Sinn Féin Leas Uachtarán Michelle O'Neill MLA has expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Tom Mitchell, former Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster.
Michelle O'Neill said:
"I was saddened to hear of the death of veteran republican Tom Mitchell.
"Tom was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster while a political prisoner in May 1955, making history as the first Sinn Féin MP elected in the north since 1918.
"The British government tried to strip him and the republican voters of Mid Ulster of his seat and forced a by-election, which he also won with an increased majority.
"He challenged this disenfranchisement of the people and continued to fight injustice for the rest of his life.
“He was on the first civil rights march from Coalisland to Dungannon and retained a close bond with Mid Ulster and its people.
"My thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew him at this sad time."
Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Kelly has welcomed today’s announcement that the Childcare Recovery Support package will open for applications on Monday 27th July and it will be administered by Early Years organisation.
The West Tyrone MLA said:
“I welcome that today; Minister Weir has outlined some details of the Childcare Recovery Support package.
“The new scheme will open for applications on Monday 27th July and it will be administered by Early Years organisation.
"The previous childcare support scheme was too slow, too complex and did not address the needs of the sector.
"It failed to deliver efficiently to the childcare sector the financial support which was made available.
“As we emerge from the pandemic increased childcare places will be needed and the new support scheme must be accessible to the sector so they can sustain reopening.
"A functioning childcare sector is vital in allowing more people return work and in supporting the recovery."
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Public Expenditure and Reform Mairéad Farrell has branded as “out of touch” the proposed change in legislation to increase the pay of three Ministers of State.
Speaking today, Teachta Farrell said: “The cabinet agreeing to legislation that will give pay increases to three Ministers of State shows once again that this government is worryingly out of touch with reality.
"It is quite astonishing that the government feels it appropriate to give themselves pay increases at a time when many people are surviving on the €350 Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which it is reported will be cut by €50 in the autumn.
“This is a worrying trend from government; yesterday I raised with Minister Michael McGrath my concerns about 17 advisors being employed by the Triumvirate of Taoisigh.
"The government attempts to paint itself as a model of fiscal prudence while at the same time hiring a cohort of well-paid special advisors at great cost to the taxpayer.
"They have now compounded that contradiction further by seeking to increase by €16,288 the salaries of Ministers of State Jack Chambers, Hildegarde Naughten and Pippa Hackett
"Once again the actions of government are totally at odds with their disingenuous message that ‘we are all in it together’.
“Sinn Féin will oppose such an increase and will continue to stand with ordinary workers and families.”
The government must provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap for schools to open and ensure that they can stay open, Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.
Education Minister Norma Foley was due to bring a memo to Cabinet on Monday outlining plans and funding for schools to re-open next month.
Mr Ó Murchú said: ‘Schools have been closed now for over four months, and in that time two Ministers for Education have repeatedly promised a comprehensive roadmap for the reopening of schools that seems to be only materialising now.
‘We are now just a month away from when one million children are supposed to return to school.
‘The lack of clarity over the last few weeks is causing real concern, worry and anxiety.
‘We know that more teachers will be needed. We know that more money will be needed. We know that we will need to see increased investment in cleaning and hygiene measures. We know that children will need to get buses and we know that there are other children with additional needs that will need to be catered for.
‘Parents, students, teachers, support staff and transport operators are, right now, completely in the dark as to what is happening to ensure all of these needs are met.
‘This plan needs to be comprehensive and definitive, and it needs to answer all of the questions that all stakeholders need answered. The timing of this plan has been cut very fine as it is. The uncertainty has gone on far too long already. It cannot go on any longer.’
Sinn Féin President and TD for Dublin Central Mary Lou McDonald has extended her condolences on the passing of Dr. Syed Waqqar Ali, a doctor at the Mater Hospital in Dublin who has died from Covid-19.
She said;
“It is with great sadness that the death of Dr. Syed Waqqar Ali has been announced today.
"The Mater Hospital is at the heart of the community in Dublin's north inner city and I have no doubt that all of the staff at the hospital are devastated by this news. I want to extend my solidarity to them all at this sad time.
"Dr. Ali's death is a stark reminder of the selfless and incredible work that our frontline health workers undertake on a daily basis to keep up all safe.
“I want to extend my sincere condolences to his wife, his family, his colleagues and his friends at this very sad time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has welcomed the announcement that a consultation will be held on soft opt-out organ donation in the north.
The Assembly health committee member said:
"I welcome today's announcement that the Minister intends to go out to public consultation on a soft opt-out organ donation system for the north.
