Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Deputy Noel Coonan urged the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to maintain the ‘Regulated Tariff Formula’ which encourages competition in the natural gas market. The RTF regime of regulation took effect in 2003 at a time when Bord Gáis had 100% of the sector.

Bord Gáis now has 41% of the sector due to the continued entry of new suppliers into the gas market such as Phoenix and ESBIE. Deputy Coonan said these entrants have provided competition in the sector due to the RTF consequently providing more choice for consumers.

However, the Commission of Energy Regulation has launched a review of the RTF and indicated the time might be right to remove the regime. The Fine Gael TD, who is also a member of the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said: “I believe it’s in the best interest of the public for the regime to continue so competition and regulation can develop further.”

“Minister Eamon Ryan said the regulation of the gas market is the responsibility of the CER. Yet again the Minister is passing the buck. But he was quick to exercise his authority over CER when he recently appointed the hugely important Commissioner for Energy Regulation without interview or an application process. If he has the authority to fill this vital post without consultation I do not accept his claim that he cannot influence the continuation of the RTF,” continued Deputy Coonan.

“I asked Minister Ryan if he agrees that removing the RTF would stifle competition and restrict choice for consumers. As usual, the Minister was evasive in his answer leaving the conclusion in the hands of the CER. Companies in the past have been crippled by high gas prices and we do not want a return to this scenario.”

The Fine Gael TD concluded: “I have been in contact with gas suppliers who said Ireland’s experience in the area of regulation has been viewed as poor across various sectors including banking and telecoms. Relaxing the rules in the gas market would only compound this view.

“There is also a concern that removing RTF would mean lower employment in the energy supply industry, make Ireland less attractive for outside investors and a return of a dominant Bord Gáis,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

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Noel Coonan TD

Jobseeker’s Payments Soar from 5,193 to 11,432 in North Tipperary – Deputy Noel Coonan

The number of North Tipperary people seeking Jobseekers payments soared by 120% from 5,193 to 11,432 over the last two years. Jobseeker’s Benefit payments alone jumped by 115% from 3,118 to 6,371 according to Deputy Noel Coonan.

Information released to the Fine Gael TD via a parliamentary question also showed Jobseeker’s Allowance applications soared massively from 1,814 to 4,612 (154%) over the same time period. Jobseeker’s Credits rose by 188 payments.

Meanwhile, the jump in North Tipperary’s Live Register from 3,801 in November 2008 to 6,898 in January 2010 has been reflected in the demand for FAS courses with 169 people from the constituency currently waiting to commence training schemes delivered in North Tipperary and Limerick. Alongside this, 100 people eligible for a Community Employment (CE) scheme are awaiting placement. Current waiting times vary from one to six months depending on the type of training or scheme.

Commenting on the exorbitant rise in jobseekers payments in the constituency, Deputy Coonan said the whole Mid West is struggling enormously due to Government’s disinterest in the region.

“I recently attended a briefing with the Chairman of the Mid West Task Force, a group established to address the serious economic downturn in the region. There was a sense of frustration at the meeting that the Government has no interest in and is not delivering for the region.”

Deputy Coonan said the Government needs to immediately introduce a Job Creation and Job Retention package. This would include an across-the-board cut in employers’ PRSI to stimulate job creation and an aggressive programme to reduce the high cost of doing business and restore competitiveness.

In the Thurles office, jobseeker payments are up 2,443 or 108% since 2007. In Nenagh payments are up 2,809 (143%) and in Roscrea the figure is up 987 (100%). The levels, per grade, of staff serving in Thurles local office during the last two years has increased by three to handle the workload. Minister Mary Hanafin was unable to provide staffing details for Roscrea and Nenagh.

The Job Creation and Job Retention package would also include the provision of 30,000 education and training places for the young unemployed through a National Internship Programme and second-chance education.

The Fine Gael TD said the best way to address this spiraling crisis is not to take money off the vulnerable as the Government did in the last Budget, but to get people back to work. The Government’s failure to tackle unemployment and set up a jobs strategy continues to penalise the most vulnerable.

Deputy Noel Coonan attended a hard-hitting presentation by the Mid West Task Force last Friday where Chairman Denis Brosnan called for immediate Government action to kick-start the Mid West region which is dying before our eyes.

Speaking following Friday’s meeting, Deputy Coonan said: “In a hard-hitting report, Chairman Denis Brosnan was clearly frustrated at state agencies who haven’t delivered for the area and a Government that has no interest in the region.

“Unemployment in the Mid West is higher than the national rate at 13.8%. There has been a decrease in visitor numbers. Shannon Airport has been downgraded to the status of a regional hospital and Kerry Airport is now more profitable. Net employment in enterprises supported by State Agencies has dropped by 17% in 2009.”

