Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has today slammed Rondo Foods in Arklow for their refusal to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission. He called on the Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation to direct the owners at Rondo Food in Arklow to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission to help put in place a fair redundancy package.
The Wicklow TD also asked for an Employment Taskforce to be put in place. This follows the announcement by Rondo Foods of 157 potential job losses in November.
Speaking having met with Rondo Food workers last night, Teachta Brady raised the matter in the Dáil today;
"On the 8th November Rondo Foods announced that the 157 Arklow jobs were at serious risk and that they were entering a 30-day consultation process with staff representatives.
"Unfortunately, it is very apparent that Rondo didn’t enter that process in good faith. They have dismissed any cost saving proposals that have been put forward and have ruled out the prospect of the business being sold as a going concern.
"In fact, at the same time proposals were being put forward to save the company Rondo had engineers over from Germany in Arklow measuring up machinery to be stripped out and moved to Germany.
“I believe that Rondo never had any desire to stay in Ireland and I think their actions back that up. It's apparent that the only reason Rondo engaged in the 30-day consultation process is because they had to. It was their intention from the outset to cut and run back to Germany.
“During the four meetings that have now taken place between senior management of Rondo and staff representatives, there has been a disagreement on the terms of a fair redundancy package for the workers. The workers have asked the Workplace Relations Commission to intervene in the dispute. They are the body tasked with dealing with any industrial disputes. Rondo unfortunately are refusing to engage with the WRC.
“Given that massive amounts of tax payers money have been given to Rondo Foods in Grant aid through Enterprise Ireland, this is a disgraceful position they have adopted.
"The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys must directly intervene and direct the owners at Rondo Food to engage with the industrial machinery of the State. They should do so in respect of their workers who have given so much for many years. It is a disgrace that they have to be forced into engaging with their workers through this process.
"Workers at Rondo Food have been left in a nightmare situation, potentially losing their jobs just before Christmas. At the very least they deserve Rondo Food to come to the table.
"In the Dáil today I also called on Minister Humphreys to establish an employment taskforce in Arklow given the fact that the town is an unemployment blackspot and the impact that such major job losses will have on the town. This needs to happen immediately."
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has written to all party leaders seeking cross party support for Sinn Féin’s domestic violence leave legislation introduced in the Dáil earlier this week.
Speaking after today’s Oireachtas Briefing on Sinn Féin’s legislation at which Ethel Buckley Deputy General Secretary of SIPTU, Anne Clarke Manager of the Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service and Emma Murphy domestic violence advocate spoke, the Sinn Féin leader said:
“Deputy Maurice Quinlivan and I introduced legislation this week that provides for a statutory entitlement of up to ten days domestic violence paid leave.
“This provision is already in place in a number of jurisdictions. Vodafone recently introduced domestic violence leave and wrap around supports for its staff globally.
“There is a growing recognition that domestic violence is a workplace issue.
“For the first time violence and harassment in the world of work is now provided for in new international labour standards. Convention 190 was adopted at the Centenary International Labour Conference this year.
“Specifically, Convention 190 states that domestic violence can affect employment, productivity and health and safety, and that governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations and labour market institutions can help to recognize, respond to and address the impacts of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence often follows victims into their place of work. In the absence of workplace polices colleagues and managers are not equipped to support victims and ensure they are safe.
“Domestic violence leave would enable victims seek support, organise alternative accommodation or attend court dates without fear of losing their jobs. This provision would also benefit employers as it would address loss of productivity and high absenteeism rates.
“Sinn Féin’s legislation supported by a workplace awareness information campaign and guidelines would support and protect victims of domestic violence.
“Enactment of the Bill will also ensure Ireland meets its international obligations to ensure the world of work is free from harassment and violence.
“Deputy Quinlivan and I have today written to all political leaders seeking cross party support for this legislation. This Bill is for victims of domestic abuse and it is my strong view that this is a Bill that will unite the Oireachtas.” ENDS / CRIOCH
Notes to Editor:
Link to legislation: Organisation of Working Time ( Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2019 introduced in the Dáil on Tuesday 3 December 2019 https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2019/96/
Newly elected Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward has moved his first piece of legislation in the Dáil today.
Teachta Ward co-sponsored the Waste Management Regulator Bill at first stage in the Dáil this afternoon.
He has described the bill as the first step in bringing waste collection services back under public control.
Speaking in the Dáil he said;
“I’m delighted to co-sponsor this bill which is a continuation of a campaign I started during my time on South Dublin County Council.
