News – Page 2 – Una Power

Calls to cease further explorations for oil

By Una Power | November 30, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Green Party Killiney-Shankill representative Una Power and Sinead Mercier at a protest at the Forty Foot

SANDYCOVE could be affected by offshore oil drilling that would damage local “delicate habitats”, according to local Green Party reps.

Una Power, Green Party Representative for Killiney-Shankill is calling on the government to cease further exploration for fossil fuels off the coast of Dun Laoghaire.

Oil exploration is set to start at Kish Bank, just 10km from Killiney Beach.

“This must be stopped,” Ms Power told the Dublin Gazette.

Providence Resources Plc, the Irish-based Oil and Gas Exploration Company, holds a licence, granted by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to allow for the planning, consent and drilling of an exploration well on the Kish Prospect.

Ms Power said that it is “incredibly worrying that the Government are continuing to grant licenses to explore for fossil fuels, knowing the challenges Ireland faces in meeting our climate change targets, and the negative environmental and health impacts fossil fuels have”.

“We’re calling on the Government to stop the granting of licenses. Oil exploration is set to start at Kish Bank, just 10km from Killiney Beach – this must be stopped.”

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Go into politics to make sparks fly

By Una Power | November 1, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Power says she derives immense satisfaction from helping to effect change. She worked with Martin on extending maternity leave to the mothers of premature babies, a change implemented in the recent budget.

“It’s amazing to see your work transition into something tangible for people.

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PAC urged to quiz RTÉ over gender pay gap stance

By Una Power | September 19, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Stock photo The Green Party has urged the Dáil’s powerful Public Accounts Committee to grill RTÉ on its refusal to publish details of a gender pay gap at the broadcaster.

RTÉ rejected a freedom of information request by this newspaper to publish a breakdown of its male and female staff’s earnings.

It argued releasing the details could be “injurious” and “would not serve the public interest”. The decision maker refused the request, pointing to the ongoing independent review examining gender equality at RTÉ.

The Green Party’s women’s officer, Una Power, said it was “startling” that RTÉ would claim publishing the details wasn’t in the public interest. She said transparency was needed to resolve the issue of gender pay disparity and publicly funded bodies “should be proudly leading by example”…

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Bank of Ireland’s sponsored tweet about saving for a house has been controversial

By Una Power | August 24, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

Bank of Ireland’s sponsored tweet, in which they appeared to be encouraging people to move back in with their parents in order to be able to save the deposit for their first home, has caused a great deal of controversy. The tweet has since been deleted.

Have people been overreacting?

Green Party representative Una Power has described the tweet as “abhorrent.”

“The tweet comes within the context of an extreme rental crisis in Ireland. It’s completely blind to the difficulties that are facing young people who are suffering in an extreme rental market.”

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Una Power calls for end to boys’ club in government departments

By Una Power | August 2, 2017

The Green Party has called for more to be done to ensure gender balance at management level in government departments following reports that the managerial levels across government departments are heavily male dominated.

Speaking today, Green Party Women’s Officer Una Power said: “While the Civil Service ensures equal pay for equal work, figures reported today highlight a worrying trend when it comes to women progressing to management positions.

“Questions must be asked as to why women are not breaking through to managerial level in government departments at the same rate as their male colleagues. There needs to be answers as to why there are so many women at Clerical Officer Level, presenting a pool of talent to draw from, yet their numbers aren’t mirrored at a higher level.

“The Government should release data on the efficacy of measures such as the W-LEAD programme in promoting more women. Ensuring that more women break through to managerial positions is important, as data is showing that gender balance at a management level leads to better decision making and governance. Government departments should be leaders in equality and good governance structure.”

Una Power calls for gender pay transparency in publicly funded organisations

By Una Power | July 24, 2017

The Green Party today backed calls for gender pay transparency in publicly funded organisations, following revelations of a significant gender pay gap in RTÉ.

Speaking today, Green Party Women’s Officer Una Power said: “Transparency is key when it comes to tackling the gender pay gap. Laws can be in place, but until we can see whether or not they are being implemented, they cannot be enforced effectively.

“By publishing their employee salaries publicly funded organisations, such as RTÉ, would be subject to increased scrutiny. They would have to justify why there are such massive discrepancies in salaries between men and women who hold the same or similar positions.

“Pay discrimination on the basis of gender is illegal. Transparency leads to accountability and public pressure. This will lead to much needed change.

