel we are served by our local reps?
Are they on the ground in your area?
Are they attending local meetings?
Can you contact them easily?
Do they respomd to your queries?
Are they true to their election promises?

We are not dealing with national issues here so keep your comments to local N.C.D. issues PLEASE. It is important if this thread is to be allowed to develop we dont get into a slagging match or insult posters or politicans.

Maybe if some here are a little disgruntled the reps will get some feedback and act on it, so please best behaviour:)

MEPs or did we leave Europe?

martinn123

Can we start with a list of names, as to be honest I forget who we got.

Dail.

James Reilly, Minster for Health
Brendan Ryan. Labour
Clare Daly. Socialist what do you call'em
Some F.G chap, ??? who employed his partner?


Senate.
Daragh O'Brien F.F.

Co Co.
Ken Farrell. Labour, was Mayor of Fingal

Rest pale into oblivion in my mind.

Help please//

Corsendonk

Various parts of Dublin Co North are spread over 3 constituencies

Dublin North
James Reilly FG
Alan Farrell FG
Brendan Ryan Labour
Care Daly Socialist Party

Dublin West- parts of Swords
Jim Higgins Socialist Party
Joan Bruton Labour
Brian Lenihan FF RIP
Leo Vardankar FG

Dublin North East- parts of Portmarnock, Baldoyle, Sutton, Howth
Terence Flanagan FG
Sean Kenny Labour
Tommy Broughan Labour

Senate
Daragh O'Brien FF
Avril Power FF

The below site carries alist of debates and written Questions from each TD/Senators mentioned above and lists their committee duties
http://www.kildarestreet.com/

Fingal CC

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/YourLocalCouncil/LocalDemocracy/Councillors/

Balbriggan Ward
Ciaran Byrne Labour
Tom O'Leary FG
May McKeon NonParty
David O'Connor NonParty
Ken Farrell Labour

Swords Ward
Eugene Coppinger Socialist Party
Anne Devitt FG
Gerry McGuire Labour
Tommy Kelleher Labour
Darragh Butler FF

Malahide & Portmarnock Ward
Anthony Lavin FG
Eoghan O'Brien FF
Joan Maher FG
Peter Coyle Labour
Cian O'Callaghan Labour

Mulhuddart Ward
Ruth Coppinger Socialist Party
Patrick Nulty Labour
David McGuinness FF
Kieran Dennison FG
Michael O'Donovan Labour

Castleknock Ward
Mags Murray FF
Mattew Waine Socialist Party
Peggy Hamill Labour Party
Eithne Loftus FG


MEPs
Gay Mitchell FG
Paul Murphy Socialist Party
Proinsias De Rossa Labour

The below site carries a list of Committee duties and written questions from each Dublin MEP, iust click on individual profiles
http://www.europarl.ie/view/en/irish_meps.html

LeoB

Corsendonk wrote: »

MEPs or did we leave Europe?

Eh Not yet!! Was trying to keep it local so we would not get side tracked by national issues re the cllrs. There is a politics forum for the national issues like the financial crisis or european issues. Just trying to gauge the satisfaction of our N.C.D friends and neighbours

martinn123 wrote: »

Can we start with a list of names, as to be honest I forget who we got.

Rest pale into oblivion in my mind.

Help please//

This is why I started this thread. One chap I was telling that I met some local reps didnt know who I was talking about. So are we hearing enough from them? Or are we not looking hard enough at what they are doing?

Corsendonk

LeoB wrote: »

Eh Not yet!! Was trying to keep it local so we would not get side tracked by national issues re the cllrs. There is a politics forum for the national issues like the financial crisis or european issues. Just trying to gauge the satisfaction of our N.C.D friends and neighbours

Leaving out such issues as the Global Financial Crisis, in all honesty Europe has more impact on your daily local life than the crowd in FCC or the Dail. Just look at the everything from water quality of our local beaches, investment in local business, protecting local foods, setting up wildlife areas such as Rogerstown etc This phamtom that MEPs only deal will the big world issues is a common mistake often encouraged by Dail members.

