Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley has written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon to request the department prioritise investing in the A32 road linking Omagh and Enniskillen.
The West Tyrone MP said:
“Investment from the Department for Infrastructure is necessary to develop the A32 which will reduce journey times, increase road safety and support the economic development of this area. The A32 links the two major towns within the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area and it is vital to improve connectivity.
“The importance of the road has grown over the past decade since acute hospital services for the area have been centred at the South West Acute Hospital.
“I have written to the Minister for Infrastructure urging her to ensure that investment and development of the A32 is prioritised. For too long this road has been under invested in and this highlights once again the need for investment in infrastructure west of the Bann."
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Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley has said the Irish diaspora have a role to play in campaigning for a referendum on Irish Unity.
The West Tyrone MP said:
"The Sinn Féin MP team will be holding a public meeting in Westminster next week to discuss the growing demand for Irish unity.
"It will feature a keynote speech from recently elected North Belfast MP John Finucane as well as an address from human rights professor Colin Harvey.
"Professor Harvey will present his report, 'The EU and Irish Unity,' which was commissioned by Martina Anderson MEP and GUE/NGL, and outlines the role the EU can play in reuniting Ireland.
"The EU has said a reunited Ireland will get automatic entry into the EU through a referendum on Irish Unity as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.
"The Irish diaspora, particularly those in Britain, can play an important role in helping to secure that referendum by putting pressure on the British government to live up to its commitment.
"Tuesday night’s event in the Grand Committee Room, Westminster Hall, at 7pm is an opportunity to update the Irish community in Britain, and others interested in democracy, on the campaign for Irish Unity."
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Deputy Louise O’Reilly said that the newly emerging costs are the result of light touch oversight by the government and Minister for Health.
Speaking this afternoon, The Fingal TD said:
“The fiasco around the construction of the National Children’s Hospital is of Fine Gael’s own making.
“The explosion in additional costs and delays is the result of the two-phase plan they signed off on.
“The risk that this would happen existed from the moment Fine Gael decided with this plan, and it was compounded by their light touch oversight and failure to keep an eye on what was happening.
“The Minister for Health, one of the main people responsible for oversight of the project only met with the board twice in all the time this fiasco has been going on.
“Indeed, the new chair appointed to oversee the project admitted to the Public Accounts Committee admitted to having never built a standalone hospital before.
“Now the project is facing millions in additional costs, it is bogged down in delays which will result in even more additional costs, and it needs €15m to defend itself in court against additional costs.
“Sinn Féin said when this scandal first arose that the failure of Minister Harris and Fine Gael to control the costs would easily see the project surpass €2 billion, and this is where the whole fiasco seems to be heading."
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has said that Sinn Féin will bring CervicalCheck screening services back to Ireland.
She made the announcement in Co. Kerry this morning, where she is canvassing with Sinn Féin's general election candidate in Kerry, Cllr. Pa Daly.
Mary Lou McDonald said:
"There has been a huge human cost to the CervicalCheck scandal and many families are today without a loved one, or dealing with the realities of a cancer diagnosis.
"The shadow of the scandal has hung over the health service and Irish society for these past few years.
"We owe it to the women affected and their families to change the system for the better, and this must involve bringing the smear testing process back home to Ireland.
"The outsourcing of the testing process has been a problem, and we have seen issues around labs being added to the CervicalCheck programme without proper checks or operational due diligence being carried out.
"Outsourcing also played a part in the further mistakes that were made as regards delays of tests and the issuing of results; all of which caused further distress for women.
"It is vitally important that we have our own national screening laboratory service for CervicalCheck.
"This will be a graduated process.
"We will allocate €16 million to this, placing a focus on recruitment and training of specialist staff and equipping labs to the highest possible standard.
"The priority must be to ensure that women have the highest level of confidence in the screening process and we can achieve this through common-sense reforms.
"The repatriation of the smearing testing process makes sense as it allows for better oversight and quality control by health authorities here at home.
"The process should never have been outsourced in the first place.
"We must show that we have learned from the scandal.
