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Martin KennySinn Féin spokesperson on Justice Martin Kenny has accused the government of attempting to use Covid-19 emergency legislation as cover to enact a law that favours vulture funds.

Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said: "The Minister for Justice last week sought a waiver for pre-legislative scrutiny for a bill that would facilitate vulture funds.

"The bill would ensure certain court evidence given by vulture funds is no longer deemed as hearsay and inadmissible. This would have serious implications for debtors to funds.

"Such a waiver would mean the General Scheme of the Civil and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 would pass through the Oireachtas without the usual scrutiny.

“The waiver was sought on the grounds that the legislation provided for Covid-19 measures and therefore needed to be progressed quickly.

“The Minister stated that the legislation dealt with challenges concerning the efficient operation of the courts, transport of prisoners to court and between prisons, in the area of coroner law and concerning statutes of limitations in certain civil actions.

“As constructive opposition, Sinn Féin, as we have done with other legislation during the pandemic, agreed to the waiver on the condition that a briefing was provided.

“But the government did not include provisions related to business matters in either the request to the Oireachtas for the waiver or the briefing provided by the Government or Minister for Justice.

“There was no mention of Chapter 3, which deals with Business Records and other documents in civil proceedings.

“These provisions, particularly Section 14, appear to solve a difficulty felt by vulture funds, whereby they cannot avail of the provisions of the Bankers’ Book Evidence Act.

“But this is not a Covid-related measure - it has nothing to do with addressing difficulties arising from the pandemic. 

"In reality, it is a legislative leg-up for vulture funds in the courts.

“Given this, and the fact that the Government has sought to insert these provisions into the legislation by stealth, Sinn Féin will be opposing Chapter 3 and call on all parties to do the same.”

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Sinn Féin’s Seanad Leader has called on the Government to address in the Seanad the very immediate concerns about the situation at the Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre.

At the Seanad’s Order of Business today, Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile called on a representative of the Government to come before the Seanad to outline what actions they are taking regarding Skellig Star and to update members on plans to end the Direct Provision Centre.

Senator Ó Donnghaile said:

“Skellig Star must close as it is clearly not fit for purpose. Residents have been raising concerns for a considerable period of time now and are clearly distressed.

"Residents must be moved to suitable accommodation which is sensitive and appropriate to their needs. Their safety, welfare and wellbeing must be the priority.

“Having engaged with my Dáil colleague Teachta Pa Daly, who has worked extensively with residents on this issue, at today’s Order of Business, I put the Government Parties on notice that I would amend the Order each day available to us seeking a Minister be brought in to lay out their response to this urgent and very serious matter.

“Direct Provision must end but until we reach that point it is of vital importance that residents in these centres are treated with dignity and respect, with their basic needs and safety requirements met.

“The Minister must come to the Seanad and address the concerns which have been raised.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has said action, not words, is needed from the Infrastructure Minister to support the taxi industry. 

The party’s Infrastructure spokesperson said: 

“Those in the transport sector, such as taxi drivers, have been hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

"Throughout the pandemic, many in the transport sector were on the front line; leaving health service staff and carers to work. They also delivered meals, gas/electricity top ups and heating oil to the vulnerable.  

“They have heard many platitudes from the Infrastructure Minister and others, what they need is action. 

"The Infrastructure and Economy Minister have been passing the buck on these issues for far too long.

“The Infrastructure Minister has the responsibility for the transport sector and she needs to start showing leadership on this vital issue by ensuring clear guidance and practical support is provided. 

"It’s well past time the taxi industry got the support they need and deserve during this challenging period.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithi Flynn has welcomes the Department of Health commitment for a full consultation on Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol and said that action on the issue is needed as a matter of urgency. 

The West Belfast MLA said: 

“While I welcome today's announcement the Minister of Health has only committed to launching a consultation on a broader Substance Misuse Strategy, with a further consultation on Minimum Unit Pricing the following year.

“I have been calling for these developments for quite a while as they have a positive role to play in addressing problem drinking and reducing health inequalities.

“Sinn Féin supports the introduction of minimum unit pricing which puts a minimum price per unit of alcohol on products of low cost and high alcohol volume.

“I am concerned that the Minister has failed to reference the need to advance this issue on an all-island basis, considering the sizable work already done to date in the department initiated by Michelle O’Neill as Health Minister.

"This is a public health response and so needs to address the realities of public life. The fact that one shop a mile down the road may be subjected to a minimum unit price when another is not creates obvious challenges and loopholes. 

