Sinn Féin spokesperson on Defence, Sorca Clarke TD, has called on the government to ensure the report into handling of allegations of the Women of Honour is published as soon as possible.
Speaking today, Teachta Clarke said:
“It is now over a year since an independent review group was established to look at the handling of allegations from the Women of Honour. These allegations were of the utmost seriousness and deserve thorough examination.
“The review group that was set up was at odds with the Women of Honour request for a Statutory Inquiry and after the government voted down a Sinn Féin motion calling on those requirements to be met. Survivors were deeply disappointed in the government’s decision not to establish a statutory inquiry but have engaged with the process in good faith under extremely challenging circumstances.
“The group’s report was submitted to the Foreign Affairs Minister last week. The survivors need to see this report published without any undue delay. The Minster must commit to a publication date for this report. It must then be debated in the Dáil, as the Minister has previously committed to.
“The Government must commit to implementing any recommendations from this inquiry and put in place appropriate resources and planning to deliver this. This should include a statutory inquiry, a state apology and a requirement that any NDAs occur only as a result of victims; if required.
“The Women of Honour and all survivors affected by this issue have bravely come forward to share their stories and tell their truth so that no-one else is subjected to the same horrors that they were. I want to again commend these survivors for their strength and determination in insisting that the truth is brought into the light. They must be treated with respect.
“Time is of the essence here and there can be no unnecessary delays. The government must commit to a publication date today.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Social Protection, Claire Kerrane TD, has called for a review of the JobPath scheme, following stark figures detailing the scheme’s failure to secure sustainable employment for almost 290,000 participants describing it as 'a drain on Taxpayers' money'.
During a recent Committee meeting, Teachta Kerrane questioned Minister Humphreys about her plans to review the scheme, which has cost the taxpayer over €322m since it was introduced in 2015.
As of the end of December, 350,488 people had been referred to JobPath with 32,000 of these still active on the scheme. This means that 318,488 have completed the scheme and, of this number, just 29,041 found employment lasting one year. This leaves 289,447 having secured no long-term employment through the scheme.
Sinn Féin have opposed the JobPath scheme since it was rolled out, and have stood against government moves towards the privatisation of job activation services.
Teachta Kerrane said:
“The figures speak for themselves and it is clear that JobPath has been a costly disaster.
“Yet, despite this, Minister Humphreys would not give me a specific commitment about if and when the scheme will be reviewed by her Department.
“It is crucial that JobPath is reviewed given the amount of taxpayers' money that was spent and the success rate regarding finding sustainable employment for participants; some of whom were referred three times to the scheme, resulting in three separate referral fees for the private companies involved.
“Now JobPath is winding up we can see that schemes which commercialise Jobseekers do not provide sustainable employment in the longer term. If scheme providers are concerned only with placing people in any job so they can secure their fee, then what is best for the person seeking employment will not be a priority.
“During my exchange with the Minister, she stated that she is more focused on the new set of employment services that have been introduced this year rather than reviewing JobPath, which again raises serious concerns.
“The new model of employment services is also for-profit and has replaced the previous community-based job activation models which were offered by Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs until last summer.
“It is crucial that a review of JobPath be carried out as soon as possible, to ensure that the same mistakes are not made again.
“Focus should be on improving job activation schemes to ensure that people are supported in securing sustainable employment. It is also important that schemes do not waste taxpayers' money lining the pockets of private companies.
“I am again calling on the Minister to commit to a full review of the JobPath scheme, and for her to provide a concrete timeline of when that will happen.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said the new Taxpayer Sentiment Survey from Taxback.com is a "welcome addition to the growing evidence supporting a move to a four-day work week".
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“Over past twelve months, there has been extensive research and studies into a four-day work week.
“In November of last year, the results of a comprehensive four-day work week trial showed that 100 per cent of workers involved in the trial wanted to continue a reduced work schedule. 9 of the 12 participating companies were planning to continue with a four-day work week.
“The Taxpayer Sentiment Survey published today has added further valuable evidence to the debate. The research revealed that 70 percent of people would keenly welcome a four-day work week.
