Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Karen Mullan has welcomed the announcement of a new chartered service by Super Break providing a direct flight from City of Derry Airport to Seville beginning in March 2018.

Karen Mullan said:

“The announcement of a new flight from Derry to Seville is welcome news for the City of Derry Airport and for business and leisure travellers.

“This flight will help more local people access new European destinations from their doorsteps.

“Hopefully this move will encourage more airlines and travel companies to look at Derry as a destination and also help build and expand the north west transport network, tourist industry and attract more inward investment.”

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has met with Kieran Downey, Director of Women & Children’s Services at the Western Trust and Ann McDuff, Assistant Director of Community & Public Health, alongside families and young people affected by autism, to highlight issues and discuss autism services.

Karen Mullan said:

“I facilitated a positive meeting with families and young people in the city who are affected by autism to provide space for them to raise issues they face daily directly with the Western Health and Social Care Trust.

“The meeting focused on a range of issues including the waiting lists for occupational therapy, speech and language services, direct payments for respite and young people transition services.

“There is an increase in the prevalence of children and adults being diagnosed with autism and services such as direct payments are vital to children and parents.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with the Western Trust, support groups and families to ensure that the services available to families are efficient and they receive the necessary support and I welcome the fact that the Trust have agreed to hold a follow up meetings to monitor how they can improve their service delivery.

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Responding to todays statement from the British Secretary of State, Sinn Féin Leader in the North Michelle O’Neill commented:

“The British Secretary of State has said that he is not in a position to bring forward legislation to re-establish the Executive this week. That is true. Why is that so?

“It is in part because of Mr Brokenshire’s tolerance of the DUP’s blocking of the equality agenda, the reneging on past agreements and recent financial scandals. This led to the erosion of confidence in the political institutions and Martin Mc Guinness’s resignation in January after ten years in office.

“Over the last ten months, the focus of these negotiations has been on the delivery of rights which are the norm everywhere else on these islands. Many of these rights are fundamental parts of the Good Friday and other agreements. They are for the benefit of all sections of society and threaten no-one. Furthermore, marriage equality, language rights, the Bill of Rights and the right to Coroners Inquests are supported by a majority in the Assembly and in wider society.

“The only reason they are denied is because of DUP resistance to the rights agenda and the British Government’s acquiescence in this. That has been compounded by the Tory-DUP pact. The British Secretary of State is wrong when he says that it only the parties themselves who can reach agreement, he and the Irish Government also have obligations.

“The issue of rights is not going to go away. The DUP and British Government know this. These rights must be satisfactorily dealt with. Sinn Féin is disappointed that the last few weeks of negotiations have ended in failure. We did our best to be flexible and we were prepared to stretch ourselves in the common good.

“Endless talks without conclusion are not sustainable. There is a need for the two governments to act urgently to deliver equality. This is their joint responsibility under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

“I want to state explicitly that, in the context of agreement on delivery of these rights, Sinn Féin will re-enter government. In the absence of these rights the Executive is not sustainable.

“Sinn Féin will now reflect on all of this.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has today called for action to end the Gender Pay Gap.

She was speaking following the release of European Commission figures highlighting a rise in the wage discrepancy between men and woman across many European economies.

“The Gender Pay Gap is a critical indicator of gender inequality which is still rife across our society,” she said.

“The EU wide gap of 16% is unacceptable, and equates to women effectively working two months in a year for free, relative to male counterparts.

“This is a frontline equality issue, and one of many financial barriers faced by women in the world of work.”

Ends

The party’s Education spokesperson was speaking after the Experience of Sports statistics for 2016 were released.

The Foyle MLA said:

“The figures show that participation level in sport is consistent with last year however there remains a need for promotion and investment in sport. It is disconcerting to see that participation levels among women are still lower than their male counterparts.

“We need to break down the barriers stopping females from participating in sport as they make a valuable contribution to sport by participating and in a coaching capacity.

“It is encouraging to see the good levels of participation by young people in sport. However, further attention is needed in order to encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to get involved in sport as figures show that young people entitled to free school meals have a lower participation rate than those not entitled to them.

“By promoting and investing in sport we can encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to get involved and take the opportunity to learn new skills and enjoy sport.”

Ends

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Karen Mullan MLA said today that academic freedom must be protected.

Responding to reports that a Tory MP had written to all universities, including those in the north, to request information regarding teaching on Brexit including details of lecturers and syllabuses, she said:

“This is a most concerning development and an unjustifiable abuse of position. Regardless of the reason, the disconcerting undertones cannot be discounted.

“Universities equip individuals with information and the ability to critically understand. Fundamentally they are places where the pursuit of knowledge and free-thinking are encouraged. Academic freedom and freedom of enquiry/research are fundamental values, which must be protected.

“Freedom of the Arts and Science are protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights based upon the right to freedom of thought and expression. Curtailment due to unjustified oversight is unthinkable.

“Brexit has had, and will continue to have, serious and negative implications for our universities and research sector. Research programmes in particular rely upon the ability to collaborate and attract staff and students from across the EU and further afield.

“This is already being impacted upon, with surveys showing many EU staff considering leaving and anecdotal evidence that EU partners are less likely to partner with institutions here.

“The ability to inform, discuss and evaluate all of the reasons for, and consequences of, Brexit is vital to understanding and to planning for the future.

