News Archives for October, 2006
31 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Councillor and vice chairperson of the Dublin Joint Policing Committee Larry O'Toole has called for responsible Halloween celebrations and for people to treat the Fire Brigade and other emergency services with respect. Councillor O'Toole was speaking today as the fire services prepared for the annual festivities and the mayhem that usually accompanies them. Read full article
31 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Leinster House team and Dublin party activists will hold a picket at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House at 12pm tomorrow, November 1st, to highlight the party's proposed legislation to be debated
in the Dáil tomorrow evening. The Sinn Féin bill would reverse the changes to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, introduced by Minister Martin Cullen in 2000. Read full article
31 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Equality Spokesperson, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has given a cautious welcome to a new report showing a drop in racist attitudes and incidents in Ireland over the past three years. Read full article
31 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today alerted small businesses, community organizations and NGOs to beware of 'misleading adveritising which could potentially lead them to inadvertently signing up for a service which they neither require nor can afford'. Read full article
31 October, 2006
Speaking after it emerged from An Garda Síochána figures that a total of 449 people were arrested over the bank holiday weekend in the 26 counties on suspicion of drink driving, Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD appealed for everyone to "help end this culture of impaired driving." Read full article
30 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today raised her concerns that Ireland is not on course to reach its Kyoto Protocol targets by 2010. Read full article
28 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD said that housing will be one of the party's fundamental campaigning issues in the next election. He was speaking at a special one-day party conference on housing policy which discussed a range of proposals around housing including measures to provide more social and affordable housing and enhanced protections for people in the private rented sector. Read full article
27 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has called on the four local authority council managers in Dublin to increase the limit on the shared ownership housing scheme to reflect the reality in the housing market in the capital. Deputy Crowe was speaking today after publishing the results of a Sinn Féin survey which highlighted extreme difficulties in finding housing in Dublin within the limits of the shared ownership scheme. Read full article
27 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on the Council to provide a pedestrian 'zebra' crossing outside Coolmine Station. Council officials have agreed to consider the crossing in the 2007 Programme of Works. Read full article
27 October, 2006
DUBLIN 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for a range of improvements to the Littlepace area. The improvements relate to damage caused either by vandals or traffic accidents and include strengthening and realigning traffic lights at the Castaheany interchange, replacing of name plates at Littlepace Woods and replacement of concrete caps along the Littlepace Road. Read full article
26 October, 2006
IN WELCOMING the seizure of €11m worth of heroin and cannabis in the Clondalkin area of Dublin West, Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher said that significant lessons should be learnt Read full article
26 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe will tomorrow publish the results of a Sinn Féin survey on the amount of housing available in Dublin within the limits of the shared ownership schemes in Dublin. Deputy Crowe said today the results of Sinn Féin's survey highlight that the shared ownership schemes of the four local authorities in Dublin are outdated and have been swept aside by rising house prices. Read full article
26 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has this morning praised the Fire Service for the rescue of residents at a hostel on Portland Row in the North Inner City in the early hours of the morning. Read full article
26 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has congratulated and commended the Dublin Fire Brigade for their heroic actions last night after they prevented a major tragedy by saving up to seventy people from a burning hostel in the north inner city. Read full article
26 October, 2006
Speaking at today's meeting of the National Forum on Europe, Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on European Affairs Cllr. Daithí Doolan challenged Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny not to undermine freedom of movement in Europe. Read full article
25 October, 2006
Sinn Féin have formally lodged a tender with a cheque,valued at EUR00.01c, for the purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend. Sinn Féin are attempting to buy the site, which is valued at EUR300m, to give the land to Dublin City Council to build social and affordable housing. Read full article
25 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has today welcomed a new combined strategy which is hoped could eradicate homelessness by 2010. Read full article
25 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has welcomed remarks by Fr Peter McVerry in the Working Notes publication which describe the rehabilitative nature of prison policy as 'disastarous and an obscenity' showing the 'moral bankruptcy' of Justice Minister Michael McDowell's penal policy. Read full article
