Tag: Sinn Fein

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.”

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.”