LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD

MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

www.LUCINDACREIGHTON.ie

News Update - Autumn 2012

EU PRESIDENCY 2013Since Lucinda was appointed as Minister for European Affairs, she has been centrally involved in the preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, which will begin on January 1st 2013. Ireland last held the Presidency in 2004, but on this occasion our Presidency is coming at a very difficult time for Ireland and for Europe. The challenges that Ireland currently faces are shared by many other Governments and citizens across the EU and the investment of time and resources that we put into our Presidency can contribute to our own economic recovery and to that of our partners. The Government is working to ensure that we achieve the greatest possible outcome from our Presidency for Europe and for Ireland and to that end we have been working closely with the State agencies to ensure that the Presidency gives us opportunities to promote Ireland and Irish goods, services, and tourism.

Lucinda meeting with Bakir Izetbegović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

VISIT TO THE BALKANSLucinda recently visited the Western Balkans in advance of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. The visit co-incided with the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of war in the region, and fell just two days before the annual commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide. Ireland has a very direct affinity to the Balkans through the ongoing work of members of the Irish Defence Forces and An Garda Siochána in the region and through the Bosnian and Croatian refugees who came to Ireland in the 1990s to escape the war there, including some 200 of whom were relocated to the Pearse Street and Ringsend area.The Balkans will be a priority for our Presidency and Ireland will push the EU accession process forward for these countries in the coming months. By re-uniting this region with the rest of Europe we can give a huge boost to their efforts to put their long years of conflict behind them. The first step in this process will be completed with the accession of Croatia to the EU on July 1st next year.

Category IndexPublished on Thursday 2nd February 2012

Ireland’s EU Presidency Logo Launched

The winning logo for Ireland's EU Presidency in 2013

The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and European Affairs Minister today launched the winning logo forIreland’s EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. The logo was chosen by the public in an onlinepoll which received more than 14,000 votes from 30 Nov to 31 Dec.

Speaking at the launch the Taoiseach said:

Ireland’s EU Presidency will provide us with an opportunity to once again demonstrateour ability to manage the agenda of the EU and to deliver a first class Presidency. Thisis a unique opportunity for us to accentuate positive perceptions about our Country as asmall, vibrant, open and innovative State and a committed member of the EuropeanUnion.

Joining the Taoiseach at the event, the Tánaiste said:

The Presidency will bring thousands of delegates and visitors to Ireland in 2013, givingus the opportunity to showcase the country to a wide audience. The Presidency willalso provide an occasion for us to reflect on our four decades of EU membership and Ibelieve it is an opportune time for us to have a national debate on how we see ourfuture in Europe.

Minister Creighton outlined some of promotional opportunities that the Presidency can create:

I am delighted that we now have a logo which forms an integral part of part of thedevelopment of a visual identity for Ireland’s Presidency. Work is underway on thedevelopment of the promotional aspects of the Presidency and securing the long-termbenefits that can be accrued from getting this right.

Ireland’s EU Presidency Logo Launched « MerrionStreet.ie Iris... http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/02/irelands-eu-pres...

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Lucinda and Cllr Kieran Binchy visiting the Spellman Centre, Irishtown, earlier this summer

Lucinda launching the Dock Workers Photo Exhibition in St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Ringsend, in May

Lucinda with photographer Jeanette Lowe, at the Pearse House Flats photo exhibition, titled ‘The Flats:

Memories; Perceptions; Reality.’

EU SUMMIT – AGREEMENT ON BANKING DEBTThe EU Summit in June ended with significant progress for Ireland in our attempts to make the burden of our national debt more sustainable. For the first time, EU member states have declared a willingness to use emergency bailout funding to break the link between banking debt and sovereign debt rescue funds. This is a crucial change for Ireland, as it will allow us to reduce a portion of our national debt and to undo some of the damage that has been done to our national finances by the banking crisis.This outcome is the result of sustained work by the Government in negotiations in Brussels and in rebuilding our reputation in other EU capitals over the last year. The reduced costs which stem from the reduction in our debt burden will have a hugely positive impact on budgetary position in subsequent years. Together with the significant deal which we reached on the Anglo promissory notes earlier this year, this is another step in restoring our economic fortunes.

FLOODINGIn recent months Lucinda has been working with Cllr. Kieran Binchy, Cllr. Paddy McCartan and Cllr. Edie Wynne on behalf of residents who continue to have problems renewing their flooding insurance premium. Minister Brian Hayes TD met the Irish Insurance Federation recently in order to find ways for insurance companies to best address the issue of flood insurance and this work is ongoing.Lucinda recently met with officials from Dublin City Council to raise a number of specific issues on behalf of residents in relation to the work needed on the Rathmines and Pembroke Sewerage Scheme. She will be raising these with the Minister for the Environment in the coming weeks. Please contact Lucinda’s office if you would like to discuss this issue.

