In my role as chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have had a number of meetings, formal and informal, to highlight Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE. We had a very interesting debate on this matter last year. The committee also received the Secretary General, Mr. Lamberto Zannier, ODIHR Director, Janez Lenarcic and Mr. Spencer Oliver, Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The foreign affairs committee has put Ireland’s chairmanship at the top of its agenda and will continue to do so during 2012.

Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE will raise its international profile. I commend the Tánaiste on his tireless work thus far during our chairmanship. It is a busy schedule involving a great deal of travel and meetings. The Tánaiste bears responsibility for the executive action of the organisation and the co-ordination of its activities. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade recently held an important meeting with former US Senator George Mitchell, leading Northern Ireland politicians and representatives of some 50 OSCE countries at which we discussed the Northern Ireland conflict, the peace process and our experience with conflict resolution. It was a very successful meeting, from which the international delegates learned a great deal about Ireland’s successful peace process. Our experience could be helpful in assisting conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan and other areas.

I take this opportunity to welcome the new Russian ambassador to Ireland, who presented his credentials last week. I acknowledge the attendance of a representative of the Russian embassy in the Gallery today to hear our statements on the OSCE. I commend all of those involved in Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE, including the Tánaiste, Ministers of State Creighton and Costello, our ambassadors and officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including Mr. David Donoghue who has done much work in this area. It is timely that Ireland holds chairmanship of the OSCE as it takes over the Presidency of the EU in Jan 2013.

Speaking about arranging visits I also arranged for the French Ambassador to Ireland Mrs. Emmanuelle d’Achon to visit Kilkee last weekend to participate in the 30th Anniversary celebrations of Kilkee’s twining arrangement with Plouhinec in Brittany, France.

On Easter Sunday I attended the biggest ever Tractorcade seen in County Clare in Kilmihil to raise funds for the Declan O’Shea Trust. As you know Declan was seriously injured in an accident earlier this year and it was great to see such a turn out for this worthy cause.

Shannon’s potential as an aircraft maintenance hub was not the only hub on the Agenda in April. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Joe Costello T.D. appeared before my Committee last week to discuss the White Paper on Irish Aid. As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs & Trade Committee I assured him of my support and that of my Committee for this project.

The Opposition introduced the Motorist Emergency Relief Bill in the Dail last week. I met with a number of West Clare Agricultural Contractors who were in Dublin to lobby ahead of that Debate. We would love to be in a position to reduce the cost of a litre of petrol/diesel, this proposal would have cost the Exchequer €178 million and as a result, this Government cannot engage in supporting short-term populist measures, we have to be fiscally responsible. We are, however, working on a number of initiatives to ease the burden placed on families and businesses given the soaring fuel prices. We have responded to the concerns of the Irish Road Hauliers Association, whose President hails from Bunratty, by setting up a working Group comprising Officials from the Finance Department; which is coming up with workable solutions to the IRHA’s concerns. We have also introduced a number of measures in the Finance Bill, which will ensure greater controls and assist in the battle against fuel laundering.

I also contributed to the Debate on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution, Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary) Bill. I am looking forward to engaging with the people of County Clare on the details of the Treaty over the next number of weeks, when I will be advocating a Yes Vote.

“These allocations provide a major boost to the Seaside Towns of Kilkee and Lahinch. The first two rounds of this scheme in 2011 were given on the basis that they would be drawn down by year end 2011. In March 2012 those Local Authorities that had projects that either didn’t apply due to not being able to meet the deadline, scaled back their project or were unable to draw down the funding by the deadline were given the opportunity to reapply for funding or apply for funding foregone due to the project been scaled back.”

“As a result of which Kilkee will be receiving an additional €75,600 in funding having received an allocation of €54,150 in 2011. Lahinch Seaworld has been allocated €349,800 this year on top of the €42,500 they received last year.”

“The works associated with this funding allocation must be completed by the end of September and this will work will provide a boost to the local economies in both Towns during the construction phase. Both Kilkee and Lahinch are two seaside towns in this County and the development of their Seaworld Infrastructure will further enhance both seaside towns tourism destination potential.”

