SINN Féin Councillor Toireasa Ferris is to step down from political life next month.
In June of this year, the councillor confirmed she would not be contesting the next general election for the party in place of her father, Martin, but now it has emerged she will step back from political life on a local level.
That withdrawal in March was prompted after a health issue which was not serious. However, she has now confirmed that on the she is resigning her seat on the Council for health reasons due to burn out after 16 years in politics.
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She will resign after the Council meeting on the Local Property Tax next month. It’s understood a party colleague will be co-opted to the Council soon in her place.
The 39 year old Ardfert native was co-opted to Kerry County Council in 2003. She was elected to the Council in 2004, and became the first female Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council in 2005.
She topped the poll in the 2014 local elections and was elected again in June of this year. Cllr Ferris has been diligent, forthright and committed to representing her constituents at Kerry County Council and Tralee Municipal District meetings over the years.
This news will come as a massive blow to Sinn Féin and indeed politics in Kerry. TraleeToday.ie wishes her all the best in the future.
AT a meeting of Kerry Sinn Féin members at Kerins O’Rahilly’s clubhouse in Tralee on Monday night, Cllr Toireasa Ferris announced that she was regrettably withdrawing her candidature as a general election candidate due to health concerns.
In a very emotional speech, Cllr Ferris stated; “This has been a very difficult decision to make but I have had a number of health issues recently, and while they have ultimately turned out not to be serious at this stage, I have been advised to make changes to the pace of my life before symptoms became established.”
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“The timing of this announcement is not what I would have wished, but with a looming election and to be fair to party members and the electorate I had to make this decision, which I have struggled over, now.”
“I would like to thank the membership once again for their faith in me and I know that whoever the candidate will be, will work their utmost for the people of Kerry,” added Cllr Ferris, who will still serve as a Tralee Municipal District councillor after being re-elected to Kerry County Council last month. Kerry Sinn Féin will announce a new date for convention shortly.
KERRY County Councillor Toireasa Ferris is calling on HIQA to investigate health and safety conditions at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Kerry.
It comes as figures for today, supplied by the INMO, reveal there are 36 patients waiting on trolleys at the hospital.
Cllr Ferris stated: “This morning I have been contacted by staff and families of patients at University Hospital Kerry. All have told me of the extremely unbearable conditions occurring at the Emergency Department at present. There were 24 people lying on trollies yesterday, my information that today’s number is substantially higher.”
“Some are quite elderly and have been there since yesterday. HIQA need to investigate these serious health and safety issues immediately. I have asked my father Deputy Martin Ferris to raise the matter in the Dáil today,” she concluded.
A KERRY Sinn Féin councillor has hit out at a suggestion at Monday’s Kerry County Council meeting that the Dale Road could be closed on health and safety grounds.
The suggestion came from Fine Gael councillor, Aoife Thornton, in the Listowel area who said that the condition had deteriorated so much that maybe it should be looked at closing it on safety grounds.
The Dale Road is a 2.2km stretch of bog road between Abbeydorney and Ballyduff, which has been the scene of accidents in the past.
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Cllr Toireasa Ferris who was at the meeting hit out a the suggestion stating; “The residents on the Dale Road and those who use it everyday should not have to suffer because of the inaction of central government to tackle the awful condition of the road over many years.”
“The road is a vital artery for many people in North Kerry who have to travel to Tralee and it’s environs on a daily basis. There can be no suggestion that this road may be considered for closure in the near future. It needs investment and a long term solution to fix the chronic conditions once and for all.”
“Warning signs should inform drivers of the condition of the road, local users are well aware of the hazardous nature of the road but non locals may not be. Kerry County Council and central government have a duty to protect all those that have to travel this road,” said Cllr Ferris.
Kerry County Council has approval for a project appraisal of the Dale Road. Significant design works would be required following the appraisal and funds would need to be sought for this.
COUNCILLOR Toireasa Ferris was selected by the Sinn Féin membership to go forward as the party’s next general election candidate in Kerry, at a packed party convention held on Friday night at the Kerins O’Rahillys club.
