Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. On this site you will find a variety of information about me, my policy interests, portfolio responsibilities and legislative efforts, and hopefully, the ways in which I can help you.

If there is a particular issue that is of concern, please contact me

Is mise le meas, Senator Terry Leyden

Diploma in Politics, Sociology and Economics (Extra Mural Course) Ceremony at UCG (NUI, Galway) with President Michael D. Higgins. 


I was delighted that the Roscommon People published this photograph this week. Included are the names of those in the picture

"I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the closure of courthouses. A courthouse is economically important to a town and the closure of Boyle courthouse will sound the death knell for the town. It will also have a major effect on the work of the Courts Service, solicitors, the presiding judge and the surrounding area. A courthouse has an economic benefit for a town and affords it prestige. ..."

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/10/26/00004.asp#N70

The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has decided that the party will not support any candidate in the forthcoming Presidential election.


See related video on the issue on
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0920/president.html

14 September 2011

I will continue to raise this issue in the Oireachtas until the people of Roscommon get the truth and a full explanation. WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN

 "I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, come to the House to explain his pre-election commitment on the retention of accident and emergency services at Roscommon County Hospital which have now been closed and to give a report to the House on the issues involved. This matter will not go away and will be neither forgiven nor forgotten as the people of County Roscommon have been badly let down. Commitments in writing were given by the Minister in advance of the general election and confirmed by the Taoiseach in The Square in Roscommon town before the election. The people of Roscommon-South Leitrim were conned, as they voted for two Fine Gael candidates, only one of whom remains in that party. The other resigned from the party and is now an Independent Member of Dáil Éireann because he could not live with the fact that he had been betrayed and, more importantly, the people of Roscommon had been betrayed by the commitments given by the Minister. If the Minister is able to visit China on a mission in the company of his private secretary, a councillor from north County Dublin and his wife----"


See full text: http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/09/14/00004.asp






I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing this motion on the Adjournment and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, for coming to the House to take it. Concerned constituents have brought to my attention their fears for the future of services at Roscommon County Hospital and the staff changeovers due on 11 July. It is vital the Minister, Deputy Reilly, clarifies this issue immediately. It is unacceptable to me that services at Roscommon County Hospital would be withdrawn. It is unacceptable that the accident and emergency service would only be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily and close from 5 p.m. on Friday until 8 a.m. on Monday. It is essential that accident and emergency services are available at Roscommon County Hospital on a 24-7 basis, as has been the case up to now. It is to be hoped the HSE suggestions in this regard will be overruled by the Minister.

Prior to the election, the Minister said that safety was not simply about surgical competence but also about timely access. Timed treatment, especially to remote geographical locations, is crucial. I wish to quote an extract from a pre-election commitment of the Minister:

This is key to allowing Roscommon Hospital, which does not have complex surgery, to retain the skill set required to incubate and ventilate and to have the ability to undertake less complex surgical procedures ... Furthermore, in the event of the A&E being downgraded, we are committed to reinstating a 24/7 service, where feasible ... To again reiterate, our core principle regarding health is that the patient be safely treated as close as possible to their home and Roscommon County Hospital is an integral part of this objective.

I hope the Minister of State will confirm that Roscommon County Hospital will retain its 24-hour, seven-day a week accident and emergency unit. This is crucial and is the most important issue in the constituency of Roscommon-South Leitrim, as it was when I was a Minister of State who successfully retained those services in the 1980s

Full transcript : http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/06/14/00007.asp
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION at: www.SaveRoscommonHospital.com

PRESIDENT MARY McAleese described the late Lieutenant General Dermot Earley as “one of the finest men ever born on this island” when she unveiled a memorial to the legendary Roscommon footballer in his home village of Gorthaganny on Saturday, 27 August 2011The Dermot Earley bronze figure will stand on a black granite base and will be set in front of a stone surround bearing two plaques, one highlighting both a proud football and army career, the latter which culminated in his promotion to Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces in April 2007.

The other plaque will contain the words of a philosophy of life which Dermot held dear, namely:

1. Enjoy time with my family.
2. Give the best to my work.
3. Give back to my community.
4. Spend my leisure time well.
5. Make time for God in my life.

Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to take the lead in negotiations to save hundreds of jobs at the MBNA credit card company in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Senator Leyden said: “The news that Bank of America is pulling its credit card business from Ireland comes as a major blow to Co Leitrim and to the entire region. MBNA is one of the largest employers in this area and plays important role in the local economy.

