Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 5 December 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said an Executive must be formed now to ensure people get the £600 energy payment right away.

The former finance minister was speaking ahead of an Assembly recall on Wednesday and called on the DUP to ‘end its boycott’ and form an Executive.

Conor Murphy said:

“It’s deeply concerning and unacceptable that struggling families will not receive the £600 payment before Christmas to help with energy bills.

“We need an Executive formed now and parties working together to ensure people get this payment right away without delay.

“They could and should already have it. The DUP’s cruel boycott of government has held up this payment and left people struggling and worrying about a cold winter with no support.

“Not only have the DUP delayed households from getting this payment, but they also promised and misled people that the payment was coming in November.

“Enough is enough. People cannot wait any longer, they need support now as the cold winter begins to bite. They deserve an Executive that will work in their interests.

“Sinn Féin will recall the Assembly on Wednesday in another effort to form an Executive and put ministers in place and get this £600 energy payment into people’s pockets.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 2 December 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has said the Department of Health must now get on with commissioning modern and compassionate abortion services for women.

Speaking after the British Secretary of State instructed the Department to begin to commission services, the North Belfast MLA said:

“The British Secretary of State has now instructed the Department of Health to commission abortion services for women in the north.

“Women here have waited long enough for access to the modern and compassionate abortion health services that they are entitled to.

“The refusal to progress these services has failed women who were experiencing the most difficult of circumstances.

“I have listened to women about their personal and tragic stories with many having to travel to England to access services, often alone and with no support. This needs to end.

“The Department of Health must get on with the delivery of these services now and ensure women are fully supported.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 1 December 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said confirmation that people in the north will not receive the £600 energy payment until after Christmas is devastating news for workers and families who are struggling.

The Upper Bann MLA said:

“Confirmation that the £600 payment to help with energy bills will not come to people in the north before Christmas is devastating news for workers and families who are really struggling.

“The Executive received the first funding to make the payment back in February. But the collapse of the Executive that same month by the DUP meant that the money could not be allocated.

“It is even more cruel and disgraceful because people could and should have had the money months ago and not be left worrying about getting through a cold winter.

“The DUP claimed and promised again and again that people could expect their payment in November. This was untrue and gave people who are struggling false hope. That was cruel and heartless.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive now to get this money out the door and into people’s pockets now.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 1 December 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson has called on the Department of Health and the Western Trust to make securing the future of Shantallow Health centre practice a priority.

The Foyle MLA said:

“I am deeply concerned at reports that Racecourse Practice in Shantallow has handed back its contract for running of GP services.

“We need an urgent solution from the Department of Health and Western Trust with the contract set to run out in six months.

“This is one of the biggest GP practices in the city and is responsible for the care for people in Shantallow and the surrounding areas. It must be protected.

“Our entire health service and health workers are under huge pressure. They need an Executive and a health minister in place taking decisions to tackle the problems.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an Executive now, to work together with others, and invest an extra £1 billion in our health service to hire more doctors and nurses, tackle waiting lists and fund cancer and mental health services.

“I will be in touch with the Western Trust and the Department for Health for urgent clarity on these reports and to ensure services at this practice are protected.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 30 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said it’s outrageous that people in the north will not receive the much-promised £600 energy support payments before Christmas.

The Newry/Armagh MLA also said the DUP had been ‘dishonest’ in claims that people would have the money by November.

Conor Murphy said:

“It is outrageous that people in the north won’t get the £600 energy support payments before Christmas.

“We are now left with no scheme to help people, no money and no support for workers and families struggling to heat and light their homes in the depth of winter.

“And we have absolutely no clarity or timeframe for when households will get this money. It’s totally unacceptable.

“DUP claims and promises that people would receive these payments by November had no basis and were dishonest. They have left people out in the cold this winter with their cruel boycott of the Executive.

“People in Britain started getting these payments weeks ago, that would have been the case here too if we had local ministers working together around the Executive table.

“Tory delays and incompetence, facilitated by the DUP boycott of the Executive, has dealt another crushing blow to already suffering workers and families in the mouth of Christmas.

“I again challenge the British government over these unacceptable and cruel delays. It cannot continue. They must tell people now when and how they are going to get this money.”