25 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD was critical today of the Department of Education and the Government for 'neglecting information technology in our schools'. Deputy Crowe went on to point out that this was unsurprising considering our overall investment in education is near the bottom of the OECD league table. Read full article
25 October, 2006
While welcoming the massive heroin seizure in west Dublin yesterday, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said it is a reminder that heroin continues to plague communities across the state. Pointing to increased deaths from heroin and increased numbers of prisoners receiving treatment for heroin addiction, he described the notion that the heroin crisis has stabilised as 'increasingly threadbare'. Read full article
25 October, 2006
The former 25-acre Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend is to be sold. The deadline for tenders ends Wednesday 25th of October. Cllr. Daithí Doolan will be presenting a cheque on behalf of the community for EUR00.01c to William Fry solicitors on Baggot Street who are accepting tenders for the site. Read full article
24 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West Representative Joanne Spain, reacting to news of a massive drugs seizure in Clondalkin tonight, said the presence of such a huge volume of drugs in the area shows the need for extra policing resources in the West of Dublin. She also expressed concern at how such a large volume of drugs could still be getting into the state. Read full article
24 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD, responding to the publication of the ESRI report on the Ex-ante Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013, said that the report must not be used by Government as pretext for cutbacks in social and affordable housing provision. He called on the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to introduce tax changes to reduce demand from investors in the property market. Read full article
23 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O'Toole has been named vice chairperson of the Dublin Joint Policing Committee at its inaugural meeting this afternoon. Speaking after his appointment councillor O'Toole said he will use his new position to strengthen the committee and to promote genuine partnership between the Gardaí and local communities. Read full article
23 October, 2006
In a scathing attack following indications from Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell TD that the Government is considering an assault on civil liberties in order to pose a tough on crime, Sinn Féin's Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD accused the Minister of only being interested in soundbites and column inches. He predicted the Minister would keep 'beating the law & order drum with an increasing tempo' as we near an election. This follows the Minister's comments at the weekend that a range of rights, such as the right to silence or against 'double jeopardy' are to be reviewed. Read full article
23 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD, pointing to the increasing numbers attending fee-paying secondary schools has attacked the system of 'social apartheid' in our education system. Pointing to figures showing that only 20% of students with low-skill/manual workers as parents go on to college, he went on to say that 'Education is at the core of our society, equality should be at the core of education'. Read full article
23 October, 2006
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Dublin City Councillors Larry O'Toole and Críona Ní Dhalaigh will attend the inaugural meeting of Dublin City's Joint Policing Committee which takes place this evening at 4.30pm in Dublin City Hall. All three will be available to speak to the media at 1.30pm today (Monday 24th) at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House. Read full article
22 October, 2006
The inaugural meeting of Dublin City Council's Joint Policing Committee will take place tomorrow (Monday 24th) at 4.30pm in City Hall. Sinn Féin members of the newly established committee Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, Councillor Larry O'Toole and Councillor Críona Ní Dhalaigh will be available to speak to the media at 1.30pm tomorrow (Monday 24th) at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House. They will set out the party's priorities for the Joint Policing Committee and the 5 Joint Policing Sub-Committees which will work alongside it. Read full article
20 October, 2006
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will address a major health rally in Dublin tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 21st October). Thousands of people are expected in the city centre to demand that the government end the crisis in the health service and deliver on the 3,000 beds required for acute hospitals. Mr. Adams said: It's time that the government used public finance to improve the public health system and not to help property developers build private hospitals. Now is the time to put the government under pressure'. Read full article
20 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has this morning demanded progress on Sinn Féin's long standing call for the introduction of an All Ireland sex offenders register after a convicted paedophile in the north turned up in the 26 counties. Read full article
19 October, 2006
Figures obtained by Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher reveal that 1,238 people in the Dublin West Constituency have been diagnosed with cancer. The figures from the National Cancer Registry show that breast and colorectal cancer are the most common. The figures which are broken down by electoral division, show that the Blakestown electoral area has the highest rates of registered cancers. Read full article
