Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has dismissed claims by an official from the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office that the G8 summit taking place in Fermanagh will bring in up to £700 million into the local economy.
The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said:
"Since the announcement was made that the G8 summit was taking place in Fermanagh we have been forced to listen to one ridiculous claim after another.
"At a public meeting discussing disruption as a result of the G8, an official from the British Foreign & Commonwealth claimed that the summit would bring in up to £700 million into the local economy.
"This is a figure that has been plucked from thin air, for no other reason but to deal with the growing resentment at the level of disruption in Fermanagh as a result of the G8.
"Already we have been told that schools are closing with exams disrupted, hospital appointments cancelled, waterways are closing, driving lessons and tests cancelled, mobile phone coverage impacted and all road works have been cancelled.
"This is not a proportionate response to dealing with a gathering of eight men and women who are simply coming to Fermanagh to perpetuate the myth that they speak for the whole world.
"Tangible economic benefits will be minor and very short lived. At this morning's meeting of the Enterprise, Trade & Investment committee, we received information on the economic 'benefits' of the 2010 G8 summit in Scotland.
"This summit cost £90.9m to host, two thirds of which was paid by the Scottish government, not the British government, and the actual benefit to the Scottish economy was a meagre £4.6 million.
"I have now asked for a similar piece of work to be done based on sensible predictions for the forthcoming G8 summit in Fermanagh."
Dearcadh Eile - An alternative outlook on things by Phil Flanagan.
Thursday 16 May 2013
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Saturday 11 May 2013
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Flanagan welcomes £5 million rural broadband investment
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has welcomed confirmation from the Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill that her Department is to invest £5 million in improving broadband in rural areas across the north and that the 4,000 premises across 977 post code areas across Fermanagh unable to access fixed line broadband would be the top priority for this funding.
Mr Flanagan was speaking after questioning the Minister in the Chamber on the matter.
The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said:
"This is very welcome news; for some time the Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development has been assessing how best to invest this £5 million and she has now confirmed that areas of high deprivation will be funded as a priority and funding will be rolled out across as many of the rural not spots as possible.
"The Minister has also confirmed to me that this project will be commencing shortly with procurement and implementation on the ground expected to start this summer and the project completed in spring 2015.
"Many rural dwellers in Fermanagh cannot access any form of reliable or affordable form of internet connection and it is vital that government steps in and delivers where there are clear gaps in current provision.
"Broadband for people in rural areas is a must; it can no longer be regarded as an optional extra.
"Those trying to run a business need it, those going through our education system need it and rural dwellers can no longer be left in the dark ages."
Notes to Editors: Transcript from Question Time where the matter was discussed is included below.
2. Mr Flanagan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the areas of Fermanagh to which she plans to allocate further resources to improve rural broadband coverage. (AQO 3955/11-15)
Mrs O'Neill: I am pleased to announce to the House today that the £5 million that I am committing to the broadband delivery project will be used exclusively to target rural areas of high deprivation across the North that currently have no fixed wire infrastructure to access broadband. I hope that the funding will stimulate companies supplying broadband to get into rural areas and to use the infrastructure to provide access to rural dwellers and businesses to use broadband. I want the investment to stimulate rural businesses and give rural dwellers a wider access to services via broadband.
Regarding Fermanagh, there are some 4,000 premises listed as being rural across 977 postcodes. I want as many of those premises as possible to benefit from our funding.
Although areas of high deprivation will initially be funded as a priority, funding will be rolled out across as many of the rural "not spots" as possible. My Department is also involved in some other initiatives to encourage better take-up of broadband, particularly by farmers. All of us need to think seriously about using broadband as a better way to do business.
Mr Flanagan: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answer and for her announcement to the House that this is finally going to be invested in, although I thought that she was going to say that it was going to be exclusively for Fermanagh.
Will the Minister provide the House with an update as to when the initiative will begin and when we can expect to see an improvement on the ground?
Mrs O'Neill: I thank the Member for his question. I am sure that he is very glad to hear that the project will benefit all rural dwellers in the North and not just those in Fermanagh. He asked about the timescale and delivery. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) project, which we are engaging with, has already started, and the procurement and implementation on the ground is to start in the summer, so we are very quickly coming up to that date. The intention is that the project will be finished by spring 2015, with many elements in place not long after the project hits the ground. The aim is to get access to as many people as possible, but for some of the more complicated and hard-to-reach areas, the timescale is until spring 2015.
Mr Flanagan was speaking after questioning the Minister in the Chamber on the matter.
The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said:
"This is very welcome news; for some time the Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development has been assessing how best to invest this £5 million and she has now confirmed that areas of high deprivation will be funded as a priority and funding will be rolled out across as many of the rural not spots as possible.
