See Terry Blog for all news items /terrys-blog.html
January 2016
Sign the Petition - Save Roscommon
http://bit.ly/1JWTPGZ
Senator Terry Leyden opposes plans to change a county boundary that would put 12pc of Roscommon people into Westmeath.
___________________________________
June 2015:
17/06/2015: Motion in Seanad Eireann to oppose Closure of Rosalie Unit, Castlerea, Roscommon
http://www.terryleyden.com/terrys-blog/motion-to-oppose-closure-of-rosalie-unit-castlerea-roscommon-seanad-eireann
11/06/2015: Speaking on Rosalie Unit, Castlerea in Seanad Eireann 11th June 2015
10/06/2015: Senator Leyden calls for grant system for households with lead pipes
May 2015
Order of Business: Seanad Eireann: psychiatric services are being reduced throughout the country such as in Castlerea, County Roscommon
Link: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/zoomin?readform&chamber=seanad&memberid=636&pid=TerryLeyden&year=2015&month=05&day=07
The need for the Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for disability, mental health and older people to outline why psychiatric services are being reduced throughout the country such as in Castlerea, County Roscommon, where day care centres are under threat and where the futures of the Rosalie unit and the high support hostel in Knockroe remain unclear and staffing levels at the acute psychiatric unit remain a concern for staff.
I thank the Cathaoirleach for taking this motion today. While I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, I am very disappointed that the Minister of State with responsibility for this sector, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is not here today. It would nearly encourage me to postpone the issue completely. As a former Minister of State, I took many Adjournment motions in the Dáil and Seanad and I appreciate that people can be out of the country. I hope we will get a vehicle to raise this vital matter again.
The matter is the future of services for people in Roscommon who are suffering psychiatric problems. The Rosalie unit in Castlerea which accommodates people with psychiatry of older life issues is threatened and the future of the high support hostel at Knockroe, Castlerea is unclear. Staffing levels at the acute psychiatric unit remain a concern for staff. The issue has been raised by Councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice in Castlerea and Councillor Orla Leyden. Both have campaigned very strongly on the issue and have made very coherent arguments.
Councillor Fitzmaurice has criticised particularly the HSE's plans to close the unit in Castlerea and many community mental health facilities in Counties Roscommon and Galway. The plans by the Government and the HSE to evict these voiceless and vulnerable people from the Rosalie unit are a disgrace. With many people voicing opposition to this closure including nurses and doctors the Government must listen to the people of the county. I agree totally with Councillor Fitzmaurice in that regard. He has submitted very detailed documentation outlining what is happening on the ground in Roscommon.
in County Roscommon where day-care services are being dismantled and are under threat.
January 2016
Sign the Petition - Save Roscommon
http://bit.ly/1JWTPGZ
Senator Terry Leyden opposes plans to change a county boundary that would put 12pc of Roscommon people into Westmeath.
___________________________________
June 2015:
17/06/2015: Motion in Seanad Eireann to oppose Closure of Rosalie Unit, Castlerea, Roscommon
http://www.terryleyden.com/terrys-blog/motion-to-oppose-closure-of-rosalie-unit-castlerea-roscommon-seanad-eireann
11/06/2015: Speaking on Rosalie Unit, Castlerea in Seanad Eireann 11th June 2015
10/06/2015: Senator Leyden calls for grant system for households with lead pipes
May 2015
Order of Business: Seanad Eireann: psychiatric services are being reduced throughout the country such as in Castlerea, County Roscommon
Link: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/zoomin?readform&chamber=seanad&memberid=636&pid=TerryLeyden&year=2015&month=05&day=07
The need for the Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for disability, mental health and older people to outline why psychiatric services are being reduced throughout the country such as in Castlerea, County Roscommon, where day care centres are under threat and where the futures of the Rosalie unit and the high support hostel in Knockroe remain unclear and staffing levels at the acute psychiatric unit remain a concern for staff.
I thank the Cathaoirleach for taking this motion today. While I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, I am very disappointed that the Minister of State with responsibility for this sector, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is not here today. It would nearly encourage me to postpone the issue completely. As a former Minister of State, I took many Adjournment motions in the Dáil and Seanad and I appreciate that people can be out of the country. I hope we will get a vehicle to raise this vital matter again.
The matter is the future of services for people in Roscommon who are suffering psychiatric problems. The Rosalie unit in Castlerea which accommodates people with psychiatry of older life issues is threatened and the future of the high support hostel at Knockroe, Castlerea is unclear. Staffing levels at the acute psychiatric unit remain a concern for staff. The issue has been raised by Councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice in Castlerea and Councillor Orla Leyden. Both have campaigned very strongly on the issue and have made very coherent arguments.
Councillor Fitzmaurice has criticised particularly the HSE's plans to close the unit in Castlerea and many community mental health facilities in Counties Roscommon and Galway. The plans by the Government and the HSE to evict these voiceless and vulnerable people from the Rosalie unit are a disgrace. With many people voicing opposition to this closure including nurses and doctors the Government must listen to the people of the county. I agree totally with Councillor Fitzmaurice in that regard. He has submitted very detailed documentation outlining what is happening on the ground in Roscommon.
in County Roscommon where day-care services are being dismantled and are under threat.
Feb 2015: Senator Terry Leyden - Guest Speaker at Irish Premiere of 'Endless Corridor"
http://www.terryleyden.com/terrys-blog/endless-corridor-irish-premiere-monday-february-16th-2015-guest-speaker
Senator Terry Leyden presents a report on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Montenegro to Council of Europe Assembly
Senator Terry Leyden (Ireland, ALDE) was appointed co-rapporteur by the Monitoring Committee on 27 February 2014.
