Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady TD, has condemned the storming of Brazil’s democratic institutions by right-wing supporters of defeated candidate Jair Bolsonaro.
Teachta Brady said that this attack can only be described as an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of Brazil.
So far, Bolsonaro has offered only a tepid response to the violence, refusing to outright condemn the actions of the mob.
The Wicklow TD said:
“I categorically condemn the assault on democracy which took place yesterday in Brazil. The government of President Lulu are the democratically elected and legal representatives of the Brazilian people.
"I welcome the response of the international community in their utter condemnation of what was in effect an attempt to overthrow a democratic government, by right-wing supporters of Jair Bolsonaro who refuse to accept the outcome of the Brazilian general election.
"The scenes we witnessed yesterday were painfully and frighteningly reminiscent of the attempt by supporters of the former US President Donald Trump to storm the US Congress.
"It is doubly worrying that there have been allegations by President Lulu that members of the security forces were negligent in their response to the actions of the mob, with the military police force largely absent, claiming that the security forces were guilty of incompetence, bad faith, or malice.
"Brazil’s supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes claimed that the attacks could only have taken place with the ‘acquiescence, or direct involvement of the security and intelligence authorities'.
"The fact that the rioters had been using social media to plan and organise an assault on government buildings for two weeks, without a police response, is very worrying.
"Brazil is a country that knows too well the pain of a military dictatorship, having endured twenty-one years of military rule between 1964 and 1985, in which thousands died.
"The international community must fully support the democratically elected Brazilian government in their attempts to uphold and defend democracy.”
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan has called on the British Government to fund a fair pay rise for civil service and other public sector workers.
She said:
"The pay offer to civil servants is woefully inadequate
“Given the current rate of inflation, this represents a substantial real term cut to the wages of our civil service workers.
"Under the same budget constraints the former Finance Minister Conor Murphy proposed a higher pay award. In the absence of an Executive the Tories have made a lesser offer.
“But what is really needed is a fair pay rise for all public sector workers including nurses and teachers. This requires additional funding from London.
"The only way to resolve this is through direct engagement with the public service unions to reach an agreed pay deal which will avoid strike action, provide a fair pay increase for public sector workers, and ensure people continue to have access to vital public services.” CRÍOCH/ENDS
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has said it is deeply concerning that much-needed operations are being cancelled as a result of pressures in the health service.
The party’s health spokesperson said:
“Cancelling non-urgent surgeries will have a knock-on effect on emergency departments and cause further distress to patients on waiting lists which are already out of control.
“Years of Tory cuts to the health service has caused suffering and misery for patients on waiting lists.
“This is unacceptable; doctors, nurses and hard pressed ambulance staff working on the front line want investment in the health service.
“They want to substantial investment in health and social care to transform the system, to pay workers a fair wage, and bring an end to the cycle of services and health workers being overwhelmed.
“They are also crying out for political leadership and local ministers to be back around the Executive table working for the patients and the people they care for.
“The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with the rest of us to help invest additional resources in the system reducing waiting lists and recruiting more doctors and nurses.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has called on the Government to support struggling mortgage borrowers with rising interest rates.
The Donegal TD repeated his calls for the Government to examine options to introduce targeted and time-bound mortgage interest relief for borrowers this year.
Speaking today, Teachta Doherty said:
“Since the summer, the European Central Bank has hiked its interest rate four times, with further hikes expected in the months ahead.
“Thousands of borrowers on tracker and variable rates have seen their mortgage costs soar.
“Those who have had their mortgage contracts sold to vulture funds have also seen aggressive interest rate hikes.
“Many have seen their mortgage repayments rise by over €4,000 per year already with further rate hikes likely.
“It is not acceptable for the Government to abandon these borrowers given the financial pressure they and their families are facing.
“The Government must examine options to introduce targeted and time-bound mortgage interest relief to support struggling borrower.
“Without support many may fall into arrears and mortgage distress.
“Sinn Féin’s proposal is practical, affordable and necessary.
“It is time for the Government to outline its plan to support these struggling borrowers.
“We have repeatedly called on the banks to absorb interest rate hikes in the interest of their consumers.