"The Minister has also confirmed to me that this project will be commencing shortly with procurement and implementation on the ground expected to start this summer and the project completed in spring 2015.
"Many rural dwellers in Fermanagh cannot access any form of reliable or affordable form of internet connection and it is vital that government steps in and delivers where there are clear gaps in current provision.
"Broadband for people in rural areas is a must; it can no longer be regarded as an optional extra.
"Those trying to run a business need it, those going through our education system need it and rural dwellers can no longer be left in the dark ages."
Notes to Editors: Transcript from Question Time where the matter was discussed is included below.
2. Mr Flanagan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the areas of Fermanagh to which she plans to allocate further resources to improve rural broadband coverage. (AQO 3955/11-15)
Mrs O'Neill: I am pleased to announce to the House today that the £5 million that I am committing to the broadband delivery project will be used exclusively to target rural areas of high deprivation across the North that currently have no fixed wire infrastructure to access broadband. I hope that the funding will stimulate companies supplying broadband to get into rural areas and to use the infrastructure to provide access to rural dwellers and businesses to use broadband. I want the investment to stimulate rural businesses and give rural dwellers a wider access to services via broadband.
Regarding Fermanagh, there are some 4,000 premises listed as being rural across 977 postcodes. I want as many of those premises as possible to benefit from our funding.
Although areas of high deprivation will initially be funded as a priority, funding will be rolled out across as many of the rural "not spots" as possible. My Department is also involved in some other initiatives to encourage better take-up of broadband, particularly by farmers. All of us need to think seriously about using broadband as a better way to do business.
Mr Flanagan: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answer and for her announcement to the House that this is finally going to be invested in, although I thought that she was going to say that it was going to be exclusively for Fermanagh.
Will the Minister provide the House with an update as to when the initiative will begin and when we can expect to see an improvement on the ground?
Mrs O'Neill: I thank the Member for his question. I am sure that he is very glad to hear that the project will benefit all rural dwellers in the North and not just those in Fermanagh. He asked about the timescale and delivery. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) project, which we are engaging with, has already started, and the procurement and implementation on the ground is to start in the summer, so we are very quickly coming up to that date. The intention is that the project will be finished by spring 2015, with many elements in place not long after the project hits the ground. The aim is to get access to as many people as possible, but for some of the more complicated and hard-to-reach areas, the timescale is until spring 2015.
Monday 6 May 2013
Seven permanent new mobile phone masts for Fermanagh. Fact or Fiction?
Reacting to the claim from ETI Minister Arlene Foster that seven
temporary mobile phone masts to be erected in Fermanagh may become a
permanent feature, Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan said:
"As we all know, the PSNI have submitted planning applications for three temporary mobile phone masts at Grosvenor Barracks and one at the Lough Erne Resort and a consultancy firm has also sought permission to replace an existing mast on behalf of O2 and Vodafone near the resort.
"If this is the best that Arlene Foster and her department can achieve in terms of legacy development from the G8 then the people of Fermanagh will once again be sorely disappointed.
"When the announcement was made that the G8 was coming to Fermanagh, we were assured by the Minister that the gaps in telecommunications infrastructure across rural Fermanagh would be at the top of the agenda and would be dealt with.
"It certainly appears that this isn't the case as there is no mention of improving mobile phone coverage in most areas and certainly not in places of great need like Derrygonnelly, Boa or Tempo.
"Trying to claim that masts being erected by the PSNI, for their own purposes, as having some form of positive benefit for the average citizen of Fermanagh, shows the desperation of some to portray the G8 in a positive light.
"It is also important for people to recognise that the broadband masts being erected in Boa and Belleek, have been in the pipeline for a considerable period, long before the G8 was announced and are being taken forward by a local company reacting to a genuine need from local residents.
"There are six weeks left until the G8 summit takes place and to date, Fermanagh has little to show for it except a few coats of paint, some shiny new railings and a certainty that a whole host of inconvenience will follow.
"It is time that this Minister actually started to deliver for the people of Fermanagh instead of selling what is an epic failure on her department's behalf as some sort of victory."
"As we all know, the PSNI have submitted planning applications for three temporary mobile phone masts at Grosvenor Barracks and one at the Lough Erne Resort and a consultancy firm has also sought permission to replace an existing mast on behalf of O2 and Vodafone near the resort.
"If this is the best that Arlene Foster and her department can achieve in terms of legacy development from the G8 then the people of Fermanagh will once again be sorely disappointed.
