News Archives for December, 2006
20 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on Europe Cllr. Daithí Doolan put it to the leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte, after his address to the National Forum on Europe today in Dublin Castle, that by supporting the Services Directive, by not rejecting the EU Constitution and in backing the Government's decision to limit Bulgarian and Romanian workers entry into Ireland, his party's vision for Europe is a bundle of contradictions. Read full article
20 December, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O'Toole has welcomed the opening of the port tunnel today. Speaking today Councillor O'Toole said while there are many concerns regarding the opening of the tunnel people should not rush to be overly critical of the project. Read full article
20 December, 2006
South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has slammed a new policy, introduced by the new Dún Laoghaoire/Rathdown Council Manager Owen Keegan, which bans community and sporting groups from obtaining public leases from the council. Mr. Tracey said the new policy has put in jeopardy €1.6million in funding for a community childcare facility in Ballyogan which community workers in the area have been working on for six years. Read full article
19 December, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has said not one person should be sleeping rough in Ireland while politicians and economists applaud themselves for the creation of the Celtic Tiger. Ms. McDonald made her comments at a public meeting organised by Sinn Féin in Dublin this evening entitled Ending Homelessness. The meeting was also addressed by Fr. Peter McVerry of the Arrupe Society, Brendan Dowling of the Community Forum and Chris Meehan who was homeless for twenty-five years. Read full article
19 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said the Special Criminal Court must be dismantled and not used as a shortcut to unsound convictions as a knee jerk reaction to increased gangland crime. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking today as the cabinet prepared to make its response to the recent spate of gangland killings. Read full article
18 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Representative for Dún Laoghaire Eoin Ó Broin has written to Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Council highlighting the absence of adequate traffic calming and management provision on Pearse Street, Sallynoggin. Following representations from local residents Ó Broin has called on the council to examine the need for traffic signage, a pedestrian crossing and traffic calming measures on the road. Read full article
18 December, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin is holding a public meeting at 7:30pm tomorrow evening in the Royal Dublin Hotel entitled Ending Homelessness. Speakers on the night include Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, Fr. Peter McVerry of the Arrupe Society, Brendan Dowling of the Community Forum and Chris Meehan who was homeless for twenty-five years. Read full article
18 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD this morning led a party delegation to meet with the City Manager John Tierney over concerns about the impact for the M50 when the port tunnel is opened on Wednesday. The delegation included Dublin Councillor Larry O'Toole and Dublin Mid-West representative Joanne Spain. Read full article
18 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment & Local Government, Cllr Daithí Doolan, has today claimed, "that a committee set up by Dublin City Council to examine developing Dublin Port and Bay Area offers a new and real opportunity for the city." Read full article
18 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain today met with Dublin City Manager John Tierney to assess the impact Wednesday's opening of the Port Tunnel will have on M50 motorists. Ms Spain was accompanied by Sinn Féin TD and transport spokesperson Seán Crowe and Dublin North East Councillor Larry O'Toole. The M50 runs through all three of the Sinn Féin representatives' constituencies. Read full article
18 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment and Local Government, Cllr Daithí Doolan, has today outlined, parameters for the future development of Dublin Bay and Port Area. Read full article
14 December, 2006
BLANCHARDSTOWN Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on Fingal County Council to end its use of block voting on Management Companies and to transfer the voting right to its tenants. A large number of Council tenants are forced to pay Management fees but have no rights at the AGM of the Management Company, most notably in the Castlecurragh estate in Blanchardstown. Read full article
14 December, 2006
DUBLIN 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has poured cold water on Council proposals to invent a major soccer club, complete with all-seater stadium and training academy. Cllr. Gallagher has called on Council officials to re-evaluate their proposal and concentrate on providing basic facilities for the hundreds of soccer teams rather than grandiose projects. Read full article
14 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice, Equality and Law Reform spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has expressed his disappointment at the decision of the High Court this morning to reject the case brought by Dr Katherine Zappone, a public policy consultant, and Dr Anne Louise Gilligan to recognise their same-sex Canadian marriage. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said there was now an onus on the Government to bring forward reforms to give recognition to same-sex marriage. Read full article