"We show that the tragic and heartbreaking deaths of women such as Emma Mhic Mhathúna and Irene Teap were catalysts for sweeping reform of the CervicalCheck programme."
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford and PAC member David Cullinane has said the news that the cost of the National Children’s Hospital is set to increase again and face further delays is unacceptable, and greater political accountability is urgently needed.
Deputy Cullinane said;
“The news that further additional costs have been submitted by the contractor are further proof of the governments failures in managing to contain the costs of the project.
“Back in December we were told the maximum cost of the National Children’s Hospital would be at a maximum of €1.7bn. It is clear now, as it was then, that this was aspiration not reality.
“When my colleague Louise O’Reilly raised the matter of overspending with the Taoiseach, he seemed to think this was normal behaviour of which the State could do nothing about – nothing could be further from the truth.
“Overruns from this project will lead to cuts in the capital budget for health and other projects will lose out as a result. We need to ensure that does not happen.
“We need stronger transparency and greater accountability when it comes to this project.”
Sinn Féin TD and General Election candidate for Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and north Roscommon Martin Kenny, has said that Sinn Féin is the only party which will stand up for the interests of small farmers.
Martin Kenny said:
“Family farmers are facing unprecedented challenges. There is a desperate need to reform the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) in order to make it fairer for smaller, family farms.
“We need to see a rebalancing of payments away from the larger, industrial farmers and towards supporting the traditional family farm.
“My party and I have been campaigning to end direct payments to factory feedlots and limit direct payments to a maximum of €60,000, so that more funding can go to ordinary family farmers.
“Emergency measures are required for beef farmers because they are facing very serious challenges.
“Sinn Féin will provide €200 per cow for the first 15 cows to these farmers.
“Sheep farmers require higher ewe payments while additional funding in the ANC Scheme must be provided and delivered to farmers operating in the areas of high constraint.
“Farmers need a fair price for their produce.
“Neither Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil will deal adequately with the problems facing small farmers.
“Only Sinn Fein is committed to tackling the unjust and unfair nature of the processing and retailing sectors which sees farmers producing at a loss.
“Sinn Féin, in government, will immediately establish a Commission on the future of the Irish Family Farm made up of independent experts, farming representatives and statutory agencies.
“This will be tasked with producing a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at saving our family farm network which will be implemented by a Sinn Féin Minister for Agriculture.”
ENDS
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD has criticised the Fine Gael Government for having a poor understanding of the insurance crisis.
Deputy Doherty was speaking after engaging in RTÉ Radio 1's Late Debate with Fine Gael Minister Michael D'Arcy on Wednesday.
Speaking today, Deputy Doherty said:
“Last night I engaged in a radio debate with a number of people including the Minister with responsibility for insurance policy, Michael D'Arcy.
"I was shocked to hear Minister D'Arcy continue to peddle the spin of the insurance industry, while quoting CSO figures that were definitively rebuked by the Central Bank in December of last year.
“The Fine Gael Minister reiterated that the average car insurance premium has reduced by 27%, quoting CSO figures that I have disputed for a number of years.
"Only last month, the definitive Central Bank report on the cost of claims and price of premiums in the motor insurance sector showed that since 2016, the average motor insurance premium has risen by 17% since 2016.
"I am amazed that the Minister has decided to again reply on the figures offered by the CSO rather than the Central Bank, when the Minister himself, in formal correspondence with me, admitted that the CSO figures are based on 'quotes received directly from a sample of motor insurance companies for a selection of consumer profiles'. Nor does the CPI index account for demographic changes.
"In addition to this, the Minister continued to spin the lines of the insurance industry by claiming that rising insurance costs are solely the result of what he called 'dodgy and spurious claims'.
"In fact, under questioning by myself in the Finance Committee before and after the summer of 2019, insurance companies admitted to reporting as little as 1 percent of claims to the Gardaí for fraud.
"The Central Bank report also showed that the frequency of claims has actually fallen by 40 percent in the past decade, while the average premium rose by 42 percent.
