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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has voiced his frustration at the government’s refusal to endorse solutions to end the constant crises in our hospitals.

Deputy Cullinane was speaking after a government amendment to a Sinn Féin motion tonight removed all proposals that would tackle the problems in our health system. 

Teachta Cullinane said:

“Sinn Féin this evening put forward proposals to the government and to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that would deliver more hospital beds, train more healthcare workers and hold the HSE to account.

“The solutions to solve the problems in our health service are no secret and there are no more lessons to be learned. Sinn Féin tonight articulated our plan to turn it around.

“But even when solutions are put forward to this government by the opposition, they stubbornly refuse to take them on board. 

“They need to take their heads out of the sand. Instead of taking ownership of the crises they have created and endorsing our proposals to fix them, the government’s amendment removed Sinn Féin’s solutions to the problems.

“Instead of ending the scandal of patients on trolleys, Fine Gael, after 12 years in government, have made it significantly worse. 

“And, one month on from Leo Varadkar returning as Taoiseach, it is clear that nothing has changed and that we are to expect more of the same from him and his government.

“They just don’t want to know. 

"We see it in health, we see it in housing, we see it in the cost of living crisis, and we see it in the scandals surrounding Damien English and Paschal Donohoe. 

“This government is out of time and out of ideas, and nothing will change until we have a change of government.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has described comments today by the British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as ‘insulting and disrespectful to victims of the conflict who have waited decades for truth and justice’ about the killings of their loved ones.

And the Sinn Féin member of the Policing Board called on the British government to halt its unacceptable Legacy Bill.

Gerry Kelly said:

“Comments by the British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace that the British government’s flawed legacy bill will end a ‘merry go round of legacy inquests' are insulting and disrespectful to the families of victims of the conflict who have waited decades for truth and justice.

“His comments are arrogant, callous and completely unacceptable.

“Access to the courts and to due process is a human right. 

“After decades of cover-up and obstruction by the British State the Tory government’s legacy bill is now attempting to pull down the shutters on the efforts of families of victims to achieve truth and justice through the courts. 

“And it will give an amnesty to British state forces who killed Irish citizens.

“Amendments to the bill proposed by the British government do not deal with the substantive issue of victims being entitled to access to due process.

“In fact this legislation is about denying victims access to the coroner’s courts, independent investigations of the killings of their loved ones and the ability to take civil cases.

“It has been roundly rejected by victims and families, human rights experts, churches, the UN, and senior officials in the EU and US administration and all the political parties on this island.

“The legacy bill is in breach of human rights standards and International law and should be scrapped now.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has called on government to instruct Coillte to stop the proposed joint venture between Coillte and the British asset management company, Gresham House.

The Cavan/Monaghan TD also said that government must ensure that state funds are not used to facilitate the proposed ‘land-grab’.

Speaking during a Dáil debate on the Climate Action Plan today, Teachta Carthy said:

“I have repeatedly stated that if we fail on forestry then we will fail on Climate Action. And, this government is drastically failing.

“The Programme for Government sets out an annual target of 8,000 hectares of new afforestation. Instead, this government has overseen the near entire collapse of Irish forestry.  We are now planting less forestry than we were during the 2nd world war.

“Under a Fianna Fáil Minister and a Green Party Minister of State, Forestry outputs have got worse since this government came to office, rather than better.

“Rather than engage with the forestry and timber sector, with farmers and local communities to address the core issues that have led to the current disfunction, Ministers have organised photo-calls and press conferences and commissioned report after report.  All the while, the crisis in forestry has intensified.

“Now, in an all-too-familiar story, the answer of this government appears to be to facilitate the sale of thousands of hectares of Irish land to a British investment vehicle.

“We are told that the Green Party Minister of State knew as far back as March 2021 of Coillte plans to use such a private vehicle to acquire lands.

“Yet, following the recent formal announcement by Coillte of their proposed arrangement with the Gresham House Fund, Ministers have pretended that they are somehow observers.

“But the Minister for Agriculture is the shareholder, on behalf of the Irish people, in Coillte.  He can, and he should, instruct Coillte to immediately stall this plan.

“And government can and should state categorically that will not permit the use of €2billion of Irish taxpayers money to be used to facilitate this land-grab.

