January 2008 archives for Press Releases
January 31, 2008
Sinn Féin supports motions in support of Tribunal
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has said Sinn Féin endorses the Private Members Motion from Fine Gael which reiterates support for the Mahon Tribunal. However Deputy Ó Caoláin reiterated Sinn Féin’s position that Bertie Ahern has far bigger reason to resign than his financial affairs and his engagement at the Tribunal. View more
January 31, 2008
Taoiseach must demand British cooperation with collusion inquiry commission – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Taoiseach to hold a special summit meeting with the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the issue of collusion. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Cáoláin said the Taoiseach should demand that the British Government co-operate with an Oireachtas Commission of inquiry into acts of collusion in this state and provide access to all the original documents in their possession relating to acts of collusion in this state. View more
January 31, 2008
Localised drugs units needed to complement specialised gang crime unit
Responding to an announcement from the Garda Commissioner that he is to establish a full time specialist unit to deal with gang crime Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said multiple well resourced and dedicated drugs units at local levels are needed in addition to a specialised unit to tackle gang crime. View more
January 31, 2008
Morgan calls for all party motion on collusion
Speaking in the Dáil today Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan called on the Government to call a meeting of all parties to agree a motion on collusion which could be put before the Seanad which is due to debate the issue. Deputy Morgan said the issue could then be returned to the Dáil where a plan of action could be proceeded with to force the British Government to cooperate with inquiries into attacks in this State where collusion is suspected. View more
January 31, 2008
Morgan calls for all party motion on collusion
Speaking in the Dáil today Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan called on the Government to call a meeting of all parties to agree a motion on collusion which could be put before the Seanad which is due to debate the issue. Deputy Morgan said the issue could then be returned to the Dáil where a plan of action could be proceeded with to force the British Government to cooperate with inquiries into attacks in this State where collusion is suspected. View more
January 30, 2008
Minister must take action as Allergen becomes latest company to announce job losses - Morgan
Sinn Féin Job Creation and Workers’ Rights Spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD has sought debate on the adjournment of the Dáil on the recent spate of job losses across the state including today’s announcement that Arklow based pharmaceutical plant Allergen is to close next year with the loss of 360 jobs. View more
January 30, 2008
Ferris welcomes Brazilian beef ban
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, has welcomed the decision by the EU to impose a temporary ban on the importation of beef from Brazil. Deputy Ferris was responding to the announcement this afternoon by Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou that imports would not be permitted because of concerns over the origin of the beef submitted by the Brazilian authorities. View more
January 30, 2008
Ferris slams refusal of HSE to meet local authority
The Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North, Martin Ferris, raised the refusal of the HSE to meet with Kerry County Council in the Dáil this afternoon. Deputy Ferris was referring to the failure of the HSE in the south west to send representatives to a meeting arranged by the Council to discuss problems within the health services in the county. View more
January 30, 2008
Crime figures highlight Government’s abject failure on tackling drugs – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called for additional resources to be pumped into drug awareness and education initiatives, treatment services and rehabilitation opportunities. Deputy Ó Snodaigh again repeated his call for resources for Garda Drugs Squads to be at least doubled. View more
January 30, 2008
Greens on board for Government control of future tribunals
Commenting on the Government’s amendment to the Private Members motion on the Mahon Tribunal, and speaking in advance of the Dáil debate, Sinn Féin Dáil leader said the Green Party was now “fully on board for the Government’s plan to control all future tribunals”. View more
January 30, 2008
Government continue to turn a blind eye to collusion – Ó Caoláin
Speaking in the Dáil this evening Sinn Féin TD and Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin reminded the Taoiseach of the commitment he made to the house that a full-scale debate on collusion would be held following the publication of the report of Patrick McEntee SC into the Garda and Government investigation of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974. View more
January 29, 2008
HSE plan for North East would be throwback to cuts of 1980s – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has described as “a throwback to the savage cuts of the 1980s” the leaked memo from the Health Service Executive setting out extensive cuts in hospital services in the North East region (Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath). He said it “puts book-keeping before life-saving”. View more
January 29, 2008
Ó Snodaigh welcomes long-awaited publication of Immigration Bill
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus ÓSnodaigh TD has welcomed the long-awaited publication of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008. However, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said that unless the Bill reverses the substantial amount of damage contained in the 2007 Bill then this will be a wasted opportunity to comprehensively reform outdated and inadequate legislation. View more
January 29, 2008
Ó Caoláin sets out Sinn Féin priorities for upcoming Dáil term
