April 2007 archives for Press Releases
April 30, 2007
Seán MacManus recovering in Sligo General Hospital
Sinn Féin's Sligo/North Leitrim representative Seán MacManus is recuperating in Sligo General hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home in the early hours of the morning. View more
April 30, 2007
Sinn Féin to set out details of leadership tour of 27 constituiencies
Sinn Féin Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald will announce details of a major constituency tour by the party's leadership which will see visits to 27 constituencies over the next six days. View more
April 30, 2007
Cowen should be honest with electorate – McDonald
Sinn Féin MEP and Dublin Central election candidate Mary Lou McDonald has said contrary to what Brian Cowen may think Sinn Féin has a very strong economic policy which the party will unveil this week. Ms. McDonald said the Minister for Finance and the other parties should be honest in the election and stop indulging in auction politics. View more
April 27, 2007
Findings on anti-social behaviour an indictment of Government policy — Ó Snodaigh
The findings of a Sinn Féin survey, released today, are an indictment of the Government’s handling of the issue of community safety according to the party’s Justice spokeperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD. View more
April 27, 2007
No expense to be spared in fight against drugs – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking at a Merchant Quay debate on the drugs crisis today Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said no expense will be spared by Sinn Féin in the fight against drugs as the cost of failure is too high. Outlining what Sinn Féin believes should be the priorities for the next National Drugs Strategy Deputy Ó Snodaigh again reiterated his call for the reinstatement of a Minister with sole responsibility for the implementation of the strategy. View more
April 27, 2007
Serious Concerns over timing and content of proposed Immigration legislation
Responding to the publication today of the Government's Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, Sinn Féin's Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has expressed serious concern over the timing and content of the Bill. View more
April 26, 2007
People paying on the double for healthcare – Ó Caoláin
Speaking on the Government’s motion on risk equalisation Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said people were paying on the double for health services and that Fianna Fáil/PD policies would result in higher health insurance charges and the worsening of the two-tier system. View more
April 26, 2007
CSO findings show need for new deal on drugs – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has reiterated his call for the Government to reinstate a full-time minister with the sole responsibility for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. View more
April 26, 2007
Ó Snodaigh welcomes commission of investigation into death of Gary Douch
Speaking in the Dáil today on the Commission of Investigation into the death of Gary Douch Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said, “Every state failure to protect the lives of those in custody, whether in a Garda station or in a prison, must be the subject of an independent investigation”. Deputy Ó Snodaigh welcomed the commission of investigation and said it has the potential to both uncover the truth and to make sound recommendations to prevent further tragic loss of life. However he criticised the inaction of the Government to protect prisoners’ bodily integrity. View more
April 26, 2007
Investigation into Leas Cross Nursing Home scandal welcomed
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has welcomed the establishment of a Commission of Investigation into the Leas Cross Nursing Home scandal. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Caoláin said he has no doubt that “inadequate staffing, inadequate care and, most seriously, inadequate vigilance on behalf of State authorities led to the deaths of patients in Leas Cross and in other nursing homes.” View more
April 25, 2007
Talks with PUP welcome but UVF death threats to nationalists must be addressed
Sinn Fein Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed today's talks between the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and PUP leader Dawn Purvis and said that he hoped that the recent death threats from the UVF to well over 100 republicans and nationalists in North would top the agenda at the talks. View more
April 25, 2007
Government claim of ‘1,000 beds’ from co-location is a complete sham – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhhghín Ó Caoláin has described as “a complete sham” the Government’s claim that the private for-profit hospitals to be built under its co-location scheme will ‘free up’ for public patients 1,000 beds in public hospitals. In reply to a Dáil Question from Deputy Ó Caoláin, Health Minister Mary Harney has admitted that it is not possible to say how many beds will be provided. View more
April 25, 2007
Ó Snodaigh outlines Sinn Féin opposition to Offences Against the State Act
Sinn Féin Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has once again outlined Sinn Féin’s opposition to the Offences Against the State Act. Speaking against the motion renewing the Act in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, “Every Deputy in this House who values democracy must firstly vote against the government motion and then campaign for the repeal of the Offences Against the State Acts in their entirety.” View more
