News Archives for February, 2007
28 February, 2007
Sinn Fein Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said that concerted action, including an All-Ireland strategy, is needed to reduce the high rate of suicides in this country. He was speaking at the rally in Dublin's Mansion House called by 3Ts - Turn The Tide on Suicide. The Dublin South West TD also spoke of the death of a friend through suicide. Read full article
28 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said the increase in gun crime and decrease in detection rates revealed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell highlight the failure of McDowell's legislative gimmicks and prove the Sinn Féin's argument that the best disincentive for criminals is the fear of being caught. Read full article
27 February, 2007
South Dublin Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has said the problems on the Luas Green Line this morning back up his arguments for bus services to be increased to support the line. Mr. Tracey who was on the 46B this morning said many commuters who usually get the bus were left at the side of the road because buses were full with Luas passengers. Read full article
27 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice and Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has formerly moved a Sinn Féin Dáil motion aimed at ending the domestic violence nightmare in Ireland. Speaking in the Dáil this evening Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "This government and successive governments have failed to treat crimes of domestic violence with the priority they require." Deputy Ó Snodaigh went on to say that all that is needed is the political will to greatly reduce domestic violence in Ireland and to provide victims with the support and protection they need. Read full article
27 February, 2007
Speaking after attending yesterdays roundtable discussion regarding the Government's proposals for lone parents which was hosted by ICTU, Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD welcomed efforts to challenge the negative stereotyping of lone parents but said, "The very need for this discussion is an admission by the Government that there has been a comprehensive failure in policy in the past in dealing with lone parents." Read full article
27 February, 2007
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald speaking in Dublin today said that the party has written to the Taoiseach today asking him to convene a meeting with representatives of all parties in the Dáil to determine whether there is enough of a consensus to move ahead with the referendum on children's rights. Read full article
27 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice and Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD will this evening move a Dáil motion that seeks to address the nightmare of domestic violence in Ireland. Speaking today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "As we approach International Women's Day there is an urgent need for this state to strengthen legislation to prevent domestic violence, to protect victims both men and women and of course children and to make a clear statement to offenders that domestic violence will no longer be tolerated in Irish society. Read full article
27 February, 2007
Dublin South Central TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh has written to Comreg (Commission for Communications Regulation), to draw attention to the disruption in the Ballyfermot postal district since January. Read full article
26 February, 2007
Speaking after the launch of the ESRI's Social Portrait of Older People in Ireland report, Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD described the report as 'further proof that poverty still widely affects elderly people, and its findings highlight the urban-rural divide between quality of life for mainly elderly people'. Read full article
25 February, 2007
Sinn Féin this afternoon announced that it is setting up an Ard Chomhairle sub committee to run the party's campaign for a yes vote on the constitutional referendum on children's rights. The group will be headed by Joanne Spain, from the party's children's policy committee and candidate for Dublin Mid West, and will include Mary Lou McDonald MEP, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, Sue Ramsey MLA and Waterford
Councillor David Cullinane. The group will hold its inaugural meeting in Leinster House tomorrow, Monday 26th. Speaking prior to the meeting Joanne Spain said: "Sinn Féin believes that the bulk of the proposals put forward by the government represent progress in terms of childrens rights and on that basis we will campaign for a yes vote and will be encouraging all parties to facilitate the holding of the referendum no later than the general
election date this summer. "Contrary to some media reports that the opposition want the referendum to be confined to the protection of children from sexual predators, Sinn Féin welcomes the proposals to include children's rights, custody, care, guardianship and adoption. In fact we would like to see it go further. Read full article
24 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Cllr. Daithí Doolan speaking from today's Shell to Sea National rally in Dublin has called for an inquiry into the Corrib gas deal. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has said private health insurance is not the way forward for healthcare in Ireland. Ms. McDonald said that while the closure of the risk equalisation loophole was necessary and is to be welcomed this whole episode exposes the inequities of our healthcare system and highlights the need for a fully resourced public healthcare system free at the point of delivery and on the basis of need alone regardless of the ability to pay. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O'Toole has criticised the holding of a rugby match between the Irish Colleges Rugby Union team and an U23 British Combined Services team in Suttonians RFC today (Friday 23rd at 6.00pm.). Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has said the failure of the medical council to protect the public was seen in the scandal of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where dozens of women were mutilated by Michael Neary. Speaking in the Dáil today on the Medical Practitioners Bill 2007 Deputy Crowe said Mary Harney owes a solemn obligation to the women victims of Michael Neary to establish a Scheme of Redress which will provide them with both a forum to state their cases and recompense for the physical injury and personal grief and trauma they have all suffered Read full article
