April 2021 Update from Senator Marie Sherlock

Just ahead of May Day, we wanted to post a quick update on the work we've been doing in the Oireachtas and locally in Dublin Central over the last month. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there are any local or national issues which you feel we should be aware of.

 

Local Work

 

• In  March, the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra contacted us to help them fight the battle to retain their on site specialist speech and language therapist. This is a crucial services in the school. The HSE are currently reconfiguring disability services and had informed a number of special schools across the country that they would be withdrawing their on site therapists. Marie raised the issue in the Seanad on a number of occasions, we gathered 3,455 signatures in an open letter to Government and had numerous interactions with Minister Rabbitte and we are delighted to report that the decision was reversed and the School for the Deaf will keep its vital on-site services.

 

• The growth in knife crime in our city is a major concern for many communities. Marie spoke with Matt Cooper on the Last Word about the need to look at the reasons behind it and the unacceptable attacks on frontline delivery workers. We need to have more Garda Youth Diversion programmes in the city– not less, as there have been reductions in some programmes over recent years. We also met with Deliveroo drivers about their pay and conditions and have written to the company to push these concerns for a highly vulnerable group of workers.

 

• We have been keeping a close eye on planning issues in Dublin Central, calling for investment in quality homes and community development over short-term transient accommodation such as co-living schemes. Some of the planning submissions we have made included on Phibsborough Shopping Centre, the Hendron’s building, the proposed Build-to-Rent development on Cross Guns Bridge, the Park Shopping Centre on Prussia Street, and on the future of the Phoenix Park. We were very relieved that the Hendron's co-living project was refused permission. However, co-living in Phibsborough shopping centre was approved - but there is a sense locally that we have certainty now about the future redevelopment of the shopping centre and the full redevelopment of Dalymount stadium.

 

In the Seanad

 

• We have continued to make the case for Sick Pay for All. In September 2020, Marie introduced her first bill which would create an essential right to statutory paid sick leave. The Government has chosen to delay this bill by more than six months but we are still fighting to fix this fundamental weakness in our employment law and in our fight against the pandemic.

 

• As children across the country returned to school, we hosted a conversation with educators, experts and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD on what supports we need to help children catch up. On a weekly basis, we are coming across families waiting anything between 24 and 36 months for access to vital therapeutic supports for their young children. Between this and the psychological impact of the lock down on some children, it's very clear we need action.

 

• On International Women’s Day, we were very proud to publish the Labour Party’s women’s manifesto along with Marie's fellow senators. The document contains 41 woman-focused proposals across health, employment, childcare, housing, carers, sport, domestic violence and more. Marie also joined with Senator Ivana Bacik in calling for the Minister for Equality to introduce proper legislation on the gender pay gap.

 

• Marie has been using her speaking time in Seanad Éireann to raise a number of other important issues. These have included the highlighting how the new National Childcare Scheme is failing the most disadvantaged of children, the importance of collective bargaining and supports for carers if we are to achieve gender equality, the shameful treatment by the HSE of families with special needs children, and the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women workers.