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Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD this morning attended the state commemoration of the 1916 rising at Arbour Hill cemetery.

This afternoon in the Dáil during Leaders' Questions the Sinn Féin leader raised the deplorable state of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street which he described as a ‘slum’. Teachta Adams urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to support the call from the relatives of the 1916 leaders for “the 1916 National Monument at 14-17 Moore St is fully protected and preserved in its entirety as designated and that the surrounding buildings, streets and laneways are retained so as the potential of this area can be fully developed into a 1916 historic or cultural quarter.”

The Sinn Féin President described this mornings Arbour Hill ceremony as a “very moving ceremony and a reminder of how much we owe those men and women who proclaimed the Irish Republic in defiance of an Empire almost 100 years ago.

"In this context I want to raise with you the deplorable state of the National Monument of 14-17 Moore Street and the surrounding laneways which you have visited and which you have described as the “lanes of history”.

"This iconic area marks one of the most important sites in modern Irish history. It must be protected Taoiseach but it must also be developed as an historic quarter and battlefield site in time for the centenary of the Rising. The condition of 14-17 Moore St is a disgrace. Its an insult to the memory of those men and women who it should honour.

"A developer, Mr Joe O Reilly, one of the Maple 10 Golden Circle, is planning to demolish the surrounding area for the building of a shopping complex. The developer is in NAMA who are now considering funding this development. In other words Irish taxpayers, Irish citizens may be asked to pay for the vandalising of a national monument. Taoiseach this is wrong.

"It stands in stark contrast to the way other states acclaim those who fought for freedom and independence and it totally contradicts the tone of our commemoration this morning. So, Taoiseach will you support the proposition put forward by the families to ensure that the 1916 National Monument at 14-17 Moore St is fully protected and preserved in its entirety as designated and that the surrounding buildings, streets and laneways – the lanes of history as you rightly call them - are retained so as the potential of this area can be fully developed into a 1916 historic or cultural quarter.

ends

Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe welcomes this week’s announcement from the North’s education minister, John O’Dowd that a further £72million will be spent over the next three years following an education budget review.
Deputy Crowe said: “The £72 million extra in funding is good news for anyone interested in education on the island of Ireland.
“The additional allocation will be spent on early years, extended schools, the youth service and the maintenance of the school estate. The money was secured after an internal review led to further reductions in bureaucracy and savings from other educational services.
“I commend Minister O’Dowd for his efforts and the initiative he has shown. In the face of tough financial challenges, he has secured additional funding that will be reinvested into frontline education services. As a result of this review, low income families will now enjoy additional funding for free school meals and uniform grants and £27 million is being ring-fenced in 2012-13 to help address the maintenance backlog, a measure that is added good news for the beleaguered construction industry.
“As ever increasing numbers of families struggle to cope in these difficult financial times, a further €3.9 million is being provided to supplement provision for the 75,000 pupils in the North who currently are entitled to free school meals. This money, which will be directed towards lower income families, will be used to pay for uniform grants and free school meals and the Minister’s pro-activeness is in sharp contrast to the lack of urgency that characterises the approach of the FG/Labour government to this issue.
“Minister O’Dowd has paid more than lip-service in his attempts to find savings through addressing inefficiencies within his department’s overall budget. I look forward to similar promised savings announcements and pro-active commitments from Minister Quinn in the near future.”