19 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan, to follow his brother Conor's example and ensure that the mobile phone antennae are removed from beside primary schools in Huntstown and Carpenterstown Read full article
19 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has claimed that the Dublin North Metro announcement exposes both the political weakness and neglect of Dublin West in terms of transportation infrastructure. Read full article
19 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today expressed her concerns that Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin is to recall up to100 families of sick children who attended the hospital over a possible Hepatitis C infection. Read full article
19 October, 2006
Speaking at today's meeting of the National Forum on Europe, Sinn Fein's Dublin spokesperson on European Affairs Cllr. Daithi Doolan congratulated the Forum for it's work on this it's 5th anniversary. Read full article
18 October, 2006
Speaking today at Comhairle na nOg's Dublin South East conference in The Ark, Sinn Féin's Dublin South East Representative Cllr. Daithi Doolan has called on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to reduce the voting age to 16 years of age. Read full article
18 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West Representative Joanne Spain has called on the Government to recognise that building energy efficient housing is the only way to tackle rising fuel costs and help reverse the damage the 26 Counties is doing to the environment. She also called on local authorities to look at ways of bringing down home heating bills this winter by properly insulating their housing stock. Read full article
18 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain has expressed concern that holders of medical cards are not being treated the same as private patients by GPs. Ms Spain was approached by several members of the public who said they found it difficult to get doctors to take them on as medical card patients. Read full article
18 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain has expressed concern that holders of medical cards are not being treated the same as private patients by GPs. Ms Spain was approached by several members of the public who said they found it difficult to get doctors to take them on as medical card patients. Read full article
18 October, 2006
With three days to Sinn Féin's health rally this Saturday Sinn Féin
National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald, along with Dublin TDs Seán Crowe
and Aengus Ó Snodaigh, will be joining party activists in a canvass of
Grafton Street this afternoon, Wednesday the 18th, at 2pm to encourage
Dubliners to take part. Read full article
17 October, 2006
Speaking in the Dáil today Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called on the Government to properly resource the national and local drugs units and community policing to enable the Gardaí to more effectively tackle illegal drugs supply in partnership with communities. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said more needs to be done to tackle the myth that certain drugs are 'recreational' and therefore 'safe'. Read full article
17 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Equality spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for the Disability Act 2005 to be scrapped and for rights based legislation to be brought forward. Speaking on the Disability Sectoral Plans in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the Disability Act is fundamentally flawed and hinders the amount of progress that will be made. Read full article
17 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP and West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff will this morning undertake a series of briefings with over twenty foreign embassies at the European Parliament in Brussels. Read full article
16 October, 2006
Responding to the findings of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committeeon the costs of keeping young offenders in a detention centre in Finglas Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said often community sanctions prove to be both cheaper and more effective. Read full article
16 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for measures to prevent children and young people becoming involved in criminal activity. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking in the Dáil today after four males aged between 16 and 19 and two women in their twenties were arrested in Limerick last night in an operation that resulted in the seizure of two handguns and a quantity of ammunition. Read full article
16 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said there are
serious questions to be asked over the credibility of the Government's
announcement that Garda vetting will now be extended to staff and
volunteers in the pre-school sector. While welcoming the news, he pointed
out that the Garda Vetting Unit was currently unable to deal with its
existing workload and asked whether the resources would be made available
for the Gardaí to deliver the Minister's promises. Read full article
16 October, 2006
Speaking this morning Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD called for a reduction of delays of up to five months for child benefit and childcare supplements for EU migrant workers. Read full article
