Policies

In the Chamber at the beginning of every sitting day, Senators have the opportunity to raise matters of urgent national importance. I will always be in attendance and I shall raise any relevant issues that are related to my main priorities or which you would like me to raise. Senators have at least one opportunity to put forward amendments to every Bill that passes through the Oireachtas. If you contact me with a concern about current legislation or if any piece of legislation touches on any of my main priorities.

I shall put forward appropriate amendments and argue eloquently in the Chamber why they should be accepted.

In Committee I will be a member of both the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, as well as a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights. Since my main priorities straddle a wide number of other committees’ work (eg. Social and Family Affairs; Environment and Local Government; European Affairs; Agriculture and Food; Education and Science, et al.) I will take advantage of the convention through which Senators are entitled to attend virtually every meeting of any of the Joint Oireachtas Committees. During at least three committee meetings which I will attend each week throughout the whole year I will advance my main priorities by proposing amendments to legislation before the Committee or by questioning visiting experts on matters relating to my main priorities. I will also raise any matters in committee which you bring to my attention.

As your Lobbyist if there are issues you think ought to be aired in the Oireachtas, either formally or informally, then we should speak. I will offer you a tailor-made lobbying package. As appropriate, this package could include the putting forward of amendments to legislation before the Oireachtas at various stages in the legislative process, requesting meetings with the appropriate Minister, quiet words in appropriate Minister’s ears at significant times, meetings in Leinster House and invitations to address Joint Oireachtas Committees.

Recently I helped with a campaign led by the Irish Travel Agents’ Association (ITAA). I drafted several speeches opposing a late Government amendment to the Consumer Protection Bill 2004 which would have meant, so argued the ITAA, many travel agents going out of business. After the Bill became law and despite the vociferously expressed opposition to this late amendment, even though the Government’s late amendment had become part of the Act, the Minister announced the late amendment would not come into force when the rest of the Act did. This is an example of where the pressure one brings to bear as part of the formal parliamentary process has the desired effect, even though the legislation itself does not necessarily reflect this.

As your Public Representative Having worked for a number of public representatives I know what a great service good representation to constituents means and involves. Whatever it is you feel would be better pursued by asking me to pursue it on your behalf, you will always find my door open. I understand that it will be my job to represent your views without fear, favour or judgement on my part. So if you approach me with a planning issue or indeed any issue relating either to the legislative process or even relating to a private personal (eg. a pension problem) or commercial concern (eg. your company will be particularly affected by a piece of legislation) I will represent your case to the best of my ability in every appropriate forum.

As Trinity’s Ambassador I think at least one of Trinity’s Senators ought to project a 21 st Century image of modernity, independence and relative youth. I have attended five universities ( Montpellier, Dublin, London (LSE), Georgetown and Cambridge (Trinity Hall)). This gives me a unique perspective on how universities can work well. Not working in Trinity is an obvious advantage when it comes to representing the views of those within College and those within the wider graduate community who do not feel their views are being appropriately heard. My door and that of Leinster House will always be open to College and to the wider graduate community. Whatever it is you feel your Senator may be able to help you with whether related to Trinity or private matters please get in touch (086 373 1476).

As a truly Independent Campaigner I have never been a member of any political party. I am not beholden to any particular special interest group. I have been active in a variety of high profile campaigns over the past few years that have used a combination of tactics to achieve their desired end. Using every method from appropriately catchy press releases to quiet words in appropriate ears at appropriate times I have learned from Mary Upton TD, Ciarán Cuffe TD and British MP Roger Godsiff how successful campaigns can be run.