The government’s insistence on austerity is at odds with demands across Europe for growth and investment strategies, according to Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinane.
Speaking on the Order of Business today, the Waterford senator added that the government’s refusal to invest in job creation measures was holding the country back and deepening the current recession.
“The people of Europe have made clear their opposition to austerity and demanded investment measures. We have seen the same message in elections in France, in Greece, in Rheinland-Westphalia in Germany, and elsewhere.”
“It is high time that Ireland joined that number and I believe we need a debate on job creation, which would include the views of a wide cross-section or Irish society, and indeed, European politicians, economists, trade unionists and investors.”
“Sinn Féin yesterday published its proposals for job creation. We are calling for a three-year investment package in the region of €13 billion focusing on infrastructure and new enterprises.
“This money would be sourced from the discretionary portfolio of the National Pension Reserve Fund, matching funding from the European Investment Bank and an investment from the private pension sector. This could create some 40,000 jobs per year.”
“However, we are not alone in calling for a jobs investment plan. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has proposed a €15 billion investment package and SIPTU have also proposed a major investment programme of €10 billion.”
“The unemployment situation has long since reached crisis point, with some 440,000 on the live register and with thousands more emigrating every week. “Yet the government seems content to re-heat old promises and commitments, as we saw with the action plan on jobs, which involved no new investment, and no meaningful targets.”
“Unless the government turns its back on austerity, on hitting the least well off, and taking money out of the real economy, the jobs crisis will not be solved. It needs to take heed of what is happening across Europe and produce a real jobs plan which will involve tangible investment.”
ENDS

Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said that the HET report into the death of IRA Volunteer Seamus Bradley leaves many questions unanswered.

Mr McCartney said,

“The HET Report into the death of Seamus Bradley has not in anyway resolved the questions as to why Seamus was allowed to die.

“Given the recent revelation in a report by Dr Patricia Lundy which stated that the HET gave preference to and did not properly investigate British Army soldiers I am concerned that the HET report into Seamus Bradley’s death had the line, ‘If the soldiers were telling the truth then Seamus Bradley was killed lawfully’.

“If there is the slightest doubt that the soldiers were not telling the truth then the HET should not has issued its findings as lawful death.  Many of the other witnesses have given different statement as to how and where Seamus was shot, as well as no weapon being found despite the fact that the British soldier said Seamus was armed with a sub machine gun.

“I am also horrified to learn that if Seamus had have been given immediate medical treatment he most probably would have survived, and questions need to be asked if this is true, why he was allowed to lie injured without receiving medical aid.

“It is important that the truth of the matter is brought out into the open and I believe that this inquiry has failed to do that in every way.”

Sinn Féin Public Expenditure and Reform Spokesperson Mary Lou McDonald TD has described the Government’s commitment to selling off state assets as a “bad economic policy that actively works against the public interest”.

Deputy McDonald said:
“Selling off what is left of the state’s wealth makes no sense. Even if the Government’s projected €3 billion income from the sales are realised these monies are a drop in the ocean of the state’s overall financial liabilities which stand at €109.7 billion.

“Austerity is not working. Flogging off valuable strategic state assets for a quick buck is not a decision made in the public interest. What will work and is in the public interest is an ambitious investment package focussing on infrastructure and new enterprises.

“Sinn Féin has long called on the Government to match investment from the European Investment Bank with monies from the discretionary portfolio of the National Pension Reserve Fund and investment from the private pension sector to fund a significant stimulus package.

“Strategic state assets should be the engine to economic recovery. The ESB and Bord Gáis have delivered first world energy infrastructure to homes and businesses for generations. Both companies can still access the financial markets and are currently engaged in exciting and innovative renewable energy and broadband projects.

“Bord na Mona and Coillte are also playing a vital role is ensuring the State meets it renewable energy targets. Renewables are the new frontier of energy supply but unless Government works with semi state companies through enhanced investment and progressive policy making Ireland’s energy security will be fundamentally undermined.

“Eircom and the states broadband deficit have taught us that handing over responsibility for critical infrastructure to private interests doesn’t work. The State inevitably has to step in but gets left with the unprofitable parts of the business.