LeoB

Corsendonk wrote: »

Leaving out such issues as the Global Financial Crisis, in all honesty Europe has more impact on your daily local life than the crowd in FCC or the Dail. Just look at the everything from water quality of our local beaches, investment in local business, protecting local foods, setting up wildlife areas such as Rogerstown etc This phamtom that MEPs only deal will the big world issues is a common mistake often encouraged by Dail members.

Agreed. I understand the importance of MEPs and their impact or lack on our daily lives.

The crowd in Fingal do have an important role maybe more than we understand and perhaps we are not being forceful enough in our local clinics. My problem with them is the lack of forsight similar to when roads are dug up this week for water works, next week by Eircom and a week later by ESB. they have the influence to make these companies work together to cause less disruption. Take a look at the main St in Rush and the amount of times it has been dug up in the last 5 years by various companies. A joke if ever and its all over Fingal and further afield.

We however have to take a lot of responsibility for beachs, litter, water quality often caused by lazy people dumping toxic waste or farm waste in streams.

Maybe the cllrs need to get more "agressive" in their chamber and make people take notice. Maybe then we might have more respect for them or take them more seriously

Corsendonk

Just in defence of James Reilly, he is an extremely busy Minister so it makes sense that Alan Farrell covers some of the local TD duties such as turning up at local meetings or events. Secondly he does not look like a "tub of lard" as Michael O'Doherty of the Evening Herald labelled him in todays edition.

dsmythy

I'd rather the local TD's didn't piss around in the constituencies and did work in the Dáil.

As for our local councillors, I've heard nothing from them and doubt I will unless I do with them or the local elections come around.

midonogh

Works are well underway to build a path across the ballast pit in Skerries. As a daily rail commuter this will have a material impact on my day. So somebody in FCC gets a thumbs up, but I am not sure who.

LeoB

Corsendonk wrote: »

Just in defence of James Reilly, he is an extremely busy Minister so it makes sense that Alan Farrell covers some of the local TD duties such as turning up at local meetings or events. Secondly he does not look like a "tub of lard" as Michael O'Doherty of the Evening Herald labelled him in todays edition.

I was not particurlarly having a pop at him. I am sure he is busy but he has people working for him who should have the manners to reply to invitation or letter in a reasonablr time.

No problem with Alan Farrell attending meetings on Mr. Reilly's behalf. I was delighted to see him in Rush and hope he is back sooner rather than later to look at the neglect of this town and the same goes for the rest of them. I would not mind sitting and chatting to him or any public rep.

As for the description of James Reilly!!! Tabloid Gutter press. He is more like Brutes or Brutos from the popeye cartoons!!;)

martinn123

LeoB wrote: »

As for the description of James Reilly!!! Tabloid Gutter press. He is more like Brutes or Brutos from the popeye cartoons!!;)

Yes I see the resemblance.


Seperated at birth

Corsendonk

One of his nicknames is Fr Fintan Stack

Cardinal Richelieu

Bumping LeoB thread because its that time of year again when you open any local newspaper to be faced with a grinning face wishing you and your family a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and not to forget to give them your No1:D

So how are they performing in your opinion?

LeoB

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Bumping LeoB thread because its that time of year again when you open any local newspaper to be faced with a grinning face wishing you and your family a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and not to forget to give them your No1:D

So how are they performing in your opinion?

Thank god I stopped buying the Fingal Indo.

I am no political animal but my take on them.................

