Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Matt Carthy TD, has welcomed the passing of a motion at the Australian Labor Party's national conference supporting the reunification of Ireland.
The motion, Amendment 170A Supporting the Reunification of Ireland, was carried yesterday.
Speaking today, Mr Carthy said:
“I welcome that the Australian Labor Party's delegates have voted resoundingly in favour of a motion supporting the reunification of Ireland at their national conference. The ALP's friendship with and solidarity towards the people of Ireland, reflects the deep bonds between our two nations. Pearse Doherty and I saw evidence of this strengthening relationship during our recent visit to Australia.
“The passing of this motion is a very positive step and reflects the growing interest both nationally and internationally in the benefits that Irish unity will bring to people across the island. Just as international support was crucial in delivering the peace process so too will be be crucial in making Irish Unity a success for everyone on this island.
“It is undeniable that there is a growing, vibrant and positive conversation around the need for constitutional change to unlock the potential of communities across Ireland.
“The onus is on the Irish government to begin planning for this constitutional change. The time to engage in clear-eyed discussion about a referendum is now. Failure to plan or engage in these discussions helps no-one. The Irish government must act now.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Communications and Transport, Martin Kenny TD, has called on Minister for Local Government, Darragh O’Brien, to commit to a plan of action as rural communities face into the winter months and more inclement weather forecasts.
This calls come as a result of a number of Local Link operators being unable to run their services due to icy road conditions in the winter months.
Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said:
“We have a situation in many rural areas where the secondary roads are not gritted or cleared adequately during icy conditions. This is impacting on the operation of Local Link bus services which are a vital connector for many towns and villages across rural Ireland.
“As the number of people working from home or working in a hybrid model continues to rise, so too does their reliance on the Local Link service in their communities.
“In theory, the Department of Local Government and each Local Authority are responsible for ensuring roads being served by NTA vehicles are cleared and useable. In reality, this is not the case.
“I have been in contact both with Local Link operators and with commuters who use these services who report cancellations of routes because of secondary roads not being cleared or gritted during cold or inclement weather.
“Earlier today I wrote to both the Minister and the NTA to express my concern, and to highlight this issue.
"Government has time to plan for these events, and the public need to know what those plans entail. I am seeking a commitment from the Minister in particular to ensure teams are in place to grit and clear the secondary roads for use by these services.
“Those relying on public transport in rural Ireland must be encouraged to continue bringing their carbon footprint down. One of the most basic ways we can do that is by ensuring their services remain reliable throughout the winter."
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal, Louise O’Reilly, has condemned an incident on Grafton Street in which a man was stabbed earlier this morning.
Speaking this morning, Teachta O’Reilly said:
“This morning’s incident on Grafton Street, in which a man in his 30s was stabbed, was deeply disturbing. Anyone with any information about this attack must bring it forward to Gardaí immediately.
“Everyone should be entitled to be safe in our nation’s capital, be they Dubliners, workers or tourists. However it’s clear that there are serious issues with crime in the city that must be tackled by government.
“During their time in office, Fine Gael have failed to invest in, adequately fund and show leadership for the Gardaí. As a result, there aren’t enough Guards on our streets, they don’t have the resources they need and they feel overstretched and under-supported. It isn’t good enough.
“Sinn Féin have outlined our proposals to keep communities safe by putting Guards back on our streets with the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Minister McEntee must act and implement our proposals urgently, to finally get to grips with the issue of crime in Dublin.”
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has written to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) following allegations in the media relating to loans sold by NatWest/Ulster Bank to customers in the North of Ireland.
The party’s finance spokesperson said:
“The allegations in relation to loans sold by NatWest/Ulster Bank to customers in the North of Ireland that appeared in media reports are disturbing and need to be investigated.
“I have written to the FCA and have urged them to ensure Ulster Bank customers are receiving the same protections and redress that others have received.
“It is important that all those affected are properly compensated.”
Note to Editors: Link to The Times article referenced - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/natwest-fixed-rate-loan-scheme-for-companies-effectively-theft-kg2wr638j
Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney has called for the urgent restoration of a properly resourced, power sharing Executive to stand up for workers, families and public services.
The South Antrim MLA said:
“Tory policy has turned the north into an economic and political backwater. Low wages and precarious work are structural characteristics of the north’s economy. These realities sit alongside chronic underinvestment in public services due to the decisions of successive British governments.
“The Tory austerity agenda is crippling public services which are currently failing to meet the needs of citizens. The latest round of imposed expenditure cuts will have a devastating effect upon regional services, especially for the most vulnerable. Senior civil servants are forecasting irreparable damage to the viability of health, education provision, and maintenance of infrastructure.
