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Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, Sinn Féin finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty TD said there is huge concern that the Austerity Treaty would give the European Commission new powers to force Ireland into an “economic partnership programme” which would allow the commission to dictate what is included in future budgets.

Deputy Doherty said:

“The first week of the referendum campaign has been dominated by the economics of the Austerity Treaty. However there is more to the Treaty than the additional austerity that we would have to endure after 2015 if we sign up to it. There are key questions in terms of loss of economic sovereignty.

“It is about time that the government, and in particular the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, came clean about the consequences of handing away such power to the European Commission and European Court of Justice - what will it mean for taxation policy, for the ownership of state assets, for the delivery of public services, for the household budgets of hundreds of thousands of people across the country?

“It is shocking that any state would voluntarily sign up to the loss of economic sovereignty and many people are asking have they even thought through the consequences of their actions.

“Articles 5 through to 8 deal with the enforcement of the Treaty’s draconian deficit and debt rules and the punishments that can be meted out to any state deemed to be in breach of the rules.

“Article 5 places a legal obligation on member states, who are deemed to be in breach of the deficit rules, to enter a programme of so called structural reform. The content of that programme, deceptively called an economic partnership, will be determined by the European Commission. The programme will be detailed, and in effect will look very much like the detail of the current Troika memorandum of understanding.

“The programme will be backed up with the possibility of legal action whereby one Member State acting at the request of the European Commission can take another Member State to the ECJ. The punishment will take the form of a fine of up to 0.1% of GDP which on the basis of 2011 figures would be in the region of €160 million.

“Taken together these articles will significantly undermine the control that future Governments will have over budgetary and fiscal matters. The excessive deficit procedure will become automatic requiring a qualified majority to block it; the Commission will have extensive scope to impose detailed policy prescriptions on Member States; and the ECJ will act at the enforcement mechanism.

“The Government, and in particular the Minister of Finance Michael Noonan needs to clearly spell out the consequences of these articles.

“The Austerity Treaty means more power for the European Court of Justice and European Commission. It means less power for the Oireachtas and the citizens to control our own economic affairs. On May 31st we have an opportunity to defend the right of citizens to decide our own future by voting No to the Austerity Treaty.”

"Honouring our Legacy: Keeping Ireland at the Heart of Global Justice"

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pádraig MacLochlainn TD today presented his party's submission to the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid at Leinster House. The submission was compiled by Deputy Mac Lochlainn and the party's advisor on Foreign Affairs, Kaniah Cusack.

He said:

“It is heartening to learn, in research undertaken by Ipsos/MRBI last month, that there remains overwhelming support amongst the Irish public for overseas aid to the global South. I hope that our party submission contributes positively to the review of Irish Aid being conducted this year.

“It is vital that any paper which focuses on the development agenda, such as the Review of the White Paper, considers a wide range of issues and that it addresses the root causes of global poverty, not just the symptoms. The need for fair trade policies, the involvement of civil society, the role of parliamentarians in oversight and the enshrining of human rights into the development agenda must all become part of the overall plan in order for aid delivered from Ireland to be truly effective.

“Sinn Féin sees the eradication of poverty, one of the prominent Millennium Development Goals, as the underpinning issue for all other development priorities. The right to food and water and the rights to education and health are basic human rights, not needs. Gender equality, good governance and the protection of human rights all stem from the primary critical goal of the eradication of global poverty.

“Poverty is a multi-faceted problem. Therefore, the elimination of poverty and the development of sustainable growth in the global south will best be achieved when economic, environmental and social issues are addressed in a comprehensive way, and when international aid and private enterprise are coordinated and directed toward the needs of poorer communities, not at the price of them.

“Unfortunately at the moment we are witnessing the undermining of development policy by European trade policy. Ireland should be playing a positive role at European level as a champion for global trade policies which prioritise and support the needs of poorer countries.

“In this way we believe that trade can benefit countries every bit as much as aid and development.”