"This is a positive development and one the families of those waiting on organ donations and campaigners will welcome.
"What we need now from the Minister is clarity as to when the consultation will get underway
"I will continue to work with and engage with the sector on this issue and I will monitor very closely all related developments from the department on this.
"I look forward to working with the Minister on this but if meaningful progress is not forthcoming on a soft opt-out organ donation I will proceed with my Private Members Bill on this issue through the Assembly to ensure this comes in here."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Addiction, Wellness and Recovery, Thomas Gould TD, has said it is alarming that the National Drugs Strategy is not subject to more frequent oversight and does not provide more regular updates on its work.
Teachta Gould said:
“I asked the Minister in a parliamentary question for the current status of a three year 50 point Action Plan 2017-2020 included in the National Drugs Strategy. I was deeply concerned that the latest figures he could give me were from 2018.
“This is absolutely shocking and I am alarmed that there is not more frequent oversight of this vital area.
“The 2018 figures which he did give me, showed that only 4 actions had been completed, 35 were in progress and 11 had not even started. We need to know if this has improved.
“A three year action strategy such as this deserves much more frequent monitoring than annual reports that aren’t even published halfway through the next year.
“The Junior Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy has already shown his flippant attitude to drug misuse and the failure to pursue finalisation of the 2019 end of year report raises questions about his determination to support recovery and reduce the harmful impacts of drug addiction and misuse.
“Studies have already shown that the Covid-19 pandemic is having a harmful impact on people’s relationships with alcohol and illegal substances. We need to make sure that our services are ready and capable to support people struggling with addiction issues post-pandemic.
“I have today asked the Minister to confirm a date for publication of this report. This issue is urgent and people cannot be expected to wait any longer. We need to know where we are in terms of drug treatment now and we need to see the Minister taking this seriously.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport Chris Andrews has urged the FAI and IFA to embrace calls from League of Ireland and Irish League clubs for All-Island League proposals to be sent to UEFA for consideration.
The Dublin Bay South TD will meet FAI representatives Gary Owens and Niall Quinn on Friday.
He will urge them to embrace Kieran Lucid’s vision that could unlock the potential of football north and south, and help deliver a level of professionalism so long yearned for by Irish clubs.
Speaking today, Teachta Andrews said: “It is encouraging to see that 20 out of the 22 top flight clubs north and south are now calling for the All-Island League proposals to be sent to UEFA for consideration.
“The recent passing of Jack Charlton brought back great memories but also served as a reminder of the huge sporting potential we have on this island.
“Success should not be confined to past memories. We have great footballing talent north and south, and the two associations tasked with overseeing the sport on this island owe it to current and future generations to create a sustainable professional league.
“The globalisation of football has led to increasingly diminishing opportunities for Irish footballers in Britain. Many footballers leave these shores in their teens with great hope and expectation but return home having been unable to make the breakthrough and are left disillusioned by the game.
“The FAI and IFA owe it to them to create a platform and secure educational and employment opportunities in the sport here so that their talents can flourish on this island instead.
“Positive steps have been made by the FAI at underage level in recent years to develop and nurture young talent. The obvious next step has to be to create a real pathway towards sustainable careers.
“With 10 of the 12 Premiership clubs in the north now in favour of the All-Island League, I would encourage the IFA, who recently dismissed the idea, to meet with these clubs to discuss how Kieran Lucid’s proposals could be advanced.
“With all 10 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division clubs now supportive of the proposals, I will meet with the FAI on Friday and urge them to work constructively with the clubs, the IFA and UEFA to deliver a new vision for Irish football.
“The establishment of the Celtic League, now the PRO14, two decades ago helped transform rugby on this island.
"The challenges for football are greater, but an All-Island League can have a similar effect and finally deliver the levels of professionalism, commercial success and increased attendances that Irish clubs north and south have for so long yearned for.
“In the last year, we have seen positive examples of cross-border competitions with the establishment of the Unite the Union Champions Cup, which saw Dundalk and Linfield compete north and south.
“That was a very small step in the right direction. The time for a more unified approach from the two associations to unlock the potential of football on this island is now.”
Ag trácht ar freagra a fuair sé le déanaí ón FSS dúirt úrlabhraí Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta Shinn Féin Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD go raibh an dearca ag an seirbhís Stáit "scannallach agus cúngaigeanta" agus gur "cac asal" atá san meid a dúirt an Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (FSS) mar leithscéal nár dheineadar fograíocht as Gaeilge ar na meáin, go raibh an Ghaeilge nios fadálach agus níos costasach dá réír.
Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh;
"Ní fíor sin, agus fiú má thá, ní leithscéal é chun satailt ar chearta Geailgeoirí."
Lean sé ag rá gur "léir ón freagra a chuireadh chugam tar éis dom ceist a chuir ar an Aire Sláinte faoi an caiteachas srl ar fógraí an FSS le linn agus faoi an cruachás COVID-19, gur athsmaoineamh i gcónaí í ár dTeanga Náisiúnta. In aineoinn go ndéir an FSS gur chloí said le forálacha an Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, is léir ón freagra agus an meoin atá léírithe san bhfreagra, gur cuma sa tsoic leis an Stáitchóras stádas an Teanga Náisiúnta.
As an 624 tvuits a d’eisigh said, ní raibh ach 25 as Gaeilge, ar Facebook ní raibh ach dhá ‘posts’ Gaeilge as 106, agus ceann ar bith as Gaeilge den 76 as Béarla ar Instagram.
"Ag féachaint ar na bfigiúirí sin an ceist soiléir ná cá bhfuil an cothromas ansin? Tá sé i gceist agam scríobh chuig an Coimisnéir Teanga chun an cás seo a ardú leis agus chun tuilleadh ceisteanna a chuir ar na n-Airí úra don Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus do chúrsaí Sláinte.
Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Kelly has welcomed the creation of the Youth Assembly.
The party’s spokesperson on Children and Young People said:
“I welcome the news that an agreement on the framework to establish the Youth Assembly and the next steps is to put it in place for an initial two-year development stage.
"Involving young people in politics and creating ways in which they can have representation and a real input into services and policies affecting them will ensure they play an active role creating positive change in the society they live in.
"Another keyway to empower young people to help them shape a more positive future is to lower the voting age to 16.
“Only by widening the political franchise can we guarantee that the rights of young people stay firmly on the political agenda.
"It is young people who will live with the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic and the disastrous consequences of Brexit, it is only right that we give them the opportunity to fully participate in the political process.
"Today's young people are the leaders of the future and it is vital that all political parties engage with them directly and hear their opinions."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport Darren O’Rourke TD has said that the publication of a travel ‘Green List’ by the government tonight sends a contradictory and confusing message to the public in relation to foreign travel.
He said:
"Following the publication of the government’s travel ‘Green List’ tonight, I am very concerned that a contradictory and confusing message is being sent to the public concerning foreign travel.
"We now have a ‘Green List’ that identifies countries that people can travel to and from without the need to quarantine, but advice against all non-essential foreign travel appears to remain in place. This makes very little sense and sends a very mixed message at a critical time in our Covid-19 response.
"The publication of the travel 'Green List' also does nothing to address the predicament that tens of thousands of people who have booked holidays and flights to countries not on the 'Green List' find themselves in.
"The government must now urgently outline how they will protect these people and families who are faced with a dilemma - fly and disobey public health advice or stay home and lose thousands of euros they can ill-afford. It is completely unacceptable that this situation continues.
"The publication of a 'Green List' comes at some risk to our Covid-19 defences, particularly given the tokenistic checks and controls currently in place at our ports and airports. We must get back to first principles - "Test, Isolate, Trace".
"The government must immediately implement a comprehensive plan to assess the Covid-19 risk of everyone who arrives here to reduce this risk. The Passenger Locator Form and possible follow up phone call do not prove if people are currently abiding by the fourteen day quarantine requirement."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty TD has labelled the EU Recovery Fund a missed opportunity.
Under the measures, Ireland will receive just 0.4% of grants available over the next two years, many research funds have been decimated, while the Just Transition Fund has been slashed by two thirds.
Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said: "The European Council today announced measures to tackle the social and economic impact of Covid-19, including the establishment of the Next Generation EU Recovery Fund.
"This €750 billion fund would be raised by the Commission being given power to borrow, with member states contributing towards repayments.
"But under the key pillar of the measures, the Recovery and Resilience Fund, Ireland will be eligible for just 0.4% of grants in 2021 and 2022.
"In addition to this, pressure from what has been described as the ‘frugal four’ has seen the overall level of grants under the fund cut by 22%.
"This has seen entire programmes slashed or completely defunded – research programmes by 62%, the Just Transition Fund by two thirds, and the solvency aid to small firms completely defunded.
"This is a real missed opportunity for economic recovery.