“In June of 2016 I reported the waste management companies to the Competition and Consumer Protection Agency when waste management companies raised their prices in unison after the proposed pay by weight scheme.
“A conservative estimate on the increases saw customers expected to pay an additional 43% more for waste disposal than they had previously. This would have been another stealth tax imposed on ordinary workers and families.
“Constituents who decided to shop around and try get a cheaper rate from an alternative waste management companies were dismayed to find that any company they contacted had increased their prices too.
“The waste management companies were operating a cartel.
“The privatisation of domestic waste collection services has failed with poorer quality of service, increased costs for households, negative environmental impacts and increased illegal dumping.
“I grew up in North Clondalkin, an area with many socio-economic problems but it was clean in comparison to today.
“Areas that could be used for football and dog walking are full of litter and remains of fires from the burning of domestic waste. The impact of the few is having a detrimental impact on the many.
“Just yesterday a Sinn Fein amendment to a Private Members Motion, that calls for the return of waste management into council control, got cross party support, and today’s bill from Sinn Féin sets us off on the legislative path.”
ENDS
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has welcomed the commitment from Minister English that the government would accept in full the expert group recommendations on Traveller accommodation.
Deputy Ó Broin said:
“Minister English confirmed to the Housing Committee this morning that they were accepting, in principle, all the recommendations of the report of the expert group on traveller accommodation.
“What we need to see in January is an action plan as to how these recommendations will be implemented.
“I welcome Minister English’s commitment to move quickly, however he must ensure that the spirit and the letter of the recommendations are implemented in full.
“The scandal of the underspend on Traveller accommodation must end.
“Sinn Féin fully supports the measures even though some of them go against the grain of our broader approach to local government.
“However there has been a failure to deliver appropriate Traveller specific accommodation and urgent measures are needed.
“Sinn Féin will work constructively with Minister English and the Traveller accommodation groups to ensure that the Travelling community have access to good quality, culturally appropriate accommodation to meet their needs.”
ENDS
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay North Denise Mitchell has called on the Government to give serious consideration to bring domestic waste collection back under the control of local authorities as a means to combat illegal dumping and the operation of rogue waste collection companies.
Speaking in the Dáil last night, the Sinn Féin Dublin spokesperson said:
“Illegal dumping is a scourge in many communities. In my own constituency, illegal dumping has spiralled out of control. Local residents are at their wits' end as they see rubbish appearing daily on their greens, in alleyways and beside public bins. No one is held accountable. Illegal operators act with near impunity and it is the local residents who suffer the sight of their green spaces being covered in domestic waste while their children have nowhere to play.
“The local Sinn Féin councillors and Dublin City Council staff are doing all they can in the area, but they are fighting a losing battle. There is an illegal dump in my constituency. This dump, in Moatview, is a matter of concern. I wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, last year to request its assistance urgently in cleaning up this site as the council was struggling to contain this dump, where domestic and industrial waste had been disposed of. The local gardaí were unable to divert resources to assist in the stamping out of dumping because they were already too stretched in the area. We need the Government to treat this issue seriously.
“Local authorities across the State successfully managed waste collection for decades before it was privatised. This has resulted in a race to the bottom. We have seen an upsurge in illegal dumping and illegal landfill sites run by rogue operators. Costs are increasing and dumping is getting worse. Bringing waste collection back under council control is a straightforward and progressive solution that would have a significant impact on people and communities.”
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Martin Kenny TD has said he is delighted that an amendment he proposed in the Dáil this evening has resolved the issues surrounding the Gaming and Lotteries Bill.
The Ceann Comhairle allowed Deputy Kenny to propose a verbal amendment to the bill and it was accepted by and the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton TD.
It will now progress to the Seanad.
Deputy Kenny said:
“There was a very organised lobby by the commercial bingo operators against this bill, but the main objection being put forward was that there was a cap of 50% of takings at any licenced bingo game being allocated to prizes.
“My simple amendment changed that 50% to 75%, leaving it at the discretion of the operators as to how much they give as prizes.
"The original figure of 25% of the takings going to the charitable cause remains the same.
“The Minister made the point that commercial bingo in this state is illegal and all operators must contribute to charity as a condition of their permit (under €5,000) or licence (up to €30,000 weekly).
“The previous legislation did not specify how much should go to the charitable cause, but this sets it at a quarter of takings.
“The vast majority of smaller, community-run bingo games will not be affected by this legislation at all.