REVIEW OF SOCIAL INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS A number of self-employed people were in contact with Lucinda last year in relation to the possibility of extending social insurance cover to the self-employed. On foot of Lucinda’s representations the Government has instructed the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare to examine whether this is feasible or economically viable. The group is accepting submissions on the issue, and if you have views on the issue that you would like to contribute to this review please contact them at: AdvisoryGroup@welfare.ie

LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD - MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS www.LUCINDACREIGHTON.ie

BLUE STAR PROGRAMMEEarlier this year Lucinda launched the Blue Star Programme for primary schools, which aimed to foster better understanding and knowledge of the history, geography and culture of the EU and how it affects our lives. The initial pilot programme finished in June and was a huge success. The level of demand from schools to participate was so high that the programme will run again for the coming school year and Lucinda intends to double the number of schools taking part. A number of schools in Dublin Bay South took part in the programme and found it to be a fantastic experience. We hope that other schools in the area will take part on this occasion. More information on www.europeanmovement.ie

Presenting the Blue Star Award to Star of the Sea Boys National School, Sandymount in June

LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD - MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS www.LUCINDACREIGHTON.ie

BARROW STREET: Dublin City Council recently published a plan to carry out a significant redesign of Barrow Street and nearby areas. This plan includes traffic calming measures, the widening of footpaths, new lighting and street furniture, and improved crossing points to facilitate pedestrians, particularly the visually impaired and the elderly. For further details please contact Lucinda’s office.

BALLSBRIDGE: Following representations to Dublin City Council, a number of potholes in the vicinity of the US Embassy have been made safe. The City Council has also carried out a review of the condition of the road on Clyde Road and Wellington Place and has identified a number of speed ramps in the area which are in need of repair. This work will take place during September.

HERBERT PARK: A number of constituents contacted Lucinda in recent months in relation to incidents of anti-social behaviour in Herbert Park and vandalism of park benches. Recently, the Gardaí have introduced a pilot scheme whereby a number of gates have been left open on a trial basis, at the pond side of the park to allow ease of access to Garda patrol cars. The Gardaí are endeavouring to patrol the park twice each night during this trial period. Lucinda is liaising with the Gardai to assess the impact of this scheme.

PORTOBELLO: An application has been submitted to develop the Irish Jewish Museum on Walworth Road and Kingsland Parade in Portobello. While Lucinda is generally supportive of the development, the current plans are too large and are totally unsuitable for a residential area. Along with Cllr. Kieran Binchy, Lucinda met local residents recently to discuss this application and has made a submission to Dublin City Council on the matter.

RATHGAR: A stretch of pavement on Orwell Road leading into Rathgar village was in particularly poor state of repair and posed a serious threat to the safety of elderly and disabled residents. Lucinda recently made representations to Dublin City Council in relation to this problem and this section of the footpath has now been repaired. Another stretch of pavement along Winton Avenue has also been made safe and broken kerbs have been removed. Further works are pending on this stretch of pavement.

TERENURE: Retail planning applications are in the pipeline for Aldi, Lidl and Tesco, who are all seeking to set to open in Terenure. The Aldi application relates to the former Charles Nolan premises and permission has been granted for this. The Lidl application relates to the old Sunday World site and it has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. The Tesco application is for the site of the former Quinlan’s pub. Please contact Lucinda if you would like to discuss any of these applications.

LOCAL NEWS

LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD

MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2.Tel: 01 6194561 Email: lucinda.creighton@taoiseach.ie Web: www.lucindacreighton.ieFollow Lucinda on Twitter @LCreighton

YOUR FINE GAEL TEAMIN DUBLIN SOUTH EAST

LUCINDA IS WORKING WITHEOGHAN MURPHY TD

01 618 3324eoghan.murphy@oir.ie

SENATOR CATHERINE NOONE01 6183127

catherine.noone@oir.ie

CLLR. EDIE WYNNE01 4909374

wynnee@eircom.net

CLLR. PADDY MCCARTAN01 6609202

cllrpatmccartan@gmail.com

CLLR. KIERAN BINCHY087 1774365

kieran.binchy@dublincity.ie

GAY MITCHELL MEP01 4961940

gay.mitchell@europarl.europa.eu

Cllrs Kieran Binchy and Paddy McCartan with Lucinda and the Mayor of Ringsend and Irishtown, Brian Betts, at the annual May Day parade

Lucinda with Cllr. Edie Wynne and Sergeant John Duffy at the Harold’s Cross Community Festival

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St. Andrew’s Resourse Centre, Pearse Street. Thursdays - 6.00pmRingsend Community Centre.Thursdays - 7.00pm

ADVICECLINICS

LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD - MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS www.LUCINDACREIGHTON.ie

Lucinda regularly organises tours of Leinster House for schools, community groups and

families. She has brought thousands of people through Dáil and Seanad Éireann since she was

first elected in 2007. If you would like to come and see the national parliament

for yourself, please contact Lucinda’s office.

VISIT LEINSTER HOUSE