“The joint venture is not about Climate, it’s not even about forestry, Gresham House has confirmed that 8,000 hectares of their Irish portfolio will be existing forestry land, as little as 3,000 hectares will bare land for new tree-planting. For Gresham House, this venture is simply about corporate profit.

“It is a typical approach, that especially sums up the Green Party in government.  An approach that points the finger at ordinary workers, families and communities while government fail to reach a single climate objective themselves have set.

“A good forestry policy is one that delivers for the environment, delivers for communities and delivers for local economies.

“The Coillte joint venture with Gresham House will deliver in none of those areas, just as this government have delivered in none of those areas.

“The Minister should therefore use this debate as an opportunity to confirm that government will stop this scandalous venture immediately”.

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The people of Derry are being urged to take part in the local council’s consultation on Irish reunification - the first of its kind in Ireland. 

The initiative stems from a motion tabled by Sinn Féin Councillor Conor Heaney who stressed the importance of the consultation which opened today. 

Cllr. Heaney said: “My first motion on entering Council was to establish a Working Group on Irish Unity. That group has met a number of times and agreed a range of actions. 

“These include a 12 week online consultation on Irish Unity and what ratepayers in Derry and Strabane Council would like to see in a new Ireland.  

“Derry and Strabane Council is the first Council in Ireland to do this in the absence of the Irish Government establishing a proper all Ireland Citizens Assembly. 

“Therefore it’s hugely important that everyone takes this opportunity to have their say. The new Ireland is for everyone and we all have a chance to shape it so let’s begin the conversation here in Derry.” 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady TD, has expressed concern at reports that the government is planning to attempt to remove the Triple Lock system that sets the parameters around which overseas missions Irish troops can be deployed. 

The Wicklow TD condemned as an attack on Ireland's neutrality any attempt to remove the Triple Lock, which determines that Irish troops can only be deployed overseas on the back of a UN Resolution with accompanying Dáil and cabinet approval. 

The system has served to prevent individual governments from embroiling our troops in operations that contravene Irish neutrality, which has the support of 80% of the Irish people. 

Teachta Brady said:

“The Triple Lock system is in place to protect Irish neutrality. Irish neutrality enjoys the support of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people.

“It is no secret that there are interests at the heart of the government who are intent on rolling back Irish neutrality.

“Any attempt to remove the Triple Lock system must be viewed as the opening salvo by those in government who seek to push Ireland into military alliances against the wishes of the Irish people. It must be opposed and exposed for what it is.

“The government must instead initiate a citizens’ assembly on neutrality to provide a forum where Irish people can have their say on this important matter that has defined Ireland’s relationship with the international community for decades.

“It was our neutrality, along with our unique history as a former colony, that attracted the many non-aligned nations of the world who voted Ireland onto the United Nations Security Council.

“Sinn Féin will oppose any attempts by the government to remove the Triple Lock system. We will not allow the government to obscure the debate on how Ireland configures its relationships with the nations of the world.

“Sinn Féin in government will introduce a referendum to enshrine neutrality in the constitution.” 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that today's announcement that the government will establish a redress scheme for homes with Celtic Tiger era building defects is a step in the right direction. 

Deputy Ó Broin called on the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to work with opposition TDs, homeowners and Approved Housing Bodies to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Today’s decision at cabinet that the government will establish a redress scheme for homes with Celtic Tiger-era building defects is a step in the right direction.

“It is crucial that this scheme provides 100% redress for all applicants, including those applying retrospectively. The scheme must also apply to apartments, duplexes and houses impacted by structural defects.

“I was disappointed to hear the Taoiseach inform the Dáil today that the legislation underpinning the scheme would not be complete until the end of 2023 and not be open for applications until 2024. 

“I do not see why this timetable can not be accelerated to ensure that the scheme opens this year.

“The government must also move quickly to make funding available for interim and emergency fire safety works for those developments at greatest risk.

“I am urging Minister O’Brien to work with opposition TDs, homeowners and their representative organisations and Approved Housing Bodies to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose. 

“This should involve detailed engagement with the Oireachtas Housing Committee and the establishment of a Stakeholder Implementation Group as called for by the Construction Defects Alliance.

