Press Releases
August 21, 2008
Ferris wishes athletes well
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Sport, Martin Ferris TD has congratulated the Irish athletes at the Olympics on their performances to date and extended his best wishes to those still to compete. View more
August 21, 2008
Ó Snodaigh welcomes latest heroin seizures
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said the increased seizures of heroin recently show that there must be no cutbacks in addiction services as the economy continues to slow down. He urged the HSE to quickly bring an end to its dispute with Drugs Taskforce Staff in Clondalkin so they can get back to doing their important work at maximum capacity. View more
August 20, 2008
Still no sign of action from Government as unemployed figures soar – Morgan
Speaking today Sinn Féin Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan criticised the Government for its failure to prepare for the slowdown in the economy even though all economic indicators pointed to such an inevitability. Deputy Morgan said even as unemployment figures rise there is no sign of action from the Government. View more
August 19, 2008
Government must help farmers as high rain falls ruin harvests – Morgan
Louth Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has called on the Government to introduce measures to alleviate the hardships that thousands of small farmers are facing due to un-seasonal weather conditions. Deputy Morgan said recent heavy rainfall has made conditions unbearable for many farmers. View more
August 19, 2008
Concern at increase in heroin seizures – Ó Snodaigh
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed the seizure of €200,000 worth of heroin in Dublin last night but expressed concern at the recent spike in heroin seizures saying that this is a sign of significantly increased amounts of the drug entering the state. View more
August 14, 2008
Resignation of radiology director exposes HSE ‘slash and burn’ plan for North East
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson and Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said the resignation of Dr. Patricia Cunningham as Network Director for Radiology for the North East HSE region (Cos. Cavan, Monaghan, Louth & Meath) is a very serious development given that she has stated that the HSE’s aim is to deliver the cheapest possible service regardless of patient safety or need. View more
August 12, 2008
Health Minister Harney has done nothing to address dental service collapse
Commenting on the news that 140 dentists have withdrawn from the medical card scheme, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said Health Minister Harney had done nothing to address the disintegration of the dental services scheme which has been ongoing for several years. View more
August 11, 2008
Dermatology services have ground to a halt in North East region
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD hashighlighted a crisis in dermatology services in the North East HSEregion comprising Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath. With achronic waiting list in the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and St.James's Hospital in Dublin unable to take patients from outside itsofficial catchment area, Deputy Ó Caoláin has revealed that patientsare being referred by doctors to private service-providers in the SixCounties to whom they have to pay fees. View more
August 11, 2008
Dermatology services have ground to a halt in North East region
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has highlighted a crisis in dermatology services in the North East HSE region comprising Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath. With a chronic waiting list in the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and St. James's Hospital in Dublin unable to take patients from outside its official catchment area, Deputy Ó Caoláin has revealed that patients are being referred by doctors to private service-providers in the Six Counties to whom they have to pay fees. View more
August 8, 2008
Minister must begin implementing Patient Safety Report now – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caolán TD has called for implementation of the Report of the Commission on Patient Safety to begin immediately. He called on Health Minister Harney to prepare a legislative programme to make the necessary changes in the running of our health services as recommended by the Report. View more
August 8, 2008
Minister Andrews should restore children’s out-of-hours plan or resign – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has described as “appalling” the decision of the HSE to abandon plans for a comprehensive out-of-hours social care service for troubled children. View more
August 7, 2008
National Consumer Agency must monitor falling fuel prices
Sinn Féin TD and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Spokesperson Arthur Morgan has called on the National Consumer Agency to closely monitor fuel prices in the coming months, after the price of oil hit a three-month low last night on the New York Stock Exchange. View more
August 7, 2008
Myth of free education put to an end – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has stated that the results of a study showing that the cost of educating a child up to and including third level is over €61,000 puts an end to the myth of free education in Ireland. Deputy Ó Caoláin said investment in education is crucial to the future of the Irish economy. View more
August 6, 2008
Harney decision on cervical cancer vaccine must be reversed – Ó Caoláin
Responding to the decision by Health Minister Mary Harney not to proceed with the recommended catch-up vaccine for cervical cancer for 13 to 15-year-old girls, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinTD has described it as “an atrocious decision that must be reversed”. View more
August 5, 2008
More Garda patrols required in areas with feuding gangs – Morgan
Responding to the shooting of a man in Dublin last night Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has called for more Gardaí on foot and on bicycles in areas where criminal gangs are involved in deadly feuds. Deputy Morgan said everyone should have the right to feel safe in their homes. View more
August 5, 2008
National pay talks must be reconvened
Sinn Féin Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan TD has today demanded that the government immediately reconvene the current national pay talks between unions and employers. The protection of low paid workers and alternative support and growth mechanisms for the SME sector must be the central focus of the government’s role in the negotiations. View more
August 1, 2008
RTÉ services must be delivered equally to all citizens north and south – Ferris
Sinn Féin Communications Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has called on RTÉ to ensure that its services are available to everyone in Ireland when it goes digital in 2012. There are growing concerns that citizens north of the border will have to pay to access RTÉ via digital providers such as sky. View more
August 1, 2008
Privatisation of Primary Care Centres breaks Government pledges
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that the Government is breaking one of the key commitments in the National Development Plan and the Programme for Government which pledges to implement a €2.1 billion capital investment to develop modern primary care facilities. View more
July 31, 2008
Ó Snodaigh launches renewed Sinn Féin campaign on Community Safety
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD this morning launched a renewed Sinn Féin campaign on community safety. The campaign aims to consult with members of the public in order to inform the party’s submission to the Garda Policing Plan for 2009. View more
July 31, 2008
Government Failing to Meet Social and Affordable Housing Targets
Commenting today after the release of the Quarterly Housing Statistics published by the Department of Environment Sinn Fein TD Arthur Morgan has accused the government of, 'once again failing to meet its own targets on social housing.' View more
July 30, 2008
Ó Snodaigh responds to quarterly crime stats
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has said the quarterly crime statistics published today show a significant increase in drug crime and armed crime in addition to continuing unacceptable levels of other crimes such as criminal damage and public order offences. View more
July 30, 2008
Government must fight for survival of farming and fishing in West of Ireland – Ferris
Sinn Féin Agriculture and Fisheries Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD, speaking after visiting Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon today said there is relief among those in the farming community that the WTO deal has collapsed. View more
July 29, 2008
Ferris in Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon tomorrow
Sinn Féin Agriculture and Fisheries Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD will continue his tour of the West Coast tomorrow when he visits Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim to meet with farming and fishing organisations in those Counties. View more
July 29, 2008
Older people are being punished by health cuts – Ó Caoláin
Sinn Féin Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has described as “a total sham” the Government’s claimed commitment to improved care for older people after a survey has shown that HSE cuts are adversely affecting home help and home care packages. View more
July 29, 2008
Proper planning procedures thrown out the window for Shell – Ferris
Sinn Féin Environment and Natural Resources Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has severely criticised a decision by the Department of the Environment to grant planning permission without approval from An Bord Pleanála to Shell E&P Limited for a key section of the Corrib onshore pipeline at Glengad in County Mayo. View more
