November 2007 archives for Press Releases
November 30, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin TD supports 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women Campaign
Speaking at this mornings from City Hall at a Sinn Féin event in support of the 16 Days Campaign Sinn Féin Dublin TD and Community Safety Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: View more
November 30, 2007
Covert spying in Louth allegations raise serious question for British government
Sinn Féin Louth TD Arthur Morgan has said today allegations in the media that the British Army remains engaged in using covert cameras to spy on people in South Armagh, West Belfast and County Louth raises serious questions for the British government. View more
November 29, 2007
Introduction of public meetings to JPC process essential to its success – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking during a consultation of Joint Policing Committee (JPC) members hosted by the Minister for Justice, Sinn Féin TD and Community Safety Spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: “Today’s evaluation of the JPCs' work to date offers a real opportunity for the Minister to address the shortcomings experienced thus far so as to ensure the future success of all JPCs including the remaining 85 which are set to be established next year.” View more
November 29, 2007
Sinn Féin launches Budget 2008 Priorities Document
Sinn Féin TD and Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan today launched the party’s Budget Priorities for 2008. Deputy Morgan takes over the portfolio from party Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Deputy Morgan has extensive experience in the business sector. View more
November 29, 2007
Ó Caoláin - Concerns over future of VHI
Sinn Féin Dáil Group Leader and Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD speaking during the debate on the Voluntary Health Insurance Bill said: “Risk Equalisation is essential but this legislation does nothing to remove the doubts about the future of the VHI as a statutory corporation.” View more
November 29, 2007
Government’s Drugs Strategy is failing to deliver
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD speaking in the Dáil in relation to the National Drugs Strategy demanded that the government take action to deal with the crack cocaine and crystal meth which are now in danger of establishing a real foothold in this country. View more
November 28, 2007
Health & well being of constituents in Dáil Deputies hands – Ó Caoláin
Speaking today from Leinster House Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin today confirmed the party’s support of this evening’s motion of no confidence in the Minister for Health and Children Deputy Mary Harney. Sinn Féin have also tabled our own motion of no confidence. View more
November 28, 2007
EU battle groups not appropriate form of international intervention in Chad - Ó Snodaigh
Speaking during a Dáil motion on the dispatch of defence forces personnel to Chad as part of an EU battle group adventure Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh emphasised the party’s concern for the deteriorating situation in Chad, agreed that international support and peace keeping is urgently needed but opposed the use of EU battle groups for this purpose. View more
November 27, 2007
Ferris Calls for Extension of Energy Efficiency Grants
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on the Environment, Martin Ferris TD, has called on the Government to extend all grants to promote energy efficiency to recipients of Fuel Allowance. The Kerry North TD was speaking in the Dáil where he sought a debate on the issue. He also called for this provision to be included in next week’s Budget. View more
November 27, 2007
Ferris secures Dáil Debate on Tralee Job Losses
Kerry North Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has been successful in raising a Dáil debate today on the recent loss of 50 jobs at Denny’s in Tralee and the implications this will have on the worsening unemployment situation in the town. View more
November 26, 2007
Cross-border GP service welcome but much more needed – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has welcomed the commencement from today (Monday 26 November) of the new cross-border General Practitioner Out-of-Hours Service. The service will enable people living in South Armagh who require a GP outside normal practice hours to attend a GP in the NEDOC Out-of-Hours centre in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. View more
November 26, 2007
Sinn Féin tables no confidence motion in Harney and Government Health policy
Sinn Féin has tabled a Dáil no-confidence motion in Health Minister Mary Harney which it says is an indictment not only of her stewardship but of Government health policy and management of the health services. View more
November 23, 2007
Inquiry into management of cancer services must be independent – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has backed calls for a completely independent inquiry into the management of cancer services in the Midlands region following the latest development in the scandal. Commenting on calls for the resignation of Health Minister Mary Harney, the Sinn Féin Dáil leader said she “should never have been appointed in the first place” and unless policy was changed as well as the Minister the resignation would be “window-dressing”. View more
November 23, 2007
Inquiry into management of cancer services must be independent – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has backed calls for a completely independent inquiry into the management of cancer services in the Midlands region following the latest development in the scandal. Commenting on calls for the resignation of Health Minister Mary Harney, the Sinn Féin Dáil leader said she “should never have been appointed in the first place” and unless policy was changed as well as the Minister the resignation would be “window-dressing”. View more
November 23, 2007
Inquiry into management of cancer services must be independent – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has backed calls for a completely independent inquiry into the management of cancer services in the Midlands region following the latest development in the scandal. Commenting on calls for the resignation of Health Minister Mary Harney, the Sinn Féin Dáil leader said she “should never have been appointed in the first place” and unless policy was changed as well as the Minister the resignation would be “window-dressing”. View more
November 22, 2007
Sinn Féin leaders attend inaugural meeting of Good Friday Agreement Committee