“There is also a need for the Central Bank to clarify and enforce the responsibilities of vultures funds under the Consumer Protection Code.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has called on the Minister for Agriculture to intervene and delay Coillte entering into a joint venture with a British investment fund.
Teachta Carthy first raised concerns regarding the venture in November in the Dáil, pointing to the experience of the Scottish forestry sector which experienced ‘an explosion of corporate ownership’ in the sector ‘at the expense of local communities.’
Teachta Carthy said:
“A good forestry strategy is one that delivers for the environment, for local communities and for the economy – Coillte’s proposed joint venture will deliver none of these.
“This venture appears geared entirely towards circumventing existing rules which prohibit Coillte from receiving state subsidies for afforestation by partnering with company that will be motivated primarily by profit rather than any climate or biodiversity objectives.
“Bizarrely, a key part of the proposed venture includes the sell off of up to 12,000 hectares of existing forestry under Coillte management.
“The only reason government would support this venture is crystal clear – to cover their own failures.
“The government, with Green Party Minister having responsibility for forestry, have failed to come close to their own afforestation targets of 8,000 hectares per annum. In fact, they reached just 30% of that target in 2022. The failures of this government in this respect will have longstanding implications for Ireland’s Climate Action obligations.
“What amounts to a massive sell-off of state lands to foreign private investors is the product of this governments failure to deliver on forestry – and the price in the medium-to-long term will be borne by and in local economies, communities and the environment.
“I am also particularly concerned of the effects this venture could have on our domestic commercial forestry sector, and knock-on effects it could have on their ability to support our farmers re-enter the sector.
“This is something that the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture wished to examine, and I am calling on Minister McConalogue to intervene and delay this venture from proceeding until the Committee completes its considerations.”
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has called for “urgent action on homelessness” as figures from the Department of Housing show that despite the ban on evictions in November almost all categories of homelessness have increased.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“November’s homeless report issued by the Department of Housing today shows an increase in all categories of homelessness despite the ban on evictions coming into force that month.
“The most significant increase has been amongst single adults. However they was also an increase in the number of both children and pensioners in emergency accommodation in November.
“The latest rise in homelessness is further evidence that the Governments housing is failing. We need an emergency response from the Minister for Housing both to increase the supply of social housing and to reduce the flow of singles and families into homelessness.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health Mark Ward TD has said that the further delays in the long-awaited eating disorder service in Mount Carmel Hospital are unacceptable.
The facility was due to open in late 2021 before being initially delayed until June 2022, and then again until early 2023.
Teachta Ward has received a response from the HSE to say the facility will now not be open until quarter 3 in 2023
Teachta Ward said:
“Mount Carmel Hospital eating disorder services will not be operational until quarter 3 of this year, nearly 2 years since the original target date.
“This shows a real lack of urgency by this Government to address the lack of service faced by people suffering from Eating Disorders.
“Last year it was reported that there were just 3 public beds in this state dedicated to adult eating disorders.
“The most recent response I received is another example of Government not delivering on time, but a 2 year delay is unacceptable.
“We have heard from Bodywhys that the amount of people presenting for treatment with eating disorders has increased over the last few years.
“The response I received states that it was decided to construct a separate CAMHS eating disorder unit within the footprint of the building.
“While this will be a welcome addition, it should not delay the opening of the adult services.
“It would be much more beneficial for the Government and the HSE to focus on re-opening the 11 CAMHS beds that were closed in Linn Dara in May of last year .
“The Minister needs to give answers if there will be cost overruns in Mount Carmel and give assurances that the facility will open to patients as soon as possible.”
The PQ response is available to view here
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has said the lack of an Executive is causing more stress for cancer patients.
Speaking on the latest figures published by the Department of Health, the party’s health spokesperson said:
“It is alarming to learn that under 40 percent of patients begin treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral from a GP.
"It is shameful for the DUP to sit on their hands while cancer treatment times continue to miss their target by a staggering 58 percent.
“Doctors and nurses are on the frontline working under huge pressure.
“Cancer patients and their families are enduring more stress and trauma as the delays in treatment continue.
“I urge the DUP to end its blockade of our political institutions and work with others to put first the needs of those who need us most.