"When the announcement was made that the G8 was coming to Fermanagh, we were assured by the Minister that the gaps in telecommunications infrastructure across rural Fermanagh would be at the top of the agenda and would be dealt with.
"It certainly appears that this isn't the case as there is no mention of improving mobile phone coverage in most areas and certainly not in places of great need like Derrygonnelly, Boa or Tempo.
"Trying to claim that masts being erected by the PSNI, for their own purposes, as having some form of positive benefit for the average citizen of Fermanagh, shows the desperation of some to portray the G8 in a positive light.
"It is also important for people to recognise that the broadband masts being erected in Boa and Belleek, have been in the pipeline for a considerable period, long before the G8 was announced and are being taken forward by a local company reacting to a genuine need from local residents.
"There are six weeks left until the G8 summit takes place and to date, Fermanagh has little to show for it except a few coats of paint, some shiny new railings and a certainty that a whole host of inconvenience will follow.
"It is time that this Minister actually started to deliver for the people of Fermanagh instead of selling what is an epic failure on her department's behalf as some sort of victory."
Flanagan joins Congenital Heart Surgery Protest
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has joined Fermanagh families of children
with congenital heart disease in their campaign for the retention of
services in Belfast, in an integrated all-Ireland operating model.
Speaking after attending a protest outside the Townhall, Enniskillen on Saturday morning, Mr Flanagan said:
"Firstly, I would commend the courage and bravery of the very many families who are active in the campaign around this issue.
"Without their campaign, it is likely that this proposed closure would never have been subject to the same level of scrutiny and political oversight.
"The first option from the so-called experts was to simply close the facility in Belfast and transfer all of the patients to England, which is completely unacceptable as the travel times are too lengthy for children in such poor health.
"The current proposal fails to allow for surgery to be routinely shared between Belfast and Dublin in a genuine all-island approach.
"Sinn Féin believes an all-Ireland approach to children's congenital care is the best option, for patients, for families and for the health service.
"People need to come first before statistics and the solution that provides a professional, sustainable and most of all safe cardiac surgery procedure on this island must take preference.
"The final decision on this matter rests with the Health Minister Edwin Poots and he has given the Health Committee an assurance that he will be appearing before it in advance of making any decision.
"Sinn Féin will use that opportunity, and every other possible opportunity, to outline our support for an all-island approach to congenital heart surgery and our support for the families of those who need such a service."
Speaking after attending a protest outside the Townhall, Enniskillen on Saturday morning, Mr Flanagan said:
"Firstly, I would commend the courage and bravery of the very many families who are active in the campaign around this issue."Without their campaign, it is likely that this proposed closure would never have been subject to the same level of scrutiny and political oversight.
"The first option from the so-called experts was to simply close the facility in Belfast and transfer all of the patients to England, which is completely unacceptable as the travel times are too lengthy for children in such poor health.
"The current proposal fails to allow for surgery to be routinely shared between Belfast and Dublin in a genuine all-island approach.
"Sinn Féin believes an all-Ireland approach to children's congenital care is the best option, for patients, for families and for the health service.
"People need to come first before statistics and the solution that provides a professional, sustainable and most of all safe cardiac surgery procedure on this island must take preference.
"The final decision on this matter rests with the Health Minister Edwin Poots and he has given the Health Committee an assurance that he will be appearing before it in advance of making any decision.
"Sinn Féin will use that opportunity, and every other possible opportunity, to outline our support for an all-island approach to congenital heart surgery and our support for the families of those who need such a service."
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Flanagan welcomes additional car parking at South West Hospital
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has welcomed the submission of a planning application to allow the creation of an additional 143 car parking spaces at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
Mr Flanagan said:
"Since the opening of this new hospital, one of the most frequent complaints made to me and to the trust has been around the lack of car parking facilities.
"I am glad to see that the trust have responded positively to this feedback and that plans for further car parking are at an advanced stage.
"Users of the hospital will welcome this development and we will all look forward to access to the hospital being made much easier.
"I will continue to work constructively with hospital users and the trust to resolve some of the other outstanding issues with the new hospital."
Mr Flanagan said:
"Since the opening of this new hospital, one of the most frequent complaints made to me and to the trust has been around the lack of car parking facilities.
"I am glad to see that the trust have responded positively to this feedback and that plans for further car parking are at an advanced stage.
"Users of the hospital will welcome this development and we will all look forward to access to the hospital being made much easier.
"I will continue to work constructively with hospital users and the trust to resolve some of the other outstanding issues with the new hospital."
Monday 29 April 2013
Flanagan represents Assembly at Major EU Conference on Youth EU Unemployment
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan (Fermanagh & South Tyrone) has today
(Monday) represented the Assembly at a major EU Conference in Dublin
Castle aimed at addressing the growing problem of youth unemployment in
Europe.
