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

Vote ‘No’ to Austerity: Public Meeting this Thursday

Vote ‘No’ to Austerity: Public Meeting this Thursday



Cork Sinn Féin is to hold a public meeting this Thursday at 7.30pm in the Metropole Hotel to urge voters to reject the EU Fiscal Compact. The main speaker at the event will be Jonathan O’Brien TD.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Cllr Chris O’Leary said that if passed the Treaty would mean permanent austerity.



“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, the treaty 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.”

“I invite members of the public to come along on Thursday to find out about the implications of the austerity treaty for Ireland’s future and hear Sinn Féin’s case for a No vote.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307

Gerry Adams to Speak at Easter Commemoration

Gerry Adams to Speak at Easter Commemoration


Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will be the main speaker at this year’s Easter Commemoration in Cork.


His keynote address, to be delivered at the republican plot in St Finbarr’s cemetery this Sunday, is expected to focus on Ireland’s economic situation, Sinn Fein’s opposition to cutbacks and austerity, and the upcoming referendum on the European Fiscal Compact.



The annual Easter commemoration will assemble at the National Monument on the Grand Parade at 2.30pm this Sunday before marching to St Finbarr’s cemetery. It will be lead by the McCurtain/McSwiney Republican Flute Band.



For further information or comment contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793

Press Notice: Sinn Féin to Launch Easter Lily Campaign at City Hall

Press Notice: Sinn Féin to Launch Easter Lily Campaign at City Hall


Jonathan O’Brien TD and Sinn Féin members of Cork City Council will launch a campaign this Monday urging people to wear an Easter lily and remember those who gave their lives for Irish freedom. The launch will take place at Cork City Hall at 4.30pm and will include a photocall with the six public representatives.


Speaking in advance of the event, Deputy O’Brien said:



“The Easter Lily is an emblem of unity between the different traditions within the Irish nation as well as the heroism of those who sacrificed their lives in 1916. It symbolises unity, equality and a better future for all the people of Ireland.”

“The ideals of the 1916 rising have never been as relevant as they are today. With our government in leading strings to the IMF/EU, and a referendum due on the European Austerity Treaty which would permanently give up our economic sovereignty, the importance of the freedom which the men and women of 1916 fought for is clearer than ever.”

“The leaders of the 1916 rising died for a united, free Ireland where all of the children are cherished equally. I am encouraging people across Cork to wear an Easter lily this week and remember our patriot dead with pride.”

“I would also encourage people to attend this year’s Easter Commemoration, at which the main speaker will be Gerry Adams TD. The commemoration will assemble at the National Monument at 2.30pm on Easter Sunday before marching to the Republican Plot in St Finbarr’s cemetery.”



For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907

Sinn Féin supports workers at 'Game'

The Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Jonathan O'Brien has criticised Game for their failure to give their Irish workers the entitlements they were due.

Yesterday 123 workers in Irish stores were told that they were to be laid off by the video game retailer as it was to close its Irish operation as part of a restructuring plan.Two of these stores are in Cork City.

Deputy O'Brien called on the retailer to pay the workers their full redundancy entitlements.

Deputy O'Brien stated:

“The company Game should hang their heads in shame for the way they treated their loyal workers over the past few days.To inform their employees by phone that their contracts were being terminated this week and expect them to finish without any redundancy or notice is disgraceful."

“The very least a company owes its workers is to inform them properly and professionally that they are to be laid off, and to allow them to work out their notice."

“The company still has 333 stores in the UK so it is obvious they have the resources to fund a fair redundancy package.”

Deputy O'Brien also added the need for the Government to introduce legislation stop this practice continuing.

“This example of worker exploitation is only the latest in a long line of cases where workers have received minimal notice of being laid off and have been denied redundancy payments. It follows on from the cases of TalkTalk,La Senza, Lagan Brick and the Vita Cortex workers in Cork. How many times must this happen before the Government takes action?"

“We in Sinn Fein are calling on the government to introduce legislation to ensure this behavior stops as soon as possible."

“Politicians from across the political spectrum have indicated that they are in favour of protecting workers from this practice.Its time to accelerate this process so we as legislators do what we can to protect our citizens from ruthless companies where greed is their sole aim.We in Sinn Fein hope to bring forward proposals to this effect in the coming weeks.”ENDS

Disappointment at announcement of Job losses at Waters Munster Glass- O'Brien

Speaking today following the announcement of the job loses in Waters Glass in Cork Jonathan O'Brien expressed his disappointment that the factory was not saved.

Jonathan along with local area Cllr Mick Nugent attended the factory to meet with the workers yesterday.

He stated
"Having spoken to the workers at the factory yesterday my understanding is that an opportunity to save the jobs failed at the last moment due to a failure to reach an agreement with the banks on a takeover bid.This is a terrible blow to the workers many with young families and mortgages and to Cork City as a whole.

All 84 jobs are to be lost with 41 of those today Tuesday.My hope is that these jobs could still be saved if there was intervention by Government.I will be speaking with the Dept of Enterprise today to explore the possibility of saving the remaining jobs. These skilled workers are facing into what is a very bleak jobs market.The continued austerity of this Government is not helping and they need to take a new direction."

Clrr Mick Nugent added
"This is a major loss to the north side of Cork.The Government needs to actively protect the jobs that are in place through early intervention and avoid what has happened here in Cork today."END