14 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD will use a private notice question to confront the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell in the Dáil today over the recent spate of violent deaths. Deputy Ó Snodaigh will ask the Minister to explain his strategy to halt the killings and the action he will take to assure the safety of local communities from harm over the Christmas period. Deputy Ó Snodaigh is raising this issue with the Minister today after another man was killed last night bringing the total to five in the last six days. Read full article
14 December, 2006
In a joint statement, the Vice Chair of the Dublin Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Larry O'Toole, and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald, have accused the Government of abandoning swathes of working class communities in Dublin to gangsters and drug dealers. Read full article
14 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on Europe Cllr. Daithí Doolan questioned the Tánaiste & Progressive Democrats leader Michael McDowell's vision for the future of Europe following the Minister's key note address at the National Forum of Europe plenary session held today at Dublin's Westin Hotel. Read full article
13 December, 2006
Speaking at a public meeting organised by Sinn Féin in Sallynoggin this evening the vice-chairperson of the Dublin Joint Policing Committee, Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O'Toole said, "Dangerous driving and so called 'boy racing' are problems blighting many communities throughout Dublin." The meeting in Sallynoggin was called as part of a Dublin Sinn Féin campaign to reclaim public spaces from anti-social aspects but specifically to address the concerns of local residents regarding increased occurrences of boy racing and dangerous driving in the area. Read full article
13 December, 2006
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has tabled amendments to the Europol Bill in an effort to boost accountability and safeguard human rights. This Bill is scheduled for report and final stages this evening. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "Sinn Féin's amendments would insert provisions for judicial and civilian oversight of the activities of Europol." Read full article
13 December, 2006
Tá an Teachta Dála Aengus Ó Snodaigh tar éis Lá Ghaeilge san Oireachtas mar chuid de Sheachtain na Gaeilge a bheidh ar siúl i mí Mhárta 2007 a lorg ón Cheann Chomhairle agus ón Phríomh Aoire. Read full article
13 December, 2006
Dublin City Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O'Toole is calling for the establishment of a Maritime Museum in the North Dublin fishing town of Howth. The proposed museum would also serve as a suitable site for the preservation and display of the historic vessel the Asgard. Read full article
13 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on the Government, the Minister for Justice and the Gardaí to review, revise and update their approach to drug-related crime. He said this review should address the many questions that arise regarding the murder of a major drug dealer in Finglas yesterday. Deputy Ó Snodaigh went on to send his condolences and those of the Sinn Féin party to the family and friends of Anthony Campbell, the young apprentice plumber murdered in Finglas yesterday. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Sinn Féin in Blanchardstown held its 4th Annual Martin Savage Commemoration to mark the 87th anniversary of the young Volunteer's death. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Finglas Sinn Féin Councillor Dessie Ellis has said he is appalled at the shooting dead of two people in Finglas this morning. Councillor Ellis said he is deeply concerned that these shootings continue in an area that has been prioritised by operation anvil. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Human Rights Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has accused the government of reneging on it's commitments under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and called on it to establish mental health treatment centres without delay. He was responding to revelations in the High Court yesterday that a man who was found to be mentally unfit for trial, has spent the last three months in prison due to the absence of a suitable mental health treatment centre. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said the Fianna Fáil - Progressive Democrat Government does not have the political will to end homelessness. Speaking today Deputy Crowe announced details of a public meeting being hosted by Dublin Sinn Féin on the theme of ending homelessness. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Sinn Féin in Blanchardstown held its 4th Annual Martin Savage Commemoration to mark the 87th anniversary of the young Volunteer's death Read full article
12 December, 2006
Dublin West Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has urged the Department of Education to secure sufficient lands for car parking and parental drop-off into the school sites for the Hansfield SDZ. The special development zone will cater for a 1,000 pupil secondary school and up to 48 primary school classes in either two or three schools. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Dublin West Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has urged Fingal County Council officials to stand over commitments given to fund Mountview Community Centre. The Council had agreed to fund the project to the tune of €2.125 million, however in recent days have cut that to just €1 million, leaving the future of the project in jeopardy. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for changes to be introduced to the Council Housing List after it was revealed that those entitled to only two bedroom houses can be waiting up to seven years to be housed. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for clarity regarding the future of the 1.5 acre site beside Mary Mother of Hope School in Littlepace, Dublin 15. The site was reserved by Councillors as a 'community' site for a school. However the Department of Education only purchased 3.5 acres of the 5 acre site. Read full article
