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Flight times must be about safety not greater profit – Ellis

September 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

September 30, 2013

Sinn Fein transport spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has welcomed the decision by MEPs to reject the extension of maximum working hours for pilots.
Deputy Ellis said:
“I have met with pilots and members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association and it is clear that the conditions experienced by many pilots is not conducive to the observation of the best safety standards.
“If we were to make the job of pilots even harder by extending maximum flight hours I would have been very worried for the potential consequences. Pilots already work long hours, with large periods of on-call time, which dramatically damages their work-life balance.
“A UK study found an alarming 43% of pilots have fallen asleep at their flight deck. These plans could have seen pilots operating for 16 hours straight in a day shift. It is well documented that working hours of this length diminish greatly the ability of pilots to do their job and stay alert.
“We should not be playing with lives here. Any flight time policy should be based on conclusive research and, so far, that research shows pilots are already working longer hours than they should be. When you are transporting so many passengers safety must come before greater profit.”
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Filed Under: Transport

Cuts by government creating more homelessness – Ellis

September 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing has criticised the government for talking out of both sides of their mouths, claiming to be seeking to end homelessness while implementing cuts which are making the problem much worse.

Deputy Ellis said;

“The last few weeks have seen a number of figures released by leading homelessness charities and organisations which are nothing short of alarming. These figures make clear that homelessness instead of being on the decrease, as you would expect when a government pledge to end the problem in just two and half years time, is actually spirally further out of control.

Record numbers are in need of homelessness services, emergency accommodation and hot meals. Record numbers are rough sleeping on our streets and 7 new people report as homeless every day.
This increase is a direct result of the policies of cuts to essential social services which are supposed to protect vulnerable people from finding themselves out of their home.

Housing has been cut year on year, homelessness services in Dublin is to be cut by 4.5 million and Rent Supplement which houses nearly 100,000 people in precarious financial situations has been cut.
Finding adequate, affordable housing has never been so difficult for people as housing need has soared to 112,000. Current homelessness figures are the tip of the iceberg if we do not change tack now and really invest in providing housing.

The cost of allowing homelessness to grow further is much greater than the cost of ending homelessness altogether. ”

Filed Under: General News Tagged With: , ,

Government giving up on drive to end homelessness – Ellis

September 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has today said that new figures on homelessness and rough sleeping from the Simon Community give lie to the government’s claims they are committed to ending homelessness by 2016. He made his comments as The Simon Community; a leading charity dealing with homelessness, released figures that show rough sleeping has gone up by 88% in just one year.

Deputy Ellis continued;

“This is another in a spate of recent figures released by housing organisations, which show levels of homelessness at a record high and growing. The last figures released on rough sleep showed just less than half the level of growth these figures show which highlights the alarming rate at which things are getting worse.

The government may have made much of their commitment to the very realisable goal of ending homelessness by 2016 but all of their policies indicate they are not serious about dealing with the problem at all. Homelessness is not going to be solved by organisations like Simon, great as they are. It will be solved a by dedicated government policy which provides necessary services and support as well as the most essential ingredient secure, adequate housing.

This government have slashed the housing budget and cut homelessness services and they intend to do so again in the upcoming budget. To end homelessness we need real investment which would not only tackle this terrible stain on our society but also create jobs and in the long run save money. The cost of homelessness is much greater than the cost of ending it.”

