Maureen O'Sullivan TD » In The News

Sovereignty is a most important foundation

Lorcan — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 11:30:12 +0000

We are all horrified by the repression that took place when people tried to exercise the democratic right to vote. It is clear that there was a centrally orchestrated, military-style operation that had been planned carefully. There were armed, masked officers coming into polling stations trying to prevent a peaceful, democratic process…. We in Ireland have moved past our civil war politics but I think it is a different matter in Spain. There is no doubt that some commentators have seen elements of Francoism in this. Madrid appeared to be resisting democracy and it is certainly not helping those Catalan people who wanted to remain in the Spanish state. It is only through dialogue and people engaging and listening in an atmosphere of mutual respect that these issues can be resolved in a peaceful manner.

I admit if I were a non-Catalan Spaniard, I probably would not want to see a break-up of Spain because no doubt it would be followed by other regions such as the Basque region or Galicia. However, the question has to be asked as to why there is this desire for self-determination. Why has it arisen now particularly? It does come back to the central Government in Madrid not being willing to engage in that dialogue that we all think is so very important. Under international law, as others have stated, sovereignty is a most important foundation. Although this is a sovereign question for Spain, the situation has been worsened by what we can only describe as bully-boy tactics from Madrid fuelled, I believe, by the shortage of a democratic tradition in Spain’s history.

A couple of years ago, I was in Barcelona at the invitation of Diplocat, with a number of Deputies and Senators. Diplocat is a public private partnership and is all about fostering dialogue and building relations between the citizens of Catalonia and other countries. They were looking for the active involvement of Catalan society in exchanging views and ideas in areas like government, business, culture and education. It was all about promoting a fairer, more peaceful, democratic and sustainable world. We met a number of Catalan stakeholders including political parties, civil society and members of the Government of Catalonia. Those meetings were open and frank. We met people who were pro-independence and those who were against it. We met those who were in favour of a more federal type system of government that would respect the culture, identity and ethnicity of all of the regions. Since then, I have met a number of other Catalan leaders and communities. One thing that came across was that they were very proud of the relationship between Ireland and Catalonia.

The observers also noted the very peaceful nature of the Catalan people. The violence and repression really shows how we do not learn from history. We know from history that repression only fuels and hardens those who are being repressed. We saw it in our own history in 1916. Prior to the executions in 1916, everybody wanted Home Rule but after them it was a very different matter. It is very likely that those Catalans who did not want independence will be hardened in their attitude and will be joining the pro-independence movement. We could look at the example from Scotland. Although there are historic differences between the two countries, it is the same principle. What we saw in Scotland was dignified debate. The two sides – “Better Together” and “Yes Scotland” – could debate all of those issues. It goes back to the right to self-determination as a principle in international law. The EU only saw that as applying for states that are already recognised as independent.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Article 1 of the charter guarantees the right of self-determination to states that are not yet independent. The history of Catalonia, dating back to Ferdinand and Isabella, is a difficult one but there is no doubt but that Catalonia has a separate culture, identity and language regardless of that legal standing internationally. I called on the Minister to use his position to advance political dialogue. He is a member of Fine Gael, who are member of the European People’s Party, EPP, of which the ruling party in Spain is also a member, he is in a unique position to advance that dialogue.

On RTE Re Gangland Murders

Lorcan — Mon, 30 May 2016 12:20:15 +0000

I was asked on RTÉ “What can the Government do to stop the murders in the inner city?” but the real question is will they do anything? – I truly hope they do as it is crippling for the great communities we have.

Vincent Browne questioning Government statistics

Lorcan — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 16:09:55 +0000

Vincent Browne loses it with the Government over statistics on the People’s Debate & what I said about Leinster House being on a different planet, corporations getting away with daylight robbery, and completely unfair/inhumane allocation of Budget 2016.

IRISH TIMES: James Reilly defends school completion programme

Lorcan — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:24:10 +0000

He was replying to Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan, who suggested the programme be transferred from his department to the Department of Education.
Ms O’Sullivan said that the teachers involved would support that view.
The programme aims to address early school-leaving and underachievement, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Ms O’Sullivan said she was not criticising Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which has operational responsibility for the programme, but acknowledging its severe caseload.
“It does not make sense to give it additional work with children who, at certain points, do not need social workers, but teachers,’’ she said.

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IRISH TIMES: State to lobby EU for lower climate change targets

Lorcan — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 10:27:54 +0000

The latest estimate is that Ireland will fall short of the 2020 target by 6 per cent.
The inclusion of a “climate justice” clause came as a surprise as Fine Gael had originally argued against it.
However, Taoiseach Enda Kenny agreed with Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan in the Dáil last month that such a clause should form part of the Bill. Climate justice attempts to address perceived injustices caused by climate change.

