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Sinn Féin spokesperson for Finance Pearse Doherty has criticised the Programme for Government and its commitment to cut the USC surcharge for self-employed earning in excess of €100,000 a year.

The Donegal TD said that promising a €125 million tax cut for the wealthy at a time of economic crisis laid bare the priorities of the Programme for Government negotiated by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens.

Teachta Doherty said:

“The Programme for Government agreed and published by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party offered little in terms of detail. But behind the vague promises it is clear that the priorities of this Programme for Government are not in health, housing, childcare and our public services.

“Instead of committing to transformation in housing and our public services, this Programme for Government promises to cut USC for the self-employed earning more than €100,000 a year.

“This would cost €125 million a year.

“At a time of economic crisis, and when people voted for a change of direction in housing and our public services, this Programme for Government has committed to tax cuts for those at the top.

“This is not the change that people voted for. It is instead a return to type for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, prioritising the wants of the wealthy above the needs of workers and families.

“As these parties warn the rest of us of the need to manage the public finances prudently, they commit to tax cuts of €125 million a year for those earning more than €100,000.

“Instead of committing to solve the housing crisis, deliver universal healthcare, transform childcare and end the scourge of low pay, this Programme for Government has promised tax cuts to the richest in our society.

“Sinn Féin will oppose the two-tier recovery this Programme for Government would deliver.”

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Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West Mark Ward has asked the Minister for Health Simon Harris to create an awareness programme on the dangers of using nitrous oxide as an inhalant after  a visible increase in its use. There has been a large amount of drug litter connected to nitrous oxide being discovered in in the Clondalkin and Lucan areas.

Teachta Ward is a former addiction worker and director of the local drug and alcohol task force.

Speaking on receipt of the response to a parliamentary question, Teachta Ward said.

“The misuse of nitrous oxide which is commonly known as silver bullets has become a widespread problem since the outbreak of Covid-19. There has been a spike in the number of discarded canisters of nitrous oxide in parks and public areas.

“In my role as a Director of the Clondalkin Drugs and Alcohol Task Force I became aware of nitrous oxide about two years ago. However, the level of use has seriously increased

“You only have to walk through the parks and estates in Dublin Mid-West and see the discarded 'silver bullets' and balloons; the nitrous oxide is released into the balloon and then inhaled. This causes a shortness of breath that produces a very quick high for the user.

“The problem is that kids are playing Russian Roulette with this substance and do not know how it will affect them until they take it. These 'silver bullets' are used in the catering trade and can be bought for cheap online. Unscrupulous dealers are then selling them on for big profits.

“We need an awareness programme on the dangers of nitrous oxide rolled out in schools across Dublin.

“I welcome the response of the Minister of the introduction of the Health Diversion Programme it is needed, but quite frankly €100,000 to develop a national harm reduction campaign will not go far enough.

“The Department of Health works with the HSE to raise awareness of the dangers associated with drugs through the Drugs.ie website. However, having visited the drugs.ie website there is no mention of nitro oxide in the solvent section. I have written to the Minister and asked for awareness of the dangers of Nitrous Oxide be included on Drugs.ie.

“During the Covid restrictions there is limited community infrastructure in place for children such as youth clubs, GAA and soccer teams are all closed, and kids are at a loose end. My fear is that some of these children have started to experiment with nitrous oxide and have come into contact with drug dealers for the first time.”

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Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke has said that comments made by Green Party TD Ossian Smyth and the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe have cast doubt on the construction of the M20 motorway.

Teachta O’Rourke said Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party need to clarify which projects will be going ahead in the next five years as the Programme for Government leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

He said;

“Yesterday we heard from the Green Party that the much-needed M20 motorway between Cork and Limerick will not be developed by the would-be incoming government, whilst this morning the Minister for Finance again cast doubt on the project saying it is subject to negotiation.

“This is completely unacceptable. The M20 motorway is a crucial piece of infrastructure and it cannot be delayed any further.

“Page 113 of Fianna Fáil’s general election manifesto specifically states ‘we will build the M20’. Unsurprisingly, it appears they are content to renege on this promise in order to get into the Taoiseach’s office.

“Fianna Fáil also promised the electorate they would invest €50 million in the N40 and M11 while increasing the road maintenance budget by €147 million. Nothing of the sort is included in the Programme for Government.

