1. He will be a new voice on the council:
We don't need to troupe the same people back to the council. That's how apathy sets in. We need someone from the next generation to rejuvenate the council.
2. He can communicate:
There are few people in County Longford who can compare with John when it comes to communication. That's why he's in demand from every community group for 10 miles around to front their fundraising nights, parades or shows. That's why Shannonside FM use him as commentator. Politics is the art of communication. It's a no-brainer, really.
3. He's young:
One of the points that John has been making at the doorsteps is that as he is one of the few candidates in Longford with a young family, he is well placed to represent that group of people who have been worse affected by the recession and the tax rises. Equally, for younger people he recognizes the potential created by the use of new technologies (such as this blog) to enhance community activities, support local business and create employment.
4. He's got media savvy:
John is PRO of Longford GAA, arguably the highest profile PRO job in the county. We know that politics and the media are intimately related and John's knowledge and networking skills would be a big plus for local individuals and community groups.
5. He's got the stamina:
Multi-tasking is a basic skill for a politician. John's proven ability to hold down a full-time job while working hard for the community in his various roles, shows that he has the ability to use his time as a councillor creatively and productively over the next five years.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Duffy urges council to prioritise safety
The cuts in the roads budget of Longford County Council should not jeopardize the safety of road users according to John Duffy, Fine Gael candidate in the local elections. He made the plea as the spending on roads in Longford is to be slashed by more than a quarter.
"The emphasis has been put on maintenance with the smaller capital works being postponed. But some of these schemes are the most critical for safety. For example, Doherty's Cross on the main Ballinalee-Longford road is a potential death trap because of the poor visibility for motorists entering the main road," he said.
"Doherty's Cross needs work now to make it safe and with the cuts in the pipeline there will be no money available for schemes such as this. The council should be going through their plans and putting those schemes most important for safety at the top of the list. "
"The emphasis has been put on maintenance with the smaller capital works being postponed. But some of these schemes are the most critical for safety. For example, Doherty's Cross on the main Ballinalee-Longford road is a potential death trap because of the poor visibility for motorists entering the main road," he said.
"Doherty's Cross needs work now to make it safe and with the cuts in the pipeline there will be no money available for schemes such as this. The council should be going through their plans and putting those schemes most important for safety at the top of the list. "
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Leaving cert students facing fees uncertainty
Parents and children must wait anxiously while the Government dithers on the introduction of fees. Local election candidate John Duffy of Fine Gael said that the threatened fees could make the difference between children getting a third level education or facing the dole queue or emigration.
"Fine Gael has guaranteed that fees won't be re-introduced. We will introduce a graduate tax instead where people will contribute to the cost of their education when they are in a position to do so. They will pay an extra fee through their PRSI contributions, raising up to 500 million euro for colleges and universities," said Duffy.
He said that this was not just an election promise but is based on a positive analysis on the way the third level system should work.
"What we have now is students sitting down to exams this summer in schools like Moyne Community School, attempting to get already high points targets for certain careers and faced with an unknown burden in fees as well," he said. "This is not the way to encourage students to further their education, it's not the way to help parents weigh up the costs of college and it's not the way that Ireland is going to produce the knowledge economy of the future."
"Fine Gael has guaranteed that fees won't be re-introduced. We will introduce a graduate tax instead where people will contribute to the cost of their education when they are in a position to do so. They will pay an extra fee through their PRSI contributions, raising up to 500 million euro for colleges and universities," said Duffy.
He said that this was not just an election promise but is based on a positive analysis on the way the third level system should work.
"What we have now is students sitting down to exams this summer in schools like Moyne Community School, attempting to get already high points targets for certain careers and faced with an unknown burden in fees as well," he said. "This is not the way to encourage students to further their education, it's not the way to help parents weigh up the costs of college and it's not the way that Ireland is going to produce the knowledge economy of the future."