“While there was a lot of confusion about the possible repercussions of this bill, the debate tonight brought clarity and a sensible solution to the situation.
“I am delighted that this Sinn Féin amendment has ensured that bingo games and operators can continue as normal, and that the situation, which had caused concern to many bingo goers around the country, has been resolved.”
Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney has said the removal of election posters will not deter his election campaign in South Antrim.
The South Antrim candidate said:
"Over the last number of days Sinn Féin election posters have been cut down and removed in Mallusk and Hightown.
"This is an attempt to subvert the democratic process but it will not succeed nor will it deter Sinn Féin in this election campaign.
"Sinn Féin in South Antrim is running a positive political campaign and engaging extensively with voters on the doorsteps.
"The response to my campaign has been positive as people recognise the need to stand up against Brexit and the negative politics of both the DUP and Tory government. Every vote for Sinn Féin in this election is a vote against Brexit and sectarianism, and a positive vote for progressive politics and Irish solutions to Westminster’s Brexit agenda.
"I have reported the theft of these posters to the PSNI and a criminal inquiry will commence."
Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has said that Fine Gael are continuing their efforts to normalise homelessness by refusing to change their failing policies.
Addressing the Taoiseach at Leaders’ Questions today, Deputy Ó Laoghaire said;
“Taoiseach, Conor Lynch of Threshold told of the experience of one renter in Cork.
“She was six months pregnant when she explained the situation to her landlady.
“The landlady told her that she would have to leave before the baby arrived. Her excuse was that the neighbours in the apartments ‘wouldn’t like the crying’.
“She waited until late in her pregnancy to tell the landlady because she was afraid of what the reaction might be.
“Can you even begin to imagine the stress that such heartlessness would have on that woman?
“She is far from alone.
“She ended up moving into homeless accommodation with her new-born baby.
“This is not an isolated case, and another incident of a pregnant woman who was living in private rental accommodation where a new baby was not wanted has been recounted.
“Taoiseach, does this not illustrate the depths of the crisis facing renters under your Governments housing policies?
“I think that the ten and a half thousand people who are now homeless, deserve better than what we saw on the floor of the Dáil last night.
“Last night was an opportunity to start from scratch and do the right thing; accept the system is broken, the policy isn’t working and to start fresh.
“But you didn’t. You wasted that opportunity. You backed your man to the hilt. Your normalisation of homelessness continues.
“To add insult to injury, you even bussed in the absentee TD for Cork North Central – for one night only mind you, as we hear this morning that Deputy Daragh Murphy has resigned his seat directly after casting his vote of confidence in Minister Murphy.
“Fianna Fáil and Mícheál Martin have now clearly shown they also are on the side of Fine Gael instead of homeless families.
“10,514 people are homeless, including nearly 4,000 children. Record numbers all the time.
“These are children who will have to wait for Santa in B&Bs and family hubs.
“In light of last night’s figures and the swathe of evidence in front of us, you must change the direction of your housing policies.
“It’s time for you to get your head out of the sand and to heed the solutions put forward by Sinn Féin and implement an immediate 3-year rent freeze.”
Sinn Féin Louth TD Gerry Adams has described the governments housing policy and in particular its homelessness strategy has “an absolute failure”.
Teachta Adams said:
“The narrow vote in support of the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy in the Dáil this week was only possible because Fianna Fáil chose to abstain on the spurious claim that a successful motion of no confidence would have resulted in a general election.
"Fianna Fáil’s decision to shadow-box – to sit on their hands and support this Fine Gael government – on this important issue is disgraceful. Fianna Fáil’s decision to side with the landlords and property speculators at the expense of homeless children, families struggling to pay rent, or get on the housing ladder, is culpable in condemning tens of thousands of citizens to a perpetual and personal crisis in housing.
"The facts are that rents have reached new heights in Louth and elsewhere across this state, families are spending longer on waiting lists, and 47 children and 131 adults from Louth – will spend Christmas living in hotels and bed and breakfasts. That should not be acceptable in one of the wealthiest states in the world today.
"The Homelessness Report for October, released this week, revealed that there are over 10,500 citizens suffering homelessness. Of these almost four thousand – 3,826 – are children. The personal and developmental impact of homelessness on children was set out starkly in a report by the Royal College of Physicians last month.
"It found that children in ‘homelessness suffer higher rates of asthma, respiratory illness and infectious diseases; have poor nutrition and more obesity; less access to developmental opportunities, play, recreation and social activities; poorer emotional and mental health, and increased behavioural difficulties; less access to preventive health care and lower rates of childhood immunisation’.
