Sinn Féin spokesperson on Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said that the planned commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) on the 17th January is an insult to those who fought for Irish freedom.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
"As a member of the All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations, I can attest to the fact that the Committee were not consulted on this commemoration, and if we were I have no doubt that it would have dismissed out of hand because it is an insult to those who fought for Irish freedom.
"The role of the RIC, and the DMP, were not merely to act as police forces, but they had a specific role to instill terror in the populace in an attempt to break the democratic will of the Irish people for independence.
"In no other State that has emerged from anti-colonial struggle would they celebrate the deeds of the oppressors.
"This is Fine Gael revisionism in action, which has seen more emphasis placed on celebrating partition and the Government of Ireland Act than other key historic events that were part of the architecture of the fledgling Republic declared in 1916 and the events that surrounded its attempts to assert its rights.
"Fine Gael are more interested in commemorating the enforcers of British rule in Ireland - such as the RIC and DMP - than ordinary citizens who bore the brunt of British forces, including those in the RIC and its reinforcements in the Black and Tans and Auxiliaries.
"It is an insult to their legacy."
Following receipt of a Protected Disclosure from a whistleblower this week, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said that the Arts Council CEO Orla McBride, Chairperson Kevin Rafter and Minister Josepha Madigan must provide clarity in respect of plans to relocate the Arts Council Head Office.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:
"I am calling on the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan, the Arts Council CEO Orla McBride and Chairperson Kevin Rafter to respond to points that I am highlighting today that have been made in a Protected Disclosure to me which alleges that the Arts Council is exposing the taxpayer to increased costs - or diverting monies better spent on the Arts - by contemplating a move to another building.
"This Protected Disclosure suggests that proper government purchasing/procurement guidelines have not been followed in the pursuit of this new premises, that the Minister and the Department have not been made aware of the move and that making minor alterations to the current premises to bring it up to the required standard represents a much cheaper option.
"I have forwarded copies of the Protected Disclosure to Minister Josepha Madigan and the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD.”
Inniu san Dáil d'impigh an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, úrlabhraí Shinn Féin ar an nGaeilge ar an Aire Oideachais Joe McHugh iarraidh ar Choimisiúin na Scrúduithe Stáit tarraingt siar ón sórt páipéirí scrúduithe don Ghaeilge sa tSraith Shóisearach a d'fhoilsigh siad an tseachtain seo.
Ag labhairt ina dhiaidh, dúirt An Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh gur "céim ar chúl don Ghaeilge a bheas ann má leanann Coimisiúin na Srúduithe Stáit ar aghaidh leis anb páipéar scrúdúithe do T2 (do scoileanna Béarla) ag na scrúduithe sóisearacha mí Meithimh seo chugainn.
"Ní léir domsa gur chun tairbhe na teanga nó na mac léinn atá an dréacht pháipéar, má thagann as, de réir múinteoirí Gaeilge meánscoileanna, go n-iompóidh daltaí i gcoinne na Gaeilge dá bharr.
"Deir a lán múinteoirí Gaeilge go bhfuil an caighdeán atá an Coimisiúin ag lorg chun pas nó níos airde a bhaint amach ró-dheacar don leibhéal seo.
"Níor chóir go mbeadh an scrúdú ag an léibhéal don tSraith Shóisearach chomh deacair sin nach mbeadh ach mic léinn triú léibhéal in ann tabhairt faoi mar a dúirt ceann de na múinteoirí Gaeilge an tseachtain seo.
“Gan an tacaíocht bhreise atá de dhith ó mhúinteoirí agus ó dhaltaí tríd an córas oideachais ar fad ón mbunscoil ar aghaidh ní thiocfaidh as an athrú sa scrúdú atá molta ach níos daltaí ag teipeadh sa scrúdú Gaeilge, naimheadas a chruthú i leith na teanga i measc daltaí agus níos mó daltaí ag dhéanamh iarratais ar dhíolúine.
“Tá gá an Ghaeilge a bheith lárnach sa churuclam sa Bhunscoil, agus lárnach sa chóras oiliúna d’ábhair mhúinteoirí bunscoile agus meánscoile sula mbeidh muid ag súil le go mbeadh ardú don sórt caighdeáin i measc daltaí bheith in ann tabhairt faoin a leithéad den dréacht scrúdú a foilsíodh an tseachtain seo."
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snoadiagh has been unanimously selected as the Sinn Féin candidate to contest the next General Election in Dublin South Central.
At the convention held in the historic Richmond Barracks, Deputy Ó Snodaigh was strongly supported by Sinn Féin members, local councillors and area representatives. Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald also attended and addressed the convention.
Speaking at the convention, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:
“I am proud to be selected as the Sinn Féin candidate for the Dublin South Central constituency. I thank party members, local councillors and voters for their continuing support.
“Since my first election to the Dáil in 2002 I have stood up for hard working families. I worked hard to improve the lives of my communities, to constantly call for more housing, to support adults and children with disabilities, to improve mental health services, to protect communities against anti social behaviour and to fight for additional resources for community supports.