Duffy blasts animal collection fiasco
Local farmers are being faced with rip-off prices for the collection of dead animals after the Government abolished the Fallen Animal Scheme. Farmers are being asked to shell out nearly 200 euro to have cows collected and we a faced with an environmental and economic disaster according to local Fine Gael election candidate John Duffy.
"The Government have created a situation where there are only four plants in the Republic that can deal with this material. While the Fallen Animal Scheme was in operation at least farmers were protected from the high costs associated with the system," said Duffy.
"The proof of this rip-off is that farmers in Northern Ireland are paying only half the level of charges. The blame for this situation rests squarely with the minister."
Duffy also highlighted the dangers of animal being uncollected with the Animal Collectors Association reporting an 80 per cent reduction in collections in some cases. He called on the Government to change the rules on delivering animals to rendering plants and to consider the ICMSA call to allow farmers to bury some animals.
"We are looking at a crisis in the collection of fallen animals which is entirely of the Government's own making. We now have the usual policy of the Government claiming that they will deal with the problem despite them having made the decisions which caused the problem in the first place. They are making it up as they go along"
"The Government have created a situation where there are only four plants in the Republic that can deal with this material. While the Fallen Animal Scheme was in operation at least farmers were protected from the high costs associated with the system," said Duffy.
"The proof of this rip-off is that farmers in Northern Ireland are paying only half the level of charges. The blame for this situation rests squarely with the minister."
Duffy also highlighted the dangers of animal being uncollected with the Animal Collectors Association reporting an 80 per cent reduction in collections in some cases. He called on the Government to change the rules on delivering animals to rendering plants and to consider the ICMSA call to allow farmers to bury some animals.
"We are looking at a crisis in the collection of fallen animals which is entirely of the Government's own making. We now have the usual policy of the Government claiming that they will deal with the problem despite them having made the decisions which caused the problem in the first place. They are making it up as they go along"
Friday, May 8, 2009
Fine Gael to bring 'Power to the People'
Local government will no longer be a bit player on the local scene under Fine Gael's radical new policy. The party proposes to shut down up to 100 state bodies and turn over their powers to local authorities in order to drive development at local level.
John Duffy, Fine Gael candidate for the Drumlish electoral area, sees this as a key new advantage for local areas where policies will be matched to local conditions.
"The party's reform programme 'Power to the People' will give local authorities the tools to capitalise on local resources," says Duffy. "Rather than having planning and development imposed, local communities will be at the heart of decision making."
Under the new proposals Fine Gael are proposing a new cabinet-style executive for county councils to streamline decision making and a special customer service unit in each local authority to ensure that services are uniformely delivered to best practice.
As part of the reforms Fine Gael is promising to freeze business rates for the next five years in order to safeguard employment and to ensure that small and medium sized enterprises can help fuel Ireland's recovery.
"This new policy shows that Fine Gael aims not only to replace the people in charge but the system too," says Duffy.
John Duffy, Fine Gael candidate for the Drumlish electoral area, sees this as a key new advantage for local areas where policies will be matched to local conditions.
"The party's reform programme 'Power to the People' will give local authorities the tools to capitalise on local resources," says Duffy. "Rather than having planning and development imposed, local communities will be at the heart of decision making."
Under the new proposals Fine Gael are proposing a new cabinet-style executive for county councils to streamline decision making and a special customer service unit in each local authority to ensure that services are uniformely delivered to best practice.
As part of the reforms Fine Gael is promising to freeze business rates for the next five years in order to safeguard employment and to ensure that small and medium sized enterprises can help fuel Ireland's recovery.
"This new policy shows that Fine Gael aims not only to replace the people in charge but the system too," says Duffy.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Duffy calls for Lotto funding to be honoured
The Government's decision to axe the Sports Capital Grant is an abuse of National Lottery funds and is legally questionable according to John Duffy, Fine Gael local election candidate for Drumlish.