23 February, 2007
Shell to Sea will be holding a National demonstration tomorrow in Dublin to highlight public support for the campaign by residents in Rossport against the current proposed Corrib gas development. The protesters will gather at the Garden of Remembrance at 2 o'clock where there will be speeches from supporting political parties and other groups. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Social and Community Affairs Seán Crowe has welcomed the full launch of the Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative and congratulated the 23 partners in the CDI lead by Katherine Zapone for their untiring work in making this project a reality on the ground. Deputy Crowe went on to describe the initiative as a success for the local community. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said latest shooting in the feud between Crumlin and Drimnagh crime gangs is a result of the Government's failure to act. For the last number of years Deputy Ó Snodaigh has been calling on the Government to establish a special Garda task force to re-focus Garda resources on bringing this feud to an end. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West Representative Joanne Spain has welcomed news that South Dublin County Council plans to upgrade Quarryvale Park in 2007. Ms Spain had received hundreds of complaints from residents about
dumping and anti-social behaviour in the park over the last year. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West general election candidate Joanne Spain has welcomed news that South Dublin County Council plans to provide a ten bed emergency accommodation facility in Clondalkin by the end of 2007
- early 2008. Ms Spain and Cllr. Shane O'Connor raised the issue of homelessness with the Council after dealing with a particularly distressing case of near homelessness. Ms Spain said the measures outlined in the Council's response to their question were welcome, but she wanted to see more done to tackle the issue. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice and Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has published a Dáil motion that seeks to address the nightmare of domestic violence in Ireland. Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "As we approach International Women's Day there is an urgent need for this state to strengthen legislation to prevent domestic violence, to protect victims both men and women and of course children and to make a clear statement to offenders that domestic violence will no longer be tolerated in Irish society. Read full article
23 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice and Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD will today publish a Private Members Motion that Sinn Féin will propose in the Dáil next week which seeks to address the nightmare of domestic violence in Ireland. Deputy Ó Snodaigh will be available to speak to the media this morning at 10:45am at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House. Read full article
22 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice and Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD will tomorrow publish a Private Members Motion that Sinn Féin will propose in the Dáil next week which seeks to address the nightmare of domestic violence in Ireland. Deputy Ó Snodaigh will be available to speak to the media tomorrow at 10:45am at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House. Read full article
22 February, 2007
The resumption of the BCG vaccine programme by the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been welcomed by Sinn Fein Dublin North East Sinn Féin candidate Larry O'Toole. Councillor O'Toole first raised the issue when a constituent contacted him after BCG vaccination for her grandchild was postponed. The matter was taken up by Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD who was told by the HSE that supplies of the vaccine had run out due to a problem with the supplier. Today Deputy Ó Caolain's office has received confirmation from the HSE that supplies have resumed. Read full article
22 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD speaking in Leinster House today called on Transport Minister Martin Cullen to intervene in the Aer Lingus dispute which he said would be in the national interest. Read full article
22 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has welcomed a new planning application by the HSE for a new access road to Connolly Hospital. Read full article
22 February, 2007
Dublin West Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has said that there can be no excuse for the added misery experienced by motorists on the M50 by the Dublin HGV ban. Gallagher had predicted such chaos and put forward a number of proposals that would have dramatically reduced the impact. Read full article
