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Sinn Féin councillor Ciarán Beattie has said a statue of Frederick Douglass in Rosemary Street would be a fitting tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement throughout the world and showcase Belfast as a diverse and inclusive city for all. 

Cllr. Beattie said: 

“I am delighted that my proposal to write to the Department for Communities and request that they commission a statue for anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass has passed the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee at Belfast City Council. 

“Frederick Douglass travelled to Belfast from 1845 and 1846 to speak about the suffering of slaves and campaigned for the abolition of slavery. 

“A statue for Frederick Douglass in Rosemary Street where he once spoke will be a fitting tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement throughout the world and showcase Belfast as a diverse and inclusive city for all.”

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Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA, and Junior Minister with The Executive Office, Declan Kearney has welcomed the launch of the Capital Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Scheme, an investment of £11 million aimed at supporting villages, town and city centres in their recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Speaking after the launch in Antrim town, Declan Kearney said:

“I am delighted that my South Antrim constituency hosted the launch of the Capital Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Scheme brought forward by the Department for Communities (DfC) and Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

“I was pleased to join my ministerial colleagues, Carál Ní Chuilín (DfC) and Edwin Poots (DAERA) for the launch on Antrim Town’s High Street. It will also be one of many town centres across the north set to benefit from this significant financial injection.

“Covid-19 has had a major impact on our town centres. Businesses have suffered a serious downturn in economic activity and are now facing the challenge of rebuilding trade while managing the public safety measures which are necessary to help us begin to emerge from the pandemic.  

“The funding, administered by our eleven local councils in two tranches of £6 million, and a subsequent £5 million, over the coming months, will deliver measures to help provide a safe and welcoming environment for shoppers, visitors and workers.

"As a result of the first funding tranche, Antrim and Newtownabbey council will receive £255,000. I want to see this funding used to assist in the revitalisation of towns and villages across South Antrim, and similar benefits accruing in Glenavy from the allocation awarded to Lisburn and Castlereagh council. 

“I very much welcome this positive intervention which I hope will help to restore confidence in the shopping experience locally and also stimulate local businesses and retail activity.” 

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Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has welcomed the publication of the Audit Office report in workforce planning for Nurses and Midwives. 

The report, completed before the Coronavirus crisis, found that current spending on agency workers ‘does not provide good value for money’ and that poor workforce planning was not meeting demand for nurses and midwives.  

Speaking after the publication of the report the party’s Health spokesperson said: 

“The Audit Office report reaffirms the ongoing concerns that safe staffing levels and high rates of vacancy is contributing to growing challenges and pressures on health services.

"I know for many this report will be deeply distressing, including staff who I am sure will be concerned by the finding that in 2018/19 13.2% of staffing costs for nurses and midwives was spent on temporary staff. 

"The rising agency spend, the cuts to training budgets and training places shows that the lasting impact of austerity continues to challenge the delivery of health and social care services today.  

“However, the problems are well documented and there needs to be a shift to developing meaningful solutions. 

“The Minister for Health needs to progress the recommendations identified within the Audit Office report and work with staff and trade unions to address workforce concerns, including safe staffing levels.  

“This was a commitment already made to staff by the minister in concluding the HSC strike earlier this year. 

“There will be no meaningful transformation of the health service without investing in staff and services.  

“The public deserves this and so do all health and social care workers.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Equality, Inclusion and Law Reform and TD for Kerry Pa Daly has welcomed the decision of residents of the Skellig Star direct provision centre in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry to end their hunger strike this evening.

Teachta Daly said:

"I know from dealing with the residents of the Skellig Star in recent months that going on hunger strike was not a decision they took lightly.

"The unsuitability of the centre as a direct provision has been clear since the centre was opened and it fails almost all the requirements of a direct provision centre laid out in the Department of Justice's own regulations.

"Within weeks of opening, over a quarter of the residents tested positive for Covid-19 and there was a lack of rooms and space for them to self-isolate. The residents have been exhausted by the process of trying to raise their concerns.

"I am glad that the Minister for Justice has taken their concerns on board and has announced today that residents will be relocated over the coming weeks. This should happen sooner rather than later, and the residents must be moved to suitable accommodation which is sensitive and appropriate to their needs.

"That is the expectation of residents and I am glad that they have called off their hunger strike this evening on that basis."

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Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn has welcomed the second meeting of the Executive group on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and said words must be followed by action. 

Speaking after the meeting, the West Belfast MLA said: 

“I was encouraged that Protect Life 2 and the ‘Elephant in the Room’ report were prominent in todays's discussions.