“If they are serious about making health a priority, they will form an Executive today and work with the rest of us to invest £1 billion in the health service to fund cancer services and tackle waiting lists.”
Sinn Féin’s Leader in the Seanad has called on the government to open a much-needed Irish Passport Office in the north.
Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile was speaking after it emerged that the Irish Passport Office has temporarily suspended posting passports to the north and to Britain.
Niall Ó Donnghaile said:
“News that the Irish Passport Office has temporarily suspended posting passports to the north clearly highlights once again the need for the government to open a passport office here.
“As we head into the new year and people plan their holidays this is already causing much uncertainty and concern for travellers.
“This news comes on the back of another record-breaking year just under 128,000 of applications (50,000 of which were first time applications) coming from the north.
“A passport office in the north just makes sense.
“I will again be raising this campaign in the Seanad and would call on the government to engage positively, prepare prudently and deliver for citizens.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD has expressed his disappointment with government over failure to reopen CAMHS beds in Linn Dara.
Teachta Ward's comments follow a response to a parliamentary question which stated that it is not possible to give a reopening date for these beds.
The Dublin Mid-West TD said:
“I am really disappointed with the ongoing failure to reopen 11 CAMHS beds at Linn Dara.
“These crucial inpatient beds were closed in May, with CAMHS services already oversubscribed.
“The response that I received from a parliamentary question in relation to a reopening date for these inpatient beds stated that it was not possible to give this date and cited recruitment issues as the cause for the delay.
“I had assurances last year from the then Taoiseach and the Minister for Mental Health that Linn Dara would be operating at full capacity again in September, but here we are in a new year with the same false promises by government.
“This is simply not good enough during a children’s mental health emergency.
“Over 11,000 children are waiting on primary care psychology, with almost 4,000 children waiting over a year for an appointment.
“CAMHS currently have 4000 children on waiting lists for appointments
“Only 70% of CAMHS beds were operational as of August last year and children with mental ill-health are presenting to already strained emergency departments as a result.
“I received a response to a parliamentary question that stated that 741 children with mental health issue attended emergency departments from January to November, last year.
“This is only going to get worse, and capacity must be restored and increased to turn this around.
“We cannot have more false promises from government. Children are suffering and this cannot be allowed to continue.”
The Parliamentary Question response is available to view here and here
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has said that ‘Government can not delay the long promised Centic Tiger era building defects scheme any longer.’
The comments come after the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien failed to bring a memo on the proposed redress scheme for the second meeting in a row.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
"Homeowners and tenants living in Celtic Tiger era defective homes urgently need a redress scheme.
"The Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has promised to bring a memo outlining his proposals for a redress scheme to the last Cabinet meeting in December. At the last minute the memo was pulled.
"The Minister then indicated that the memo would go to cabinet in the first week of January but again this did not happen.
"Homeowners now understand that a memo may go to cabinet next week or the week after.
"The Minister has not explained the reason for the delay. However homeowners and tenants living with defects can not wait any longer.
"They urgently need a scheme that will provide 100% redress including for those already forced to pay for remediation. They also need funding for emergency and interim fire safety works."
Sinn Féin TD for Sligo Leitrim Martin Kenny has called on the Health Minister to provide urgent supports for those working within the Emergency Department in Sligo University Hospital. This comes after the release of Trolley Watch figures by the INMO which show SUH has the second highest number of patients on trollies in the state today.
Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said, “Many of us have been following the Trolley Watch figures as they continue to get worse. Since New Years Day, the number of patients on trolleys in Sligo hospital has increased from 48 to 65 across the hospital.
“These are more than numbers on trolleys, they are people who are desperately ill and need medical attention. Many of those I am hearing from in the last number of days are vulnerable patients with a number of different illnesses who have deteriorated over Christmas.
“They are now in a situation where they are lying on a trolley, often in a hallway or corridor with other patients. There is no dignity in this for the patient, and it puts our fantastic health service professionals in a terrible situation.
“We also have a situation in Sligo Hospital where ambulances are waiting a number of hours to transfer their patient from the ambulance to the care of the hospital due to the severe shortage in resources faced by the hospital. This is causing a further delay in allowing the ambulance and its crew return to their duties and respond to calls.