22 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has described as 'ridiculous' a Government decision to block a Sinn Féin proposal to increase the number of judges for the Criminal and Circuit Courts. Dublin 15 has recently witnessed a number of cases that have seen people commit serious crime while awaiting trial for more minor crimes. Sinn Féin sought to amend the Courts and Court Officers Bill which is currently before the Dáil. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Fingal County Council is undertaking a review of the parking and traffic situation in Howth, as part of the preparation of the new Howth Traffic Management and Parking Scheme. This Scheme will be produced following detailed public consultation with the residents, traders and employees of the town. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Equality Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh indicated Sinn Féin's support for the Civil Union Bill 2007 but argued in the Dáil this evening that equality will only be achieved by introducing full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Speaking in the Dáil this evening Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, "Sinn Féin fully supports the right of same sex couples to marry and form a family, including by adoption." Deputy Ó Snodaigh went on to criticise the highly inflammatory remarks made by Polish President Lech Kaczynski to the effect that gay people pose a threat to the human race. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said the Government would rather curtail civil liberties than target resources at protecting communities. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking today as the Government denied him the opportunity to amend legislation to raise the number of judges in the Central Criminal and Circuit Courts. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Following a crucial environmental vote in the European Parliament and the announcement of the continuing increase in Irish greenhouse gases by the EPA, Dublin Central candidate Mary Lou Mc Donald MEP, has called for an EU 'Carbon Labelling' system. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Speaking from Ringsend today Sinn Féin's Cllr. Daithí Doolan, reacting to the news that the incinerator plan for Poolbeg is scrapped, has congratulated the local community for their anti incinerator campaign which has culminated in today's announcement that the project has collapsed. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Transport Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has welcomed the buyout of tolls on the M50 but said motorists should not be made to pay anymore tolls to cover the cost as they have paid for the road many times over already. Deputy Crowe said the Government's decision to buy-out the tolls at a massive cost to the tax-payer of €600 million, is added proof of the failure of the Public Private Partnership arrangements for building roads and called on Transport Minister Martin Cullen to invest public money generated by the economy in all future roads. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dáil candidate Cllr. Larry O'Toole, who represents much of the area served by Beaumont Hospital, has said the crisis there in recent days was a recurring one "that has been repeated year after year and shows the total failure of the Government's response to the drastic situation in A&E in our larger hospitals". He said many of his constituents were now more afraid than ever to attend the hospital because of A&E overcrowding and the threat of MRSA. Read full article
21 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson and Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has claimed the feud between two gangs in Crumlin and Drimnagh has not been given the priority it requires. Speaking today after a man was shot in the South Inner City last night Deputy Ó Snodaigh said the government's approach to gangland crime is soft and fundamentally flawed and called for a special task force to be established to bring the feud to an end. Read full article
20 February, 2007
Councillor Larry O'Toole has condemned the dumping of rubbish at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock. Having been contacted by outraged residents over the weekend Larry visited the Park on Sunday to inspect its condition. Read full article
20 February, 2007
Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney to ensure that nurses receive the reduced working week and pay improvements which they are legitimately seeking. Read full article
20 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called on Health Minister Mary Harney to scrap her plan to allocate land at public hospital sites to the developers of private hospitals before contracts are signed and the State is bound by
legal agreements. Deputy Crowe, speaking this week as Sinn Féin stepped up its campaign against the Minister's plan with a protest outside the Head Office of the Progressive Democrats, said this proposed plan "can only exacerbate the unequal two tier health system." Read full article
20 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Communications Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has called on the Government to stand up to management at An Post to preserve essential public services particularly in rural Ireland. Deputy Crowe made his comments today as speculation mounted that An Post are to announce the further notice of closure of up to 500 post offices. Read full article
20 February, 2007
Following Polish President Lech Kaczynski's address today to the 76th
plenary session of the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle Sinn Féin's
Dublin Spokesperson on Europe Cllr. Daithí Doolan said a united Europe can
only be achieved through peace and tolerance. Read full article
19 February, 2007
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe today slammed PD stamp duty proposals saying the proposed changes would not help first time buyers but would push house prices up. Read full article
19 February, 2007
Speaking today as the ban on heavy good vehicles (HGVs) with five or more axles came into operation in Dublin, Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe expressed concern at this morning's intensified traffic chaos on the M50 and said this new measure is simply moving a traffic problem from one place to another. Read full article
19 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has called on all political parties to facilitate the holding of the referendum on children's rights no later than the general election polling day. Ms. McDonald said Sinn Féin recognises that the bulk of the Government's proposals amount to progress for children and for that reason Sinn Féin will support their introduction. Read full article