"As part of the Sinn Féin response to the drugs and alcohol strategy last year we called for a broader substance misuse strategy and I am pleased to see this is being taken forward. I will continue to press the Minister to progress this and ensure that existing Mental Health and Addiction services meet the needs of patients and those seeking support.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins has welcomed the announcement of the reopening of the COVID-19 Charities Fund. 

Liz Kimmins said: 

"Many charities are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that have had to be put in place has curtailed normal fundraising activities. 

"As a result, some charities have found themselves in difficult situations and have been unable to cover their costs. 

"This too has had a knock-on impact on the many people helped by these charities. 

"I welcome today's announcement from Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín that the COVID-19 Charities Fund will reopen from August 3rd and will provide financial support to charities who are unable to cover their costs up until September 30th. 

"It will provide up to £75,000 for eligible organisations and will allow them to continue their work. 

"Charities provide a lifeline to so many in our society and this funding today will provide them with help to continue to support those most in need." 

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Sinn Féin Senator Elisha McCallion has said the Irish government need to stop stalling and extend the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to cross border workers.

Senator McCallion was speaking ahead of today’s sitting of the Seanad where she will table an amendment calling for cross border workers to be supported.

Elisha McCallion said:

“It’s unacceptable that cross border workers who have been paying taxes into the state for years are still being denied support by the Government.  

“The Irish government told us in April that European regulations prohibited the payments, that suggestion was rubbished when information obtained by Chris McManus MEP made it clear that the government can in fact extend the payment.  

“It seems to be a case of the Government making up the rules as they go along. 

“Now as they attempt to legislate for the payments, rather than trying to right that wrong, they are going to once again discriminate against and leave behind cross border workers and their families. 

“It’s within the gift of the current government to make the payment available to the thousands of workers, who already face the threat of Brexit. They should stop stalling and extend the payment.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection Claire Kerrane TD has welcomed the Government’s u-turn on whether people can travel abroad while receiving welfare payments, without facing financial penalty.

Teachta Kerrane said: “I welcome that the Government has finally backed down and reversed this unfair and punitive measure against people receiving social welfare.

“This policy was wrong from the start and should never have been allowed to happen. While I am glad to see the Government is finally doing the right thing by making this u-turn, the fact that this policy was ever in place has exposed how out of touch they are with ordinary people’s lives.

“I am clear that people should not travel abroad unless their trip is essential. This is the best way that we can all beat Covid-19 and prevent a second surge.

“However, it is not fair that people on social welfare should be unfairly targeted and punished in a way that other sections of our society are not. Many trips taken abroad are essential, for instance to attend a funeral or visit a loved one and it is not fair that these people should face a financial penalty.

“This Government has been in place for just weeks, yet it has been characterised by chaos, gaffes and u-turns time and time again.

“From the very start, the travel ‘green list’ has been badly handled by the Government. People are trying their best to follow the guidelines in good faith but the confusing and contradictory messages from the Government have made this extremely difficult.

“Much confusion remains about this list and what it means for their lives. People are becoming increasingly frustrated by the Government’s shambolic handling of this issue.

"The Government must end the chaos and confusion and provide clear, evidence-based information which people can rely on.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew MLA has said the Health Minister must work in partnership with unions, staff and patients in any plans to rebuild the health service.

Colm Gildernew said:

“It was glaringly obvious that unions, staff and patients were not involved in helping to shape the health minister’s recent proposals to rebuild the health service.

“This is not genuine partnership working.

“The need to rebuild sustainable and high quality health and social care services is an ambition shared by all parties and members of the public. 

“However, fully involving staff and members of the public in the decision-making and implementation of the services appears to be optional for some.

“The lack of any planned consultation significantly reduces the ability of staff and patients to have their say.

“The lack of confirmation of any meaningful process shows that working with those on the coal face of the health service it is just an afterthought for the Department of Health.

“Temporary changes due to Covid-19 must not by default become a permanent reconfiguration of health and social care services.

“Transformation can only be successful when it is delivered in partnership with patients and health workers.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has today welcomed the publication of the Criminal Justice Inspection’s report into the care and treatment of victim and witnesses by the criminal justice system and has called for urgent action to implement the recommendations.

The party’s Justice Spokesperson said:

“I welcome the publication of this report which is one of a series of important reports by the Criminal Justice Inspection.

“How we treat victims and witnesses of crime is of paramount importance and we must ensure the support services provided on the route to justice are of the highest standard.