April 25, 2007
Sinn Féin priority will be premium public services
Sinn Féin’s TDs today said that they are preparing for the election of a significant number of colleagues in the forthcoming General Election and their aim was for their party to be in Government North and South. They said their priority was “the provision of premium public services – especially in health and housing”. They called for real engagement and debate during the election campaign. View more
April 24, 2007
Ó Caoláin welcomes resumption of talks in nurse’s dispute
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson and Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has welcomed news that face to face talks between the HSE and nursing unions are to resume in a bid to resolve the dispute over nurses pay and conditions. View more
April 24, 2007
Ahern completely misrepresents housing statistics – Morgan
Speaking following comments by the Minister of State for Housing Noel Ahern that the “social housing targets were being realised”, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing Deputy Arthur Morgan described the Minister’s comments as a blatant misrepresentation of the facts. View more
April 24, 2007
Minister Ahern way off the mark on drugs situation – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on the Minister with responsibility for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy Noel Ahern to make clear whether he supports the City-Wide campaign for a new deal on drugs. View more
April 23, 2007
Patients are caught in middle in Government/IHCA dispute – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that public hospital patients are the sufferers in the dispute between the Government, the HSE and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA). Criticising both the Health Minister Mary Harney and the IHCA Deputy Ó Caoláin said they had “totally failed to provide equity of care for public patients as promised as far back as 2001”. View more
April 20, 2007
Disastrous co-location plan being forced through without mandate – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has condemned Health Minister Mary Harney for sending out tenders to build six private hospitals on the grounds of existing public hospitals. Deputy Ó Caoláin said Minister Harney has no mandate for her disastrous co-location plan and must not now force it through in the dying days of this Government. View more
April 20, 2007
In government Sinn Féin will reduce class sizes
Speaking today from the Department of Education Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education and Dublin South West TD Sean Crowe said Sinn Féin’s top education priorities are reducing class sizes, tackling educational disadvantage and providing sufficient school places in high standard school buildings. View more
April 19, 2007
Means testing for Carers Allowance must be abolished – Crowe
During a meeting with the Clondalkin and Tallaght Carers’ Association today, Sinn Féin Dublin South West TD Sean Crowe assured the organisation, which represents 8,037 family carers in South Dublin, that ensuring proper financial support to home carers and ending the means test for the Carers Allowance will be a priority for Sinn Féin in Government. View more
April 19, 2007
Juvenile justice funding cynical attempt to buy election – Ó Snodaigh
Responding to today's announcement on juvenile justice provisions Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD accused the Government of using children to buy the election. While he welcomed the financial package to implement some of the Children Act 2001 Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the Act has been in place for the lifetime of this Government with the bulk of its provisions lying dormant. He said, “Denying children a decent justice system and then using them to buy an election is the sort of shameful practice that we have come to expect from this government.” View more
April 18, 2007
Harney’s bullish comments unhelpful – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking from St. James Hospital today, where nurses have begun a one hour work stoppage, Sinn Féin Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh again called on Health Minister Mary Harney to intervene in the nurses’ dispute. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said negative comments from the Minister in this morning’s media are extremely disappointing. View more
April 18, 2007
Ó Snodaigh welcomes announcement of Domestic Violence Office
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed the announcement of plans for an official office to tackle and prevent domestic violence. However Deputy Ó Snodaigh restated Sinn Féin’s demand for increased funding and legislative reform for the domestic violence sector. Deputy Ó Snodaigh also said the timing of the announcement by the Government is very suspicious given that they have done little or nothing on this issue in the last ten years. View more
April 18, 2007
Students grants system must be simplified – Crowe
Speaking today in support of the Union of Students of Ireland’s protest outside the Dáil over the student grants debacle, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD said the complex system of grants administration needs to be simplified urgently. Deputy Crowe said there should be no more procrastination from the Minister. View more
April 18, 2007
Ireland still in first gear on broadband provision – Crowe