"The National Lottery was set up to provide funding for sports, charities and the Irish Language. For the Government to simply pocket the Lotto funds is a 'numbers game' that Al Capone would be proud of," said Duffy.
"Many clubs and associations throughout Longford have had to put their plans on hold because of this high-handed decision by Minister Martin Cullen. These schemes provide good local employment at a time when we need to keep people in jobs. Many of the big infrastructure schemes, such as the Dublin underground, will cost billions while providing very few jobs," he added.
Duffy said that local people were being delivered a double whammy. They were losing out on the spending on these schemes and were losing out on the benefits of the projects. He called for the decision to be reversed immediately.
"Fine Gael is investigating whether this decision is legitimate. The National Lottery was set up under legislation and Minister Cullen's decision is of dubious legality. We've been hearing for years that lotto funding is impartial and beyond political control. Now the Minister thinks he can cut lotto spending as he pleases. It's time the Coalition came clean on this," concluded Duffy.
"The National Lottery was set up to provide funding for sports, charities and the Irish Language. For the Government to simply pocket the Lotto funds is a 'numbers game' that Al Capone would be proud of," said Duffy.
"Many clubs and associations throughout Longford have had to put their plans on hold because of this high-handed decision by Minister Martin Cullen. These schemes provide good local employment at a time when we need to keep people in jobs. Many of the big infrastructure schemes, such as the Dublin underground, will cost billions while providing very few jobs," he added.
Duffy said that local people were being delivered a double whammy. They were losing out on the spending on these schemes and were losing out on the benefits of the projects. He called for the decision to be reversed immediately.
"Fine Gael is investigating whether this decision is legitimate. The National Lottery was set up under legislation and Minister Cullen's decision is of dubious legality. We've been hearing for years that lotto funding is impartial and beyond political control. Now the Minister thinks he can cut lotto spending as he pleases. It's time the Coalition came clean on this," concluded Duffy.
Government party candidates ‘keeping their heads down’
Fianna Fail candidates in the Drumlish electoral area are ducking their responsibility for Government failures in the area. Fine Gael local election candidate John Duffy said that many of the coalition councillors and candidates were trying to pass themselves off as ‘opposition’ candidates.
“What we are seeing is Fianna Fail candidates refusal to take responsibility for Fianna Fail failures. For example, the redevelopment of Moyne Community School is stalled at the design stage. A decision to go ahead would create local jobs and underpin the future of the school. But no local Fianna Fail candidates are prepared to take on their own party and fight for it. Where’s the ‘John McGuinness’ figure around here who is prepared to take on this failed government? They’re keeping their heads down.”
Duffy also called on coalition candidates to opposed the reintroduction of third level fees. He said that fees would discourage young people from continuing in education and encourage emigration.
“Fine Gael has given a commitment that fees will not be introduced. Instead we propose a form of graduate tax where people who benefit from third level qualifications will pay when they can afford it,” said Duffy. “This is the only fair way to proceed. What we need now is for Fianna Fail candidates to put pressure on Batt O’Keeffe to hold off on fees. But they don’t have the backbone.”
“What we are seeing is Fianna Fail candidates refusal to take responsibility for Fianna Fail failures. For example, the redevelopment of Moyne Community School is stalled at the design stage. A decision to go ahead would create local jobs and underpin the future of the school. But no local Fianna Fail candidates are prepared to take on their own party and fight for it. Where’s the ‘John McGuinness’ figure around here who is prepared to take on this failed government? They’re keeping their heads down.”
Duffy also called on coalition candidates to opposed the reintroduction of third level fees. He said that fees would discourage young people from continuing in education and encourage emigration.
“Fine Gael has given a commitment that fees will not be introduced. Instead we propose a form of graduate tax where people who benefit from third level qualifications will pay when they can afford it,” said Duffy. “This is the only fair way to proceed. What we need now is for Fianna Fail candidates to put pressure on Batt O’Keeffe to hold off on fees. But they don’t have the backbone.”
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