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Dublin People: Mental Health Group makes budget recommendations

Lorcan — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 10:21:03 +0000

Speaking at the launch, Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind), a member of the group, said one in seven adults in Ireland will have experienced a mental health difficulty in the last year.

“It’s important that Budget 2016 doesn’t leave these people behind,” said Deputy O’Sullivan.

“Early intervention measures like the Counselling in Primary Care service need to be extended to reach people on low to middle incomes. Psychology services in primary care should also be further developed.

“Giving people quick and easy access to the support they need is vital for their recovery.”

Deputy O’Sullivan added: “It is also important that support is given to those organisations working with children and young people, encouraging them to take care of their mental health, as well as their physical health.”

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IRISH EXAMINER: 400,000 tablets seized as crisis deepens

Lorcan — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:04:38 +0000

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said community drug and youth projects were struggling to cope with the “aggression” and “chaotic nature” of people consuming these tablets, often taking them with alcohol and other substances.

It comes as figures supplied to the Irish Examiner show that almost 400,000 illicit sedative drugs were seized in 2013 — a 150% jump on 2010 figures.

These include benzodiazepines, a group of tranquillisers, and so-called Z drugs, or hypnotics, like Zopiclone and Zimovane.

Health Protection Regulatory Authority figures show that 154,581 tablets were seized in 2010, rising to 165,843 in 2011, 291,167 in 2012, and 393,318 in 2013.

Plans by the Department of Health to tackle the illicit trade in these legitimate medicines were prepared by former drugs minister Róisín Shortall in September 2012, following consultations between the gardaí, customs officials, the HSE, and pharmacists. The projected date for completing the regulations was January 2013.

Ms O’Sullivan said the reality of the illicit tablet crisis was made clear to Mr Ó Ríordáin at a recent meeting of the Dublin North Inner City Local Drugs Task Force. “The scale of the problem was certainly brought home to the current minister,” she said.

“It was spelled out very forcibly by projects about the massive increase in tablets and he was told by gardaí how their hands are tied by the lack of legislation.”

Ms O’Sullivan, a TD in Dublin Central, said one mother told the meeting how teenagers could make up to €1,000 a week selling tablets and other drugs on the street. “Not all will make that, but some do, and that has a knock on effect on kids in the area,” she said.

She called for mini-CABs (Criminal Asset Bureaus) to target the local dealers who are showing off their wealth in front of young people.

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THEJOURNAL: Questions raised over Irish swim coach accused of abuse who’s spent 20 years in US

Lorcan — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 10:31:44 +0000

INDEPENDENT TD MAUREEN O’Sullivan has written to almost 100 US politicians seeking information on the immigration status of a former Irish Olympic swimming coach who was previously charged with 27 sexual offences.
George Gibney has been in the United States since 1995 after charges in Ireland of indecent assault and unlawful carnal knowledge were dropped in 1994.
O’Sullivan has previously raised the issue in the Dáil and says that she has been assured by the Department of Justice that a garda team is examining the case.
She says that it is unlikely that any request for extradition would be made by the Irish State unless new evidence is uncovered.
“There is a unit in An Garda Síochána who are going back through the files,” O’Sullivan said this afternoon. “My hope is that they might discover something that that wasn’t used previously, or that someone might come forward who wasn’t in a position to come forward before.”
The Dublin Central TD says that it is vital for the alleged victims that there is justice in the case.

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IRISH TIMES: TD seeks help in finding out how George Gibney got a green card

Lorcan — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 10:21:56 +0000

Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said she would write to a number of US Congressmen and women seeking support for information from US federal agencies that would shed light on how Mr Gibney was permitted to enter, live and work in the US.
Appeal for transparency
“I am making contact with US congressman and women seeking support for an appeal for transparency from f
ederal agencies about how this person got into the US and who supported him there,” said Ms O’Sullivan, a TD for Dublin Central .
“In addition, I have spoken to the detective superintendent who is reviewing all of the paperwork. My hope would be that they might find something important that was not used in the 1990s but may be relevant now.”

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RTÉ: Govt moves to clarify sale of Moore St 1916 site

Lorcan — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:11:34 +0000

Responding to questions from Sinn Féin’s Sandra McLellan and Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan, Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that while the site was being sold, the buyer is the State.

The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said it was not being sold to “some banker or vernture capitalist”.

Both TDs had expressed concerns over the site being part of the NAMA portfolio.

However, Mr Ó Riordáin said the Government would “not in any way be affected, delayed or otherwise impinged upon by any disposal of NAMA loan books”, and he said the national monument site was being removed from the NAMA portfolio sale.

Regarding ownership to the State, the Minister said all loans would be discharged over the monument site and all licenses will be put in place to carry out the national monument works.

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