Joe Costello TD - Blog
DECLAN COLLIER BONUS FLIES IN FACE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
Posted on June 24, 2011
The revelation today that Dublin Airport Authority boss Declan Collier is to be awarded a bonus of over €106,000 is shocking. When you think of the €1bn debt that faces the Authority thanks to the construction of Terminal 2, a debt that will take decades to pay off, it is remarkable that the Board has seen fit to agree to pay Mr Collier a total of over €600,000. Earlier this week, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Labour’s Brendan Howlin announced that pay in semi-state companies was to be capped at €250,000. Today’s announcement shows contempt for that carefully considered position. It is time for the gravy train for individuals like Declan Collier to grind to a halt.
New Government, New Policy Needed to Solve Health Crisis
Posted on January 20, 2011
Statement by Joe Costello TD
Speaking on Private Members' Motion
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
There is an obvious solution to the decade-long crisis in our health services: A new policy, a new Government and a new Minister for Health are needed urgently. It is incredible that any government would close hospitals and shut down wards when the country’s population is growing rapidly.
It is incredible that any government would erect a new tier of administration, namely, the HSE and place it directly on top of the old tier instead of replacing the existing tier first.
Permanent link | Categories: Health
Costello welcomes EU aid fund for former SR Technics workers
Posted on September 22, 2010
Deputy Joe Costello, the Labour Party Transport spokesperson, gave a broad welcome to the European Commission approval in principle of the application from Ireland for €7.4 million European Globalisation Adjustment Funds (EGAF) to help re-train the former-SR Technics workers and commended his Labour colleague, Proinsias de Rossa MEP for Dublin, for the work he has done in helping to secure this funding.
"The former workers of SR Technics have developed valuable skills in the aeronautics industry over the years and I am hopeful that this EU programme which was set up to support workers who lose their jobs can help them find alternative employment or set up a business themselves as quickly as possible.
Costello welcomes grangegorman redevelopment announcement
Posted on September 21, 2010
The announcement today by the Government of the redevelopment of the old St. Brendan's Mental Hospital site at Grangegorman as the new campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and a mental health and primary care facility is most welcome
We hope that this time the announcement means business. The Grangegorman legislation has been in place for five years and various announcements of intent have been made on an annual basis for the last fifteen years but nothing has been delivered so far.
Bethany Home must be included in Residential Institutional Redress Scheme
Posted on September 13, 2010
Addressing the Press Conference at Buswells Hotel today about the latest disturbing discoveries by researchers examining Bethany Home, Deputy Costello said, “The Government can no longer stand idly by in the face of new revelations about the appalling conditions and the startling number of deaths of children that occurred in Bethany Home in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
“Bethany Home must now be included in the Residential Institutional Redress Scheme and a suitable memorial must be erected to the memory of the 219 children who died there and to the memory of those who were abused there but survived.
Limerick road tragedy highlights need for greater enforcement
Posted on September 13, 2010
The tragic accident in Limerick in which three people died last night brings to 150 the number of people killed on our roads this year and comes just weeks after the accident in Kerry where four people died.
The two vehicle collision was between a car and a van and occurred on the N21. The four occupants of the car and three other passengers in the van thankfully seem to have avoided serious injury.
Lack of Aer Lingus commitment to Irish market very worrying
Posted on September 10, 2010
The announcement by Christoph Mueller CEO of Aer Lingus, at the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants, that there will be no growth in Aer Lingus passenger capacity in Ireland next year is extremely worrying.
Air traffic into and out of Ireland declined by a massive 40% over the last two years and according to Mr. Mueller Aer Lingus is trying to escape the Irish market wherever they can. This policy retrenchment and abandonment of the Irish market spells disaster for the Irish economy.
Truth must be told about Bethany Home
Posted on September 10, 2010
The Government can no longer stand idly by in the face of new revelations about the appalling conditions and the startling number of deaths of children that occurred in Bethany Home in the 1930's and 1940's.
A full scale inquiry must be instituted and the Institutional Redress Scheme must be activated for the survivors of Bethany Home.
The Department of Education has refused again and again to allow Bethany Home, an Evangelical Protestant Institution in Rathgar, to be included in the list of qualifying Institutions for the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme set up in 2002.
Ryanair decision on Shannon a blow to mid-west
Posted on September 09, 2010
The announcement by Ryanair of its decision to close down its services between Shannon and Paris and to curtail its services between Shannon and Stansted and Shannon and Gatwick from 1 November 2010, comes as a severe blow to the people working in Shannon Airport and to the economy of the Mid-West.
Clearly the new increased charges imposed by the Dublin Airport Authority and the €10 airport travel tax are crippling penalties for all airlines in the middle of a recession.
Costello welcomes Taxi Regulator's decision to keep fares at current level
Posted on September 09, 2010
The decision by the Taxi Regulator to keep fares at their current level is welcome news to taxi customers. Indeed 81% of taxi drivers surveyed were supportive of fares remaining the same. However it is worrying news that taxi drivers income has fallen by 30% since 2008. The Taxi regulator needs to act quickly and introduce new measures to improve the income of taxi drivers.
The requirement to remove all 9 year old cars from the taxi fleet regardless of their condition will sharply reduce the earnings of those with an older car and will add hugely to the costs of taxi drivers who will have to replace their vehicle.