“I would also urge government to ensure that the Enhanced Defective Block Remediation Scheme for homeowners in Donegal, Mayo, Clare and other counties is revised to also provide 100% redress and retrospection, neither of which are provided for in the legislation rammed through the Oireachtas by government last year.” 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has welcomed Ibec’s new report, ‘The Economic and Social Benefits of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement’, which has outlined the success of the all-Ireland economy since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“A new Ibec report demonstrating the role of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in delivering prosperity across Ireland is a welcome addition to the current debate on the benefits of an all-Ireland economy.

“In recent years, we have witnessed record levels of all-Ireland trade and business, with enhanced economic interaction bringing significant social and economic benefits.

“The GFA helped pave the way for such advancements over the past 25 years, and it is our collective responsibility to build on these solid foundations of peace.

“Enhancing and evolving the all-Ireland economy is essential for social and economic improvement, and to deliver a fair and shared prosperity.

“While the upcoming anniversary of the GFA will mark a period of reflection, it is also important to meet the challenges of today, politically, socially, and economically.

“There is no doubt that greater political, policy, infrastructural, and economic engagement and planning will help build on the successes of the past and pave the way for a fairer and more equitable future for everyone on this island.”

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Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill has said the blocking of life-saving organ donation law is unacceptable.

Michelle O’Neill said:

“News that the Organ Donation Law is now being held up because one party has refused to enter the Assembly and Executive is completely unacceptable.

“The passing of Dáithí's law, and the powerful determination of his family, offered great hope to so many people desperately waiting for an organ transplant and modernised our organ donation laws.

“This is life-saving legislation and it must be implemented with no delay.

“I am again appealing to the DUP to get back around the table, work with the rest of us to get this legislation over the line, to support people through the cost of living crisis, to tackle waiting lists and stop punishing vulnerable people.”

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MacManus urges Donegal County Council to progress Erne Atlantic Greenway Project
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has written to the Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, Jim McLaughlin, urging him to progress the development of the Erne Atlantic Greenway, a 3-way greenway linking Belleek, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Rossnowlagh. The Midlands Northwest representative was speaking after meeting with Joe Duffy from the Erne Atlantic Greenway group in Ballyshannon alongside his Sinn Féin colleague Cllr Michael McMahon.

MEP MacManus said:
“I was pleased to meet with Joe Duffy from the Erne Atlantic Greenway Group in Ballyshannon recently alongside my colleague Cllr Michael McMahon."

“The proposed greenway, linking Belleek, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Rossnowlagh, is an exciting project that would bring enormous benefits to the local area in terms of tourism and as an amenity to the local community."

“The Great Western Greenway in Mayo and the Waterford Greenway are examples of the benefits greenways can bring to local communities and the huge number of tourists they attract, and the Northwest has an opportunity to capitalise on that too with this project."

“It would also be a very positive example of cross-border cooperation, and I understand that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council are very supportive of the project."

“Therefore I have written to the Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John McLaughlin, urging him to progress this project."

“Since a feasibility study was carried out in 2018 little progress has been made and resources must be assigned by the Council to advance this project and open up funding possibilities."

“My colleague Cllr Michael McMahon will also be raising this in Donegal County Council and we will continue to work together to ensure that this project is delivered. ENDS
Pictured in Ballyshannon are (L-R): Chris MacManus MEP, Joe Duffy, Cllr Michael McMahon
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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Martin Kenny TD, has appealed to Minister Simon Harris to increase the maximum sentence for a person found guilty of grooming a child into committing criminal acts. 

This comes as the Minister today received approval from Cabinet to bring forward a Bill that will allow for those using a minor to conduct criminality on their behalf to face a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. 

Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said:

“Along with my colleagues Teachtaí Mark Ward and Denise Mitchell, I brought forward the Coercion of a Minor Bill in January of last year in the Dáil. 

"This Sinn Féin Bill focused on the adults involved in criminality and drug dealing, who target and coerce children to move and supply drugs for them.

"Criminals have groomed children in both urban and rural communities across Ireland.  Our Bill allowed for a maximum custodial sentence of ten years, because anyone found guilty of this offence must face a prison sentence that fits the crime. 

"The children in our communities deserve to be protected from this criminality and kept safe so that they can have a better future. 