Sinn Féin’s Leinster House team and members of the EU team met today in advance of tomorrow’s resumption of the Dáil to discuss the party’s political priorities over the coming weeks. Speaking afterwards Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD set out the political priorities for the party for the coming Dáil session. View more
January 28, 2008
Double resources for Garda Drug Squads – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has congratulated Gardaí on the weekend drugs seizures but warned that the increasing seizures of drugs are a reflection of the increased amount of drugs entering the state. Deputy Ó Snodaigh again called on Justice Minister Brian Lenihan to double the resources for the Garda Drugs Squads. View more
January 26, 2008
Ó Snodaigh calls for major reform of alcohol licensing laws
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has made a submission to the Government Alcohol Advisory Group in which he has called for the hours of sale of alcohol to be staggered in line with European models to help prevent drink-related disorder. View more
January 25, 2008
Agreement retains two-tier system – Ó Caoláin
Commenting this morning on the likely agreement between the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, the Irish Medical Organisation and the HSE, Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that while there was relief that the marathon talks had concluded the reality is that the agreement retains the two-tier public-private health system. View more
January 25, 2008
Agreement with consultants retains two-tier system - Ó Caoláin
Commenting on the agreement between the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and the HSE, Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that while there was relief that the marathon talks had concluded the reality is that the agreement retains the two-tier public-private health system. View more
January 25, 2008
Government response to drugs study inadequate – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has described the response from the government to the study showing a significant increase in the use of cocaine as inadequate. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the problem of drugs in Ireland must be treated as an emergency. View more
January 24, 2008
€3,000 fine for corporate manslaughter an insult to working people – Morgan
Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson on Workers’ Rights Arthur Morgan TD today slammed a court ruling which fined a company €3,000 for not having safe scaffolding in place on a north Galway construction site when a plasterer tragically fell to his death. Morgan accused the Government of being indifferent to worker deaths, following its failure to publish adequate corporate manslaughter legislation. View more
January 24, 2008
Adequate supports must be in place for lone parents moving into workforce – Morgan
Sinn Féin Social Affairs Spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD has said plans by the Government to move lone parents, dependant on social welfare, into the workforce cannot proceed until adequate supports such as affordable childcare and transport infrastructure are in place. Deputy Morgan was speaking today after a report showed that the Government plans could put lone parents at risk of poverty. View more
January 24, 2008
People with mental illness being let down by Government – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that exactly two years on from the publication of the State’s mental health policy A Vision for Change far too little has been achieved by the Government which still allows mental health to remain “the most neglected sector of our health services”. View more
January 24, 2008
Ferris says state of water supply is indictment of Department
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on the Environment, Martin Ferris TD has said that the state of the public water supply is an indictment of the Department of the Environment and of successive Ministers. The Kerry North TD was responding to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency which found that over one third of water supplies pose a potential health hazard. View more
January 23, 2008
Israel must lift blockade of Gaza immediately – Ó Snodaigh
Speaking as a demonstration gathered outside Leinster House today in solidarity with the people of Gaza Sinn Féin International Affairs Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said Israel must immediately lift its blockade of Gaza and said he has written to Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and asked him to review Ireland’s relations with Israel in view of the country’s continued human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. View more
January 23, 2008
Prospect of more job losses in Tralee – Ferris calls for urgent meeting with IDA
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris is calling on the IDA to meet with North Kerry’s four Oireachtas members to discuss the continuing jobs crisis in the area. Deputy Ferris made his comments following information he received that two major manufacturing companies in the town could be on the verge of re-locating. View more
January 23, 2008
Morgan slams Aer Lingus threat to withhold pay increases
Sinn Féin Workers’ Rights Spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD has slammed Aer Lingus Management for threatening to withhold pay increases worth millions of Euros from staff which is due to them under social partnership agreement Towards 2016. Management at the airline are saying that unless new cost cutting measures are signed up to by staff then pay increases will not be paid. View more
January 22, 2008
€629,000 spent refurbishing ward that is now closed
North Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has described the closure of the Clonfert Ward at Kerry General Hospital, which was recently refurbished, as inexplicable. View more
January 22, 2008
Sinn Féin lead Oireachtas Committee on employment fact finding mission in East Cork