The Oireachtas Joint Committees on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and on Education and Social Protection co-hosted the meeting of Chairpersons of Employment, Enterprise, Innovation and Social Affairs Committees of EU Member States and the European Parliament in the fifth of eight meetings as part of the six month Irish Presidency of the EU.
The Conference was addressed by EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr László Andor, along with the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton TD.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Flanagan, who is the Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee, said:
"Each member state has its own particular problems to address, but across Ireland, our main problems are rising unemployment, rising emigration and the continuing collapse of the domestic economy.
"In the south, this is as a result of the disastrous policies introduced by Fianna Fáil and now being implemented by Fine Gael & Labour.
"In the north, our economic levers are largely still under the control of a British Tory led government, which has much in common with those in power in Dublin.
"Across the country, many families haven't enough to pay their basic households bills, let alone spend money on things often seen as optional extras, but which are a necessity to stimulate demand for jobs in our communities.
"The scale of the response from the EU Commission to this growing crisis is not proportionate to the scale of the problem itself.
"The estimated annual cost to the European economy of youth unemployment is €153 billion and the EU Commission plans to invest just €6 billion between 2014 and 2020 in a Youth Guarantee Scheme, which will offer further education, training or apprenticeships to people under 25 and only in members states with a youth unemployment rate above 25%, which would rule out the north of Ireland from any additional assistance.
"Many of the young unemployed people across Ireland are already highly skilled and highly educated; offering them additional training is not the solution to this crisis.
"The problem is a complete lack of jobs and as a result our young people are being left with no option but to emigrate in search of employment.
"If the EU Commission and the British and Irish governments are serious about addressing this issue, then they will put much more emphasis on growing the domestic economy, increasing consumer demand and investing in much needed infrastructure.
"Investing in tokenistic schemes such as this can be worthwhile, but only as part of a much wider package encouraging sustainable economic growth."
Notes to Editors:
To download a photograph of those in attendance at the meeting, click the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8691783143_1cb4104a0d_o_d.jpg
The Oireachtas Joint Committees on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and on Education and Social Protection co-hosted the meeting of Chairpersons of Employment, Enterprise, Innovation and Social Affairs Committees of EU Member States and the European Parliament in the fifth of eight meetings as part of the six month Irish Presidency of the EU.
The Conference was addressed by EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr László Andor, along with the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton TD.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Flanagan, who is the Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee, said:
"Each member state has its own particular problems to address, but across Ireland, our main problems are rising unemployment, rising emigration and the continuing collapse of the domestic economy.
"In the south, this is as a result of the disastrous policies introduced by Fianna Fáil and now being implemented by Fine Gael & Labour.
"In the north, our economic levers are largely still under the control of a British Tory led government, which has much in common with those in power in Dublin.
"Across the country, many families haven't enough to pay their basic households bills, let alone spend money on things often seen as optional extras, but which are a necessity to stimulate demand for jobs in our communities.
"The scale of the response from the EU Commission to this growing crisis is not proportionate to the scale of the problem itself.
"The estimated annual cost to the European economy of youth unemployment is €153 billion and the EU Commission plans to invest just €6 billion between 2014 and 2020 in a Youth Guarantee Scheme, which will offer further education, training or apprenticeships to people under 25 and only in members states with a youth unemployment rate above 25%, which would rule out the north of Ireland from any additional assistance.
"Many of the young unemployed people across Ireland are already highly skilled and highly educated; offering them additional training is not the solution to this crisis.
"The problem is a complete lack of jobs and as a result our young people are being left with no option but to emigrate in search of employment.
"If the EU Commission and the British and Irish governments are serious about addressing this issue, then they will put much more emphasis on growing the domestic economy, increasing consumer demand and investing in much needed infrastructure.
"Investing in tokenistic schemes such as this can be worthwhile, but only as part of a much wider package encouraging sustainable economic growth."
Notes to Editors:
To download a photograph of those in attendance at the meeting, click the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8691783143_1cb4104a0d_o_d.jpg
Xtravision receivership a major blow across the island
Speaking following the announcement that Xtravision is entering
receivership Sinn Féin spokespeople North and South have criticised the
austerity policies being implemented across the island.
The party's spokesperson on Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Peadar Tóibín TD said;
"Xtravision is the latest victim of government's pro cyclical economic policies. The domestic economy, which accounts for 78% of employment in Ireland, remains on the floor after five years of failed austerity policies and economic mismanagement.