Toireasa Ferris with Pearse Doherty and Martin Ferris at the Sinn Fein convention on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
She was nominated by a number of cumainn in the county. The convention was being held as a result of the announcement by Deputy Martin Ferris that he would not be seeking a nomination. Toireasa Ferris was the only name to be put forward by the membership in the county.
Toireasa Ferris said; “I am humbled to be selected by my friends and comrades in Kerry Sinn Fein to represent them in the next general election. I want to thank all who encouraged me to put my name forward and will work my hardest to live up to their expectations.
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“I am under no illusions of how difficult it will be to retain a seat for Sinn Féin in Kerry, the last election proved how difficult a challenge it will be. I am acutely aware of the issues that are affecting the people of Kerry, from lack of meaningful employment and under resourced health services to coastal erosion and rural depopulation, our road network still leaves a lot to be desired and many of our youth feel disenfranchised for good reason.”
Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ní Riada with Martin and Toireasa Ferris at the convention on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty was the guest speaker on the night and he firstly paid tribute to Martin Ferris who he said was a role model for him since he first entered the Dáil. He also welcomed the selection of his close friend Toireasa Ferris as a candidate in the next general election.
He said; “I have known Toireasa Ferris for nearly 20 years and in that time I have known that she is a committed and conscientious public representative, in fact while on her way to the convention tonight she got delayed as she stopped to try and ensure that two homeless persons she met were accommodated in a local homeless shelter.”
“Toireasa Ferris is a unique candidate who has the dedication, passion and ability to be a fantastic TD for Kerry. I look forward to working with Toireasa and others to build a Republic that we can all be proud of and where everyone will be treated equally.”
Toireasa Ferris ended the meeting by thanking her husband Pa and her family for their support.
THE Sinn Féin councillor who initially proposed Tralee make an application for Purple Flag status, has criticised opponents of the process.
The judges arrive tomorrow to assess the town for Purple Flag status, which is a positive initiative that indicates an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night in a town.
Purple Flag has been criticised by the Southern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, which is responsible for implementing the national drug strategy in Kerry, who said the focus should be on reducing numbers on the streets in the early hours of the morning when anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence are most likely to occur.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris, has called on them to justify such a contradictory position.
“The purple flag is the gold standard for any town wishing to increase footfall and business after 5pm in the evening. Awardees must meet 30 different criteria, including minimum thresholds of decreasing crime statistics, appropriate transport, a vibrant appeal, a stimulating destination and a strong partnership. This can only be a positive development, I believe this town can and should achieve this,” she said.
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“Much of the objection is based on the presumption that the awarding of the flag to Tralee will increase drinking and resultant behaviour in Tralee. That is the opposite to the objective of the scheme and the results experienced in other towns, in fact crime rates in towns and cities who have achieved a purple flag, including Killarney and Galway city, have seen crime statistics during 5pm and 5am reduce by 60%,” she continued.
“The focus of those involved in driving this project is to ensure Tralee has far more to offer after 5pm than what it currently does, i.e. later opening of shops and cafes, bars and licensed restaurants are currently some of the only businesses open at night.
“Furthermore if the much needed increased footfall in the town were to result in an increase in alcohol consumption and abuse as contended, then this would inevitably result in an increase in public order offences at best and would mean the town would not meet the criteria for renewal of the flag.”
The experience of other towns and villages strongly refutes the arguments of those objecting.
In fact the intention of those, like me, driving this campaign is no different to those involved in the organisations objecting, to create a vibrant night business in Tralee that is varied and not exclusive to the consumption of alcohol. I call on the objectors to reconsider their position,” said Cllr Ferris.
The judges arrive to assess the town between 5pm and 5am on Friday. They will give their decision in November. If successful, Tralee will become the 23rd town/city in Ireland to be awarded the flag.
TRALEE Municipal District Sinn Féin councillor, Toireasa Ferris, has advised medical card holders that they should not be charged for blood tests by their GPs.