Fine Gael TD for Clare and Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs & Trade, Pat Breen, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the Government’s announcement of plans to restructure Shannon Airport. The Government has decided to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority and bring it together with Shannon Development to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership. Deputy Breen said that today is a defining day for Shannon Airport and for the rebirth of Shannon Airport’s enterprising spirit.

“Today’s announcement heralds the rebirth of Shannon Airport’s enterprising spirit. Giving this region back autonomy for the future of Shannon Airport, as a new entity in public ownership, will allow the airport and the region to focus solely on what is best for its own business development. The situation which pertains at present, where every decision has be vetted and approved by the DAA will become a thing of the past.

“The enactment of the State Airports Bill 2004 and the inaction by the previous Government in putting the necessary governance structures in place to support Shannon Airport strangled the airport’s ability to develop. This resulted in a significant decline in passenger traffic at the airport in the intervening years.

“In stark contrast with the inactivity of the previous administration, this Government will be putting in place a high-powered steering group to determine the most effective governance structures to deliver this new entity. The group will be enacted immediately and its work is expected to be completed to allow Ministers to go back to the Government with detailed proposals before the end of the year.

“Shannon Airport is the key driver for economic development in this region. I have always argued that it should remain under State ownership and I welcome the Government’s commitment to maintain control over the Airport.

“For too long, Shannon Airport’s role as an engine for economic growth for the Mid-West Region has been ignored. Today’s announcement is the first step in Shannon Airport’s fight back. It is a vote of confidence in Shannon Airport’s enterprising spirit and heralds the rebirth of a strong and vibrant Shannon Airport which will lead the way to economic recovery for the entire region.

“Throughout its proud history Shannon Airport has shown its ability to adapt to the various challenges it has faced. In its time the airport has achieved many firsts, most notably, the first Irish Coffee, the first Duty Free Shop and in recent years, the first airport in the world outside of the Americas to provide US pre-clearance facilities.

“In 1959, the late Brendan O’Regan, one of the region’s greatest visionaries, was appointed Chairman of the Shannon Development Company. This joined up thinking led to development of the Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Castle Tours.

“Fifty three years later, this Government is again recognising the benefits which a closer relationship between the airport and Shannon Development can have for the entire region and for the development of aviation related businesses here. Already there are 30 aviation related businesses located in the Shannon Airport and we have the infrastructure in this region to become a centre of excellence for such activity.”

“I was very disappointed to hear the news that the clinical trials for the daletrapib drug has ceased at Roche Ireland’s plant in Clarecastle. I understand that the drug failed to demonstrate any tangible benefit for cholesterol patients compared to the drugs already on the market, despite the fact that it had passed the safety test which is undertaken for any new pharmaceutical product.”

“Roche Irl in Clarecastle is a significant contributor to the local economy employing up to 320 workers at any one time, including up to 100 Contract workers. The Plant is involved in Drug Substance Production and is the no 1 Irish Suppliers of medicines for cancer and Ural diseases. 50 per cent of all Roche employees in Ireland are Third Level Graduates and I understand that quite a number of the staff employed at the Clarecastle plant to trial this drug are Design Engineers. If this trial had been successful it could have potentially led to further job creation, however, at this stage, it is hard to know what the implications are now for the staff employed there.”

“Roche is also involved in producing other Drugs such as Xenical, Xeloda and Invirase and CellCept a drug which is to prevent the rejection of Heart/Kidney/Heart transplants. Given the cessation of production of this Daletrapib, I believe that it would be helpful if the Company could clarify the implications that this spare capacity at the Clarecastle Plant may have for their workers at the earliest opportunity.”

“I have discussed my concerns with the Minister for Enterprise, Richard Bruton T.D. and he has assured me that the Government and its Agency will provide every assistance to Roche Clarecastle to assist it through this difficult time”.

ENDS

It is difficult to keep up with the number of water leaks at the school, especially from roofs in the prefabricated buildings. I saw buckets and basins in several classrooms and there is a major concern that the leaks pose a fire hazard given that water penetrated the fluorescent bulb fixtures in ceilings on a number of occasions. Water has also caused structural damage to ceilings in the school’s prefabricated buildings. The ceilings and foundations of these buildings need to be replaced.