“Breaking up or selling off successful strategic state assets is a failed policy that works against the public interest. If we want bang for our buck and are serious about economic recovery we need to invest in our country, not flog it off bit by bit.” ENDS

Sinn Fein Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, responding to Minister for Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said that: “Most people listening to Michael Noonan today will not recognise the economy he is talking about.” Deputy Doherty also said that the Austerity Treaty would make ordinary people’s lives much harder “because it will result in even harsher levels of austerity after 2015.” The comments were made in response to the Minister’s comments at the Bloomberg Ireland Economic Summit.
Deputy Doherty said:
"While the Minister may selectively use figures to claim that the economy is improving he cannot deny the CSO figures that show GDP declined during the last two quarters of 2011. On the basis of these figures the economy is now officially back in recession.
“More importantly the reality for the vast majority of people is that things are not getting better and in many cases are getting worse.
“There are 440,000 people are on the live register, 1,500 people are emigrating every week, 91 families are falling into mortgage distress every day. Five austerity budgets have seen peoples living standards fall dramatically. Tax increases and stealth charges are pushing families into further financial stress. Poverty and child poverty rates are on the rise and income inequality in increasing.
“Most people listening to Michael Noonan today will not recognise the economy he is talking about. For them every day is a struggle to make ends meet. What they want to know is what the Government is going to do to create jobs, stem the tide of emigration, tackle the mortgage crisis and help hard pressed families
“The Minister is telling people that the Governments strategy is working and that on May 31st they should support the Austerity Treaty. Yet most people know, from their own lived experience that austerity is not working, it is not making their lives any better and that the Austerity Treaty will only make things harder in the future.
“The people of this country need investment in jobs and growth not spin and scaremongering. Minister Noonan would do well to talk to the real people in our economy before he claims that we have turned a corner.” ENDS

Commenting on the revelation that body parts of victims of the conflict were retained over many decades without the knowledge of families by a number of agencies, Sinn Fein Assembly member Gerry Kelly said:

“This is a shocking revelation. Our thoughts are with the families of those involved. It is my understanding that the process of informing the affected families has now begun.

“Like previously with a number of hospitals the retention of body parts and human tissue without the knowledge of families is completely unacceptable.

“It is now important that proper support mechanisms are put in place for the families involved and a proper public explanation for this practice is put forward and assurances given that it will not happen again.”

Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane has met with Colm Donaghy Chief Executive of the Belfast Trust to discuss current fostering arrangements to see how we can improve on them to ensure that the needs of the children and young people are paramount.

Ms Ruane said:

“There are many children out there who are need of a secure and loving home in order to have some stability in their lives and fostering, even on the short term can help provide that.

“It is important that we support the families who come forward as foster parents as they give a huge amount of time and effort to looking after vulnerable children.

“We also need to ensure that the foster carers who look after the children are valued, paid and given opportunities for real learning. There also needs to be a consistency of provision of foster care so that children have a basis of regaining a stable life.

“The needs of the children has to be paramount and we need ensure the arrangements support long term relationships while at all times putting child protection at the core.

“I welcomed the meeting with Colm Donaghy as it was an opportunity to show our support for the need for the fostering scheme and also to raise any issues that will allow us to support growing the initiative across the North.”

Sinn Féin Fermanagh & South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has secured a meeting this evening with the Health Minister Edwin Poots to raise concerns over proposals to reduce the opening hours at the Minor Injuries Unit at South Tyrone Hospital.

The Sinn Féin MLA/MP said:

"The current proposals from the Southern Trust to reduce the opening hours of the Minor Injuries Unit, both during the week and at the weekend, have caused great concern within the local community.

"In light of this, I have asked for and secured a meeting with the Health Minister this evening.

"I have asked that all MLA's for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, along with a number of people from the South Tyrone Hospital Action Group, be afforded the opportunity to attend this meeting to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister in a united and cohesive manner.

"I am hopeful that by working together we can persuade the Minister to intervene and allow the status quo to remain for 12 months to enable the existing arrangements to be fully appraised in the interests of delivering the best possible patient care."

Education will benefit from further funding allocations of £72million over the next three years following a review of the education budget.

Early Years, Extended Schools, the Youth Service and maintenance of the school estate are among areas allocated funding following an internal review that has led to further reductions in bureaucracy and savings from other educational services.

Low income families will also benefit with additional funding being allocated for free school meals and uniform grants.

Speaking about the allocations the Minister said: “Education continues to face tough financial challenges. As Minister, I must ensure that the funding available is used in the most effective manner. The internal review of budgets I commissioned last year has been completed and has identified savings which I am re-investing in front-line education and youth services.”