“Protect Life 2 provides a strong framework to develop services and provide effective cross-department interventions. Greater cooperation between departments and within communities is vital to promoting mental health and tackling suicide.

“The Elephant in the Room report demonstrates the benefit of real cooperation with communities and I commend the work of the youth groups involved in emphasising the need for urgent action.

“The urgency for action on mental health and suicide prevention is greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. I hope this will be fully appreciated by the new Mental Health Champion Siobhan O'Neill in her work going forward.

“Words and plans need to be followed with actions and resources, particularly from the Department of Health.

“Just this week I challenged the Health Minister Robin Swann to provide the additional resources needed to deliver the promised actions.  

“These resources need to be forthcoming now - people at risk of mental ill health and suicide can't continue to wait.”

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John Brady

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence John Brady has expressed his deep concern at reports of the treatment of the Uighur minority in China. 

Speaking today, Teachta Brady said: “Reports coming out of the Xinjiang region in China indicate that there is a systematic campaign by the authorities to reduce the Muslim population there. Some of the practices reported include forced birth control, sterilisations and even abortions. 

"It is further reported that those who defy birth control regulations run the risk of being rounded up and sent to detention camps where they could be subjected to forced labour, and political and religious re-education. 

"There are believed to be around one million Uighurs incarcerated by Chinese authorities.

"While many observers have claimed that the campaign against the Uighurs is part of an attempt to achieve a cultural conformity within China, the reality is that these reports represent a gross breach of human rights.  

"The coercion of women, the invasion of their bodily integrity is an outrage. 

"The forced separation of children from their mothers is horrific.

"The suppression of any ethnic or religious grouping on the basis of their culture or belief system must be opposed.

"I have written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney informing him of my concerns, and to determine what the response of the Irish government will be. 

"I also intend to raise these concerns with the Chinese Ambassador. 

"Sinn Féin will continue to campaign to highlight the plight of those who face persecution, are subject to coercion in any form and continue to be denied basic human rights.”

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Louise OR' ReillySinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Workers Rights Louise O’Reilly has said that the government has serious questions to answer on the collection and processing of passenger data at airports and seaports after the Data Protection Commission cast doubt on the legality of doing so.

Sinn Féin have today written to the Ceann Comhairle requesting that "An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, come into a special sitting of the Dáil next week to answer questions on this possibly illegal situation.”

Speaking today, Teachta O’Reilly said: “Earlier this week I wrote to the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the collection and processing of passenger data at airports and seaports, asking that she investigate the situation.

“At the time, I queried the legality of these checks, and today the DPC has cast serious doubt about whether social welfare inspectors were acting lawfully when collecting and processing passenger data at ports and airports in relation to Pandemic Unemployment Payment payments.

"The Deputy Data Protection Commissioner, Graham Doyle, has stated that 'the DPC cannot see how this practice of collecting information from all passengers simply on the basis they are travelling to a certain destination conforms with the powers of inspectors under the 2005 Act to act and question (and therefore collect data from) a passenger where they have reasonable grounds to believe there has been a contravention'.

“This brings into question the judgement of the minister or ministers who instructed these inspectors to carry out these data checks for the purpose of suspending the welfare payments of travelling passengers.

“There are many questions which need to be answered about this situation and it cannot be let slide off the agenda due to the Dáil recess.

“Given the serious nature of this matter, and the doubts cast on the legality of the action by the DPC, it is imperative that the An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, come into a special sitting of the Dáil next week to answer questions on this murky and possibly illegal situation.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has written to the Economy Minister asking her to ensure that furloughed workers losing their jobs will be eligible for redundancy pay based on their normal wages and not the furlough rate. 

The party’s economy spokesperson said:

“The British government has brought forward a new law which will ensure furloughed workers losing their jobs will get their full pay-off. 

“I have written to the Economy Minister asking if she intends to do something similar here in the north. 

“I have also asked her to further improve redundancy pay and entitlements by introducing legislation which would provide redundancy payments of three weeks’ pay per year of service for all age groups and to calculate redundancy payments to include regular overtime payments and premiums which the employee worked during their term of service. 

“Sinn Féin has worked with Executive colleagues to protect lives and livelihoods and we will continue to do so." 

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Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has called for the full implementation of the legacy mechanisms at Stormont House to ensure families have access to truth and justice.

The Mid Ulster MLA was commenting after the PPS said there will be no prosecutions for the 1969 RUC fatal shootings of civilians Patrick Rooney and Hugh McCabe in North Belfast.

