Tag: 2022

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 29 November 2022.

Sinn Féin First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill has called on the British Secretary of State to clearly outline what efforts if any he is making to restore the Executive and Assembly.

And she said that Chris Heaton-Harris must immediately give clarity to workers and families on when they will receive energy support payments.

Michelle O’Neill said:

“It is now weeks since the British Secretary of State announced that he would change the law to deny the people their right to a voice on the DUP’s boycott of the Assembly and Executive. He claimed this would provide space to make progress on restoring the Executive.

“Since then the only thing he has delivered are further Tory cuts to public services while workers are left in the dark about their pay rises and families still have no idea when they will receive the £400 and £200 energy payments to help heat and light their homes. That’s unacceptable.

“Meanwhile government is being administered by civil servants, with no democratic mandate and with only limited powers to make decisions.  People need and voted for locally elected ministers to be around an Executive table working together to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and starting to fix our health service.

“The fundamental and simple questions for Chris Heaton-Harris now are what efforts has he taken to restore the Executive and end the DUP’s boycott? When will struggling workers and families receive the support they are entitled to? When will our health and public service workers know about their pay?

“People and businesses here cannot limp on with no certainty. They need to know what progress the British government is making with the EU to reach a negotiated settlement on the Protocol that allows them to continue creating jobs and investment.

“We are all hopeful that progress can be made to deliver an agreed way forward, but the British government must demonstrate political will to reach a deal.

“I will be in the Dáil on Thursday when EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses, TDs, MPs, MLAs and Seanadóirí.

“I will be making it clear in Dublin that the Irish government, co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, need to do more than act as bystanders.

“The British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference met on 7 October and it was agreed that the Conference should meet again in January 2023. What are the governments doing between now and then?

“My commitment remains that Sinn Féin will not give up on forming an Executive to invest an extra £1 billion in health and social care and put money in people’s pockets to deal with the rising cost of living.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 28 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has told the British government that people in the north should receive the full energy discount as promised.

The former finance minister has also written to Grant Shapps and Chris Heaton-Harris for immediate clarity on when households will receive the energy support payments.

Conor Murphy said:

“I have written to the British Energy Minister and Secretary of State making it clear that people in the north should receive the full energy discount as promised.

“Reports that the Department for Businesses & Energy has suggested giving households here a lower discount are unacceptable and would be punitive.

“While energy costs are lower in the north, wages are also lower and more people in the north are facing fuel poverty this winter and this after a decade of cruel Tory policy.

“I have also asked for clarity and a timeline about when the £400 energy and £200 oil payments will be paid to workers and families who are struggling to keep the lights on.

“This payment has been held up long enough because of the DUP’s cruel boycott of the Executive. People should receive it with no more delays.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 28 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said a new economic strategy is needed for the north that invests in skills, supports local small businesses, develops the all-island economy and maximises the potential of the protocol to create jobs and investment.

The party’s economy spokesperson said:

“The research published by the ESRI showing the widening productivity gap between north and south is symptomatic of the impact of partition on the economy of the north.

“It’s clear that we could be doing much better if we had control of our own destinies and our economy making decisions for the benefit of the people who share the Island.

“It also highlights the complete lack of an economic vision of the DUP who have been in charge of the department responsible for the economy for the past 15 years.

“During that time the north’s economic performance has remained stubbornly poor. One fifth of workers in the north earn less than a basic living wage and the labour market in the North is characterised by low-paid jobs and less secure employment – hence the lowest productivity.

“Along with the lack of strategic economic thinking from the DUP, a decade of Tory austerity decimated department budgets for public services including much-need funding for education and skills.

“The DUP also championed Brexit which has resulted in the loss of EU funding which delivered a significant money for skills,  agriculture and community projects, money which is not being replaced in full by the British government.

“Successive DUP Economy Ministers have also failed to sell the north’s special status under the Protocol to investors, squandering its potential to create jobs.

“Now due to the DUP’s blockade of the Executive, departments here are facing the brunt of a Tory inflicted budget.

“Our businesses and young people are crying out for leadership. They need the DUP to end its boycott and get back to work to invest in our health service, support people through the cost of living crisis and transform our economy.

“It is abundantly clear we need new political leadership in the department for the economy, a new economic strategy that sees investment in skills, supporting local small businesses, developing the all-island economy and maximising the potential of the protocol to create jobs and investment.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 28 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has said an Executive is needed to secure funding for a specialised mother and baby unit to help women struggling with mental health conditions post pregnancy.

The party’s health spokesperson said:

“It is very clear that women need a specialised unit to support mothers and their babies.

“Some new mothers need additional care and help with their mental health after pregnancy.

“With roughly 70 women annually hospitalised due to post-partum psychosis, a dedicated in-patient facility to cater for mothers and their children is needed.