12 December, 2006
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for urgent action to be taken to address the commuter nightmare experienced by local residents in his constituency last week. Cllr. Gallagher again called for a Quality Bus Corridor to be delivered and that access through the Phoenix Park be granted after it was confirmed that Dublin Bus journeys from Littlepace to Dublin city centre took more than three hours. Read full article
11 December, 2006
Dublin Sinn Féin Councillor Christy Burke has welcomed the decision to designate 16 Moore Street as a national monument after a long campaign to save the last headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. Speaking today Councillor Burke said immediate work needs to be done on the building to protect and preserve its shell condition. Read full article
10 December, 2006
Sinn Féin has selected Eoin Ó Broin to contest the Dún Laoghaire
constituency in the forthcoming Leinster House election. Eoin Ó Broin, a
native of Cabinteely and Blackrock, is the party's Director of European
Affairs and a former member of Belfast City Council. The convention took
place at the Kingston Hotel, Dún Laoghaire. Read full article
8 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe today once again pressed the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin to intervene 'to prevent the state's so-called elite schools cherry-picking students and discriminating against those schoolchildren with special needs by refusing to enrol them'. Read full article
8 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD today welcomed the Minister of Education Mary Hanafin's commitment to introduce new legislation in early 2007 that will ensure the timely delivery of grants to those who need them most. Minister Hanafin's commitment came in a reply to a parliamentary question posed by Deputy Crowe. Read full article
8 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe has called on the government to abolish fees for part-time students. Deputy Crowe said such a move would 'increase participation and end the discrimination against people whose family and work commitments prevent them from full-time study'. Read full article
8 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Worker's Rights spokesperson Deputy Arthur Morgan TD, and local party TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh today expressed their support for the bar workers in the well-known Dublin pub The Submarine Bar who have gone on strike following management's attempts to introduce cheap labour, undermining the pay and conditions of existing workers. Read full article
7 December, 2006
On day 13 of the 16 International Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Justice, Equality and Human Rights Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD tabled a priority parliamentary question to challenge the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and his Minister of State Frank Fahey on their failure to introduce a role for the Probation Service in court hearings on barring orders. Deputy Ó Snodaigh demanded that funding to the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency pilot scheme in the Dún Laoghaire and Bray District Court areas be guaranteed and extended. Read full article
7 December, 2006
South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has congratulated Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council for "finally standing up to developers and demanding proper compliance with Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000." Mr. Tracey was speaking this morning after reports of a stand-off between the Council and Glenkerrin Homes over the delivery of fifteen social housing units in Ballinteer. Read full article
7 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain, while welcoming some of the measures introduced in today's budget, said that Minister Brian Cowen had the opportunity and the resources to lift many citizens out of poverty but failed to do this. Read full article
6 December, 2006
COUNCILLOR Felix Gallagher - Sinn Féin's Dublin West election candidate, has given a warm welcome to the news that a Dublin-wide Fire Risk Assessment will be carried out as a matter of urgency. The decision was taken by Dublin City Council following a Sinn Féin motion on the issue. Cllr Gallagher has lobbied for such a fire study for a number of years, particularly for the Dublin 15 area which has seen such massive growth. Read full article
6 December, 2006
Responding to the news that 22,000 foreign born children have enrolled in Irish schools in the last year, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD welcomed the growing diversity and multi-ethnic make-up of our schools. But he urged the Minister for Education 'keep pace with the number of newcomer children enrolling in primary schools by providing adequate numbers of English language support teachers to ensure no child is left behind'. Read full article
6 December, 2006
Councillor Larry O'Toole has welcomed the announcement that over 700 new homes are to be built at the Lawrence land on the Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock. The development will include private, affordable and social housing, as well as commercial and community facilities and car parking. Read full article
6 December, 2006
Cllr Dessie Ellis is welcoming plans for the new Plaza in Ballymun, which will now proceed to a part 8 planning procedure.
