Job Creation to Top Agenda at Sinn Féin Ard Fheis

Job Creation to Top Agenda at Sinn Féin Ard Fheis Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has said job creation and growth will top the agenda at this weekend’s Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. Deputy O’Brien, along with Sinn Féin members and public representatives from across Cork City and County, will be attending the event at the INEC in Killarney. Deputy O’Biren said: “The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis will take place in the INEC in Killarney this Friday and Saturday. This is the first time Sinn Féin has held an event on this scale in Munster and follows the historic Ard Fheis in Belfast last year. “Over the weekend 1,500 delegates will debate almost 200 motions on a wide range of topics including job creation and growth, protecting public services, the difficulties facing communities across rural Ireland, Irish Unity and the Austerity Treaty. Gerry Adams will make his Presidential Address at 5.30pm. “A number of guests will address the Ard Fheis including the head of UNITE Jimmy Kelly, a former worker from Vita Cortex, representatives from ANC, Palestine and the Basque Country and Terry O’Sullivan, President of the Labourers’ International Union of North America. “More people than ever are responding positively to Sinn Féin's message of the need to reject austerity and to stimulate the economy and create jobs and growth. We are bringing forward new and credible alternatives to the economic policies of this government and we are leading the campaign against the Austerity Treaty “This Ard Fheis provides Sinn Féin with an opportunity to promote our message that there is hope, there is a political alternative and there is a way out of the economic crisis. What you can expect to see at this Ard Fheis are party members preparing themselves for the political challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” For further information or comment contact Jonathan O’Brien TD @ 085-2133907

Sinn Féin Vice-President to Address Public Meeting in Cork Sinn Féin Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald will be in Cork this Wednesday campaigning for a No vote in the referendum on the European Austerity Treaty. She is to be the main speaker at a public meeting organised by Sinn Féin at 8pm in the Imperial Hotel. Inviting members of the public to attend, Cllr Chris O’Leary said that to pass the Fiscal Treaty would institutionalise austerity and prolong the recession. “The Treaty requires member countries’ budgets to be balanced or in surplus, which in Ireland’s case would involve an additional €6 billion in cuts and tax increases after the current austerity programme ends in 2015. What is more, it would force Ireland to reduce its debt to GDP ratio from 120% to 60% after 2018. This would commit us to at least a further decade of austerity after that date.” “The last four years have shown that austerity is not working. Instead of economic recovery, we have mass unemployment, soaring emigration, and a domestic economy that continues to decline. Imposing these policies across Europe, as this treaty seeks to do, will simply push the entire continent into recession and further delay Ireland’s economic recovery.” “This is a vote with huge implications for Ireland’s future and I hope people will come along Wednesday evening to hear Mary Lou outline the arguments against the Treaty.” Ms McDonald will be available to speak to the press before Wednesday’s meeting. For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307