"In the south over 50,000 jobs have been lost and tens of thousands more are in jeopardy. Anger, frustration and desperation are common amongst retailers as they see their livelihoods and lifetime investments disappear.
"All the while the government remains steadfast in the pursuit of their hands off policies that have led to this trading environment. They have failed to address the cost base such as upward only rents, some of the highest utility costs in Europe and regressive rates.
"Shockingly, despite achieving 95% of the Action plan for Jobs the government has failed to lift either demand or expectations. Throughout Europe there is a realisation of the need to lift austerity and stimulate the economy is emerging.
"This is what Sinn Féin has being saying solidly for five years. How long before our own government gets up to speed?"
Fermanagh MLA Phil Flanagan said;
"This is a blow to workers across the island. We have the same failing polices being implemented by the Tory parties in London and Dublin. This policy is costing jobs and driving emigration. It is clear that the economies North and South require investment.
"The first step here in the North must be for Stormont to have the power to determine its own economic future. It is clear we need investment to grow the domestic economy, meet the challenges of new technology, to build demand, and deliver economic growth and jobs.
"The people best placed to resolve this matter do not reside in Westminster but in communities across the North. I will again raise this matter with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the North."
The party's spokesperson on Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Peadar Tóibín TD said;
"Xtravision is the latest victim of government's pro cyclical economic policies. The domestic economy, which accounts for 78% of employment in Ireland, remains on the floor after five years of failed austerity policies and economic mismanagement.
"In the south over 50,000 jobs have been lost and tens of thousands more are in jeopardy. Anger, frustration and desperation are common amongst retailers as they see their livelihoods and lifetime investments disappear.
"All the while the government remains steadfast in the pursuit of their hands off policies that have led to this trading environment. They have failed to address the cost base such as upward only rents, some of the highest utility costs in Europe and regressive rates.
"Shockingly, despite achieving 95% of the Action plan for Jobs the government has failed to lift either demand or expectations. Throughout Europe there is a realisation of the need to lift austerity and stimulate the economy is emerging.
"This is what Sinn Féin has being saying solidly for five years. How long before our own government gets up to speed?"
Fermanagh MLA Phil Flanagan said;
"This is a blow to workers across the island. We have the same failing polices being implemented by the Tory parties in London and Dublin. This policy is costing jobs and driving emigration. It is clear that the economies North and South require investment.
"The first step here in the North must be for Stormont to have the power to determine its own economic future. It is clear we need investment to grow the domestic economy, meet the challenges of new technology, to build demand, and deliver economic growth and jobs.
"The people best placed to resolve this matter do not reside in Westminster but in communities across the North. I will again raise this matter with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in the North."
Tuesday 23 April 2013
Petition to Abolish Roaming in Ireland Gaining Momentum - Flanagan
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has said that the online petition seeking the abolition of roaming charges in Ireland he started last week has gained considerable momentum in a short period of time and has now attracted over 750 signatories.
Mr Flanagan, who is the Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee, launched the petition after being told by a representative of one of the main mobile phone operators that there was no demand among consumers here for the abolition of roaming charges in Ireland.
Mr Flanagan said:
"As someone living in and representing a border constituency, I know all too well the impact that excessive roaming charges have on mobile phone users, on businesses and on the ability of people to freely move around Ireland.
"From a consumer point of view, it is particularly frustrating in Ireland, where operators such as O2, Vodafone & Three have networks on both sides of the border and where roaming charges are incurred, it is simply a case of a company taking money from customers and moving it to another arm within that company, with no actual cost incurred.
"As someone with a background in telecommunications, I know that consumers want to see all roaming charges abolished and it is my intention that this petition be used to send a very clear message to the operators that enough is enough and that roaming charges must be abolished.
"I would appeal to people to sign this petition and outline their opposition to roaming charges."
Notes to Editors:
The petition can be signed online at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/abolish-roaming-charges-in-ireland/ and hard copies will be distributed in all local areas in the coming period.
Ederney GP Surgery Must Be Maintained - Flanagan
A sizeable crowd gathered in Ederney Townhall last night (Monday) to discuss the continuing lack of a consistent GP in the local surgery following the retirement of Dr Mellotte over 12 months ago.
At present, the local community is served by a range of locum doctors with the individual care provider changing on a daily basis and this has raised considerable concerns among members about the lack of a continuity of care.
Among those who attended the meeting were Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone Phil Flanagan and Erne North Councillor Stephen Huggett.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Flanagan said:
"The large crowd in attendance at this meeting demonstrates the strength of feeling in the local community and the need for clarity to be provided to patients of the practice.
"It is wholly unacceptable that for so long the people of Ederney and the surrounding areas have had no continuity of care from their local GP surgery.