“The maximum sentence of five years by Minister Harris is simply too short.  These despicable criminals are preying on our children and robbing them of a bright future by luring them into a life of crime. It is something that must see significant sentencing. 

“This lax approach to sentencing stands to the lax attitude Fine Gael have displayed throughout their decade holding the Justice Ministry. 

"The failures of Fine Gael to deliver adequate resourcing to Gardaí and improve funding for youth diversion programmes has now been followed by a failure to give a proportionate sentence to dealers and gangs who continue to be such a scourge in our communities.

“Our Bill is currently going to committee stage but the government have refused to engage with us. 

"In the time wasted while Fine Gael try to score points with the communities they have left behind, it is truly the children at the heart of these gang-grooming cases that are being failed." 

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, said:

“We introduced this Bill as a very real way to solve an ongoing issue in our communities. 

"In my mind, if the government was serious about stopping the grooming of children by drug gangs, the issue would have been tackled 10 years ago.

“I see it across my own community daily and indeed in many other communities across Dublin. 

"These unscrupulous gangs are recruiting our children, luring them into crime with promises of being a ‘somebody’, promises of making ‘easy money’, and having all the luxuries they could only dream of having one day.

“I also echo the calls of former Garda Assistant Commissioner for Dublin, Dr. Pat Leahy, in calling for additional resources that must be put in place for Garda Youth Diversion Projects

“Gardaí and residents in my area have been calling for much tougher laws to be put in place to protect our children.

“This Government Bill is welcome, however it does not go far enough to protect children from grooming by drug gangs."

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Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has said reports that the boss of private care home company Runwood walked away with over £21m in profit are ‘outrageous’.

The North Belfast MLA said:

“It’s outrageous that the boss of Runwood private care home reportedly walked away with an eye-watering paycheck of over £21 million over the last five years.

“People often pay through the roof prices to ensure their vulnerable loved ones are cared for and all the while the companies responsible are profiteering tens of millions in profits.

“There have been huge safety concerns raised about some of the care homes managed by this particular company in recent times including homes in my constituency.

“People with dementia deserve the highest quality of care, that should be the focus for Runwood and its bosses, not making huge profits.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Mairéad Farrell TD, has said that images published by the Irish Independent this evening blow a further hole in Minister Paschal Donohoe’s attempt to explain his flouting of donation rules.

She said:

“Minister Paschal Donohoe’s attempts to explain away a donation to him by his friend's company have been dealt another blow this evening as a result of images published by the Irish Independent.

“He has tried to suggest that services provided by his friend’s company do not constitute a political donation to him. This stretches all credibility. 

“Images clearly show a group of workers who would appear to be coming straight off a building site, with hard hats and all, using a company van during daylight hours putting up his posters. 

“This is despite repeated claims that this work was done at night - which would be outside normal working hours. This clearly contradicts statements he has made up to now.

“He has attempted to make this issue about filing an incorrect election expenses return. This is not the main issue at hand. The main issue is that he accepted a political donation that was not declared and should not have been accepted.

“The law is very clear on this. A candidate cannot accept a donation above €1,000. This donation was above that limit.

“The value that Paschal has ascribed to the postering service, provided by his friend, is a fraction of the commercial cost of such a service. Fine Gael have produced laughable figures to try to explain this by saying that three teams over four nights erected 150 posters in total. 

“The images show these posters are doubled up. That would mean that each team put up approximately 16 posters per night on eight poles. Anyone involved in elections knows this is not believable. His numbers don’t add up.

“The Minister must come clean and thoroughly answer all of the outstanding issues.”

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Sinn Féin Economy spokesperson Caoimhe Archibald and former Finance Minister Conor Murphy today met with the Department for Economy to discuss the reform of Invest NI. The meeting follows the publication of a highly critical independent review of the organisation.

The East Derry MLA said:

"Sinn Fein has long been calling for root and branch reform of Invest NI. 

“The agency has catered for inward investors and a small section of larger companies to the exclusion of small local businesses which are the backbone of our economy. Invest NI has also paid lip service to the need for regional economic balance.

“The Independent Review confirms Sinn Féin's analysis and the need for ‘profound change' in the organisation. Conor Murphy and myself today met with the Economy Department officials to set out our views on how the reform of Invest NI should now be taken forward.