Turning to the detail of the allocations, the Minister said: “The maintenance backlog in schools remains significant. It is time that serious in-roads are made in this area as failure to do so now will only compound the problem. That is why I am announcing a ring fenced allocation of £27million in 2012-13 to help address this critical issue. This will be welcome news for the beleaguered construction industry.”

The Minister also spoke of the importance of Early Years. He said: “I have consistently highlighted the benefits of early intervention for the educational outcomes of our children. As I announced in the Assembly last month, I am providing the funds necessary to deliver on the Executive’s commitment in the Programme for Government to ensure that there is at least one year of pre-school education available for every family who wants it. If however further investment is needed to deliver on this commitment then I will not be found wanting. I also announced at that time that I am making available an additional £150 per annum for each pre-school place in the voluntary/private sector and allowing for expansion of the Sure Start programme to reach 25% of the most disadvantaged areas, to ensure that more children from those areas will get the best start in life. In total, these measures amount to a further £13.1million over the next three years.”

Moving to Extended Schools and the Youth Service, the Minister said: “I am increasing the funding for the Extended Schools programme by £3.6million over the next three years. This will assist the involvement of parents in the life of the school and will allow them to support the development of their child’s literacy and numeracy skills.

“I am also investing an additional £1million this year rising to £2million a year thereafter, for youth services. This is a total further investment of £5million over the next three years. One area where this funding will be used is in providing support within disadvantaged areas by increasing access to mainstream youth services and outreach/detached youth work.”

The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to tackling social need and disadvantage and said: “It is increasingly important in these difficult financial times to support those families most in need. Around 75,000 pupils are currently entitled to free school meals. That is why I am providing a further £3.9million over the next three years to ensure that the rising numbers of children in lower income families receive the uniform grants and free school meals to which they are entitled.”

Mr O’Dowd also announced funding to assist Boards of Governors to focus on raising standards in schools; to ensure all dedicated school buses have the appropriate signage and lighting; to help develop Area Learning Communities; to set money aside for Special Schools in recognition of increasing demand; and to support a project in Belfast focusing on raising standards and tackling disadvantage.

On the issue of capital funding the Minister indicated: “I am also looking at my capital budget and how best to allocate the reduced funding available to me and will be making an announcement shortly.”

The Minister concluded: “Today’s allocations have only been made possible by my efforts to drive out inefficiencies and reduce bureaucracy. Despite these further allocations from within my own budget, I will continue at every available opportunity to seek increased funding for education."

Speaking at a press conference today the Sinn Féin jobs spokesperson Peadar Tóibín has said that “only Government led investment in job creation will tackle the unemployment crisis and lead to growth and recovery.” Deputy Tóibín said “The fact is the government can’t have it both ways.  You cannot have a twin track approach.  The choice is austerity or investment in jobs.  This Treaty would prevent the type of government led investment which is needed for economic recovery in this State. Deputy Tóibín said:

“Today the newly elected French President Francoise Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet to discuss the Austerity Treaty and the issue of austerity versus growth.

“The fact is that you can’t have it both ways.  You cannot have a twin track approach.  The choice is austerity or investment in jobs.  This Treaty is about austerity and measures in it that would prevent the type of government led investment which is needed for economic recovery in this State.

“Sinn Féin has put forward positive proposals on job creation in every year since the crisis began. In each of our budget submissions we have argued for the need to invest in jobs and make job creation in the private sector possible; to remove the banking burden from taxpayers; and to reduce the deficit through fair taxation and eliminating public spending waste.

“It is clear that the Fine Gael and Labour government are not serious about job creation. They have talked about jobs but they have refused to introduce any meaningful jobs investment programme since taking office. They have done little to help the domestic economy.

“The result is that there are 440,000 people signing on, more than 70,000 emigrated in the last year. Long term unemployment is endemic. Youth unemployment is endemic.

“On the basis of the Government’s own projections by 2015 unemployment will still be at least 11.7%. Most commentators consider this a conservative estimate. This is not good enough.

