Nenagh General Hospital was given a green light, the highest mark, for the three key areas of access, integration and resources.

These positive results secured by Nenagh General Hospital in the latest Healthstat report are a tribute to the staff and management of the hospital and serve as proof that the substantial investment package that was secured for the hospital was hugely successful and is continuing to pay dividends. During the period of the last Government I secured in excess of €4 million in funding for Nenagh General Hospital this was a key investment package that was aimed at modernising, specialising and focusing hospital resources. This investment included over €2 million for a state of the art endoscopy suite, a new sterile services department and two new lifts. All of these facilities have become fully operational with huge success. Indeed these new facilities have served to greatly increase the throughput of the hospital. In the past year alone the patient footfall through the hospital has increased by 40%. The on-going development of new surgical suites on site will continue to advance and improve services in the hospital.

The benefits of this investment package are now being reaped by the Hospital and the community. This funding was essential to upgrade the services available in Nenagh General Hospital and served to bring the hospital up to the most modern and advanced standards. By investing in the hospital its security into the future has now been cemented.

I would like to commend the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and determination. The efficient management and operating of these new facilities is an essential factor in their success and is a tribute to their professionalism.

I was pleased to be able to attend the event and to meet with representatives from the Tipperary centres. The Tipperary Centres for Independent living provide vital support and assistance for those living with a disability. Through their practical and understanding approach they aim to help all people live a fuller, more dynamic life and actively take steps to assist those living with disabilities to learn new skills, return to education, take up a hobby or secure employment. One of their key services is the provision of personal assistants to persons with a significant physical disability. This assistant is directly answerable to their leader, which is the person with the disability. Their role is customised to provide the maximum help to meet their leader’s specific needs, which can vary from providing transport, to household help, or assistance in college. Meeting with the group in Dublin reinforced the message that this service needs to be upheld and protected as a priority.

The reality is that the vital workings of personal assistants, and of CIL’s, have been hugely hampered by the cut backs imposed by this Government. In the past year this service has faced a dual attack in the form of a cut to vital funding from the HSE and the cuts to Community Employment schemes on which CIL rely to operate efficiently. In fact this sector has already borne the brunt of cuts having now suffered a cumulative cut to funding of 11%. For every personal assistant hour that is lost a disabled person essentially loses a degree of their freedom. On a daily basis people with disabilities are losing these services and are therefore being stripped of their independence, their rights and indeed the services that allow them to engage fully in society and in our community. The loss of personal assistance hours restricts the ability to leave home. Additionally it should be noted that without these supports those with disabilities are at a greater risk of poverty and exclusion.

The Government should be cognisant that these cut backs will have long term implications and will create further pressure on state resources into the future. If we cannot provide these aids in the home then those with a disability will be forced to avail of hospital and HSE services, therefore placing more pressure on an already strained system.

I find it incredible that in 2012 those with a disability must fight tooth and nail for their basic human rights. Whist I appreciate the difficult circumstances that the Government are currently operating in, it is unconscionable that budgetary measures should be allowed infringe on basic human rights. I believe that regard must be had, at all times, to protecting the most vulnerable in our society. This has not been done in this instance. To add insult to injury in December last Minister Joan Burton T.D. assured the CIL that personal assistants would be maintained with the support of her Department. This is another broken promise made by the Government to add to an ever growing list.

I am calling on the Government to urgently reverse these cuts to disability services. It is also of vital importance that the Government immediately ratify the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities to cement and further to rights of those with a disability in our society.

It has been reported that the finalised personal insolvency bill which was due to be published by the end of this month is still being drafted and will now face a delay of a further two months, at least. The Heads of the Personal Insolvency Bill were published in January but to date there has been little visible furtherance of this Bill.

While I accept that this is a very complex and lengthy bill which raises a number of legal issues, I believe that this further delay is intolerable. The Department of Justice have stated that they need to ensure that the bill is correct and comprehensive and that this is one of the reasons for the delay. While I accept this point it must be stressed that the Government parties at the last general election assured the public that this issue was a priority matter and would be treated as such immediately after the election. Instead we are now in a situation whereby Fine Gael and Labour have been in power for over a year and as of yet we only have a draft bill and no completed legislation.

Essentially to date nothing has been done to help those who are struggling with personal insolvency. Whilst this Bill promises numerous debt settlement arrangements, the creation of a State run insolvency service, a cut to the bankruptcy period from 12 to 3 years, as well as numerous other measures these promises mean little until they become a reality. People are suffering while the government drags its heels on this matter. I have seen that myself, first hand, in meeting with constituents. Many people are crippled by the weight of debt and are under enormous stress due to the lack of help and support for their plight. Many have used up their financial reserves and are quite literally at breaking point.

This bill must be brought forward without further delay. While I have concerns that it does not go sufficiently far to help those facing insolvency it would be a welcome step forward and should be finalised and advanced without further delay.