Speaking during this afternoon’s first meeting of the Good Friday Agreement Oireachtas Committee Sinn Féin TD and party Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin described the committee’s work as a significant step forward in delivering the full potential of the Agreement. View more
November 22, 2007
Harney and Drumm must be challenged on healthcare chaos
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson and Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin today said Health Minister Mary Harney and HSE Chief Brendan Drumm must be challenged on the chaos in the health services. View more
November 21, 2007
Following British data loss Sinn Féin calls for government rethink on e-border plans
Sinn Féin TD and Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó this morning sought an adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the loss of sensitive data relating to 25 million individuals living in Britain. View more
November 21, 2007
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader speaks at todays Sligo General Hospital Demonstration
Speaking at this morning’s demonstration outside Leinster House demanding that breast cancer services be maintained at Sligo General Hospital Sinn Féin TD and Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the current crisis in mammography is being used by government and the HSE to justify their drive to over-centralise our hospital services whilst downgrading local hospitals. View more
November 21, 2007
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin reaction to further misdiagnosed cancer cases
Commenting on the diagnosis of two further cancer cases in addition to the seven previously misdiagnosed as clear of cancer at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said: View more
November 20, 2007
Ferris Calls for Debate on CAP
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, is to seek the adjournment of the Dáil this afternoon to discuss the impending review of the Common Agricultural Policy. Deputy Ferris was responding to this morning’s release of a communication from the EU Commission setting the parameters for what it terms a “health check.” View more
November 20, 2007
Tribunal of Inquiry Bill must be withdrawn – Ó Snodaigh
Commenting on the Tribunal of Inquiry Bill 2005 which commences debate in the Dáil today Sinn Féin TD and Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has described the Bill as an affront to democracy. View more
November 20, 2007
Psychological services in schools, charities stepping into void left by government – Ó Caoláin
Speaking from the Dáil this evening on psychological services in schools Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said “Charities are stepping into the void left by Government failure. The fact that the Saint Vincent de Paul Society has privately funded over 1,000 psychological assessments of children and young people is an indictment of Government failure in this regard.” View more
November 16, 2007
Ferris Comments on Denny Job Losses
North Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has expressed his disappointment at the announcement that 50 more workers at the Denny factory in Tralee are to be made redundant in the New Year. Deputy Ferris offered his commiserations with the workers and their families, describing it as a bitter blow particularly in the run up to Christmas. View more
November 15, 2007
Sinn Féin call for Dáil debate on escalating gun crime
Sinn Féin Dublin TD and Spokesperson on Community Safety this morning sought an adjournment of the Dáil to facilitate a debate on the escalating gun crime in the city. The adjournment was not agreed to by the Dáil Ceann Chomairle. View more
November 14, 2007
Employment Committee accepts Sinn Féin Job Creation ‘Field Trip’ proposal
Sinn Féin TD and Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan has welcomed this mornings decision by the Enterprise, Trade and Employment Committee to agree to his proposal that the committee visit two of the state’s worst economic blackspots, East Cork and West Waterford. View more
November 14, 2007
Ferris Calls For Greater Urgency in Tackling Transport Problems
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on the Environment Martin Ferris TD has called on the Government to display a greater sense of urgency in relation to tackling the massive transport problems that exist at present. View more
November 14, 2007
MRSA Scandal - "Single rooms and isolation units clearly identified as far back as 2001 but government action was not taken” – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin TD and Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caolain this evening secured a Dáil debate on the continuing proliferation of MRSA affecting the country’s hospitals. View more
November 13, 2007
Ferris Voices Regret Over EPA Decision on Gas Refinery
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Natural Resources and the Environment, Martin Ferris TD, has voiced his regret over the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to grant a license to the Corrib Consortium to proceed with the planned gas refinery at Bellanaboy, County Mayo. Deputy raised the issue in the Dáil this afternoon in an effort to have the issue debated, particularly in the light of the Green Party’s previous opposition to the sitting of a refinery at that location. View more
November 13, 2007
Urgent action needed to provide beds to combat MRSA - Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney and the HSE to urgently meet the need for additional beds in hospitals to address the continuing spread of MRSA. View more
November 13, 2007
Dublin Bus management must engage with unions - Morgan
Sinn Féin TD and Workers Rights Spokesperson Arthur Morgan has called on Dublin Bus management to sit down with unions representing the Harristown garage bus workers before the dispute escalates to other garages across the city. View more
November 13, 2007
Botched government scheme has thrown community childcare system into chaos – Ó Caoláin
Speaking from the Dáil tonight Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson on Children Caoinhghín Ó Caolain noted that once again the opposition was addressing a botched government scheme that has thrown the not for profit community childcare system into chaos. View more
November 12, 2007
Government must put overhaul, reform and democratisation of the World Bank on the agenda – Morgan
Speaking as a the International Development Association, a branch of the World Bank, was being held in Dublin today, Sinn Féin Economic Affairs spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD called on government to commit to pressing for the overhaul, reform and democratisation of the World Bank. View more
November 12, 2007
