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THE FIANNA FÁIL Ard Fheis is due to kick off at the INEC in Killarney at 7 pm tonight with an opening speech from party leader Micheál Martin.
This will be followed by discussions on mental health and the party’s finances.
Tomorrow will see a full day of events including debates on social equality, public expenditure, education and universal healthcare. The showpiece event will be a televised address from Martin at 8.30 pm.
Dozens of motions to be debated and voted on by the Ard Fheis delegates over the next two days.
We’ve combed through the Ard Fheis Clár (agenda) so you don’t have to and picked out a few motions we found interesting. The motions are arranged by department.
1. Motion 2 of this section calls for the abolition of JobBridge (or ‘Jobsbridge’ as it’s incorrectly called in the Clár) to end the “exploitation of young Irish people by the programme”.
2. Motion 6 proposes the establishment of a State-owned enterprise bank to support SMEs. Small and medium businesses come up a number of times throughout the document, including in the ‘finance’ section where it is suggested that the government should introduce a tax break for SMEs that hire an unemployed person under the age of 26.
3. Motion 3 focuses on cyber bullying and puts forward the idea that the government should have the power to “shut down a social media site that leads to the fatality of one of its citizens”.
4. Motion 8 is particularly topical given the recent publication of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate report into penalty points and the GSOC bugging controversy. It calls for the creation of an independent, non-departmental police commission “to meet the challenges of policing in Ireland in the 21st century” and “ensure accountability of policing”.
5. Motion 14 is sure to inspire a lively debate as it looks at “the damage being done to young people and society at large by the trend in new irresponsible drinking”. Ard Fheis delegates will be asked if the minimum age at which a person can buy alcohol in off licences should be raised to 21. The proposal states that any subsequent decrease in business would be offset by restating off sales trading hours to 11.30 pm.
TD Éamon Ó’Cuív and a delegate at Fianna Fáil’s 2013 Ard Fheis. (Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland.)
6. Property tax features a number of times in this section. Motion 3 states that the party’s official line on the tax should remain as one of disagreement, but, if it continues to be upheld, 10 per cent of the redistributed funds should go back to local councils in 2015. Related motions call for property tax on all private residences valued at €250,000 or less to be fixed at €100 annually and for pensioners with a combined household income of less than €55,000 to be exempt from the charge.
7. Another topical issue is addressed in Motion 5, namely “an immediate end to all top up salary payments in taxpayer-funded agencies”. This proposal was likely influenced by the recent revelations about the Central Remedial Clinic and Rehab.
8. Motion 9 states that women should account for at least 45 per cent of all appointments to State boards by 2016. Gender quotas aren’t the only quotas up for debate this weekend, with the measure also being looked at as a way to increase the participation of people with disabilities in politics. Earlier this week, TD Dara Calleary admitted the party was “very disappointed” by the lack of female candidates running for the party in May’s elections.
Former TD Mary O’Rourke and Senator Averil Power at last year’s Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis. (Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland.)
9. Motion 9 proposes the decriminalisation of marijuana for medical purposes. A motion to legalise the drug for personal consumption, sale and production was defeated at Fine Gael’s Ard Fheis a few weeks ago.
10. In an interesting move, Motion 8 suggests that the merger of the Football Association of Ireland (in the Republic) and the Irish Football Association (in Northern Ireland) might help “progress legacy issues since the Troubles”.
11. In a bid to improve “diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See”, Motion 3 calls for the government to invite Pope Francis to visit the country.
12. Motion 5 will allow Ard Fheis delegates to vote on whether or not nuclear power is the “natural option to compliment [sic] our renewable energy programme in order to reach our carbon emission targets”.
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Well done Charlie. Another boost for economic migrants,welfare tourists etc. We are a great little country
@Leo Lalor: most Irish citazens returning home to live here with their foreign wives/husband’s are actually highly skilled. Also the government for once is sorting out immigration paths for those impacted by brexit. Absolutely it will need to be policed properly but it’s making the immigration policy fairer.
@Leo Lalor: you seem to have missed the part where these ‘migrants’ will be working and paying tax. We have an extreme skills shortage in many sectors in Ireland. By your logic all Irish people should only partner with their own kind and if not feck off to their partners country to work. Would that make the Irish person an economic migrant and welfare tourist then? oh it’s so confusing when you put the shoe on the other foot. Oh I get it now there is no logic just prejudice.
@seanmccann: Exactly and having to go through a similar process myself there are plenty of checks carried out for both the applicant and their spouse. It’s not the “one for everybody in the audience” type of thing that some people believe it to be.
@Leo Lalor: The Irish partner will have to show evidence that they can financially support the non eu partner. Over the last 10 years, they were pretty strict on this
@seanmccann: ” Also the government for once is sorting out immigration paths for those impacted by brexit. ”
Brexit has nothing to do with it really.
If an Irish citizen was over in the UK, they are exercising their EU Treaty Rights. While we can not normally use EU Free movement rights while in Ireland (and thus have to rely on Irish immigration law, which has its issues) , in this case, where the Irish person returns to Ireland, after spending 1-2 years in the UK (6 months might suffice), with their non EU partner/spouse, they can invoke EU law.
Why does that matter? Better protections. EU law give the Irish government SFA discretion. You meet the conditions, boom, you get a decision which should be successful and entitled to a quick decision (well, that is what EU says) . Relying on Irish law, a lot of discretion is afforded.
@Leo Lalor: Leo, I’d be grateful if you could share with us how to take advantage of the welfare system without first working, paying tax, paying PRSI etc. You seem to be in the know. Even free dental work would be sufficient. Thanks
@Christy Dolan: look at what Boris is doing with residencey rights in the UK. Many Irish citazens are going to choose to leave as their residencey is no longer gauerenteed. Join the dots.