I put down a parliamentary question on this matter and asked the Minister to provide information on the likely impact of these cuts on Tipperary, the size of the cuts to be made and when we can expect to have a decision on such. The Minister has failed to respond to this question in any meaningful answer merely saying that the Policing Plan for 2013 has not yet been drawn up and therefore it is not possible to provide any details on where or when cuts will be made. However the Minister has confirmed to me that he does expect that there will be on-going rationalisation of the Garda Station Network.

Following on from this I have spoken to senior Garda officials within the Division of Tipperary of An Garda Síochána and they have confirmed to me that they have been tasked with examining the stations across Tipperary with a view to determining where mergers or even closures can be imposed. They have given assurances that they will endeavour, where at all possible, to protect the community focus ethos of the force and will do all that they can to maintain the positive relationships that have developed between An Garda Síochána and rural communities. That said they cannot of yet give details as to which stations may be in danger.

Already we have seen the loss of two stations in Tipperary namely Ballinure and Ballingarry. While these stations had been out of use for some years it was still a considerable blow to the locality to receive confirmation that these stations will never be operational again. I do not want to see a situation whereby other communities in the constituency receive similar news, that they too will lose their station.

This review is particularly worrying given the increases that have been seen in burglary in rural areas over the last number of months. In the run up to Christmas of last year, and indeed since, rural areas in North Tipperary have seen an astronomical increase in the rates of break in’s and robberies. This increase in crime is understandably causing huge concern and anxiety, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable. By Minister Shatter cutting rural police services he is cutting people’s confidence and their feeling of safety in their own home.

We are now facing a crisis with regards to policing in this country. The Government seem to be missing the vital point on this matter. Policing is not a business being run for profit by the state, nor should it be treated as such. The reality is that Garda stations are a vital commodity not only for urban but for rural areas. At all times regard should be had for the negative impact these closures will have on the public, rather than to how many euros will be saved. People living in rural communities have an equal entitlement and claim to Garda Services as those living in towns or cities’s and have every right to feel safe and protected in their own area. In a crisis every citizen has an entitlement to protection and help from the state, if rural stations continue to be closed this may mean that a Garda will have to travel an additional 10, 15 or 20 miles to an accident or an emergency which across country roads can take a considerable length of time.

It must be stressed that our Gardaí are doing a stellar job in maintaining a very strong presence despite the repeated cuts to their numbers and cutbacks to their funding. These Gardaí deserve support and help from the Government rather than further cutbacks.

Further to a parliamentary question that I laid down last week, it has been confirmed to me by Minister of State at the Department of Health, Roisin Shortall T.D, that the medical card backlog now stands at 5,400 applications. While this is figure is a considerable improvement from the number of applications that were outstanding last year the Government still needs to maintain the momentum and ensure that these cases are examined and processed as a matter of urgency.

Behind this figure there are a large number of individuals and families in desperate need of their medical card. We are talking about people who may be battling a serious illness and who are under severe financial pressure. The delay in processing medical cards adds further strain at a hugely difficult time.

When medical cards were centralised I queried the logic of such with the Government and petitioned against the loss of the huge knowledge with regards to the application procedure as a result of stopping local offices processing these applications. The reality is that the old system for processing medical cards was far superior, it was simpler, easier to access and much easier to find information on the status of an application. Additionally these local offices were aware of difficult circumstances for applicants and would do all in their power to assist in these applications and ensure that applications were advanced as speedily as possible.

The centralisation of this service has caused problems, problems that as of yet have not been fully sorted out. It is now essential that the Government now ensure that the remainder of this backlog is sorted and that this office is adequately staffed with fully trained members and is fully resourced in examining these applications. Never again can we have a situation whereby distressed applicants are waiting in excess of 8 months for a decision on their medical cards.

This further blow for Roscrea cannot be allowed to proceed.

This closure would be a devastating blow for the people of Roscrea and for the loyal and dedicated staff of the Equality Authority Office. We are talking of approximately 20 staff, many of whom have been in this unit since it was decentralised and have proven themselves to be capable, diligent and loyal. These staff would be facing chuge upheaval for the second time in a short number of years if this closure proceeds. The recommendation currently with the Minister has acknowledged the contribution made by staff and has stated that appropriate transition arrangements should be put in place for them. This is little consolation for someone who may have a family or ties to the Roscrea area and cannot simply up and move when their office relocates.

The last Government had proposed the expansion of this office which was a mark of the successes achieved there. This Government however has put a stop to its further growth and have now left a serious question mark hanging over the building and a cloud of doubt hanging over the staff.