"While Ireland will remain a net contributor to the EU budget in the years ahead, it is clear that we are not a winner from the Recovery Fund announced today.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD has expressed disappointment after a briefing from the Department of Education on the reopening of schools failed to address fundamental questions.
Teachta Ó Laoghaire said: “I am deeply concerned about the Department’s chaotic handling of the reopening of schools.
“From the start, the Department has been on the back foot, leaving students and teachers in the dark about vital issues.
“At today’s briefing, I was told that answers to fundamental questions would not be answered until effectively next month.
“It is now late July and the new school term is just around the corner. Book lists are coming in and parents are budgeting for school uniforms. Despite this, these key questions are still unanswered.
“If we do not receive answers until next month, we will have mere weeks to implement them before the start of the term.
“The department has been unacceptably slow in putting together a plan. The minister has not been very convincing during her time in office. The key questions are being dodged and not answered.
“Time is running out, we need clarity. Today’s briefing was frustrating and did not bring any great light to this increasingly chaotic situation.
"The minister needs to appreciate this is a hugely stressful time for children, parents and teachers."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has said that the EU budget deal announced today is disastrous for Irish family farmers and the rural communities that depend on them.
Teachta Carthy said: "Behind the spin of government, one thing from this deal is clear; Irish farmers and rural communities are the big losers.
"It appears that Micheál Martin approached these negotiations in the same manner as he did government formation talks; agree to a deal at any price.
"The European Commission had proposed additional funding of €15 billion in Pillar II payments. The Irish government acceded to half of that.
“In real terms, the budget line towards the Common Agriculture Policy has been cut by 9% and yet it is clear that there will be additional bureaucracy and costs associated with drawing down the funds. This is at a time when Irish family farmers need more support, not less.
“Suggestions that the losses will be offset by a €300 million Pillar II ‘top-up’ or via the Brexit emergency fund will not wash with farmers.
“The cuts will also go beyond the farming community. It will mean less money invested in rural development projects and less money available to the drivers of local economies, our farmers.
“Many of our farming families are already under significant pressure; cuts to their farm payments could spell the end for them.
“Big questions also remain as to how much additional EU spending Irish taxpayers will be expected to fork out, and how much we will get in return.
"We have no clarification as to how the ‘own resources’ revenue-making capacity that the government has handed over to the Commission will operate in practice.
“It appears that the Taoiseach has agreed to a deal whereby the Irish people will be paying substantially more while the programmes most important to us are significantly cut.
"Put simply, this is a disastrous deal for Irish farming and for rural communities."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport Darren O’Rourke TD has said that the government’s botched handling of foreign travel advice sends confusing and contradictory mixed messages to the public.
He said;
“This chaotic handling of foreign travel isn't new. In fact, it has been a hallmark of the government's approach to date.
“Back in March we had unrestricted flights arriving from Italy, while that country was the global epicentre of the pandemic.
“No lessons were learnt and now we have flights arriving from the new epicentre, the United States, without any checks or restrictions in our airports.
“It is extraordinary to think that in the middle of a deadly global pandemic, the sum total of the restrictions coming into the State is to fill in a form and ask people nicely to self-isolate.
“The publication of any green list will lead to an increase in international travel, which public health experts have stressed brings with it considerable risks.
“Comprehensive checks and restrictions in our airports need to be introduced in tandem with any opening up of international travel.
“Mandatory temperature screening, the wearing of face masks in airports, random Covid-19 testing of arrivals and a requirement to download the Covid-19 contact tracing app need to be introduced, in addition to the current Passenger Locator Form.
“Even stricter controls need to be introduced for arrivals from high-risk areas.
“It is reckless to proceed ahead without adequate monitoring in our airports that can help detect and quarantine those with Covid-19.
“It is clear there is even internal dissent in the government ranks on this plan for a green list, with the former Taoiseach casting doubt over the proposals earlier today.
“This issue is far too serious for such a blasé approach. The government need to bring forward a comprehensive plan, not a half-baked, ill thought out proposal.”
EU agreement fails to deliver on key areas for Ireland - MacManus
Chris MacManus, Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands Northwest, has slammed the agreement reached by EU Leaders a few hours ago, on the COVID 19 recovery package. MacManus commented:
“The agreement reached this morning is significantly worse than previously anticipated. A few days ago, Michael Martin reminded us Ireland will be a net contributor to the EU budget. Therefore, if we know we are to pay in more than we get back, the focus must be on exactly what Irish taxpayers are contributing to.
“It is clear from this deal, in areas crucially important to Ireland, our interests were not protected and responsibility for this must fall squarely at the feet of the new Taoiseach, Michael Martin.