Filed Under: General News Tagged With: ,

Hogan’s NAMA housing promises are old news – Ellis

September 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

IMG_2520Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing, Dessie Ellis TD, is criticising NAMA for attempting to spin old undelivered promises on housing as a new story. A representative of NAMA speaking at the annual conference of the Irish Council for Social Housing said NAMA had offered 4,000 homes as part of a social leasing programme.
Deputy Ellis said:
“It is true that NAMA offered these 4,000 homes, having previously offered 2,000, but this was nearly a year ago.
“NAMA originally promised 2,000 homes at the end of 2011 and has not even delivered that. In reality, NAMA has delivered just 400 homes. At this rate it will take years to get close to 4,000 NAMA properties being made available.
“We have massive housing need in this state. Over the summer, the number of people on waiting lists for social housing reached a record high of 111,000. The small number of NAMA properties now occupied is a drop in the ocean but the government seem intent on wheeling out NAMA housing as the cure all for our housing crisis every few months. This is totally disingenuous. The people need housing not schemes and plans which don’t deliver.
“Sinn Féin last year published a plan to begin building 9,000 homes over the next two years. Even this would not end the crisis but it would help much more than empty promises from NAMA.
“Most of what this government has done since taking office has undermined and frustrated efforts to end the housing crisis. That needs to change now.”
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Filed Under: Housing

Fine Gael and Labour to force 4.5 million cut in homeless services in Dublin – Ellis

September 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has blasted the government’s plan to cut €4.5 million from funding for homeless services in Dublin city. The cuts were confirmed by the Head of Finance at Dublin City Council, reporting that the Department of Environment had informed her of this plan for 2014.

Deputy Ellis continued:

“This is a shocking move by the government which has disingenuously committed itself to ending long term homelessness by 2016, a goal made farcical by its own policy decisions.

“Spending on housing and homelessness should be protected in the up-coming budget having been slashed for five consecutive years. This move is the betrayal of a promise made by the government only seven months ago.”

“The news comes in the week that the Peter McVerry Trust reported more people needing hot food and emergency shelter from them and Focus Ireland saying that there are seven new homeless people in the state every day.

“These groups have called for a political solution to the problem of homelessness. They have called for the government to play its part.

“There are 5000 people homeless, growing numbers sleeping rough and many tens of thousands living in housing not suitable for human habitation. This cut of €4.5 million (10.7% cut from 42 million in 2012) will be devastating to those who depend on these services.

“Homeless people are at much greater risk of physical and mental ill-health, as well as being vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse.

Filed Under: General News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Government policy is to blame for rise in homelessness – Ellis

September 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, is blaming Fine Gael and Labour for the rise in homelessness. He was speaking as the Peter McVerry Trust released its annual report showing record numbers in need of hot meals, emergency shelter or residential placement.

Deputy Ellis said:

“It is clear to see that the policies of austerity pursued by this government are to blame for an increase in homelessness, rough sleeping, housing need and general levels of deprivation. We have seen massive cuts to the housing budget as well as cuts to community supports, voluntary bodies and health services for homelessness people.

“This makes a farce of the government’s commitment to end long-term homelessness by 2016. The state is failing, not due an inability to achieve this aim, but because of unwillingness to make political decisions to make it a reality. The housing needs of the most vulnerable are not a priority for this government and that is to their eternal shame.

“Peter McVerry is a noted campaigner and has a track record of dealing with homelessness head on. The Peter McVerry Trust and other charities and organisations working to end homelessness are to be commended but also listened to.

“They are calling for real political intervention to stop this human tragedy. I support that call and demand that this government make the hard choices and delivers homes for people who so desperately need them. Deadlines, targets and aspirations mean nothing without the action to realise them.

“The government must be mindful of this as we approach the budget period. Even small cuts further inflicted on housing and social supports will have massive and tragic repercussions.” ends

Filed Under: General News Tagged With:

Housing Minister dishonestly presenting massive cuts as boost – Ellis

August 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis has condemned Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan for attempting to present massive cuts to housing as a boost by rearranging figures. He made his comments today as the Minister claimed to be investing an extra 32 million euro in housing despite cutting many times that figure from the housing budget in 2013.

Deputy Ellis said;

“This is a completely disingenuous statement from the Minister and I am very disappointed she would engage in this kind of misrepresentation.

“The housing budget is not being boosted, it is being cut left right and centre as housing need grows by the day. There are 111,145 applicants on the housing waiting lists of this state and the housing budget was cut by 15% in 2013. It has been slashed by nearly 1 billion euro since 2008.

