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An Open Letter To Ciaran Cuffe
Read more about: Blogging, Coalition, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Fianna Fail, Government, Green Party, Health, Irish Politics, Leinster, Medical Cards, Oireachtas, Parties, Policy, Social Policy, Taxation, Transport, Travel & Tourism 
Yesterday, in the aftermath of the climbdown regarding the Medical Cards fiasco, I read a post on the weblog of Green Party Justice Spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe, which dealt with the Medical Cards issue.
After reading the post, I gave him my view of the Fianna Fáíl / Green coalition, and put some questions to him and ended by making some constructive suggestions that the Government can take to raise the nations finances.
As of yet, he has not responded, so I’ve taken the liberty of stating those views and posting the questions here….
Ciarán, I’ll be frank – I think the Green Party will suffer very badly at the locals, and perhaps at the next General Election, if this sort of attacking of the vulnerable continues.
My advice is simple – get out of the coalition now. You cannot stop FF – they will do as they please, with little regard for anybody else. Anecdotally, most people I know who would vote or transfer to Green candidates will not be doing so now – particularly in light of what their parents, grandparents, in-laws and other family members have just had to go through.
Some questions -
1. Will the free travel pass for OAP’s be ended?
2. What guarantee can you give me to pass on to my elderly relatives that the threshold for medical cards won’t be altered in 6 months?
3. Why is the state investing in what can only be described as sub-prime lending, through the Home Choice loans scheme? It is cheaper to buy on the open market at present – people on the scheme run the risk of negative equity.
4. What impact will funding cutbacks have on local government? Specifically, will Dublin have a mayor to elect in the lifetime of this Government, or will we be forced to watch the Council elect a figurehead?
5. What is the present timeline for Metro North and the Interconnector?
6.a. What is the status of Metro West?
6.b. What is the status of Luas Line F, Luas Line BX and other modes of rail transport?
7. Will there be a threshold in relation to those who have a parking space at their employers place of business?
Here are some suggestions on raising the state finances -
1. A commercial rate charged for the bank guarantee.
2. An end to funding for the likes of Bord na gCon or Horse Racing Ireland.
3. An increased levy on high income earners – for example, why weren’t those earning 300K per annum charged a 3% levy etc?
4. An additionate tax band applicable at say, €250,000.
An end to funding for the likes of Bord na gCon or Horse Racing Ireland.
Funnily enough
http://www.greenparty.ie/news/latest_news/gogarty_calls_for_horse_and_greyhound_funding_to_cover_medical_card_scheme
3. An increased levy on high income earners – for example, why weren’t those earning 300K per annum charged a 3% levy etc?
4. An additionate tax band applicable at say, €250,000.
Can’t disagree with that. other then to say is their many people on that. Or enough to make significant contributions to the state to cover stuff you mention.
One thing I noticed about what to do is Labour suggestions. Lot of them are cutting building tax loopholes etc. But as building is not going on they still count?
At a time when the country is financially on it’s knees the Dublin Metro and expanded Luas are political suicide outside the M50. Most likely both will be scrapped in a Spring Mini budget in favour of an expanded fleet of busses. A world class bus network can be put in place i Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny for a fraction of the price.
Any party who votes to continue to pump billions into a third or fourth public transportation option for Dublin commuters while asset stripping the rest of the country will never see the inside of government buildings again.
Em, we can’t have a “world class bus network” if we’re choked in traffic. Need rail to take cars off roads. Both the Dart and Luas have proved that the Irish are *shock* just the same as every other population in that we would much rather take reliable public transport to and from work than sit in our cars for hours in traffic.
Like it or not, 1/4 of the population lives in the greater Dublin area and there’s a chronic need for a proper light rail infrastructure. By all means, spend money on a “world class bus service” for the other main cities but their needs in that regard simply aren’t as vital to the national economy as Dublin. That’s the cold, hard truth.
At all I do not know what to tell in this occasion. Probably, what all will be better than now? And as a whole very much even it is informative!