"The government has failed by any measure to provide a housing strategy to combat the housing and homelessness crisis. It has proven itself incapable of providing public and affordable housing or to tackle the massive rent hikes imposed by greedy landlords.
"Its Rebuilding Ireland programme was launched in July 2016. Three and a half years later, homelessness is up by 67% and child homelessness has increased by a shocking 81%.
"Social housing output remains glacial. Just over 7,000 real social homes were added to the stock in 2018. In the same year, more than twice that number of families joined a waiting list held by Councils which numbers over 70,000.
"What is clearly needed is a radical plan of home building both in respect of council and affordable homes to buy and rent. Sinn Féin is proposing the biggest public house building programme that this state has ever hand. In the short term, we would reduce rents by €1,500 per year using a rent freeze and tax credit for renters.
"Sinn Féin would also introduce a redress scheme for homeowners living in defective properties built during the celtic tiger days and we would increase investment in local authority housing for retrofitting to ensure sustainability of our housing stock.
"This is the kind of focussed action needed. Our common sense proposals will help people."
Sinn Féin Louth TD Gerry Adams today addressed a hearing of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality which was taking evidence from Emma DeSouza, Professor Colin Harvey and Solicitor Una Boyd of the Committee on the Administration of Justice.
The three spoke about the practical and legal consequences of Emma DeSouza’s long legal battle with the British government over its interpretation of the Good Friday Agreement and her right to be identified as an Irish citizen.
The Louth TD urged the Irish government to accept responsibility for the Emma DeSouza case;
"In November, the British Upper Tribunal overturned a previous judgement that upheld that people born in the North were entitled to identify solely as Irish citizens. The Upper Tribunal ruled that people born in the North are automatically British citizens. This is contrary to the Good Friday Agreement which under the section Constitutional Issues states:
"‘(vi) recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.'
"In a clear breach of this commitment by the British government in 1998 the British Home Office has insisted that the British Nationality Act is the relevant legislation dealing with this issue and that consequently citizens in the North are British citizens and must renounce their British citizenship if they wish to identify as Irish."
Speaking to the Committee, Gerry Adams said that the behaviour of the British government is “entirely malicious”. He reminded the Committee that there were huge difficulties getting the British government to give legislative effect to the Agreement.
"Consequently there is no Bill of Rights. There is also no Charter of Rights which the Irish government was supposed to provide, and there is no Charter of Rights for the island.
"The onus is on the Irish government because the British government will always act in what it perceives to be its own self-interest. So if there is some immigration issue or some other issue then that will take precedence and priority and the people on the island of Ireland or the northern part of the island will fall victim of that; they will be a secondary consideration. The onus therefore is on the Irish government to act on this issue.
"No matter how strong a statement there is from an Irish government they’re not read in Downing Street; they’re not paid any attention to in the British Home Office – they’re not listened to. It’s important that the government set out its position in robust and strong terms.
"So the government has to reach above itself. We saw how the diplomatic weight of the government was able to secure the least worst Brexit, so far. That approach needs to be taken on this issue also.
"A very important point that the Taoiseach has fudged time out of number - paragraph 52 of the political declaration which declared that the people of the North who had Irish citizenship would have European Citizens rights is not in the Withdrawal Agreement. The declaration was heralded as being bullet proof and armour plated and so on but at the first hurdle on the rights of citizens in the North we fell. The government needs to accept that work honestly on this issue”.
The Louth TD commended Emma and Jake DeSouza for their efforts and asked the Committee to examine what practical measures can be taken to help Emma De Souza and specifically for the government to adopt this as a legal case.
“Ordinary people have to become activists, ordinary people have to become experts, ordinary people have to put themselves out there for rights. But who is funding Emma’s case? Working people have to fundraise, run little ballots to fund this. That shouldn’t be the case.
"There was a time when an Irish government took a case for internees who had been tortured and took it to the European Court.
"I think that there should be some exploration of the Irish government using diplomatic and other avenues - but also taking responsibility.
"If the people of the North are not to be left behind ever again by a government here, this is a déan é na habair é moment to something about it. Adopt this as a case and that in itself would put the British government under pressure that an Irish government is prepared to support a legal case. If she loses we all lose.”
ENDS//
Note to Editor:
The Committee agreed to write to the British Secretary of State seeking an update on the status of the review of these matters announced by former British Prime Minister Theresa May.
