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Sinn Féin Ard Fheis 2014 - 6pm Friday Feb. 7th and 10am Saturday Feb. 8th - Opera House, Wexford Town



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Chris MacManus MEP commends Soil Biodiversity EIP during Longford farm visit
 
“The Soil Biodiversity EIP is a great example of a project that seeks to work with farmers to develop new practices to care for their land and biodiversity,” said Chris MacManus, Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands Northwest. He was speaking after a visit to Old Holly Farm in Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford, where Denise and Richard Moran Jones showed him around their regenerative farm and explained about their participation in the project.
 
“Agricultural European Innovation Projects, or EIPs, are EU-funded initiatives that aim to foster more sustainable farming,” noted MacManus. “There are a number of EIPs in operation around Ireland and I have had the pleasure to engage with other EIPs like the Farm Carbon initiative, the North Connemara Agri-EIP Scheme, and the Maximising Organic Production Systems project. The Soil Biodiversity EIP, run by Talamh Beo, is another excellent project that aimed to provide farmers with an understanding of soil biodiversity, and the means to improve soil biodiversity on their farms, through online courses and the possibility to sample and test soil with the help of scientific equipment. The project finished in 2022, with the aim that now the participating farmers will now be able to share their knowledge with neighbours and colleagues.”
 
“I am grateful to Denise and Richard for showing me around their farm and outlining their participation in the project. Their regenerative approach to farming prioritises soil health, which is crucial for both limiting and adapting to climate change. On the one hand, well-managed soils can sequester carbon, thus helping to counteract greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, healthier soils mean that farmers will be more resilient to the challenging weather conditions resulting from climate change.”
 
MacManus concluded, “This highlights the importance of providing farmers with the information and skills needed to take better care of their soil. In my role as a member of the Agriculture Committee in the European Parliament, I have long insisted that farmers are willing and able to make changes towards more sustainable practices, but need to be given the opportunities and the tools to do so. The Soil Biodiversity EIP did just that, although Denise and Richard highlighted that the one year duration of the project was possibly too short for full implementation. This suggests that future funding calls under the Agri-EIP should consider longer time frames to allow projects to be properly anchored and to have a long-term impact.”
 
See attached photo of (L-R): Denise Moran Jones, Chris MacManus MEP, Barry Campion (Sinn Féin candidate for Granard LEA).
 
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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, has commended the multi-agency operation that led to the detention of the MV Matthew ship off the Irish coast on Tuesday.

But he added that the operation demonstrates the need to deliver a plan to address years of government neglect of the Defence Forces and the Naval Service.

Teachta Carthy said:

“The Defence Forces; the Naval services and the Army Ranger Wing; and all agencies involved in the operation to detain the MV Matthew, deserve every bit of praise they have received since the operation off our coast on Tuesday.

“The successful operation again demonstrates the need to invest in naval capacity and the wider Defence Force.

“It also serves to remind us of the dangerous consequences of the undermining of our Defence Forces by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments. 

“Due to government failures, a maximum of two naval vessels can presently be put to sea at any time because of staffing shortages.

“There are fewer Defence Forces personnel today than at any time in the history of the state, and the situation has worsened under the current government.  More members will leave the Defence Forces this year than will be recruited.

“So, while it is absolutely correct that we commend the Defence Forces when they successfully complete a dangerous operation such as this, we must also note that their ability to do so has been made more difficult because of government failures.

“Too much time has passed since the publication of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces without a full implementation plan – that must be completed without delay.

“We must ensure that the men and women of the Defence Forces receive the pay, conditions and equipment required to do the job we depend on them for.  We must also see the plan that will adequately address the retention and recruitment crisis within the Defence Forces, including the naval services.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Climate Action and the Environment, Darren O’Rourke TD, has called on the government to urgently reform their regressive retrofitting programme, arguing that without a major overhaul, Ireland will not meet its 2030 targets. 

Commenting on the newly published report by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), the Meath East TD said:

“The report by the BPFI confirms what Sinn Féin has been saying for some time now - the government’s retrofitting plan is not working. It needs a major overhaul if we have any hope of meeting the 2030 target of 500,000 homes to BER B2 standard or higher. 

“Of those surveyed as part of the report, cost was identified as the major barrier. As a result, the BPFI confirmed that more support is needed in order to address the cited ‘affordability gap’ in the government’s retrofitting programme. 

“This ‘affordability gap’ is most pronounced for the poorest, coldest homes. Whereas the government seems content to leave these ordinary workers and families out in the cold, Sinn Féin’s retrofitting plan aims to address this deep inequity.

“After all, retrofitting is not just about cutting carbon emissions; it represents an important way to cut the cost of energy bills, as was confirmed by today’s report, with over 80% of those over 45 stating that it was a key reason motivating them to retrofit their homes.

“Despite 1 in 3 people living in energy poverty in Ireland, the government’s retrofitting plan prioritises those with the greatest means over those in the greatest need and excludes a huge cohort of households; those who don’t qualify due to high costs and those who don’t qualify due to strict eligibility criteria.