Councillor Ferris has been contacted by a number of constituents, one of whom is a patient recovering from cancer, about the issue.
“I have told them and I would urge anyone in a similar situation to contact the HSE for a full reimbursement which they are entitled to.
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“Under the Health Act 1970, it is stated a general practitioner may not charge the patient if the patient is eligible for free general medical services, including in the event that a patient needs bloods to be taken to either assist in the process of diagnosis or monitor a diagnosed condition.
Patients have enough to worry about than being billed for something they are entitled to free of charge,” she said.
SINN Fein Cllr Toireasa Ferris has had a complaint that the Irish Times breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland upheld by the Press Ombudsman.
Cllr Ferris made the complaint after an article was published in January this year which she felt breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice. The Ombudsman could not find evidence that the article breached Principles 3 and 4 of the code.
Below are the full details of the complaint and decision by the Press Ombudsman:
“The Press Ombudsman has decided to uphold a complaint by Councillor Toiréasa Ferris that The Irish Times breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice of the Press Council of Ireland.
On January 20, 2016, The Irish Times published an article following a meeting of Kerry County Council at which Cllr Toiréasa Ferris (Sinn Féin) responded to a proposal by Cllr Sammy Locke (Independent) that glass panels be erected at a monument in Tralee listing the names of soldiers who died during the first World War.
The article stated that Cllr Ferris “threatened to seek to use money allocated to local councillors for favoured projects to erect a monument at Banna Strand to the Marita-Ann….” (The Marita-Ann was a boat used in an unsuccessful attempt by the IRA to smuggle arms into Ireland in 1984.)
Solicitors representing Cllr Ferris wrote to the editor of The Irish Times claiming that the article was replete with inaccuracies. In particular, her solicitors said that Sinn Féin did not “warn” and she did not “threaten” to push for the erection of a monument to the Marita-Ann.
Solicitors representing The Irish Times rejected the “assertion that the article contained inaccuracies or false assertions”. They went on to state that the article constituted a “fair and accurate report of proceedings at the meeting” and that Cllr Ferris “had raised the use of funds for erection of a monument to the Marita-Ann”.
As Cllr Ferris was not satisfied with the response of the newspaper to her complaint she made a formal complaint to the Press Ombudsman’s Office claiming that the article breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy), Principle 3 (Fair Procedures and Honesty) and Principle 4 (Respect for Rights) of the Code of Practice.
Her complaint was accompanied by extracts of the minutes of the meeting of Kerry County Council of January 18th, 2016, and statements by four councillors who were in attendance on the occasion of the debate, including the chairman of the County Council and Cllr Locke.
During conciliation various wordings of a clarification were suggested by solicitors representing Cllr Ferris and The Irish Times, but agreement could not be reached.
As the complaint could not be conciliated it was forwarded to the Press Ombudsman for a decision.
I am upholding this complaint as in my view the article breached Principle 1 (Truth and Accuracy) of the Code of Practice.
The minutes of the Council meeting corroborates Cllr Ferris’s complaint that Sinn Féin never pushed, and she never threatened, to seek to use money to erect a monument to the Marita-Ann, and that she only raised the issue as an example of an inappropriate use of public funds.
This is backed up by the statements of the chairman of the Council (a member of Fine Gael) and Cllr Sammy Locke. The council minutes state that Cllr Ferris and another councillor “could propose that a monument should be erected to the Marita-Ann in Fenit but they would not do that”.
Cllr Locke said in his statement that Cllr Ferris “would not be proposing such an event” (the erection of a monument to the gun-running incident). The chairman of the county council said: “At no point in that meeting did Cllr Toiréasa Ferris propose that a monument be built to the Marita-Ann”.
It is undoubtedly the case that The Irish Times did go some way towards offering sufficient action to resolve the complaint. However, I believe the wording proposed by the newspaper fell short of what was required as it did not sufficiently clarify that the use of the words “warned” and “threatened” in the article were inaccurate.
I am not upholding the other parts of Cllr Ferris’s complaint as I can find no evidence that the article breached Principles 3 or 4 of the code.