Following a proposal late last year by the Sinn Féin Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment is today concluding a two day visit to East Cork and Waterford to asses what intervention is required by government in regional towns hit by the recent state of job losses. View more
January 21, 2008
Ferris to raise issue of rat infestation in Cork school
Kerry North Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris is to raise the issue of rat infestation at Rahan National School, Mallow. In response to representations from people in the area, Deputy Ferris has tabled a number of questions to Minister Hanafin, requesting that she take immediate action to replace the pre-fabs in question. View more
January 21, 2008
Israel must lift Gaza blockade – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin International Affairs Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on the Government to end its preferential relationship with Israel in light of its blockade of Gaza which has left the region without humanitarian aid and with dwindling energy supplies. View more
January 21, 2008
HSE is in denial on hospital beds – Ó Caoláin
The Health Service Executive is in denial on the need for more acute hospital beds according to Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. View more
January 21, 2008
43,000 on housing waiting list while 40,000 apartments lie vacant in Dublin alone
Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said a report from the Irish Auctioneers and Valuers’ Institute (IAVI) which shows that there are 40,000 empty apartments in Dublin makes a mockery of the Government’s housing policy. View more
January 18, 2008
HSE hypocrisy in promising ‘world class health service – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caolain TD has said that the Health Service Executive is guilty of ‘hypocrisy’ in again promising a ‘world class health service’ with improved primary and acute hospital care while their current cutbacks are hitting patient care at all levels of the health service. View more
January 18, 2008
SR Technics employees must be kept with Aer Lingus
Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson on Workers’ Rights Arthur Morgan has called on Aer Lingus to ensure that any decision to change the maintenance contract with SR Technics, in preference for in house maintenance, does not result in a loss of jobs. View more
January 18, 2008
Ó Snodaigh calls for JPC meeting to discuss local area policing plans
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for a single item agenda meeting of the South Central Area Joint Policing Committee to discuss local area policing plans. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said Sinn Féin had secured a commitment in the 2008 State-Wide Garda Policing Plan that Joint Policing Committees will inform all Divisional and District Policing Plans. View more
January 17, 2008
Overtime should not be compulsory for air traffic controllers – Morgan
Sinn Féin TD and Spokesperson on Workers’ Rights Arthur Morgan TD has criticised the Irish Aviation Authority for refusing to address the legitimate concerns of air traffic controllers over working hours, a decision which has now led to a dispute at the airport. Morgan said the stressful nature of air traffic control should mean workers should not have to work overtime if they do not want to. View more
January 16, 2008
No freeze on funding for suicide prevention – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to immediately clarify her position on the role of the National Office for Suicide Prevention and the Government's commitment to deal with this major issue in Irish society. View more
January 16, 2008
Greens and PDs challenged to present united front with Taoiseach on his return from Africa
Sinn Féin Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has said if the Green Party and the PDs intend to remain in Government with the Taoiseach then Ministers Gormley and Harney should greet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at Dublin Airport on his return from Africa to present a united Government front in the wake of calls for the Taoiseach’s resignation. View more
January 16, 2008
Nurses and all low paid workers must get support they deserve – Morgan
Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for Workers’ Rights Arthur Morgan TD said today that the decision of two main nurses’ unions, the Irish Nurses Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association, to return to the labour court to address pay concerns, must be supported. View more
January 16, 2008
Ó Snodaigh welcomes heroin seizure in Dublin
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has congratulated Gardaí on the seizure of €6.5million worth of heroin in Dublin today and again called on the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to double the resources for Garda Drug Squads in an effort to tackle serious drug and gun crime. View more
January 15, 2008
Government must get real about supporting mental health services – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health and Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has expressed concern at the news that the mental health support organisation Grow is being forced to scale down its operations, including closing its regional office in the North East, due to inadequate State funding. View more
January 15, 2008
CSO figures highlight construction slowdown – Government must respond
Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment Arthur Morgan has called on the Government to respond to figures released from the CSO this week which reveal that employment in the construction industry in November was down by 5.4% by comparison with November 2006. View more
January 15, 2008
Government all over the place on Mahon Tribunal – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said the Fianna Fáil/PD/Green Government is "all over the place" with regard to the Mahon Tribunal. He said the PDs and Greens have abdicated political responsibility and that they are "trying to have it both ways" by not expressing full confidence in the Taoiseach while at the same time remaining in Government with him. View more
January 15, 2008