19 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West general election candidate Joanne Spain has called on the four Dublin Councils to take a joined up approach to traffic management in the capital. She made her call as the ban on HGVs in the city centre came into effect. Spain said that taking 2,000 vehicles out of town and moving them onto the M50 would cause chaos, particularly while the M50 is undergoing renovations. Read full article
17 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald this morning predicted that Sinn Féin will over-take the Labour Party in Dublin in the next five to ten years. Ms. McDonald made her comments at Dublin Sinn Féin's Annual General Meeting in the Mansion House this morning. Read full article
16 February, 2007
The Dublin Sinn Féin AGM takes place tomorrow, Saturday 17th February, at 11am in the Oak Room of the Mansion House. Read full article
16 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has accused the Tánaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell of staying silent for years while his friends in the law library raked in tax payers' money. Speaking today Deputy Ó Snodaigh said McDowell's only real concern now is that the Mahon Tribunal may come up with embarrassing revelations about his Fianna Fáil partners. Read full article
16 February, 2007
Speaking at a well attended Irish National Teachers Organisation meeting held in Killester on Thursday February 15th, Councillor Larry O'Toole expressed Sinn Féin support for the teacher's campaign for reduced class sizes. Read full article
15 February, 2007
A spate of persistent illegal dumping in various parts of Dublin North East has been condemned by Cllr Larry O'Toole. Read full article
15 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD, speaking in the Dáil today on the National Development Plan, said that the failures of the previous version of the plan covering 2000 to 2006, meant that the new one must be treated with extreme scepticism. Read full article
15 February, 2007
Speaking after latest figures from Unicef were released ranking Ireland 19th out of 21 industrialised countries for the proportion of children experiencing hardship Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe slated the Government failing to use the opportunities presented by the Celtic Tiger for the eradication of poverty and inequality in society. Read full article
15 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has rejected claims by Minister Brennan in the Dáil this morning that no legislation is planned to allow the Government to interfere with a Tribunal. Deputy Ó Snodaigh pointed out that the proposed Tribunal of Inquiries Bill would give the Government 'the authority to suspend or dissolve a Tribunal for unlimited reasons and to prevent the publication of a Tribunal's report'. Read full article
15 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's International Affairs spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has outlined Sinn Féin's commitment to ending the use of Shannon Airport by the United States for its so-called 'war on terror'. Speaking at a press conference organised today by the Peace And Neutrality Alliance (PANA) Deputy Ó Snodaigh gave a firm commitment that "Sinn Féin will make the war in Iraq, and continuing Irish complicity in it, an election issue and will not participate in any government that allows Irish airports, airspace or other facilities to be used by any foreign military engaged in any activity other than that strictly endorsed by a UN mandate." Read full article
15 February, 2007
Dublin Central candidate Mary Lou Mc Donald MEP has questioned Fine Gael's "opposition" to incineration following their vote in the European Parliament supporting the bizarre and ultimately failed attempt by the Commission to recategorise incinerators as waste recovery rather than disposal. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has slammed the Tánaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell for his "gross hypocrisy" over the cost of the Mahon Tribunal. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has called on the Taoiseach to give a guarantee that a Dáil debate on collusion will take place before the end of the Government's term of office. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking today after Patrick McEntee SC requested an extension of one month before he publishes his report into the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974 sparking fears among the families of victims of collusion that a debate will not take place before the end of this Dáil. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on Health Minister Mary Harney to scrap her plan to give away State land at Connolly Hospital for a private hospital before contracts are signed and the State is tied into legal agreements. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Responding to the decision taken by Councillors in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to introduce clamping in Dún Laoghaire from June, local Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin explained Sinn Féin's opposition to the introduction of clamping in the town. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Speaking from Strasbourg today Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald said "Today's report by MEPs raises some critical issues which are about the core fundamental rights of everybody in Europe and across the world." Read full article
