News Archives for September, 2006
30 September, 2006
Speaking with Sinn Féin elected representatives and members in Dublin, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP said it was crucial that there is a big turn out for the party's "Demand your healthcare rights" rally on October 21st. Read full article
29 September, 2006
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP will be joined by Mary Lou McDonald MEP, former Six County Health Minister Bairbre de Brún MEP, Health spokesperson John O'Dowd MLA and general election candidate Joanne Spain in Dublin tomorrow to launch details of a major health rally to take place in Dublin on October 21st. The launch will take place at the GPO on O'Connell Street at 11:30am. Read full article
29 September, 2006
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said sky high house prices in this state must be tackled. Deputy Crowe was speaking today after it was revealed that house prices are increasing at nearly twice the rate of wage increases. Read full article
28 September, 2006
DUBLIN WEST Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has welcomed the report of the Comptroller & Auditor General regarding the proposed super-prison at Thornton Hall. Cllr Gallagher is calling for a full independent public inquiry to establish if it was incompetence or corruption that lead to the purchase. Pointing out that the report estimates the price for the site was at least twice the market price he said that if the special inquiry he had called for before the purchase was complete, had been carried out perhaps Minister McDowell would not have wasted so much of the people's money. Read full article
28 September, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has urged that everything possible be done to secure new allotments within Dublin 15. Allotment holders at the current site in Cappogue have been told they are to close. Read full article
28 September, 2006
Congratulating the Gardaí and foreign police forces on the massive heroin seizure in Belgium yesterday, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD emphasised the damage that would have been done had the
shipment gone through. He went on to welcome reports that a review of security at smaller airports was anticipated, but pointed out that with too few customs officials to monitor existing airports, expansion of personnel
available was inevitable. Read full article
28 September, 2006
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for an end to tax incentives developers of private nursing homes. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh described the tax incentives as a flawed approach and said the money would be better spent in direct provision of care for the elderly. Read full article
28 September, 2006
Sinn Féin spokesperson on International Affairs and Human Rights Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has this morning called on the Irish Government cease its support for the foreign policies of the United States Administration. Speaking in the Dáil this morning Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the Sunday Tribune/ Millward Brown IMS opinion poll clearly shows that the vast majority of Irish people believe that the policies of George Bush have made the world a more dangerous place. Read full article
28 September, 2006
City Manager must listen to communities Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has called on Dublin's new City Manager to respect the democratic wishes of Dublin City Council and to abandon proposals for an incinerator for the Poolbeg Peninsula. Read full article
27 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD announced this afternoon that Sinn Féin will be publishing legislation during this Dáil session to reverse the changes to the Part V of the Planning and Development Act brought in by the government in 2002. Joined by the party's TDs and local activists at Leinster House, Deputy Ó Caoláin described Fianna Fáil as being owned 'lock, stock and barrel by the construction industry' while Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD challenged the other parties to support Sinn Féin's legislation. Read full article
27 September, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today welcomed a resolution signed by all political groups in the European Parliament which urges the government of Sudan to accept a United Nations Peacekeeping force in the country, and calls for an end to attacks upon civilians and humanitarian workers in the region. Read full article
27 September, 2006
Speaking in the Dáil today following two shootings in 12 hours in the Dublin 12 area Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central and Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh condemned the government for failing to ensure that the Garda fight against gun crime is adequately resourced. Read full article
26 September, 2006
South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has condemned Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council for its shameful record on the provision of social housing. Mr. Tracey was commenting today after learning that DL/RD has received nearly three and a half million Euros from developers buying their way out of their obligations to provide twenty percent social or affordable housing in all housing developments under part V of the Planning and Development Act. Read full article
26 September, 2006
Sinn Féin Átha Cliath are holding a picket in solidarity with the people of Rossport, about a hundred of whom have successfully prevented Shell staff from entering the Ballinaboy refinery site this morning. The protest will take place at 6pm at the Statoil Station at Usher's Quay (Opposite the Four Courts). Dublin Sinn Féin Environment spokesperson Councillor Daithí Doolan, who will attend the picket, has called for further solidarity pickets across the country Read full article
26 September, 2006
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has today called for the European Union to permanently
locate its political business in Brussels. She called the purchase of the Parliament
building in Strasbourg as a "monstrous waste of European funds". Read full article
26 September, 2006
Responding to the Irish Prison Service's annual report that demonstrated a
substantial increase in the cost of keeping people in prison at three times
the rate of inflation Sinn Féin's Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