“Fianna Fáil aren’t even in Government Buildings and they are up to their old tricks; promising one thing but doing another.

“Fine Gael also appear happy to go back on their commitment to this important project.

“The three parties involved need to clarify what is going ahead within the next five years and what is being scrapped, as these comments and the ambiguous Programme for Government leave a question mark over other vital infrastructure projects.”

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Sinn Féin MP for North Belfast John Finucane has called on schools in Belfast to suspend academic selection transfer tests for the upcoming school year.

 

The North Belfast MP said:

 

“Across the North many schools have shown leadership and taken the decision to suspend academic selection transfer tests for the upcoming school year.

 

“This decision has been taking in the best interests of the young pupils. 

 

“I am calling on schools in Belfast to end their silence on the issue of academic selection and to give parents clarity. 

“It is my firm view that these unregulated tests should be suspended.

 

“No child or parent should have the additional worry of these exams as schools struggle to return to a new normal.

 

“Academic selection is wrong, unnecessary and places pressure on young children. 

 

“There is growing evidence that academic selection has a detrimental impact on the development of young pupils.

 

“The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Equality Commission, Human Rights Commission, Children’s Commissioner, OECD, the trade union movement and the Catholic Church hierarchy have all called for an end to academic selection.

 

“The focus of local schools should be preparing teachers and pupils for a return to school when it is safe to do so."

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Louise OR' Reilly

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health Louise O’Reilly has called on the HSE to retain and recruit all available doctors so that the health service can continue to deal with Covid-19 as well as tackling other healthcare needs, such as the spiraling waiting lists of 700,000.

Speaking this morning, Teachta O’Reilly said: “The many reports that the HSE are not offering non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD) contracts to stay working in the health service is incredibly worrying.

“There are chronic staffing vacancies across the health service. But even if these positions were filled, we would still be short of nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers.

“We have the lowest number of consultant specialists in the EU according to the OECD, and the staff we have are overworked due to the extent of staffing vacancies.

“Covid-19 is still with us, and there are still significant challenges in dealing with the virus.

“We also have over 700,000 people on hospital waiting lists plus a backlog of need created by the cancellations as a result of Covid-19. 

“As we get the health service back into full swing, these people will need appointments, treatments, surgery and care. This cannot be done if we do not have the necessary staff.

“That is why it is madness to hear that NCHD doctors, who have worked extraordinarily hard throughout the Covid-19 crisis, are now being told that there are no jobs available for them.

“There is a significant need to keep these staff. We are facing into a possible resurgence of Covid-19 and we have huge waiting lists across the health service.

“The government cannot continue to force young doctors to emigrate. Now is a once in a generation opportunity to properly resource the health service – we need to seize this opportunity and offer these NCHD doctors full-time contracts."

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Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Kelly MLA welcomed measures to ease access to childcare announced today. 

“I welcome today's announcements on childcare which signals an important step for the recovery of the sector that has been struggling through the crisis often without sufficient support from the departments of Health and Education. 

“Access to childcare is crucial for the recovery of the economy without which many people would be unable to return to work. 

"A number of changes have been announced will come as a great relief to many parents and those within the childcare sector itself. 

"Lifting the restriction of key workers will allow more parents to apply for childcare and for the childcare sector to begin to re-open and get back on its feet. 

“Increasing capacity within childcare settings next month and allowing childminders to care for children from more households at the end of this month is important for providers viability. 

 "While these developments are welcome it must be stressed that these are subject to public health and scientific advice around social distancing and hand hygiene and it is important the department supports the childcare sector to provide services safely.

“Future plans to provide additional support for this sector will consolidate childcare provision moving forward as we recover, step by step, from this pandemic. 

"Today is an important step along the way to recovery for the childcare sector.”

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MacManus rejects “blank cheque” approach for banks in EU vote

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has said a vote to allow banks across the EU a break from strict regulations is a “blank cheque” because of rejected amendments around issues of bonuses and dividends.  MacManus stressed that the Covid19 crisis cannot allow regression of of hard won regulation of the financial sector.

MEP MacManus said:

“This week’s vote saw a missed opportunity to impose conditionality on banks benefiting on a loosening of the regulatory environment.  Sinn Féin backed amendments sought to impose a ban in bonuses and dividends on banks as workers and businesses struggle through the Covid crisis. Instead, the Parliament has written them a blank cheque.”