Reacting to a damning report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications on the provision of broadband, Sinn Féin Communications spokesperson Seán Crowe said, Ireland still has not got out of first gear when it comes to broadband provision and the blame lies solely at the door of the government. View more
April 17, 2007
Ferris expresses disappointment on farm inspections
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, has expressed his disappointment at the failure of the Government to secure any change to the current system of on farm inspections. The Kerry North TD was responding to an EU Commission report which yesterday rejected a proposal to give farmers 14 days notice prior to a visit from an inspector. View more
April 16, 2007
Crowe calls for breakfast club and school meals system to address child food poverty
Speaking this morning Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe called for the introduction of a universal system of breakfast clubs and school meals throughout all schools to help address child food poverty. View more
April 16, 2007
Harney is driving the health services into the ground Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has said the Fianna Fail/PD government is running the health services into the ground Speaking today Deputy Ó Caoláin attacked Minister Harney’s record as Health Minister. View more
April 16, 2007
Ó Snodaigh endorses City-Wide campaign for a new deal on drugs
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has endorsed the City-Wide Drugs Crisis Campaign for a new deal on drugs. Speaking at the press conference organised by the City-Wide group to launch the campaign Deputy Ó Snodaigh said in Government Sinn Féin would implement campaign’s proposed new deal. View more
April 13, 2007
Co-location scheme is complete shambles – Ó Caoláin
Following confirmation from the HSE that contracts for the private for-profit hospitals on public hospital sites will not likely be signed until after the General Election and claims by HSE Chief Brendan Drumm that he has never discussed the scheme with Health Minister Mary Harney, Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has described the co-location plan as “a complete shambles”. View more
April 13, 2007
Harney should grant nurses' just demands – Ó Caoláin
Speaking ahead of work stoppages by nurses at three hospitals this morning Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to cede to the nurses just demands for a 35-hour working week and fair pay. Deputy Ó Caoláin laid the blame for work stoppages firmly at the door of the Minister who he said had failed to ensure fair working conditions for nurses. View more
April 13, 2007
Government under-funding facilitating commercialisation of schools – Crowe
Speaking this morning Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe slammed the Government for its “non-interventionist approach concerning the growing commercialisation of schools in this state.” Deputy Crowe said due to a lack of Government funding schools are being left vulnerable to multinational companies who are more than willing to provide resources to schools but only under certain conditions. View more
April 13, 2007
FG-Labour stamp duty proposals “ill-thought out” – Morgan
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Housing Deputy Arthur Morgan TD today spoke out against FG-Labour proposals to amend stamp duty. Deputy Morgan described the proposals as “ill-thought out” and said that they would do “nothing for house-buyers but would benefit the developer who would simply increase their prices to take account of stamp duty costs.” View more
April 12, 2007
Crowe pays tribute to Rovers fans on 20th Anniversary of last competitive game at Glenmalure Park
Speaking this morning, on the 20th anniversary of Shamrock Rovers’ last competitive game in Glenmalure Park, Milltown, Tallaght-based Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said, “Contrary to various reports, Sinn Féin is fully behind Shamrock Rovers’ move to Tallaght and we wish to see this happen as soon as possible with the completion of the Tallaght Community Stadium that will serve the entire community”. View more
April 12, 2007
Revenue must act on Report to help PAYE workers reclaim tax – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Finance spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners to act on the Report of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service which has recommended action to facilitate PAYE workers to claim tax credits, allowances and reliefs which are massively under-claimed at present. View more
April 12, 2007
Gun death study highlights Government failure on drugs crisis – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said a study linking forty percent of recent gun deaths to drug crime has highlighted the Government’s failure to deal with the drugs crisis. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the study revealed the urgent need for early intervention programmes to identify young people in violent environments who are at risk of becoming serious offenders themselves. View more
April 12, 2007
Ó Snodaigh welcomes Language Commissioner's third report
Sinn Féin Irish Language Spokesperson Aengus Ó Sondaigh TD, has welcomed the recent Language Commissioner report on the lack of empathy regarding certain public bodies. View more
April 12, 2007
Private Hospital co-location plan must be scrapped now - Ó Caoláin
