Election Diary 16.04.09
After a brief break for Easter, our political performers are back at it. Here is some of what they have gotten up to. If you want your favorite party or candidate featured, get them to add us to their mailing list so we can find out what they are up to.
- So, the big question of the day is, did Fine Gael steal from Auntie? Click
- There is a report in the City Leader that the European Commission is going to Rip Limerick City Council a new one over the way it is dealing with litter in regeneration areas. A delegation of local representatives went to Brussells with photographic evidence of how crap a job the City Council are actually doing
- The ESB has announced the creation of 3,700 jobs as it moves towards the production of greener energy and electric cars. Local election candidate Trish Forde-Brennan of the Green Party has welcomed the announcement. “Going green saves money and creates jobs. Today’s announcement is proof of this. As an island nation we can use our vast wind and wave resources to power and homes and our cars.” See full press statement below the fold.
- Staying with the Greens, Senator Dan Boyle is calling on the government not do delay the legislation dealing with the reductions of cost in relation to Government pay and pensions. The €2,000 trip to Thomond Park by a number of Fianna Fail TDs when the great unwashed scrimped and scraped for the possibility of a ticket to Munster versus the All Blacks, doesn’t get a look in
- Senator Boyle launches his European Election campaign tomorrow in Cork City. After visiting a number of locations in the city, he will unveil his swanky new electric powered campaign bus.
Unedited Press releases from Local candidates are below the fold
Green Party (Europe) Received 1142 hrs
Green Party Chairperson Senator Dan Boyle has said budget measures to reduce political costs such as cutting ministerial pensions in office, closing teaching positions held open for serving members of the Oireachtas and withholding long service increments, should not be introduced in any delayed way.
Senator Boyle said: “It is important that these measures are implemented quickly and without conditions, as to pull back from them now would create a justified public cynicism about the willingness of the political system to endure cuts being experienced everywhere else in public expenditure.
“The Green Party believes that necessary legislation should be implemented and if there are individuals who feel that their personal situation is compromised by such legislation – let that legislation be contested in the courts.”
Green Party (Local) Received 1609 hrs
-Announcement proves that going green will save money and the economy says Castleconnell Green candidate Trish Forde-Brennan
Local Green Party candidate for the Castleconnell ward, Trish Forde-Brennan, has welcomed today’s announcement by ESB that up to 6,000 jobs and training opportunities are to be created through green projects and initiatives. The ESB confirmed that 3,700 jobs will be created in the areas of wind energy, smart networks and smart metering, electric vehicles, construction and energy servicing.
Trish said: “Going green saves money and creates jobs. Today’s announcement is proof of this. As an island nation we can use our vast wind and wave resources to power and homes and our cars. In order to do this, we need to install and upgrade our electricity network in a smart way – and this is where many of the jobs announced by the ESB will come from.
“The Green Party in Government has taken Irish energy in a new direction. Our initiatives such as smart meters, smart networks, electric cars, renewable energy, green technology and home insulation are bearing fruit. Now we must look at how these jobs can be created and sustained at a local level.”
Specific projects resulting in the creation of new jobs include:
The roll-out of Smart Metering and the implementation of ESB’s Smart Networks Strategy which will lead to 1,500 jobs by 2013.
Novus Modus (ESB’s new energy technology fund) has committed to a five year programme of investment in clean energy and energy efficiency (350 jobs). The fund has just invested €2.5 million in the Cork-based company, Nualight, which is creating up to 60 additional jobs locally.
Electric vehicles (600 jobs) including the roll-out of the infrastructure to allow electric vehicles to be recharged.
Working with Sustainable Energy Ireland, ESB will offer free home-energy efficiency surveys to 25,000 householders and subsequent support to allow them implement necessary measures.
In order to alleviate the current severe shortage of electrical engineers, ESB will finance 50 apprentices each year for the next four years to allow them to achieve a third level engineering degree.
In addition, ESB will sustain a further 1300 jobs outside the company through ongoing investment programmes in the company’s power generation and networks infrastructure. The company will recruit 250 engineers and 50 other professionals and train 800 apprentices over the next five years, including 400 FAS apprentices who recently lost their jobs and will now be able to complete their craft training, paid for by ESB.
Trish concluded: “There’s no denying that times are tough, but with proper planning and investment, we can help kickstart the economy, get people off our doles queues and sustain our energy future, while helping the environment too.’