“It is clear from the Taxback.com survey that work-life balance is of the utmost importance to workers, and they are interested in how a four-day work week can help in this regard.
“Indeed, just last week the IrishJobs ‘Future of Recruitment’ survey found that that work-life balance is now the number one influence for workers when they are seeking a new job.
“In the post-pandemic world workers are looking for ways to combat stress, burnout, and fatigue. As a result, they are interested in how a four-day work week can help with work-life balance so they can spend more time with family, exercise more, and pursue their hobbies.
“The government is not a bystander in this debate, they should facilitate further research into the financial, social, and environmental impact of a reduced working week and they must also begin a national dialogue on the four-day work week."
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has called for an increased windfall tax to be charged on energy giants like British Petroleum (BP) whose profits have doubled in the last year to £23 billion.
The party's economy spokesperson said action must be taken to end the energy rip-off and put money in people’s pockets.
Conor Murphy said:
"Energy giants like BP and Shell must be charged a much higher windfall tax on the tens of billions of pounds they have made over the last year.
"These companies are disgracefully profiteering off the backs of struggling workers and families.
"The time for hand-wringing and simply blaming the war in Ukraine for energy price hikes is over; action is needed to put money back in the pockets of ordinary people rather than the Tory government allowing energy giants to line the pockets of its shareholders.
“To add further insult to injury BP is scaling back its commitment to cut its carbon emissions and its investment in helping people to move towards renewable energy sources.
"A change in direction is needed from the British government, instead of imposing austerity budgets and tax breaks for banks, they need to increase taxes on these greedy corporations, invest in public services and ensure public sector workers get a fair pay rise."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady TD, has spoken today on the first anniversary of the publication of the report of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces (CODF).
One year on and the government’s failure to implement key recommendations designed to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces have left the Defence Forces strength levels below 8,000.
The Wicklow TD said:
“A year ago, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney heralded the publication of the report from the Commission as a seminal moment for the Defence Forces, and as a landmark document that would offer a blueprint for the government and the department of Defence to address the crippling recruitment and retention crisis.
“Last July, when the government accepted the report of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces, they assumed an obligation to act to introduce wide ranging reforms on recruitment, pay, and pensions.
“Instead, they either deferred or accepted in principle – kicking down the road several key recommendations essential to addressing the recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces for further evaluation.
“The failure of government to act on the key recommendations designed to address the pay and conditions issues that lie at the heart of the continuing recruitment and retention crisis. Which is decimating the Defence Forces.
“The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin, has yet to provide a satisfactory response as to what the current situation is regarding these recommendations.
“The government has yet to implement the Working Time Directive, despite accepting a recommendation in the CODF Report that it do so in July of last year. At the time it was agreed that within six months, the heads of Bill would be finalised and submitted to the Attorney General’s office.
“Why are we still waiting?
“Why are members of the naval service serving 320 days in a single year aboard ship?
“Why are members of the Defence Forces regularly working 70-hour shifts?
“This is not acceptable or sustainable, and it will continue to erode the very fabric of the Defence Forces, who are approaching breaking point. While members are being asked to take on more and more responsibilities, working longer and longer hours, the government continues to dither.
“Members are voting with their feet. For the first time, the current strength of the permanent defence forces (PDF) has now fallen below 8,000, to 7,987. This is a staggering 1,543 below the established strength of the PDF.
“The crisis is affecting all branches of the PDF. The army is down to 6478, which is 1042 below the establishment figure. The Air Corp is reduced to 709, which is 177 below the establishment figure. While the Naval Service is now reduced to 800, which is 294 below the establishment figure.
“Just this past weekend, the Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association stated that the Defence Forces Reserve is no 3,250 below that of the minimum required strength level. Last year just 755 army reservists undertook paid training along with a mere 64 reservists in the naval service.
“With the government effectively placing the LE Niamh, and the LE Róisín in cold storage, the naval service is now reduced to four vessels. In January alone, the navy was forced to cancel 12 scheduled patrol days.
