Sinn Féin TD for Dublin North West, Dessie Ellis, has said that the death of a man last night following an assault in Whitehall on Sunday morning has shocked the local community.
Deputy Ellis appealed for An Garda Síochána to be given all resources required to bring the perpetrator to justice, and echoed their calls for anybody with information regarding the assault to contact Santry Gardaí immediately.
Teachta Ellis said:
“The news last night of the death of a man following an assault on Larkhill Road on Sunday morning has shocked the local community in Whitehall.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased man, and everything possible must be done to ensure that they get justice.
“I echo the pleas from Santry Gardaí for anyone with any information regarding the incident to please come forward immediately.
“The Gardaí are also asking for anyone who may have camera or dash-cam footage from Larkhill Road and Collins Avenue areas between 1am and 6am on Sunday to make that footage available.
“There is a worrying trend of assaults happening across Dublin City, and this one has ended in great tragedy.
“We all deserve to feel safe on our streets and in our homes, and the Gardaí must be given the necessary resources to keep our communities safe and to bring the perpetrators of acts of violence to justice.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has described the waiting lists for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) first-time appointments as a complete failure by this government to prioritise young people’s mental health care.
Since this government came into power, there has been a 109% increase on the amount of young people waiting on vital mental health treatment
Some areas have seen a waiting list increase by a startling 700% under this government's watch.
The Dublin Mid-West TD said:
“Across the state, 4,421 of our young people are waiting for appointments with CAMHS.
“When this government took office in 2020 the waiting list stood at 2115. Under this government, there has been a 109% increase on the amount of young people waiting on vital mental health treatment.
“735 of these children have been waiting for over a year for CAMHS services which is a 209% increase since 2020.
“The increase is right across the state with CHO 2, which covers Mayo, Roscommon and Galway, showing the largest increase of 700% in young people waiting on mental health care.
“My own area of Dublin Mid-West, which is covered by CHO 7, has seen an increase of 240% of young people waiting on a first-time appointment with CAMHS.
“CHO 4, which includes Kerry, has the largest number of young people waiting on an appointment with CAMHS, currently standing at 1000.
“Kerry was the subject of the Maskey report, which was a damning indictment of CAMHS. This report was published in January 2022 and the government has failed to act.
“There have been numerous reports into CAMHS recently, which have shown the inefficiencies by both government and HSE.
“This has led to poorer mental health outcomes for our younger people.
“Sinn Féin have published a plan that will transform child and youth mental health services out of a state of crisis.
“Capital investment and accountability reforms are needed in the sector, along with planning for staff to meet the demands of the service.
“We have set out achievable policies, grounded in reality and based on evidence, to deliver the ambitious change that is needed.
“There is also a cliff-edge in our mental health services for young people at 18. There is inconsistent continuity of care, and many young people fall out of services or never access them.
“These failures mean that early intervention is passing our young people by.”
Speaking following the publication of the National Risk Assessment 2023, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, said increasing the number of SMEs who export is the best way to dilute the State’s economic concentration and reduce associated risks.
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“For well over a decade, Sinn Féin has been warning of the risks associated with the concentration of our economy in a handful of multinational companies (MNCs). We were not alone in sounding the alarm, and as far back as 2014 the National Risk Assessment reported that ‘Ireland’s economy is disproportionately dependent on a relatively small number of multinational corporations concentrated in a relatively small number of enterprise sectors’.
“That same Risk Assessment, three years into the beginning of 12 years of Fine Gael in government, stated that Ireland’s under-developed SME sector and the reliance on a concentrated number of MNCs posed broader strategic risks to the Irish economy.
“Over a decade since that report, we again have a National Risk Assessment stating that ‘the concentration of Ireland’s exports in a small number of sectors, dominated by multinational enterprises, leaves us vulnerable to broader global shifts, as well as company/sector-specific shocks and decisions’.
“While the success of the multinational sector must be fostered and continued investment sought, we also need to grow our domestic small and medium enterprise (SME) sector as a means of diluting the economic concentration which has taken hold in the State.
“Growing the State’s indigenous SME sector will help with economic diversification and protect our economy from external macroeconomic shocks. Central to this is strengthening the Irish-owned exporting sector, particularly from the existing large cohort of non-exporting SMEs.