“Sinn Féin is calling for a three year investment package in the region of €13 billion focusing on infrastructure and new enterprises. This money would be sourced from the discretionary portfolio of the National Pension Reserve Fund, matching funding from the European Investment Bank and an investment from the Private Pension sector. Such a fund would directly create in the region of 130,000 jobs over three years, or an average of 40,000 jobs per year.

“This level of investment could save potentially €800 million per annum in social welfare and bring in a massive increase in revenue receipts, directly and through the wider economy.  In addition a €600 million job retention fund could keep up to 96,000 people in their jobs for one year.

“This is the kind of money needed to kick-start the Irish economy and to create jobs. Similar proposals have been made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. They have proposed a €15 billion investment package. SIPTU have also proposed a major investment programme of €10 billion.

“It is time for the Government to stop sitting on the side-lines and talking about jobs. They need to start investing in jobs. Such an approach is simply not compatible with the harsh rules contained in the Austerity Treaty. Passing the Treaty will significantly tie the hands of this and future Governments to lead the kind of investment required to tackle the unemployment crisis." 

The Sinn Féin education spokesperson said:

“The announcement today by Education Minister John O’Dowd that over £72 million in extra investment is available for various education services is to be welcomed.

“The money will be spread across various areas including allowing more families on low income access to grants for school uniforms and free school meals.  The extra funding will also be aimed at extending the Youth Services, Area Learning Communities, training for school governors and the Extended School Programme.

“This investment will have a huge impact especially in areas of high deprivation by helping young people and their families gain a positive educational experience.

“I particularly welcome that some of the funding will be used to ensure more school buses are fitted with the proper signage and warning lights to identify them as carrying children. The money going towards the school maintenance budget will also help the construction industry.

“The Minister indicated that more money would be available for capital projects in the near future and I look forward to see the school estate being improved in the time ahead.”

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill today hosted a breakfast briefing in Brussels for Irish MEPs and selected COMAGRI MEPs to discuss her response to the CAP reform proposals.

Speaking after the meeting Minister O’Neill said: “This was a very constructive meeting I was able to highlight to MEPs the key elements within my response to the Commission’s reform proposals.

“In particular, I was able to discuss the detail of my suggestions for a smooth and orderly transition towards a flat rate support regime. I also presented my suggestions to simplify the proposed greening requirements so that they are more focused and easier to administer, while avoiding potential negative unintended consequences.

“We had a very useful discussion on my proposed alternative, and much simpler, approach to the active farmer test based on past production activity, as well as the need for maximum regional flexibility to tailor CAP support to meet regional needs.”

The Minister concluded:

“We are still at the early stages of the CAP reform process and I am very pleased that I have been able to engage with MEPS in an extremely positive and constructive fashion. I intend to build on this engagement and to promote our views of how the CAP framework can be shaped to meet the needs of our local industry.”

Mr McMullan speaking after an Assembly debate on agriculture theft, said:

“I am pleased that the Justice Minister accepted my argument that agricultural crime should be separated from general rural crime as this would allow the PSNI to have better and more up to date information on ‘agri-crime’ as it happens.

“Agri-crime’ is basically the targeting of the assets of farmers whether it is machinery or livestock as compared to other crimes such as burglaries, assaults etc. At present on their own admission the PSNI’s present system does not distinguish between the two classifications so it is harder to inject resources into tackling it.

“There are organised gangs who are targeting both machinery and livestock and exporting them abroad and this is costing farmers huge amounts of money and time.

“The rural economy generates billions of pounds each year so it is important that any threat to the industry is tackled with the utmost urgency and that the PSNI are properly resourced to do so.”

Sinn Féin Enterprise Spokesperson, Phil Flanagan MLA (Fermanagh/S.Tyrone) has called for transfer of all responsibility for the Crown Estate inventory to the Executive, so that local communities can benefit from the substantial benefits from the offshore renewable energy opportunities being exploited on our doorsteps. Mr Flanagan was commenting following an eventorganised by Invest NI and The Crown Estate on the potential of the offshore renewable energy sector.