14 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has called on Health Minister Mary Harney to scrap her plan to allocate land at public hospital sites to the developers of private hospitals before contracts are signed and the State is bound by legal agreements. Deputy Ó Snodaigh was speaking today at a protest organised by Dublin Sinn Féin outside the Head Office of the Progressive Democrats. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD today urged the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin to resolve the current situation whereby there is a considerable lack of examiners for Leaving Cert oral examinations. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has called on the Minister for Justice to make available the promised funding for the Fingal Policing Committee which has not yet received a single cent and is reliant on an already overstretched staff. Cllr. Gallagher who has been excluded from the policing committee by Labour and Fine Gael councillors said the committee is constrained by the failure to deliver the promised funding of €600,000 for the pilot phase. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Dublin 15 Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has described as farcical the situation in Tyrrelstown Medical Centre, where the sole GP for thousands of residents is prevented from treating medical card patients for five years. The general election candidate has raised the issue with Minister for Health Mary Harney and urged her to end these self-serving restrictions. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said that Minister McDowell's new proposals for tackling crime constitute an 'election stunt' that prove again the Minister is 'soft on crime' by continuing to use failed and outdated policies. Deputy Ó Snodaigh pointed out that some of the Minister's proposals, such as mandatory sentencing, have been proven to be expensive failures, while he went on to call for redeployment of Gardaí onto the streets. Read full article
14 February, 2007
Dublin Sinn Féin will hold a lunchtime protest at the Head Office of the Progressive Democrats on Frederick Street today at 1pm. The Valentine's Day protest is being organised to demand Health Minister Mary Harney to scrap her plan to allocate land at public hospital sites to the developers of private hospitals before contracts are signed and the State is bound by legal agreements. Read full article
13 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment and Local Government, Cllr. Daithí Doolan has today congratulated MEP¹s for rejecting the promotion of incinerators across Europe. Read full article
13 February, 2007
In advance of the European Parliament debate on the Spring Council of Presidents and Prime Ministers of EU member states Mary Lou McDonald MEP urged them to "take their heads out of the sand, stop doing the bidding of big business and respond to people's hopes and aspirations". Read full article
13 February, 2007
Sinn Féin general election candidate Joanne Spain will be representing her party and Dublin Mid West at the Trinity College Political Society young candidates' general election debate next Tuesday 20 February. Ms Spain is herself a graduate from Trinity College and has said she will be honoured to set out her party's platform and the issues in Dublin Mid West at the debate. Read full article
13 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Transport spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has expressed his party's support for Aer Lingus SIPTU members who overwhelmingly voted for industrial action. He laid the blame for the current situation firmly at the door of the Government which has now 'washed it's hands of the former national airline through privatisation' and Aer Lingus management who have shown 'contempt for workers with their unilateral arrogance in refusing to negotiate'. Read full article
13 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin Spokesperson on the Environment & Local Government, Cllr. Daithí Doolan, has today challenged Dublin's MEPs, "to vote this morning in the European Parliament against the promotion of incinerators across Europe." Read full article
13 February, 2007
Sinn Fein's Dublin South East Representative Cllr. Daithi Doolan welcomed the unanimous rejection of Tesco's proposed development in Sandymount at yesterday's Council meeting. Read full article
12 February, 2007
Sinn Fein Dublin Mid West election candidate Joanne Spain has welcomed the Public Consultation Library Development Plan 2007-2011 and is calling on her constituents to contact the Library by either by telephone or email (library@sdublincoco.ie) before 23 February to express their needs in this area. Read full article
12 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has called for an end to the two year cap on English language teaching support for newcomer children. Deputy Crowe also outlined a number of other proposals in the area, including reform of the teacher training programme to include English as a Second Language (ESL) and ending the temporary status of language support teachers. Read full article
12 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin Mid West general election candidate plans to host a public meeting in Clondalkin next month to discuss the need for housing in the area. Ms Spain said every second case she deals with is in relation to housing and highlighted the anger felt by people on the housing list at the number of boarded-up houses in their areas. Read full article
10 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said Sinn Féin will be putting forward a Dáil motion calling for a British Irish summit on collusion. He went on to say "given the seriousness of what has been exposed by Nuala O'Loan and previous Oireachtas and Barron reports, the government needs to set aside at least one full day for debate on the upcoming McEntee report." He said there was concern that the government would try and rush the debate as had happened in relation to the Barr, Nally and Morris reports. Read full article
10 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald speaking at the opening of a Sinn Féin organised conference on the collusion issue in Dublin today said 'The lid will only be lifted on collusion if the Irish government makes it happen. They have to confront those within the British system, who directed and controlled this policy, and who are now desperately trying to cover their tracks and conceal the extent of their activities.' Ms McDonald also said that those Ministers in the Labour/Fine Gael government at the time of the Dublin and Monaghan bombs needed to provide answers for their failure to act, even when the British said they had interned those they believed responsible.' Read full article