“The proposals allow for the waiving and loosening of technical rules that were designed to regulate banks and keep them from destroying the economy again. In short, they will now be allowed be less prudent in their actions and accounts.

MacManus warned that it felt like lessons had not been learned. “There is of course some logic in some easing of regulation as banks must play a role in forbearance and lending to help society weather this storm but to simply allow them additional scope without conditions shows many in Europe have not learned the lessons of the past.”

“To once again see Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil MEPs line up on the sides of bankers is an important reminder of where the new government’s priorities will always lie.” ENDS

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Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has said the British government must follow commitments to implement the Irish Protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement with action.

The Brexit spokesperson said:

“As the Brexit deadline clock ticks British Minister Michael Gove today said his government intend to implement the Irish Protocol regardless of whether a deal is reached or not.


“However, we have had commitments from the British government many times in the past on the implementation of agreements which turned out to be nothing more than words.

“Today the EU Parliament passed a resolution with overwhelming support for protecting the Good Friday Agreement and Irish Protocol and the US Congress again reiterated yesterday there would be no trade deal if the British government reneged on previous agreements.

"What we need to see is the British government working with the EU to ensure measures are put in place as a matter of urgency to ensure the Irish Protocol is implemented in full to protect our economy and the Good Friday Agreement.”

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Sinn Féin's MLA Colm Gildernew MLA has pressed Department of Health (DoH) officials on the failure to release funding allocated by the Department of Finance (DoF) to ensure victims of the NHS contaminated blood scandal receive parity with those in Britain. 

Thanks The Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA also raised the failure of the department to return the wages that it deducted from HSC workers as a result of their strike for fair pay this year.

Speaking after the today’s meeting of the Health Committee Colm Gildernew said:

"Earlier this year, the Minister of Finance Conor Murphy released £1.6m  in funding to reimburse healthcare staff for lost salary due to strike action. Today, we learned that the Department of Health has inexplicably failed to distribute the funds.

"I agree with the Finance Minister who has called for the money to be released as a matter of urgency, with the workers being reimbursed in their July pay packets. It is the least we can do for a sector that has served us all so well, particularly in the last few months of the COVID crisis.

"The failure of DoH to release the funding allocated by DoF appears to be a pattern within DoH.  

"In early February my Sinn Féin colleague Conor Murphy ring fenced £1m to end a glaring inequality by alleviating the hardship of those affected by the NHS contaminated blood scandal. This funding has still not been distributed to the victims. 

"Furthermore, in early April, in response to the COVID - 19 crisis,  the Minister for Finance allocated £12m for the key worker childcare scheme. Yesterday, we discovered that only £ 600,000 – approximately 5% – of the sum allocated has been distributed to the much beleaguered childcare sector. 

"The inaction of the Minister of Health is causing additional suffering and hardship to workers, victims and the wider community-in the midst of what is already a crisis. 

"The money has been provided to the Dept of Health by the Finance Minister and has been sitting in DoH for some time now.

"If the minister is genuine about valuing our workers and caring for the victims of the NHS contaminated blood he must resolve this urgently." 

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Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan has said the local community have been shocked and saddened by the death of a man in his 60s in a fall at Fair Head near Ballycastle. 

The North Antrim MLA said: 

"The local community have been shocked and saddened by the death of a man in his 60s as a result of a fall from cliffs at Fair Head. 

"I want to pay tribute to the rescue services who were involved in the operation to recover the man's body. 

"My thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of the man who has lost his life at this difficult time."

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Órlaithí Flynn MLA and Sinn Féin spokesperson for Mental Health has challenged the health minister over funding for mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

Speaking after receiving confirmation from the department of health that the ‘Towards Zero Suicide’ programme will restart in July with an adapted plan to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Órfhlaithí Flynn said:

"I welcome confirmation from the Department of Health that the innovative suicide prevention programme, ‘Towards Zero Suicide’ will thankfully resume in July.

“It is a vital project which needs to be restarted as soon as possible. The programme has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and must be adapted to help meet the post COVID-19 demand on services.

“However, I am concerned that the Minister of Health has only bid for just over £2m in additional monies in the June Monitoring round specifically for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

“This needs to be considered in the context that mental health services are already under pressure, and that the suicide prevention strategy, Protect Life 2, has yet to be fully implemented. 

