The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 30 October 2022.
I condemn in the strongest possible terms yesterday’s cowardly and horrific attack in Mogadishu. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who were tragically killed and hurt. We continue to stand with the government and people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism. The UK condemns terrorism in all its forms.
![PRESS RELEASE : ‘Bizarre u-turn by British Secretary of State fuels uncertainty’ – Michelle O’Neill [October 2022]](https://www.ukpol.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/sinnfein-150x150.jpeg)
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 28 October 2022.
Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill said that today’s bizarre U-turn by the British Secretary of State adds to the uncertainty and instability which has left society in a political limbo.
Michelle O’Neill said:
“Today’s indecision by the British Secretary of State is a bizarre U-turn.
“We are now in a political limbo as a result of this announcement.
“This further adds to the uncertainty and instability in our politics. We are now with no Executive in place, no Assembly in place, and not even caretaker ministers at the helm in the face of an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.
“We now have no way to help families and workers, no way to protect our health service and our health workers.
“Responsibility for this lies entirely with the DUP who have refused to take part in an Executive because they didn’t like the result of the last election.
“This is a completely unacceptable situation. It cannot continue, that will be my message to the British and Irish governments and to the US administration.”
The comments made by Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein’s policing spokesperson in Northern Ireland, on 28 October 2022.
Threats issued to Irish government ministers by loyalist paramilitary gangs under the cover of the Loyalist Communities Council are outrageous.
Threatening further loyalist violence to the public at large with reference to the ceasefires of 1994 in the words ‘dire consequences for the progress made from 1994 onwards’ is a dangerous and despicable development.
This is just the latest threat to our democratic process by these loyalist gangs who are intent on dragging society backwards.
They must desist from these reckless threats and disband now.
It is a matter of disgrace that almost 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, that loyalist paramilitary gangs are still involved in murder, intimidation, extortion and threats.
There is an onus on political leaders to call out this intimidation and the continued existence of armed criminal gangs in our society.
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 27 October 2022.
Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O’Neill has said the Westminster Joint Committee on Human Rights’ damning view of the British government legacy plans reinforces the need for the legislation to be scrapped.
Michelle O’Neill said:
“A leading Westminster Committee on Human Rights is the latest body to give a damning verdict on the British government’s legacy plans.
“It is hugely significant that this cross-party committee has urged the British government to reconsider the Legacy Bill and the risk it poses to breaching human rights law.
“The British state wants to cover up its role in the conflict and this bill is to give an amnesty to British state forces who killed Irish citizens and to attempt to block families from pursuing justice through inquests, prosecutions and civil cases.
“The British government is fast-tracking this plan through Westminster and ignoring the voices of victims and families, all the political parties on this island, the Human Rights Commission and leading figures and bodies in the US, EU and UN who have pointed out flaws in this legislation.
“The Tories must listen to the widespread opposition and bin their legacy plans now. This British Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris must withdraw this Bill without further delay and focus on delivering the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement in a human rights’ compliant manner.
“Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the families in their campaigns for truth and justice.’’
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 27 October 2022.
Sinn Féin Caoimhe Archibald has said everyone should be free to take part in an informed debate on the constitutional future.
The East Derry MLA said:
“As night follows day, the publication of a report on Irish Unity by Professor Colin Harvey and Mark Bassett has been followed by criticism from unionist politicians about the use of Professor Harvey’s university logo.
“How these unionist politicians still refuse to understand the concept of academic freedom is beyond me, university Vice-Chancellors do not and should not tell academics what to study, teach or research.
“The attempts by unionist politicians to stifle academic debate need to stop.
“Everyone is free to discuss, argue and participate in an informed debate on our constitutional future, the work of Professor Harvey and others is a vital part of that informed debate.
“I hope our universities will robustly defend their academics and their right to freedom of expression in the face of these attacks on academic freedom.”
The comments made by Colm Gildernew, the MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, on 27 October 2022.
Fresh figures released by the Department of Health today on the number of children waiting to see a consultant are staggering and reinforce the immediate need to fix the health service.
It’s totally unacceptable and deeply concerning that children are waiting four years to see a consultant.
We need an Executive formed today and parties working together to deliver a three-year budget and invest the extra £1 billion needed to start to cut chronic waiting lists.
I echo the call from the Royal College of Physicians today for more investment in the health service and for parties to get back around the Executive table.
The DUP has an opportunity to form a government and get on with the job people elected us to do and that’s to live up to their commitment to make health a priority.
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 26 October 2022.
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said the DUP’s boycott of the Executive is punishing businesses, workers and families and they should get back to work in an Executive immediately.
Commenting on the statement today by the NI Chamber of Commerce, the party’s economy spokesperson said:
“Everyday I speak to businesses in my constituency of East Derry and across the north and the message is clear. They want an Executive formed immediately to take important decisions to help tackle the challenges of the cost of doing business and the cost of living, and improve our economy.
“Today the NI Chamber has highlighted the time lost for decisions to be made over recent months and the need for a functioning Executive.
“Other leading business organisations such as the CBI and regional chambers have recently made similar calls.
“The DUP’s boycott is punishing businesses, workers and families and it is untenable. Small businesses across our communities are struggling to keep their shutters up with businesses closing on a daily basis.