See Report:
http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=21348&lang=en
See Report:
http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=21348&lang=en
Seanad Eireann: 31st January 2013: Speaking on the order of business on the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe
Senator Terry Leyden:
I wish to speak in support of colleagues who have spoken on the assassination of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. It was a heinous crime and everyone should concentrate on bringing to justice the perpetrators. I commend the credit union on putting up the reward of €50,000 for information leading to the conviction of the criminals who shot dead this wonderful garda. I extend my sympathy to his family and to the Garda Síochána in general. Since first entering public life, my experience of the Garda Síochána has been that it is a courageous, honest and disciplined force. It is not and has never been corrupt. This has been my personal experience while working with members of the Garda Síochána in the community, within the community forum and the joint policing committee. I was nominated to contest the Seanad election by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Superintendents.
Apart from that, based on all the dealings I have had with the force over that period, I wish to refute any allegation that might have been made against the Garda Síochána. As someone from County Roscommon, I disassociate myself from any comments made about this wonderful unarmed and courageous police force. From County Roscommon alone, Garda Dick Fallon was assassinated, Garda Hand was murdered and Garda Morley and Garda Byrne were murdered by activists in the IRA while robbing banks in pursuit of their political objective. This is a fact and as for anyone who would imply they are corrupt in any shape or form, I hope some member of the force will take legal action on this matter and assert that the Garda is not corrupt. Moreover, the Garda organisations should take whatever action is required to ensure that the reputation of the force is of the highest standing. These comments should be withdrawn publicly.
Speaking on Order of Business - 31st January 2013
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2013013100008?opendocument
I wish to speak in support of colleagues who have spoken on the assassination of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. It was a heinous crime and everyone should concentrate on bringing to justice the perpetrators. I commend the credit union on putting up the reward of €50,000 for information leading to the conviction of the criminals who shot dead this wonderful garda. I extend my sympathy to his family and to the Garda Síochána in general. Since first entering public life, my experience of the Garda Síochána has been that it is a courageous, honest and disciplined force. It is not and has never been corrupt. This has been my personal experience while working with members of the Garda Síochána in the community, within the community forum and the joint policing committee. I was nominated to contest the Seanad election by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Superintendents.
Apart from that, based on all the dealings I have had with the force over that period, I wish to refute any allegation that might have been made against the Garda Síochána. As someone from County Roscommon, I disassociate myself from any comments made about this wonderful unarmed and courageous police force. From County Roscommon alone, Garda Dick Fallon was assassinated, Garda Hand was murdered and Garda Morley and Garda Byrne were murdered by activists in the IRA while robbing banks in pursuit of their political objective. This is a fact and as for anyone who would imply they are corrupt in any shape or form, I hope some member of the force will take legal action on this matter and assert that the Garda is not corrupt. Moreover, the Garda organisations should take whatever action is required to ensure that the reputation of the force is of the highest standing. These comments should be withdrawn publicly.
Speaking on Order of Business - 31st January 2013
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2013013100008?opendocument
LEYDEN CALLS FOR RELEASE OF RUSSIAN ACTIVISTS
At a meeting of the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee in Paris this morning, Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden echoed calls from the Council for the immediate release of the so-called ‘Pussy Riot’ activists.
Senator Leyden is the Deputy Leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe and he welcomed the decision of the Council. “In a democracy, the right to freedom of expression may be subject to conditions intended to protect morals and the rights of others,” said Senator Leyden. “Any penalties imposed must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. The two-year sentence imposed on the three members of the ‘Pussy Riot’ group is hugely disproportionate and we are calling on them to be immediately released. “I hope that the Russian courts will review this conviction, taking into account the standards set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. “To be considered a truly democratic nation, which adheres to the basics of human rights, the Russian courts must review this decision and release the activists, whose punishment did not fit the crimes they are alleged to have committed.” Tragic death of Elaine Curley, Creggs
Speaking on the order of Business Thursday, 19 July 2012: I ask the Leader of the House to devote time today to debate another matter raised by Senator Norris, namely the tragic death of Ms Elaine Curley, who was only 19 years old. She was 15 minutes away from Roscommon Hospital when she was involved in a car crash on the Galway-Roscommon border. Due to the closure of the accident and emergency department in Roscommon Hospital, she died. She is the first real, declared tragedy of the decision by the Government of Deputies James Reilly and Enda Kenny, who gave commitments and promises to the people of Roscommon that the accident and emergency department in Roscommon would be retained. They misled the people. This young girl is a victim of the policies of the Fine Gael, Labour Government.
Angry scenes erupt in Seanad in debate over Roscommon death http://www.shannonside.ie/news-details.php?nid=12886 HSE defends two-hour tragic ambulance trip http://www.independent.ie/national-news/hse-defends-twohour-tragic-ambulance-trip-3174221.html Speaking on Order of Business - Roscommon County Hospital 14 September 2011 & 14 June 2011
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 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 |
|
Taoiseach must intervene to save MBNA jobs – Leyden - August 2011
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
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
25 May 2011: 24th Seanad meets
Jillian van Turnhout, Terry Leyden and Mary Ann O’Brien (left to right
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/
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0526/1224297787811.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/topic/24th-seanad/
September 2011: Fianna Fáil will not back Áras candidate
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
See related video on the issue on
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0920/president.html
Senator Terry Leyden speaking on the closure of Boyle courthouse - 26 October 2011
"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
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2011/10/26/00004.asp#N70