“The Irish economy is an open one, with a significant trade surplus relative to our size, but this is not necessarily replicated at SME level. Ireland’s direct SME export levels are very low by international standards, with only about 6% of Irish SMEs directly trading across borders and the share of SMEs in total domestic value added in exports is also relatively low. With most SMEs not exporting and a significant percentage of existing SME exporters only trading with the British market, there is huge opportunity for growth and jobs in this area.
“However, given the unique challenges faced by Irish SMEs, such as current low levels of cross-border trading, and the fact Irish SMEs have to export at an earlier stage in their lifecycle than those in other European countries, it is essential that government policy, training and funding is tailored to suit their needs.
“If the government is serious about tackling the risks outlined in the National Risk Assessment, then they must focus on increasing the number of indigenous SMEs who export in order to help grow and diversify our economy.”
Sinn Féin Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Matt Carthy TD, and Finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty TD, are travelling to Australia next week for an intensive series of engagements in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. This follows Mary Lou McDonald’s first visit to Australia as Leader of the Opposition last year.
During the trip, they will meet with government ministers and parliamentarians at Federal and State level, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, to discuss ongoing change in Ireland, the need for the political institutions to be re-established in the north and to look at how Australia is delivering in key areas such as health, affordable housing and climate change.
They will also meet with young Irish people, Irish community organisations and Trade Union leaders and speak at a number of events hosted by the Irish Australia Chambers of Commerce and European Australian Business Council.
On Wednesday, Pearse Doherty will deliver a keynote address at the launch of Australia Friends of Irish Unity in Sydney and on Friday Matt Carthy will address the Friends of Ireland group in the Parliament of Victoria.
Speaking in advance of the trip, Matt Carthy said:
“We are travelling to Australia next week to deepen links between our two countries, to talk about what is happening in Ireland, north and south and also to discuss what is happening in Australia and how they are dealing with challenges such as climate change, health and affordable housing. We look forward to meeting with political representatives at Federal and State level, business and trade union leaders and the Irish community in Australia during our visit next week.
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a historic peace accord which has delivered so much change in Ireland. We need to continue to build on that. In the North, twice in the last 12 months, the people resoundingly endorsed Sinn Féin’s positive message of getting the Executive up and running. Michelle O’Neill stands ready to lead an Executive for all while others continue to block the political institutions being formed. The coming months must see this change. We need government to deliver for all the people of the north.
“During the trip we will be meeting with young Irish workers. While the Irish economy is strong another generation again looks to the hope of a better life here in Australia. Not because there’s no work but because they are prevented from building a good future at home. The housing crisis is at the centre of this great failure. Sinn Féin is working night and day to change things, so they can come home to a new Ireland.
“This is a time for optimism and for hope in Ireland. Change is happening all around us and the last three elections on our island have shown that this demand for change is powerfully shaping a new future. We are witnessing ever growing support for Irish unity and the opportunities for our island and our economy are immense with the right leadership. Support for Irish Unity among the Irish diaspora and the international community is critical and the launch of Australia Friends of Irish Unity is a key part of all of this work.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has responded to figures published by Eurostat and the CSO showing that Irish energy prices have not fallen in line with other European countries.
Deputy Doherty has again called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to explain why he has failed to deliver on his commitment to take action against energy companies that fail to reduce prices for households.
The Donegal TD wrote to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in June calling for the regulator to undertake an intensive and intrusive supervision of retail pricing in light of falling wholesale energy prices.
Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said:
“Figures released by the statistics office of the European Union show that while European energy prices fell in July, Irish energy prices increased.
“The figures released also make clear that while electricity prices have fallen steadily across Europe, Irish electricity prices have remained sky high.
“This is despite the significant drop in wholesale energy costs in the past year.
“In June the ESRI warned that the failure to pass on these reduced costs to households could be due to anti-competitive behaviour by energy companies in order to boost their profits.
“Yet we have had no action from the Taoiseach or the Government.
“This is why I wrote to the energy regulator in June requesting that it undertake intrusive supervision of prices energy companies are charging households.
“Workers and families continue to struggle under this cost of living crisis – they need transparency and action.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister Hackett and Minister McConalogue to provide clarity on the announced approval of an afforestation grant scheme by the European Commission.
It has been announced today that the European Commission has provided approval for a grant scheme to support investments in afforestation under EU state aid rules.
Some media reports have suggested that only partial approval has been received, with €308m being referenced for the afforestation grant scheme.
The Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine have issued a press statement confirming approval of afforestation measures by the European Commission, but have not clarified the total amount approved.
Teachta Kerrane said:
“It is a welcome update that approval has been provided today by the EU Commission for a grant scheme for afforestation.
“However, many more questions remain unanswered.
“Some media reports are indicating that only partial approval has been received. This would be unexpected as that point wasn't referenced in the Ministers’ comments on the matter.
“It is positive that partial approval has been granted, but unusual that this important detail has not been included by the Ministers announcing this update, should this be the case.
“€308m equates to less than 25% of the announced €1.3bn for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. It is crucial that the Ministers provide clarification and additional detail on the approved amount.
“Given the significant delays to the new Forestry Programme already, farmers and foresters deserve to know exactly what amount has been approved and what it has been approved for.
“In addition, the Ministers have stated that applications will be opening in the next couple of weeks, but it is reasonable to expect that any afforestation grant scheme would be up and running almost immediately. There has been plenty of time to have this scheme ready to go on approval, given applications should have opened late last year.
“We know that movement on afforestation is urgently needed.
“I have been contacted by farmers and forestry landowners as recently as last week, who have been seriously worried about the significant delays to the new Forestry Programme and the impact this will have.
“In addition, there is an annual target of 8,000 ha of afforestation. Yet, there has been just 1,020ha planted in the first seven month of 2023 and licensing issued for just 140ha of new forestry so far this year.
“Given the situation, it is no surprise that confidence in the sector amongst farmers and foresters is at an all-time low.
“That lack of confidence will not be helped by questions remaining about how much the approved afforestation grant scheme is for, what it is for, and when it will be up and running.
“As I have said before, the government has dragged their feet on Forestry and they continue to do so.
“I am calling on Minister Hackett and Minister McConalogue to provide urgent clarity and confirmation on this matter.”
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal, Louise O’Reilly, has said that the Dublin Airport Authority is not above the law and that they must comply with planning conditions as set down by Fingal County Council.
Speaking today, Teachta O’Reilly said:
“Since the opening of the new north runway at Dublin Airport, several communities have come under flight paths for the first time.
“The situation has been a huge shock for the families and businesses affected, and it has been exasperated by the sheer number of night-time flights operating from the runway.
“These communities have known for many months that Dublin Airport Authority is in breach of the conditions of its planning permission in terms of the number of flights allowed at night-time.
“Despite complaints, public meetings and appeals directly to the government, the situation was allowed to continue for a year.
“I welcome the enforcement notice from Fingal County Council and it is important that DAA rectify the matter within the six-week timeframe.
“It didn’t take DAA six weeks to breach the conditions of their planning permission, so it shouldn’t take them more than six weeks to rectify the matter.
“The DAA is not above the law and the authority must comply with the conditions of their planning permission.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education, Sorca Clarke TD, has today once again urged the government to extend the School Books Grant Scheme to secondary school students.
Deputy Clarke’s renewed call comes after the results of a Barnardos survey, published today, found that it costs almost €1,000 to send a child to attend first year in secondary school.
Teachta Clarke said:
“With the weeks ticking down to when school doors reopen at the end of the month, the harsh realities of spiralling back-to-school costs is now really hitting home for families across the state.
“This was further highlighted by the stark findings of the Barnardos survey published today.
“With so many already struggling in a cost-of-living crisis, with eye-watering energy bills and increased mortgage repayments, families need a break from back-to-school costs now.
“Sinn Féin fully supports Barnardos’ call for extension of the School Books Grant Scheme to secondary schools, and the government must act to ensure that families get this support urgently, as September is approaching quickly.
“This was an ask contained in a Sinn Féin motion in June. We welcomed that the government did not oppose this motion, but the Minister for Education Norma Foley has failed to act since to ease the financial pressure on families sending their children to school.
“Extending the School Books Grant Scheme to post-primary schools would be one meaningful step she could take now to ease the financial burden on parents of post-primary students.
“The reality is that ‘free education’ in this state is ‘free’ in name only. It is a myth.
“Parents are already trying to budget for significant additional costs - for everything from uniforms to devices, from books to transport.
“On top of all of this, parents are being asked to pay hundreds of euro in so-called ‘voluntary contributions’ because of the legacy of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's failure to properly fund our education system.