9 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Social Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has linked the rising profits for Shell Oil with the rising numbers of pensioners suffering fuel poverty. 'In these harsh months, fuel poverty continues to affect approximately 16,300 pensioner households, with up to 3,000 premature deaths per year with fuel poverty as a major contributing factor', he said. Read full article
9 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has accused 'successive Irish governments of turning a blind eye to the murder of their citizens by a foreign government.' He was speaking ahead of a conference in Dublin tomorrow on collusion in Ireland. Read full article
9 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin Environment & Local Government spokesperson Cllr Daithí Doolan has called for the public to support the day of solidarity with the people of Rossport on February 16th and the demonstration planned for Dublin on the 24th. Speaking today at a press conference to announce details of the Dublin demonstration, Cllr Doolan pledged the party's support for the campaign against Shell's pipeline and the theft of Ireland's natural resources. Read full article
9 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor has put forward a proposal for tobacco-type warnings to be included on certain anti-depressant medication which can lead to suicide. Gallagher made the call after meeting with the family of a young man who recently took his own life while on the anti-depressant medication. Read full article
9 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has expressed his disappointment at the failure of Council officials to commit to funding of €2.1 million originally promised for Mountview Community Centre. A meeting between the project committee and Council officials failed to secure the centre. Read full article
9 February, 2007
Blanchardstown Sinn Féin Councillor Felix Gallagher has stressed the need for primary schools in the Dublin 15 area to get its fair share of Language Support Teachers. The Department of Education announced yesterday that 200 of the 550 language support teachers would be employed in the coming weeks. Read full article
8 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has expressed Sinn Féin's "complete and absolute" opposition to the European Communities Bill 2006. Speaking in the Dáil today Deputy Ó Snodaigh described the Bill as "a component part of the now snowballing democratic deficit at the heart of the EU project". Read full article
8 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has said there must be a Dáil debate on collusion before this Dáil rises for elections in the summer. Speaking ahead of the expected conclusion of the McEntee report into the Dublin - Monaghan bombings of 1974 Mr. Ó Snodaigh said the British Government, through its surrogates in Ireland, has been responsible for the murder of citizens in this state. There is an onus on this Dáil to have a full and open debate on this issue and for the Taoiseach to demand cooperation from the British Prime Minister in collusion inquiries. Read full article
7 February, 2007
Councillor Larry O'Toole has condemned the turning away of babies and young children from a Northside medical centre because of a lack of the BCG vaccine. The lack of sufficient supply of the vaccine, used to inoculate children against tuberculosis, was exposed yesterday following reports from concerned parents who contacted Cllr O'Toole. Read full article
7 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Councillor Killian Forde has welcomed the wide support he received for his City Council motion calling for the introduction of new laws that would ensure the days of rogue developers are brought to an end. Read full article
7 February, 2007
Speaking in the Dáil this evening on the Finance Bill 2007, Sinn Féin Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Seán Crowe TD rejected the claim made by Minister Cowen yesterday that the Government's system of indirect taxes 'safeguards' the lower paid. Pointing to evidence from Combat Poverty that proves the opposite, Deputy Crowe reiterated his party's opposition to regressive taxes like service charges. Read full article
7 February, 2007
Speaking ahead of the expected conclusion next week of the McEntee investigation into the Dublin - Monaghan bombings of 1974 Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD called for a prompt, full and open debate in the Dáil on the issue of collusion. Deputy Ó Snodaigh will be available to speak to the media tomorrow at 11:30am outside Kildare St. Gate at Leinster House. Read full article
7 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald today hit out at European Commission President José Manuel Barroso who has questioned the practice of holding referendums on new EU treaties. Barroso speaking in the Netherlands suggested the practice 'makes our life in the EU more complicated.' Read full article
6 February, 2007
Dublin City Council has agreed to call for a full public enquiry in to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings of 1974. The motion, tabled by Cllr. Daithi Doolan, was passed at last night's Council meeting. Read full article
6 February, 2007
Speaking in support of the INTO's campaign to force the Government to live up to it's commitment in the Programme for Government to reduce class sizes, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Seán Crowe TD said that 'the fact that we have the second highest average class size at primary level in the EU highlights serious under funding in this area'. Read full article
6 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Communications spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has said the decision by Masterfoods, the makers of Mars, to end advertising directed at under-12s, reopens the debate about the need for legislation to ban advertising directed at children. Deputy Crowe, who has repeatedly called for such legislation, pointed out the need to legislate for an area with serious public health concerns. Read full article