C case reminder of required referendum – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has said the dropping of charges in the C case today has acted as a reminder of the need for a referendum on children’s rights to be held at the earliest possible opportunity. View more
January 14, 2008
Taoiseach should resign for fostering inequality in Irish society – Ó Caoláin
Responding to renewed calls by Labour and Fine Gael for the Taoiseach’s resignation Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has today said Sinn Féin continues to make the same demand but notes Bertie Ahern’s resignation should be based on the inequality in Ireland he has fostered over the last ten years. View more
January 14, 2008
Practice of cutting hospital budgets for inefficiency must be halted – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson and Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called for an end to the practice of cutting hospital budgets as punishment for failing alleged efficiency tests. View more
January 14, 2008
Time for Aer Lingus to negotiate take back of leased Shannon Heathrow routes – Ferris
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris has today said that whilst the new Aer Lingus route operating out of Belfast to Heathrow will naturally take time to develop and grow to full capacity the slow take up does highlight the value of the company negotiating a take back of its profitable Shannon Heathrow leased routes. View more
January 14, 2008
Children’s rights referendum must be given priority – Ó Caoláin
Speaking as it was revealed today that the planned referendum on children’s rights may be delayed until 2009 Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin criticised the Government for failing to hold the referendum before now and called for it to be held at the earliest possible opportunity. View more
January 11, 2008
Ferris expresses disappointment as closure of Shannon Heathrow route looms
Kerry North Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris TD has reiterated his opposition to the closure of the Shannon Heathrow link and claimed that it will damage the economy in the South West. Deputy Ferris was speaking prior to the final flight from the airport to London on Sunday afternoon. View more
January 11, 2008
Co-location is profit-driven and will deepen health apartheid – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has said that people will not be fooled by claims from the Beacon Medical Group that its co-located private hospitals will be of major benefit to public patients. View more
January 9, 2008
Government plans to detain children at Thornton Hall run contrary to legislation – Sinn Féin
Responding to government plans to detain children in the planned super-prison at Thornton Hall Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Spokesperson on Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said this proposal from Government runs contrary to legislation and should not proceed. Deputy Ó Caoláin said Sinn Féin had successfully amended the Criminal Justice Bill 2005 to preclude the use of prisons to detain children. View more
January 9, 2008
Bill of Rights for north imperative to ensure equality for all the islands citizens – Ó Caoláin
Responding to a news article in today’s Irish Times regarding the Church of Ireland Gazette’s criticism of a Bill of Right’s for the north Sinn Féin TD and Dáil Peace Process spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has noted that the provision for a comprehensive and inclusive Bill of Rights was incorporated in the Good Friday Agreement and agreed to by voters throughout the 32 counties in 1998. View more
January 8, 2008
Garda Policing Plan 2008 an improvement on previous plans – Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has described the Garda Policing Plan for 2008 as a huge improvement on previous plans and welcomed the inclusion of some of Sinn Féin’s proposals from its submission to the plan. View more
January 7, 2008
Health apartheid is biggest reason for Taoiseach to resign – Ó Caoláin
The Taoiseach’s financial affairs as raised at the tribunals and the doubts about his tax compliance are serious but they “pale into insignificance” when compared to public-private apartheid in our health services over which he has presided, according to Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. View more
January 7, 2008
Failure to increase GP training places makes mockery of primary care strategy - Ó Caoláin
Commenting on the revelation from the Irish College of General Practitioners that the HSE has refused to deliver promised funding to increase the number of GP training places for 2008, Sinn Féin Dáil leader and spokesperson on Health & Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said: View more
January 4, 2008
Sinn Féin to step-up opposition to Eirgrid pylon proposals
Sinn Féin elected representatives from both sides of the border are meeting later today in Co. Monaghan to plan an intensified, co-ordinated cross-border opposition to the proposals by Eirgrid and NIE to erect a new above ground north-south 400kv interconnector running from Co. Tyrone to Co. Cavan and the Eirgrid stand-alone proposal to erect a new 400kv pylon supported power line from Woodland (Co. Meath) to Kingscourt in Co. Cavan. View more
January 4, 2008
Sinn Féin to step-up opposition to Eirgrid pylon proposals
Sinn Féin elected representatives from both sides of the border are meeting later today in Co. Monaghan to plan an intensified, co-ordinated cross-border opposition to the proposals by Eirgrid and NIE to erect a new above ground north-south 400kv interconnector running from Co. Tyrone to Co. Cavan and the Eirgrid stand-alone proposal to erect a new 400kv pylon supported power line from Woodland (Co. Meath) to Kingscourt in Co. Cavan. View more
January 2, 2008
Harney has failed and should resign – Ó Caoláin
Even on her own terms Mary Harney has failed as Health Minister and should now resign, according to Sinn Féin Dáil leader and spokesperson on Health and Children Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. He was responding to the latest survey showing that waiting times in A&E departments have worsened. View more