“The Defence Forces are approaching a point where they will be unable to continue to fulfil their role in providing security to the state.
“The responsibility lies with this government. Its continuing failure to act is endangering the security of the state.
“The government needs to give an immediate commitment to implement the recommendations contained in the CODF Report concerning pay and conditions. They cannot continue to ignore the fact that members of the Defence Forces are voting with their feet and leaving to take up roles in the private sector for more money and better conditions.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health Mark Ward TD has said that the increase in the number of children waiting on psychology treatment since the formation of the government is very concerning.
Teachta Ward was speaking after a response to his parliamentary question stated that nearly 12,000 children and young people were waiting for psychology treatment as of December.
This is a 54% increase in the number of children and young people waiting on psychology treatment between August 2020 and December 2022.
Teachta Ward said:
“I am very concerned about the number of children and young people waiting for psychology appointments with almost 12,000 waiting on psychology treatment as of December.
“This is a 54% increase in the number of children and young people waiting on psychology treatment since the formation of this Government in 2020.
“What is also worrying is that over 4,000 children are waiting over a year for an appointment with a psychologist.
“Early intervention is key and the potential harm to young people waiting longer than a year for a crucial appointment is immeasurable.
"These waiting lists are because of years of incompetence in the provision of mental health services by successive governments, but we have seen a rapid increase in the last two years since this government took office.
“This is not sustainable and immediate action is required.
“There have been large increases in waiting lists in eight out of the nine CHO areas. This must be inspected, and for the CHO area 3, which includes Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, where there has not been an increase, successful practices there must be adopted nationally.
“We must also address the postcode lottery that exists. CHO area 3 has almost 400 young people waiting for treatment while CHO area 7, which includes Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City, Dublin South West, has over 2,700 waiting. Access to treatment must be based on need, not on where you are living.
“In Sinn Féin’s alternative budget, we called for the funding of a National Psychology Placement Office as well as to fund trainee counselling and educational psychology posts on the same basis as clinical psychologists.
“It is vital that real efforts are made to address these waiting lists. Such deficits in mental health services for children cannot be allowed to continue.”
Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ennis has slammed the invasive use of victims' counselling records in sexual assault trials.
The South Down MLA said:
"It is unacceptable that victims of sexual assault cannot access mental health support from counsellors without the worry that their words will end up being read out in a court room.
"This means that victims cannot have the full privacy when seeking support as other people accessing mental health services do.
"This is unnecessary punishment for victims, who may already be traumatised by the system, and who are already extremely vulnerable.
"This is likely to affect people's confidence in coming forward to report crimes, or in seeking professional help.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has called on the Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, to give much-needed mortgage relief for homeowners.
The Donegal TD was speaking ahead of his party’s motion, to be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday, which calls on the government to introduce timely, targeted and temporary mortgage interest relief to support borrowers struggling with rising interest rates.
Teachta Doherty said:
“Mortgage holders are seeing a large rise in their interest costs as a result of interest rate hikes by the ECB.
“Last week’s hike was the fifth since July. That means that borrowers will be paying thousands of euros more in interest this year and others are likely to see their interest rates increase in the coming period
“In the grip of a cost of living crisis, with sharp and significant rises in interest costs, now is the right time to introduce timely, targeted and temporary mortgage interest relief.
“The now Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, while in opposition in 2015, described mortgage relief as ‘a very important support for families’ and that ‘the process of withdrawing it from existing homeowners at the same time as they are subject to a residential property tax highlights a government that is pursuing policies that are making home ownership increasingly unaffordable for families’.
“Sinn Féin agrees with Minister McGrath’s then assessment but considers it an apt description of the policies of the current Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Green Party government.
“Minister McGrath’s U-turn on this issue, as confirmed by his statements last week that he has no plans to introduce mortgage interest relief despite his previous calls in opposition, suggests Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted to support homeownership or homeowners.
“What Sinn Féin is proposing is different to the mortgage interest relief that existed in the past, which was based simply on the total interest paid on a mortgage loan.