16 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has launched the party's healthcare policy document - Healthcare in an Ireland of Equals. Speaking at the launch, Cllr. Gallagher paid tribute to the people of Monaghan for coming out in force to demand a right to healthcare and encouraged Dubliners to do the same at a rally organised by the party that is scheduled to take place this coming Saturday 21 st October at 1pm. The rally will assemble at Parnell Square. Read full article
16 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has said that people must learn from the tragic deaths of two young men from poor-quality cocaine. Cllr. Gallagher also expressed sympathy to the families of the two men. Read full article
16 October, 2006
Commenting today on the growing availability and accessibility of mind altering drugs, including non-scheduled substances for sale in the Head Shop and other similar stores, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called on the Government to "keep on top of changing drug patterns of availability and use and in particular polly-drug use which can have complex and unpredictable consequences." Read full article
16 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has today called on, "An Bord Pleanala to reject Fingal County Council's request for planning permission for the proposed land fill super dump in the Lusk, County Dublin." Read full article
13 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD called for an independent investigation into the death of Gary Douche in Mountjoy Prison in July and the establishment of a Prisoner's Ombudsman. He was speaking in the Dáil after it was revealed that the cell in which Mr Douche was killed was destroyed before it could be examined by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. Deputy Crowe went on to call on the Government to
ratify Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and bring to an end the practice of 'in-house' investigations into deaths in Garda or prison custody. Read full article
13 October, 2006
As Minister for Transport Martin Cullen accuses Opposition politicians of 'getting over-excited' about the privatisation of Aer Lingus, Sinn Féin's Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD lashed the Minister and his Government for their 'compliance in this botched attempt at privatising Aer Lingus that may well have disastrous consequences for the employees'. Read full article
13 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today said that 'it is time that our employees are treated as human beings rather than expendable commodities in the pursuit for continued economic growth.' Read full article
13 October, 2006
Speaking at a protest outside Health Minister Mary Harney's constituency office in Clondalkin today Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain called on Dubliners to support a major health rally taking place in Dublin on October 21st. Sinn Féin also launched an all-Ireland health policy document entitled Healthcare in an Ireland of Equals at the protest today. Read full article
13 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has called on the Dublin City Manager to explain the alleged fuel deal that Dublin City Council has with Shell Oil . Read full article
12 October, 2006
Dublin Mid West Sinn Féin representative Joanne Spain returned from talks in Scotland today to meet Chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne and the Authority's CEO Designate Noel Brett. Ms Spain had
been taking part in the negotiations with the two governments and the DUP, but left early to discuss this crucial issue with Mr Byrne. She was joined by her party's spokesperson on transport Seán Crowe TD and all-Ireland co-ordinator and MLA Barry McElduff. Read full article
12 October, 2006
South Dublin Sinn Féin representatives Shaun Tracey and Sorcha Nic Cormaic have called on Dubliners to support a major health rally taking place in Dublin on October 21st. Speaking today Mr. Tracey said he is calling on people to actively campaign for a fair healthcare system. Read full article
12 October, 2006
Sinn Féin International Affairs and Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said the Passenger Name Record (PNR) Agreement should not be entered into lightly or behind closed doors. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the PNR agreement forms part of the so-called 'war on terror' and will infringe the civil liberties of Irish and EU citizens Read full article
12 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has given a cautious welcome to a promise from the Government to consider installing fire doors in houses with lifts to facilitate disabled people as part of a review of fire regulations. But Deputy Crowe went on to demand clarification as to when an answer would be forthcoming from the review and pointed out the existing dangers for one of his constituents, before pledging to follow up on the matter with the Minister at the earliest opportunity. Read full article
12 October, 2006
Responding to the findings of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on the costs of keeping young offenders in a detention centre in Finglas Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said often community sanctions prove to be both cheaper and more effective. Read full article
11 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said this state's free education is slowly evaporating -if it ever really existed. Deputy Crowe had asked the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin for her proposals to address the increasing costs faced by parents sending their kids to school after receiving reports that some schools are increasing so called 'registration fees' in view of increased lighting, heating, refurbishment and equipment costs not to mention bin charges, which cost one school an estimated €2,500 last year. Read full article