"One of the outcomes from this meeting is that I have been asked to arrange and facilitate a meeting with representatives of the Health & Social Care Board, local political representatives and a small number of people from the local community to provide answers on why this process has taken so long and why no permanent GP has yet been appointed to Ederney.
"We will want to seek assurances from the Board that they are committed to maintaining a full time GP Surgery in Ederney as the people of this area deserve nothing less and as this process continues, the appointment of a regular locum GP needs to happen to ensure there is some level of continuity until the new permanent GP takes over, which could be several months away."
At present, the local community is served by a range of locum doctors with the individual care provider changing on a daily basis and this has raised considerable concerns among members about the lack of a continuity of care.
Among those who attended the meeting were Sinn Féin MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone Phil Flanagan and Erne North Councillor Stephen Huggett.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Flanagan said:
"The large crowd in attendance at this meeting demonstrates the strength of feeling in the local community and the need for clarity to be provided to patients of the practice.
"It is wholly unacceptable that for so long the people of Ederney and the surrounding areas have had no continuity of care from their local GP surgery.
"One of the outcomes from this meeting is that I have been asked to arrange and facilitate a meeting with representatives of the Health & Social Care Board, local political representatives and a small number of people from the local community to provide answers on why this process has taken so long and why no permanent GP has yet been appointed to Ederney.
"We will want to seek assurances from the Board that they are committed to maintaining a full time GP Surgery in Ederney as the people of this area deserve nothing less and as this process continues, the appointment of a regular locum GP needs to happen to ensure there is some level of continuity until the new permanent GP takes over, which could be several months away."
Wednesday 17 April 2013
Enterprise Committee to Quiz Mobile Operators on Roaming Charges, Coverage Gaps & 4G Rollout
The Assembly's Committee for Enterprise, Trade & Investment will
tomorrow (Thursday) hear from representatives of the main mobile phone
companies, including O2, Vodafone, Everything Everywhere (T-Mobile &
Orange) and 3 network on roaming charges, coverage caps and the
roll-out of 4G technology.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Deputy Chair of the Committee and Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan said
"The Enterprise Committee recently took evidence from Ofcom on the issue of roaming charges following the publication of its latest Telecommunications Market Report in July 2012.
"That report indicated that consumers in border areas were paying up to £300 a year in inadvertent roaming charges and that around £11 million was being lost to the local economy as a result.
"It is unacceptable that companies such as O2, Vodafone and 3 network, which operate across the island of Ireland, continue to impose unacceptable roaming charges on unsuspecting consumers.
"These excessive premiums are simply profiteering as there is no additional operating costs incurred by the companies, as the majority of consumers roam onto a network that is owned by the same parent company as the home network provider.
"I will be seeking to very clearly send the operators a message that it is time they stopped ripping consumers off when it comes to roaming charges.
"This will also be a good opportunity for the committee to find out more about the planned rollout of 4G technology across the north and the impact it will have on access to mobile phone and high-speed broadband coverage, particularly in rural communities, many of which currently have no access at present.
"The committee will also want to question the operators on any future planned infrastructure improvements and what efforts they are making to tap into the £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project, which is specifically there to deal with mobile blackspots."
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Deputy Chair of the Committee and Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan said
"The Enterprise Committee recently took evidence from Ofcom on the issue of roaming charges following the publication of its latest Telecommunications Market Report in July 2012.
"That report indicated that consumers in border areas were paying up to £300 a year in inadvertent roaming charges and that around £11 million was being lost to the local economy as a result.
"It is unacceptable that companies such as O2, Vodafone and 3 network, which operate across the island of Ireland, continue to impose unacceptable roaming charges on unsuspecting consumers.
"These excessive premiums are simply profiteering as there is no additional operating costs incurred by the companies, as the majority of consumers roam onto a network that is owned by the same parent company as the home network provider.
"I will be seeking to very clearly send the operators a message that it is time they stopped ripping consumers off when it comes to roaming charges.
"This will also be a good opportunity for the committee to find out more about the planned rollout of 4G technology across the north and the impact it will have on access to mobile phone and high-speed broadband coverage, particularly in rural communities, many of which currently have no access at present.
"The committee will also want to question the operators on any future planned infrastructure improvements and what efforts they are making to tap into the £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project, which is specifically there to deal with mobile blackspots."
Wednesday 10 April 2013
Sinn Féin MLA rubbishes latest fracking report
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan said the latest study
published in the Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology, which claims
that fracking is 'not a significant cause of earthquakes that can be
felt on the surface' is irrelevant.