“Instead, it would provide mortgage interest relief equivalent to 30 percent of increased interest costs relative to June 2022 up to but not exceeding €1,500 per annum.
“The measure is temporary and the measure is targeted – it would provide relief on increased interest costs as a result of interest rate rises.
“We would also work with the Central Bank to enhance the supervision of vulture funds in the interests of struggling borrowers, and we would examine the taxation of the banking sector including the treatment of corporation tax loss relief.
“These proposals would absorb a portion of borrowers’ increased interest costs as a result of rate hikes since June. This measure is sensible, affordable and necessary.”
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Brexit Declan Kearney has said the latest reports on further progress in the talks between the EU and the British Government are very encouraging.
The South Antrim MLA said:
"Today’s reports that the EU and the British government are potentially making new substantive progress towards securing a pragmatic and durable resolution to the protocol impasse are very encouraging. This comes on the back of the British government’s movement on the sharing of data on the flow of goods.
“It is vitally important that the European Commission and the British Government officials continue these efforts to resolve any remaining issues so our businesses, farmers and families can be assured their interests will be fully protected and allows the Protocol to work smoothly.
"The political stalemate caused during the last year which has blocked restoration of the Executive has exacerbated all of the challenges which we face in the north. The cost of living crisis continues to spiral and our health and social care service is at breaking point.
“The Protocol has nothing to do with sovereignty or identity. It is the only credible mechanism to manage the consequences of Brexit. We are hopefully approaching a point of pragmatic accommodation; so this a time for cool heads and leadership.
“In these circumstances the DUP has absolutely no justification for its continued blocking of our political institutions. The Assembly should be restored immediately to allow all our local politicians to address the key challenges facing public services, and while the British government and European Commission focus on concluding their talks.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has called on the British government to honour its commitment to replace European funding in full. The party’s economy spokesperson also called on local departments to work with groups delivering European Social Fund (ESF) projects.
Caoimhe Archibald said:
"The British government has failed to fully replace lost EU funds and now because of delays in its new Shared Prosperity Fund, local projects are facing a cliff-edge at the end of March.
"Groups and organisations delivering ESF projects support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and create jobs.
"Sinn Féin has consistently raised concerns on the loss of EU funding because of Brexit and the British government needs to fulfil its commitment to replace lost EU funding.
“Local departments can’t replace lost ESF monies but they can continue match funding for ESF-type programmes.
“The workers in the community and voluntary sector want and need an Executive back up and running now with locally elected ministers working together to provide support for these groups.
“One party continues to block the forming of an Executive and I urge local departments to work with groups now on extending existing funding for a year on a pro-rata basis and to use this period to develop a longer-term scheme.”
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane said tonight that the Westminster Legacy Bill is about denying truth and justice to victims of the conflict and is the action of a rogue state which fears what the legal process will deliver for families.
John Finucane was speaking at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the killings of six unarmed men on the New Lodge Road by the British army on the night of February 3rd and 4th 1973. The North Belfast MP said:
“The British government’s Legacy Bill is about: amnesties for state forces; denying investigation; avoiding accountability and cover-up.
“This Bill will in law deny any family their legal right to an investigation in line with human rights law, or an inquest, public inquiry, or ability to pursue a civil action. It is a full-frontal assault on the administration of justice.
“It will deny the New Lodge Families their right to an inquest. This is beyond cruel and callous.
“The Legacy Bill is unworkable, it will not deliver for victims and survivors, it is in breach of the Good Friday Agreement, and it is incompatible with international human rights obligations.
“These are the actions of a rogue state who fears the truth that basic legal process will deliver for families.”
And he called on the British Prime Minister to withdraw the Bill.
“The British government fear families who speak truth to power. They fear families seeking truth and justice.
“So again, to Rishi Sunak I say that neither we nor the families here tonight - will accept the denial of our basic legal rights and that this flawed legacy legislation should be withdrawn without further delay.”
John Finucane said the British government will not succeed in preventing the truth emerging.
“A success for one family is a success for us all, and a challenge or an obstacle to one family is a challenge to us all.
