Sinn Féin TDs Jonathan O’Brien and Sandra McLellan, along with city, county and town councillors from across Cork, will be at City Hall on Monday to publicise the party’s upcoming conference, Towards a New Republic – I dtreo Poblacht Nua.
The conference, which takes place in Cork City Hall on 25th June, is part of a national conversation the party is working to promote on uniting Ireland and building a new republic. Speakers will include Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, legendary broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, historian Dr Ruan O’Donnell, and Ann Piggott, president of the Cork Council of Trades Unions.
The Sinn Féin TDs and councillors will launch the conference programme at City Hall at 1pm on Monday.
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Friday, June 17, 2011
One Hundred Days of Broken Promises-O'Brien
One Hundred Days of Broken Promises-O'Brien
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien today said the government’s first one hundred days in office are littered with broken promises – including Fine Gael’s election pledge to guarantee the future of the Orthopaedic Hospital. He was speaking outside Leinster House, where he joined other Sinn Féin TDs in a protest to mark the government’s first 100 days in office.
Deputy O’Brien said:
“After just 100 days in office, the government already has a series of u-turns and a clutch of broken promises to its credit. Of particular concern to people on Cork’s Northside is Fine Gael’s abandonment of its election pledge to keep the Orthopaedic open.”
“Since my election I have repeatedly questioned Minister for Health Dr James Reilly on his plans for the future of the hospital, and urged him to retain it as a centre of excellence for healthcare on the Northside. His responses have been consistently evasive – in sharp contrast to what Fine Gael told people in the media and on the doors in the recent election.”
“Government has abandoned its promise to re-negotiate the EU/IMF bailout and since coming to office has handed billions in taxpayers’ money over to the banks. There is understandable suspicion that yesterday’s statement on imposing burden sharing on senior bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide is simply a stunt to mark 100 days of this government.”
“There have been dozens more u-turns in health provision and education, the introduction of water and household charges and on third-level fees.”
“Fine Gael and Labour have adopted almost the entire economic policy of the failed and rejected Fianna Fáil-Green government.
“In just 100 days it is clear that the people deserve better than what this administration has to offer.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien today said the government’s first one hundred days in office are littered with broken promises – including Fine Gael’s election pledge to guarantee the future of the Orthopaedic Hospital. He was speaking outside Leinster House, where he joined other Sinn Féin TDs in a protest to mark the government’s first 100 days in office.
Deputy O’Brien said:
“After just 100 days in office, the government already has a series of u-turns and a clutch of broken promises to its credit. Of particular concern to people on Cork’s Northside is Fine Gael’s abandonment of its election pledge to keep the Orthopaedic open.”
“Since my election I have repeatedly questioned Minister for Health Dr James Reilly on his plans for the future of the hospital, and urged him to retain it as a centre of excellence for healthcare on the Northside. His responses have been consistently evasive – in sharp contrast to what Fine Gael told people in the media and on the doors in the recent election.”
“Government has abandoned its promise to re-negotiate the EU/IMF bailout and since coming to office has handed billions in taxpayers’ money over to the banks. There is understandable suspicion that yesterday’s statement on imposing burden sharing on senior bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide is simply a stunt to mark 100 days of this government.”
“There have been dozens more u-turns in health provision and education, the introduction of water and household charges and on third-level fees.”
“Fine Gael and Labour have adopted almost the entire economic policy of the failed and rejected Fianna Fáil-Green government.
“In just 100 days it is clear that the people deserve better than what this administration has to offer.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Government Ignores Election Pledge to Reduce Quangos- O'Leary
Government Ignores Election Pledge to Reduce Quangos- O'Leary
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has accused the government of creating more quangos, in a direct reversal of its election pledge to reduce the number of such bodies in the public service.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“During the election Fine Gael made great play of its promise to cut the number of quangos and increase the efficiency of the public service.”
“Since taking office however, they have done the complete opposite. For instance, they have announced a new semi-state body, Irish Water, which will take over the running of water services from local authorities, and a “Special Delivery Unit” in the health service to cut waiting lists.”