“We also are expecting a surge in demand for services as we exit the lockdown restrictions.

“I urge the Minister of Health to bring forward costed plans on how the expected demand for mental health services will be met.”

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Sinn Féin TD for Limerick City Maurice Quinlivan has said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have chosen to sell Limerick out in order to cling to power, after news emerged that work will not begin on the M20 motorway connecting Limerick and Cork for at least five years.

Teachta Quinlivan said;

"The need for this motorway is immense, as a motorway between Limerick and Cork has the potential to radically alter the region making it more attractive to foreign direct investment and kick starting economic development and delivering jobs to the region.

"This road in particular has been identified as being crucial to achieving a government target of 300,000 jobs for the southern region. 

"Building this motorway is a win-win situation for the government as the spin-off from regional prosperity will enable a reversal of rural decline, urban regeneration and a more equitable spread of prosperity.

"The present road from Limerick to Cork can be quite dangerous and has unfortunately seen a number of fatalities and serious accidents. 

"A report by Indecon International Economic Consultants commissioned by Limerick and Cork Chambers said that the M20 scheme would prevent approximately 118 accidents per annum, which could result in an annual monetary saving of €12.4 million.

"The M20 would facilitate the development of a Cork-Limerick ‘twin-city’ region, which would provide a complement to Dublin in the context of the National Planning Framework. 

“Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael campaigned extensively in recent elections over many years to promote this essential piece of infrastructure.

"As recent as this week Fine Gael Minister for Limerick Patrick O'Donovan had said on local radio that the M20 was not sacrificed in the government formations talks.

"It's clear that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have kept true to form by choosing power over prosperity for the people by sacrificing this crucial development in exchange for a Programme for Government that ticks a lot of boxes, but it doesn't actually commit to doing very much."

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‘Underfunding of ME/CFS Research Not Justified’ – MEP MacManus

Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North-West, Chris MacManus, has welcomed the passing of a Resolution in the European Parliament on ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). The resolution stated that the current chronic underfunding of biomedical research into ME/CFS is unjustified.

Speaking from Sligo, where he voted remotely in favour of the resolution, MacManus said:

‘ME affects around 25,000 people on the island of Ireland and two million across Europe. It is an invisible illness and very few people have an awareness of it and the impact it has on sufferer’s everyday quality of life. Despite being recognised by the WHO as a neurological disorder, the lack of social recognition – including at times stigmatisation – can be harrowing for those with the illness. Most upsetting is the lack of knowledge and understanding about the illness amongst many health practitioners.

‘This resolution passed by the European Parliament should raise further awareness about ME/CFS and help more of us better understand the affects it has on those that suffer from it.

‘Our office was contacted by many, many people from across Ireland. Each and every one of them encouraging us to support this resolution. These emails and calls did not just come from people with the illness, but from their friends, parents and wider families. Many of them shared very personal stories about the affect ME has on their everyday living.

‘The resolution itself calls for more sharing of best practices and highlights the need for an increased awareness in order to tackle any stigmatisation of ME/CFS. I hope that the vote today is a positive step in this direction. ENDS

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Former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams commenting on the death of Jean Kennedy Smith said:

“I want to extend my condolences and solidarity to the family of former US Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith.

"Her appointment to the role of Ambassador to Dublin by President Clinton in 1993 was pivotal to the development of the peace process. She already had a relationship with John Hume through her brother Teddy. After she arrived in Ireland she and Fr. Alec Reid became close and contributed significantly to the efforts for peace, to the IRA cessation of August 1994 and eventually to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

"Fr. Reid was hugely impressed by Jean Kennedy Smith’s commitment to peace and willingness to take risks to advance it. He used to call her An Speir Bhean – the spirit woman - and he worked closely with her and An Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to overcome obstacles.

"I met Jean Kennedy Smith many times during those years. She stayed with the process throughout her years in Ireland and later when she returned to the USA. She was a wonderful, compassionate, formidable woman who played a key role in persuading her brother Senator Ted Kennedy to support a visa for me in 1994. She also worked closely with Senator George Mitchell and President Clinton during those challenging times and with Sinn Féin’s Rita O Hare.