Linda Dillon said:

“Today’s ruling that no one will face prosecution for the killing of Patrick Rooney and Hugh McCabe means that their families are being denied access to truth and justice. 

“Their families have waited for more than 50 years to find out exactly what happened in the deaths of their loved ones. 

“This is typical of the stalling and prevarication by the British government to delay and deny justice to families whose loved ones were killed by the state.

“No family should have to wait decades for due process and access to truth and justice.

“The British government must end its delay and implement the legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House in a human rights compliant manner.”

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Eoin Ó BroinSpeaking after the launch of the Real Cost of New Housing Delivery Report 2020 by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD said that “the report confirms that the only way to guarantee the delivery of genuinely affordable homes for hard working people is by delivering public housing on public land."

The report surveyed the cost of 30 active housing developments currently underway in the Greater Dublin Area.

Teachta Ó Broin said: “I want to welcome the publication of the Real Cost of New Housing Delivery Report 2020 by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. This is the third such report and they are an important resource for policy makers to have.

“The research shows that the delivery cost for a three-bed semi has jumped to €371,3112 - a 12% increase of €40,818 - since the SCSI published its last report. It also shows that it is non construction costs driving unaffordability in the market.

“For the first time, the SCSI report includes a direct comparison of the cost of delivery in the private and public sector.

“The report states that it costs on average between €140,000 and €160,000 less to deliver a three-bed semi-detached social home than it does to build the same in a private development scheme. This means that local authorities can deliver affordable homes for sale at €230,000 or less.

 “This confirms the argument that many of us have been making for years that only public housing on public land can deliver genuinely affordable homes for working people.

“Sinn Féin support many the recommendations in the SCSI report, including the need for a public register of land prices and greater investment in public housing. However, we do not support the continuation of the the Help to Buy scheme and a shared equity scheme.

“These schemes will at best maintain current inflationary house prices or at worst increase them even further."

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Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis has said the North South Ministerial Council can play an important role in the delivery of the vital Narrow Water Bridge project. 

The South Down MLA said:

"Narrow Water Bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure and was a commitment in the New Decade, New Approach document.

"It would enhance investment opportunities and strengthen the tourism potential for the entire area.

“The meeting of the North South Ministerial Council is a vital opportunity to see progress on this long sought-after project.

“The meeting will allow the relevant ministers and officials to engage over north south issues of importance, such as Narrow Water Bridge.

“I have also requested a meeting between Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon, local elected representatives and the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network group to discuss plans for this flagship project in terms of boosting the tourism potential, as well as preserving the history and natural environment of the area.

“Sinn Féin remains committed to seeing the Narrow Water Bridge project completed and will work with the Minister for Infrastructure to ensure it moves forward.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said that news that the National Trust is to cut up to 80 jobs in the north will come as a major blow to workers, their families and the local tourism economy.  

The Sinn Féin economic spokesperson said: 

“News that up to 80 workers could lose their jobs is terrible for the workers and their families.  

“It also comes as a bigger blow to the local economy, particularly when it is already under intense strain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"At a time when we are planning the economic recovery this announcement is a severe blow.   

“The National Trust management must to engage immediately with trade unions and workers’ representatives and keep staff updated on all developments. 

"I would urge them to look into the potential for alternative job roles for these workers within the Trust before considering job redundancies.

“In the event of redundancies, opportunities for retraining and upskilling should be provided to these workers.  

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with management to discuss the situation and to ensure that the concerns of workers are heard.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan has welcomed clarification from DAERA officials that they acknowledge we are in a climate crisis and emergency and that action is needed.

The party’s environment spokesperson said:

"Last week the environment minister claimed his department believed the use of the terms ‘emergency’ and ‘crisis’ were unhelpful when discussing climate action.

“I welcome today’s clarification from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs officials that that isn’t the case. They clearly acknowledged that the department supports the irrefutable science of global warming, climate change and its detrimental impact on the earth.  The officials acknowledged we are in a climate crisis and emergency and that action to address climate crisis is needed.

"A Climate Change Act was a commitment in the New Decade New Approach document, it has been endorsed by the Assembly and the Assembly has already declared a climate emergency. 

“The Department also clarified that climate legalisation which includes targets is being worked on and can be enacted within this mandate.

“The Minister has no excuse for further delay and must bring forward a climate act as a matter of urgency.”