“Brexit showed how little the Tories care about anyone here. Those in charge have no affinity with, or commitment to the peace and political processes in the north. Their only allegiance is to profit, and an economic model serving the interests of big businesses and banks, and the most wealthy.
“Workers are facing into a whole series of challenges. Increased interest rates and high inflation are creating unbearable financial pressures.
“The DUP's blocking of the Executive means there is no mitigation against this Tory onslaught.
“The absence of a functioning Executive has exposed public services and working families to even more ruthless cuts, and privatisation by stealth.
“At the same time, as greater austerity is imposed, new anti-trade union legislation from London will restrict local trade unionists’ right to strike and will take powers to actually sack striking workers.
“Sinn Féin has prioritised the introduction of workers’ rights legislation and called for the transfer of fiscal powers to the north. The persistent refusal of any British government to transfer economic and fiscal levers is untenable.
“Unless an Executive, and a strategic financial investment package are in place by September, another imposed austerity budget will become inevitable, with even more terrible repercussions.
We urgently need a properly resourced power sharing Executive to stand up for workers, families and public services. Sinn Féin is committed to leading that Executive with others.”
Sinn Féin TD John Brady has today responded to the announcement that retained firefighters are to suspend their ongoing industrial strike action over pay and conditions following talks at the Workplace Relations Commission.
The suspension comes in response to recent negotiations between SIPTU and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), and an acknowledgment that some progress has been made in respect of minimum earnings.
Teachta Brady said:
“Following ten weeks of a rolling campaign of industrial strike action by retained firefighters, this represents the first meaningful response by the government and its representatives in the LGMA.
“With retained firefighters having been forced on to the picket line as a direct result of a crippling recruitment and retention crisis in the service brought on by poor pay and working conditions, there is a clear onus on the government to address the core issues at the heart of the dispute.
“While I acknowledge that we have witnessed some movement on the issue of minimum earnings, it will ultimately be the decision of the retained firefighters whether they decide to accept this or not.
“We are still awaiting the publication of the full recommendations from the WRC, which have yet to be seen. I have no doubt the members of the retained fire service are also eagerly awaiting to see the full content.
“For too long Minister Darragh O’Brien has been missing in action when it comes to trying find solutions to this crisis.
“He must now do right by retained firefighters, and act in the best interests of the retained fire service and its membership to bring this dispute to closure.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has called on the Government to act to fund all of the places for trainee counselling psychologists at Trinity College Dublin in the coming academic year.
Last year the Government provided funding for only 10 of the 14 trainee counselling psychologists in Trinity, leaving 4 trainees at a disadvantage to their classmates.
Teachta Ward said:
“I have received correspondence from new counselling psychology students for the upcoming academic year who have reported that 4 out of 14 positions at Trinity College Dublin will not receive funding towards their training. I have had engagement with stakeholders who have reported the same.
“I have contacted the Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD, whose response did not give clarity or certainty for unfunded students.
“This is extremely disappointing, especially given that there has been a long campaign to bring parity for pay with their Trainee Clinical Psychologists peers. There will not even be parity within their own course.
“This will mean that 10 individuals will receive funding towards their fees. They will also be paid for their work while 4 of their classmates will go without.
“The reality of this means that these 4 people will have to reconsider their options and I have received correspondence from students that this is already happening.
“More needs to be done to provide certainty for these applicants, particularly during this mental health crisis where we are crying out for increased staff.
“The Minister has stated that this administrative decision for eligibility lies with the HSE and Trinity College Dublin, but I have received a PQ response from the HSE to say the structure of the funding was being finalised by the Department of Health. Clarity needs to be provided.
“Counselling psychologists help patients to address emotional social or physical stressors in their lives.
“I have spoken with stakeholders in this area and they have concerns on how this will impact on trainee counselling psychologist taking up positions and how will it impact on the future workforce.
“The Government, once again, has turned an open goal into an own goal.
“We need to expand the staff that are available and pay parity is one of the ways to ensure this happens.
“Sinn Féin's alternative budget outlined how we would address the disparity between how different psychologist positions are funded
“I am calling on the Minister and Government to act quickly on this and give certainty for the upcoming academic year.”
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the occurrences of toxic algae in numerous locations this summer highlights the need for action on water quality.
The East Derry MLA said:
"I have been in repeated contact with the NI Environment Agency (NIEA) on the occurrences of toxic algae in the water including in the sea at Castlerock, Portstewart, Benone and Downhill.
"The occurrence of toxic algae can be exacerbated by high levels of nutrients associated with pollution in the water, as well as by higher than average temperature and some invasive species.