ENDS

Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has given what he called "cautious welcome" to news that Shannon Airport is to be set free from D.A.A. control and allowed to operate as an independent airport.

Deputy Ellis continued;
"This is certainly what local campaigners wanted to see happen and Shannon can now go forward and attempt to grow without being saddled with the €100 million debt that had hung over it under DAA control. I also welcome the fact that the airport remains in state control.”

“All Stakeholders and public representatives from the region must work together to map out the role of the airport and how it plays into the strategic local infrastructure project aimed to redeveloping the economy of the mid West. I am hopeful that if this happens this move will be a help to the region.
This is by no means the end of Shannon Airport's or the Mid west region's difficulties but with hard work and planning this move could be a helpful move in the right direction."
Limerick City Councillor Maurice Quinlivn also said;
"Limerick City and the Mid West in general have suffered disproportionately over the last few years and what is needed is investment in infrastructure and the creation and retention of jobs. Shannon Airport has a crucial role to play in the creation of jobs in this area. We need to also understand the challenge we face as the government will expect that any loses at Shannon airport will be borne locally, we need Shannon to become viable again and we stand the risk of the losing the Airport and its facilities altogether should this not happen.”

Thirty-five Oireachtas members, including independents and deputies and senators from all political parties and groups in the Dáil and Seanad have signed their names to a petition calling for an immediate response to the ongoing mass hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Tomorrow a cross party group of TDS will attempt to raise the matter in the Dáil under "Topical issues".

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has welcomed the show of political unity. He said:

"Official figures show that over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners have embarked on a hunger strike in protest against their conditions and Israel’s use of administrative detention. The majority began their protest on April 17th, but there are several who have been without food for much longer. Two individuals, Bilal Diab and Tha'er Halahlah, are in severe medical danger having both been without food for over 70 days.

The prisoner support and human rights association, Addameer, states that 20% of the total Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (and as high as 40% of the male population) have been arrested by the Israeli authorities. There are currently 4,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and around 300 of these are being held in administrative detention. Administrative detention is a military practice that allows authorities to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial and without presenting any evidence against them.

The conditions imposed on prisoners and detainees are shocking. It is usual for prisoners to be held in solitary confinement and frequently denied visits from their family. Those in solitary confinement are held in a cell no larger than two and a half square metres, and which contains only a mattress and blanket. Detainees are permitted only one hour of sunlight and fresh air per day, and have their legs and hands cuffed during this time. In one of the most reported cases, Abdullah Barghouti has spent nine years in solitary confinement"

He continued:

"Acknowledging these factors, the 35 Oireachtas members call for an immediate response to the Palestinian non-violent protests. The current situation of Palestinians in Israeli jails is unacceptable. We call on both the Israeli government and international actors to recognise the following demands of prisoners:
1) That International Law and its provisions with regard to administrative detention are respected.
2) That Israel ends its policy of administrative detention.
3) That Israel ends its policy of keeping prisoners in solitary confinement.
4) That prisoners are allowed to see their families."

The Oireachtas members who signed the petition are:

Gerry Adams TD Senator David Norris
Minister of State, Joe Costello TD Minister of State, Jan O Sullivan TD
Richard Boyd Barrett TD Olivia Mitchell TD
Robert Troy TD Thomas Pringle TD
Mary Lou McDonald TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD
Gerald Nash TD Senator Katherine Zappone
Maureen O Sullivan TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Michael Colreavy TD Senator Ivana Bacik
Seán Crowe TD Pearse Doherty TD
Finian McGrath TD Senator Terry Leyden
Dessie Ellis TD Martin Ferris TD
Senator Susan O Keefe Sandra McLellan TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD Jonathan O’Brien TD
Patrick Nulty TD Joan Collins TD
Brian Stanley TD Peadar Tóibín TD
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh Senator Michael Mullins
Senator Jim Walsh Senator Kathryn Reilly
Senator David Cullinane

Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams TD, will be in Carrick-on-Shannon tomorrow, (Thursday 10 May 2012) with Deputy Martin Ferris to meet community groups which are bearing the burden of the attack on rural Ireland by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government.