“This is important not only because being a victim or witness of crime can often be a traumatic experience. This requires support to recover, but also because it ensures that others can feel confident and supported to report a crime, give evidence and bring offenders to justice.

“I welcome the focus of the report on the importance of the Victims’ Charter and Witness Charter, which should not be tick-box exercises but should be the foundation of action and quality support services.

“All of these services must be victim-centred and the system must be made easier to navigate for victims. Fulfilling the potential of the Victims’ Charter and Witness Charter will go a long way to addressing the concerns of the report.

“I am urging the Department of Justice and all other agencies to act urgently to implement the recommendations of this report.” 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD has criticised the Government for changing the Help-to-Buy scheme without carrying out any impact assessment on the policy’s impact on house prices.

Teachta Doherty said:

“As part of the July Stimulus, the Government announced changes to the Help-to-Buy scheme that make no economic sense and will fail to benefit the vast majority of first-time buyers.

“The Government have decided to double the claim that can be made under the scheme, despite it being a cash cow for developers which will do nothing to tackle unaffordable house prices. In fact, it will make prices even less affordable.

“Given the inflationary pressures these changes will introduce to an already broken housing market, it is a cause of alarm to discover that the Government have not undertaken any impact assessment of the effects this policy change will have on house prices before introducing the legislation to the Dáil tomorrow.

“This is not evidence-based policy, but policy on the hoof.

“Instead of reducing house prices, this will cement the pricing behaviours of developers who have no incentive to reduce house prices.

“In 2019, the Parliamentary Budget Office published a stinging report on the Help-to-Buy scheme.

“The report found that the scheme has been disproportionately availed of by higher income earners. In other words, it has been largely out of reach for the vast majority of first-time buyers.

“The majority of Help-to-Buy purchases have been above the average price. Given the mortgage lending rules, this means that the scheme has largely benefited high income earners, rather than low and middle income workers.

“Only 13% of sales through the scheme were for properties costing less than €225,000. That is not an affordable housing scheme.

“Furthermore, over 40% who used the scheme already had a 10% deposit and didn’t need it, while it failed to help the majority of people trying to get on the property ladder.

“The changes to the Help-to-Buy scheme announced in the July Stimulus are economically senseless, and have been pushed through without any regard to the consequences for the majority of first-time buyers.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on Green Party TDs to absent themselves from the final vote on the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020. 

Teachta Ó Broin said:“The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020 that we will be voting on tomorrow night is a bad bill. 

“It is bad for renters, bad for the stability of the rental market and bad for the local economy. 

“The Minister for Housing Darragh O’ Brien is happy to continue with the same failed policies of his predecessor. 

“It is not therefore not surprising that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are happy to throw renters to the wolves. However, for the Green Party to support this bad legislation is genuinely shocking. 

“It is not what they campaigned for during the election and they certainly were not elected to support measures that strip tenants of vital protections. 

“I would urge Green Parry TDs to absent themselves from voting on this Bill. I know they cannot vote against it. 

“Sinn Féin has tabled significant amendments to this legislation. Our amendments seek to ban rent increases for all tenancies and licences. 

“We also have an amendment that will ban the issuing of vacant possession notices to quit for when the landlord is looking to sell the property. This will keep more families, who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness, in their homes. 

“Committee and final stages of the Bill is up tomorrow and if the Bill is passed as is, it is bad news for renters.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan MLA said that news that residents and staff in care homes are to be regularly tested is vital in ensuring that care homes are safer in the face of any further spike in the COVID-19.

Pat Sheehan said:

“Sinn Féin have previously directly called on the Minister of Health to have a rolling testing programme for care homes. We didn’t get a commitment then but I am happy to see one now. 

“I welcome the news today that staff and residents within care homes will have access to a rolling programme of testing for coronavirus.

“Care home residents and staff have been in the epicentre in the fight against COVID-19. They have faced many challenges and strains with 40% of COVID-19 deaths occurring within care homes and care home residents making up 50% of all COVID-19 deaths.

“Care home residents have suffered disproportionately throughout this pandemic, with incredibly high rates of coronavirus and being isolated due to restricted visits from loved ones.

“For many this programme has come too late.

“However, it will be vital that this service is rolled out as an additional measure and support to help keep care home residents and staff safe.” 

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Equality, Inclusion and Law Reform Pa Daly TD has called for the immediate closure of the Skellig Star direct provision centre.

Having been moved to the centre during the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, residents have now begun a hunger strike and are demanding its closure.