The Fermanagh/South Tyrone MLA who is Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee and the party's energy spokesperson said:
"This report is the latest in a long list of narrow pieces of work carried out into fracking, which completely fails to look at the wider issues raised by those opposed to it.
"It ignores concerns of widespread environmental damage, the impact on public health, the potential for water contamination all through causing earthquakes under the surface.
"Whether fracking causes earthquakes that can be felt on the surface is largely irrelevant. What is much more important is its potential to leak harmful poisons into our water supply.
"Without addressing all of the concerns that those of us opposed to fracking have, this report will play very little part in the debate that needs to happen on whether we allow fracking to take place in Ireland or not."
The Fermanagh/South Tyrone MLA who is Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee and the party's energy spokesperson said:
"This report is the latest in a long list of narrow pieces of work carried out into fracking, which completely fails to look at the wider issues raised by those opposed to it.
"It ignores concerns of widespread environmental damage, the impact on public health, the potential for water contamination all through causing earthquakes under the surface.
"Whether fracking causes earthquakes that can be felt on the surface is largely irrelevant. What is much more important is its potential to leak harmful poisons into our water supply.
"Without addressing all of the concerns that those of us opposed to fracking have, this report will play very little part in the debate that needs to happen on whether we allow fracking to take place in Ireland or not."
Friday 5 April 2013
70 Week Wait for Routine Orthopaedic Surgery Scandalous - Flanagan
Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has said that the current growing backlog
for routine orthopaedic surgery with the Western Health & Social
Care Trust area is scandalous.
The delay is being blamed on the fire in Altnagevlin Hospital in November 2012 and the fact that trust also does not have the capacity to meet the current demand with orthopaedics.
Mr Flanagan said:
"I have been contacted by a number of people who are on this lengthy waiting list in the Western Trust area for elective Orthopaedic surgery.
"Most of these people are in considerable discomfort and urgently need this treatment.
"For anyone to be told that they have to wait 70 weeks for a routine procedure is scandalous.
"I certainly share people's frustration at this unacceptable delay.
"Much more must be done to ensure that our citizens in need of medical treatment are given a good quality of life and are not left in agony, while the Health Service tries to get its act together.
"It is not acceptable to simply transfer a significant number of people to the private sector at huge expense to meet the waiting list targets.
"A much more long term, better thought out plan for dealing with such issues needs to be delivered."
Notes to Editors:
In response to a query from Mr Flanagan, the Chief Executive of the Western Health & Social Care Trust, Elaine way said:
"As a result of a major incident, the Trust's capacity to perform elective orthopaedic surgery has been affected and this has resulted in delays in patients receiving their procedures.
"I can advise that the current longest waiting time for orthopaedic surgery is 70 weeks.
"In addition, the Trust does not have capacity to meet the demand within orthopaedics.
"The Trust continues to work with the Health & Social Care Board to reduce waiting times in this specialty.
"However, the Trust is working towards achieving a 30 week maximum wait for patients through use of the Independent Sector for those patients who are deemed clinically fit to have surgery elsewhere."
Copy of Written Question tabled by Mr Flanagan on the matter and the response from Health Minister Edwin Poots
AQW 20909/11-15 - Altnagevlin Hospital
Phil Flanagan MLA (Fermanagh & South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what impact the recent fire at Altnagevlin Hospital has had on waiting times for routine procedures in each medical discipline.
Edwin Poots MLA (Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety):
I am advised by the Western Health and Social Care Trust that the fire incident that took place on 23 November 2012 and associated water damage to the wards immediately resulted in several wards being relocated throughout the hospital and to the Waterside Hospital with some elective surgery in all specialities being cancelled. The Trust's Business Continuity arrangements ensured that those patients whose procedures were cancelled during that week were rescheduled as quickly as possible and as a result this had no material impact on waiting times in most specialities.
The exception is the orthopaedic speciality. The orthopaedic ward was relocated to a ward with a reduced bed complement while work is underway to refurbish an alternative ward. This has resulted in a reduction of 14 beds and a loss of side rooms, which has had a significant impact on orthopaedic treatment times. The refurbished ward space with full bed numbers will be operational in June 2013.
I have made £19 million additional funding available to the Health and Social Care Board in 2012/13 to address lengthy waiting times across Northern Ireland, including waiting times in the orthopaedics speciality.
The delay is being blamed on the fire in Altnagevlin Hospital in November 2012 and the fact that trust also does not have the capacity to meet the current demand with orthopaedics.
Mr Flanagan said:
"I have been contacted by a number of people who are on this lengthy waiting list in the Western Trust area for elective Orthopaedic surgery.
"Most of these people are in considerable discomfort and urgently need this treatment.