“Each and every one of those costs will be felt sharply, putting already hard-pressed parents to the pin of their collar.
“Sinn Féin is clear on what we would do to ensure that education is free, accessible and properly-funded schools.
“We have a plan to cut back-to-school costs and to end this financial pressure on families.
“We would introduce affordable school uniforms, expand the School Transport Scheme, and ensure that every child has access to a hot meal in school and stop families being pressured into paying voluntary contributions.
“The government must act to make education genuinely free and accessible to everyone.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has today published legislation that would make seeking sex for rent, or advertising such arrangements, an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Dublin Mid-West TD will seek to introduce the Bill when the Dáil resumes in September.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“Over 18 months ago Irish Examiner journalist Ann Murphy exposed the sex for rent scandal. In a number of articles, she revealed landlords seeking sex from prospective female tenants and seeking such arrangements through adverts on social media.
“Seeking sex for rent is a disgusting predatory form of behaviour. It should be outlawed.
“At the time, I and other opposition TDs wrote to Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien, and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee urging them to act.
“In February last year Social Democrats TD, Cian O’Callaghan, introduced legislation that sought to make sex for rent an offence. The legislation was passed with Sinn Féin support and without Government opposition in March 2022.
“However, the Bill was then rejected by Government in July last year following pre-legislative scrutiny. Government committed to reviewing the matter.
“A year on, and as exposed by RTÉ Investigates last month, the scandal continues. In an environment of rising rents, limited rental supply and an escalating homeless crisis, some landlords are preying on desperate and vulnerable prospective tenants seeking sex in lieu of rent.
“The Bill I am publishing today is an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act. It would make it an offence under section 19 of that Act for a landlord to seek sex in lieu of rent or to advertise for such arrangements.
“It is unacceptable that vulnerable tenants would be exposed to this kind of abhorrent behaviour. It is also unacceptable that almost two years since the issue was first brought to public attention and a full year after legislation passed in the Dáil, that Government has failed to act.
“Renters need the full protection of the law and seeking or advertising sex for rent must be an offence in legislation carrying significant punishment.
“I will be seeking to introduce this Bill as soon as the Dáil resumes in September.”
Sinn Féin's Bill can be read here.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has called for a windfall tax on the eye-watering profits of big energy corporations who have pocketed billions in profits in the first quarter of 2023.
The party's finance spokesperson said:
“It’s time for a windfall tax on big energy corporations such as BP who are lifting billions in profits while their customers struggle to heat their homes.
“It is an absolute scandal that big energy corporations are walking away with bundles of cash while hiking the bills of workers, families and businesses.
“At a time when we should be moving away from fossil fuels it is galling that companies can make this level of profit and then return a £1 billion in profit to its shareholders.
“The proceeds of a Windfall Tax could be redirected into the pockets of workers and families and to advance efforts to move away from fossil fuels and into renewables to power and heat homes.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Addiction, Recovery and Wellbeing, Thomas Gould TD, has today called on government to respond to Health Research Board (HRB) data showing an 8% increase in problem alcohol use with a budget package that reflects the need in communities.
Teachta Gould said:
“We are seeing these figures increase year-on-year. It is positive that people are recognising when they are having issues with alcohol and taking steps to address this.
“The concerning reality is that the services are often at capacity and people are faced with a postcode lottery in accessing treatment.
“There are evidence-based, targeted solutions available to government that are crying out for resourcing. Community Action on Alcohol have done wonderful work in a number of areas, including in my own constituency in Cork North Central, but they are doing this with little government funding.
“It has now been almost five years since the enactment of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, but we are still awaiting full implementation of key sections of this important legislation.
“We know that Covid-19 and lockdowns had a huge impact on people’s mental health. For some, this did see the development of problem alcohol consumption behaviours and these people are likely now beginning to recognise the extent of these issues.
“We must ensure that there are supports available across the island for people who need them.
“A Sinn Féin government would invest in localised, community-based and proactive responses to alcohol consumption.
“We would work with experts on the ground to ensure that a fit-for-purpose addiction sector can help to make recovery possible for those engaged in problem behaviour, their families and communities.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Mairéad Farrell TD, has today responded to an Irish Times report which demonstrated that the price of student accommodation in Irish universities has increased across the board for the coming academic year.