“The current Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil Government has failed my constituents and the vast majority of Irish people. We have an unprecedented housing crisis, one million patients waiting for hospital treatment and communities starved of funding across the State.
“If the people of Dublin South Central continue with their trust in me and elect me for another term, they can be assured that my strong work ethic and proud record of delivering for people will continue.
“My 17 years in the Dáil have seen me challenge successive governments on their record on social rights and delivery.
“I want to continue this work. Above all, I want to be part of this generation that will finally deliver Irish unity. The present establishment which has overseen corruption, failure and greed can only be challenged through the building of a new republic that will deliver fairness and equality for all.
Speaking at the convention Mary Lou Mc Donald said:
“Aengus has been an excellent representative for the people of Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard and Crumlin and Drimnagh and all parts of Dublin South Central since he was first elected in 2002.
“He is a historian, legislator, republican and United Irelander and the people of Dublin South Central will be privileged to re-elect him for another term of office. He is needed for his strong left progressive politics, sense of fairness and justice and his record of delivery for constituents needing assistance” concluded Deputy Mc Donald.
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South-Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh has given a guarded welcome to the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy's announcement that Mr Patrick Butler SC is to investigate the role of Dublin City Council in the payment of “protection” monies to individuals.
Deputy Ó Snodaigh TD said:
"I am giving a guarded welcome to Minister Murphy's announcement that he has appointed Patrick Butler SC to head up the investigation into the allegation that protection money was paid to criminals in Cherry Orchard.
"I do not believe Dublin City Council should be the sole focus of this investigation. I first raised these issues in December 2016 with his predecessor Simon Coveney, the then Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and current Minister Catherine Byrne. I also contacted senior Gardaí, City Council and the voluntary housing body building the houses. It really is a case of better late than ever.
"I firmly believe the remit for Mr Patrick Butler’s investigation should be expanded to also cover their respective Departments. The public have a right to know why Ministers and State agencies ignored the warning signals back in 2016.
"Only as full an investigation as possible will ensure that whatever findings and recommendations produced reflect the full picture of what occurred since a construction company went onto the first of the three sites.
"In light of this, I believe the December 9th report back deadline is to tight. To do full justice to the gravity of the allegations, a more realistic deadline is March next year.
"I am deeply concerned that the issues raised in my letters to all the above parties in December 2016 and January 2017 about interference from criminals in State funded construction sites still exist.
"Communities are still being held to ransom. It is essential that Gardaí are immediately and adequately resourced to tackle this criminality head on."
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh has called for additional resources for An Garda Síochána including the lifting of the current overtime ban over the Halloween period to prevent any increase in the level of anti-social behaviour.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said;
“I raised again in the Dáil today with the Government the need for increased Garda activity over the next week to provide safe community policing. This will require additional financing to put gardaí on the streets.
“It is my understanding for my own area in Dublin South Central that a policing plan for Ballyfermot was recently submitted to Garda management seeking this resourcing. This plan must be approved to increase visibility and allow everybody to enjoy the upcoming festivities.
“The community groups, gardaí and local representatives have worked extremely well over the last number of years to develop community events and reduce anti-social behaviour.
“Without a similar approach this year, the potential increases for violent disorder to take place like in years gone by.
“The Minister for Justice along with Garda management must work together to reduce this potential for trouble and that means lifting the overtime ban and increasing garda activity.
“This needs to be the approach in Dublin South Central and across the state to ensure everyone has a happy and fun Halloween period where activities can be enjoyed in a safe and controlled environment”.
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South-Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said this evening that Minister Eoghan Murphy’s independent investigation into extortion relating to Cherry Orchard building sites runs the risk of becoming a ploy to bury an issue that has exposed major failings by his party colleagues and by the authorities.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh has said the Minister must ensure that the investigation has a tight timeframe, and that its findings be published and acted upon.
Deputy Ó Snodaigh said;
“For this investigation to be effective, it must ensure that it looks at whether or not the case before the High Court at present is part of a pattern of intimidation and extortion of building contractors in the area, across the city and in the State in general.
“The announcement by Minister Eoghan Murphy comes on the back of revelations in and outside the Dáil that his predecessor as Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney, his colleague the then Minister for Justice now MEP Frances Fitzgerald, and senior Gardaí were made aware of extortionist demands, threats and criminal acts directed at builders of social housing in the Cherry Orchard area as far back as December 2016 and January 2017.
“The concerns that I raised with them were ignored or dismissed and no action was taken on foot of the letters I sent them. These letters had also been sent to senior management in Dublin City Council, the local TD and junior minister Catherine Byrne and to the housing body Cooperative Housing Ireland.
“What’s needed now is for an investigation to address the reason why Ministers and An Garda Síochána ignored my request for a meeting and that in fact Minster Francis Fitzgerald dismissed my concerns.
“It is unacceptable that certain communities are allowed to by held to ransom by criminal gangs as in this case.
“The investigation must contain an action plan to ensure there is no repeat of this crime when the large urban regeneration Cherry Orchard-Park West Local Area Plan, that includes 1,500 new homes, is being rolled out over the next few years.”