It took a lot of difficult negotiation and sensitive political intervention to bring the Equality Authority to Roscrea as part of the decentralisation programme. Since this office established in Roscrea it has been hugely successful and beyond complaint. Yet despite this the staff of this unit will now suffer, as will the town of Roscrea itself. While the jobs are not necessary being lost, they are being lost from Tipperary and the closure of this office would no doubt have a negative impact on the local economy of the town by cutting out some of those who would have done business there. Roscrea is a town that has been particularly badly hit over the past year and this closure would be another attack.

The people of Roscrea are reeling from the decisions from the Government over the last year. Over a short period Roscrea has now suffered the loss of beds in the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit, the closure of the Roscrea Courthouse and the relegation of the Sacred Heart School from the construction priority list, now looming large on the horizon is the loss of the Equality Authority office back to Dublin. The people of Roscrea and the surrounding areas must be wondering why the Fine Gael/Labour Government has shown such disregard and a little respect for the welfare and viability of the local community.

I believe that the confusion over this matter is causing considerable distress and upset and should be clarified as a matter or priority. We have seen various Government members make conflicting statements over the past number of days. Indeed my office has received numerous queries on this matter from concerned constituents who are anxious to know what they will be asked to pay. With metering due to begin late this year the public have a right to know what costs will be imposed on them as soon as is possible to allow them to put plans in place to deal with such.

The imposition of such a cost would be an additional burden that strained families simply cannot bear

To date we have no concrete details on how much these units would cost homeowners. There have been speculative figures thrown about over the weekend with estimates in the region of €300 per unit. The reality is that irrespective of what the final figure is any cost on the homeowner would be hugely damaging and a further burden on families. In meeting with constituents I have seen first-hand the severe financial pressure countless families are under. These families are struggling to cope and keep their heads above water at this difficult time, these families would be choked by paying for water meters. The fact that water charges are to be introduced is a further threat hanging over their heads and that is without taking into account the possibility of having to pay for the actual unit.

I believe that forcing these families to pay a considerable amount to install a meter that would subsequently result in them paying additional charges would be an insult and would show a complete disregard and lack of understanding for the difficult circumstances many people are in at present. Quite simply many people fear that paying for water will put them in an impossible financial position. The public are growing increasingly frustrated with these charges and costs. I believe that if the Government ask the public to pay for these meters then that may be the final straw.

 To date the Ministers approach to small schools has been hugely and this this speech spells further bad news for our smaller schools.

Since this government has come to power we have seen the very viability of rural schools put under threat. The comments made by the Minister in the last week seem to indicate that further cuts may be coming down the line. While Minister Quinn has stated that he recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities he is unwilling to take steps to protect this valuable service. He reiterated his stance that small schools will have to change and adapt and will be forced to operate with reduced resources.

It seems that the Minister is not willing to take any steps to protect our rural schools. It is little consolation from him to recognise the importance of small schools while at the same time imposing cuts that will force many to amalgamate and may even result in closures. Budget 2012 altered the staffing schedules for schools with less than 4 teachers, to devastating effect. Any further cuts or changes to staffing by the Minister will no doubt be hugely damaging to our rural schools.

The reality is that these schools serve small, rural and frequently very remote communities and hold a unique position in Irish society. In this constituency alone there are a huge number of schools with four or less teachers and over the years I have seen first-hand the excellent service they provide. In light of their unique and indeed difficult position these schools need support and not thinly veiled threats from the Minister. Any threat to these schools is an attack on the rural way of life. I would be vehemently opposed to any further cuts to rural schools and will continue to petition the Minister on this matter into the future.

I have no doubt that rural stations will be adversely affected by these closures which will amount to another governmental attack on the viability of rural life and rural communities. 

While the exact details of the stations that will be in line to close are not yet available I am concerned that smaller, rural stations that may only be manned by one Garda or may only be open on certain days will be in line for cutbacks. The Government since coming to power have shown a complete lack of regard for rural life and I fear that the approach taken to Garda Stations will show a similar disregard. Since the last General Election we have seen countless attacks on services in rural communities. This is particularly evident in this constituency, hospital beds have been lost, elderly services have been pillaged, rural dwellers face increased charges and taxes, rural schools are under threat and now it seems rural Garda stations will meet a similar fate.

It seems that the Government have no concept of rural life and the needs of a rural community. Rural Garda Stations are an essential support and service to such communities.

While I accept the Minister’s argument that transport and communication has moved on and developed since the foundation of the state, it must be stressed that crime too has moved on, become more complex, and is increasingly difficult to control. I would argue that now more than ever there is a greater need for Garda Stations to remain open and for Gardaí to be clearly evident in all communities. Indeed the AGSI President has himself recognised this, as has an appraisal by the Overseas Security Advisory Council of the US Government. A report undertaken by this Council found that policing in Ireland has been detrimentally impacted by the cuts inflicted on An Garda Síochána.