SINN Féin councillors in Kerry are calling on representatives from Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to attend its next council meeting to discuss the need for job creation for the county.
The motion to be tabled by Cllr Robert Beasley at Monday’s meeting of Kerry County Council.
“Of the 46 jobs that were advertised in the Tralee area since August 21 on Jobsireland.ie, 35 were made up of internships (14), CE schemes (12), or part time jobs (6),” said Sinn Féin council group leader in Kerry Cllr Toiréasa Ferris.
“Of the 11 real jobs advertised, three were minimum wage, one had a salary of €30k, one of €18k and others didn’t specify,” she said.
Cllr Ferris was highly critical of the Gateway scheme and how it applied to Kerry County Council.
“Gateway is advertised as offering ‘short term work and training opportunities’ for long term unemployed and selection for the scheme is supposed to be random,” Cllr Ferris continued.
“If this were true then why, of the 35 placements in Kerry County Council, are all participants male and engaged in outdoor operations only.”
“Gateway, like JobBridge should be scrapped and replaced with a meaningful internship programme that offers real and viable job opportunities to people,” said the Sinn Fein councillor.
Michael Barrett and Helen Egan from The Kerries on the protest against water charges through the town on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
A CROWD of around 400 people took part in a march through Tralee on Saturday, to protest against water charges.
The protest was organised by a combination of parties and organisations including Mandate, Unite, Sinn Fein, Right2Water, Independent TDs and councillors.
“We all came together in this campaign; people from all political persuasions and none are here today,” said Cllr Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Fein.
“The people of Tralee have come out to send a message to Arthur Spring and Jimmy Deenihan that they are not going to pay the water charges and they need to impress on Government how important it is to reverse the decision to charge people for a basic necessity,” she said.
Cllr Toireasa Ferris on the protest. Photo by Dermot Crean
Nobody needs to pay for water. From what we understand, there will be a revenue of €300m created by this. If they just standardised pension tax reliefs for the wealthy, you would generate that and more,” she continued.
The protest made its way from the Horan Centre to the constituency office of Labour Deputy Arthur Spring in Rock Street, where a letter was delivered explaining why the Right2Water group was against the water charges.
Deputy Spring wasn’t there so it was pushed through the letterbox.
The protest then made its way to town through the Mall and into the Square where a number of speeches were made.
TraleeToday.ie spoke to some of the people on the protest.
“Enough is enough,” said Alan Kelleher from Killorglin. “Where is it going to stop? Household charges, water charges…they can find millions and millions for the banks and installing meters. If they used what they got properly….that’s what’s wrong,” he said.
“I feel very strongly about this issue,” said Helen Egan from The Kerries. “It’s because of the way it’s been set up, because of the bonuses. It’s another way of skimming money from the little people and giving it to the mandarins,” said Helen.
Michael O’Gorman from Ballybunion was one of the organisers and said the big march is next week.
“We’re calling for people to come out in every town and village next Saturday to come out and protest. This is only the start of it.”
The next protest takes place from the Horan Centre next Saturday at a time to be confirmed.
The video below features footage of the protest through town and short excerpts of speeches from Martin Ferris and Michael Healy Rae. Scroll further down for more photos.
Noreen Horgan from Shanakill and Cllr Sam Locke deliver a letter from Right2Water to the offices of Deputy Arthur Spring, watched by Brian Finucane of People Against Profit. Photo by Dermot CreanBrian Finucane of People Against Profit on the megaphone with Cllr Pa Daly and Deputy Martin Ferris of Sinn Fein, Michael O’Gorman and Phil Horgan of Right2Water, Deputy Michael Healy Rae and Cllr Sam Locke. Photo by Dermot CreanDonie Grifin and Alan Kelleher from Killorglin on the protest on Saturday. Photo by Dermot CreanThe crowd from the protest listening to speakers in the Square. Photo by Dermot CreanMichael Healy Rae speaking at the protest in the Square. Photo by Dermot CreanProtesters on Saturday’s march. Photo by Dermot Crean