Later in the day the Sinn Féin leader will be joined by other party members: Michael Colreavy TD, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Michelle O’Neill MLA and minister for rural development and agriculture in the North.

The team will address a public meeting at the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon and will take questions and comments from the floor.

Sinn Féin is inviting submissions that will go toward forming a comprehensive plan for the future of Rural Ireland.

All individuals and groups are welcome to submit these and the meeting tomorrow night is open to the public.
ends

Speaking against the government amendment to the motion tabled by the Dáil’s Technical Group on Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Social Protection said that far from being fair and transparent, the application process is flawed.
Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh said:
“The current application, assessment and review processes for Domiciliary Care Allowance are not fair and they place parents under undue stress that could and should be avoided.
“The level of confusion and fear to which these reviews are giving rise is something which I think the Minister needs to take heed of and respond to. The fear is fed by the unfairness and lack of transparency in the system.”
He went on to say that the minister has failed to address the fact that some Domiciliary Care Allowances are being ended, while a review being still in progress.
He challenged the minister to ensure, “at the very least, that absolutely no payment should be cut-off in advance of the completion of a review”.
Pointing out that the guidelines used to determine eligibility are problematic and need to be changed, Aengus Ó Snodaigh said:
“Diagnoses are categorised into lists as being ‘more likely’ and ‘less likely’ to qualify and this leads to unfair presumptions by the deciding officers.
“Minister, despite denying to me, in a parliamentary question reply, that the guidelines were unfair, in a tacit acknowledgment of a problem, you recently moved classic autism from the ‘less likely’ list to the ‘more likely’ to qualify for the DCA list.”
“We don’t want another Labour Party type review with pre-determined outcomes we want urgent action from the minister to allay the fears of families dependent on the DCA and the associated Carers’ Allowance that they will be treated fairly and not arbitrarily cut off, from their lifeline.” ends

Sinn Féin health & children spokesperson, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, has called for an inquiry into how the various branches of the State and the health services responded to the abuse perpetrated by disgraced former consultant Michael Shine in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Deputy Ó Caoláin this afternoon secured a ‘topical issue’ debate in the Dáil in the wake of the settling of the High Court case taken by Michael MacConnoran, a victim of Shine. Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

“The High Court case settled by Ronan MacConnoran highlights once again the scandal of what happened to the victims of Michael Shine. As Mr MacConnoran’s solicitor said “no quarter” was given by the state side in defending the case.

“This is one of the greatest scandals ever to blight our health services.

“In June 2009 the then Fine Gael Health & Children spokesperson James Reilly TD proposed a Dáil motion calling for ‘a credible inquiry to investigate how complaints relating to allegations of abuse by Michael Shine in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, were dealt with by the Hospital, An Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Health Board, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Health and Children and any other relevant party’.

“Minister Reilly needs now to act according to his words in 2009 and establish an inquiry. He also needs to support victims with appropriate services and adequate funding.” ENDS

9.5.12

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley today challenged the government on new provisions in the Protections of Employees (Temporary Agency Staff) Bill. The Bill removes the right of some agency workers to seek parity with similar workers doing the same job and allows the employer to set a new pay terms and conditions.

Deputy Stanley said:

“Some employers use agency workers as low cost replacement for permanent staff. This undermines the rights of both permanent and agency workers.

“The EU brought forward a directive to ensure that agency workers had equal rights and pay with permanent staff. This has forced the government to legislate on this matter. The government claimed that the legislation would guarantee equal treatment for all agency workers, in terms of pay and basic working conditions, with directly recruited workers.

“The government, earlier in the legislative process, provided a loop hole that excluded one section of agency workers from the safeguards of the Bill. Today the government introduced provisions that will mean that the agency worker may not be entitled to equality with an existing employee and may have different pay, terms and conditions set by the employer.