Justice Minister statement on Garda Overtime an admission of failure – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Dublin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and party Spokesperson on Community Safety has again called on the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to immediately initiate a robust programme of civilianisation of administrative Garda tasks and re-deploy fully trained Gardaí into the fight against crime. View more
November 8, 2007
Ferris says EU Vet Report confirms need for ban on Brazilian Beef
The Sinn Féin Agriculture Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has said that the report on Brazilian beef issued by the EU Food and Veterinary Office yesterday confirms the need to impose a ban on beef imports from that country. The report found serious irregularities regarding animal registration, identification, vaccination, false certification of exports, breaches of EU residency requirements and that Foot and Mouth Disease is still present. View more
November 7, 2007
Ferris criticises closing of Farm Improvement Scheme
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture Martin Ferris TD raised the closure of the Farm Improvement Scheme in the Dáil today. Deputy Ferris criticised the decision by Minister Mary Coughlan to accept no more applications and called for the necessary funding to be made available to ensure that all applicants are catered for. View more
November 7, 2007
Clarity needed on Minister’s intentions for Community Childcare Subvention Scheme – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader and Spokesperson on Health and Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Minister of State for Children Brendan Smith to come into the Dáil to clarify his intentions in relation to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme after reports today that he intends to alter the scheme and introduce a new income threshold. View more
November 7, 2007
Ó Caoláin welcomes Taoiseach’s comments on Northern representation
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has welcomed the Taoiseach’s comments in the Dáil today when he stated his support for representation in the Dáil for Six County MPs. However, Deputy Ó Caoláin said the Taoiseach should push ahead with his own proposal to facilitate Northern MPs in a Committee of the whole Dáil. View more
November 7, 2007
Reckless tax cutting proposals must be dropped – Morgan
Speaking ahead of the government’s special budget cabinet meeting this Sunday Sinn Féin’s Economic Affairs spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD has welcomed Fianna Fáil’s growing acceptance that pre election promises to cut PAYE and PRSI were ill conceived and would negatively impact on public services. Deputy Morgan also welcomed the indication that government was finally taking Sinn Féin’s lead on personal taxation. View more
November 7, 2007
Comprehensive cancer care must be provided in public healthcare system – Ó Caoláin
Speaking during Statements on Cancer Care in the Dáil today Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD criticised Health Minister Mary Harney’s statement in response to the scandal at Portlaoise Hospital. View more
November 7, 2007
Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Committee needs all-island approach - Ferris
Speaking at the first meeting of the Oireachtas Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Committee Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris today said the work of the committee would benefit greatly from an all-island approach. View more
November 6, 2007
Irish government must pressure US administration to deliver immigration reform for Irish in America – Ó Snodáigh
Speaking at a demonstration held today outside Leinster House by the Irish American lobby group Families of the Undocumented Aengus Ó Snodaigh said it was simply wrong that so may thousands of Irish in America were facing yet another Christmas unable to visit friends and families at home. View more
November 6, 2007
Ferris supports undocumented Irish in United States
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has added his voice to those calling for the status of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States to be regularised. The Kerry North TD was speaking in support of a Private Members Motion on the issue in the Dáil this evening. View more
November 5, 2007
Time to step up fight against crime – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking as seven men appeared in court in connection with Friday’s attempted robbery of a cash in transit van at Celbridge, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh commended the Gardaí involved in the arrest operation and called for the fight against organised crime to be stepped up. View more
November 5, 2007
Massive pay increases for government unacceptable – Morgan
Sinn Féin TD and party spokesperson on Finance Arthur Morgan has described the announcement of significant pay rises for 1,600 senior public servants including the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and government Ministers as totally unacceptable. View more
November 5, 2007
Latest cancer debacle indicts HSE and Health Minister- Ó Caoláin
Commenting on the controversy over mammography at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the Health Service Executive could not shirk its responsibility. View more
November 2, 2007
Ferris slams lay offs at Shannon
Kerry North TD Martin Ferris has slammed the decision by Aer Lingus to lay off 51 workers at Shannon as a consequence of closing the link to Heathrow. View more
November 1, 2007
Sinn Féin Proposes Employment Committee Job Creation ‘Field Trip’
At the first meeting of the Enterprise, Trade and Employment Committee this afternoon Sinn Féin’s Enterprise and Employment spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD proposed that the Committee initiate an investigation into what needs to be done to create new jobs in regional towns which have been hit by a recent state of job losses. View more
November 1, 2007
Anger as tackling domestic and sexual violence are not named in Minister’s policing priorities for 2008
Speaking today as Justice Minister Brian Lenihan published his policing priorities for 2008 Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD described as a disgrace the fact that tackling domestic and sexual violence has once again been left out of the Minister’s named priorities. View more
November 1, 2007
Human Trafficking Bill is welcome but remains limited in its scope – Ó Caoláin
Speaking from the Dáil today on the Human Trafficking Bill Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that while there is much more that needs to be done to address the problem of human trafficking, he welcomed the long awaited elementary steps contained in this legislation View more