Phil Flanagan said:

“While I share Minister Foster’s enthusiasm in promoting the opportunities available in the offshore renewable energy sector I believe that there would be much more benefit to our economy if the Executive negotiated transfer of all responsibility for licencing these projects from Crown Estates to the Assembly.

“The Minister highlights the ‘opportunities in the Irish Sea region alone are currently valued in excess of £17billion for areas under licence from The Crown Estate’. Can the Minister inform us as to the potential revenue that will accrue to Crown Estates through the issuing of these licences, revenue that will go directly to the British Treasury instead of directly into projects that would benefit local communities?

“What percentage of any grants allocated to successful bidders will be funded by Crown Estates?

“While I would join with the Minister in encouraging local businesses to explore opportunities in the supply chain either on their own or in collaboration with others, I believe that all the people could benefit substantially if the licences were issued by the Executive and the revenue raised used to alleviate the effects of the Tory cuts on Health, Education, Roads and Transport etc.

“Full transfer of responsibility for all Crown Estate assets here to the Executive would give the people of this Region control over how public assets are used, rather than leaving decisions that could deliver beneficial outcomes for our economy to an unelected quango."

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann said the increase in human trafficking in the North and throughout the whole island was an extremely worrying development.

The West Belfast MLA was speaking prior to chairing an all-party group at the Assembly today which has been set up help tackle the problem through awareness-raising and building co-operation with elected representatives throughout Ireland and in Britain.

A member of the Justice committee at the Assembly, Jennifer McCann said:

“The increase in the level of human trafficking in the North of Ireland and the Island as a whole is a worrying development. It's an international problem which brings in a profit of 31 billion per year for the criminal gangs involved in.

“There have been a total of 75 women rescued in the North over the past three years, and all have been brought here for sexual exploitation.

“More needs to be done in terms of raising the awareness of the problem, ensuring that the proper legislation is in place to deal with those who are involved in the trafficking trade including those who use the ‘services’ of people who are trafficked, because without a demand there would be no supply.

“The aftercare services for those who are rescued also needs to be fully resourced and co-ordinated better.”

"The main agenda items at the meeting covered those aspects of Common Fisheries Reform dealing with the achievement of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) in fish stocks, and the priorities for financial assistance under the future European Marine and Fisheries Fund. It has long been my view that there is a need for flexibility in each of these areas, and I was particularly concerned about the need for these objectives to be met by 2015 in a mixed fishery like the Irish Sea. 

"I am relieved that the Commission now recognises that it will not be possible to move all stocks to the MSY level at the same pace. In the Irish Sea we will need to gather more data to better understand the measures required to achieve sustainability for all stocks, and the impacts that these measures may have on our fishing fleet. I also welcome the proposal from the Danish Presidency to allow more flexibility for Member States to manage their own fish quotas. We operate a well established system and flexibility is necessary so that existing arrangements can be respected.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile has commended Short Strand youth and community worker Paul McCrory, on being awarded the Community Relations Council’s ‘Special Endeavour Award’ earlier today.

Speaking this afternoon Cllr Ó Donnghaile said;

“Paul McCrory, or Coocher as we know him locally, has been an established community and youth worker in our area for over 25 years.

“He is someone who has given up his time and ability to generations of young people throughout inner-east Belfast, whether in the local youth club, on numerous football teams, on training and education courses or being to the fore in cross-community engagement in this part of the city.

“Anyone who spends any time in the Strand can see the affection in which he is held by local children and young people and also by his colleagues on organisations like the Short Strand Community Forum which Paul chairs.

“His work in the Doyle Youth Club is a vital resource for the local community. Recently Paul donated a kidney to his youngest son Pearse – a short time later Paul was standing with us, as he had done many times before, trying to ease tensions and stop violence at the interface in east Belfast.

“I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this award than Coocher. Comhghairdeas!” CRÍOCH

Sinn Fein President and TD for Louth Gerry Adams has described as “deeply worrying” the revelation that just under €50,000 worth of medical equipment is currently lying unused in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda as a result of the government’s recruitment embargo.