“During a visit to a Dublin hospital yesterday, the Minister told us it will ‘get better before it gets worse’ – a phrase I’m sure is cold comfort to the patients and staff currently in this situation in Sligo Hospital.
“While I accept that there has been a surge in Covid, RSV and flu, this surge only exacerbated the failures of the Minister to get to grips with a failing health service long ago.
“The fact remains that one of the main factors at play here is the failure of government to adequately invest in healthcare in the northwest region, but particularly when it comes to Sligo University Hospital.”
Speaking after the Ambulance Service (NIAS) has said it is investigating whether a delayed response contributed to the deaths of eight people in recent weeks.
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Colm Gildernew MLA said:
“It is deeply concerning that the Ambulance Service is investigating whether a delayed response contributed to the deaths of eight people in recent weeks.
“Our ambulance service has been under severe pressure for months, with crews having to wait with patients - sometimes for hours - to get into hospitals, meaning others in urgent need of ambulances also having to wait.
“This is another example of the deteriorating situation in our health and social care system and it is deeply worrying. Sadly this is the reality of the huge pressures facing patients and staff on a daily basis.
“They are literally at crisis point. Our health workers need help now.
“After more than a decade of Tory cuts our health and social care service is crying out for substantial investment so workers can have a fair wage, to transform the system and bring to an end the cycle of services and health workers being overwhelmed.
“They want local ministers back around the Executive table, to invest an extra £1 billion in the health service, to hire more doctors and nurses and to get on with tackling chronic waiting lists and transformation of the health service.
“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive now and I would urge the DUP to end its boycott now, get back to work and make health a priority.
"I have written to the Ambulance Service requesting a meeting on this.”
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has said the Tory government needs to immediately reverse its decade-long policy of cuts to the health service and invest in health and social care.
The party’s health spokesperson also called for the DUP to get back around the Executive table urgently to work with others to provide the political leadership health workers are looking for.
Colm Gildernew said:
“The health and social care system is breaking under the weight of more than a decade of Tory cuts to health and social care.
“The current Tory government are acting like spectators to the collapse of health services in the north and in Britain. That is cruel, uncaring and unacceptable.
“We need substantial investment into health and social care to pay workers a fair wage, to transform the system and bring to an end the cycle of services and health workers being overwhelmed.
“Those working in health and social care are also crying out for political leadership. They want local ministers back around the Executive table working for the patients and the people they care for.
“They want an Executive to invest an extra £1 billion in the health service, to hire more doctors and nurses and to get on with tackling chronic waiting lists and transformation of the health service.
“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive. It is long past time DUP ended their utterly reckless boycott of the Executive and join with the rest of us who want to make politics work.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane TD has said that the Minister for Health must show real leadership and take the lead in tackling the crisis in public hospitals.
Teachta Cullinane called for a series of measures which would marshal all available healthcare resources across the entire system to alleviate pressure on acute hospitals and improve management of emergency care.
The TD for Waterford called on the Minister to convene daily meetings with HSE leadership and regularly engage with regional management to ensure all public and private healthcare resources are being used to the best effect.
Teachta Cullinane said:
“The Minister for Health needs to convene daily meetings with senior HSE management to ensure that all available public and private healthcare resources are being used to the best effect.
“The Minister should also engage frequently with regional management to ensure they are fully supported to use all capacity in their areas to support emergency departments.
“The Minister must ensure that best practice from the top performing hospitals is applied across the board to steer the health service through this crisis.
“This must involve prioritising emergency and urgent care, redeploying staff from elective care to emergency departments, and using hospital capacity normally reserved for day-case and elective care to provide surge capacity.
“The health service must maximise the use of smaller and private hospitals to provide elective care and surge capacity, where appropriate, to alleviate pressures on major acute hospitals.
“The Minister should maximise the deployment of senior doctors and appropriate specialists to emergency departments and wards to ensure that experienced decision makers are available at all times.
“There must be greater collaboration between community healthcare and acute hospitals to ensure that recovery and transitional care beds are available in the community for speedy discharges and the provision of care outside of hospitals where appropriate.
“There must also be greater engagement with GPs, especially those providing out-of-hours services, to better support primary care which is also overwhelmed with respiratory infections.