“The state is providing less and less housing as need soars and becomes more and more severe. 266 homes is a drop in the ocean to what is needed or could have been provided had this government prioritised housing its people. Sinn Fein presented the Minister with a plan to for 9000 new homes last year which she ignored.

“The Minister also claims she will give a boost to housing for people with disabilities, this is hard to swallow in the year she cut funding for their adaptation grants by 40%. Dublin City Council last month had to close their adaptation scheme as they had already run out of the very limited funds provided.

“Housing is a right and this government and Minister O’Sullivan would do better to focus on how to uphold that right rather than fiddling figures in an attempt to hoodwink people”

Filed Under: General News, Housing, Local News, National News

Ellis supports pilots call for review of Aviation Authority

August 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Sinn Fein Transport spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has today supported the call by pilot body IALPA for a review of the effectiveness of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). He made his comments in the wake of a UK Channel 4 documentary special which uncovered questionable fuel practice by some airline carriers.

Ellis said;

“The IAA is an independent body which collects fees from the airline industry in order to provide a regulatory service for the industry.

“Air travel is essential to our island and the industry’s safety standards and practices are of the utmost importance. This is the job of the IAA and a review into how effective is doing this job is reasonable and fair.

“I trust pilots to recognise when there are genuine concerns and was disturbed by the potentially dangerous practices uncovered in the Channel 4 film.

“I have raised safety issues in relation to pilots working hours and conditions before and treat air safety very seriously. In ‘Secrets from the Cockpit’ anonymous pilots raised concerns over the fuel policies of a major carrier operating in Ireland. They believe these practices put passengers at risk.

“A survey of pilots at this carrier shows an overwhelming majority have concerns about work practices and safety but feel unable speak up.”

Filed Under: General News

Rural transport services to be protected

July 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 

Sinn Féin deputies Dessie Ellis and Michael Colreavy today met with representatives of the National Transport Authority at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on the issue of restructuring plans for the Rural Transport Programme.

Speaking following the meeting Deputy Ellis said:

“Funding needs to be ensured for rural transport for the services to be properly utilised by the community. If there are savings to be made it must be at an administrative level and there must not be a cut to the direct provision of services.

“Those who currently run the rural transport services deserve praise fSor the work that they do and the dedication of local people has been an essential factor for these services over the years.

“I also welcome that there will be proper regulation of the rural hackney scheme, where there will be no displacement of other operators and community agreement will be sought.”

Commenting after the meeting Deputy Colreavy said:

“Rural transport is a major issue for many communities, especially those in the north-west region.

“Isolation in rural areas can be a major problem and often the rural transport services are the only means some people have of getting from one place to another.

“It is essential that the National Transport Authority ensures that services are maintained in rural areas and that communities do not suffer from cutbacks.”

Filed Under: National News, Transport

Private toll operator’s losses are not public’s responsibility – Ellis

July 23, 2013 By 2 Comments

Sinn Féin transport spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, today condemned the call by the toll operator on the M6 motorway, M6 Concession, for a new toll charge for entering and exiting the motorway. This is to make up for their losses due to decreased traffic on the road. Deputy Ellis called on the government to end the subsidy of toll operators.

Deputy Ellis said:

“The state is already subsidising companies to the tune of 15 million because of a drop in traffic numbers.

“The ordinary motorist is struggling just to keep their car on the road with hikes in tax and fuel prices. They cannot bear further costs which they have no real responsibility for.

“The toll operators took on this investment. They took a risk like every other business. Their venture is not as profitable as they had hoped, but the Irish people, either individually as motorists or through the state, are not responsible for these losses, and should not be punished for them.

“No new toll should be incurred on the M6 and the state should do all in its power to end the subsidy of toll operators and the covering of private loss by the public purse.

“This further underlines the very bad value for money of Public Private Partnership deals and should be a lesson to this and future governments.”

Filed Under: General News