In response to a Parliamentary Question from the Louth TD the HSE revealed that 16 insulin pumps worth €3,000 each are currently lying unused in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital as a result of the recruitment embargo.

Deputy Adams said:

“When I first raised this issue in March the HSE told me there were six unused pumps, it now seems the correct figure is 16. That’s sixteen children with diabetes who are not getting the treatment they deserve because of this government’s policies.

“I have been contacted by a number of parents and children in relation to this issue. One child receives 28 injections per week; this equipment which is lying unused in her local hospital would lead to a huge improvement in her quality of life.

“I am calling on the Minister for Health to lift the embargo in relation to the dietician’s posts in the Lourdes Hospital and ensure that these pumps are made available to the children who need them at the earliest opportunity.” ENDS

Speaking in response to reports that an EU-wide jobs pact may be agreed in advance of the May 31^st referendum, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald said that: “the Austerity Treaty is bad for jobs and bad for growth” and called for “the rejection of the Treaty and the adoption of a significant Irish and EU-wide investment programme.”

Deputy McDonald said:

“Sinn Féin has long argued for a major investment by the Government to get people off the dole and back into work. Last November we called for a €7 billion investment using monies available to the Government from the National Pension Reserve Fund and the European Investment Bank.

“Unfortunately our calls seemed to fall on deaf ears. Now the Government says it is in favour of stimulus. Many people are sceptical of the Government’s motives, believing that their recent talk of jobs is aimed at securing support for the Austerity Treaty.

“Sinn Féin will of course welcome any serious proposal aimed at generating employment. However the idea that you can have a serious investment programme side by side with the Austerity Treaty is simply nonsense.

“The extra €6 billion of cuts and tax increases arising from the Austerity Treaty will further damage the domestic economy. This will hurt the small and medium sized sector particularly hard leading to more job losses.

“At the same time the Austerity Treaty will lead to a Eurozone wide contraction as all 17 member states will seek to meet its harsh deficit targets. This will hurt our exports, already experiencing a decline.

“The Government is telling the voters that you can have austerity and investment in growth at the same time. This is simply not true. On May 31^st we have a clear choice – if we want real investment in jobs and growth then we must reject the Austerity Treaty,” 

Sinn Fein's Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has today called on Minister for Environment Phil Hogan to immediately introduce the promised legislation to regulate the domestic and commercial waste industry.

Responding to reports that Greyhound waste has sold its interest in Dublin's commercial rubbish collection business to nearest rival Panda, O'Snodaigh said:

“Greyhound bought the service from Dublin City Council amidst controversy only to sell off to their rivals in Panda within four months. The original deal cost Dublin City Council €1,300 a day in legal fees to Ernst & Young. And now Greyhound have simply sold up and moved on.

“Sinn Féin has asked Minister Hogan on numerous occasions to introduce promised legislation to regulate this industry. Minister Hogan claimed he had concluded his consultation with stake holders and would be bringing proposals to cabinet at Easter. If he has brought proposals to cabinet then he should let us see them and debate them.

“Sinn Féin supports legislation that would regulate this industry. We have argued for local authorities to be the regulating agency. The legislation should ensure that commercial and domestic waste companies do not operate cartels, work to high standards, introduce a national waiver scheme and are answerable to local authorities for their services.

“And finally contracts awarded to commercial waste companies should have a review clause by which local authorities can review or cancel the contract if the waste companies breach the agreed terms.”

In conclusion Deputy Ó Snodaigh said: “I intend raising this issue in the Dáil on Tuesday to ensure there is a full debate. Minister Hogan, as minister for environment and local government, must be held to account for his lack of action on this important issue.” ENDS

Speaking today the Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “with less than three weeks to go before polling day it is all to play for.”

Deputy McDonald said:

“There is just under three weeks to go until polling day. The electorate is only beginning to engage with this very important issue. We are getting very positive feedback on the doors. This weekend’s opinion poll tells us that there is all to play for in the coming weeks.