“Every single success a family has had in exposing the role of the British state here, in fighting for truth and justice, has come about in spite of, never because of, the actions of the British government. So we should not be surprised when they use crude methods to cover up their role.
“But they will ultimately not be successful.
“And the reason for this is very simple, it’s because of the families like the New Lodge Six we are remembering tonight, and many others.
“As we leave tonight, we carry the names of Jim McCann, Jim Sloan, Tony ‘TC’ Campbell, Brendan ‘Fat’ Maguire, John Loughran and Ambrose Hardy with us.
“And we say to the families we will always stand with you until truth and justice has been achieved.
“We are not giving up.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the Department of Infrastructure must work to ensure the A6 road is opened as quickly as possible.
Speaking after meeting the Department for Infrastructure with Cllr Kathleen McGurk, the East Derry MLA said:
“We met with the Department of Infrastructure today for clarity on whether the A6 and Dungiven Bypass will open by the reported end of April date.
"We had a constructive and frank discussion about what is required for that date to be met.
"We were told that DfI now expects the street lighting to be done later in February and the signage to be in place before the end of March and necessary safety checks have started and will continue alongside that.
"We also conveyed the growing frustration of community and road users at the delay in the completion of the project, and in particular the lack of communication around it.
“Sinn Féin will continue working to ensure this essential link for the wider North West area is completed as quickly as possible.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, said energy supports announced by the government in Budget 2023 are failing to properly support business.
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“There was much fanfare from government as regards the energy supports for business contained within Budget 2023.
“Five headline schemes delivering grants and loans totalling over €3 billion were announced.
“However, since the announcement on Budget Day these schemes have been delayed, have not commenced, or have had derisory levels of applications due to the complexities of the application process.
“To date, across the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), the Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme (UECS), the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, the Small Firms investment in energy efficiency scheme, Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme, only €24.3 million in support has been issued to businesses.
“Indeed, the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme and the Small Firms investment in energy efficiency scheme have not yet gone live, and the Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme was only launched on Monday.
“It is clear there are significant issues, especially in terms of the TBESS and the UECS schemes.
“There have only been 17,740 applications for support under the TBESS scheme and €20.4 million issued from a €1.25bn scheme. While the UECS, a €200 million scheme, has only seen €3.8 million issued under Stream 1 of the scheme and no monies issued under Stream 2.
“If applied correctly in an accessible and streamlined manner the TBESS and UECS schemes can offer effective support for businesses, but as it stands both are failing enterprise.
“The government must not only give businesses more time to submit claims, but they must make the TBESS and UECS schemes more accessible and impactful.”
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill has said there is no time to waste on forming an Executive that will deliver for people and urgently work to fix the health service.
Speaking after meeting the Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Belfast today, Michelle O’Neill said:
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Tánaiste today on the current political situation and the serious work that needs to be done to restore the Executive now.
“Today marks one year from the DUP crashed the political institutions, they have since blocked an Executive being formed and are punishing the public at a time of huge financial difficulty.
“Blocking a government is having no impact on the Protocol talks, but instead has left our public services at the mercy of savage Tory cuts from London and is now holding up progress on Dáithí’s Law, life-saving legislation on organ donation.
“This is serious business and there is no time to waste. People are struggling to heat their homes as energy costs continue to rise. Our health service is at breaking point and workers are forced to take strike action for fair pay.
“Since day one, I have been ready to form an Executive to work with other parties and the two governments to get the job done and deliver the change that people voted for in May.
“I again appeal to the DUP to get back round the Executive table with the rest of us to get on with the important work of investing in our health service and supporting people.
“There has been progress in the Protocol talks between the EU and British Government and that must continue in the spirit of cooperation to reach an agreement and give certainty to local businesses.
“We reminded the Tánaiste that as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish government must prioritise getting the Executive back up and running quickly.”
The scandal of the strategy of successive governments to deny repayments to eligible nursing home residents under the long-term repayment scheme deepened as a third strand of the ‘cover-up’ was revealed at the Public Accounts Committee by Sinn Féin Deputy Matt Carthy.
