SEÁN KENNY TD
KEEPING IN TOUCH Summer 2012 INTRODUCTION It is just over a year since I was re-elected to Dáil Eireann as a Labour Deputy for Dublin North East. My first year back in office has been busy, tackling many local and national issues. This is, without a doubt, an extremely difficult time for many people across Dublin North East and there are many challenges that still face our country. I do believe however, that the Labour Party is taking important steps to address these challenges and more importantly, it is doing so with a sense of fairness and integrity. There will be more difficult decisions that have to be taken by this Government, but there will also be positive and promising initiatives which will lead this country on the road to recovery. I look forward to representing you, the people of Dublin North East for the next year ahead. Yours sincerely,
FISCAL TREATY OUTCOME I welcome the decisive Yes vote for the Stability Treaty. This decision is a necessary step on Ireland’s road to recovery. We now have to build on it. Throughout the referendum campaign, I argued that in Ireland, as in the wider Eurozone, stability is necessary for growth, and that growth is necessary for recovery. The Government has already been working on a plan to stimulate our own economy, and we were among the first member states to make the case for a growth strategy in Europe. That strategy must now be progressed. We must also see progress in the work to secure a more sustainable long-term deal in relation to Ireland’s bank debt. A long-term deal that is workable; that is fair; and that is in the interests of the Irish people. This result will strengthen our hand in our discussions with European institutions and other member states. We will use this decision, not just to ratify the Treaty, but to promote in Europe and in Ireland, the policies and steps which are necessary to create jobs for those who are unemployed; to bring investment into our country; and to generate growth. CONTACT SEAN KENNY TD
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION The Government is now putting place the Constitutional Convention, which should be up and running during the summer months. The idea of a Convention was put forward by put forward by Eamon Gilmore at the Labour Conference in Galway in 2010. The Convention will be made up of 33 elected representatives and 66 citizens who together will firstly examine two issues: whether the voting age should be lowered to 17 and whether the presidential term should be reduced from seven years to five. Other topics for consideration by the Convention that are contained in the Programme for Government are: l Review of the Dáil electoral system; l Reducing the Presidential term to five years and aligning it with the local and European elections; l Giving citizens the right to vote at Irish embassies in Presidential elections; l Provision for same-sex marriage; l Amending the clause on the role of women in the home and encouraging greater participation of women in public life; l Increasing the participation of women in politics; l Removing blasphemy from our Constitution; l Reducing the voting age to 17 This is a very interesting new development in the area of reform and I hope the idea is a success - if it is, it would provide an example for reforming the Constitution over the coming years.
SYRIA VIOLENCE CONDEMNED l Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore TD utterly
condemned the ongoing violence in Syria, and in particular the appalling massacres at Houla and Al- Qubeir. These atrocities provide further unwelcome testimony of the Syrian regime's utter disdain for human life and the welfare of its own people. l Those responsible for committing such atrocities must know that they will be held to account and will not evade prosecution. l The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to remain critical. Ireland is continuing to work closely with the UN and other international partners to address this situation. l Under the guidance of Minister Joe Costello, Irish Aid has already made available emergency funding of €500,000 to the Red Cross, the UNHCR and the World Food Programme for use both within Syria and to assist those fleeing the violence.
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