Tag: Sinn Fein

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 4 November 2022.

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, has offered her full solidarity and support to workers at Twitter following the news that mass layoffs are to begin today.

She further added that the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, as the Minister responsible, must ensure that fair procedures and all statutory consultation processes are followed by the company in relation to their workers in Dublin.

Teahcta O’Reilly said:

“The news that Twitter is due to begin a process of mass layoffs will come as a serious shock to 500 workers employed at the company’s Dublin office.

“Sources have indicated layoffs will be across the board with cuts in marketing, product, engineering, legal, and trust and safety anticipated. It is speculated that new CEO, Elon Musk, may cut as much as 50% of staff at the company.

“An understanding of the new CEO’s previous dealings with workers means this move has not come as a surprise, but the announcement, and the way workers have been notified of job losses, has caused a significant amount of anger.

“It is up to the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, as the Minister responsible, to ensure that fair procedures and all statutory consultation processes are followed by the company.

“The move by Twitter also reinforces the need to finally deliver collective bargaining rights for workers and trade unions. The need for legislatively-protected collective bargaining has never been greater.

“An ideology of neoliberalism with hugely damaging consequences for workers and families has reigned across Ireland and Europe for too long.

“We have witnessed a race to the bottom in terms and conditions of work, an increase in low paid work and the marginalisation of trade unions and workplace democracy.

“Workers’ rights must be given priority and firm legal protections enacted, otherwise workers will continue to suffer.

“Only by giving workers the tools to bargain for themselves can they have a chance of living decent and happy lives.

“I offer mine and Sinn Féin’s solidarity and support to the workers at Twitter in what is a very worrying time.

“I would also add that it is never too late to join a trade union. Workers need a strong voice in the workplace and the only way to achieve this is by joining and being active in a trade union.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 4 November 2022.

Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill said today that the British Secretary of State is adding to political instability and leaving struggling workers and families in a state of limbo during a cost-of-living crisis.

Speaking after Chris Heaton-Harris confirmed his bizarre u-turn on an Assembly election, the Michelle O’Neill said:

“Today’s announcement is more dithering and indecision from the British Secretary of State and a continuation of the Tory chaos in London that is now paralysing our politics.

“Chris Heaton Harris met with political parties this week and failed to give any indication of what he announced today.

“Instead he has confirmed the bizarre u-turn he made last week but once again he provides no clarity or certainty on what his next steps even are.

“This is yet another example of the Tory party’s contempt for the people of the north.

“The British government are fuelling the political instability caused by the DUP’s failure to recognise the result of the May election when the people voted for change.

“The British government and the DUP are leaving us in a prolonged state of political limbo with no Assembly, Executive or caretaker ministers.

“This is totally unacceptable at a time when workers, families and small businesses are struggling through the cost-of-living crisis and a cold winter and when our health service needs immediate investment.

“People want parties working together in their best interests and making a real difference to their lives right now. The British government are denying people the leadership they voted for in a bid to let the DUP off the hook.

“The British Secretary of State should outline now exactly what the British government intends to do to restore the political institutions here and how and when they propose to give people here the £400 cost of living energy payment they have waited months for.

“Delays and indecision is not an acceptable situation for people here who need help now.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 4 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis has welcomed today’s decision by the BBC that it will broadcast the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals for the first time.

Sineád Ennis said:

“Confirmation that the BBC is to broadcast the All-Ireland Football and Hurling finals for the first time is long overdue and is great news for northern Gaels and supporters of Gaelic games right across the island.

“For the next five years, the BBC will show live Allianz League games, the Ulster Championship and the All-Ireland Football and Hurling semi-finals and finals.

“For many years now, my party colleague Seanadóir Niall Ó Donnghaile, party Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill and I have engaged with the BBC about its lack of coverage of Gaelic Games.

“Today they have listened to us and more importantly to the thousands of Gaels across the North who have been entitled to increased coverage of Gaelic Games.

“This is a massive boost for Gaelic games across the island and the north in particular.”

The press release issued by Sinn Fein on 3 November 2022.

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly today challenged the Chief Constable on what steps were being taken to protect Professor Colin Harvey and other individuals subject to loyalist threats and abusive commentary on social media.

The party’s policing spokesperson said:

“At today’s Policing Board I challenged the Chief Constable on what on steps were being taken to protect Professor Colin Harvey and other individuals subject to loyalist threats and abusive commentary including on social media.

“Professor Colin Harvey in particular has been subjected to an ongoing smear campaign on social media which United Nations experts have said ‘has the potential to spark physical violence’.

“These threats cannot be taken lightly as they are threats to the individual and on freedom of expression.

“There is an onus on the PSNI to investigate the matter, and also ensure Mr Harvey’s personal safety.

“These attacks are dangerous and must end.”

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

Sinn Féin Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill has said the British Secretary of State has failed to give any clarity about when he will fulfil his legal obligations to call an Assembly election.

Speaking after meeting Chris Heaton-Harris in Belfast today, Michelle O’Neill said:

“We have no Assembly, no Executive and now not even caretaker ministers to support people during a cost of living crisis as a result of the DUP’s boycott of our political institutions.

“We put it to Chris Heaton-Harris today that his indecision is adding to the instability caused by the DUP, and it has left society in political limbo.

“Workers and families are struggling to put food on the table and businesses are struggling to keep the shutters up.

“Our health service and health workers are under huge pressure and need urgent investment. They want and deserve parties working together to support them.

“I told the British Secretary of State that he has a responsibility to help the political situation but that the current vacuum is clearly unhelpful and cannot continue.

“That will also be my message to the British and Irish governments and to the US administration.”

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 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 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.”