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“Minister is letting down cross border workers” – Chris MacManus MEP

Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has accused the government of a “having a lack of basic decency and empathy” by hiding behind EU regulations as a reason for not aiding cross-border workers with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.” The European Commission recently confirmed to MEP MacManus that who could receive such payments was at the discretion of the Dublin Government.

The midlands Northwest MEP was speaking following comments In Wednesday evening’s Dail proceedings made by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Heather Humphreys.

MacManus said: “Minister Humphreys has stated that ‘EU regulations govern our treatment of frontier workers’, however we have recently received confirmation from the EU Commission that the decision to block 6-county residents working on the southern side of the border from accessing the Covid payment was made solely by the Fine Gael caretaker government and not as a result of any EU restriction. The minister and her government are not bound by any restrictions on this matter. It’s a matter of political will and minister Humphreys is yet again showing her party’s lack of basic decency and empathy for our citizens.”

MacManus said he will write to the Minister to help clarify the matter and urge her department to reverse the decision, “I will be raising this issue with the minister in writing and appeal to her to do the right thing. Residents from the six counties who work in the 26 counties should not be financially disadvantaged and should have been taking home the equivalent of €350 between payments in both jurisdiction. Is it wrong to demand equity for all Irish citizens?” ENDS

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Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has sought clarity on what resources have been requested by the Education Minister ahead of a return to school. 

The Foyle MLA said:

“The indicative date for a return to school is fast approaching. 

“To ensure that our children and school premises are safe they must be properly resourced and equipped. 

“I have written to the Education Minister for an outline of what resources his Department have requested to ensure a safe return. 

“The Minister should also bring forward a comprehensive plan for a return to school and the heart of that should be proper resources to ensure our schools can operate in a safe way.” 

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Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has encouraged people to join this year's National Hunger Strike Commemoration which will be held online on Sunday evening. 

The West Belfast MLA and former hunger striker said: 

"The ten men who died on hunger strike in Long Kesh in 1981, as well as those republicans who died on hunger strike in the previous years and decades, continue to be held in the highest esteem by republicans everywhere. 

"Normally thousands of people from across the island gather at a different location each year to remember their heroism, dedication and sacrifice and to send our ongoing solidarity to their families. 

"This year, as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions, we will be commemorating them in a slightly different way and the commemoration will be held online with various commemorative events with the main commemoration to be held on Sunday. 

"Sunday's online commemoration will feature the poetry of Bobby Sands, performances from renowned musicians, including Damien Dempsey, and the main speech will be given by Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty. 

"It will be shown across Sinn Féin's social media platforms on Sunday evening at 8pm and I would encourage everyone to join in and watch to remember the hunger strikers with dignity and pride."

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Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has appointed Sinn Féin Chief Whip and TD for Donegal Pádraig Mac Lochlainn as Sinn Féin spokesperson for Fisheries and the Marine. 

Teachta McDonald said: 

"I am very pleased to announce that I have appointed Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD as Sinn Féin spokesperson for Fisheries and the Marine; in addition to his existing responsibilities as party Chief Whip. 

"Pádraig Mac Lochlainn will be a strong voice for fishing and coastal communities. He has fought for them with passion and determination for the two decades that he has served as a public representative.

"In the previous Oireachtas term, he served on the Committee for the Marine for over three years and throughout that time, he championed the needs of fishers around the coast, working in partnership with fishing representative organisations all along the coast in holding the Minister for the Marine and Department officials to account on policy and legislation.

"Ongoing Brexit negotiations are a serious threat to Ireland’s fishing community and Sinn Féin will continue to do all that we can to protect all of our people across this island from the impact of Brexit by defending the Good Friday Agreement.

"It is clear that the immense potential of our marine resources, as an island nation, has never been fully realised. Sinn Féin are committed to changing this in the time ahead. I wish Pádraig the very best in his new role."

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DonnchadhSinn Féin spokesperson on Education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has welcomed the publication of the annual Barnardos Back to School Survey.

The survey highlighted that many outstanding issues remain to be resolved before children return to school, while the costs incurred by parents once again undelined that the notion of free education in this state is a myth.

Speaking today, Teachta Ó Laoghaire said: “The annual Barnardos Back to School survey illustrates that there is still a lot of worry among parents and children about returning to school. The government needs to address these concerns.

“There is an enormous appetite to get pupils back to school with 90% of parents believing it is important for children's mental health as well as their emotional and social development.

“But 50% of parents remain worried about their children returning to school, so the government has a long way to go to reassure them it will be safe and sustainable. Much of this is down to bad communication and unanswered questions - people feel they haven’t got enough information.

