Republican Youth joins with Basque Community for Day of Citizen Protest

Republican Youth joins with Basque Community for Day of Citizen Protest Sinn Fein Republican Youth will join together with members of the Basque Community for the Day of Citizen protest this Saturday in Daunt Square. The protest, which starts at 2.30pm, intends to highlight the ongoing situation in the Basque country and show solidarity to the political prisoners. The campaign believes it is necessary to respect the basic human rights of the Basque prisoners including to repatriate to Euskal Herria all the Basque prisoners, releasing prisoners with terminal and serious illness and to cease extension of sentences. Currently, members of SEGI (Basque pro-independence left youth organisation) have been arrested and imprisoned for membership of SEGI. Republican Youth wish to show solidarity with the youth organisation in their campaign for peace and justice. Chairperson of Cork Republican Youth, Shane O’Rourke, hopes that many people will support the protest. Mr O'Rourke said: “Republican Youth are supporting this protest against the disgraceful treatment of Basque political prisoners. Members of SEGI are arrested for possession of items such as t-shirts, CD’s and posters promoting Basque independence. It is unjust, unfair and a disgusting violation of their rights as human beings.”

Cork City Labour Party representatives should stop supporting our ‘Tory’ Government – O’Shea.

Cork City Labour Party representatives should stop supporting our ‘Tory’ Government – O’Shea. Sinn Fein representative and local election candidate, Shane O’Shea, has called on Labour Party representatives in Cork city to stop propping up a Fine Gael Government implementing Fianna Fáil designed austerity policies. Mr. O’Shea (29) who will be the running-mate of Cllr.Chris O’Leary in the South-East ward believes that the current arrangement is not what ordinary Labour supporters want or what they voted for. Mr.O Shea said: “The Labour Party should now pull out of that dysfunctional coalition. Let Fine Gael go into government with Fianna Fáil if they wish and they can implement their failed economic model together. I don’t accept that all Labour representatives in Cork are happy with the direction that their party has taken since 2011. They should stop supporting what is effectively a Tory government in Leinster House.” “Before the last general election, the Labour leadership spoke of equality and radical reform and were given a mandate, on this basis, by the people of this state. That message was relayed to the people of Cork by Kathleen Lynch & Ciaran Lynch. Unfortunately, since they entered Government they have abandoned all left-wing principles and they have become subservient to conservative economic agenda of Fine Gael.” “A genuine Labour Party, the one envisaged by Connolly and Larkin, would never stand over the cruel and regressive measures taken by the Government. Margaret Thatcher may be dead but Thatcherism lives on in the policies of this coalition." " I am calling on Kathleen Lynch & Ciaran Lynch along with all the Labour Councillors in Cork to now recognise how far their party have moved from core Labour policy. The rejection of Croke Park II, by the trade union movement, should be a serious wake-up call for them. They should tell their party leadership to leave the Fine Gael Coalition or they will withdraw their support. "

Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Cork City Council’s call for Government apology to Bethany Home survivors

Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Cork City Council’s call for Government apology to Bethany Home survivors Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD today welcomed Cork City Council’s decision to pass a Sinn Féin motion calling on the Government to provide a full apology to the surviving women and men of Bethany Home and to immediately put in place a mechanism of redress. Deputy McDonald said: “A motion calling for an apology and redress for Bethany Home survivors put forward by Sinn Féin Councillors Chris O’Leary and Fiona Kerin’s was successfully passed at last night’s Cork City Council meeting. “Cork City Council’s support for the survivors of Bethany Home is welcome and hopefully other Councils will follow. “State inspections of Bethany under the Registration of Maternity Homes Act record the horrendous neglect of children in the home. “Some 219 Bethany children died in this small institution between 1922 and 1949 and lay buried in unmarked graves in Mount Jerome Cemetery. “Neglect in Bethany Home was in some instances barbaric and in others wilfully negligent. Labour and Fine Gael cannot continue to ignore their responsibility on behalf of the state to the surviving women and men.” ENDS

Graffiti removed from Republican headstones after local activists rally

Graffiti removed from Republican headstones after local activists rally The graffiti that tarnished headstones in the republican plot at St. Finbarr’s Cemetery has been removed in time for today’s annual Easter Rising Commemoration. The mindless vandalism has been fully cleaned from the graves, including that of former Lord Mayor Tomás MacCurtain, following a two day cleaning operation carried out by members of The Phoenix Historical Society, Sinn Féin and concerned members of the community. Sinn Féin Councillor Mick Nugent, who spent a great deal of time at the plot of over the last forty-eight hours, has thanked everyone who took part in the cleaning effort and he moved to reassure members of the public that the plot is now in immaculate condition ahead of tomorrow’s ceremonies. Councillor Nugent said: “After the initial understandable shock and anger, we got down to the work of returning the headstones to their rightful condition. It has been a very busy couple of days but I am glad to say that the Republican plot is now in pristine condition for today’s Easter Rising commemoration.” “I want to thank all those who took part in the clean-up operation and those who expressed their disgust at such an act. Regardless of political perspective, most would acknowledge that this graves symbolise a very significant strand of both Irish and local Cork history. I genuinely hope that those responsible will now reflect on their actions and feel some sense of remorse. “But the main message is positive. The mindless tagging has been removed and we are ready to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of Irish freedom today. We would encourage all the people of Cork to come along and join the ceremony. The Republican plot in St.Finbarr’s cemetery is the final resting place for many of those to whom we owe so much. It would be a fitting tribute to their memories if we can match the crowd that came out last year when Gerry Adams gave the main oration. It would also send a message to the vandals that we, as a community, abhor their behaviour and the desecration of our history.” The commemoration will assemble at 2.30pm at the National Monument on the Grand Parade and will parade to St.Finbarr’s Cemetery via Barrack Street. The main oration will be delivered by Sinn Féin Social Protection Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh. Schedule of Easter Rising Commemorations throughout Cork: •11:00am Macroom. Wreath-laying ceremony •11:00am Youghal. Speaker: Jonathan O’Brien •12 noon Clonakilty. Speaker: Chris O’Leary •12:30pm Bandon. Speaker: Aengus Ó Snodaigh •2:30pm Cork City. Speaker: Aengus Ó Snodaigh ENDS