@LittleBee: and so many on the take little bee. As for logic I never mentioned stick with your own. Open your eyes. Look at the social welfare immigration lawyers bills and housing and accommodation bills for these spongers. I have no problem with people who contribute to our economy. I have a problem with being hammered by the tax man to pay for people who won’t work and no matter what s done for them find fault. We are fools.
@Leo Lalor: totally missing the point again. This is referring to the partners of Irish people who want to return home to work and is specifically so the non EU partner can work as soon as they get here where previously they had to be supported by their Irish partner for up to a year. They cannot claim any benefits as they are non eu in fact they cannot even be considered as a dependent of the Irish individual if they were to claim benefits because our system only considers the income of a de facto partner for means testing but not for the payment of benefits. You know what else is a drain on society …tax evasion and high earners with hot shot accountants finding all the loop holes. But like your arguement that has diddly squat to do with the actual topic in the article.
That’s absolutely brilliant news, if it turns out to be as good as it sounds. At present the most suitable place for me and my Brazilian partner is Australia. We both have PR and enjoy our time here however while I respect the rules etc and understand the need for checks and balances, the thought of coming home to apply and being the sole earner for one year was taking the piss. It was a big off putter on me deciding to come home. This is a big change. Most welcome. I’m sure there’s plenty of us out there who welcome the efficiency.
Why does our government feel the need to have such an open door policy toward immigration?
@Pat Baker: because sometimes people who aren’t from the same country fall in love and get married and they should be allowed to live in the same country as each other. Should we all just never leave the country and never let anyone in and only let Irish people marry other Irish people?
@Sam Harms: Absolutely agree. But it needs to be policed properly to prevent abuse. In many industries worker are internationally mobile. If Irish citizens want to come back home then they and their families should be welcome. I was in a generation where many had to leave to find opportunities to work. Most of these people learned valuable skills and their return to the country enabled the high tech economy. Having seen the hoops they had to jump through to get visas for their spouses was rediclous. It was practically anti family. Also this legislation is coming in as a result of brexit.
@Pat Baker: Its not an open door policy it’s called preclearence. The procedure is the same but the checks are done before you enter the country meaning you have permission to work before you get here or even have a job lined up. It is simply removing the financial burden of waiting a year to get your working visa. It means partners of returning Irish can work and pay tax as soon as they get here. Why would you be opposed to that.
@Sam Harms: ignore him.
@Pat Baker: It’s a sensible policy for realistic scenarios and it’s not the open door policy that you’re making it out to be. There’s plenty of information that would need to be provided for the application to be successful such as proof of a relationship, proof of living together…
@LittleBee: he’s opposed to it because some people see the word “immigration” and the racist, intolerant, bigot switch turns on. They can’t see past that to look at the positive impact that immigrants have on a country, like bringing new skills, paying into the tax system etc.
@Sam Harms: It is so tiresome
@Pat Baker: It is NOT an open door policy. There is pre clearance required. You have to prove the relationship and you have to prove financial ability to support partner.
Before this, you had to apply for a visa for the Non EU spouse (who might need to visa) simply to enter the country. That can take 2-4 months, maybe more. Sometimes you need to appeal.
Once they enter, they then have to make a residency application, which can take anything from 1 week to months.
This scheme seeks to do all in one go, before they come, before they risk over staying after the visa expired.
They still need to prove that they are a legitimate relationship. It is an Irish person bringing home their family member. Hardly the same as some scam artist “asylum seeker” from a safe country .
@Pat Baker: I’m not aware of the government having an open door policy towards immigration, but one reason I can think of, is the various benefits that immigration brings to the country.
In many cases immigrants are already highly educated and highly skilled, as as such help contribute to our skills shortage. Also being highly skilled, and thus highly paid, they’ll also be highly taxed…
@Pat Baker: you mean like the ones that absorbed millions of Irish emigrants over the centuries?
I’ve experience with INIS and there’s no grey area if your papers are not in order forget about a visa.
@Marianne:Has Regina decided whether they need the PSC to apply for the passport?
Anything possible of diluting the anti fg voters who are a rock of sense and are sick of the waste of tax payers money and multiple scandals
Great news. This would have been a not insignificant deterrent to Irish expats who wanted to return home.
Great news. Lot of Irish groups abroad have worked hard for this to be considered. Lot of us Irish have great partners from around the world we met while working abroad, who are highly educated and see Ireland as a good option to raise a family at some stage. No doubt so many can contribute greatly to our communities. This removes some doubts about any move home. Having had my Canadian girlfriend visit home recently who comes from an immigrant family herself she got the greatest welcome from my closest family and friends I could have asked for. Sometimes I forgot how great people at home are. Bigots really are a minority and tend to act as keyboard warriors unfortunately I have to see here online. Some people just have no comprehension of change being positive
Very sensible move by the Government here. Will definitely help reduce the financial stress upon a couple moving back to Ireland where one of the couple is not an EU citizen.
Who makes these decisions
How long will this process take
@Marianne: you’d just have to meet the criteria and provide evidence if I understand correctly
The Irish partner has to be a CSEP holder, not just any one bringing their non EU partner home can apply. Very misleading article
@Caoimhín O Neill: My understanding of that link is that the csep holder is not Irish either and wants to bring their partner. Same as the Australian visa system.
What the journal is referring to is de facto partners of Irish citizens, who, as they are Irish, do not need any special status such as csep or visa to work here. Why would we only want Irish citizens to return if they held a csep?
@Caoimhín O Neill: the CSEP announcement is from April. This is separate by the looks: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/press-release-new-preclearance-process-to-be-introduced-to-help-non-eea-de-facto-partners-of-Irish
What about refugees from Brexit land?
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