While there has been much focus on the residents who were medical card holders in public nursing homes and those who were in private nursing homes, notes in C&AG reports and HSE financial statements from 2009 to 2016, and a secret 2011 memo, show that there was a third cohort comprising of people living in residential disability services operated by state-funded Section 38 and 39 organisations.
Deputy Carthy told the PAC that the appeals officer for the long-stay repayments scheme had adjudicated that these residents were eligible for compensation but the Minister sought to block their payments by appealing to the High Court.
Speaking afterwards, Teachta Carthy said:
“People in Section 38/39 long term residential disability services were informed by the HSE that they were not eligible for compensation under the long-stay repayments scheme. Many did not apply for that reason. A secret government memo in 2011 acknowledges this.
“Some did apply and were again informed that they did not qualify. However, appeals were made in respect of 515 residents of three such homes (St Michael’s House, Cheeverstown House and Daughters of Charity).
“The appeals officer sampled three of these appeals and found that they were, in fact, eligible for compensation under the scheme. Bizarrely, the then government decided to appeal that decision to the High Court.
“We now know, due to the secret 2011 memo issued to government, that the high court proceedings were discontinued when legal advice was clear that the case would be lost. Essentially, this meant that medical card holders in all similar Section 38 and 39 nursing homes were in fact eligible for payments and should have received compensation through the scheme.
“This deepens the scandal of the nursing home repayments. Unlike the case for residents of private nursing homes, whereby government has stated that they were legally permitted to deny payments, in this case the legal position was agreed by government.
“While it seems that payments were eventually made to the 515 appellants, thousands of other people who should have received payments were denied them due to this cover-up and policy of secrecy by government.
“The Public Accounts Committee has sought from the HSE the total numbers affected, including the number of those who applied for the scheme but didn’t appeal, and we will be pursuing this in the coming weeks.
“But, successive Health Ministers and Taoisigh must now clarify the extent of their knowledge of this aspect of the nursing homes scandal and their respective actions in this regard.”
The full Public Accounts Committee engagement can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/z6b-lFYSeNs
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady TD, has expressed deep concern that the recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces is approaching a tipping point from which they will be unable to recover.
The Wicklow TD said:
“Last week we were given the news that the government had taken the decision to put two naval vessels, the LE Niamh and the LE Róisín, into storage, effectively taking them out of service.
“This leaves the naval service with just four vessels to defend one of the largest maritime patrol areas in Europe, at a time of international crisis.
“Figures released to me indicate that the current strength of the permanent defence forces (PDF) has now fallen below 8,000 for the first time, to 7,987. This is a staggering 1,543 below the established strength of the PDF.
“We are rapidly approaching the point of no return.
“The tipping point from which the PDF cannot recover. These are not just bland figures representing individual military personnel. They represent the institutional memory of the Irish defence forces. These are the veterans, with decades of experience, they are simply irreplaceable.
“The government talks about cultural transformation. The most important element in cultural transformation of any organisation, are the cultural architects. The individuals who embody the values, the learning, and the professionalism of an organisation.
“With veterans leaving the PDF at twice the rate of recruits coming in, this is a crisis of a whole other order.
“The failure of this government to address the recruitment and retention crisis has decimated the PDF to the point that it now represents the single biggest security threat to the state.
“The crisis is affecting all branches of the PDF. The army is down to 6478, which is 1042 below the establishment figure. The Air Corp is reduced to 709, which is 177 below the establishment figure. While the Naval Service is now reduced to 800, which is 294 below the establishment figure.
“From January 1st to 26th, less than four weeks, the naval service was forced to cancel 12 scheduled patrols.
“The understaffing of the PDF is placing incredible strains on remaining members. One member of the naval service has reported that in one year alone they spent 320 days onboard ship.
“It is almost routine now for PDF members to regularly work 70 hours a week.
“The government knows what needs to be done to address these issues - they have accepted the recommendations contained in the report from the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. Yet they have refused to act on them.