“We need to see the establishment of a properly staffed unit that provides support to people in what can often be a very challenging time.

“New mothers suffering with debilitating mental health conditions deserve support and it is time this service was made available.

“This is just one of the many critical issues facing our health and social care system.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive to deliver a three-year Budget for health and invest an extra £1 billion in health and social care.

“It is long past time for the DUP to work with the rest of us to deliver for the people of the North.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 26 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MP John Finucane has accused the DUP of speaking out of both sides of its mouth over its position on the Protocol and said their cruel boycott of the Executive has punished workers and families.

The North Belfast MP said:

“The DUP have blocked an Executive being formed now for six months and told people that the Protocol needed to be scrapped in its entirety.

“Now, DUP MLA Edwin Poots, a so-called fierce critic of the Protocol, is lobbying to amend the Tory Protocol Bill to protect parts of the Protocol because of its benefits for farmers.

“This is the same DUP that originally welcomed the Protocol as a gateway of opportunity and then got spooked by opinion polls into railing against it. Edwin Poots himself was Minister in the department implementing border control checks for over a year before trying to halt them.

“The DUP are talking from both sides of their mouth on the Protocol.

“What we need is a negotiated settlement between the EU and British government on the Protocol to ensure people are protected from the worst impacts of Brexit to ensure businesses can continue to grasp the opportunities to create jobs and investment.

“It is unforgivable that the DUP have held up a support payment for people who are struggling to pay their bills and blocked investment in our health service. They should end the boycott and get back to work now.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive today, to work together with all parties and support people who are struggling, tackle waiting lists and invest in health and social care.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 25 November 2022.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for health Colm Gildernew has said an Executive is needed to begin to tackle the growing pressures in the health and social care system and to invest in health services.

Speaking in response to comments made by the Health Permanent Secretary Peter May today, Colm Gildernew said;

“It is clear we need sustained investment in our health and social care services to ensure we can meet the health needs of the community.

“Over a decade of Tory austerity has undermined and underfunded our public services and made us less able to deal with crises and collapse of services.

“That is why as Minister for Finance Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy proposed a three-year budget to prioritise health and invest an additional £1 billion in the health service.

“We need an Executive in place to begin to tackle the growing pressures in the health system and ensure people can access care when they need it.

“The DUP need to end their boycott and get back to work around the Executive table with the other parties.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 25 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has commended the ‘steadfastness and resilience’ of the family of Aidan McAnespie in their search for truth and justice following his killing by a British soldier.

Speaking after the former British soldier was found guilty of the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in the High Court today, the Mid Ulster MLA said:

“I want to pay tribute to Aidan McAnespie’s family whose long and painful campaign for truth and justice has been a source of inspiration for so many.

“Despite years of delays, lies and cover-up by the British state, they have shown remarkable courage, determination, and dignity over the past 34 years.

“Today belongs to the McAnespie family.

“They never gave up in the search for justice for Aidan, who after years of being harassed by the British Army and RUC, was shot dead by a British soldier in Aughnacloy on his way to the local Gaelic ground.

“Rulings like today’s one is exactly why the British Government wants to hide the role of its state forces who killed Irish citizens by forcing through an amnesty.

“The British government’s cruel, offensive and callous Legacy Bill should be scrapped and mechanisms to give truth and justice to families agreed at Stormont House in 2014 should be implemented.

“Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the McAnespie family and offer our ongoing solidarity.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 24 November 2022.

Sinn Féin Group leader on Causeway Coast and Glens Leanne Peacock has highlighted her concern that council may not receive its Rates Support Grant due to the DUP continuing to boycott the Executive.

This will put further pressure on council finances moving into the rates setting process.

Leanne Peacock said, “It is unacceptable that the DUP’s failure to do their job could result in a hole in council’s budget costing rates payers millions.

“I have written to the Department’s Permanent Secretary who has confirmed the budget for the Rates Support Grant can not be agreed due to the continued absence of a functioning Executive.

“The people of Causeway Coast and Glens should not be punished due to the DUP’ failures. The DUP’s continued boycott must end now.”

The response from the Department of Communities confirms that no Executive means departments are working from a ‘contingency planning envelope’ resulting in the budget for the Rates Support Grant not being able to be agreed for 2022/’23.

Councillor Peacock continued “Minister Hargey showed what support can be given when ministers are in post and able to make decisions.

“In 2021/’22 Minister Hargey secured nearly £22m to help keep rates down for workers and families.

“During the Covid pandemic Minister Hargey secured over £102m for councils.

“Before being forced to leave office the minister was able to unlock £33m of that covid support so it can now be used to support ongoing recovery in the context of councils’ increased operating costs.

“It’s time the DUP ended their reckless boycott which is having a disastrous impact on workers and their families. The DUP need to get back into the Executive so we can take the decisions needed which will help people through this cost of living crisis.”