The new Plaza will be a focal point for Ballymun and others. The main building of the axis and Civic Offices will then be visible to all in their entirety. Read full article
6 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for a reverse of what he describes as "extreme financial wastefulness" inherent in the Government's criminal justice policy approach. Speaking on budget day in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said greater use should be made of alternatives to prison. Read full article
6 December, 2006
Sinn Fein's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment & Local Government Cllr. Daithi Doolan demanded that the government, 'immediately review it's refusal to introduce legislation which would remove a loophole that allows developers in Dublin's docklands to avoid their obligation to provide 20% social & affordable housing." Read full article
5 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Equality spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called for official recognition of Travellers as a distinct ethnic minority deserving of protection under the UN Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the establishment of a statutory Traveller Agency, including representatives of Traveller organisations to monitor, co-ordinate and enforce government policy relating to Travellers. Read full article
5 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment, Cllr. Daithí Doolan, has this morning welcomed Dublin City Council's commitment to, "finally carrying out a full and total Fire Risk Assessment in all four local authorities in Dublin." Read full article
5 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has called on the Minister for Education Mary Hanafin to 'increase the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) and introduce local services where children can be psychologically assessed'. He was speaking after INTO research revealed that more than 26,000 primary schools pupils could have undiagnosed mental health problems. Read full article
4 December, 2006
Speaking at the launch of Sinn Féin's Tenants' Rights document this morning, Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain said there had to be an information campaign for people in the rental market to stop landlords abusing the system. The launch took place in Dublin City Hall and was also addressed by TD Seán Crowe, Cllr. Daithí Doolan and Cllr. Dessie Ellis. The party intends to deliver thousands of the documents throughout the county over the coming months. Read full article
4 December, 2006
For over three years now rental subsidy has been refused by the Health Board in Ballymun, and the City Council refused to stamp forms, which could authorise payment. Read full article
4 December, 2006
Sinn Féin TD Aengus O'Snodaigh has welcomed the fact that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to raise with the British Prime Minster Tony Blair British State involvement in the murder of citizens through their policy of collusion during their talks in London today. Read full article
4 December, 2006
Speaking in City hall this morning at the launch of Sinn Féin's 'Tenant's Rights' leaflet, Sinn Féin's Housing spokesperson Seán Crowe said it was vital that the almost 150,000 households in the private rented sector were fully aware of their rights. Deputy Crowe went on to outline three major areas where Sinn Féin intended to campaign for increased protections for tenants; fair rent, deposits and sub-standard accommodation. Read full article
2 December, 2006
Sinn Féin's Dublin North East election candidate Cllr Larry O'Toole has described the emergency water cover for the north-east of Dublin during the shutting down of water supplies this weekend as inadequate. He was speaking at the water tank at UCI Coolock today, where local people were collecting water. Read full article
2 December, 2006
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe is today leading a mass registration drive in Tallaght West. Deputy Crowe has taken this extraordinary measure because the South Dublin County Council electoral register is in chaos following the mass removal of eligible voters. Deputy Crowe said, "More than 6,500 people have been removed from the electoral register in Tallaght West, but with just over a week to go the local Council has still not put in place a proper plan to get people back on the register." This weekend community workers will join Sinn Féin activists in going door to door across the constituency in order to ensure that the register is as accurate as possible." Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin councillor and Dublin North East general election candidate Larry O'Toole has described the provision of two stationary water tankers in the north-east of Dublin to provide emergency cover for the weekend, as completely inadequate. Cllr O'Toole will be available to talk to the media at 2pm at the water tank behind UCI Coolock tomorrow. Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has today called for a 'global push to combat HIV/AIDS in the time ahead. Ms McDonald said that Western Governments and agencies must begin to view the fight as a worldwide scourge and not an insular view that it is a largely developing world phenomenon. Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald will this weekend (2-4th December) welcome a delegation of hurlers from Naomh Fionnbarra GAA, Cabra, Dublin to Brussels. Read full article
1 December, 2006
IN RESPONSE to a survey by Citywide Drug Crisis Campaign on Cocaine in local drug projects, Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher said, There is an acute cocaine problem throughout this state which must be addressed. Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe will lead a mass registration drive in Tallaght West this weekend. Deputy Crowe has taken this extraordinary measure because the South Dublin County Council electoral register is in chaos following the mass removal of eligible voters. Deputy Crowe said "More than 6,500 people have been removed from the election register in Tallaght West, but with just over a week to go the local Council has still not put in place a proper plan to get people back on the register. This weekend community workers will join Sinn Féin activists in going door to door across the constituency in order to ensure that the register is as accurate as possible." Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD will launch a tenant's rights leaflet in the foyer of Dublin City Hall on Dame Street at 11am on Monday, the 4th of December. Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Human Rights spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to clarify comments he made to the European Parliament Special Committee investigating the role of EU member States in the United's States illegal rendition programme. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking today after Minister Ahern told the committee that the plane referred to as the Guantanamo Express has been banned from Irish airports. Read full article
1 December, 2006
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West representative Joanne Spain and Clondalkin councillor Shane O'Connor have called on South Dublin County Council to allow residents to place surplus green rubbish beside their green bins for the January collection, to deal with the additional Christmas waste. The two asked that residents be advised that the additional waste be left out in a way such as not to blow away, and suggested that this could be achieved by using cardboard boxes. The call came after Ms Spain asked the council to consider extra collections each month, saying that once monthly was not enough for people to efficiently use their green bins. Read full article
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