“We made clear that Invest NI must be repurposed to tackle low productivity, create well-paid jobs, address regional inequalities and accelerate decarbonisation.

“It is important that the Executive is restored so these crucial reforms can be taken forward and we can begin to turn up the dial on our economic performance.” 

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Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd and party colleagues councillors Sorcha McGeown and Keith Haughian, will be meeting senior PSNI officers tomorrow to discuss the recent tragic murders of Natalie McNally and Shane Whitla in Lurgan.

The Upper Bann MLA said:

“My party colleagues, Councillor Keith Haughian and Councillor Sorcha McGeown, and I will be meeting senior PSNI officers to discuss ongoing investigations into the murders of Natalie McNally and Shane Whitla, and recent events around the town.

“These murders have sent shock waves through the local community.

“I previously met with the Detective leading the investigation into Natalie McNally’s murder, about the police’s efforts to catch her killer.

“It is vitally important that if you have any piece of information relating to either of these cases, no matter how small, you should come forward.

“The more information the police receive, the sooner the killers will be put behind bars.

“We will continue to support the families of the victims and their campaign for justice.” 

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Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has condemned those responsible for throwing stones at firefighters as they responded to a call last night and he called on them to catch themselves on.The West Belfast MLA said:

"Firefighters from the Springfield fire station were called out to respond to an electric box fire in Suffolk Road last night.

"They were attacked by youths throwing stones, with one firefighter receiving a cut to his nose and damage was caused to two windows on one of the engines.

"Those responsible for attacking the Fire and Rescue Service at Suffolk Road need to catch themselves on.

"The Fire and Rescue Service play a vital role in keeping communities safe and there can be no excuse whatsoever for this type of activity.

"This pointless behaviour ties up fire crews who are needed to deal with potentially life threatening situations; those responsible are endangering the lives of their community." 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Martin Kenny TD, has called on the Minister for Justice to make a commitment to introducing a dedicated transport policing division. 

His renewed call comes following the withdrawal of Dublin Bus services to parts of Tallaght following an escalation in instances of criminality and antisocial behaviour in specific areas. 

Teachta Kenny said:

“There had been issues for a number of years in relation to anti-social behaviour at particular flashpoints in parts of Tallaght perpetrated by a small number of individuals.

“This escalated to the point the drivers felt they had no option but to withdraw services in order to protect themselves and passengers. 

“This does not in any way reflect the hard-working and decent community who are appalled by this senseless violence, a community who are now set to lose out on a vital public service.

“People rely on these services to get to work, college, or hospital appointments. They are now having to find another mode of transport in a time when they can least afford to due to the cost of living crisis. 

“As recently as November, I proposed a number of actions that must be taken by the Minister, the government and the four local authorities within Dublin city and county to try and quell the antisocial and criminal behaviour we see in parts of the city and county. 

“This included the establishment of a dedicated public transport police unit to address anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity on public transport and at transport hubs, something welcomed by the NBRU and Garda unions. 

“A transport policing division within An Garda Síochána is priority for a Sinn Féin government, whereas Fine Gael have displayed a lax attitude towards the safety of communities during their time in government, supported by Fianna Fáil

“I welcome arrests made in relation to the Tallaght attacks. While I welcome the visibility of Gardaí on some services in Tallaght, which began yesterday, we must remember that this is occurring in the background of significant reduction of rank-and-file Gardaí across the Dublin area. 

“Fine Gael have held the Justice ministry for over a decade but have abjectly failed to deliver an increase in Garda numbers, particularly in Dublin where there has been an 18% reduction in rank-and-file members since 2009 at a time when the population has grown by 15%. Many stations are robbing Peter to pay Paul just to meet basic policing requirements of communities

“While those responsible for these continued attacks must be held to account, it does not take away from the need for adequate resourcing of An Garda Síochána in terms of an increase in rank-and-file members, with a focus on sustained visibility throughout Dublin, and returning Public Order Units to pre-pandemic levels, and a move towards a transport policing division. 

“Dublin must see a return to targeted community policing, a model which always catered to the specific needs of local communities. We need a coherent and deliverable plan for policing by Fine Gael, who have had more than ten years in government to design one.