Teachta Daly said:

“In our general election manifesto, Sinn Féin committed to ending the direct provision system and I have stated repeatedly since March that the Skellig Star centre is not fit for purpose.

“The ill-suitability of the centre was clear from the fact it fails almost all the requirements of a Direct Provision centre in the Department of Justice’s own regulations published in August 2019.

“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 and had a reasonable expectation that the situation would be resolved well before now.

“I have raised the matter in the Dáil and asked written questions on the lack of Garda vetting for staff employed at the centre. I previously met with Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration as Direct Provision will soon fall under his brief and I have asked for a renewed meeting to discuss this latest development in a crisis.

“However, the residents are rightly disappointed the new government has not taken steps to address this situation; a disappointment myself and Sinn Féin share.

“Throughout this crisis, Sinn Féin’s message has been clear and simple: The centre must close as it is not fit for purpose and the residents must be moved to suitable accommodation which is sensitive and appropriate to their needs.”

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Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew MLA has called on the Minister of Health to urgently look at plans to bring forward a one-off grant to help support struggling carers.

Speaking after the Health Minister's statement to the Assembly today the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said;

“Carers have been hit hard, not only from the withdrawal of many domiciliary home visits but also the closure of day support centres and removal of respite provision. Carers have been overlooked in terms of the guidance and still face challenges with access to information and services.

"Earlier this month the Assembly passed a motion in support of a detailed plan for carers to support their unique needs.

“I was pleased to speak in support and help bring forward the motion. Yet, carers need more than supportive words and promises.

"It is important to remember that the situation of all carers is not the same and the challenges and pressures they face vary.

"Due to COVID-19 many carers have faced considerable disruption to their daily lives and access to routine support has changed and even vanished in some cases.

"A one size fits all approach is not appropriate given the diverse circumstances among carers.

"Those accessing direct payments were not able to spend it in the normal way during the crisis and rigid rules around what counts as care is causing difficulties for carers in meeting their changing needs due to the pandemic.

"Today I asked the Minister of Health to consider providing a one-off cash grant to support carers during this difficult and uncertain time. 

"The Minister should also review the guidance as to what constitutes care, for direct payments, to allow greater flexibility. This would allow carers to decide for themselves what will make the most difference to their lives during the pandemic.”

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Chris Andrews meets with Fergal Carruth and Ciaran Kirwan of the IABA

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Sport Chris Andrews has called for greater state investment in amateur boxing to offer young boxers a healthy path to success in the sport.

The call comes after a meeting with Fergal Carruth and Ciaran Kirwan of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association.

Teachta Andrews said:  “At a time when so many young people in working class communities are in need of positive role models, we must do all we can to support our amateur boxing clubs and boxers, and uphold the positive impact they have had on society.

“It is clear that there is now a growing need for further investment in the IABA, for example an expansion of the High Performance Unit, which would have a multitude of benefits, both long term and short term. 

“Boxing’s reputation has been damaged in recent times due to the involvement of the likes of Daniel Kinahan in the professional game. That influence cannot be allowed to overshadow a sport that has been such a huge force for good for generations. 

“The reputational damage presents us with a challenge. Many of our young boxers now feel that they have no option but to turn to such promoters. 

“We need to demonstrate that there is an alternative route to success in the sport, and support the hundreds of volunteers and coaches who are attempting to nurture talent in a healthy environment, with the right ethos, and with the well-being of our young people at the heart of all that they do.

"My meeting with the IABA proved insightful. The IABA has been central to Ireland’s success at various competitions across the globe, and has established amateur boxing as our most successful Olympic sport.

“The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the positive impact that various boxing clubs have across communities with the high levels of socio-economic issues. These clubs provide a valuable resource to areas that have so often been forgotten by the state.  

“Over the years, amateur boxing has produced more than its fair share of household names ranging from Michael Carruth himself, to Katie Taylor and Kellie Harrington.

“These are the kind of people our young boxers look up to. We owe it to current and future generations to afford them a chance to emulate those successes.  

“With the appropriate levels of funding, we can further develop our Olympic team and push Ireland towards being a world leader in amateur boxing.”

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Sinn Féin TD for Kerry Pa Daly has expressed his disappointment at the news that Borg Warner in Tralee will close with the loss of 210 jobs. 

Teachta Daly said:

“Borg Warner has been in business in Tralee for thirty years and has a long established workforce of 210 people. 

“Staff were informed at a lunchtime meeting today that the plant is shutting down and most of these jobs will be gone by the end of 2020, with the plant shutting its doors by March 2021. This is a massive disappointment.