The school has little ventilation because windows cannot be opened as their frames are swollen. This lack of ventilation gives rise to significant safety concerns and is not good for the health of the children or teachers. The main doorframe is unsteady and poses a health and safety risk. All the windows and doors need to be replaced.

Mould is visible on the walls of several classrooms and washrooms, the sewage system is not working properly and there is a foul smell in the toilets where the roof is leaking. There is also water on the floor and junior and senior infants do not have access to hot water in their classrooms which also have leaks in the ceilings. The permanent odour of damp in the school is a matter of serious concern to the school and parents as a number of children suffer from asthma and other respiratory related illnesses.

When I walked into the yard I noticed a number of structural problems with the school building. I observed, for example, that a number of roof slates were missing and several more were loose. The school yard surface is cracked, eroded and uneven and several potholes are visible. Manholes are rusted, dangerous and overflowing. The gradient in one part of the play area is so bad that teachers must constantly monitor the children to avoid serious injury.

Teachers are not to blame for conditions at the school and have done their best. The problem is that the school is old, having been built in 1959 in what was then a small locality. The school is located in the Stonepark area near the church. In the 1980s, many housing estates sprung up on the other side of the parish in the Ballycannon area and the population of the village increased. This also boosted the school population and the school now has eight teachers and 150 pupils, with a further 23 children due to enrol in September.

I visited a number of schools in County Clare in recent months and the conditions in Meelick School were the worst I saw. Stop gap measures or sticking plaster solutions are not sufficient to deal with the enormous problem in the school itself. Remedial works are carried out by the school on an on- going basis, but the scale of the problem is beyond the ability of the school authority to maintain or fund.

Can the Minister of State give me an update on the situation? The school has applied for emergency funding, because it poses a health and safety risk. A risk assessment has been carried out by a qualified consultant, who has confirmed that the works are urgently required so that the school and its grounds can be made safe for the children and parents who use it.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon: I am taking this topical issue debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as it gives me an opportunity to outline to the House my Department’s position regarding the allocation of funding under the Department’s emergency works scheme and, in particular, the applications received from the management authority of Scoil Mhuire national school, Meelick, County Clare. Application forms and guidelines for this scheme are available on my Department’s website advising schools on how to apply for emergency funding, and also outlining the terms and conditions of the emergency works scheme.

The purpose of the emergency works scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to the health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. It is not intended that the emergency works scheme will be used to supplement previous applications under other schemes or to replace any other schemes provided by my Department.

The management authority of Scoil Mhuire national school, Meelick, County Clare, has submitted two applications under the emergency works scheme. The first of these was received on 8 July 2011, seeking funding to refurbish pupil and staff toilets in the school, and this was refused as it was outside the scope of the scheme. The second application was received on 18 February 2012, seeking funding to replace the roofs on both the permanent school building and the prefabricated building on the school site, completely resurface the hard play areas and carry out remedial works to sewer and surface water lines at the school.

On 1 March 2012, an official from my Department’s planning and building unit contacted both the school authority and its consultant and informed them that the scale of the works was outside the scope of the scheme. The school authority was requested to identify the most urgent works required at the school and to reapply for these works in a scaled down scope of works, that is, to carry out repair work to the areas of roofs currently leaking and to identify the emergency works required to the sewerage system. Any such application will be given due consideration.

The school authority submitted a revised scope of works on 8 March 2012, but as the works requested for funding were still outside the type of works that would be funded under the emergency works scheme, the school authority was again informed that its application was not successful.

Deputy Pat Breen: I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to take this issue, but I am still not satisfied with the answer I am getting today. Perhaps the Minister of State might chase up the history of previous applications. If it is outside the scope of the scheme, I fail to understand the problem. As far as I am concerned, every part of the school requires urgent attention. What happens if there is a fire in the school in the morning and windows cannot be opened? It is just awful. I am not just saying this to try to influence the Minister of State, but it is urgent and there are safety fears here.