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

Sinn Féin national chairperson Declan Kearney called today on the Irish government to end its acquiescence to the demolition of Palestinian homes and to formally recognise the state of Palestine.

Writing for An Phoblacht on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the South Antrim MLA said:

“Sinn Féin believes the refusal by the Irish government to support the Occupied Territories Bill, which it has stalled in the southern Irish parliament, is to effectively acquiesce before the demolition of Palestinian homes and the expulsion of families.

“In our view, Irish government reluctance to formally recognise the state of Palestine has no credibility. The right to a viable democratic Palestinian state should be recognised by it, and the European Union (EU).

“A diplomatic and political strategy is needed to build support for that position.

“An Irish government should lead on the achievement of this objective. It should also be proactively pursued by the UN. It is long past time for the Irish state’s policy on Palestine to change. And, if not now, then it will change under a Sinn Féin-led government.”

Declan Kearney urged Palestinian leaders to unite around an agreed national democratic strategy.  He said:

“Sinn Féin’s hope is that the Palestine Liberation Organisation can become the fully representative body of all Palestinian political forces. Palestinian national unity and cohesion is the key to unlocking international indifference and inaction.

“That means all Palestinian leaders in Gaza, Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, East Jerusalem, Haifa, and within the diaspora, coming together, speaking with one voice, and acting in strategic co-ordination together.

“It will provide the international community with the most powerful incentive to embrace the cause of Palestinians; in the same way as the world was eventually compelled to act against the injustice of apartheid in South Africa.

“There are no shortcuts to mobilising international diplomatic and political opinion. Palestinian national unity is the only way to make that happen.”

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

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said today he is shocked and deeply concerned about plans by the Education Authority to cut vital youth services in Belfast.

The West Belfast MP has written to the Education Authority to seek an urgent meeting about the proposed cuts,

Paul Maskey said:

“I have spoken to a number of youth providers across Belfast today who have shared their concerns with me about cuts to youth services which the Education Authority is imposing on them.

“The impact of these cuts will be devastating for youth providers, for youth services and ultimately for young people across the city.

“The news of the cuts have come as a shock to the groups and people who supply these services such as outreach services to some of our most vulnerable young people.

“They told me they were unaware that funding would be cut this year.

“I’m seeking an urgent meeting with the Education Authority with our team of MPs and MLAs across the city.

“These cuts come hot on the heels of Tory cuts announced here last week following the DUP’s boycott of our Assembly and Executive.

“People are struggling with the cost of living, our health service is under huge pressure and now youth and education services are being targeted for cuts.

“The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with the other parties to get locally elected ministers in place and support the public against unbridled Tory cuts.”

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

Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has welcomed the Tis’ the Season Christmas campaign by the PSNI raising awareness of domestic abuse and encouraging potential victims to report to Police.

Linda Dillon said:

“I welcome the launch of the Tis’ the Season Christmas campaign by the PSNI to tackle violence against women and girls so that action can be taken and the right support put in place.

“Domestic abuse is a scourge on our society, with police officers receiving a call every 16 minutes related to a domestic incident during the December and January holiday periods last year, with 65 crimes reported on Christmas Day and 161 incidents and 100 crimes of domestic abuse on New Year’s Day.

“I would urge anyone that is suffering abuse or feeling unsafe at home to please reach out to the many confidential support services.

“Women and girls should never feel unsafe at home, in the workplace or anywhere. As a society, we must work together to demand and deliver change.

“In the last Assembly, parties worked together to deliver progressive legislation giving the police more powers to protect women and girls.

“These new laws have already been effective in holding those responsible for horrible crimes to account and ensuring women and girls have access to justice.

“That is the benefit of having local laws that can make a difference and ensure women and girls, and victims of gender-based violence are protected in law.

“We need the Executive up and running now, so that parties can work together, to implement these strategies on tackling violence against women and girls. That must be a priority.”

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

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has condemned the attack on Crosskeys Orange Hall.

Cathal Boylan said:

“I unreservedly condemn the attack on Crosskeys Orange Hall.

“Those responsible do not represent the community.

“I would appeal to anyone with information about this vandalism to report it to the PSNI.”

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.”