“We welcome the announcement by RTE that they will bring forward publishing their pay stats, but the current system isn’t good enough. There needs to be statutory obligation for publicly funded organisations to publish this information yearly – not whenever they feel under pressure to do so.”

Leo has already proven he’s no Justin or Emanuel with his regressive Ministerial line-up

By Una Power | June 21, 2017

Over the past few weeks we have witnessed a great deal of fanfare surrounding the appointment of our new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Amongst his supporters in Fine Gael there has been a feeling of excitement at something new, of great change within the party. This was to be a fresh start made by a progressive, modern man.

Yesterday, however, we learned that Leo, for all the trumpeting, is very much bringing more of the same. Less of the same, in fact, when you do the maths. Having finalised his Ministerial and Junior Ministerial appointments, Leo has carried on the legacy of a top table dominated by middle aged men.

Of the 33 people appointed to senior Oireachtas positions, women account for a measly seven. While the number sitting at cabinet remains the same – 4 – as under Enda’s reign, there has been a reduction in the number of Junior Ministers from 4 to 2. Admittedly, there is now a Super Junior role held by a woman, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, but the overall number of women in senior positions has reduced since the last government make-up with the demotion of Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Our new Taoiseach has built a team that is reflective of old attitudes. Varadkar made five new appointments today, all of which, with contemptible inevitability, were male. Leo’s rallying cry for the creation of a “Republic of Opportunity” is obviously not applicable to his own appointments.

Yes, Ministerial appointments must be based on ability. But there are plenty of women in Varadkar’s party who are equally competent as the men he has chosen. Yet he decided to promote none of them. In fact, he went so far as to demote one.

It is not good enough that of all our Ministers only 21% are female. Time and again we have seen that a diversity of voices and experience in the decision making process has a positive result. Policies are most thoroughly thought through when judged through different perspectives. A room full of intelligent, competent people making decisions is no good if they are homogeneous.

In countries where gender parity in government and parliament has been achieved, there have been distinct and positive changes in legislative outcomes. Research has shown that when women reach a critical mass in government or parliament, their participation can be socially transformative. The more women in politics, the more likely hitherto unaddressed issues are to be raised. They also tend to push for more investment in projects and advocate for minority issues. All in all, more women in the decision making process leads to better governance.

It is for this reason that we’ve seen other governments worldwide make vast strides towards establishing gender balance in their cabinets. Canadian Prime Minister made global headlines as he appointed a cabinet with both gender parity and ethnic diversity. When asked why he made such a move, he simply stated “because it’s 2015.”

More recently, the newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron also appointed a 50:50 cabinet, fulfilling a pledge he had made during the campaign. Varadkar has been quick to align himself to Macron’s image, meeting him in Paris just prior to the election and publicly speaking of his contact with the President. Varadkar cannot continue to wear progressive feathers but act in a regressive fashion.

Leo is a leader now. He cannot simply say words promising equality and opportunity for all. He cannot rely on pushing comparisons to his global contemporaries, Trudeau and Macron. He has the power to actually act on his claims, to bring about the change to which he pays lip service.

During her nomination of Leo for the role of Taoiseach, Deputy Josepha Madigan stated that he would work “for the many and not the few”. It is disappointing that a mere week later, he has proved her statement wrong.

Green Party Members Take Part in Killiney Beach Clean

By Una Power | February 2, 2017

Local Green Party volunteers braved the elements on Sunday to organise a clean-up at Killiney Beach.

18 people took part in the clean-up, which, as well as cleaning up the blue flag beach, aimed to raise awareness of how marine pollution and littering negatively affects local coastal communities.

Organiser and Local Area Representative for Killiney-Shankill Úna Power thanked those who turned out for the beach clean and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for providing equipment on the day.

She said: “It’s great to see so many people turn out on a Sunday to clean up our local beach. The beach really is a fantastic resource for our community, and it’s encouraging to see such commitment to looking after our local area.

“Thanks to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for providing us with cleaning equipment. We’re delighted with the support they’ve provided us.

“Marine pollution has massive effects for both our wildlife and our communities.

Plastic waste is the number one killer of marine life, hurting local wildlife populations and impacting on fishing communities. Trash in the ocean ends up on our shores, damaging wonderful local amenities such as Killiney beach. Events like today are a fantastic way of raising awareness of these issues, while also doing our part to keep our beaches clean.”

If we’re going to ask people to talk up, then we must have people to listen, writes Una Power.