"For anyone to be told that they have to wait 70 weeks for a routine procedure is scandalous.
"I certainly share people's frustration at this unacceptable delay.
"Much more must be done to ensure that our citizens in need of medical treatment are given a good quality of life and are not left in agony, while the Health Service tries to get its act together.
"It is not acceptable to simply transfer a significant number of people to the private sector at huge expense to meet the waiting list targets.
"A much more long term, better thought out plan for dealing with such issues needs to be delivered."
Notes to Editors:
In response to a query from Mr Flanagan, the Chief Executive of the Western Health & Social Care Trust, Elaine way said:
"As a result of a major incident, the Trust's capacity to perform elective orthopaedic surgery has been affected and this has resulted in delays in patients receiving their procedures.
"I can advise that the current longest waiting time for orthopaedic surgery is 70 weeks.
"In addition, the Trust does not have capacity to meet the demand within orthopaedics.
"The Trust continues to work with the Health & Social Care Board to reduce waiting times in this specialty.
"However, the Trust is working towards achieving a 30 week maximum wait for patients through use of the Independent Sector for those patients who are deemed clinically fit to have surgery elsewhere."
Copy of Written Question tabled by Mr Flanagan on the matter and the response from Health Minister Edwin Poots
AQW 20909/11-15 - Altnagevlin Hospital
Phil Flanagan MLA (Fermanagh & South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what impact the recent fire at Altnagevlin Hospital has had on waiting times for routine procedures in each medical discipline.
Edwin Poots MLA (Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety):
I am advised by the Western Health and Social Care Trust that the fire incident that took place on 23 November 2012 and associated water damage to the wards immediately resulted in several wards being relocated throughout the hospital and to the Waterside Hospital with some elective surgery in all specialities being cancelled. The Trust's Business Continuity arrangements ensured that those patients whose procedures were cancelled during that week were rescheduled as quickly as possible and as a result this had no material impact on waiting times in most specialities.
The exception is the orthopaedic speciality. The orthopaedic ward was relocated to a ward with a reduced bed complement while work is underway to refurbish an alternative ward. This has resulted in a reduction of 14 beds and a loss of side rooms, which has had a significant impact on orthopaedic treatment times. The refurbished ward space with full bed numbers will be operational in June 2013.
I have made £19 million additional funding available to the Health and Social Care Board in 2012/13 to address lengthy waiting times across Northern Ireland, including waiting times in the orthopaedics speciality.
Thursday 4 April 2013
Oil Federation missing the point - Flanagan
Sinn Féin Phil Flanagan MLA said the flippant response by the NI Oil
Federation to the recent report by the Consumer Council of a 60%
increase in home heating oil prices in three years amounts to the
Federation burying its head in the sand.
The Fermanagh/South Tyrone MLA and party Energy Spokesperson said
"I welcome the publication of this latest report from the Consumer Council and fully support their call for the introduction of regulation into the home heating oil market.
"However the response from the NI Oil Federation is predictable, has completely missed the point and amounts to the Federation burying its head in the sand regarding the scale of the problem facing many households.
"The two thirds of homes here who use home heating oil deserve transparency on what they are spending their money on and at present they do not have that.
"We know that oil distribution companies are struggling to survive as their own operating and transportation costs continue to soar.
"While the delivery companies could change their operations in order to reduce the price that consumers pay, the main problem stems from the multi-national companies.
"Consumers have a right to see how much of a cut these multi-national companies bringing the oil into the local market take before they sell it onto the smaller distributors.
"Only the introduction of regulation ensuring price transparency, greater health and safety protection as well as measures to improve the efficiency of oil boilers can help drive down the cost of energy for households and inject some much needed confidence into the sector."
The Fermanagh/South Tyrone MLA and party Energy Spokesperson said
"I welcome the publication of this latest report from the Consumer Council and fully support their call for the introduction of regulation into the home heating oil market.
"However the response from the NI Oil Federation is predictable, has completely missed the point and amounts to the Federation burying its head in the sand regarding the scale of the problem facing many households.
"The two thirds of homes here who use home heating oil deserve transparency on what they are spending their money on and at present they do not have that.
"We know that oil distribution companies are struggling to survive as their own operating and transportation costs continue to soar.
"While the delivery companies could change their operations in order to reduce the price that consumers pay, the main problem stems from the multi-national companies.
"Consumers have a right to see how much of a cut these multi-national companies bringing the oil into the local market take before they sell it onto the smaller distributors.
"Only the introduction of regulation ensuring price transparency, greater health and safety protection as well as measures to improve the efficiency of oil boilers can help drive down the cost of energy for households and inject some much needed confidence into the sector."
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