“In fact, they have deferred the majority of recommendations that deal with pay and allowances for further evaluation – in other words they kicked them down the road.
“Six months later, we are still waiting to see the implementation of the Working Time Directive.
“The government needs to act, and to act urgently, to stem the exodus from the defence forces. Time is running out. If they continue with their current approach, the point where the defence forces are no longer capable of performing their assigned role in guaranteeing the security of the state will soon be reached.”
The party's economy spokesperson said:
"Today the Bank of England hiked its interest rate for the 10th time in a row.
"Some home-owners, who have already been squeezed over recent months, will be facing further increases to their mortgages.
“Workers and families are now paying hundreds of pounds more than this time last year in mortgage payments each month in a cost living crisis when energy, food and fuel bills are also soaring.
"The British government needs to do more to support homeowners with rising mortgage repayments by providing targeted support to those whose mortgage interest rates have risen over the past year.
"As energy giants announce obscene record profits, it is clear much more could be done to provide targeted relief with the cost of living paid for through a proper windfall tax.
"I have written to the British Chancellor urging him to act to help homeowners.
"There is also an onus on financial institutions to support people who have seen significant increases in repayments over the past year – no family should be losing their home due to inflexible banks or lenders.
"The regressive economic policies of the Tories have contributed to driving up interest rates and a reversal in policy is urgently needed; rather than giving tax breaks to banks the Tory government should ensure public services are properly funded and workers receive fair pay."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has called on the government to introduce timely, targeted and temporary mortgage interest relief to support borrowers with rising interest rates.
The Donegal TD was speaking after raising the issue with the Tánaiste in the Dáil today.
Teachta Doherty said:
“Today the ECB has once again increased its interest rate, the fifth rate hike since July.
“This further rate hike will immediately impact the almost 200,000 borrowers on a tracker rate, with many seeing their monthly repayments increase by hundreds of euros since last June.
“There are also tens of thousands of borrowers who have had their mortgages sold to vulture funds - many of whom are now being charged interest rates of more than seven percent – with no option to fix and vulture funds refusing to engage.
“Borrowers will be paying thousands of euros more in interest this year in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
“Others are likely to see their interest rates increase in the coming period.
“It is now clear that timely, targeted and temporary mortgage interest relief must be introduced to support hard-pressed borrowers.
“This relief could absorb a portion of borrowers’ increased interest costs as a result of rate hikes since June.
“This measure is sensible, affordable and necessary.
“Today, I have also written to the Central Bank to ask what measures they are taking to step up their supervision of vulture funds who are now charging extortionate interest rates to borrowers who are facing serious financial difficulties.
“It is clear that the Central Bank must step up its supervision of vulture funds in the interests of struggling borrowers.”
West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley said the campaign by the Omagh families for the full truth about the killings of their loved ones has taken a big step forward today with the announcement of an independent statutory inquiry.
And she called again on the British government to scrap its flawed and cruel legacy bill.
Sinn Féin said:
“My first thoughts are with the Omagh families who have campaigned for almost 25 years with dignity and determination.
“They have faced many barriers in their efforts to uncover the full truth of what happened that day.
“The High Court ruling was clear in July 2021 on the need for investigations north and south. This ruling must be respected.
“Sinn Féin fully supports the demand of the families of the victims of the 1998 Omagh Bomb for a full cross-border public inquiry.
“The families deserve full transparency and full disclosure about the events which led to the killing of their loved ones.
“There should be no more delays and no more hold-ups preventing the families from finding out the truth.
“Today’s announcement of an inquiry also points up the sheer folly of the British government’s cruel and callous Legacy Bill this is about denying families access to the courts and due process.
“I am reiterating Sinn Féin’s call for an urgent summit involving the British and Irish governments and political parties on the issue of legacy.
“If the British government is serious about upholding the legal right of victims and families to truth and justice, they will stop the passage of the Legacy Bill to allow for dialogue.
“The legacy mechanisms were agreed by the main political parties, the Irish government and the British government at Stormont House in 2014, they must be implemented in a human rights compliant manner.”