"I have asked the NIEA what actions were being taken to address the issues causing the more frequent occurrence of toxic algae.
“NIEA have said that meetings to progress actions within the River Basin Management Plan to improve water quality will begin in September and will include measures targeted at reducing excess nutrients at source, such as the agriculture industry.
"The instances of toxic algae in numerous locations this summer highlights the need for action on water quality and it is important that this is taken forward as a priority."
Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has condemned last night’s savage attack on Talbot Street and reaffirmed her call for a greater visible Garda presence in Dublin’s city centre.
She said the spate of attacks in the capital city in recent weeks is a cause of great concern, and called on the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to get real about keeping communities safe.
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“I want to extend my sympathy to the individual concerned, and to wish him a speedy recovery.
“I call on any potential witnesses, or anyone with any information about this attack, to come forward and support the Gardaí in their investigation.
“Such attacks have no place in our society. But, unfortunately, these kinds of attacks are becoming increasingly common in our capital city.
“Sinn Féin, along with our party spokesperson on Justice, Pa Daly, and TDs and councillors from right across Dublin, have held a series of meetings in recent weeks with communities, workers and business owners across the city centre.
“They have all relayed their exasperation at the lack of a visible Garda presence on our streets. People feel vulnerable and are concerned for their own safety and that of their communities, co-workers and customers. They feel our streets are more dangerous than they ever were before.
“And it will not be lost on them that when Bank of Ireland wanted protection for their ATMs on Tuesday night, no stone was left unturned to exhaust Garda resources to do so. But the priority of any government should be for its police service to protect its people.
“Dubliners, those who call this city home, tourists and Gardaí, all deserve to be safe but have all been failed by Fine Gael being in government, and being in charge of the Department of Justice, for 12 years.
“Helen McEntee needs to get real about keeping our communities safe. Fine Gael’s failure to recruit and retain Gardaí is a major issue - and the people of Dublin and in communities throughout the state are paying the price for that failure.
“Sinn Féin, as outlined by Pa Daly, has a plan to keep our streets safe, protect our communities, and support Gardaí.”
Sinn Féin's 'Keeping Communities Safe' document can be read here.
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has branded scenes from 15 August bonfires in Derry ‘disgraceful’ and said it’s time to end displays of hate.
The party’s policing spokesperson said
“Images from bonfires in Derry on Tuesday are disgraceful and wrong.
“The burning of all flags, wreaths and posters is deeply offensive, it is a disrespectful, and it must end.
“There is no place for these displays of hate no matter where they are in our society.
“All of this is in stark contrast to the many excellent community festivals that are taking place across the city; celebrating art, culture, the future and everything that is good about the city and its people.”
Sinn Féin TD for Limerick, Maurice Quinlivan, has received confirmation from Gardaí that parts of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, in relation to scramblers, are still awaiting enactment.
This means Gardaí still lack the powers of search, seizure and arrest related to inappropriate use of scrambler bikes.
Teachta Quinlivan said:
“The additional powers afforded to Gardaí by the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 will allow for greater enforcement powers with regards to the seizure of scramblers.
"The RSA notes that many of those injured in scrambler and quad bike accidents are under the age of 18.
“A robust and dedicated response is needed as the situation has worsened over recent years. Some of the drivers wear balaclavas and often drive in a deliberately reckless manner. People are frightened and the topic has been one of huge concern across Limerick, and indeed, across the state.
“I have spoken to many elderly people who are terrified of scramblers. They also have a hugely negative impact on many of our communities due to the noise. We need a much stronger response from the Gardaí on this issue.
“I have seen children as young as five or six operating these vehicles in public spaces. Those who misuse these vehicles have no care for the danger they pose either to themselves or to other road users and pedestrians.
"Without the enactment of the agreed legislation, I fear that it is only a matter of time until there is a serious injury or death arising out of operation of these vehicles by youths and children.”
Teachta Mark Ward, Sinn Féin member of the Oireachtas Justice Committee said:
“You only have to walk down any street or into any park in Dublin Mid-West and you will be confronted by the noise of scramblers.
“These scramblers are potential lethal weapons in the hands of young and inexperienced drivers, posing a threat to their own safety and those of others.
“Along with a number of colleagues, Sinn Fein produced legislation to resolve this problem, which forced the Government to finally introduce laws.
“However, even after these laws went through the Dáil, they have continued to sit on their hands. We need this legislation enacted urgently."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Pa Daly TD said:
“A number of my colleagues have been active on this issue for many years now, and it is to their credit that the government finally took action in the recent Road Traffic and Roads Act.
“However the lack of an enactment of this legislation means communities continue to be terrorised by the public order and environmental issues improper use of these bikes cause.