"Her strength of character shone through on many occasions but none more so than when I applied for a visa in January 1994. Jean Kennedy Smith sent a cable to the State Department endorsing the visa application. Some members of her staff sent a dissenting cable to express their opposition. She removed the staff and faced the wrath of the State Department and of Secretary of State Warren Christopher who opposed giving me a visa.

"In the days that followed the British government engaged in an intense private and public campaign to keep me out. The British Embassy in the US and its ambassador Sir Robin Renwick worked round the clock arguing that a visa for me would be a diplomatic catastrophe. They sought and received the support of the House Speaker Tom Foley and the US Attorney General Janet Reno and the Head of the FBI Louis Freeh.

"But on the other side Jean Kennedy Smith, her brother Senator Ted Kennedy and three Democratic Senate colleagues, Chris Dodd, John Kerry and Daniel Moynihan all backed giving me a visa. With Irish America supporting the visa President Clinton agreed. Jean also played a key role in getting Joe Cahill a visa. She and Fr Alec sat up all night waiting for word from Washington. 

"Jean Kennedy Smith dedicated her long life to helping others. Her record of achievements as a philanthropist and supporter of programs to help and support citizens with disabilities is legendary. I am glad to have known her. We exchanged trees one time and I also gave her a puppy dog. Tá sí ar slí an fhirinne anios.

"On my own behalf I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family. Jean was an extraordinary human being. Her family can be very proud of her achievements and especially the role she played in making peace in Ireland. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam."

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Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has said the British government is continuing to deny access to truth and justice to the families of those killed in the Loughinisland massacre in 1994. 

The South Down MP said: 

"Today's ruling from the Court of Appeal has reinforced that the murders of six men watching a World Cup game in The Heights Bar in Loughinisland in 1994 was a result of state collusion with loyalist killers and that there had been 'catastrophic failings' in the police investigation of the killings. 

"This has vindicated the position of the Loughinisland families who have been tireless in their campaign for truth and justice. 

"This also reinforces the fact that 26 years on, the families of those killed in the Loughinisland Massacre are still waiting for access to truth and justice over the deaths of their loved ones. 

"All of this highlights once again that the British government is still in default of its commitments on legacy and is still denying access to the truth to the loved ones of those killed in the Loughisland massacre. 

"The British government is continuing to frustrate and block access to truth to the Loughinisland families and many other families. 

"It is long past the time the British government implemented in full the legacy mechanisms agreed in the Stormont House Agreement in a human rights compliant manner."

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Responding to the passing of former US Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has said:

"I have heard of the death of former US Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith with great regret.

"As soon as being appointed Ambassador to Ireland by President Clinton in 1993, Jean Kennedy Smith proved to be a serious and effective player in the emerging peace process and a valuable conduit to the White House and the US Congress in Washington.

"The youngest daughter of the Kennedy family, Jean was able to employ her considerable skills and access to great effect and to promote the cause of peace.

"She embodied the Kennedy family's connections with Ireland and was a popular figure for the duration of her tenure. She has left her mark on our history, our peace process and her legacy lives on across Ireland.

"I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her children, her family and many friends.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílís."

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Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay South Chris Andrews has said that people are faced with another swim ban along Sandymount beach after a major sewage leak from Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, despite the area being a recognised UNESCO biosphere site.

Teachta Andrews said;

"Once again, we are faced with a swimming ban along Sandymount beach following yet another leak of sewage into the bay from the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant.

"It is like clockwork that such a swimming ban comes around after any bout of heavy rainfall.

"Unfortunately, we now have a situation where we are receiving frequent health warning declaring a 'high risk of illness' to swimmers and young children who walk or play in the sand along these beaches.

"Dublin bay is not just a site of enormous value to the many thousands across Dublin who use it for recreational use, but also an important biosphere site of international importance as recognised by UNESCO.

"The government cannot stand idly by and let these leaks continue while we wait for upgrading works to begin. We need a short-and medium-term engineering solution to ensure that our swimming areas are not no-go areas. The EPA need to take a proactive approach in protecting and advocating for the environment.

"The algae currently on the beach is way beyond the amount that it would normally be in an area with properly functioning wastewater plant.’’

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Louise OR' ReillySinn Féin spokesperson on Health Louise O’Reilly has said that the refusal of the HSE and the Department of Health to clarify whether Covid-19 testing was carried out before patients were transferred to nursing homes is insulting to anyone who has lost a loved one in a nursing home.