“Through the passage of this Bill the Fine Gael Minister has sought to undermine the rights and entitlements set by Europe. It is a shame that the Labour party has supported him every step of the way in this project.”

ENDS

Speaking regarding the proposed debate on the Austerity Treaty between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, the Sinn Féin campaign director Eoin O’Broin said:

“Gerry Adams is ready and willing to debate the Austerity Treaty with An Taoiseach and we await with interest his response. Sinn Féin will meet with TV3 in the coming days to discuss the format of the proposed debate.”

Sinn Féin Social Protection Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said it is outrageous that Minister Burton is extending the JobBridge programme which is displacing real jobs.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh the scheme enables employers to swap what should be a paid probationary period for a free internship all at the expense of the state.

He said:

“The reality is that the JobBridge programme is facilitating job displacement and exploitation.

“The fact that many of the small number of participants who have actually since gained employment got a job in their JobBridge host company is further evidence that the scheme displaces real jobs. This scheme enables employers to swap what should be a paid probationary period for a free internship all at the expense of the state.

“The displacement of real jobs is not a problem that has been ‘ironed out’ as the Minister would have us believe. On any given day you can visit the JobBridge website and see positions advertised that involve no meaningful training, demand the applicant already have experience and clearly involve work for which the person should be paid a proper wage.

“Sinn Féin wants to see the introduction of a genuine internship scheme which guarantees meaningful up-skilling and protects against exploitation.”

ENDS

The Sinn Féin jobs and enterprise spokesperson Peadar Tóibín TD has today responded to the launch of Business for Ireland saying “all the Treaty offers is more of the same – recession, business closures and unemployment.”

Deputy Tóibín said:

“The Irish and Eurozone economies are now officially back in recession. Four years of austerity has crippled domestic demand. Last week the Irish Exporters Association said that Eurozone recession is slowing our export growth.

“Every week I meet with business people who are telling me that demand has dried up and people have no money to spend.

“Because of the policies of austerity over the last four years demand in Ireland and Europe has fallen off a cliff. This treaty will mean an extra €6 billion in tax increases and spending cuts post 2015. This will further depress consumer demand, pushing the domestic economy further into recession.

“The imposition of Austerity across the EU will further deepen EU wide recessions and depress our key export market.

“This is not theoretical, it’s not hypothetical. It is already the everyday experience of thousands of business people throughout the state. Ghost estates are being followed by ghost main streets. In every town and city throughout the state shop windows are being boarded up by the policy of austerity that is inherent in this treaty.    

“1,600 businesses have closed in the last year, a trend which is increasing with time. Last month five businesses closed every day, a higher figure than the daily start-up total. This Treaty’s draconian deficit rules will further contract our domestic and export market making Ireland less attractive for business.

“The Irish and Eurozone economies desperately need investment in jobs and growth. The Government and their EU counterparts are proposing the very opposite. The only way to generate growth is to improve competitiveness and simultaneously stimulate demand. This is recognised by the growing number of political parties, trade unions and electorates across Europe who are opposing the austerity.

“This government’s policy of austerity is becoming increasingly isolated within the EU. This Austerity Treaty is increasingly being recognised as unworkable. Now is the time for investment in jobs.”

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Tourism, Arts, Heritage and Sport today paid tribute to the survivors of residential institutions and stated that this issue would never have reached the light of day only for their campaigning for justice.

Speaking during today’s Dáil debate on the controversial Statutory Trust Fund Deputy McLellan said:

“Unfortunately the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill has serious shortfalls. Many people held out great hope that the new government of Fine Gael and Labour would listen and act in the survivors’ best interests. But unfortunately that does not appear to be the case.”

“We must ensure that the compensation available must be expanded to include children and grandchildren of survivors, for many have themselves suffered because of the abuse visited upon their fathers, mothers and grandparents. They themselves have had to live with and endure pain and suffering for crimes committed against their loved ones and deserve adequate compensation.”