“Two glaring failures are the slashing of proposed rural development recovery funds, by 7.5bn, and the Just Transition Fund by 20bn.
“As an elected MEP for the Midlands North West constituency, these cuts will be particularity severe for the people I represent.
“To contextualise the Just Transition Fund, it is designed create jobs in sustainable industries and support those workers affected by changes to our economy, as we make the green transition.
“A recent example is the targeting of funds from the scheme towards projects which would benefits workers affected by the winding down of the peat industry in the Midlands.
“A rolling back of ambition on job creation and support for workers in rural Ireland is nothing new. However, the Irish Government’s failure in Brussels today has highlighted again why having weak representation in Europe directly affects the viability of our rural communities. “
The Sligo based MEP concluded, “I will be focussing on mitigating the worst outworking’s of the agreement, when the proposals on the finer details reach the European Parliament. Sinn Féin believes a regionally balanced recovery is required and we must underpin the rural economy with targeted, and substantial, funding if we are to ensure its survival.” ENDS
Sinn Féin’s Leader in the Seanad Niall Ó Donnghaile has called on the Irish Government to open a much-needed Irish Passport Office in the North.
Speaking as his online petition reached almost 18,000 signatures, Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said:
“This just makes sense.
“Last year there were over 900k applications for Irish passports, with over 94k coming from the North and Britain. In the early months of 2019, applications per month often exceeded 100k.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs have acknowledged that passport office staff are struggling with ‘unprecedented demand’. On one day in 2018, the office received over ten thousand applications.
“As we move through the COVID-19 restrictions, with people once again needing to avail of their passports, it is only right that government prepare to meet what is likely to be a significant surge in demand.
“It is not fair to add further pressure on the fantastic passport office staff when what we should be doing is investing in building capacity and improving service delivery throughout the entirety of Ireland.
“I will again be raising this campaign in the Seanad this week and would call on the government to engage positively, prepare prudently and deliver for citizens.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane TD has reiterated his call for a Special Oireachtas Committee to examine how nursing homes handled the Covid-19 pandemic.
Teachta Cullinane said:
“Today’s HIQA report demonstrates the clear need for a Special Oireachtas Committee to perform an in-depth examination of nursing homes in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“According to HIQA, almost 60% of outbreaks in nursing homes inspected were more severe than they should have been due to weak governance and management. Half were not following proper infection prevention and control measures, and not a single one of the 44 homes inspected were fully compliant with regulations.
“It is my firm view that we need a full, comprehensive and compassionate Oireachtas Committee to look at these issues. We have only scratched the surface of this tragedy in the Covid-19 Committee. There is much more yet to examine.
“This new Committee would be time limited and would examine such issues as the preparation and planning for Covid-19, the preparation of guidelines and procedures, as well as communications and the structural relationship that exists between nursing homes, the Department of Health and the HSE. We must also examine issues relating to clinical governance and the ability of nursing homes to deal with the spread of Covid-19.
“We must clearly identify the facts to make recommendations on the future of the nursing home sector and its relationship with the health service. Any Oireachtas examination would be without prejudice to any potential statutory inquiry.
“Over 1,000 people died prematurely as a result of Covid-19 in nursing homes. That is more than 60% of Covid-19 related mortalities in this State. Only Canada has a higher mortality rate in nursing homes.
“It is vital that any Oireachtas examination considers the views and experiences of those who have lost loved ones, the residents of nursing homes, and representatives of staff and management.”
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan has today called on Minister Edwin Poots to end his blockage of a Climate Change Act.
The call comes following the successful passage of a motion in the Assembly calling on Minister Poots to introduce an ambitious Climate Change Act with legally binding decarbonisation targets within three months.
The North Antrim MLA said:
“Today the Assembly have once again made clear their overwhelming and urgent desire to see Minister Edwin Poots introduce a Climate Change Act.
“A Climate Change Act has been endorsed by the Minister through the NDNA, and the Assembly has already declared a climate emergency.
“We are living through a climate emergency, with disastrous effects on the natural world, biodiversity, our society, and our economy.
“We need a legally-binding Climate Change Act. Warm words have not been good enough, and the North remains a laggard on climate action.
“Future generations will look back at this period of denial and delay with anger. The science could not be clearer about the stark and immediate threat of climate breakdown, yet still the Minister delays.
“Minister Poots must end the delay, heed the clear call of the Assembly today and introduce a Climate Change Act within three months.”