It also agreed that it would write to the Tánaiste Simon Coveney encouraging him to diplomatically and financially support the DeSouza legal case.
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to publish the details of any deals that may have been done with TDs in order to secure their votes against a motion of no confidence in Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy last night.
Teachta Ó Broin was speaking after the Minister Murphy survived last nights vote with the support of Independent TDs such as Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry and Denis Naughten.
Deputy Ó Broin said;
“As new homeless figures recorded a new record level of homelessness yesterday, Minister Eoghan Murphy and his policy Rebuilding Ireland were protected from a no confidence motion by Fianna Fáil in the Dáil.
“This was a missed opportunity to change the direction of housing policy in this state.
“The Minister was also aided in his survival by independent TDs Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry and Denis Naughten.
“I think it is important that the Taoiseach tells the public whether or not and special deals were done with these TDs in order to secure their votes last night. And if deals were done then the public has a right to know the detail of them and how much they will cost the state.
“So I am calling on An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to publish any deals that may have been done with TDs in order to secure their votes to save the Housing Minister last night.”
Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for Dublin Denise Mitchell has slammed Fianna Fáil for their inaction, their “sheer brass neck”, in abstaining on the vote of confidence in Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy in the Dáil last night.
The Dublin Bay North TD said:
“This morning’s newspapers are equally filled with horror stories of the impact of the Government’s housing policy on children across the State and then that same Government’s narrow victory in saving Minister Eoghan Murphy in a confidence vote.
“Only hours before the vote yesterday, the Department of Housing released the October homeless figures and, to no one’s surprise, the numbers have gone up again. 3,826 homeless children and 6,688 homeless adults. That is the measure of how well Minister Murphy has done since taking up his role.
“The government’s housing policy is now in its fourth year and is simply not delivering. More and more people are being moved on to HAP. Rents and house prices continue to soar. Rebuilding Ireland has failed and real change in housing policy is needed.
“It is only because Fianna Fáil sat on their hands last night and refused to vote that Minister Murphy has a job today. The sheer brass neck of Fianna Fáil to say that they are an opposition party when they protect a man who stands over his record of 10,000 homeless men, women, and children on our streets.
“I would challenge any Fianna Fáil representative to knock on any door in Dublin Bay North, look that person in the eye, and say that they believe Minister Eoghan Murphy is doing his job.”
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has condemned an attack on a house allocated to a Catholic mother of four in Ballysillan and called for a full police investigation into anyone who may have information about the origin of the threats and those responsible.
The North Belfast MLA
"The police have confirmed that an attack on a home allocated to a Catholic woman in the Ballysillan area of north Belfast is being treated as a hate crime.
“This is a clear case of sectarian intimidation.
"This was a mother of four children who was allocated a house in the mouth of Christmas and was looking forward to moving in and celebrating Christmas with her family.
"There can be no place for sectarianism like this in our society and it needs to be condemned by all public representatives.
"This attack comes after reports that a public representative had raised ‘concerns’ about the allocation of this house.
"There should be a thorough police investigation into this attack and the origin of these threats, and those behind them.”
Sinn Féin Cork City Councillor Thomas Gould has said that the people of Cork North Central deserve proper representation in the Dáil.
Cllr. Gould said: "The people of Cork North Central have been denied proper representation in the Dáil for the past two years; with Dara Murphy effectively abandoning his post and serving as an absentee TD. Now that he has formally resigned his seat, a by-election to fill his vacant seat must be held as soon as possible”.
He added:
"The people of Cork North Central deserve proper representation in the Dáil. They have been denied this and have been abandoned by Fine Gael.
“Fianna Fáil haven’t done much better, with Billy Kelleher running off to Europe as well, and the first act of the new Fianna Fáil TD, Pádraig O’Sullivan, last night was to sit on his hands and abstain on the vote on the motion of no-confidence in the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy.
“No wonder the northside has been neglected and the housing crisis in Cork grows worse by the day.
“I think that a by-election to fill this vacancy should now be held imminently.”
OVER the coming years, as we approach the centenary of the partition of our country, we have big questions to ask ourselves as a nation; principle among them being: ‘has partition served us well?’
"The vast majority of impartial observers would, I have no doubt, conclude that it has not.
"Partition forged two mean spirited, narrow minded States on this island.
"The systemic failures of the northern state since its inception are well documented.
"In the south, economic stagnation encouraged waves of emigration and the overbearing influence of a conservative Catholic hierarchy dominated the State apparatus for decades. Women in particular, the poor and radicals of all kinds were treated shamefully.