“I would appeal to the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, redraft the bill and to ensure that the bill is made more inclusive, more robust and accessible for the very people that it is meant to support.”
ENDS

Commenting on the publication by Health Minister James Reilly of the Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2011-2014, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said:

“The Statement of Strategy from the Department of Health offers nothing new but repeats the promises of reform already repeatedly made by Health Minister James Reilly. However, the strategy confirms that this government intends to take over €2 billion more out of the Health Budget up to 2014. This will have hugely damaging consequences for our already struggling public health services.

“The Minister and his Department have presented no strategy to re-open closed public hospital beds. There are currently over 2,400 beds closed in our public hospitals. The over €2 billion cuts signalled in this document will in fact see many more beds closed.

“The Strategy gives us no more details or costings of the government’s proposed Universal Health Insurance system. Details were promised by Fine Gael before the general election but have yet to materialise. Instead we have the promise of the establishment of an Implementation Group by the department.”
ENDS

Sinn Féin TD and Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty tonight welcomed Governor of the Central Bank Patrick Honahan's comments on a centralised European approach to recapitalising weak banks, saying the idea was close to Sinn Féin policy.

However, Doherty added that Governor Honahan's comments came €64 billion too late for Ireland.

Doherty said:

“With regards to the banking crisis across Europe, Sinn Féin has set out an alternative approach which would see a full disclosure of banking debts, a write down of debts where necessary and the ECB fulfilling the actual role of a central bank with regards to recapitalisation.

“I believe Governor Honahan's remarks tonight, while not identical to our policy, are moving closer to the Sinn Féin position and are to be welcomed.

“However, they come €64 billion too late for Ireland. Governor Honahan has been in position for a number of years now and during that time approximately €64 billion of taxpayers' money has been poured into Irish banks by this government and the last - and that's without mentioning the establishment of the €30 billion NAMA.

“I imagine Governor Honahan's comments were prepared long in advance of tonight, but it is striking that on a day when it looks as though Spanish banks need large capital injections, our bank Governor is talking about a Europe wide and not a national government response.

“If the Sinn Féin position had been implemented before now, we could have saved this state billions in recapitalisation. In the event of any future deal at a European level, or a scenario such as Governor Honahan's evolving, the first step of the Irish Government should be to make sure previous cash injections to Irish banks are refunded through the central European vehicle.”

ENDS

Speaking in the Dáil today Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD called on Labour and Fine Gael to step up and provide survivors of institutional abuse and their families with the redress, support and services they need.

Speaking during today’s Dáil debate on the controversial Statutory Trust Fund Deputy McDonald said:

“This Bill legislates for the provision of support to people who suffered grievous abuse within State and Church run institutions. However Labour and Fine Gael in Government continue to turn their back on the women and children incarcerated in the Magdalene Laundries and Bethany Home.

“These institutions, instead of providing a safe haven and secure environment for children and young people, were often places where the most sadistic cruelty was inflicted.

“The State compounded the pain and damage to our most vulnerable children by its decision to turn a blind eye to what was happening.

“Many survivors are opposed to this fund. When we consider how the State failed survivors of institutional as children it is understandable that they would not now trust the State to decide on their behalf wants their needs are.

“Labour and Fine Gael’s decision to withdraw support for the children of survivors is wrong. Access to education and counselling can be an important step in breaking the cycle of inter-generation hardship that is directly attributed to institutionalised abuse of survivors as children. The Irish branch of SOCA has suggested the introduction of a universal card scheme whereby each survivor would get credits and these could be conferred to a family member.

“Those who have not received redress to date will be blocked from accessing the fund and as a consequence, the State will have failed them yet again.

“The Bill does not provide supports and services to survivors living outside the State. Forty per cent of the applications made to the original redress scheme were made by former residents living outside the State. Medical insurance is a real problem for survivors living in the US and Canada, as are nursing and residential care. In what way does the Government intent to support their needs?” ENDS

Speaking in the aftermath of two deaths from knife wounds in Cork over the weekend, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson and TD for Cork North Central, Deputy Jonathan O’Brien called on the Minister for Justice to rethink his strategy of cutting Garda numbers and closing stations in light of this type of crime and the high number of assaults.

The Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson said;

“The fact that two people have died over the weekend in separate knife incidents is extremely worrying. Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner are quite happy to reduce the opening hours of Garda stations and close others. It simply isn’t acceptable.

“Clearly the current approach to crime fighting and prevention needs to be debated, reviewed and revised in light of escalating violence and drug crime. The CSO figures for last week showed a rise in drug related offences. Such violent crime is a symptom of a violent society we now find ourselves living in. The Minister for Justice must be cognisant of the risk to the community when approaching issues of policing. People have a right to be safe.

“Extra Garda resources need to be deployed to Cork with a proactive approach to tackling knife crime. We need to tackle the culture that sees young people feel that it is necessary and acceptable to carry knives on them as they go about their daily lives.

“I would propose a knife crime awareness and education campaign which would include a type of knife amnesty for the Cork area that has been successful in other areas before, where young people are encouraged to give up their weapons to Gardaí without fear of being charged for carrying the weapon. The PSNI did this in the north in 2006 and 900 knives were handed in, resulting in a 30% drop in knife crime.

“If we can take the bulk of these weapons off the streets then we will be going some way to solving this type of problem. A community awareness campaign might go some of the way to convince and educate some of these young people on the real dangers of carrying knives.”

ENDS

Speaking in the aftermath of two deaths from knife wounds, in Cork over the weekend, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Deputy Jonathan O’Brien called on the Minister for Justice to rethink his strategy of cutting garda numbers and closing stations in light of this type of crime and the high number of assaults.

The Sinn Féin justice spokesperson said;
“The fact that two people have died over the weekend in separate knife incidents is extremely worrying, but meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner are quite happy to reduce the opening hours of garda stations and close others. It simply isn’t acceptable.

“Clearly the current approach to crime fighting and prevention needs to debated, reviewed and revised in light of escalating violence and drug crime. The CSO figures for last week showed a rise in drug-related offences. Such violent crime is a symptom of a violent society we now find ourselves living in. The Minister for Justice must be cognisant of the risk to the community when approaching issues of policing. People have a right to be safe.

“Extra garda resources need to be deployed to the Cork with a proactive approach to tackling knife crime. We need to tackle the culture that sees young people feel that it is necessary and acceptable to carry knives on them as they go about their daily lives.
“I would propose a knife crime awareness and education campaign which would include a type of knife amnesty for the Cork area that has been successful in other areas before, where young people are encouraged to give up their weapons to Gardaí without fear of being charged for carrying the weapon. The PSNI did this in the north and 900 knives were handed in 2006, resulting in a 30% drop in knife crime.
“If we can take the bulk of these weapons off the streets then we will be going some way to solving this type of problem. A community awareness campaign might go some of the way to convince and educate some of these young people on the real dangers of carrying knives.”
ENDS

Sinn Féin MLA Phil Flanagan has said that a warning from DCAL Minister Caral Ni Chuilin during Question Time in the Assembly on the potential damages that fracking could have on fish stocks and fisheries in Fermanagh must be heeded.

Mr Flanagan said:

"During Question Time in the Assembly, the issue of fracking was raised once again and I asked the DCAL Minister Caral Ni Chuilin about the potential impact that fracking would have on our fish stocks and fisheries given the vast quantities of water that would need to be used in the process.

"It is quite clear from information that Tamboran have provided to date that they feel they can just take as much water as they want from our waterways such as Lough Melvin and Lough MacNean, which play a significant role in our local ecological system and in attracting visitors to our county.

"Lough Melvin has a very diverse and delicate balance of fish, particularly trout, and it is the only lough in the world where five different species can be found.

"If we were to simply allow the draining of our lakes, rivers and streams to facilitate fracking, then we would be, without question, doing serious damage to our fish stocks and fisheries and this is without even considering the risk for potential contamination to our water supply from chemicals.