I am not a fan of F.G anyway but I will start with Brutus, the Minister for Health. I think he has a massive battle on his hands with H.S.E., and I.N.O not to mention lobby groups all fighting to maintain services and standards in their particular areas. I am totally opposed to his idea on private health which I think is where he wants us. I believe we all have a right to a decent level of health care no matter how much we earn. Because I earn a certain amount every year does not give me the right to have better access to health than someone who earns €10,000 less. I have no problem paying for health care by way of levy every week but what V.H.I Quinn and others are charging is a licence for top medical professionals to print money and I believe here Mr. Reilly is compromised as he was their negotiater for very lucrative deals. On a visit to hospital I was asked the usual questions, name address, D.O.B ect and finally was I public or private? When I told the person who asked me where to go they assumed I was private and I got looked after like a lord, M.R.I scans, Catscans, brain scan (negative result there folks) loads of tests. Their jaws dropped when the day I was discharged when I said I was public. I paid in cash €800 and had no problem paying but another family member paid €3,500 for 3 nights in a private room,and had 1 test done. How is that? Because some professor said keep him in as they had good cover from V.H.I. That is scandelous. I dont know if Mr Reilly will succced but he really needs to step back. Is it me or has he vanished from the Rush area? Not much coming from him on local issues from what I see, just the party line.

Alan Farrell. Dont hear much from him since he was trying to appoint family members to certain jobs!!!1 And he has the neck to critise F.F. for the mess we are in. It does not add up for me. Instead of agreeing with the closure of Rush Garda station he should be trying to legislate to lock up some white collar criminals who landed us in the mess we are in.

Clare Daly. Will hear a lot more from her now that she is prepared to go to jail for us. WOW. What an example when our reps are encouraging us to break the law. Dont know how to classify the Socialist Party agenda at all but think if they get their way I will be paying more every week.

Brendan Ryan. Have met Brendan a few times and like him. I think he honest, hardworking and a genuine man. However I would like to see him and hear him being a little more aggressive. He is touch with a lot of what is going on as he gets around the area quite a bit

Really wish we had a Willie Penrose or John McGuinness out this way to really represent the peoples best interest.

Cardinal Richelieu

Interesting Spreadsheet from The Journal.ie

TD's Expenses
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlxJrxiwB44XdGJZcG0tUVI2aWVGZzdkUThWZG1FTHc#gid=0

Dublin North 2011 TD Expenses
Clare Daly(SP) € 22,821.43 Vouched
Alan Farrell(FG) € 31,865.51 Vouched
James Reilly(FG) € 18,125.14 (Would also have Minister expenses)
Brendan Ryan(LB) € 35,981.22 Not Vouched

LeoB

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Interesting Spreadsheet from The Journal.ie

TD's Expenses
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlxJrxiwB44XdGJZcG0tUVI2aWVGZzdkUThWZG1FTHc#gid=0

Dublin North 2011 TD Expenses
Clare Daly(SP) € 22,821.43 Vouched
Alan Farrell(FG) € 31,865.51 Vouched
James Reilly(FG) € 18,125.14 (Would also have Minister expenses)
Brendan Ryan(LB) € 35,981.22 Not Vouched

They seem pretty ok but Wonder if Alan and Brendan went over the top on ink and toner;)

Cardinal Richelieu

LeoB wrote: »

They seem pretty ok but Wonder if Alan and Brendan went over the top on ink and toner;)

It gets messy when it comes to travel allowances because Clare and Alan are in Dublin while Brendan and James are in the Band 1 zone so they can claim more.

James has ministerial expenses, some of his spending is outlined below. Seems he likes his coffee and PR consultants.

Examiner

Reilly paid PR firm €15k from Dáil allowance
By Juno McEnroe, Political Reporter
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Ministers are availing of a special allowance for secretarial services, consultancy, policy advice, and public relations, according to details supplied by their offices.

James Reilly, the health minister, paid a public relations company €15,000 for advice on health reform as well as for speech writing advice, his office confirmed.

He paid the money last year to the Communications Clinic, whose directors are PR consultant Terry Prone and Tom Savage, the chairman of the RTÉ board.

The funds were paid from the vouched €41,000 secretarial allowance which ministers receive.

Some ministers vouch for the expensed services under the special secretarial allowance while others can claim unvouched costs, as is permitted under the system.

The expensed payments for services are above and beyond services provided by their press offices, departments and, in some cases, their constituency offices.