"That the Minister continues to repeat the same lines despite the findings of the Central Bank, is confirmation that this Fine Gael Government does not understand the insurance crisis and will not end the rip-off for consumers.
"Sinn Féin will tackle the industry and end the insurance rip-off. We would ban dual pricing by insurance companies, set up a Garda Insurance Fraud Unit and bring down prices for consumers who are seeing costs soar."
Sinn Féin Chair of the Economy Committee Caoimhe Archibald MLA has said that Statutory Bereavement Leave and other entitlements should be brought to the Assembly to benefit workers.
The Sinn Féin MLA said:
“It has been reported that in England employees will be granted an automatic right of two weeks Paid Bereavement Leave where they have lost a child under the age of 18.
“This is a positive development and will provide relief for workers dealing with the grief of losing a child.
“Sinn Féin will pursue the introduction of Paid Bereavement Leave in the Assembly on the basis that this applies to all workers after a period of 26 weeks service.
“This will mean that agency workers are also given access to new leave entitlements.
“Alongside delivering statutory bereavement leave, Sinn Féin will commit to advancing other statutory leave entitlements such as Paid Carers Leave, Increased Paternity Leave and greater flexibility of Parental Leave entitlements.
“Sinn Féin is committed to leading the way in improving the lives of workers.”
Speaking today, after voting in the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee in favour of the Protocol on Ireland, Martina Anderson MEP said:
“Today’s committee vote will influence how the entire European Parliament votes next week on Wednesday 29th.
“There is no such thing as a good Brexit, but the Withdrawal Agreement and Protocol is the least worst option.
"Whatever happens at the end of the transition period in December 2020, even if the British crash out without a future trade agreement, the protocol on Ireland in the WA ensures there will be no hardening of the border that partitions Ireland.
“Therefore, today I voted in the interests of citizens in the north – I voted to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts and stop physical infrastructure on the border.
“Brexit has shown that the British border partitioning Ireland is not only a problem for Ireland, but it is a problem for Europe.
“The EU has offered a pathway for the whole of the island back into the European Union through a referendum on Irish Unity under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.
"I believe one day MEPs from the north will be elected to the European Parliament again. In preparation for that day, the EU and member states need to plan and help facilitate the conversation on Irish Unity."
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the upcoming Assembly debate on the climate emergency is an opportunity for the Assembly and all political parties to commit to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.
The party's spokesperson on the Economy and Climate Action said:
"On Monday the Assembly will debate the motion I proposed calling on it to declare a Climate Emergency and I hope it will receive cross-party support.
"It is an opportunity for the Assembly to send a clear signal on the urgent action required to meet the challenge of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.
“This target needs to be achieved by the end of this century to prevent catastrophic consequences for the planet.
"Over the past year we have seen increasing activism that has ensured the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis are at the heart of the political agenda.
"We need to do more than pay lip service to these crises; we need urgent, radical and concerted action if we are to reverse the trend of warming and emissions.
"The New Decade New Approach agreement made a number of commitments to address the climate emergency.
“Our motion on Monday also calls on the Ministers responsible to urgently implement those commitments."
Sinn Féin Social Protection spokesperson John Brady TD today attended the SIPTU Stop67 Campaign launched and committed Sinn Féin’s support for the campaign.
Deputy Brady said however that his party would go a step further and reduce the pension age back to 65.
He said;
“I am delighted to attend today’s launch of this important campaign to stop the increase in the pension age to 67 in January next year.
“Sinn Féin is fully committed to this campaign and we have produced legislation in the Dáil to stop the age hike and in government we will legislate to reverse it back to 65. That is what Sinn Féin is committed to do.
“It is not acceptable to ask people to work on till their 66th and 67th years. It should be the unquestioned right of any 65-year-old to retire on the state pension if they so wish.
“At that age we will all have done our heavy lifting, worked hard, paid our bills and our taxes to this state.”
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, alongside party spokesperson on Mental Health and East Cork candidate Pat Buckley, have published Sinn Féin's Mental Health Manifesto in Midleton, Co. Cork today.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said:
"We need a different approach to the provision of mental health services, and I believe it is our duty as policy setters and legislators to do better and - I for one - believe that better is possible.