11 October, 2006
Speaking at a collusion protest outside the Dáil today Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said he is hopeful that Justice Minister Michael McDowell will make a commitment to amend the Tribunal of Inquiry Bill to alleviate concerns about the impact this Bill will have on families of collusion victims in their quest for truth. Read full article
11 October, 2006
Sinn Féin International Affairs and Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said the Passenger Name Record (PNR) Agreement should not be entered into lightly or behind closed doors. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the PNR agreement forms part of the so-called 'war on terror' and will infringe the civil liberties of Irish and EU citizens. Read full article
11 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for measures to prevent children and young people becoming involved in criminal activity. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking in the Dáil today after four males aged between 16 and 19 and two women in their twenties were arrested in Limerick last night in an operation that resulted in the seizure of two handguns and a quantity of ammunition. Read full article
10 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has condemned a decision by the Castlecurragh Property Management Company to charge a legal fee of €25 per household which will be used to prosecute fellow residents. The management company was established by Fingal County Council and both its Directors are Council employees. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said, "any Garda-led effort to curb supply and demand in the illegal drugs market will be ineffective unless it is conducted in genuine partnership with local communities." Speaking to a private members motion on Drugs in the Dáil this evening Deputy Ó Snodaigh called for increased resources for An Garda Síochána National Drugs Unit, Local Drugs Units and Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin North East general election candidate, Cllr Larry O'Toole chaired the launch of Sinn Féin's Health Policy at a press conference in Darndale Village Centre on Tuesday October 10th. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has called on Dubliners to come out in support of a major Health Rally planned for Dublin on October 21st. Speaking at a press conference in Darndale today Ms. McDonald said Dublin people should come out on the streets in huge numbers to demand our healthcare rights. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Responding to discussions at the conference of the association, representing rank-and-file members of the Defence Forces, PDFORRA Sinn Féin spokesperson on International Affairs Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD expressed Sinn Fein's support for all participation in overseas missions to remain voluntary. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has supported the call by The Disability Federation of Ireland for €500 million funding for the sector in the next budget. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP has today expressed her concerns that a potential tuberculosis crisis could hit the EU and urged European leaders to work to combat any future outbreak. Read full article
10 October, 2006
To highlight Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council's shameful record for providing social housing Dún Laoghaire Sinn Féin picketed yesterday evening's council meeting. The protest was the first in a series of actions aimed at highlighting the failure of the council to tackle the area's growing housing crisis. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Tomorrow, Wednesday 11 October, Sinn Féin's Dublin Mid-West representative, Joanne Spain will travel to Scotland with the party's negotiating team for crucial talks aimed at restoring the power-sharing institutions in the North and securing the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Speaking before chairing a Sinn Féin rally in Belfast this evening in advance of the talks, Spain said that the time for artificial roadblocks to progress is over. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD will call in the Dáil today for an independent investigation into the Garda shooting in Co Galway yesterday that has left a man named locally as Mr Anthony Burke, in a critical condition. Deputy Ó Snodaigh argued that there 'is no longer any tolerance for the practice of Gardaí investigating themselves'. Read full article
10 October, 2006
FINGAL Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has said that Government must assume full responsibility for the proposed Ryanair takeover of Aer Lingus. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain is to chair a Belfast City Centre Rally at the Europa Hotel at 7pm on Tuesday night, October 10th. Read full article
10 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain on Thursday 12th of October will announce details of a major poster and leaflet campaign to take place throughout the constituency and city in the lead up to the Sinn Féin health rally in Dublin on October 21st. Read full article
9 October, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald will tomorrow announce details of a major poster and leaflet campaign to take place throughout the city in the lead up to the Sinn Féin health rally in Dublin on October 21st. Read full article
9 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said that the party's negotiations team is raising Sinn Féin's concerns about the proposed Tribunal of Inquiries Bill with the Taoiseach today. Outlining a number of the party's concerns about the Bill, he stressed the possible implications of the legislation 'for revealing the truth about collusion in Ireland'. He went on to describe the position of the Labour party, as outlined over the weekend, as utterly inadequate and suggested they had clearly not understood the implications of the legislation. Read full article