“The DUP should join with the rest of us and get back into the Executive so we can all get on with our jobs and support people and businesses through this unprecedented crisis.”
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 25 October 2022.
Government must establish All-Island Citizens Assembly on Constitutional Change – MacManus
Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North-West Chris MacManus has called on the Irish Government to establish all-island Citizens Assembly to look at constitutional change on the island of Ireland.
MacManus was speaking at the planting of a ‘Crann na Saoirse’ at the Jim Gralton Monument in Effrinagh, south Leitrim, alongside Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and members of the Gralton family.
MEP MacManus said:
“Our constitutional future is being discussed by people from all walks of life in both public and private gatherings, formal and informal, across the island of Ireland. Europe is no different. As an MEP, I can tell you that without a doubt, decision makers from across EU are paying close attention to the debate on Irish Unity.”
“In Brussels, like in many parts of Ireland, the conversation is moving more and more from ‘When Ireland is reunited’ rather than ‘if’. That is why I am calling on the Irish Government to establish an all-island Citizens Assembly that would include our diaspora to look at constitutional change on the island of Ireland.”
MacManus concluded by saying that the EU should also play a role in discussions around re-unification.
“As an MEP I have repeatedly expressed in Brussels, that the EU Institutions must also engage with civic society from across the island of Ireland so we know exactly what supports would be available to ensure a smooth transition from partition to Irish unity.”
The speech made by Pat Sheehan, Sinn Fein’s Chief Whip, on 25 October 2022.
We need an Executive formed now to immediately support workers, families and businesses who are struggling with crippling bills and all those people who are suffering on chronic health waiting lists.
The clock is ticking. We have three days to form a government. The DUP is continuing to block an Executive in the full knowledge that they are punishing ordinary people who are struggling to heat their homes this winter. The DUP is engaged in reckless political vandalism.
Chaos and dysfunction from the Tories in London, supported by the DUP, has compounded people’s suffering. Mortgages are up, public services are under threat and the economy is in tatters. People and businesses need local ministers that are accountable and acting in their interest.
Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive today to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and to invest an extra £1 billion to start fixing our health service.
The DUP should join with the rest of us in the Assembly, get back to work, elect ministers and get around the Executive table so that parties can work together to support people who need our help now.
The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 24 October 2022.
Speaking in Belfast today Sinn Fein Uachtarán Mary Lou McDonald said that the public want an Executive, to make people’s lives better, to do our best during this cost of living crisis, to help fix the health service, to build a better future for all our people and for our future generations.
Mary Lou McDonald said:
“Dia daoibh agus fáilte romhaibh uilig inniu.
Thank you for coming along this afternoon.
In May of this year, people voted for change.
People voted to make politics work.
Sinn Féin received a mandate to go into the Executive and share power with others, and for Michelle O’Neill to be First Minister.
Since day one after the last election, Sinn Féin has been ready to form an Executive.
At a time when workers and families and businesses are suffering from the incredible pressures of the cost of living crisis, when our health service needs fixed and waiting lists tackled, the DUP’s refusal to go into an Executive, their refusal to share power with the other parties, amounts to gross political negligence.
Tá an DUP ag gearradh pionóis ar an phobal.
The DUP is punishing the public.
Inertia, inaction, and do-nothing politics is not acceptable.
The DUP claim to be committed Devolutionists, yet all they have done is left us at the mercy of the dysfunction at Westminster and the chaotic Tory party.
The only people who will prioritise the people, businesses and public services here, are locally elected and accountable politicians who unlike the Tories, have a mandate.
The British Secretary of State has been insistent that come Thursday at one minute past midnight should no First Minister and Deputy First Minister be appointed by an Assembly that he will call another election, which is required of him as the law stands.
However, here with me today is the First Minister elect, Michelle O’Neill who stands ready to join the DUP, UUP and Alliance to form a Government today.
Today!
Ba mhaith leis an bpobal sin agus tá sé tuillte acu.
MLAs must get to work and do the job they are elected to do.
The Protocol can work better. That is the stated position of the EU, the current British Government, the US administration, the Irish Government and the rest of us support that end, sooner rather than later through a negotiated settlement.
Continuing to block the formation of an Executive, and preventing an Executive doing its best to help people through this extremely difficult time, is unacceptable.
This boycott must end.
Tá mé ag rá leis an DUP inniu, obair linne, obair le chéile, i rialtas, chun saol an phobail a bhisiú, chun ár ndícheall a dhéanamh plé leis an ngéarchéim chostas maireachtála, chun an seirbhís sláinte a cheartú agus chun todhchaí níos fearr a tógáil do gach duine.
So I am saying to the DUP today, Join with us, work with us – together – in an Executive, to make peoples lives better, to do our best during this cost of living crisis, to help fix the health service, to build a better future for all our people and for our future generations.
This is what the public want and this is what the public deserve.
This is a test of power-sharing.
The alternative is not Direct Rule from London, but a Joint partnership approach from London and Dublin. And in both scenarios Sinn Féin will be central.
We do not want fractured relationships, we want partnership, co-operation and to make politics work in the interests of all the people, and Michelle O’Neill to be a First Minister for All working with partners in Government.
Next April marks 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement.
The huge potential this offers to platform the North and the Executive in order to attract further economic investment, good jobs and opportunities must not be missed.”