“A wealthy household can access €25,000 of taxpayer-funded grants for a deep retrofit, while many with far greater need cannot access basic measures such as attic or wall insulation. 

“Sinn Féin has presented a real alternative in our policy document ‘A Fairer Retrofit Plan’. We commit to significantly increase the retrofitting budget, targeting the funding at the poorest, coldest and most carbon intensive homes.

“Our plan is to spend more where it matters – it is an ambitious costed proposal to move all households to a B2 BER insulation standard with a tiered, area-targeted, scheme aimed at low and middle income households.

“We propose a tiered plan targeting those most in need. Directing scarce labour resources to the coldest homes is the best use of public money, is socially equitable and will show the best return on public investment in achieving climate targets.

“We would also increase the budget for local authority retrofits. The area-based approach of our schemes would see local authority homes, tenant-purchased homes and other private dwellings retrofitted simultaneously, helping to reduce wait times, labour intensity and deliver cost savings.

“Rather than targeting solid fuel homes with punitive action like carbon tax hikes and turf bans, Sinn Féin has an alternative plan to assist them with retrofitting their homes, which will particularly benefit those in rural areas.

“Finally, we believe Ireland has the potential to have a revolution in solar energy which can greatly benefit ordinary workers and families, but only if sufficient resources are dedicated to it. 

“Sinn Féin’s plan would both cut our carbon emissions and reduce energy poverty and inequality in our society. We would deliver a fair and realistic retrofitting scheme, making a real difference to ordinary people's lives and to the planet. Unlike the government, we plan to deliver more than lofty targets and fluffy rhetoric. 

“The BPFI report proves once again that the calls on the Government to change tack are getting louder and more numerous. Minister Eamon Ryan should heed those calls.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has said that Sinn Féin is committed to funding mental health care and will deliver the much needed change when in Government.

Teachta Ward was speaking at the launch of Sinn Féin’s Alternative Health Budget 2024 this morning.

Teachta Ward said:

“When we say that the longer Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in Government the worse things get - we mean it. I’ll give you just a couple of facts.

“This Government was formed in mid-2020. At the time there was just over 2,000 children waiting on an initial assessment with the Children's and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Currently the list stands at 4,000 children, almost double under this Government.

“Sinn Fein has a plan to improve CAMHS. Sinn Féin would invest in restoring lost CAMHS capacity, which has fallen from 72 to 53 inpatient places.

“We would ensure funding to restore 19 CAMHS inpatient places, and to further expand CAMHS inpatient capacity over a term of Government.

“We would ensure funding is available for the fully delivery on CAMHS community teams over three years, including the full provision of 12 CAMHS-Intellectual Disability teams.

“All experts agree early intervention is key and that if a young person does not get the care they need when they need it and where they need it they are more likely to need the more acute services.

“When this Government was formed there was an unacceptable 11,000 children and adults waiting on an appointment with primary care psychology. That has now risen to a staggering 16,000 people.

“Sinn Féin would significantly invest in primary care mental health services.

“We would increase training for psychologists, ensure that Jigsaw primary mental health services are available on a consistent basis across the state, and invest towards universal counselling.

“In Budget 2023 the Government did not provide funding to expand National Clinical Programmes. We would address this.

“There are significant gaps in specialist services for ADHD, eating disorders, and addiction, early intervention in psychosis, liaison psychiatry, and perinatal mental health services which require multi-annual funding certainty to develop.

“Sinn Féin is committed to funding these programmes.

“Sinn Fein is serious about tackling the deficits created by successive Government in Mental Health care.

“We have a raft of measures that will improve people’s access to the mental health care they need, when they need it and where they need it.

“These will lead to better mental health outcomes.”

ENDS

– Click here to view the Sinn Féin Alternative Health Budget 2024 in full.

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Pa Daly TD, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, has condemned an attack on a Garda in Dublin city centre.

Teachta Daly said: 

“This cowardly and disgusting attack was perpetrated on a Garda doing their duty, in the course of investigating an incident to protect the public.

“I wish the Garda affected a full and speedy recovery from this appalling attack. 

“The protection of public safety in our cities must be prioritised and safe staffing plans for Gardaí put in place. Many Guards I have spoken to feel they face being sent into high risk situations without proper back up.  

“No-one should feel unsafe in the course of their work. All Gardaí must have confidence that they can conduct their duties safely and get on with protecting communities.

“Fine Gael must get to grips with crime in Dublin, so that everyone can feel safe in our capital city.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has this morning launched Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget for Health 2024 and a policy consultation document, Priorities for Change in Health and Social Care.

Teachta Cullinane outlined Sinn Féin’s multi-year plan to fix the health service, which would start with a ‘Year 1’ investment of €1.3 billion in capacity, workforce training, and cutting the cost of healthcare.

Sinn Féin is proposing a major reduction in the cost of medicines to help families with the cost of living by reducing the maximum monthly drugs payment to €50 from €80, abolishing prescription charges, and by extending medical cards for 400,000 additional people.

We are also proposing a major investment in 1,800 additional hospital beds over three years to tackle overcrowding in hospitals and long wait times.