9 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment Spokesperson & Representative for Dublin South East, Councillor Daithí Doolan, has today called on fellow Councillors to reject the plans by Trinity College Dublin to build a tower block in the Pearse Street area. Read full article
9 October, 2006
After writing to European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes in a joint letter Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD and Mary Lou MacDonald MEP urged the EU to step in to investigate the attempted takeover of Aer Lingus by its main competitor Ryanair which they believe is in contravention of the spirit and the letter of European Competition Law. Read full article
9 October, 2006
To highlight Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council's shameful record for providing social housing Dún Laoghaire Sinn Féin will picket this evening's council meeting. Local Sinn Féin activists will picket the Council offices at 5pm today at Town Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire. Read full article
6 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has supported the call by The Disability Federation of Ireland for €500 million funding for the sector in the next budget. Read full article
6 October, 2006
Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called on South Dublin County Council to provide street name signs for Kiltalawn and for the all the streets in the area to be put on local street maps. Speaking today Deputy Crowe said the Council are effectively putting the lives of the families in Kiltalawn at risk by not providing street signs that are vital for emergency services. Read full article
6 October, 2006
Incompetent government cannot even oversee the smooth implementation of integrated ticketing Read full article
6 October, 2006
Responding to discussions at the conference of the association, representing rank-and-file members of the Defence Forces, PDFORRA Sinn Féin spokesperson on International Affairs Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD expressed Sinn Fein's support for all participation in overseas missions to remain voluntary. Read full article
5 October, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on fellow councillor Leo Varadkar to apologise for his scaremongering on the methadone issue. Cllr. Gallagher has obtained a copy of a reply from Noel Mulvihill, HSE Manager for the area, which confirms that the number of methadone users for the Roselawn, Delwood and Glenville area is less than 10. Read full article
5 October, 2006
DUBLIN 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has welcomed a report from the National Consumer Agency which has called for Property Management Companies to be fully regulated. Cllr. Gallagher said the Government must stop paying lip-service to the issue and introduce regulations immediately to ensure that homeowners are protected. Read full article
5 October, 2006
Dublin Mid West Representative Joanne Spain has responded angrily to a reply to from the Health Service Executive which has placed the blame for the lack of staff at the Lucan Health Centre with the Department of Health. Read full article
5 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD and Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, in a joint statement following Ryanair's threat to obtain at least a majority of the former national airline shares, have made clear that responsibility for this debacle rests with the Government. Deputy Crowe pointed out that this was an inevitability following the Government's decision to throw Aer Lingus to 'the wolves of private capital and rival airlines'. Read full article
5 October, 2006
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Human Rights Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to withdraw the Tribunal of Inquiry Bill 2005. Speaking today Deputy Ó Snodaigh pointed to the particular impact this Bill would have on victims of collusion and their families in their quests for truth. Read full article
5 October, 2006
Sinn Fein's Dublin Spokesperson on Europe Councillor Daithí Doolan welcomes Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde to todays monthly National Forum on Europe gathering in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham at 11am. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin is launching our Healthcare for Dublin document on Tuesday 10th October in the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre at 2:30pm. Cllr Larry O'Toole will be joined by various colleagues from Dublin Sinn Féin including Mary Lou McDonald M.E.P. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Justice and Law Reform spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has
warned of the serious dangers of allowing the legal profession to dictate
the appointment of staff to the office of the Legal Services Ombudsman. He
was speaking in the Dáil during the debate on the Civil Law (Miscellaneous
Provisions) 2006. While broadly supportive of the Bill, Deputy Ó Snodaigh
questioned the resolve of the Minister to properly hold to account the
legal profession and said it was imperative that the class make-up of the
