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Mary Fitzpatrick and Micheál Martin (File photo) Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Cracking down on crime and eliminating parking fees - Fianna Fáil's plan for Dublin

The party also want to clean up the Liffey and create more pedestrian areas in the capital.

DUBLIN SHOULD GET a dedicated Public Order Unit of An Garda Síochána to combat crime, according to Fianna Fáil.

The proposal was one of several put forward by the opposition party in their election plan for Dublin, ‘A Vibrant Capital’.

The document also proposes “substantially reduced or eliminated” parking fees on certain evenings, an underground DART, improving the water quality in the River Liffey, and the pedestrianisation of certain areas in Dublin including Merrion Square and Molesworth Street.

Speaking at the launch, party leader Micheál Martin admitted that Fianna Fáil are “starting well behind the others” in May’s elections but said the process would “begin the recovery of the party”.

“This is an election where the excuse of blaming others is of no use to Fine Gael and Labour … it’s 24 years since Fianna Fáil held a majority on any of the councils in Dublin,” Martin stated.

He said that Mary Fitzpatrick, the party’s European candidate in Dublin, “represents much of what is new about the party in the capital”. He denied that his leadership would be at stake if she failed to win a seat.

We’re going to give it one hell of a fight … The membership is up, the party is in a healthier state that we have been in Dublin for a long time.

Fitzpatrick said that crime in the city needed to be addressed immeditately. “It damages business, it damages Dublin as a tourist destination and it damages Dublin as a place people want to live.”

She added that there was a “sophisticated international element to the crime we see on our streets” and said that guards should be given the resources they need to tackle it.

Government policies

The MEP candidate went on to descirbe Irish Water as a “super quango”.

She noted that 99 per cent of the water available in Dublin was used every day and said water charges were not being intreoduced as a “conservative meaure” as claimed by the government.

It’s just another tax. A tax for a service that hasn’t been improved.

Martin said the implementation of the Local Property Tax had caused “immense anger and damage” as it had “no linkage with ability to pay”.

He said that all Fianna Fáil council members would vote to reduce the tax by 15 per cent when afforded this chance in September.

He also criticised the government’s plan to provide GP care for under 6s, saying it was “not credible” to implement while elderly and sick people continued to lose their medical cards.

People are very angry about the health situation and medical cards in particular.

Martin said that the party’s candidate for the Dublin West by-election would be chosen at a selection convention next week.

Read: ‘Let him give me his number one, that’ll be fine’: Mary Fitzpatrick on Bertie and FF’s recovery

Read: Whoops: Fianna Fáil candidate’s poster blocks traffic lights

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    Mute david whelan
    Favourite david whelan
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:31 PM

    united we stand divided we fall – congrats to the workers – Connolly and Larkin would be proud.

    162
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    Mute Kenny McLawrence
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:36 PM

    These guys have their place in history. Irish labour history anyway. An example for us all what can happen if you stick together and stay united. Well done vita cortex workers and thank you for your courage.

    135
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    Mute Eddie Barrett
    Favourite Eddie Barrett
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:34 PM

    Well done Workers – a huge dignified stand for your ordinary Civil Rights .

    122
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    Mute Paraic Simpson
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:37 PM

    Well done to the 32 individuals for their strength and perseverance. Now they can return to their homes and loved ones and get on with their lives.

    103
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    Mute Thomas Mc Grory
    Favourite Thomas Mc Grory
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    May 2nd 2012, 10:03 PM

    Enda Kenny did nothing to help

    87
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    Mute Michael Heneghan
    Favourite Michael Heneghan
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    May 2nd 2012, 11:04 PM

    He was only comenting!

    32
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:50 PM

    No thanks to you Inda…not enough votes to be gotten I suppose…

    65
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    Mute Annette Carroll
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    May 2nd 2012, 10:37 PM

    Well done vita cortex 32, so proud of you all, you have put the ” Rebel” back into cork

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    Mute Alan Dempsey
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:45 PM

    Well fair play to them

    57
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    Mute Phil Howlin
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    May 2nd 2012, 11:22 PM

    Shows what can be done when right is on your side

    33
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    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
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    May 3rd 2012, 12:44 AM

    Who needs taoishits two cents. He obviously wants to be seen to have had some influence on it. You might as well ask a giraffe’s opinion- it has the same weight and relevance.

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    Mute Bridie Greene
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    May 2nd 2012, 9:40 PM

    Well done Mister Enda Kenny sir for ending this dispute in such a timely fashion. Hip hip hooray

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    Mute S P Mc Grath
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    May 2nd 2012, 11:29 PM

    Every bit of land we have is covered

    10
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    Mute Oisin Murray
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    May 3rd 2012, 7:47 AM

    We should all take a leaf from their book and stop putting up with shite from bullies & banks etc… Protest does work, we need to change our narrow minded attitude towards protest in this country and save our nation…!

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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    May 3rd 2012, 6:58 AM

    I reckon the government a little worried about the vita cortex workers resolve. If the irish people start thinking that by gathering united together until their just demands are met the gov might have to deliver some election promises!

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    Mute Joe Keegan
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    May 3rd 2012, 1:05 AM

    So what was the deal?
    If we do not hear about it then the whole thing was a waste of time !!!!

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    Mute Leah O Reilly
    Favourite Leah O Reilly
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    May 3rd 2012, 5:37 PM

    Confidentiality clause joe,the option is not there for either side to go public with the terms ,this was not a fight to share the terms of a settlement for all of us in the public to discuss ,it was a fight to demand an uber wealthy employer live up to his responsibilities and not stroll off leaving everyone hanging with all of their money in his pocket and the government unable to stop him.Well these people stopped him and they are smiling today,that for anyone who cares about their fight or cares about upholding moral standards in business relations is enough of a result,it’s all we need to know ,they stood up ,they got a result,a well worth fight sir,let the confidentialities to the workers and their families ,they’ve been through enough and are heroes to all fair minded people.

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    Mute Ireland for Change
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    May 3rd 2012, 7:37 AM

    Exactly what was the deal newspapers reporting that the stand off has come to an end is grand but without the details or comments from any of the 32 all it is is a story in the paper

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    Mute Leah O Reilly
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    May 3rd 2012, 5:39 PM

    Same as my comment for joe.

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