blamed the 'ideologically right wing, populist and ill-thought out war on
crime approach favoured by the PD Justice Minister.' He went on to point
out that detention for non-violent offenders costs 30 times the amount of a
community service order and that the Minister had misled the public on the
prison overtime bill. Read full article
26 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has welcomed yesterday's ruling by An Bord Pleanála that Dublin City Council can compulsory purchase Dartmouth Square Park. Read full article
25 September, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson, Mary Lou McDonald MEP speaking from Strasbourg today has said that the EU has 'a a responsibility to assist in the development of an all-Ireland economy as a step towards Irish reunification'. Read full article
25 September, 2006
Reacting to a report by the International Telecommunications Union which found that Irish customers pay some of the highest prices for the slowest broadband in Europe, Sinn Féin Communications spokesperson Seán Crowe TD once again warned that "Ireland is fast becoming the information technology laughing stock of Europe when it comes to broadband and its provision." The report also identified that take up of broadband in the state was at an extremely low rate and Deputy Crowe accused Minister Dempsey of deliberately setting unambitious targets. Read full article
25 September, 2006
While welcoming today's ending of peak-time restrictions on the free travel scheme, Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD, pointed out that "there are simply not enough buses to service public transport as it is." He went on to call for Minister Cullen to honour his commitments to supply new buses to augment the over-stretched existing Dublin Bus fleet. Read full article
22 September, 2006
The inaugural meeting of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee took place today (Friday 22nd September) and saw the exclusion of the counties only Sinn Féin Councillor, Felix Gallagher. Cllr. Gallagher attended the meeting in the public gallery was highly critical of the 'hypocritical' stance taken by Fine Gael and Labour in excluding him. Read full article
21 September, 2006
DUBLIN MID WEST SINN FÉIN GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE JOANNE SPAIN has helped launch a state-wide Sinn Féin campaign aimed at maximising the number of people registered to vote ahead of the completion of the overhaul of the electoral register. Ms Spain said it is crucially important that people make every effort to ensure they are on the electoral register ahead of next year's general election. She said that the campaign was particularly important in her constituency because of the massive increase in population over the last number of years. Read full article
21 September, 2006
SINN FÉIN DUBLIN MID WEST REPRESENTATIVE JOANNE SPAIN has lashed out at the Government following a report from the OECD that concluded that childcare costs have risen to approximately 30% of household income. The report also suggested that the spiraling costs are forcing women to give up their jobs. Read full article
20 September, 2006
SINN FÉIN SOCIAL AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON SEÁN CROWE TD has criticised the government for permitting a form of 'housing apartheid' to develop while developers pay off local authorities to buy their way out of their social housing obligations under Part V of the 2000 Planning and Development Act. Read full article
20 September, 2006
SINN FÉIN NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON MARY LOU MCDONALD MEP has this morning said that it is 'shocking' that many women are being forced to give up their jobs due to the spiralling costs of childcare in the state. Read full article
19 September, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today called for the European Union to permanently locate its political business in Brussels. She called the use of the Parliament building in Strasbourg as a 'monstrous waste of European funds' Read full article
19 September, 2006
SINN FÉIN'S Dublin Environment Spokesperson and Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has challenged, "the organisers of a waste conference which is blatantly pro incinerator and continues to excludes the voice of local communities." Read full article
18 September, 2006
Local Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has described the erection of a mobile phone
mast at Cookstown Cottages in Tallaght, opposite St. Mark's Community
School, as 'blatant disregard of the planning regulations and more
importantly, the health and safety of local residents, workers and school
children in the locality'. He went on to call for mobile phone operators to
be made culpable for erection of masts without planning permission. Read full article
18 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin South East Representative, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has today welcomed, "the opening of a new park in Ringsend." Read full article
18 September, 2006
Speaking this morning Sinn Féin Communications spokesperson Seán Crowe TD once again laid blame at the government's door in light of criticism from the European Competitive Telecommunications Association of the poor roll-out of broadband internet in Ireland. Read full article
16 September, 2006
Speaking at a protest at Tallaght Hospital today Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said children's services must remain at Tallaght Hospital. Deputy Crowe the controversial decision to situate the new National Children's Hospital at the Mater should not be to the detriment of existing services at Tallaght. Read full article
15 September, 2006
SINN FÉIN DUBLIN MID WEST representative Joanne Spain has expressed concern at the serious backlog of infant health check ups in Lucan and challenged Health Minister and local TD Mary Harney to listen to her voters and invest in the Lucan Health Centre. Ms Spain was approached by parents after several babies had their nine-month check ups cancelled due to lack of staff at the clinic and were told the one-year check ups were being put back even further. Read full article
14 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin South East Representative, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has today congratulated, "all those who have challenged and beaten drug addiction in Dublin's inner city." Read full article