"Thankfully things have changed in recent years, particularly since the late nineties with the advent of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
"Nonetheless, no other conclusion can be drawn other than that partition has failed our country and prevents our island from reaching its potential; across economic, social, political and cultural spheres to this day. It continues to hold back, as James Connolly put it: ‘the wheels of progress.’
"But that’s changing.
"Brexit looms, and no matter what arrangements are put in place to manage it, Ireland - north and south - will suffer. Alongside that, changing demographics and the erosion of the Unionist majority in the north have changed the dynamic of the discussion surrounding Irish unity.
"The discussion about Irish unity is live, the demand for unity is real, momentum is building and a referendum on Irish unity is on the horizon - sooner rather than later.
"In a series of polls, a majority in the north have indicated that there is now a real demand for a United Ireland and polls indicate a similar sentiment in the south.
"Logic dictates that we must now prepare for a united Ireland in the coming years and we need institutional and legislative arrangements in place now to ease the transition to Irish unity, because we are behind the curve in preparing to facilitate constitutional and political change.
"Some of the work is done.
"The European Council agreed in April 2017 that the whole of our island would be afforded membership of the EU in the event of national reunification.
"That issue is settled.
"There’s a lot more to do however, and instead of staring blindly into the abyss, it is incumbent on the Irish government to take this seriously and act now to defend and promote an all-island view.
"That preparation should include convening an All-Ireland Forum on Irish Unity and that should happen without delay.
"In addition to an All-Ireland Forum, a dedicated Oireachtas Committee is needed to plan for legislative changes required, and the government needs to bring forward a Green Paper on the issues that need to be addressed to merge public bodies and services and tackle the hangovers of partition.
"The government must also begin meaningful engagement with the British government on all of this - not least in arranging a date to hold a referendum on Irish unity in the north within five years - as well as putting in place plans for a referendum in this State; in line with the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.
"There is nothing radical about any of this.
"A referendum on Irish unity is expressly provided for in the Good Friday Agreement; an agreement that was endorsed by the people of this island, north and south, overwhelmingly over 20 years ago.
"The demand is real, and the conversation can no longer be couched around the language of “aspiration” and the attitude of the southern establishment that we want a United Ireland “someday, but not now” no longer cuts it.
"It is time the people had their say and it’s time we started planning for their verdict."
Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey has said that an attack on the PSNI in the Milltown area of west Belfast last night was reckless and futile.
The West Belfast candidate said:
"A device was thrown in the early hours of this morning at a PSNI vehicle in Milltown Row in west Belfast.
“Thankfully no one has been injured in this reckless attack.
"The vast majority of people in west Belfast and beyond want these futile attacks to end immediately.
“Those responsible have nothing to offer but hurt and injury.
“People should do all they can to assist the PSNI in their investigation.”
Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion has welcomed strong support from the US House of Representatives for the Good Friday Agreement.
The Foyle candidate said:
“I welcome the US House of Representatives resolution supporting the Good Friday Agreement and the need to protect it from the threat of Brexit.
“I met with the resolution’s co-sponsor, Congressman Brendan Boyle when he attended the Irish parliament’s committee for the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement which I attend alongside fellow MPs, TDs and Senators. We emphasised the need to protect the Good Friday Agreement from the threat of Brexit.
“This comes after similar comments from the chairperson of the influential Ways and Means Committee, Richie Neal, and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who has made it clear that Congress will not support any post-Brexit trade deal with Britain if it threatens the Good Friday Agreement.
“Sinn Féin is making the voice of the north heard on Brexit where it matters; in Brussels, in Dublin and in Washington.”
Sinn Féin Westminster candidate John Finucane has said it is time for urgent action on the climate emergency.
As the UN Climate Change Conference, COP25 begins in Madrid John Finucane said:
"We are facing a climate emergency and the evidence clearly shows we need urgent action to prevent catastrophic consequences for the planet by limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperature by the end of this century.
"Coming out of COP25 which is currently taking place, we need to see real ambition and commitment to achieve the urgent action necessary to meet the target of reducing emissions at the rate required to limit global warming.
"This is election is very much a Brexit election but it is also about our future and a priority for us all needs to be tackling the climate crisis. We also need to challenge those who deny, diminish or disregard the climate crisis and those who seek to put the cost of tackling it on those who can afford it least.
"Sinn Féin is committed to achieving a net zero carbon society through a just transition."