The wide-ranging package includes proposals totalling €509 million for improving access to hospital; €241 million for cutting the cost of healthcare; €100 million for investment across GPs, pharmacies, and community healthcare; €155 million on disability services; €98 million on home support and care for older people; €75 million on mental health services; €26 million on addiction and recovery; €31 million on developing the health workforce; and €170 million across a range of strategies to improve healthcare outcomes across cancer, women’s health, cardiovascular health, and more.

Teachta Cullinane said:

“Sinn Féin has a plan to fix the health service, starting with a major €1.3 billion investment in the first year. This is part of a multi-year plan to deliver an Irish National Health Service which ends the two-tier health system and removes cost barriers to healthcare.

“We have a plan to cut waiting times by opening up more beds and training more healthcare workers.

“We would cut the cost of healthcare by cutting medicine costs, delivering 400,000 additional medical cards, and reducing minor injury unit charges.

“We would deliver the world-leading child and youth mental health service that our children deserve.

“We would deliver for people with disabilities by funding the recommendations of the Disability Capacity Review, and by ratifying the UNCRPD Optional Protocol.

“Sinn Féin’s plan would deliver universal healthcare over two terms of Government, tackle waste and inefficiency in the health service, and bring real accountability through significant reforms to the health service.

"We would implement a new healthcare entitlements scheme to deliver universal healthcare, which we call the 'Sláintecard'. We would reform the NTPF to reduce private outsourcing and build public capacity to tackle long waiting lists.

“For too long under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael our health service has lurched from crisis the crisis. We can do so much better.

“Patients, their families and health staff deserve a health system that works. It’s time to start fixing our health service. It’s time for change.”

ENDS

Note to Editor:

- Click here to view the Sinn Féin Alternative Health Budget 2024 in full.

- Click here to view the Sinn Féin policy consultation document, 'Priorities for Change in Health and Social Care'.

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Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland held their 7th public event last week in the Verbal Arts Centre, Derry.

The theme was ‘Exploring Northern Protestant Identities and Culture in a Shared Future’.

Catherine Pollock, a local community and rights based activist chaired the discussion and was joined on the panel by community activists Catherine Cooke and Alison Wallace.

Speaking after the event Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy said,

“This was an opportunity to build upon the themes discussed at last year’s event ‘Celebrating Diversity- Ending Divisions’ and on the very diligent reconciliation work that has been undertaken in Derry over many years.

“We were delighted with the attendance and the excellent contributions from the panel and the audience.

“The theme of the discussion helped to deepen our understanding of northern Protestant identities and culture.

“It’s not monolithic- this discussion provided us with an opportunity to learn how diverse it really is.”

Commission Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA gave the opening remarks at the event. He said,

“It is important going forward, that we as republicans, not only internalise what we heard, but that we use it as a pathway for opening up new opportunities to expand this discussion.

“In turn, this will enable us to become much more sensitised, aware and informed about the kind of debate that is going to be required, that will lay the foundations for a new inclusive and agreed Ireland.

“We may never agree on the past but we can plan a better future together”.

Further information on the Commission can be found at: www.sinnfein.ie/futureofireland

Footage from the Derry event can be found on Sinn Féin’s YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp5WicaBqE

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Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy has called for Further Education lecturers to be offered fair pay and conditions rather than redundancy.

The party’s spokesperson for Higher and Further Education was speaking after it was revealed that colleges have offered voluntary redundancy to staff in response to the British government's cuts to Education funding.

The Foyle MLA said: 

"It is deeply disappointing that Further Education lecturers and college staff are being offered redundancy while on the picket line for fair pay. 

“These workers are integral to providing students with skills and helping them to reach their full potential. They should be given fair pay and conditions. 

“The British government should provide a budget that properly funds the Further Education sector and gives the department the means to offer staff a decent pay uplift.

“I would encourage college management to meaningfully engage with the trade unions and keep staff fully informed of their situation in relation to pay and job security.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has called on the British government to deliver a fair pay deal for health and social care workers in the north.

Speaking as health and social care workers have been forced again to take strike action this week, the party’s Health spokesperson said:

“Our health and social care system in the north is at breaking point as a result of 13 years of Tory cuts which has underfunded and undermined our public services.

“Staff are stretched to the limit and burnt out from working long hours, while also dealing with chronic under-staffing which has heaped extra pressure on already stretched workers.

“This is unsafe and is putting both patients and staff at risk. 

“It is unfair, unjust and totally unacceptable that the pay offer made to NHS staff in England has not been extended to health and social care workers in the north.

“In the absence of an Executive, the British government must get on with delivering a fair deal for health and social care workers without delay, in line with the pay offer made to NHS staff in England.

"The difficult situation we are experiencing is being exacerbated by the fact there is no functioning Executive as one party continues its reckless blockade in which workers and families continue to pay the price.

“The public’s patience is wearing thin, the DUP should get back to work with the rest of us around the Executive table to begin to fix the health service.

"Our health workers cannot wait any longer, they are working under ever increasing pressure and they need a locally accountable assembly and Executive.” 

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