Teachta Farrell said that this highlights the "unsustainability of the current student accommodation delivery model" and is failing students across the sector.
The Galway West Td said:
“With universities increasing their rents, many going with the maximum 2% increase permitted by the rent pressure zone, this is more bad news for students.
“For instance, in DCU first year students staying in the Larkfield apartments will have to pay €5,863 - up from €5,584 last year.
"In UCD, the cheapest private room to rent is now €7,767, reaching its highest level ever. In Trinity College those staying in the Printing House Square complex will have to pay a total of €10,379.
“The only one not increasing it’s fees is the University Galway.
“The additional costs required by students to cover their housing expenses will place more pressure on students whose educational experience has already been diminished from the related stress and anxiety.
“The demand for student accommodation continues to outstrip supply, and there’s little evidence that supply is ramping up. This places upward pressure on prices whilst lowering the student experience for many.
“We cannot just lay the blame for this on the universities themselves. They are required to operate within the confines of a delivery model which is clearly broken.
“As semi-autonomous institutions that have to operate within the current model, and still reeling from a core funding gap of over €250 million, they are constrained by financial viability issues.
"They are sensitive to cost inflation, interest rates, tender prices, their ability to rent out the accommodation during out of term periods, etc.
“The failure around the delivery of student accommodation mirrors the wider failure of housing sector. It’s time to begin considering a new model of delivery."
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said that today’s announcement that Accenture is to slash 890 jobs from its Irish workforce is a crushing blow for employees and their families, and called for the government to do all they can to support the workers.
Teahcta O’Reilly said:
“The news that Accenture is due to cut 890 jobs from its Irish workforce, having already cut 400 jobs earlier this year, is another crushing blow for workers, their families and communities.
“This announcement comes despite Accenture stating that their Irish business continues to ‘show strong performance’.
“This is yet another concerning blow for tech workers in Ireland, and a worrying sign of continuing volatility in the sector.
“It is essential that Accenture engage quickly and in good faith with the workers and their representatives regarding this announcement and fair redundancy package.
“In addition to engaging with Accenture, the Department of Enterprise must work with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to understand the skills profile of impacted staff and ensure that profiles are shared with client companies of all state agencies and state supported firms, who may be hiring or looking for similar skills.
“The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, must now take stock of the breadth and scale of job losses across the sector, and investigate how many of those who have lost their jobs are being reemployed. We need to know the full picture.
“The volatility in the tech sector over the past 18 months further reinforces the need for all workers to join, and be active, in their trade union.
“Workers need a strong voice in the workplace and the only way to achieve this is through trade unionism.
“I offer my solidarity and support, and that of Sinn Féin, to Accenture workers in what is a very difficult time for them and their families.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD has welcomed the commencement of legislation that aims to rebalance the duty of care and reduce insurance costs.
The Donegal TD called on the insurance industry to respond to this reform by reducing insurance costs for consumers and businesses.
Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said:
“Rebalancing the duty of care is crucial to ensure businesses and voluntary groups can access insurance at affordable prices.
“The commencement of legislation to rebalance the duty of care is an important step.
“The Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform committed to making proposals to Cabinet to rebalance the duty of care by June 2021.
“That deadline was repeatedly missed.
“The commencement of this legislation, while long overdue, is welcome.
“It is crucial that the aims of the legislation are given effect.
“There is now a responsibility on those who will be required to implement the legislation, but also on the insurance industry to do the right thing and slash insurance costs.
“Over the past number of years there has been a significant drop in personal injury awards.
“These reforms to the duty of care will also reduce personal injury costs for insurance companies.
“Consumers and small businesses must benefit from these reforms, not insurers and their profits margins.
“The insurance industry must now respond by reducing insurance costs without delay.”
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has expressed concerns after it was revealed that almost of 20% of GP training places are not being filled.
The party’s health spokesperson said:
“At a time when GP services are badly needed with surgeries under significant pressure due to staff shortages, it is very concerning to learn that almost a fifth of GP training places have yet to be filled.
“While the numbers and needs of patients are growing we are losing GPs through retirement, stress and changing work patterns.
“Over 13 years of savage and cruel Tory cuts have decimated public services and has left health services at breaking point.
"We need all parties working together around the Executive table to start fixing the problems in our health service as it continues to deal with unprecedented challenges.”
Sinn Féin TD and chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Brian Stanley, has called for the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to provide further explanations around the sale of assets at a 97.5% discount to a relative of a debtor.
