Gerald Nash TD

Dear Constituent,

It’s now over a year since I took my seat as a TD for Louth and

East Meath.

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the many

issues, both local and national which I have been working on.

When we were elected to office, it was clear that the country was

on the brink of economic collapse. The situation was far worse

than had been described by the outgoing administration.

Our immediate task was to pull the country back from the edge

of the cliff, provide stability and restore Ireland’s battered

reputation. This has been done. Day-by-day we are repairing the

damage done to our country. We are rebuilding our economy and

society.

The fact that Ireland secured a commitment from Europe to deal

with the banking debt foisted on us by the last government shows

how far we have come in a year. Passing the Stability Treaty in

late May helped us to achieve this result.

There will be tough decisions ahead, but there are many reasons

to be optimistic for the future.

Having protected basic social welfare rates in our first Budget at a

time of unprecedented crisis, we will continue to make sure that

the resources we have are shared fairly. I look forward to

continuing my work with you and our community in the months

and years ahead.

0612

Providing new schools for ourincreasing population andreplacing unsuitable, expensiveprefab accommodation is apriority for Labour. New schoolsget construction workers back towork.

I have worked to deliver:

� A new primary school, ScoilOilibheir Naofa which will openin September on Drogheda’sBallymakenny Road

� A new Educate Together second-level school for Drogheda to be built in 2014

� An extension to St. Joseph’s CBS secondary school, Newfoundwell Road to commence in2014

� A brand new school building for Laytown with the construction of a new school for ScoilAn Spiorad Naomh commencing in 2014

� A New school for Gaelscoil An Bhradain Feasa, Mill Road, Mornington

� Scoil Naisiunta Realt Na Meara separate facilities for the Boys and Girls National Schools

� An extension to Whitecross National School, Julianstown

� A new building for Ardee Educate Together to commence building in 2014

� An extension to the Ardee Community School in 2015

� Extension to Scoil Ui Mhuiri, Dunleer in 2014-2015

� Prefab replacements for St Joseph’s CBS Secondary School, Drogheda; Scoil Bhride LannLeire, Dunleer; St. Brigid’s School, Drogheda; St Patricks NS, Monasterboice and StColmcilles NS, Togher.

Families under pressure must be allowed stay intheir homes.

The new Personal Insolvency Bill and schemessuch as ‘Mortgage to Rent’ will mean thatfamilies should stay in their own homes ifthey are struggling with mortgagerepayments. Reforming our insolvency lawscan be a game-changer for struggling families.New bankruptcy laws will have a major impacton the dynamic between lenders and distressedmortgage holders and business owners trying to make endsmeet. I have worked hard to secure €2.5 million in new funding for socialhousing in Louth which will allow the second phase of the Mell housingscheme to proceed. I am also delivering a new 25 home scheme atMoneymore which will commence in a matter of weeks.

PROTECTING FAMILY HOMES

Labour in government has fought hard to protect the rights of low paid workersand defend the interests of their families.

Labour reversed the cut in the minimum wage, despite the insistence of theopposition that it could not be done. Over 330,000 low paid workers were taken outof the Universal Social Charge net, when others said it would not be done. Noincreases were made to income tax and cuts were made to VAT in key sectors, likethe agri-food and tourism areas to boost employment.

Labour also put in place new Joint Labour Court Agreements JLCs to replace thosestruck down in the High Court last year. JLCs are vital to protecting the interests oflow paid workers and I was instrumental in designing these protections for 200,000workers who work in retail, security and hospitality.

DEFENDING LOW PAID WORKERS

I have helped to deliver a long-awaited new Courthouse for Drogheda which will be aboost to the local economy under the government’s new Euro 2,250 million stimuluspackage.

This project will start next year. This cash injection will see a new primary care health centredeveloped in North Drogheda and another in Laytown/Bettystown. Labour’s work ingovernment means that we can invest money from the National Pension Reserve Fund, theEuropean Investment Bank and other sources to create 13,000 new jobs.

Follow me on Facebook @geraldnash

LABOUR NEWS

STIMULUS PACKAGE DELIVERSKEY PROJECTS FOR DROGHEDA& EAST MEATH

Connolly Hall, Palace Street, DroghedaOffice: 041 9810811

Email: gerald.nash@oir.ieWeb: www.geraldnash.com

NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS FORLOUTH & EAST MEATH

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WHAT IS IRELAND’S TRUE ECONOMIC POSITION?

In 2011 Ireland spent €70.5 billion, but only took in €51.5 billion leaving a gap or abudget deficit of €19 billion. The 2012 budget sought to close that gap by €3.5 billionthrough a mixture of reforms, some cuts and new charges. The 2013 and 2014 budgetswill have to meet similar targets if we are to fund our services and wrest control backof our own economic affairs.

BUT SURELY IF WE STOPPED PAYING THE BANKS AND THE BONDHOLDERS WEWOULDN’T HAVE TO DO THIS?

Unfortunately the majority of our deficit is not bank related although the bankingcrisis and subsequent bank guarantee played a huge part in crashing our economy. Thedeal on our bank debt won by government in recent weeks will greatly help ourcountry’s situation.