“Neither of these will do anything to promote more effective services – all they will do is add more layers of bureaucracy. In our health service, we already have the HSE superimposed over the old heath boards: now Minister Reilly is proposing to add another layer of management with the SDU.”
“In its first hundred days this government has already made it clear that it does not represent a new politics or a break with the past. Last week we heard that numerous government TDs and ministers are employing their relatives as constituency secretaries at the taxpayer’s expense. The establishment of a slew of new quangos is more evidence that the coalition is engaged in business as usual.”
For further information contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
Sinn Féin councillor Chris O’Leary has accused the government of creating more quangos, in a direct reversal of its election pledge to reduce the number of such bodies in the public service.
Cllr O’Leary said:
“During the election Fine Gael made great play of its promise to cut the number of quangos and increase the efficiency of the public service.”
“Since taking office however, they have done the complete opposite. For instance, they have announced a new semi-state body, Irish Water, which will take over the running of water services from local authorities, and a “Special Delivery Unit” in the health service to cut waiting lists.”
“Neither of these will do anything to promote more effective services – all they will do is add more layers of bureaucracy. In our health service, we already have the HSE superimposed over the old heath boards: now Minister Reilly is proposing to add another layer of management with the SDU.”
“In its first hundred days this government has already made it clear that it does not represent a new politics or a break with the past. Last week we heard that numerous government TDs and ministers are employing their relatives as constituency secretaries at the taxpayer’s expense. The establishment of a slew of new quangos is more evidence that the coalition is engaged in business as usual.”
For further information contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307
O’Brien Appointed to Key Dáil Committees
O’Brien Appointed to Key Dáil Committees
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has been appointed to the Dáil Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, and to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy O’Brien said:
“I am delighted to have been appointed to two such important committees, where I will be able to influence legislation on issues that are of critical importance.”
“I plan to use my position on the Justice, Equality and Defence Committee to campaign for greater consistency is sentencing, reform of the judiciary, and increased support for communities in the fight against drugs.”
“My position on the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will give me an opportunity to resist government attacks on the public service while putting forward suggestions to bring about genuine improvements in how it operates.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has been appointed to the Dáil Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, and to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy O’Brien said:
“I am delighted to have been appointed to two such important committees, where I will be able to influence legislation on issues that are of critical importance.”
“I plan to use my position on the Justice, Equality and Defence Committee to campaign for greater consistency is sentencing, reform of the judiciary, and increased support for communities in the fight against drugs.”
“My position on the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will give me an opportunity to resist government attacks on the public service while putting forward suggestions to bring about genuine improvements in how it operates.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Council Must Tackle Issue of Vacant Houses-Nugent
Council Must Tackle Issue of Vacant Houses
Speaking after a meeting of Cork City Council’s housing committee last night, Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent said the local authority must tackle the issue of vacant council houses, some of which are currently being left empty for up to two years.
The committee had earlier referred a motion from Cllr Nugent, calling for a maximum turnaround of three months on vacant houses, to the next full council meeting for a decision.
Cllr Nugent said:
“With 9,000 people on the council’s housing list, it is no longer tolerable that perfectly good houses should be left sitting there for 6 months, a year, or in the case of one house I know of in my own ward, two years.”
“Not only is it a disgrace that these houses should be empty while there are people in desperate need of accommodation; they frequently become dumping grounds or magnets for anti-social behaviour. The presence of empty, boarded up houses in an area promotes an air of neglect which can be the breeding ground for other social problems.”
“In these straightened times, when the council’s budget has been reduced, surely it becomes all the more important to make the best use possible of its existing resources, and ensure a quick turnaround of houses as they become vacant?”
For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
Speaking after a meeting of Cork City Council’s housing committee last night, Sinn Féin councillor Mick Nugent said the local authority must tackle the issue of vacant council houses, some of which are currently being left empty for up to two years.
The committee had earlier referred a motion from Cllr Nugent, calling for a maximum turnaround of three months on vacant houses, to the next full council meeting for a decision.