Dr Reilly’s spokesman yesterday said that all funds were spent in line with the guidelines.

Other ministers’ offices confirmed expenses used under the dual system last night.

According to Oireachtas officials, a minister or TD can claim a fully vouched annual amount of up to €41,902 for secretarial assistance, PR work, IT assistance (not web-related) and training. Alternatively, they can claim part-vouched or unvouched expenses for services amounting to €8,888, and an additional €11,591 in vouched expenses.

Phil Hogan, the environment minister, used the part-vouched option in 2011. He submitted an invoice for €9,075 from Stalk Consultants, which was for secretarial services.

The unvouched amount was used for policy consultancy advice, his office said. He did not use any claims for PR work, it was added.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn used €14,321.73 of the vouched allowance for secretarial services last year, his office said.

Simon Coveney, the agriculture minister, availed of the fully vouched system for staff salaries but none of the funds went on PR, his office said.

Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan Leo Varadkar, the transport minister, did the same, their officials said.

Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure minister, uses the allowance solely to employ a full-time secretary and not for PR, his office said.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s spokesman said he availed of the allowance within the guidelines but not for PR purposes.

Richard Bruton, the jobs minister, used some of the allowable allowance but not for PR, his office said.

Details were not supplied for Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

Pat Rabbitte, Joan Burton, Eamon Gilmore, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny do not avail of the allowance, their officials said.

Express espresso

Other headline moments for the health minister:

* James Reilly spent €624 of taxpayers’ money on two deluxe Bewley’s coffee machines — one for each of his offices. One has been installed in his office in the health department at Hawkins House while the other sits in his Leinster House rooms.

His spokesman said the minister needed the machines because he worked long hours and the Dáil restaurant and department canteen were not always open.

* He has received tax breaks for maintaining his 13-bed family mansion in Co Offaly. He received tax breaks for six years running to help pay for renovations to the three-storey Laughton House, which is surrounded by 150 acres of farm and woodland.

The property must be open to the public, in accordance with tax-break conditions. His officials say the amounts received through the tax break is a private affair.

Shane Fitz

LeoB wrote: »

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Bumping LeoB thread because its that time of year again when you open any local newspaper to be faced with a grinning face wishing you and your family a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and not to forget to give them your No1:D

So how are they performing in your opinion?

......... Mr Reilly......... Is it me or has he vanished from the Rush area? Not much coming from him on local issues from what I see, just the party line.

Just wondering does Minister Reilly hold any kind of clinic in NCD, I had heard he was now living in his country residence.

The Hill Billy

Contact his constituency office in Swords & they will surely tell you.

Details here.

Cardinal Richelieu

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Contact his constituency office in Swords & they will surely tell you.

Details here.

I noticed that webpage has a http://www.reilly.ie/ link

Is anyone else getting directed to a dept of health website when they click on the James Reilly link?

Cardinal Richelieu

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Just wondering does Minister Reilly hold any kind of clinic in NCD, I had heard he was now living in his country residence.

Ministers if anything like the UK usually farm out clinics to assistants anyway because they are so busy running the country. Minister Reilly seems to have recruited Cllr O'Leary for this role.

http://research.finegael.org

Councillor Tom O'Leary was elected to Fingal County Council in June 2009.

Parliamentary Assistant to Dr James Reilly TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health

"As a Parliamentary Assistant,I have access to Dáil Eireann and I can lobby at a local and national level for my community."

Frank Spencer

James Reilly did or does have a constituency office in Ballbriggan on the main street above/beside Brownes Butchers and opposite The Central pub.

LeoB

I have heard very little of late from anyone except Brendan Ryan and Darragh O'Brian both on the closure of Rush Garda Staion.

Mr. Reilly and Mr Farrell seem quite enough but that does not suprise me.. Really disappointed in both of them. I dont folow Clare Daly at all and would usually turn off Radion if her or Joe came on.

Eoineo

LeoB wrote: »

I have heard very little of late from anyone except Brendan Ryan and Darragh O'Brian both on the closure of Rush Garda Staion.