“There is a responsibility on the Minister to marshal all available healthcare resources across the entire system and put them to best use to tackle the emergency care crisis in acute hospitals.
“Record overcrowding is caused, in part, by the winter surge in Covid, RSV, and flu, but this level of overcrowding is due to Government failure to sufficiently invest in healthcare capacity and staffing over the last decade.
“Hospitals should operate at 80-85% capacity outside of winter to ensure we have capacity for surges, yet we had a summer trolley crisis this year. Most hospitals have been operating at near or above 100% capacity year-round, which meant that this crisis was not only predictable but inevitable.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said money being saved by the Tory government in reduced energy support to households here should be used to help people to make modifications to their homes to reduce their energy bills permanently.
The party’s economy spokesperson said:
"From 1st January people in the north are getting a lower level of support than that provided in Britain through the Energy Price Guarantee.
“As a result workers and families with some providers have seen their electricity and gas prices rise from the beginning of the year.
“The decision by the British government to cut support is despite wages in the north being significantly lower than in Britain and levels of fuel poverty continuing to be significantly higher.
"The Tory government is saving tens of millions of pounds through this cruel move as families here continue to struggle with their energy bills.
“That money should be given to a restored Executive to provide support to help people insulate their homes and make modifications that would help them permanently reduce their energy bills.
“Sinn Féin stands ready to form an Executive today and work together with all parties to tackle the cost of living crisis.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has called for the Oireachtas Health Committee to meet urgently with the HSE, to discuss the worst overcrowding ever recorded in public hospitals.
The publication of the INMO’s Trolley Watch figures for January 3rd show a record 931 patients have been admitted to hospital without a bed.
Teachta Cullinane has said that it is clear that the Minster’s Winter Plan is not working and that an urgent strategy is needed to tackle the crisis.
The Waterford TD said:
“The overcrowding crisis in public hospitals has reached a new and worrying peak.
“The Oireachtas Health Committee must meet urgently to address this crisis and hear from the HSE.
“We need to hear what has been done, what isn’t working, and what more is needed.
“According to frontline workers, patients are being treated in unsafe and inhumane conditions, and this is not confined to the usual few hospitals. This crisis has now spread across almost every major hospital.
“This is having a major impact on other healthcare facilities, with thousands of cancellations and worse health outcomes for patients.
“This week, we are unfortunately witnessing the worst overcrowding on record in public hospitals.
"This has been caused by surges in respiratory infections across several viruses, on top of a decade of underfunding of our hospitals and primary care system.
“This crisis was predicted many months ago by clinicians on the frontline who have been working heroically to save lives. There were always going to be difficulties during winter, as there are surges every year.
"But healthcare workers have been failed by a Minister for Health and a Government which have not given them the tools they need to get through winter without this crisis.
“Hospitals don’t have the beds they need, and we don’t have the GPs and nurses in the community to take the pressure off of hospitals.
“The HSE is advising patients to try all other options to avoid going to an emergency department if possible. The problem is that these alternatives do not exist or are also overwhelmed.
“We need an all-hands-on-deck approach and everything that can be done, must be done.
"We urgently need a six-week plan to maximise use of existing capacity across the health system and steer the health service through the period ahead.”
First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill has written to MLAs inviting them to join in a silent vigil in memory of Natalie McNally, and all victims of gender-based violence, at Parliament Buildings at 2pm this Thursday, 5 January.
Michelle O’Neill said:
“The brutal murder of Natalie McNally has sent shock waves through the community in Lurgan and further afield. Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant when she was murdered. She was in her home where she should have been safe.
“Her death is the latest in the long and terrible number of murders inflicted on women and is a dark reflection of the misogyny that continues to permeate much of our society and culture.
“As political representatives, we have a duty to show our support, sympathy and solidarity for Natalie, for her family and for the many victims of gender-based violence.
“We have a responsibility to stand against this violence. There should be zero tolerance of gender-based violence but also of the culture and attitudes that drive and normalise this violence.
“I am inviting MLAs from all parties to join in a silent vigil in memory of Natalie McNally, and all victims of gender-based violence, at the front of Parliament Buildings at 2pm this Thursday, 5 January.”