Cllr Nugent said:
“With 9,000 people on the council’s housing list, it is no longer tolerable that perfectly good houses should be left sitting there for 6 months, a year, or in the case of one house I know of in my own ward, two years.”
“Not only is it a disgrace that these houses should be empty while there are people in desperate need of accommodation; they frequently become dumping grounds or magnets for anti-social behaviour. The presence of empty, boarded up houses in an area promotes an air of neglect which can be the breeding ground for other social problems.”
“In these straightened times, when the council’s budget has been reduced, surely it becomes all the more important to make the best use possible of its existing resources, and ensure a quick turnaround of houses as they become vacant?”
For further information contact Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sinn Féin Will Campaign Against Household Charge – O’Brien
Sinn Féin Will Campaign Against Household Charge – O’Brien
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has described the government’s plans to bring in a flat-rate household charge in the new year as an unfair and regressive measure which will penalise the least well off.
Deputy O’Brien said:
“A flat-rate household charge, which means the same bill for the millionaire’s mansion and the pensioner in a council house, is grossly unfair and will place the greatest burden on the least well off in society.”
“While the government claims the introduction of water charges is about conservation, the proposal to introduce a flat-rate charge proves it is nothing of the kind. It is simply and clearly another tax – an unjust and regressive one at that.”
“While people have been getting used to the Labour Party abandoning its election pledges, two such u-turns in as many days – on third level fees and on water charges – is quite breathtaking.”
“Sinn Féin is totally opposed to the new taxes and will be campaigning against them by every means available to us.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien has described the government’s plans to bring in a flat-rate household charge in the new year as an unfair and regressive measure which will penalise the least well off.
Deputy O’Brien said:
“A flat-rate household charge, which means the same bill for the millionaire’s mansion and the pensioner in a council house, is grossly unfair and will place the greatest burden on the least well off in society.”
“While the government claims the introduction of water charges is about conservation, the proposal to introduce a flat-rate charge proves it is nothing of the kind. It is simply and clearly another tax – an unjust and regressive one at that.”
“While people have been getting used to the Labour Party abandoning its election pledges, two such u-turns in as many days – on third level fees and on water charges – is quite breathtaking.”
“Sinn Féin is totally opposed to the new taxes and will be campaigning against them by every means available to us.”
For further information or comment contact Deputy Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
HSE Must Step in to Save Childcare Facility
HSE Must Step in to Save Childcare Facility
Northside Sinn Féin councillors Thomas Gould and Mick Nugent have said the HSE must act immediately to save the Little Steps Creche in Farranree, after it emerged the facility is due to close on 1st July.
They said:
“Little Steps is one of only 8 non-private community childcare facilities in Cork City providing affordable childcare. Without this facility, many parents will struggle to afford childcare and some may be forced to leave the workforce."
“The closure of the facility would also see the loss of 17 jobs at the crèche which is one of the most significant employers in Farranree.”
"The créche has suffered from ongoing financial problems in recent months as a result of cutbacks to community development projects, which have already forced the Farranree Community Development Project to close. The failure of the Fine Gael-Labour government to reverse their predecessors’ cuts to community supports means the responsibility for the closure rests with them.”
“The HSE must now step in to save the facility and secure the future of this vital service.”
For further information or comment phone Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551 or Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
Northside Sinn Féin councillors Thomas Gould and Mick Nugent have said the HSE must act immediately to save the Little Steps Creche in Farranree, after it emerged the facility is due to close on 1st July.
They said:
“Little Steps is one of only 8 non-private community childcare facilities in Cork City providing affordable childcare. Without this facility, many parents will struggle to afford childcare and some may be forced to leave the workforce."
“The closure of the facility would also see the loss of 17 jobs at the crèche which is one of the most significant employers in Farranree.”
"The créche has suffered from ongoing financial problems in recent months as a result of cutbacks to community development projects, which have already forced the Farranree Community Development Project to close. The failure of the Fine Gael-Labour government to reverse their predecessors’ cuts to community supports means the responsibility for the closure rests with them.”
“The HSE must now step in to save the facility and secure the future of this vital service.”
For further information or comment phone Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551 or Cllr Mick Nugent @ 087-6755793
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