Mr. Reilly and Mr Farrell seem quite enough but that does not suprise me.. Really disappointed in both of them. I dont folow Clare Daly at all and would usually turn off Radion if her or Joe came on.

I've heard from both Mr Farrell & Mr Ryan on a regular basis relating to another issue in the Lusk area.
Likewise I would turn over when Ma Daly comes on the broadcast media.
Mr Reilly was attge Balbriggan parade last weekend so stayed at home interestingly.

LeoB

Eoineo wrote: »

I've heard from both Mr Farrell & Mr Ryan on a regular basis relating to another issue in the Lusk area.
Likewise I would turn over when Ma Daly comes on the broadcast media.
Mr Reilly was attge Balbriggan parade last weekend so stayed at home interestingly.

Im probably like a lot of others who dont ask enough of our reps and maybe this is why I dont hear enough from them.

Maybe its time to start:)

Eoineo

LeoB wrote: »

Im probably like a lot of others who dont ask enough of our reps and maybe this is why I dont hear enough from them.

Maybe its time to start:)

That is what they are there for -> to represent us. it is a pleasure to deal with people who want to help/advise and who have an ability to make a difference no matter what their party.

LeoB

Eoineo wrote: »

That is what they are there for -> to represent us. it is a pleasure to deal with people who want to help/advise and who have an ability to make a difference no matter what their party.

Agreed but unfortunatley there is quite a lot of mistrust towards our reps. Most people feel fobbed off with responses from them and just stop complaining or making representations.

Alan Farrell

LeoB wrote: »

Agreed but unfortunatley there is quite a lot of mistrust towards our reps. Most people feel fobbed off with responses from them and just stop complaining or making representations.

Always happy to help when required Leo.

My website also contains leaflets which have been delivered to Rush over the past twelve months which number 4 now, excluding a "Thank you" note with my contact information sent last March. Are you "off the beaten track" or have a no junk mail sign up? That might explain the lack of contact.

I also have a clinic on the first Monday of each month at 830 in the Rush Community Centre should you wish to speak to me directly.

Unfortunately, the Rush Garda Station meeting clashed with another meeting but I understand the Garda present explained the ramifications and potential improvements to response times.

LeoB

Alan Farrell wrote: »

Always happy to help when required Leo.

My website also contains leaflets which have been delivered to Rush over the past twelve months which number 4 now, excluding a "Thank you" note with my contact information sent last March. Are you "off the beaten track" or have a no junk mail sign up? That might explain the lack of contact.

I also have a clinic on the first Monday of each month at 830 in the Rush Community Centre should you wish to speak to me directly.

Unfortunately, the Rush Garda Station meeting clashed with another meeting but I understand the Garda present explained the ramifications and potential improvements to response times.

Not off beaten track, on Main St. No "No Junk Mail" sign on my door!! Have no recollection of getting items except 1 posted to me.
(I would suggest using An Post for leaflet drops) Great service in rural areas.

Will pop up to clinc

The thread Breakins in Balbriggan gives us a hint at how things will be, not only in Rush but Lusk Skerries and the rest of NCD should we get a spate of robberies. We have a superb local group of Gardái who worked well in the community for as long as I know them, with limited resourses and despite what we were told at the meeting our service will disimprove and I have to pay more.........

I just feel not only you but every other rep have ignored on Rush again, especially our large elderly citizens who mostly live in single dwellings and dont always have the comfort of neighbours right next door.

Cardinal Richelieu

Has anyone got links for all the TD clinic times and locations? I found its pretty hard to find info for two of them. You have to contact there constituency office or email them.

Brendan Ryan Clinics

http://www.labour.ie/brendanryan/clinics.html

***From the above link Brendan Ryan appears to do clinics every week, is that correct? Nice to see his clinic times are open ended.

Alan Farrell Clinics


http://alanfarrell.blogspot.com/p/clinic-times.html

James Reilly Clinics

?

Clare Daly Clinics

?