“It is also clear that the delay in providing a roadmap for the return to schools prolonged uncertainty for parents, while the survey of the children and how much they missed their friends underlines the impact it had on young people.

“There is considerable concern among parents of children with underlying conditions too. This has has not been addressed sufficiently in the government's roadmap - parents need assurances on safety and on education.

“What this report also found is that much as in any other year, parents incur huge costs in putting their children through school. 

“The cost of sending a first year child to school is €735, with uniforms, books and voluntary contributions making up the largest part of that.

"The reality is that 50% of parents of children in post primary either have to borrow or forego bills or cut back. Many respondents reported spending four figure sums.

“The crisis caused by the pandemic has illustrated that our education system is totally underfunded. The fact that parents are asked to pay over €100 or €200 in voluntary contributions just to keep the lights on and heat going underlines this further.

“Free education in this state is increasingly a myth. Next week Sinn Féin will be bringing forward proposals to reduce the cost of going back to school. I would also urge TDs to vote in favour of the Sinn Féin motion today to ensure our education system is properly funded.”  

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Louise OR' ReillySinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Workers Rights Louise O’Reilly said that Fianna Fáil TD and government backbencher Marc MacSharry needs to clarify his ‘bizarre’ and ‘ignorant’ comments attacking public sector workers.

Speaking this morning, Teachta O’Reilly said: “The comments in the Dáil this week from Deputy Marc MacSharry attacking public sector workers and accusing them of laziness were absolutely bizarre.

“The attack from Deputy MacSharry has, to my knowledge, no basis in fact and he should immediately clarify what and to whom he was referring to.

“I know first hand how hard our public servants worked during the lockdown - nurses, doctors, teachers, guards, county council staff, and the staff working behind the scenes in the Dáil - they have all worked extremely diligently in very difficult and testing situations.

 “The comments from Deputy MacSharry are extremely divisive and have the sole intent of creating division between the public and private sector, something which Fianna Fáil did at the time of the financial crash over a decade ago.

 “My colleague Deputy Eoin Ó Broin has written to the Taoiseach to clarify if Deputy MacSharry’s remarks are representative of the policies of Fianna Fáil and of the current government.

“I would add to this that Deputy MacSharry should himself clarify his comments, and to what and to whom he was referring.

“Was he attacking workers in his own constituency, such as those working at IT Sligo, was he attacking workers in Sligo University Hospital, was he attacking workers at the HSE National Recruitment Service in Leitrim, was he attacking primary and secondary school teachers from across Sligo and Leitrim?

“The reality is there is no basis in fact for his comments, other than some nonsensical rambling story of having to leave a voice message when he contacted a state agency.

“While Deputy MacSharry sits in the Dáil voting for €16,000 pay increases for his government colleagues, I can tell him that public sector workers have had their shoulder to the wheel all throughout this crisis.

“If Deputy McSharry thinks these workers were sitting around watching box sets, I suggest he step outside the little bubble he lives in and speak to people in the real world.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport Darren O'Rourke TD has called on the government and the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to bring forward proposals on how the State will assist the aviation sector; one of the industries hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

His comments come as pilots at Aer Lingus have expressed their deep concern over the future of Aer Lingus within the IAG group and have warned that it may be sacrificed to keep other major airlines in the conglomerate afloat.

Teachta O'Rourke said;

“Despite being five months to the day since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in the State, we still have no comprehensive plan for international travel or for the aviation sector.

“The government’s handling of foreign travel advice to the public has been shambolic. We are checking people's social welfare status but not for Covid-19 in our airports. All the while, thousands of workers in the aviation industry are fearing for their positions, with the government yet to put a plan in place for the sector.

“Workers at Aer Lingus are particularly worried that IAG may sacrifice the national airline to keep other companies in the group, such as British Airways, afloat. Given that it doesn’t appear that international travel will return to normal anytime soon, these fears are legitimate and the government must act accordingly.

“Workers in Aer Lingus have been let down by successive administrations, with Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, Fine Gael and Labour all party to the shameful sell-off of the national airline.

“Speaking in 2015 against the privatisation of Aer Lingus, then Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said; ‘a few short years down the line, it will be very clear to everyone that we have lost a vital aviation asset forever. We will lose certainty, connectivity and jobs. Ultimately Aer Lingus will disappear.’

“It was a stark warning at the time, which was ignored by Fine Gael and Labour, but now looks worryingly prophetic.

“We cannot afford to lose Aer Lingus. The government must listen to the legitimate concerns of pilots and staff at the airline and put a comprehensive plan in place to support the aviation sector.”

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