Speaking after today’s Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee sitting, Teachta O’Reilly said:

“On a number of occasions now, I have tried to ascertain clarity from the HSE, the Department of Health and the Minister for Health as to whether testing was carried out on the hundreds of hospital patients who were transferred to nursing homes during the Covid-19 crisis.

“In March alone, 819 patients were transferred under the Nursing Home Support Scheme. That was more than double the number transferred in February.

"The refusal of the HSE and the Department of Health to clarity if Covid-19 testing was carried out before patients were transferred is insulting to anyone who has lost a loved one in a nursing home.

“It is also hindering the ability of the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee to get to the truth of how our nursing homes became so badly affected and how they became such a source of clusters of the virus.

“It is clear from the discussion today that the HSE and Department of Health had a plan to use nursing homes but had no plan on how to protect them.

“That is why it appears that patients were transferred out from hospitals without being tested.

“The nursing home sector was completely failed in the early days of the Covid-19 crisis. They were left without a plan for the whole month of March.

"They were an afterthought to acute care, evidenced by the fact that patients were transferred from hospitals to nursing homes without being tested.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has called on the Economy Minister to provide further grant support to those who have not been able to access the COVID-19 grant schemes to date.

The party's Economy Spokesperson said:

"£410 million was made available to the Department for the Economy for grant support to businesses impacted by COVID-19, however we now know there has been underspend across the support schemes.

"I have repeatedly called for a widening of the criteria to the Hardship Fund as a number of groups of businesses and entrepreneurs were not eligible for support either from this scheme or the £10K and £25K grants.

"This includes Social Enterprises with charitable status, sole traders and the newly self-employed, small manufacturing businesses that were unable to access the £10K grants, childcare providers, and other businesses in the sectors most impacted whose premises size ruled them out of support and that have not yet been able to reopen, such as hospitality, tourism, leisure and events.

"I have written to the Economy Minister urging her to prioritise these groups in a further bid to the Executive for business support.

"As businesses reopen they will be required to put in place social distancing measures or PPE, this grant support could also be utilised to enable them to do that and therefore get back to doing business."

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Business, Enterprise and Innovation Imelda Munster TD has expressed serious concerns around the government's commitment to supporting small and medium sized businesses in surviving the Covid-19 crisis, saying that the Programme for Government offers no firm commitments to SMEs.

Teachta Munster said:

“It is very concerning that the Programme for Government published this week offered no commitments in terms of grant aid or interest free loans for SMEs. There is mention of the possibility of further grants and the exploration of affordable loans, but what SMEs actually need is additional grant aid and zero interest loans. They are blue in the face saying it and yet they continue to be ignored.

“There is a worry now about the government's commitment towards SMEs and indigenous Irish businesses.

“The Programme for Government has made it clear that nothing will change in terms of the preferential treatment that has long been afforded to FDI by successive governments.

“There was a strong emphasis on retraining workers who will lose their jobs during this crisis. This is a reasonable and prudent initiative, but it must not be prioritised above supports for SMEs.

“Now is not the time to give up on Irish business. Now is the time to offer them all the support we can to weather this storm.

“Thousands of businesses had to close for several months through no fault of their own. They did everything that was asked of them. Business owners and workers have paid the price in the last three months. Now it's time to put our energy into helping them back to work.

“The document also ignores some of the major issues that have been damaging Irish business of all types and sizes for years – a lack of investment in our state's infrastructure. This means housing, transport infrastructure, rural connectivity and broadband, and basic services like childcare.

“Until these matters are addressed businesses and communities will fail to thrive, and the government is ignoring its obligations in this regard.

“The Programme for Government ticks a lot of boxes, and name-checks a lot of issues of importance, but it doesn't actually commit to doing very much.

“The document pledges to establish 20 new groups, including task-forces, agencies and committees, and has promised 73 reviews of policies and legislation and the like.

“Talk is cheap. What we need are fully-costed, firm commitments from government to prioritise and support SMEs at this time.

“I am asking the three parties to listen to SMEs and deliver for them. I hope that we will see grants and interest free loans included in the July stimulus package. Anything less will mean disaster for thousands of businesses across the State.”

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