"That means adopting a modern outlook and developing an understanding of the changed world we live in so that we can respond better to people's needs.
"Our health service must treat our minds as well as our bodies.
"No longer should the provision of services be obstructed by backward thinking or by stigma.
"Sinn Féin wants to transform mental health care.
"To do that we will put in place strategies that work and, crucially, we will back these strategies with the appropriate level of resources.
"We will deliver mental health care that puts people first, and we will do this with clear and direct action.
"Sinn Féin's Mental Health Manifesto is comprehensive.
"It is a plan that meets the scale of the challenge we face today and we are committing to, amongst other proposals;
"I want to commend Pat Buckley TD for his tireless work in relation to mental health advocacy and for his work on this policy.
"Sinn Féin is stepping up and answering the call from the community for a better approach to mental health.
"That better approach is contained in the document we present today.
"We can provide decent care and better outcomes for those who suffer with mental health conditions.
"Ireland can and should be a world leader in mental health provision.
"That is Sinn Féin's ambition and that is what we deliver in government."
Fine Gael have run out of ideas for Irish Farming - Carthy
Sinn Féin MEP and Cavan Monaghan General Election candidate, Matt Carthy, speaking in response to the Fine Gael agriculture ‘proposals’ this week said:
“Fine Gael are promising more of the same at a time when many farmers fear for their future and require a radical new approach from government.
“The Fine Gael proposals offer no new solutions despite the fact that many family farmers are facing unprecedented challenges. They do not plan to seek fundamental reform of the CAP to make it fairer or to bring in any new financial supports to protect the family farm model.
“Sinn Fein in contrast, will seek to end all direct payments to factory feedlots in the next CAP and to limit direct payments to maximum of €60,000 in order to ensure an increased distribution to the majority of family farms.
“Beef farmers need emergency measures that recognise the extremity of the situation many of them face. In the first instance Sinn Féin will provide €200 per cow for the first 15 cows to these farmers. Sheep farmers require higher ewe payments while additional funding in the ANC Scheme most be provided and delivered to those farmers operating in the areas of highest constraint.
“Ultimately, farmers need a fair price for their produce. Only Sinn Fein is committed to tackling the strangle-hold of the processing and retailing sectors that results in farmers producing at a loss while the profits from their labours go to these conglomerates.
“Fine Gael make promises to cut taxes for higher income earners but ignore that farmers need tax relief and greater tax flexibility that reflects the realities of their sector. They plan to increase the pension age to 68 when we should be encouraging generational renewal, Sinn Féin are committed to allowing those who wish to be able to retire at 65.
“Farmers still have reason to be fearful of Brexit and developments at EU level. It is entirely disingenuous of Leo Varadkar to speak of protecting the CAP budget. It was his actions in committing Ireland to paying increased contributions to the EU budget without securing any commitment regarding how that money would be spent that allowed the commission to propose an increased EU budget but with a reduced CAP. Sinn Féin will not support any European budget that does not include increased CAP provision.
“Fine Gael will support any EU trade deal regardless of its implications for Irish agriculture. That they haven’t yet rejected the Mercosur trade deal is deeply worrying. Sinn Féin will not support any trade deal that fails to protect the interests of our economy, the environment and our most important indigenous sector.
“On all of these issues the positions of Fine Gael reflect those of Fianna Fáil. They represent ‘more of the same’ when radical reform is required. Sinn Féin, in government, will immediately establish a Commission of the future of the Irish Family Farm comprising of independent experts, farming representatives and statutory agencies who will be tasked with producing a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at saving our family farm network which will be implemented by a Sinn Féin Minister for Agriculture”.
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Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady has called on the international community to take action to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Kurdistan.
The Newry and Armagh MP said:
“Chris Hazzard and I met with representatives of the Peace in Kurdistan group at Westminster today to discuss the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.
“The decision by the UN to cut aid to northern Syria has left four million people facing a crisis where many are without food, shelter and medical supplies.