CAN’T WE JUST TELL THE TROIKA TO GO HOME?

Because Ireland’s economy failed so badly and our annual deficits spiralled out ofcontrol we were no longer able to borrow money the way solvent countries do. TheTroika (EU, IMF and the European Central Bank) has bailed out Ireland under certainconditions – the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ signed by the previous Fianna Failgovernment, which we have since been steadily renegotiating. Without this funding wecan’t pay for our schools, hospitals and social welfare payments. Getting our financesunder control will allow us to return to the markets by the end of 2013 and make bigeconomic decisions for ourselves. We are very much on target to do that and havealready begun to raise some money on the international markets with success.

OK, BUT WHY DID THE LAST GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT ANGLO IRISH AND THEBANKS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

That’s a question best answered by Fianna Fáil. They introduced the bank guarantee in2008. Sinn Fein also voted for massive taxpayer support for busted banks. Only Labourvoted against the bank guarantee as we foresaw that it would turn out to be a blankcheque for the banks.

REAL PROGRESS MADE

We have made a lot of progress and we are just over one year into a five year mandate.

For example:

The Troika said Ireland had to cut the national minimum wage.

Labour reversed the cut.

The Troika imposed punitive interest rates and unrealistic pay-back duration on themoney borrowed under the bailout programme.

Labour’s actions in renegotiating the deal saved billions in interest repayments andextended the pay-back period.

The Troika said: Bank debt cannot be separated from sovereign debt.

Labour insisted that bank debt must be separated from sovereign debt.

We now have an agreement that bank bailouts should be funded directly fromEuropean funds and that it should not count as part of the State’s national debt. Wehave got specific agreement that this may be applied retrospectively to Ireland. IndeedIreland was the only country specifically named in the official communique after themeeting of EU leaders. This could mean tens of billions being taken off our nationaldebt, making a huge difference to our long term interests as a country.

All of these things matter and represent real achievements others said we could notdeliver in our work to restore stability and growth to our country.

STRAIGHT TALK QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON THE ECONOMY

Gerald Nash TD

Quality public healthcare is a priority for me. We are set to abolish the HSE andintroduce universal health insurance for all. We have worked to deliver:

� A new 35-bed mental health facility to be built in Drogheda in 2013

� New acute beds for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital – our regional hospital

� The introduction of over 50,000 new GP cards later this year in advance ofthe roll out of free GP care for all citizens by 2015

We are working hard to secure the future of the Cottage Hospital and we areconfident of achieving results for those who care about our public health system.

LABOUR INVESTS IN THE HEALTHSERVICE

We do not underestimate thechallenge of getting all our peopleback to work. Our Jobs Action Planaims to create 100,000 new net jobs.Decisions by Drogheda Concentratesand PayPal to create more jobs hereis a huge vote of confidence in Louthand Meath and a sure sign of investorbacking for the Irish economy. Highlevels of unemployment are neveracceptable to me and I am workingwith the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, localbusiness and relevant State agenciesto create sustainable jobs and highpotential training opportunities inour community.

JOBS & TRAINING

I am a strong andeffective voice forprogressive politicsin the Dáil and inthe Labour Party. Iam proud of myrecord ofachievement insecuring a new JLCsystem for low-paidworkers, securing apardon for WorldWar II soldiers whowere badly treatedby the State and in securing the Community Employment scheme system to namebut three of a number of key achievements. I was recently appointed by the Tánaisteto the powerful Public Accounts Committee and I expect to be involved in the longawaited Banking Inquiry. My work on the Foreign Affairs Committee and as Chair ofthe Oireachtas Friends of Palestine Group is also widely recognised.

GERALD NASH IN THE DÁIL

The first act of this government was to reduce the salaries of all TDs, Senators andgovernment Ministers including the Tanaiste and the Taoiseach.

Next year we will have a referendum to abolish the Seanad.

The number of TDs elected to the next Dáil will be reduced.

Dail sittings have increased by over 50%.

The new Anti-Corruption Bill is the toughest Bill of its kind ever to be introduced inEurope. Labour stands by its proud record of transparency in public life, pledging torestore and enhance Freedom of Information, bring in a Lobbyist’s Register andencourage Whistleblowers to stand up and be counted.

POLITICAL REFORM

Dáil Office:Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2Phone: 01 618 3576

Constituency Office:Connolly Hall, Palace Street, DroghedaPhone: 041 981 0811

Email: gerald.nash@oir.ieFax: 01 618 4397Web: www.geraldnash.com

Cllr Paul Bell087 1206736paulbell1@eircom.net

Cllr Linda Bell Woods087 9758136lindabellwoods@gmail.com

Cllr Leonard Hatrick086 851 9910leonardhatrick@eircom.net

Cllr Eoin Holmes087 224 2765eholmes@members.meathcoco.ie

Senator Mary Moran042 9329052mary.moran@oir.ie

Cllr Pio Smith087 9460673pio.smith@louthcoco.ie

NESSA CHILDERS MEP01 296 2263nessa.childers@europarl.europa.eu

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