Can the school management apply for another scheme to deal with these ongoing problems? There are structural problems, electrical problems, problems with the roof, dampness and mould. Very little money has been spent on permanent structures in this school. It is an old type of school, built back in 1959. Many other schools in the area have improved, but this school has been left behind and I am extremely worried for the children, the teachers and the parents, who are also concerned about these issues.

I ask the Minister of State to come back to me on this. Perhaps he could visit the school in his capacity as Minister of State. It needs urgent attention. He might let me know where the school is in the Department’s building programme for the construction of permanent structures or improvements. If the school is outside this scheme, what other scheme can it apply for?

Deputy Ciarán Cannon: On 1 March, an official from the building unit contacted the school and the school was requested to identify the most urgent works required and to apply for those works in a scaled down scope, to carry out works to the parts of roofs that are currently leaking and identify the issues raised by the Deputy in respect of the sewerage system. The building unit officials have told me that they are prepared to consider any application for funding that will address the most urgent needs of Scoil Mhuire national school. I think it is incumbent upon the board of management to identify the most urgent needs and if it succeeds in doing that and makes a submission to the building unit, such a submission may be looked on in a favourable light.

Speaking following the formal launch of the takeover by Transaero, Russia’s second largest Airliner, of the Air Atlanta Aero Engineering (AAAE) Facility in Shannon, Fine Gael Clare Deputy, Pat Breen, said the expectation by the Russian company that it will create 100 new jobs in the next 12 months, is a sign of things to come for the company and for Shannon airport.

“This acquisition is a really welcome development in terms of the development of Shannon Airport as a centre of excellence for aviation related businesses. Not only has the company signalled its intention to create in the region of 100 jobs over the next year, with more to follow, this move secures the positions of the 240 highly qualified staff at the facility.

“The aviation sector was flagged in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs as having the potential for future growth and job creation and this move indicates the attractiveness of Ireland, and Shannon, to foreign carriers.

“Shannon, with its availability of US Customs Pre-Clearance facilities, is the ideal location for Transaeo Airlines to set up a hub en route to the US. The company currently operates around 100 long-haul flights a year to U.S. cities such as Miami and New York and have plans to further expand in to a number of secondary airports in the US. Transaero also operates services to Toronto in Canada and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

“Transaero plans to use the Shannon business to conduct a lot of the heavy maintenance work on its 82 aircraft. Only this month, Transero signed an order for four 787-8 Dreamliners, valued at $744 million, with the Airline due to take delivery of their first 787-8 in 2014, signalling the huge potential for future growth.

“Shannon Airport and Russia have built up a strong relationship over the years; in the 1980s the Airport entered into a new arrangement with Aeroflot and a fuel farm was established at Shannon with the Airport trading charges for fuel. The good working relationship fostered between Russia and Aer Rianta Shannon created further business opportunities with the establishment of Aer Rianta International in 1987.

“This development will copper-fasten Shannon Airport’s long-term relationship with Russians second largest Airliner, Tranasero, bringing with it much needed jobs and investment for Shannon and the surrounding region.”

“Given the natural beauty of the area near Lough Derg where they have nested, I can well understand why the eagles have re-located from their original base in Kerry.

“In all seriousness though, I am delighted by this news. It is a massive breakthrough for the White-tailed Eagle reintroduction programme which has been developed and funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

“The fact that a pair of the eagles has nested and laid eggs gives us great hope that this beautiful species can once again become a sustainable part of our ecosystem.

“I dearly hope that today’s news will be the first of many announcements of breeding pairs of White-tailed Eagles in Clare and all along the west coast. Our natural environment will be the richer for it.

“From a tourism perspective this could have real benefits for County Clare. We are already blessed with fantastic natural beauty including the Cliffs of Moher and the West Clare coastline, the Burren, Loop Head Lighthouse and Lough Derg.

“Clare is also a haven for birdwatchers and Poulnasharry Bay is particularly renowned as a nesting ground for many bird species. I am sure that this development will further attract visitors to the County.”