"I welcome the support from the DCAL Minister as she highlighted her own concerns about fracking, particularly around the lowering of water levels and the potential risk of water contamination.

"It is now crucial that these warnings are heeded before it is too late and any damage is done."

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan said Minister of the Environment Alex Attwood is clearly failing to support councils within the local government reform process announced under the Review of Public Administration.

A member of the Environment Committee at the Assembly, the Newry & Armagh MLA said:

“Alex Attwood is failing to address and resolve many of the issues relating to Local Government Reform. He has failed to support local government in bringing forward a business case to seek financial assistance from the Executive.

“The recent meeting of the Regional Transition Committee showed that the Minister has created a chasm between himself and the councils. He has failed to grasp the main genuine concerns within the local government sector presently.

“The Minister needs to carefully listen to the views of the councils and the local ratepayers who wish to see a proper resourced partnership model between DOE and the local councils that will successfully deliver RPA.

“So far all Alex Attwood has done is talk about a more re-energised and stronger local government but he has failed to back this up with action.

“Instead of making excuses the Minister needs to be supportive of the councils and should be championing local government reform at this crucial time."

 Sinn Féin economy spokesperson, Conor Murphy MP, MLA has called on SDLP leader, Alastair McDonnell in light of his wholesome praise of Francois Hollande's vision for a jobs and growth stimulus package to urge the leader of his sister party in Dublin, Eamon Gilmore to adopt the same approach.

Conor Murphy said:

“What is the SDLP position on austerity? If as he claims in his congratulatory statement on Francois Hollande's election as President of France, that this is a 'good result for France, a good result for Europe', will SDLP leader Alastair McDonnell now call on the leader of his sister party in Dublin, Eamon Gilmore to reassess his support for a yes vote in the Austerity Treaty and adopt the Hollande approach.

"After all Hollande's approach is to oppose austerity and to fight for a realignment of the Merkel/Sarkozy model of austerity towards economic stimulus of investment and job creation. How therefore can the SDLP advocate yes to austerity in the 26 counties while claiming that Hollande's policy is the way forward for Europe.

“Will the SDLP now join with Sinn Féin and publicly call for a ‘No’ vote in the South’s referendum? Or will they persist in claiming to be Socialists in Europe while being cheerleaders for Sarkozy/Merkel right wing bedfellows Kenny/ Gilmore in the 26 counties?”

 Sinn Féin Junior Minister, Martina Anderson MLA has called on 'InterTradeIreland' to bring the EU 'Collaborate to Innovate' project event to Derry.

Martina Anderson said:

"The 'Collaborate to Innovate' project is designed to promote EU funding opportunities for collaborative innovation research available for SME's, academics and interested organisations across the Island. These events are organised by InterTradeIreland in conjunction with the European Commission Office as part of the European Research & Innovation Funding for SME programmes.

"The first of these events was held in Dublin in November of last year and a follow up event is to take place in Belfast on the 7th June. The event will give an overview of EU programmes accessible by SME's such as the new mechanisms of the EU Horizon 2020 programme. It will also provide 'opportunities for focused networking in an interactive and dynamic environment'.

"These events provide SME's opportunities to collaborate with potential partners from across the island and the EU to promote innovative business ideas and projects.

"I will be in contact with both InterTradeIreland and the European Commission Office to urge them to bring this information to Derry to facilitate SME's from Derry and Donegal."

Speaking in the aftermath of anti-austerity election results in France, Greece, Italy, Britain and Germany Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said:

“The referendum on May 31st provides Irish citizens with an opportunity to demand change and to join the growing European wide movement for an end to austerity, as well as investment in jobs and growth.”

Teachta Adams said: “A resounding No vote on May 31st will strengthen the hand of all those, here and across Europe, who oppose austerity.

“A No vote on May 31st will be a vote for jobs.”

The Sinn Féin President said:

“The elections in France, Greece, Italy, Britain and Germany saw the electorate reject austerity. They know that austerity isn’t working.

