Independent TD and General Election candidate Mattie McGrath has written to the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, and the head of the NCT Test service, to seek immediate clarification around the suspension by the NCTS of its vehicle lift inspections. Deputy McGrath was speaking after reports were made that several NCT Centres have resumed full service; a claim that is contradicted on the NCT national website which says that the suspension remains in place across the NCT network:

“There is huge confusion around this issue and drivers are getting extremely frustrated by the mixed messages that they are receiving.

The NCTS are also saying that those drivers who have presented already and who have ‘failed’ their test due to an inability to access the underbody of the vehicle should hold on to their report to present to Gardai if challenged for a not having a valid NCT Cert.

I have spoken to a number of gardai however and they have assured me that they have received no instruction in this matter in terms of applying discretion to drivers.

Drivers need to know if they are going to have penalty points applied or not.

There is also the question of why these faults were not identified as part of routine reviews at each individual testing centre. Was there any need to suspend the inspections across the entire network?

We need answers to these questions so that confidence can be maintained in the NCT service and so that drivers can be free of the concern that they are going to be penalised for faults in the system outside their control,” concluded Deputy McGrath.

Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Tipperary Cllr. Imelda Goldsboro says her party will address the current inequality faced by childcare workers if elected to government.

Cllr. Goldsboro made the comments as thousands of childcare workers travelled to Dublin yesterday to protest against their pay and conditions.

“Early childhood care and education is one of the most important parts of any society and the people charged with taking care of our children should not have to march on our capital to have their voices heard”, said Cllr. Goldsboro.

“Many of these workers have third level qualifications but their pay simply does not reflect that.  Fianna Fáil is committed to securing a Sectoral Employment Order for staff in the early years sector to ensure better pay and conditions.

“We will also bring forward measures to make childcare more affordable for families across Tipperary and right around the country.  There are simply not enough childcare places, and the creches and early childhood centres are being swamped with additional paperwork and increased costs.

“Insurance is a huge issue for the majority of childcare providers and we have situations now that creches are closing because they can’t afford to stay in business.

“Fianna Fáil is pledging to tackle these issues head on.  We will establish a new €10 million commercial rates relief fund, which will provide important support to creches who are crippled by commercial rates. We will also increase the National Childcare Scheme subsidy for ordinary workers with an investment of an additional €81 million to increase the universal childcare subsidy from €20 per week to €80 per week.

“Yesterday’s rally led by the Early Year’s Alliance should not be ignored by any public representatives or those seeking public office. It is paramount the next government tackle this crisis head on. It is something my Fianna Fáil colleagues and I are committed too,” concluded Cllr. Goldsboro.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has strongly criticised the lack of legal instruction provided to barristers acting on behalf of the state during his High Court challenge to the constitutionality of postponing the General Election vote in Co. Tipperary. Deputy McGrath had attended the Court after he was informed that in order to avert the possibility of a future judicial challenge to the outcome of the general election, the High Court would have to issue an order instructing the Minister for Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, to officially re-initiate the General election process in Tipperary:

“This is a deeply disappointing development. It has introduced further uncertainty, delay and confusion around what the state is saying unofficially and what it is prepared to say officially before the Court.

As things stand the poll has been countermanded, but the state has not officially withdrawn the countermand.

They must make an order but have so far not done so.

We reluctantly went to the High Court in order to exert legal pressure as part of our bid to secure guaranteed protections for the franchise rights of the people of Tipperary.

The state can sign an order before coming back to court tomorrow at 2pm but as I understand it this would not be an ideal scenario going forward.

That is a matter for another day. Right now, however, the people of Tipperary need clarity. That is what I want to provide them with.

The polling officers also need firm written assurances and clarity.

The State had the opportunity to provide that clarity today and to remove all doubt.

Unfortunately, through its own inaction this case is now set to go on for another day in what is already a tight window of opportunity and with no guarantee that the state’s legal team will be any better instructed tomorrow than it was today.

The people of Tipperary deserve better than this muddled and confused approach” concluded Deputy McGrath.