The details of the transaction were contained in a report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).
Teachta Stanley said:
“In 2014 we had Project Eagle, in 2020 we covered Project Nantes, and here we have a further incidence where substantial concerns are being raised around a financial transaction involving NAMA.
“The C&AG’s report concludes that NAMA sold loans to a debtor’s relative at a 97.5% discount, representing a loss of €6 million to the taxpayer.
“To put this into context, NAMA originally acquired the loans in 2010 at a discount of 49% on the par value of €10.5m. Collateral was made up of 14 occupied residential units, 28 unfinished residential units and seven plots of lands totalling 20.9 hectares.
“NAMA eventually sold the loans for €265,000 to a relative of the debtor at a discounted price of 97.5%.
“Without further explanations from the board, it is difficult to understand the logic behind this financial transaction.
“The C&AG’s report does state that a contributing factor behind in the disposal of the loans for such a significant discount was due to “potential litigation and intimidation/threats”.
“NAMA confirmed that it does not have a process for dealing with incidents of intimidation on the basis that it has arisen very rarely.
“Unfortunately, to date, the explanations behind this sale are unconvincing and NAMA’s answers only leave further questions.
“As chair of the PAC, I will be looking for NAMA to provide much more transparent and detailed answers to the committee.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister McConalogue to clarify what measures he intends to bring forward to support Irish sheep farmers.
The call echoes those made by organisations representing the sheep sector, including the INHFA, the ICSA, and the IFA, who have also called for urgent financial supports to be made available.
Speaking today, Teachta Kerrane said:
“It is clear that the sheep sector continues to experience significant challenges, due to the falling price of lamb versus rising input costs.
“Just yesterday, the IFA described the situation as a ‘crisis’, while the ICSA stated that sheep farmers cannot survive on ‘consistently worsening’ prices.
“This is something I have raised time and time again with Minister McConalogue. I have repeatedly asked what he intends to do to support the sector with these challenges.
“While the Minister has acknowledged the difficult conditions sheep farmers are experiencing, he has not indicated what, if any, additional supports will be provided to the sector.
“When I queried him on this in the Dáil in May, he stated that his officials are ‘monitoring the sheep market situation’ and that ‘the Government will continue to make every effort to support the sector’.
“It was previously suggested that the Brexit adjustment reserve (BAR), may be an avenue to explore, which the Minister dismissed.
“We have seen funding under the BAR announced for the Organics Sector, which is welcome. However, as I have said before, it raises questions as to why Sheep Farmers have been locked out from receiving funding under the BAR.
"The Minister has still not provided detail on what terms were looked at by his Department and where a blockage was found for using the BAR to provide funding for the sheep sector.
“In the last week, there has also been calls from the INHFA for a new €9.5m package for Ireland from the European Commission to be used to provide financial support for the sheep sector.
“The support package is intended to be targeted at farmers impacted by adverse climate events, high input costs and diverse market and trade related issues. The Government can top up the allocation by 200%, bringing the total potential fund to €28.5m.
“The Minister has not yet clarified how he intends to utilise this package, but Member States are required to notify the Commission how they will allocate the funding. I have now requested that he publish that information as soon as possible.
“It is crucial that the Minister clarifies how he intends to provide much-needed assistance to the sheep sector, and I am calling on him to do so immediately.”
Sinn Féin TD for Limerick, Maurice Quinlivan, has called on the government to address the ever-increasing trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick, adding that the capacity challenges are a year-round problem.
Deputy Quinlivan made the comments as today’s trolley numbers demonstrated that a total of 1824 people were treated on trolleys in UHL this month, meaning 556 more people have been treated on trolleys and hospital corridors this July than were treated during the same period last year.
Teachta Quinlivan said:
“The trolley figures for July show that 556 more people were treated on trolleys in UHL this July than in July of 2022.
“The year-to-date figures show us that as of 31st July 2022, 11,124 people had been treated on hospital trolleys and we have already exceeded that number in 2023 by 663.
“Under the current government and this Minister for Health the metrics have headed in one direction, the wrong direction.
“If the current figures continue, we will far exceed the numbers that were treated on trolleys last year. Last year over 18,000 people were treated on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick.
