August 2007 archives for Press Releases
August 31, 2007
Concern at growth of heroin trade
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said urgent measures must be put in place to prevent a heroin epidemic from hitting the streets. View more
August 31, 2007
Minister should back up claims about protecting heritage
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has called on Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt to support a motion that he will bring forward in the next Dáil term to protect and preserve Ireland’s culture and heritage. Responding to news that Pearse Museum in Rathfarnham is to undergo a major redevelopment and restoration programme Minister Kitt said it is vital that “we do not become complacent about our heritage”. However Deputy Ferris accused Minister Kitt of paying lip service to our heritage as his Government has allowed important historical artefacts to be sold off to the highest bidder. View more
August 29, 2007
Harney must put relevant resources into suicide prevention – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson CaoimhghínÓ Caoláin TD has called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to properly invest in suicide prevention strategies and mental health services. Deputy Ó Caoláin was speaking today after it was revealed that children as young as six are attempting to take their own lives and that there are sinister websites detailing how young people could kill themselves. View more
August 29, 2007
Harney must put relevant resources into suicide prevention – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson CaoimhghínÓ Caoláin TD has called on the Minister for Health Mary Harney to properly invest in suicide prevention strategies and mental health services. Deputy Ó Caoláin was speaking today after it was revealed that children as young as six are attempting to take their own lives and that there are sinister websites detailing how young people could kill themselves. View more
August 28, 2007
Government ignored warnings over decentralisation debacle – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has described as “a debacle” the Government’s handling of decentralisation following the Labour Court ruling that FÁS cannot link promotion of staff to their willingness to relocate to the proposed new FÁS headquarters in Birr, Co. Offaly. Deputy Ó Caoláin said the Government had ignored repeated warnings from the trade unions and Opposition parties that this would be the outcome. View more
August 28, 2007
Government must heed warning on closure of A&Es – Ó Caoláin
Commenting on the new survey linking distance travelled by ambulance to hospital emergency departments to the risk of death, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Irish Government to heed the warning and to scrap plans to close A&E units around the State. View more
August 27, 2007
Sinn Féin calls for crackdown on serious drug and gun crime in Policing Plan 2008
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this morning Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called for a crackdown on serious drug and gun crime in the Garda Policing Plan 2008. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was launching Sinn Féin’s Submission to the Policing Plan in which the party also calls for all future policing plans to work towards the establishment of an all-Ireland policing service. View more
August 23, 2007
Government must accept some responsibility for water crisis in Galway - Ferris
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has said Government under-funding of critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants is partly responsible for the Galway water crisis and is likely to lead to further water crises throughout the State. Deputy Ferris said the Government’s approach to water treatment is similar to their approach to the State’s communications, roads and our national airline all of which were under-funded before being privatised or partially privatised. View more
August 23, 2007
Minister Harney approves multi-million euro robbery – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader and spokesperson on Health and Children, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, has denounced the decision of Minister for Health Mary Harney to approve the retention of more than €12 million of interest earned by long stay residents in nursing home and in other care facilities. Deputy Ó Caoláin has described the measure to be introduced later in the year as “robbery”. View more
August 23, 2007
Cancer survival rates an indictment of Harney’s Health record – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has described Ireland’s poor cancer survival rates as an indictment of Health Minister Mary Harney’s record in Government. He is very critical of Minister Harney’s failure to implement long promised improvements in cancer screening and treatment and to equitably deliver cancer care services throughout the State. View more
August 23, 2007
Ó Caoláin responds to Pat Rabbitte’s resignation
Responding to Pat Rabbitte’s resignation as leader of the Labour Party this afternoon, Sinn Féin Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD wished Deputy Rabbitte well in his continued role as a member of the Dáil and said he hopes to have a good working relationship with whomever succeeds him as Labour Leader collectively offering a truly left opposition to the current Fianna Fáil/Green Party/PD coalition. View more
August 21, 2007
Harney ducking responsibility for Health Service shambles – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has accused Health Minister Mary Harney of ducking her responsibilities by referring the majority of Parliamentary Questions, tabled to her, to the HSE. View more
August 20, 2007
Number of vacant houses unacceptable – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking today following the housing statistics released by the Central Statistics Office, Sinn Féin Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that the figures released reflected the move towards apartment living and said that the figures of vacant dwellings in the twenty six counties were unacceptable. View more
August 17, 2007
Government’s privatisation agenda not delivering - Morgan
Responding to Minister Mary Hannifin’s statement on behalf of the government regarding the Aer Lingus fiasco Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has demanded that the government take its head out of the sand and use its shareholding in the company to safeguard the national interest. View more
August 16, 2007
Ferris welcomes study into rural suicide rates
Sinn Féin Kerry North TD Martin Ferris has welcomed a new three year study into rural suicides. Deputy Ferris expressed alarm at news that Irish suicide rates are increasing while EU rates are falling. View more
August 14, 2007
Increase in overdose deaths highlights Government failure to tackle drugs crisis – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said figures provided to him by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern show that drug related deaths as a result of overdose increased by 32% from 2004 to 2005 alone. The TD was reacting to an article in the Irish Examiner today which showed a 20% increase in drug related deaths as a result of overdose between 2001 and 2004. View more
August 13, 2007
Government assault on Irish language continues – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has criticised proposals from the Minister of State with responsibility for integration Conor Lenihan in which he has called for the removal of Irish language requirements for civil servants. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said while he agrees with the need to increase the number of foreign nationals in the Civil Service this does not have to be at the expense of our own national language. View more
August 10, 2007
Ferris claims Shannon decision confirms warning on privatisation
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has claimed that the decision by Aer Lingus to terminate its Shannon – Heathrow service confirms the warnings made by opponents of the privatisation of the company. The North Kerry deputy said that those who supported the selling off of Aer Lingus had to take responsibility for the decision. View more
August 4, 2007
Ferris welcomes all Ireland response to foot and mouth threat
Sinn Féin Agriculture Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has said contingency plans to prevent the spread of foot and mouth from Britain to Ireland must be on an All-Ireland basis. Speaking today after reports of a confirmed case of foot and mouth in England Deputy Ferris called for urgent action and welcomed cooperation between the two Ministers of Agriculture on the Island to fight the spread of foot and mouth from Britain. View more
August 2, 2007
Morgan voices concerns over fast-track planning approvals
Speaking following news that 53 projects have applied for fast-track planning approval through the new Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act, Sinn Fein spokesperson on the Environment Deputy Arthur Morgan voiced concerns on the lack of participation and engagement that members of the public can have in the procedures. View more
August 1, 2007
Proposal to increase tax on oil and gas companies a modest step forward - Ferris
Sinn Féin Energy and Natural Resources Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has described Government proposals to increase taxes on oil and gas discoveries off the Irish coast as a modest step forward. View more