“This aid needs to be restored immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
“The international community have a duty and a responsibility to support the people of Kurdistan and avert this crisis.
“It is also vital that the international community get behind renewed efforts to bring peace to this region as a matter or urgency.”
Sinn Féin's Climate Emergency & Economy Spokesperson, Caoimhe Archibald MLA, has written to the Minister for Economy Diane Dodds to call for the rejection of petroleum licence applications in the face of the climate emergency.
The East Derry MLA said:
"Last year Sinn Féin responded to the consultations strongly opposed the issuing of new petroleum licences for extracting fossil fuels near Lough Neagh and in Fermanagh.
"In the face of a growing climate emergency and profound biodiversity loss, we need decisive and immediate climate action.
"Sinn Féin support a ban on fracking and have called for a moratorium on any new exploration for fossil fuels on the island of Ireland.
"At least 80% of existing fossil fuel reserves must remain in the ground for us to achieve the urgent target of 1.5 degrees of global warming.
"This is a target we cannot miss, and one which this new Executive and Assembly must commit itself to.
"In light of the evidence, and the burning moral case to take radical action against climate breakdown, I have asked Minister Dodds to confirm that both of these new licences have been rejected."
A Sinn Féin delegation of North Belfast MP John Finucane, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA and Órlaithi Flynn MLA met with mental health and community organisations in north Belfast today to discuss the crises in mental heallth and suicide.
Speaking following the meeting, John Finucane MP said:
“This afternoon I organised a meeting in North Belfast with mental health organisations, community figures and Sinn Féin representatives.
“Too many families and communities have been torn apart by poor mental health and suicide – our mental health services are at crisis point.
“It was vital we heard directly from service providers today on the crisis and how we as elected representatives can do more to address these concerns.
“Issues raised by the organisations included a lack of funding for mental health services, lengthy waiting times, implementation of the Protect Life 2 Suicide Prevention Strategy and an awareness raising campaigns.
“I have committed to holding a further multi-agency meeting to look at suicide prevention, early intervention and positive mental health with those involved in health, education, justice, the community sector, sports and youth groups.
“Sinn Féin representatives will continue to work in conjunction with community and mental health organisations in the time ahead to tackle the mental health crisis head on.”
Following the burning of several election posters at the St. Helena's Park/Castle Road junction in Dundalk last night Sinn Féin candidate Ruairí Ó Murchú said:
“This was clearly a deliberate attack. It is to be condemned and I would urge anyone with information to contact An Garda Síochána.
"Sinn Féin will not be intimidated or bullied.”
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has called on Ulster University to consider citing health and sciences and courses at Magee University as part of the Magee expansion.
The Foyle MLA said:
“It’s my understanding that the decision to move the allied health and social care courses to Magee has been deferred for a further review.
“This will help to build on the Executive’s commitment to develop a graduate entry medical school on the Magee campus.
“There is real potential to develop Magee as a centre of excellence for health and medicine and moving these courses to the campus would be a major boost.
“I would urge Ulster University to consider this as part of their proposals for the university.”
Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin has said the outcome of investigations into the equality obligations of two public authorities is an important reminder to public authorities that rigorous implementation of Section 75 equality duties is a must.
Speaking after the Equality Commission found that the Department of Infrastructure and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council had failed to comply with their equality obligations, the party’s Equality spokesperson said:
"The Good Friday Agreement, through Section 75 legislation, puts an obligation on all public bodies to fully consider the potential implications of its policies on equality.
"Over 20 years later we still have examples where authorities are not fulfilling their equality obligations.
"There is an onus now for both the Department of Infrastructure and Mid and East Antrim Borough council, in light of the Equality Commission’s findings, to immediately address their failings and review their processes for ensuring policies are equality proofed.
"All public authorities should be aware they have a responsibility in developing policy to actively promote equality.
"The reality is that for many public bodies fulfilling equality obligations is treated as a tick box exercise.
"This needs to change, and public authorities need to fully deliver on their equality obligations."