“Up to a thousand people working in the Carrick-on-Shannon office are now at risk of losing their jobs. This would be devastating for them and their families, and there would be a serious knock-on effect for the local economy.  The Government must do everything in its power to find a buyer for the firm in order to save as many jobs in Co Leitrim as possible.

“I am calling on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to urge him to intervene without delay. While I welcome the contact between the IDA and the Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton, this is a serious matter that requires the Taoiseach’s attention at such a crucial time.  The hundreds of MBNA staff in Carrick on Shannon need reassurance that the Government is taking this matter seriously and will fight to save as many jobs as possible.”

“As a long-standing customer of the MBNA, I can testify to the excellent service provided by the staff in Carrick-on-Shannon. There is no doubt in my mind that MBNA is leaving behind a highly-skilled and well trained workforce that would be an excellent asset to any potential buyer,” concluded Senator Leyden.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0816/breaking8.html

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?article_id=59187&locID=1.2&pagename=news TV3 outside Leinster House interviewing
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0526/1224297787811.html 

http://www.thejournal.ie/topic/24th-seanad/

Senator Terry Leyden has secured the imprimatur of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party to re-introduce his 2005 Registration of Wills Bill.The Bill seeks to establish a central authority for wills with the objective of easing the administration of estates and avoiding delays due to loss or destruction of the original will."I am delighted that the Parliamentary Party have endorsed my initiative;and it is now for the Government to acknowledge the common sense that informs my Bill; and to facilitate its progression through the Seanad, and then the Dáil."I look forward to its unanimous support, as was the case when I first introduced it " The Bill provides for a voluntary central register of the existence of a will indicating the location of the will (namely the solicitor's office)and other details. The need for such a register arises from the closure of  solicitor firms, and increased mobility in sourcing legal services. In addition, the Register will benefit family and succession litigation matters where confusion exists over whether a deceased has in fact made specific written instructions.Registration of Wills Bill, as passed by Seanad:http://dail.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2005/1805/b18a05s.pdf
Committee Stage:http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2005/1805/document1.htm

Seanad contribution raises priority of 'immoral' clamping

Senator Terry Leyden has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Mr. Leo Varadkar, 
that legislation regulating private clamping companies is soon to be introduced. Senator Leyden 
raised the issue in the Seanad, Wednesday last week, 23rd March.

"He responded speedily to the case I made in the Seanad, to control the activities of these 
clamping companies. There is no legislative authority for the activities of these companies, 
which are making life hell for law abiding citizens.

"I am calling this legislation to be introduced as matter of urgency; before the peak tourist 
season to avoid the stress and damage to the tourist industry as well as our our citizens.

"Even last night, I attended a meeting of Dublin City Council and witnessed  that a row of four cars were chained. Cars impounded without any
legislative basis"


ENDS:

Canvass Card 2011

Important dates Seanad Eireann

• The period for nominations by Nominating Bodies expired at noon Friday 11 March 2011. See Link of all nominations

• The period for nominations by members of the Oireachtas will expire at noon on Monday 21 March 2011.

• The Seanad Returning Officer will sit for the completion of the panels on Friday 25 March 2011.

• The ballot papers will be issued to the electorate on Thursday 7 April 2011

• The poll will close at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 26 April 2011

Roscommon Heritage Board Launch Biodiversity Posters at Roscommon Library on Thursday

Pictured with Fianna Fail candidates for Roscommon/South Leitrim for General Election 2011 submitting nomination papers at the Courthouse, Roscommon

Back Row: Cllr Martin Connaughton, Senator Terry Leyden, Minister Michael Finneran, Director of Elections, Mary Devine-O'Callaghan
Front Row: Ivan Connaughton, Candidate, Returning Officer, William Lyster, Cllr Gerry Kilraine, Candidate

Pictured at Micheál Martin's visit to Athleague on Wednesday evening:
Back L-R: Senator Paschal Mooney, Cllr Paddy Kilduff, Senator Terry Leyden, Cllr. John Cummins, Cllr Orla Leyden, Senator John Ellis, P Burke (Chairman Roscommon CDC), Cllr Eugene Murphy and his son Rian.
Front L-R: Cllr Martin Connaughton with his three grandchildren Ben, Katie and Martin, Cllr Rachel Doherty, Ivan Connaughton, Micheál Martin, Cllr Gerry Kilrane, Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice.


Photo: www.hursonphotography.com