judiciary be addressed. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain has described as outrageous yesterday's ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which will allow employers to pay women less if they have babies. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain has welcomed Minister for Health Mary Harney's reply to a Dáil question in which she said she would have the Health Service Executive investigate the serious backlog of infant health checks and the number of staff based at the Lucan Health Centre. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Speaking today Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD labelled Ireland a "transport disaster that has spiralled out of control due to uncoordinated planning and lack of government investment in public transport". Deputy Crowe was speaking in the Dáil this afternoon after it emerged that the European Environment Agency (EEA) is using Dublin as a worst-case model of urban planning to ensure that new EU member states will not make the same mistakes. Read full article
4 October, 2006
Sinn Fein International Affairs and Defence spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said a statement made today by the representative association of the defence forces PDFORRA rubbishes Defence Minister Willie O'Dea's argument that signing up to EU battle groups would not necessitate increased spending on defence equipment and that it would not deplete the numbers of soldiers available for UN peacekeeping missions. Read full article
3 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said Justice Minister Michael McDowell has failed to account for inconsistencies between his assertion, that the purchase of the Thornton Hall prison site for €199,000 per acre was good value, and the Comptroller and Auditor General's report which concludes that it was not. Read full article
3 October, 2006
Speaking this morning, Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD welcomed the continued co-operation between authorities in the twenty-six and six counties in the area of road safety but pointed to a slow process which needs to be speeded up. Read full article
3 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Justice and Equality spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has expressed his support for the legal case being taken by Dr Katherine Zappone and Dr Anne Louise Gilligan in the High Court today. Deputy Ó Snodaigh condemned Minister McDowell for ruling out a constitutional amendment to give recognition to same-sex marriages. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin South East representative Councillor Daithí Doolan has tonight welcomed Dublin City Council's commitment, "to review the City Council's Shared Ownership Scheme for first time home buyers." Read full article
2 October, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain and Cllr Shane O'Connor joined Gerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonald and Bairbre de Brun this weekend in calling for Dubliners to mobilise for the party's 21 October health rally in the capital. Spain and O'Connor said it was crucial that there is a big turn out for the "Demand your healthcare rights" rally. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Speaking as Aer Lingus shares are formally admitted to the Official Lists
of the Irish and British Stock Exchanges, Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson
Seán Crowe TD expressed his regret that the Government has decided to 'push
ahead with this unpopular decision despite numerous negative forebodings'. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Speaking after training of the first batch of volunteers for McDowells Garda reserve force commenced last weekend Sinn Féin spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Human Rights Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh said "This training is dangerously inadequate. In just a few short weeks these volunteers will be vested with powers and privileges akin to those of full members of the Garda Síochána yet they will undergo a mere fraction of the training and on-the-job learning." Read full article
2 October, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for road signage to be erected to highlight the whereabouts of Ongar. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for the redesign and upgrade of the roundabout at the junction of the N3 and Blanchardstown Road North . Gallagher maintains that this will benefit both pedestrians and motorists. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has slammed the Evening Herald and sought to reassure Huntstown residents over a story alleging that a new mast was granted planning permission unopposed. The story by Brendan Morgan claiming to quote both local residents and a Council official is completely fictitious. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has learnt that the controversial Tolka Flood Scheme will not be proceeding in the near future. The scheme which proposed to widen the river by 8 metres at the Kepak stretch was widely criticised by local anglers and environmentalists. Kepak was recently found guilty of causing a major fish kill in the river. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has confirmed that Fingal County Council is to purchase CCTV equipment to tackle illegal dumping. In response to Cllr. Gallagher raising the issue of fly-tipping in Ongar the Council confirmed the measure. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for ramps to be provided in the Bramblefield development in the Littlepace area as a matter of urgency. Read full article
2 October, 2006
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for the provision of traffic calming measures for the Ashfield area of Huntstown. Read full article
1 October, 2006
Sinn Fein's Dublin Environment Spokesperson Councillor Daithí Doolan will tomorrow (Monday) lodge the party's objection with An Bord Pleanála against the proposed incinerator on the PoolbegPeninsula. Read full article
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