 The Minister himself only a few short months ago detailed a significant rise in the incidence of burglaries in 2011. Rural areas were particularly badly hit over the winter months with a huge increase in crime and burglary. These are communities where crime rates would previously have been so low as to have almost been non-existent. These communities are now seeing crime become more prevalent and there is considerable unease in these areas. Rural Garda Stations are therefore more important than ever to police these communities and ensure that residents feel safe and that crime is kept low.

An Garda Síochána have already had to shoulder the burden of savage cuts and a lack of new recruits. They are doing a stellar job in continue to police our towns and villages despite the reductions to their numbers. Their reward is to be informed that more stations will be closed.

At present I am making enquiries not alone to Minister Shatter, but also to the Garda Commissioner on this matter. I am very anxious to ensure that all stations in this constituency are protected into the future.

The Moriarty Tribunal did not make any finding of corruption in relation to the second mobile phone license process; nor did the Moriarty Tribunal find that Esat Digifone was not the deserving winner of the license competition. I was not declared corrupt by the Moriarty Tribunal.  The presumption of innocence no longer exists in Ireland. The most basic rights of fairness, of procedure, and due process have been trampled on mercilessly. Despite never having been charged with or convicted of any crime in Ireland, I have been roundly condemned as a convicted criminal by the media and by various political opportunists. They wish to strip me of all constitutional rights and basic dignity; both as a public representative and as a citizen.

Tribunals issue opinions only. Those opinions have absolutely no weight in law. Those opinions have no status in law. That is because those opinions do not have to be based in evidence. Tribunals do not afford persons the safety and protection of proper legal rules, principles and procedures as found in the Courts. It should be noted that last week, no less an institution as the European Commission recognised that the opinions of Irish Tribunals were not reached in accordance with due process and therefore were of no interest to them.  Yet for me the opinions of the Moriarty Tribunal amount to what is essentially a death sentence on my reputation.

I do not accept Mr. Moriarty’s opinions and I never will. I wanted to challenge Moriarty’s opinions but the reality is that I cannot challenge them and expect to succeed given that those opinions are meaningless in law. For technical reasons the report is as yet untested but I do expect that the Supreme Court will have an opportunity to pronounce on the workings and output of the Moriarty Tribunal.

The Moriarty Tribunal issued an opinion last year that I delivered the second mobile phone license for Esat Digifone. This opinion was completely false. That Tribunal heard evidence on the license process for 10 years. Not a single person in that process from the 17 Civil Servants to the team of Danish Consultants that designed and conducted that competition gave evidence that I interfered in that process in any way. There simply was not one iota of evidence from anyone to say that I even attempted to interfere with the process. But the Tribunal simply ignored all sworn evidence and came up with the opinion that I delivered the license to Esat Digifone.

I received no payment or benefit from Mr. Denis O’Brien in relation to the second mobile phone license. Mr. Moriarty has created a false impression in his report that I was the net beneficiary of approx. €900,000 arising from two property transactions and a loan agreement-This is not a truthful or accurate presentation of the facts. The Tribunal’s report is laden with theories about proposed transactions and intended transactions and reversed transactions. The fact is that absolutely no money accrued to me from the transactions referred to in this report. The trail of documentation both legal and accountancy confirm this as fact.

I believe that recent comments made by various individuals which have sought to criticise the Gardaí for apparently not properly pursuing their inquiries are wholly disingenuous and completely improper. Those crawling over one another to stake a claim to the high moral ground would be well advised to stop attempting to interfere with the independence of the DPP and the Gardaí and also stop seriously prejudicing my right to due process.

I have not been approached by any agency of the State in connection with the opinions of the Moriarty Tribunal. Those baying for blood in the media ought to consider that perhaps those proper legal authorities recognise that the opinions of the Moriarty Tribunal are precisely that; opinions. Those independent authorities may clearly see that actual evidence of any wrongdoing on my part relating to the Moriarty report is practically non-existent and that criminal charges could not possibly be sustained.  The Gardaí and the DPP operate in accordance with due process. They must follow rules. They must proceed in accordance with proper evidence and standards of proof.

I also wish to address the rabid and blatant agenda driven coverage of the Sunday Independent. For three weeks in a row now, this paper has engaged in delivering some of the most bile-infused and personalised coverage ever seen in Irish media. Due to my circumstances I find myself being used as a pawn in an obvious campaign designed to somehow disrupt a potential take-over of Independent group. This is “payback” time of a different sort, but the modus operandi is the very same as applied before the general election in June of 1997.

In contrast the common decency and humanity shown to me by the people of Tipperary/South Offaly has sustained me throughout. I remain eternally grateful for this loyal support and moral encouragement. Lest there be any doubt whatsoever, I will continue to represent my constituents vigorously and to the very best of my ability. My representational rights and entitlements are constitutional and equal to that of any member of Dail Eireann. My mandate to serve as an elected representative is derived from the people of my constituency. I will not tolerate attempts to belittle my constituents by any of the self-appointed beacons of virtue and morality.