John Lahart TD

Clarification on Some Important Items from Council's Directors of Service
The following mail was sent to counciilors today to clarify some key points concerning clubs who might be making applications under the Sports Capital Fund but who do not own their own land.

Dear Councillor,
I refer to the call for applications for Sports Capital Grants 2015 and wish to advise members of the current position in relation to the above matter and the conditions and criteria which must be adhered to by applicants in making applications in terms of land ownership and title. It is understood that a number of clubs are not eligible due to being unable to meet the criteria in respect of leases and / or land ownership.........

Fianna Fail stands for an open and inclusive society 
where the dignity and equality of every person is fully upheld.  From the decriminalization of homosexual acts in 1993 to the Civil Partnership Act of 2010, Fianna Fail has always played a pivotal role in legislating for key issues in the LGBT community, guided by the fundamental principle of equality among citizens.

Today I visited picketing Dunnes Stores workers at the Square, Tallaght and at Citywest Shopping Centre, and heard at first hand the reasons for their actions, which is not taken lightly. Workers are looking for (1) Secure hours and incomes (2) Secure jobs - many after years of working on contracts (3) Fair pay and (4) right to representation by their union.  I'm told that in the case of some stores no full-time employees have been taken on in seven years. Contracts prevent workers from planning their financial futures in terms of taking taking out loans or mortgages