Senator Terry Leyden - Recent Contribution

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

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/

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

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