“Three issues were discussed in-depth in the meeting including developing a Cargo Hub at Shannon Airport, providing funding to enable to Lynx project to proceed and the governance of Limerick city which is currently run by three local authorities. To move on any of these proposals we need a long term Government commitment but it was made clear by the Chairman that this has not been forthcoming. It is time for the Government to take the wake up call and listen to the Task Force team,” continued the Fine Gael TD.

“No Government Minister in the Mid West region is willing to put their head on the block for the region. We need Oireachtas members in the region to unite and kick-start the Mid West.

“If this Government inaction is allowed to continue the Mid West is facing disaster with consequences including further job losses, an increase in crime on the streets especially in Limerick City, emigration and a huge brain drain,” continued Deputy Coonan.

The Mid West Task Force was set up by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan TD in February 2009, and chaired by businessman Denis Brosnan. The Tanaiste asked the Task Force to consider and make recommendations to address the impact of the serious economic downturn in the Mid West on the socio-economic fabric of the Region, which were exacerbated by the Dell announcement in January of 1,900 jobs losses in Limerick.

“The Final Task Force Report is due to be presented to the Tanaiste and it was made clear at the meeting that doing nothing is not an option. I’m calling on the Government and those who support it in the Mid West to stop stalling, make progression on implementing the report’s recommendations and help prevent huge social problems on the street,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

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Noel Coonan TD

Deputy Noel Coonan said this Government cannot and will not regain the public’s trust by conducting the banking enquiry behind firmly sealed doors. Not only this, but the Fine Gael TD said the enquiry is a perfect cover up for the close collusion between the then Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, bankers and developers.
Fine Gael strongly believes the Government bank inquiry is an enquiry conceived by insiders for insiders; offering no transparency or accountability.
Deputy Coonan said: “I’m infuriated by the format this enquiry will take. Taxpayers throughout North Tipperary are bailing out the banks and they deserve to see those who created the mess interrogated under a bright spotlight. That is what Fine Gael proposed but Fianna Fáil, supported by Deputy Michael Lowry and Deputy Maire Hoctor in North Tipperary, has bullishly enacted its own pathetic private enquiry.”
The Opposition Party believes the Government’s proposal is unacceptable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it would involve the Government itself commissioning the initial reports, the remit of which makes no mention whatsoever of the role of the Government’s own policy decisions in creating this crisis.

Secondly, the establishment of a Commission of Investigation would result in a secret, behind doors process; and thirdly the role of the Oireachtas would be relegated to that of a commentator on the outcome of a process controlled by Government.

Deputy Coonan believes confidence in Ireland’s financial system will be further hindered by the limiting format of the banking enquiry. Fine Gael has maintained that there are no Constitutional or legal obstacles to an Oireachtas-led inquiry into the banking crisis that could not be overcome if the necessary political will exists.

“This enquiry will last up to one year and involves up to four separate processes. In contrast, Fine Gael would have asked a Special Dáil Committee to inquire into the factors which led to the banking crisis report back to the Dáil within six months on events and policy changes which should be put in place to deal with problems identified. We would also have given this Committee the resources and power to call witnesses,” the Fine Gael TD concluded.

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Deputy Noel Coonan said this Government is once again using closure by stealth to deprive North Tipperary people of vital healthcare services. The Fine Gael TD said removing acute psychiatry services from St Michael’s Psychiatric Hospital, Clonmel is similar to stripping crucial services from Nenagh General Hospital.

Deputy Coonan said: “Vital healthcare services have been transferred from Nenagh General Hospital to Regional Hospital Limerick without necessary amenities in place to facilitate the transfer. Now the HSE is moving psychiatry services from St Michael’s Psychiatric Hospital to Limerick and Kilkenny without adequate community resources being in place. Kilkenny-based Dr Kelly said only 30% of moneys deemed necessary to institute Vision for Change has so far been made available.

“Acute mental health services for North Tipperary are provided by South Tipperary and I’m worried the proposed changes will negatively impact on people from my constituency. We have already experienced the loss of vital services at Nenagh General Hospital and now we are bearing the brunt of more damaging reconfiguration.”

The Fine Gael TD continued: “This is a far cry from the lead-up to the last general election when we were promised a psychiatric unit on the grounds of Nenagh Hospital specifically for North Tipperary people but once again we have been left out in cold. This is a complete u-turn on that promise and now this uncaring Government, and those who support it in North Tipperary, is looking to remove acute services completely from the county.”

“I have been given assurances by a South Tipperary Health Manager that there is no question of the South Tipperary plan impacting negatively on North Tipperary patients until appropriate arrangements are made for them having regard to their clinical Needs, their wishes and their family circumstances. Because of the HSE’s bad track record in prioritising North Tipperary, I’m eager this assurance is upheld,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

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Noel Coonan TD