“Focus now must be on the workers involved and their families, with every effort made to support them to ensure they receive a fair redundancy package, as well as retraining for future employment opportunities.” 

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Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has said Connolly House will continue to provide a first-class constituency service to the community and staff will not be deterred by attacks. 

Alex Maskey said: 

“This is not the first time my office at Connolly House has been targeted by such activity, which causes nothing but disruption to the entire community. 

“The constituency service provided by Connolly House is used by a large percentage of the local population who have firmly rejected the type of people behind this hoax device. 

“Connolly House has and will continue to provide a first-class service to the local community and these threats and attacks will not deter us from continuing that service.

"I would call on anyone involved in these attacks to listen to the people and desist from this type of activity, which only disrupts local communities.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD has published a motion to compel the Government to properly invest in the education system, to ensure schools can reopen fully and safely.

The motion will commit the Government to beginning the work of reducing class sizes, to ensure social distancing is feasible as well as improving education quality. It will also ensure vulnerable children and their families are not left behind, with a dedicated strategy to prioritise those who have lost out the most including children with special educational needs.

Teachta Ó Laoghaire said: "There is no doubt that children need to be back in school. Sinn Féin has been calling for months for a roadmap and a significant investment package to deliver a full and safe reopening of schools. I am glad the Government has finally responded to pressure from opposition, and indeed from parents and school staff as well.

"However, I am concerned the roadmap fails to deliver on crucial areas and leaves parents and teachers with just weeks to organise.

"If ever there was a time to tackle oversized classes it is now. Unfortunately, the plan is silent on this vital aspect.

“Today I have published a motion to commit the Government to properly investing in our education system, to ensure our schools can reopen fully and safely.

"The reality is that the return to school is being made especially difficult because we have an education system that is underfunded and understaffed.

“While it is true that no-one could have predicted the scale and manner of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also must acknowledge how failure to invest in our schools has put them in a particularly vulnerable position which meant many were already stretched close to breaking point.

“Due to chronic underfunding, we have some of the largest class sizes in Europe. 1 in every 5 primary school children in Ireland is in a class of over 30 children.

“My motion will begin the process of reducing class sizes down to the European average of 20 children per teacher.

“I am also concerned that vulnerable children and their families have been forgotten about by the Department in this roadmap. My motion commits the Government to developing a dedicated strategy to prioritise those who have lost out the most, including children with special educational needs.

“We must ensure a generation of children do not lose their education to this pandemic. This is simply far too important to get wrong.

“I am asking all TDs to back my motion and ensure our schools get the proper resources and support they deserve to reopen fully and safely.”

Motion to invest in education

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Sinn Féin Infrastructure Spokesperson Cathal Boylan has welcomed clarity from the Infrastructure Minister on the resumption of driving and lorry tests, and MOT services. 

 

The Newry and Armagh MLA said: 

 

 “This morning DFI Minister Nichola Mallon has announced that driving and lorry tests, and MOT services will resume from the 1st of September. 

 

 “I have been actively lobbying the Minister for clarity on these matters and I welcome this announcement. 

 

 "It will be of great relief to many, particularly those that have been waiting for some time to complete their driving examinations. 

 

 “Priority for driving tests will be initially giving to frontline workers and those that had to have their tests cancelled. 

 

 “MOT testing will also be initial focused on cars and motorbikes which are three or more years old, three year-old light goods vehicles and heavy good vehicles, trailers and buses. 

 

 “I want to wish all those that will be sitting their practical driving tests in the near future the very best of luck.” 

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Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Karen Mullan MLA has welcomed the announcement by the Education Minister that an expert panel will be established to examine links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage. 

 

Speaking the Foyle MLA said: 

 

“In the New Decade, New Approach document, there was a commitment to establish an expert panel to examine the links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage for children and young people regardless of background.. 

 

“It is crucial that this panel goes beyond words, and outlines real and palpable actions that can be taken by the Minister to effectively address this issue. 

 

“The panel must also face up to the clear correlation between transfer test results and social background. Countless studies into transfer tests have found that pupils from working class families are unfairly disadvantaged with limited access to additional support and resources. This early disadvantage must not be allowed to define the future of young people.

 

“It would be remiss of both the panel and the Minister to commit to addressing social disadvantage, while taking no steps eradicate the transfer test system. 

 

“I want to wish all members of the panel the best of luck in their efforts to address this important issue.

 

“It is the firm view of Sinn Féin that all children in society deserve a fair opportunity and access to first class education regardless of their social and economic background.” 

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