Yesterday I visited St Dominic’s College as part of the Oireachtas outreach programme. I met a CSP class to answer their questions about life in the Oireachtas. It was a great discussion with a whole variety of questions raised by the students. Questions ranged from puppy breeding, to my typical day to how long I spent in the constituency. Read More…

Over the weekend I raised the issue of Fas workers taking 22 extra days off for each of the last 2 years before retirement. Today I see the saga of expenses within the Dublin Docklands Authority.

We’re paying for all of this with my taxes. I spent some time with a start up business today, who are fighting away furiously to be successful. I’ve just talked to a good friend of mine who is now dealing with the harsh consequences of unemployment.

Two worlds in our small little country. There isn’t room for both of them to continue.

Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe has said the revelation of a pre-retirement holiday perk in FAS again undermines the agency at time when its work has never been more important. Senator Donohoe added that it was more evidence of the endemic culture of waste fostered by Fianna Fail. Read More…

I yesterday raised the issue of the closure of social welfare offices during the current industrial dispute on the Order of Business. I’ve only seen this commented on and am not sure of the full extent of this practice.

But I do know that the last people who should be suffering due to public sector wage cuts are those with no jobs at all. I am contacting the Department of Social and Family affairs to understand the size of this problem but I really hope that it’s very limited. If not I will be asking those involved to reflect on this behaviour.

As part of transition year I undertook a week of work experience with Senator Paschal Donohoe from the 1st-5th March 2010. I found the experience thoroughly enjoyable, and I now feel a lot more involved in politics as a citizen of our country due to attending the Dail and Senate chambers, rather than seeing them on the television. Read More…