“When we speak of trolley numbers it is easy to get lost in the statistics. It is important to remember that each and every one of these numbers represent people. People who have had to present to hospital and must endure treatment without privacy or dignity.
“Previous spikes in numbers have been explained as winter surges but we have these huge numbers in the middle of the summer. For one to be treated on a trolley in a hospital hallway is not good enough, for 1824 to be treated on trolleys in one month is unacceptable.
“I continue to urge the government to expedite the construction of the new 96-bed unit and for this to be quickly followed by two other units that have been committed to. These constructions must happen as a priority.
“The issues at UHL are persistent and show very little sign of improving. The patients and staff at University Hospital Limerick are reaching their limit. There is only so much our medical professionals can do when they are continually having to treat patients in conditions that are not appropriate.
“While the June HIQA report into UHL demonstrated that some of the concerns HIQA previously highlighted are being addressed, there continues a crisis of capacity.
“The trolley numbers don’t just impact those who are being treated, they impact the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who have to treat those patients. These massive numbers impact the ability of the hospital to meet its outpatient appointments.
“These current conditions cannot be allowed to continue in perpetuity. This government has allowed this crisis in our health service and at UHL to drift for too long. There is an immediate need to increase capacity at the hospital and to recruit additional medical professionals.
“We remain significantly short of the number of non-consultant hospital doctors needed to ensure the smooth running of a busy hospital. The UHL Emergency Department doesn’t have the capacity to cater for all presentations.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing and Local Government, Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on Minister Darragh O’Brien to finally step up and meet his responsibilities for retained firefighters.
Last Wednesday, retained firefighters resumed their strike action across the state after over 80% of them rejected as inadequate Labour Court recommendations to address the pay and recruitment crisis in the service.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“Minister Darragh O’Brien knows that our retained firefighters have been enduring impossible working conditions for far too long.
“They are expected to be on call 24/7, 351 days of the year and to remain within a few kilometres of their local fire station. All for a salary of 99 cent an hour of cover.
“He also knows that these conditions have led to a profound recruitment crisis in the service. Yet he has repeatedly walked away from his responsibilities to our retained firefighters and displayed staggering arrogance in his failure to engage on this issue.
“The anger that he has provoked was there for all to see when dozens of retained firefighters stood up and walked out of the Dáil public gallery last month in disgust, during the debate on Sinn Féin’s motion aimed at resolving this crisis.
“I am calling on Minister Darragh O’Brien to finally step up and meet his responsibilities to firefighters.
“What the retained firefighters are looking for, and what we in Sinn Féin called for, was for the government to act on the 13 recommendations arising out of its own report calling for reform of the fire service, which Minister O’Brien informed the Dáil he supported last November.
“Retained firefighters undertake a dangerous and demanding role on behalf of our communities across the state. Their decency and civic commitment to their local communities has been taken for granted for too long.
“If the serious issues at the heart of the crisis in the retained fire service are not addressed immediately, it will lead to increasing danger for both firefighters and members of the public.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has called on the government to do more to help delivery riders across a range of areas.
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“Workers deserve to feel safe and protected at work. However, many delivery riders and drivers in Dublin live in fear as they don’t feel safe as they carry out their jobs.
“Unfortunately, as with the overall issue of violence and crime in Dublin City, delivery riders and drivers also face a significant level of violence as they work.
“For many years now, riders and drivers have been protesting for greater support and protections in terms of their safety and their workers’ rights.
“While there has been engagement between An Garda Síochána and the delivery riders and drivers, it is important that government ensure there are the necessary resources, funding and supports to deliver community policing.
“Genuine violence reduction strategies begin not with control but with positive and progressive actions which serve to protect and strengthen communities. This includes open lines of communication between minority groups living and working in the city.
“The Gardaí must respond to the pleas of workers for protection and those who report crime must feel that they are heeded and get a timely and appropriate response.
“In addition, the workers’ rights of these riders and drivers must be strengthened. It might shock people to know that these riders and drivers work without many of the workers’ rights and protections that the majority take for granted.
“For instance, because the companies they work for falsely classify them as self-employed, these workers often make less than the minimum wage, are not covered by health and safety legislation, and do not receive sick pay and other benefits.
“On that front, I would again urge the Irish government to support the strongest possible EU Platform Workers Directive so the working conditions for delivery riders and drivers can be improved in terms of determination of employment status and rights regarding algorithmic management.”