Responding to news that the Government's plan to provide public hospital land and tax break to the developers of private for-profit hospitals is in trouble, with reported disagreements between Health Minister Mary Harney and HSE Chief Brendan Drumm, and speculation that the proposed ten hospital sites will be reduced to four, Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called for the plan to be scrapped now. View more
April 11, 2007
Electorate should be aware of Government’s failure on drugs crisis – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed an initiative from The Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign to make the drugs crisis an election issue. Speaking today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the electorate should be made aware of the Government’s failure to recognise the extent of the drugs crisis and match it with the appropriate priority and resources. View more
April 4, 2007
Morgan calls for zero tolerance to work related fatalities as Sinn Féin introduces legislation to create offence of Corporate Manslaughter
Sinn Féin Workers Rights spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD today introduced legislation in the Dáil which will create the offence of Corporate Manslaughter in Irish law that will be applicable to a company if they are responsible for the death of a worker in their organisation. If found guilty of the new offences these reckless companies will be liable to severe financial penalties alongside adverse publicity orders, community service orders, and disqualification orders. View more
April 4, 2007
HSE drug report highlights urgent need for Government to meet demands of Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for the establishment of a Minister of State with sole responsibility for dealing with the drugs crisis. Speaking in the Dáil today, in response to a report published by the HSE that showed children as young as eight years old are experiencing drugs misuse, Deputy Morgan said the Government must respond to the demands of the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign. View more
April 4, 2007
New Irish disenfranchised by Government inefficiency – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin’s Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has condemned Government inefficiency in processing citizenship applications, resulting in the effective disenfranchisement of immigrants who should be entitled to vote in the upcoming general election. View more
April 4, 2007
Dáil should hold special sitting to debate collusion – Ó Caoláin
Responding to the publication of the McEntee report Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Taoiseach to recall the Dáil during the Easter recess to allow time for a full and open debate on collusion. View more
April 3, 2007
Morgan calls on Government to make special arrangements for supplementary register
Speaking following the news that 34% of members of Macra na Feirme are nor registered to vote, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Local Government Deputy Arthur Morgan called on the Government to make special arrangements to encourage eligible voters to gain entry to the supplementary register of electors. View more
April 3, 2007
Harney must intervene to ensure speedy resolution of nurses’ dispute
Speaking in the Dail today Sinn Féin Dáil leader and spokesperson on Health and Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD extended Sinn Féin’s support for nurses’ demands for a 35-hour working week and the resolution of pay anomalies. Deputy Ó Caoláin called on The Minister for Health and Children to intervene immediately to ensure that the dispute is resolved speedily through the granting of the shorter working week and the resolution of outstanding pay issues. View more
April 3, 2007
Sinn Féin calls for Garda management oversight independent of Gardaí and Government
Responding to claims made by the President of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, that Minister for Justice and Tánaiste Michael McDowell is interfering with the running of the force, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said: View more
April 3, 2007
Morgan calls for Latvian workers to be paid immediately
Sinn Fein spokesperson on workers rights Deputy Arthur Morgan, has called for the Latvian workers aboard the “Fortuna 1” which is currently berthed in Greenore, Co. Louth to be paid immediately. View more
April 2, 2007
Minister should intervene directly to resolve nurses’ dispute – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and spokesperson on Health and Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to intervene directly to help to resolve the nurses’ dispute. He said the Minister had failed to ensure that the long-standing need for a 35-hour week for nurses was met by the health service employers. View more
April 2, 2007
Ferris claims report is indictment of Fishing Policy
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Fisheries, Martin Ferris TD, has claimed that Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s annual report is a further indictment of both Government and EU policy towards the Irish fishing industry. The report forecasts further cuts in the Irish fleet despite increased demand for seafood. View more
April 2, 2007
Crowe welcomes all-Ireland travel scheme for elderly
Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has welcomed the introduction of the free all-Ireland travel scheme for elderly people. Speaking today Deputy Crowe said a first class modern public transport system is now needed to improve the quality of life for all of Ireland’s citizens particularly the elderly. View more
