EU Commissioner for Development Mr Andris Piebalgs recently addressed the Irish section of AWEPA. This was the first AWEPA meeting of the new Dáil and we had a very informative presentation and Q&A session with Commissioner Piebalgs on the allocation of his €10bn development aid budget. Just under 40% of this went to the African continent as a whole. During …

The confirmation that €15m in Child Benefit is being paid out abroad by the Irish State once again highlights the fact that Irish taxpayers are funding welfare payments to nearly 8,000 children living outside of Ireland. We were told by previous Ministers for Social Welfare that we have to make these payments under “EU rules” and that may very well …

With 1000 people a week predicted to emigrate this year alone Ireland urgently needs to create jobs and growth. We saw a total absence of any job creation plan from the previous Government which resulted in an entire generation of long-term unemployed. We urgently need a targeted solution. Fine Gael’s NewERA plan will see an additional €7 billion invested over …

I had a very interesting meeting recently with Steve Orme of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Steve pointed out that 10,000 people/year present to A&E with a brain injury. This ranges from concussion, to road traffic accidents, to strokes. It may even be as simple as falling in the shower. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland provides a range of specialised services throughout …

The ESRI’s latest emigration predictions that 1000 people a week are set to leave Ireland this year alone is turning into a stark reality on the doorsteps in Roscommon/South Leitrim. Every day I meet mothers who are grieving for their sons and daughters who have left Ireland for a job or who have already booked their flight. Local communities and …