“The referendum on May 31st provides Irish citizens with an opportunity to join the growing European wide movement for investment in jobs and growth.

“A strong NO vote will ensure that this goes beyond rhetoric.

“The Austerity Treaty, if passed, will copper-fasten austerity policies and lead to further substantial cuts to public services, increased unemployment and emigration.

“Citizens who have lost their jobs and have seen their standard of living fall under Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil are incredulous when they listen to government Ministers cynically try to adopt the French and European demand for Jobs and growth.

“Citizens are not fooled by this.

“A resounding No vote on May 31st will strengthen the hand of all those, here and across Europe, who oppose austerity.

“A No vote on May 31st will be a vote for jobs.” ENDS

Responding to remarks by the SDLP MLA Alban Maginness indicating that his party was minded to support Jim Allister’s discrimination bill against former prisoners, Sinn Fein Assembly member Raymond McCartney said:

“The assertion by Alban Maginness that the SDLP are likely to support the Jim Allister Bill which discriminates against ex political prisoners represents another retrograde step by his party.

Many former political prisoners played a key role in the development of the peace process. Their contribution has been widely recognised by the majority of nationalists. Indeed many of them hold elected office, including Executive positions.

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that the election results in France and Greece are “a massive blow against the failed policies of austerity in Ireland and across Europe.” The Dublin Central TD said “A No vote in Ireland on May 31^st will strengthen the hand of all those arguing for jobs and growth.”

Deputy McDonald

“Yesterday’s election results in France and Greece are a massive blow against the failed policy of austerity. People are sending a clear signal that austerity is not working and that a new approach based on jobs and growth must be found.

 “Claims by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that the Fine Gael Labour Government share the new French President’s growth agenda are cynical in the extreme. Francois Hollande is opposed to the Austerity Treaty in its current form.  Eamon Gilmore is an enthusiastic supporter of the Treaty. Francois Hollande is standing up for French interests and demanding investment in growth. Eamon Gilmore is implementing a right-wing Fine Gael agenda of cuts, tax hikes and state asset sales

“Unemployment is at a record high despite massive emigration. At the end of April there were 436,000 signing on. Eurozone unemployment has reached an all-time high of 10.9%. The Eurozone recession is slowing our export growth. The domestic economy and one of our primary export markets are both in recession.

“At a time when the Irish and Eurozone economies desperately need investment in jobs and growth, the Government and their EU counterparts are proposing the very opposite.

“The Austerity Treaty is bad for jobs and for growth. If passed it will hamper any prospect of economic recovery.

“This weekend’s election results have shaken the pro austerity forces across Europe. However they have not been dealt a knock-out blow. On May 31^st the people of this state must reinforce the message from France and Greece that austerity is not working.  A No vote in Ireland will strengthen the hand of all those arguing for jobs and growth.” 

Speaking as the results of the French and Greek elections come in Sinn Féin Foreign Affairs spokesperson Padraig Mac Lochlainn said that “the people of France and Greece have said No to austerity and by a clear majority supported parties arguing against austerity and in favour of investment in jobs and growth.”

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said:

“Election results in Greece and France tonight have dealt a body blow to the policies of austerity and to the Austerity Treaty. In France an anti Treaty President has won the election. In Greece those arguing against austerity have roundly defeated pro-austerity parties.

“The significance of these elections for Ireland is clear. Just as France and Greece have rejected austerity so too should the people of this state.

“While Fine Gael and Labour continue to support the failed policies of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, the electorates of France and Greece have said enough is enough. People have had enough of austerity and want a new approach.

“Political leaders across Europe must take notice. They cannot continue with the failed policies of austerity. They must listen to the democratically expressed wishes of people in France and Greece.

“On May 31^st the electorate in this state must follow the lead of people in France and Greece in opposing austerity. Voting against the Austerity Treaty will strengthen the hand of the growing European wide movement against austerity and strengthen the demand for investment in jobs and growth.”