"I call on the Minister for Justice to take immediate action to enact this legislation."
Sinn Féin TD and chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Brian Stanley, has stated the Grant Thornton report published today further underlines the severe levels of concealment that senior management in RTÉ went to in order to mislead the public and the Oireachtas regarding Ryan Tubridy’s salary.
Teachta Stanley said:
“The Grant Thornton report is quite clear. Those involved in the decision to under-declare Ryan Tubridy’s salary between 2017 to 2019 engaged in a deliberate process to deceive and mislead.
“Mr Tubridy did not receive the previously reported figures of €491,667 in 2017 and €495,000 in 2018 and 2019. Tubridy received the full salary of €511,667 in 2017 and €545,000 in 2018 and 2019.
“When RTÉ chose to understate Mr Tubridy’s earnings in Jan 2021, Mr Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly had the opportunity to publicly correct the record – they failed to do so. They chose to be complicit in misleading the public and the Oireachtas.
“Separate to the understatement of Mr Tubridy’s earnings by €120,000, there is also the so-called ‘loyalty payment’ of €120,000 that Mr Tubridy chose to waive his right to. This was pounced upon by the previous CFO Breda O’Keefe as an opportunity to understate the published figures.
“As the Grant Thornton auditor concludes, ‘in my opinion, the logic of the adjustments was not sound’ accountancy practice. This should never have happened.
“Where was the Director General Dee Forbes during this? What was the role of Director of Content Jim Jennings during this negotiation? Why did Deloitte not put a halt to this?
“As Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, I believe the Public Accounts Committee needs a further hearing attended by Dee Forbes, Breda O’Keefe, Richard Collins, Jim Jennings and the auditor from Deloitte that was assigned to RTÉ during this period.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Higher and Further Education, Mairéad Farrell TD, has urged government to take action to protect students from accommodation scams.
Her comments follow the launch of the ‘Scamwatch Campaign’ by student unions and Threshold.
Speaking today, Teachta Farrell said:
“There is a severe shortage of student accommodation at colleges across the state. Students are desperate to secure suitable rentals and as a result some are falling prey to scammers taking advantage of this desperation.
“This is happening because the government has failed to take action and address the housing crisis despite clear and repeated warnings from students and people across the further and higher education sector.
“I am deeply concerned by reports of students being scammed hundreds and even thousands of Euros when they attempt to secure accommodation.
“Government must act urgently to protect students and tackle the underlying issues around the lack of housing supply.
“I am concerned that international students are particularly vulnerable to these scams, as they may lack local knowledge to determine whether a rental advert is authentic or not.
“The government has totally failed student renters by abandoning them in the grip of the housing crisis. It isn’t good enough.
“Sinn Féin in government would stand up for students and deliver genuinely affordable homes for rent, including suitable student accommodation.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has called on the Central Bank to investigate the latest IT failure by Bank of Ireland.
The Donegal TD has said yesterday’s IT failure will exact lasting reputational damage on the bank and reveals a clear disregard for customer services as its profits soar.
Teachta Doherty said:
“Yesterday’s IT systems failure at Bank of Ireland raises serious questions for the bank and will inflict lasting damage on its reputation.
“This is the latest in a series of IT failures at Bank of Ireland that have impacted its customers.
“The Central Bank should investigate this latest failure without delay.
“Citizens and businesses are reliant on the proper functioning of technology systems to deliver financial services.
“What is required is a full investigation into what has taken place, and a wider review of the IT systems that our banking sector operates, and which our communities and businesses rely on.
“Other questions need to be answered – including whether Bank of Ireland made contact with An Garda Síochána to deploy resources to local ATMs, and if there was any awareness at government level over these deployments.
“Customers have a right to expect high quality services – that expectation has been broken in this latest debacle.
“This failure underlines, yet again, the relegation of consumer interests to the service of corporate greed and profit.
“It will be lost on no one that Bank of Ireland recorded profits in excess of €1 billion in the first half of this year – up 192 percent.
“A bank that recently announced that it would return €450 million to the pockets of shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
“At the same time, this shocking failure has led to the deployment of Gardaí to ATMs with the potential to adversely impact customers who could now be overdrawn.
“This is a bank that has removed ATMs and branches from local communities, forcing many to online banking while clearly failing to invest in its own IT infrastructure.
“Sinn Féin, citizens and customers will rightly ask why these exceptional profits are not being invested in areas that improve customer services.
“This is a bank that this government allows to reduce the corporation tax it pays to nil by carrying forward historic losses.
“These types of IT failures have become a regular occurrence – it is not acceptable.