“Driver and passenger safety must be a priority for both the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Transport. If we want more people using public transport, we need to ensure their safety.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane TD has called on government to endorse and implement his party’s proposals to end the constant crisis in our hospitals.

Deputy Cullinane was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion on the issue, which will be debated on Wednesday.

Teachta Cullinane said:

“This winter must be a watershed moment in ending the constant crises in our hospitals. Overcrowding is inhumane, unsafe, and undignified. We need radical action.

“The solutions are no secret and there are no more lessons to be learned. Sinn Féin has a plan to turn it around.

“Two decades of negligence have come home to roost. We have fewer acute inpatient beds in hospitals than 25 years ago and need at least 800 more acute and transitional care beds in place before next winter.

“The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) reported just five days where there were fewer than 350 patients on trolleys in 2022. They recorded no day with under 300.

“Instead of ending the scandal of patients on trolleys, Fine Gael made it worse. The health service is only held together by the goodwill and hard labour of healthcare workers battling crises day in, day out.

“Overcrowding was declared a “national emergency” in 2006 but it has been allowed to become the new normal. But it is not normal, it is a national disgrace.  

“In the short-term, government must make greater use of all public and private health care infrastructure to alleviate pressure on the public system.

“Sinn Féin has a multi-annual plan to increase the number of public beds, including more acute inpatient and sub-acute hospital beds and community step-down beds to speed up admissions and discharges to meet rising demand and demographic change, and to expedite the development of elective centres."

Sinn Féin's motion can be read here.

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Mairéad Farrell TD, has said that Minister Paschal Donohoe’s attempt to explain his flouting of election rules as an oversight “doesn’t wash” and that “his sums don’t add up.”

She said:

“The attempt by Paschal Donohoe to suggest that services provided to his campaign by his friend’s company do not constitute a political donation to him stretches all credibility. 

“The Standards in Public Office Commission issued guidelines to all election candidates during the 2016 election where they make it clear that if an individual incurs expenses on a candidate during the campaign and pays for this from his own resources, then this is deemed to be a political donation to the candidate. 

“The rules are very clear on this. A candidate cannot accept a donation above €1,000. 

“This donation was above that limit. 

“The value that Paschal has ascribed to this service, provided by his friend, is a fraction of the commercial cost of such a service. His sums don’t add up.

“His attempt to brush off his flouting of election rules as an oversight doesn’t wash.

“The Minister must come clean and thoroughly answer all of the outstanding issues.”

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MacManus visits Errigal College


Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands Northwest Chris MacManus recently visited Errigal College in Letterkenny and held a discussion with Transition Year students. Errigal College participate in the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme, an initiative which aims to increase students' awareness of the European institutions and the role they play in our democracy. MacManus commended the students for their excellent questions on a range topics including climate change and Irish Unity and thanked the teachers and Principal for facilitating the visit. ENDS

First photo is (L-R): Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Chris MacManus MEP, Danny McFadden (Principal), Evan Gorrell (Teacher)

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Second photo is (Seated L-R): Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Chris MacManus MEP, Evan Gorrell (Teacher) with Transition Year Students
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Speaking after meeting the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar on his visit to the North last Thursday, Michelle O’Neill MLA raised the A5 major road scheme and the urgent priority in delivering this key infrastructure project as part of the Western Transport Corridor.

Michelle O’Neill MLA said:

“I met Leo Varadkar last week and one of the issues I raised with him was the A5 road scheme which must be a shared priority for the government in Dublin and any new Executive which must be restored urgently.

“The Executive and the Irish government agreed back in 2007 to upgrade the entire A5 to dual carriageway from Aughnacloy, via Omagh and Strabane, to Derry.

“All statutory processes were undertaken by then Sinn Féin Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy at that time who in fact awarded contracts with construction to start in 2012.

“The Irish government then paused its £400m financial offer, which was later reduced to £80m.”

She added:

“The scheme has been beset by several legal challenges since, and public inquiries.

“We have sadly seen fatalities on this very long stretch of road and families left completely devastated. This needs to be confronted and the scheme delivered to save lives.

“It is imperative that both the Irish government and the Executive, when re-established, remain fully committed to delivering and financing this critical infrastructure project, and that legal challenges are overcome."

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