“Sinn Féin will continue to put forward the case for an alternative to austerity and an alternative to the Austerity Treaty. We will make the case on the airwaves and on the doors that we need a change of direction.

“Four years of austerity has demonstrated one thing, that you cannot cut your way out of a recession. We need investment in jobs and growth.

“While the consensus for cuts parties believe that even more austerity is the way forward Sinn Féin believes that people deserve better. On May 31^st we have an opportunity to say no to austerity and yes to investment in jobs and growth.” 

Speaking today during a canvass in Co Louth Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has said that, “today’s jobs fair at the RDS in Dublin  is another stark reminder that austerity is not working”. The Louth TD said that the Austerity Treaty, if implemented, would deepen the recession and make it more difficult to tackle the unemployment crisis.

Deputy Adams said:

“Today’s jobs fair in Dublin is yet another reminder that austerity isn’t working. With 1,500 people emigrating every week the queues of young people seeking employment opportunities abroad is a damning indictment of Fine Gael and Labour’s failed economic strategy.

“Here in my own constituency more than 17,500 people are on the live register.  This has more than doubled since 2008 when there were 8104 on the live register. This reflects the situation across the rest of the state, where numbers on the live register have more than doubled since 2008 to 430,000. There has been absolutely no improvement since Fine Gael and Labour took office and last year over 76,000 people emigrated

“The Austerity Treaty is based on the same failed policies as the current Government strategy. In fact if implemented it will deepen the recession and make it more difficult to tackle the unemployment crisis.

“We need a change of direction. We need to replace the austerity led approach of Fine Gael and Labour with one based on investment in jobs and growth.

“A comprehensive rejection of the Austerity Treaty on May 31^st would send a powerful signal to the Government that a change of direction is needed.”

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has condemned the government for slow progress on delivering social housing from NAMA and the lack of clarity about the process.

He made his comments following a response to a parliamentary question revealing that just under 1,000 of the 2,000 units are suitable and that so far, negotiations are only in progress on 700.

Deputy Ellis continued;
"This is shocking given the absolutely disastrous situation we are looking at in housing in this state.

We have over 100,000 on the waiting list for social housing and a half a billion euro being given to private landlords each year in rent supplement but the government and NAMA seem to be dragging their heels in a scheme that is rapidly looking less and less impressive. These units were heralded as the long sought social dividend by this government back in December but six months on no one has been housed.

Out of the 2,000 units, 697 are now deemed unsuitable and 344 have been taken out of the scheme by the developers NAMA is bailing out. This is not good enough. We need housing now and we need to provide it in a transparent and cost effective way. The government is refusing to give an estimate of cost but it is clear it will be a good pay day for developers.

Another worrying claim is that the government may try to house people in developments deemed unsuitable. They need to be clear on this. Planning for housing has been an utter failure of this state and we must ensure we will not be putting people in isolated or unsuitable conditions despite the immediate need to house people.

I call on the minister to outline clearly to the Dáil how this process is being carried out and to regularly update the public on the delivery of these units and further more genuine social dividends.

The people paid dearly for NAMA and this is not good enough."
ends

Commenting on the publication of the HIQA report on Nazareth House in Buncrana, Co Donegal, where seven people died of flu-related illness, Sinn Féin health spokesperson, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, said it is essential that lessons are learned and implemented by all care homes, the HSE and the health minister.

He said: “I wish to extend sympathy to all the bereaved who lost relatives in Nazareth House during the influenza outbreak in March and April.

“The HIQA Report, while commending the care provided in Nazareth House, identifies a number of issues that arose during the outbreak. Chief among these is inadequate levels of staffing to deal with the situation. The report also identifies the need for more rigorous procedures to ensure early detection of such outbreaks.

“All care homes as well as the HSE and Health Minister James Reilly need to learn the lessons of this tragedy and to ensure that best practice is implemented. They must ensure that staff numbers are adequate to provide care both in public and private nursing homes. Nothing less is acceptable.” ENDS