“This latest debacle, which will inflict lasting reputational damage on Bank of Ireland, raises serious questions over its investment in its own systems and customer service at a time when its profit margins have soared.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has warned of a growing crisis in the provision of mental health services in Dublin after it was confirmed that, due to nursing shortages, the 16-bed Sub-Acute Unit in the St James’s Hospital Psychiatric Unit will close next week.
Speaking after the news was confirmed by Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), Teachta Ward said:
“The closure of these 16 beds is yet another body blow for mental health provision in CHO 7.
“The beds in the Sub-Acute unit are a vital cog in a patient’s recovery from mental ill health. This unit is a step-down service to ease a patient back into their community and onto the road to recovery.
“The Psychiatric Nurses Association blamed the planned closure of the 16-bed unit on a staffing crisis and said there had been a failure to recruit and retain sufficient psychiatric nursing staff to maintain services.
“PNA General Secretary Peter Hughes said that the 16 beds equate to almost 50% of the admission beds for the St James’s service and the catchment area of 134,000 people.
“This issue was raised last year and the government and HSE have failed to act.
“The closure of mental health beds during a mental health emergency is inexcusable.
“There is also a complete lack in community-based mental health services which compounds the issue.
“The closure of these beds comes on top of the decision to close 11 of the 23 inpatient beds in Linn Dara, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
“The beds in Linn Dara closed in May 2022 and, despite government promises, they remain closed.
“The HSE and government must now come forward to target solutions and incentives to encourage the recruitment and retention of nurses to adequately staff mental health.
“There is a serious problem in workforce planning in the HSE. The recruitment and retention problems of health care staff needs to be addressed, particularly in Dublin.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister Charlie McConalogue to provide an update on applications to the new Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) without delay.
The closing date for tranche 1 of TAMS applications was at the end of June. Since then, no update has been provided to farmers or farm advisors on the status of their applications.
Speaking today, Teachta Kerrane said:
“We are in the middle of August and farmers still do not know if their TAMS application has been approved. This is unacceptable.
“Thousands of farmers across the state are stuck in limbo, where they have no idea if or when they might be able to start planned works.
“The situation is understandably causing stress and frustration for farmers, many of whom want to proceed with works as soon as possible.
“As representatives from organisations such as the IFA and ICMSA have noted, it is incredibly difficult for farmers to plan or work to a timeline when they don’t know whether they are going to get a grant.
“The delay in getting TAMS applications approved is causing many farmers to have to push back planned works. Farmers need urgent clarity in order to get works done in 2023 as intended.
“I am calling on the Minister and his Department to provide an update on TAMS applications immediately.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, and spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, today met with retail workers, and their trade union representatives Mandate, to listen to their concerns regarding their safety working in Dublin City.
Speaking afterwards, Deputy O’Reilly said that the voices of retail workers had been largely absent in recent discussions about keeping Dublin safe, and reaffirmed Sinn Féin’s commitment to addressing workers' concerns.
Teachta O’Reilly said:
“Sinn Féin believes that the voices of retail workers have been lost in recent discussions regarding keeping Dublin safe.
“We therefore felt it important to meet with workers, and their representatives Mandate, today to hear from them directly. What they tell us is that concerns for their safety, particularly from those working in the city centre, are worse than ever.
“They talk about not just concerns that they have for their own safety but also concerns for their co-workers and customers. They are anxious about travelling to and from work, and opening up in the morning and locking up in the evening.
“There are workers travelling to work in the city centre 24 hours a day, and they deserve to feel safe. They want to see a visible Garda presence around the streets of our city, not just when it is busy but in the morning and late at night when they feel isolated and most vulnerable.
“They also spoke very favourably about Sinn Féin’s proposals for a dedicated transport police as so many of these workers based in the city centre are commuting in from various parts of the city and beyond, using public transport to get there outside of the normal rush-hour traffic. They want to be able to travel to work safely.
“We were very pleased to have the opportunity to talk to retail workers today, particularly as their voices have been largely absent from recent discussions about keeping Dublin safe.
“Sinn Féin stands with those workers, and we are determined that their voices are heard and concerns addressed.
“It should not take increased media interest or assaults on tourists for the government to realise we have a serious issue with crime and public safety on the streets of our capital city.
“Dubliners, those who call this city home, tourists and Gardaí, all deserve to be safe but have all been failed by Fine Gael being in government, and being in charge of the Department of Justice, for 12 years.
“A sticking-plaster approach will not cut it. To tackle crime in Dublin, we need real reform to keep communities safe, as outlined in Sinn Féin’s proposal document, 'Keeping Communities Safe'.”
Sinn Féin's 'Keeping Communities Safe' document can be read here.