6 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin South East Representative Cllr. Daithí Doolan has tonight been appointed by Dublin City Council (DCC) to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA). Cllr. Doolan, a resident of the docklands, joins a number of local Councillors, community members, DDC delegates and members of the business sector. Read full article
5 February, 2007
Following the recent publication of the Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan's, report into collusion in the north, Dublin City Council is set to debate the issue and call for a full public enquiry in to the Dublin/Monaghan bombings
of 1974. The motion is for debate at this evenings Dublin City Council meeting. Read full article
3 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid West Dáil candidate Joanne Spain today said she was horrified by the latest shooting dead of a young man in Clondalkin, coming just a short time after Damian Dowdall was murdered in the area. She said the violence witnessed by people in West Dublin had been targeted at young people and asked what, if anything, the Government was doing to bring this terror to an end. Read full article
2 February, 2007
Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has welcomed news that Dublin City Council is to proceed with the development of a site on Jamestown Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 for Affordable Housing. The Jamestown Road site, formerly a depot for the Office of Public Works, will see the development of a mixed Residential scheme of 300 Apartments, 240 of which will be affordable, which depending on the planning process will commence on site in Summer 2007 with the first affordable apartments completed by the end of 2008. Read full article
2 February, 2007
Speaking in relation to the CAO on-line applications debacle, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe TD called on 'the CAO to come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education to explain this fiasco'. Read full article
2 February, 2007
Sinn Féin Dublin South East Representative Cllr. Daithí Doolan met this week
with SIPTU representatives of the Dublin Fire Brigade to discuss an
impending European court judgment that could force this vital service into
the hands of private operators. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin general election candidate Joanne Spain has called on South Dublin County Council to urgently order a clean-up in several estates in North Clondalkin. Ms Spain made her call after numerous residents from St Ronan's, Rowlagh and Neilstown complained to her about the state of lanes and green areas, during her canvassing last week. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Terenure and Rathfarnham Sorcha Nic Cormaic has welcomed a commitment from the Government for a feasibility study t0 be carried out in April for a new Luas line from the city centre to Harold's Cross, Terenure and Rathfarnham. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin National Chairperson and MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has presented British Prime Minister Tony Blair with the latest report from the Oireachtas Justice Committee on the Barron Inquiry which describes cross border attacks by British surrogates as "international terrorism". Ms. McDonald met Mr. Blair today when she visited Downing Street as part of a Sinn Féin delegation including Gerry Adams MP, Martin McGuinness MP, Conor Murphy MP and Councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. Read full article
1 February, 2007
The first phase of improvements to Johnstown Park which included the new playground removal and cutting of hedges are being followed up with 2nd phase plans for new facilities to replace the old dilapidated buildings used for dressing rooms, showers and storage. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin South East Representative, Councillor Daithí Doolan, and TD Arthur Morgan will today be meeting the striking Dublin Port workers. The dispute has arisen out of Dublin Port looking for shore-based workers to go to work on tugs without having the proper training. The strike is organised by various Trade Unions under the umbrella of the ICTU. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin West general election candidate Councillor Felix Gallagher has welcomed the opening of the new Swords Fire Station, particularly the ambulance service that was only secured at the eleventh hour. The actual ambulance which was originally deemed unnecessary has proved its worth already. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin West general election candidate Councillor Felix Gallagher has joined party colleague Daithí Doolan in encouraging Dublin City Council to act to secure the future of ambulance services and up to 110 jobs which are under threat. The ambulance service provided by Dublin Fire Brigade is under threat pending a ruling by the European Court. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin West general election candidate Councillor Felix Gallagher has called for urgent action to be taken to end the congestion nightmare experienced by residents in the Sheepmoor and Whitestown areas of Dublin 15. The estates are the closest residential areas to the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and residents are often unable to exit the estates due to congestion. Cllr. Gallagher secured funding for a junction upgrade in the 2006 budget, however the work is yet to commence. Read full article
1 February, 2007
Sinn Féin's Dublin West general election candidate Councillor Felix Gallagher has put forward proposals to enhance pedestrian safety along one of Blanchardstown's busiest roads. The Luttrell Park Distributor Road is used by thousands of commuters accessing Coolmine Train Station and young families attending the local primary school. Read full article
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