ENDS

Last night, the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, told the House that this proposal would cost the Exchequer €178 million in a full year and €119 million this year when VAT was taken into account. Deputy Dooley is genuine on this issue, but how would Fianna Fáil make up this shortfall? The lost revenue must be taken into consideration. We would all love to be in a position to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel by 4 cent, but the Government has a responsibility and cannot support short-term populist measures. We are living in unprecedented economic circumstances and we must be fiscally responsible. A cost realisation analysis of every tax-reducing proposal must be undertaken. The Exchequer cannot afford to lose revenue.

In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, I occasionally travel to some European countries. While in their capital cities, I observe the prices of fuel. Ireland is no cheaper or dearer than any other country. Indeed, some European countries are more expensive. This is a global problem. According to the AA, price increases since the beginning of the year mean that filling a 50-litre tank across the Border costs £72, more than the estimated £70 that two-children families there spend on groceries every week. According to the AA, the average family in the South spends more than €250 per month on fuelling a car. Petrol prices are soaring across the world. Recently, US President Obama stated that the problem could not be resolved by drilling his country’s way out of it and that the only realistic long-term solution was to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The cost of fuel has been driven upwards by a number of factors. Many experts believe that out-of-control energy speculation has doubled the price of crude oil. The market fundamentals of supply and demand have also come into play. In recent years, expanding economies have created a significant demand for oil. Supply has become scarce due to a number of conflicts around the world that have interfered with the price of oil. All of these issues must be taken into account.

The Government is aware of the impact of rising fuel prices on families and businesses. I have regular contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, the president of which, Mr. Eoin Gavin, comes from my county. The Minister for Finance has responded to the IRHA’s concerns by establishing a working group, comprising departmental officials and IRHA officials, to develop a working solution.
One of the main issues we face is oil’s uncertain future. It is estimated that 12% of diesel used in Ireland is illegal. Given our problems with the theft, smuggling and dilution of oil, we must consider other means of reducing the cost of fossil fuels.

The Opposition’s proposal smacks of nothing more than political opportunism. The Government has a job to do and it would be far more constructive of the Opposition to engage in providing more realistic solutions to these problems instead of shadow boxing.

Acknowledging the difficulties that many ordinary people now have to endure because of the sins of the past, Deputy Breen said that they should reflect on the role that incompetence including light touch regulation and the lack of corporate enforcement had played in the deterioration of the Country’s Finances. He said that this Treaty was an opportunity to draw a line under past events by ensuring that future Irish Governments are prevented from engaging in reckless economic management.

Deputy Breen told the Dail that Referendum day on the 31st May, “will be an important and defining day for the country, for our future relationship with the European Union and for the future of the Euro.”
Pointing to the hard work which the Government has done over the past 12 months to repair Ireland’s International credibility, Deputy Breen said that the “number of foreign direct investment projects was up 20% last year and job announcements such as those made by PayPay, Mylan and Apple are testament to the increased confidence in Ireland and the prospects for future projects coming here are positive.”
He warned that if our economy is continue to stabilise, “we must work with our EU partners to put in place the mechanisms needed to ensure economic stability throughout the Eurozone. We are an island nation on the edge of Europe and must learn from the lessons of the past and the events of recent years. We cannot stick our heads in the sand, as some opposition Deputies would like us to do, and ignore the influence of international factors, including international market sentiment, on our economic stability.

Deputy Breen added that the Treaty also presents the Irish People with the opportunity to vote confidence in the euro. “A strong eurozone will raise all boats and is pivotal to Ireland’s economic recovery. Our exports are the real success story of the economy. Last year they grew by 4.1%. Opponents of the treaty claim it will not fix the eurozone crisis or the economy. I take issue with these misinformed comments. The treaty is an essential element of the road map out of the crisis. It is an important part of the package needed to stabilise economic conditions in Europe because it provides assurances that the problems that emerged in Greece cannot be repeated.”

Over the course of the Campaign, Deputy Breen said that he is looking forward to engaging with his constituents and that he will be urging the people of County Clare to put on the Green Jersey on the 31st May and ensure a “Yes Vote”, which he said would ensure Ireland’s continued recovery.