14 September, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to give the new Garda Ombudsman Commission resources, staff and powers at least equivalent to those of Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman in the Six Counties. Speaking after meeting the new Commission this morning Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "It is clear that, contrary
to all of Justice Minister Michael McDowell's assurances, the resources and
powers of new commission fall short of what is required by the Good Friday
Agreement." Read full article
14 September, 2006
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe today welcomed the Governments' plans for providing more affordable housing throughout Dublin
through the Affordable Homes Partnership. However, Deputy Crowe pointed out that although this plan is a welcome development for people who wish to own their own homes, the Government is still neglecting its duties to people that are in need of social housing. Read full article
13 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on Europe and Representative for Dublin South East, Cllr. Daithí Doolan today welcomed Dr. Hans Blix to Dublin. In his address to the National Forum on Europe Cllr. Doolan congratulated Dr Blix, Chairperson of The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, for his work in promoting global disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Read full article
13 September, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has welcomed the Garda
crackdown on herion dealers in Dublin today after 30 people were arrested
in drugs raids in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin and Ronanstown. Read full article
13 September, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has demanded, "that the sale of the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend to be halted pending the completion of the Poolbeg Framework Plan." Read full article
12 September, 2006
Sinn Fein general election candidate for Dublin North, Matt McCormack, has called on Fingal County Council to immediately put on hold plans for a proposed super-dump near Lusk. This comes as a study released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that there is a vast underground reservoir under much of the north county. Read full article
12 September, 2006
Matt McCormack has been in touch with Fingal County Council who are monitoring the situation. Matt said "While I'm aware the County Council cannot give everybody what they want, when they want it, I would suggest that 5 years is to long to be waiting for a transfer and giving the condition of her flat, she should be moved immediately and the flat renovated to make it fit someone to live in, where they can live their life in comfort and dignity." Read full article
12 September, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West Representative Joanne Spain praised Pieta House in Lucan today for their suicide awareness week. The newly opened establishment has been running a series of events throughout the week to highlight the issue in Lucan, in a similar initiative to that taken by CAS in Clondalkin a few months ago. Read full article
12 September, 2006
At the annual Sinn Féin think-tank in Howth last Friday, Sinn Féin Dublin
Mid West representative Joanne Spain and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald jointly proposed that the party hold a major health rally next month in Dublin. Read full article
12 September, 2006
In bright evening sunshine on Saturday 9th September about eighty republicans from Dún Laoghaire and South Dublin accompanied by the Joe McDonnell Flute Band made their way the short distance from Ballybrack village to Maddens Lane for the unveiling of a memorial plaque to two IRA volunteers, Patrick Meaney and Thomas Dunne who were tragically killed during an operation to destroy the local RIC barracks on May 12th, 1920. Read full article
12 September, 2006
Sinn Féin International Affairs spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has slammed the 'Oireachtas Ostriches' on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, after his motion calling for suspension of the EU-Israel Trade Agreement due to Israel's human rights violations failed to get support. Read full article
12 September, 2006
Speaking ahead of the announcement of the expected share price for Aer Lingus later today, Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe appealed to all progressive forces to come together to explore any remaining avenues to prevent the sale of our national airline. Read full article
12 September, 2006
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has said that the Fingal Joint Policing Committee established at Monday's Council meeting is fundamentally flawed and will fail in its objective of promoting confidence in the Gardaí in the areas where it is most required. Read full article
11 September, 2006
Commenting on the election of Michael McDowell as leader of the Progressive Democrats and prospective Tánaiste, Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain said: Read full article
11 September, 2006
Speaking following a statement from the Prison Officer's Association saying
that Mountjoy Prison is the most overcrowded that it has been in recent
years, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said that 'more
prisons and bigger prisons is not the answer'. Read full article
11 September, 2006
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs will tomorrow debate a Sinn Féin motion (Attached) calling on the government to propose the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, article two of which contains a provision stating that the agreement is based on respect for human rights. Speaking ahead of the vote, Sinn Féin International Affairs spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called for all-party support for the motion 'in a spirit of non-partisanship'. Read full article
11 September, 2006
Speaking this morning Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD reluctantly admitted that his previous expectations that Aer Lingus would be "under valued" and "sold for a pittance" are now likely to come through with the rumours that Ireland's national airline may be sold off for as little as €615 million. Read full article
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