Fine Gael TD’s objection to Easter Lily another example of anti-Republican bias

Fine Gael TD’s objection to Easter Lily another example of anti-Republican bias Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD, Jonathan O’Brien, has said that the objections raised by Fine Gael deputy Charlie Flanagan to the wearing of the Easter Lily in the Dáil reflected is own “deep-rooted prejudices”. During a Dáil sitting on Tuesday, Deputy Flanagan disrupted the debate when he challenged Sinn Féin TDs Brian Stanley and Michael Colreavy on the wearing of the Lily and called on the Ceann Comhairle to make a ruling on matter under the Dáil Standing Orders. Deputy O’Brien said: “The outrageous attempt by Charlie Flanagan to prevent Sinn Féin Deputies from honouring Ireland’s patriot dead by wearing a commemorative Easter Lily reflects his own deep-rooted prejudices and his loathing of all things Republican. “I would remind Deputy Flanagan that without the sacrifice of generations of men and women who fought British Imperialism, he would never have had the opportunity to stand here as a parliamentarian and make such ludicrous statements. “The offense taken by Deputy Flanagan to the wearing of an Easter Lily is in sharp contrast to the tolerance he showed last November to the display of the poppy by some his party colleagues. “Deputy Flanagan and others within Fine Gael might be ashamed of their past but they will not bully Sinn Féin TDs from wearing a symbol that commemorates the Easter Rising and the sacrifice of those who fought and died for Irish freedom.”

Very positive meeting held on Blackpool flooding issue – Gould

Very positive meeting held on Blackpool flooding issue – Gould Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Gould has described as “very positive” a meetin held today on the flooding in Blackpool last week. The meeting was attended by the City Manager Tim Lucey, The Lord Mayor John Buttimer, council officials and engineers. Also present were a number of local business owners and local councillors. Following the meeting Cllr.Gould said: “The meeting was a very positive engagement on the issues surrounding the persistent occurrences of flooding in Blackpool. The council will have a consultant engineer appointed within the next 7-10 days to carry out a study of what remedial measures that need to be carried out to reduce the risk of future flooding." “Cork City Council also proposed to install CCTV camera to monitor the trash barriers and are also going to install water level meters which will notify the community if the water levels are dangerously high. The Council are also enquiring why Met Eireann did not issue a warning before last week's flooding and they are committed to monitoring the rainfall in the future." “They have also committed to manage, monitor and maintain the river. Council will contact landowners whose property is adjacent to the river as there have been issues with trees and other debris being carried downstream that should have been secured by the landowners.” Councillor Gould also stated that it was a step forward that community involvement was seen an integral part of a response. He said: “It was agreed that monthly meetings would take place between the council and the community. The community would also have an input with the consultant engineer and that the issue of flooding would be on the agenda at the environmental meetings in City Hall. The City Manager has committed funding to help carry out remedial works and has said will do everything in his power to support Blackpool." “With regard the issue of rates and promised government funding I will continue to pursue these. I have no response from the meeting yet that was held today with the OPW but if Blackpool is to be protected from future flooding it is the job of the OPW to ensure this.” For further information please contact Cllr.Thomas Gould on 0873021551

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Gould walks out of City Council meeting in protest at lack of response to Blackpool flooding

Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Gould walks out of City Council meeting in protest at lack of response to Blackpool flooding Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Gould tonight walked out of a meeting of Cork City Council in protest at the lack of response to the recent flooding in Blackpool. Cllr. Gould said: “The OPW is sitting on a report that must still go out to tender for the design phase of the flood protection. I called for this report to be fast-tracked nine months ago. Here we now and Blackpool is flooded again and there still isn’t a credible plan in place to protect from similar disastrous events in the future.” “Last week Minister Kathleen Lynch announced that the culverts in Blackpool did not have the capacity to deal with flooding. The City Manager was asked tonight if he could confirm this information and he couldn’t do so. The only thing that the City Manager proposed to do was to monitor and maintain trash screens on the waterway up-stream from the culverts.” “No compensation will be provided to residents and business affected by the flooding. For the second time in nine months, I proposed rates waivers for those impacted and it was again rejected by the City Manager." “I asked for flood protection barriers for all the people and businesses in Blackpool that have been devastated once again. There needs to be an immediate implementation of an insurance scheme to cover people who cannot get flood insurance. If Cork City Council does help and fight for the people and businesses of Blackpool, who will?” Speaking about his decision to walk out of tonight’s meeting, Cllr.Gould said: “I couldn’t in all good conscience remain in a meeting that I felt was effectively doing absolutely nothing to address the situation in Blackpool. I wasn’t getting any credible responses to what most people would consider to be reasonable questions followings event last Thursday night. The people of Blackpool deserve much better than what went on here this evening.” For further information please contact Cllr.Thomas Gould 0873021551