“Our universities must continue to be places which open minds and build links across the world, where freedom of thought and expression are upheld.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has said that all citizens should be able to work free from discrimination or harassment.

She was speaking after the Fair Employment Tribunal awarded a woman £20,736 after finding she was being discriminated against, harassed and victimised on the grounds of her religious belief or political opinion and constructively unfairly dismissed.

She said:

“It is unacceptable that in 2017 any worker would feel under threat or intimidated in their working environment and atmosphere because of his or her religious belief or political opinion.

“The fight for full recognition and equality of all citizens to work free from discrimination or harassment is a critical rights issue for our society.

“Sinn Féin is committed to reducing discrimination and inequality in the workplace.

“We remain committed to equal rights for all.

“This decision is welcome for the claimant, but should also encourage those affected that discrimination can and will be tackled at every turn.”

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has again called on the British and Irish governments to apply for access to the EU Solidarity Fund to help repair flood damage.

Martina Anderson said:

“Following severe flooding across parts of Ireland, particularly rural areas, earlier this year, I visited farmers in Tyrone to see at first hand the damage caused by the flood waters.
“I then wrote, along with my fellow MEP Matt Carthy, to EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, requesting additional help for farmers and enquiring about the possibility of accessing the EU Solidarity Fund, which was set up for such eventualities.
“Commissioner Hogan has now responded saying he would be happy to offer support and advice if the competent authorities, in this case the member states, make an application to access the fund.
“I would again reiterate my call on both the British and Irish governments to apply to access this fund as a matter of urgency.

“Our farmers, agricultural producers and rural communities are still counting the costs of the recent flooding and need supported in order to get back on their feet again.” Ends/Críoch

Derry Sinn Féin Youth, Chairperson – Caolán McGinley has welcomed news that Ibrahim Halawa has returned to Dublin after being illegally detained for four years in Egypt.

He said :

“We are very glad that Ibrahim Halawa has returned home safely after four years of his illegal imprisonment in Egypt.

“Due to the conditions Ibrahim was detained in, his mental and physical health has suffered greatly, so it is important that he is given all support necessary to rebuild his life.

“We extend a céad mile fáilte abhaile to Ibrahim and wish him well as he returns to his family and friends.”

Ends

No child should go hungry as a result of technical changes, which threaten free school meal entitlement,Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan has said.

The party’s education spokesperson said Sinn Féin are currently seeking mitigation measures to protect children who may lose their entitlement.

Karen Mullan commented: “Sinn Féin has already called for a full equality assessment after initial screening found that 2,000 children may no longer be eligible for free school meals due to a technical amendment to the eligibility criteria.

“This support is vital for disadvantaged children and it would be entirely unacceptable if any child was to go hungry because of a technical change.

“We have had a number of positive engagements with both the Department and the Education Authority and I believe there is a genuine will to try and find a solution to this issue.

“We will continue to work closely with education officials over the coming days and weeks to ensure that suitable mitigations are put in place to protect these entitlements and ensure no child loses out.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has said lives will be lost if attacking cars on the Madams Bank Road doesn’t stop.

She was commenting after a number of cars were attacked with stones last night (Wednesday).

She said “I was contacted by a very upset Taxi Driver who had his car attacked on the Madams Bank Road last night.

The windscreen in the car was smashed and the driver was left badly shaken.

The perpetrators who were behind this attack made good their escape.

With these attacks it’s only a matter of time before someone loses control of a car on this road and we have fatalities.

If anyone knows who is behind these attacks I would appeal for them to contact the police .Lives are being put at risk here and those responsible need to be before the courts.

Ends

Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan, has called on the DUP to end its support for a Tory government wedded to welfare cuts.

Karen Mullan said:

“The implementation of Universal Credit should be halted immediately.

“The DUP should withdraw their support for a Tory government wedded to austerity and welfare cuts.

“Having already given the Tory government a blank cheque on Brexit, and voting to maintain the public sector pay cap, by propping up this Tory government the DUP are facilitating austerity and attacks on society’s most vulnerable.

“Universal Credit is a policy that is riddled with faults, complications and delays. It is a policy that was supposedly designed to simplify the benefits system but in reality has caused more hardship and deepened poverty.

“There is growing cross-party concerns over Universal Credit including from senior Tories and former Prime Minister John Major who has called for a review of this system.

“The reality is that Universal Credit is an instrument of the Tory assault on the most vulnerable in our society.

“The only answer to the problems associated with Universal Credit is to end Tory austerity and their ideologically driven attacks on our public services.”

ENDS/CRÍOCH

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Karen Mullan speaking on UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty,has said poverty is the result of policy choices, and can be eliminated.

She said

“I fully support the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Times like this force us to reflect on the causes of poverty, and the need to help eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries.

“Today is also an opportunity to talk about the stubborn rates of poverty and destitution which blight Irish society.

“Decades of neglect and relentless Tory austerity in the north have locked thousands of citizens into a vicious poverty cycle. As a society we all suffer when we condemn fellow citizens to a life of destitution.

“Poverty is the result of policy choices; it is a human-made social disease which must be eradicated. Inequality continues to soar as governments place the profits of elites and the super-rich ahead of the most vulnerable in our society.

“Those interested in meaningful change must stand up to a rotten economic system that has left so many behind, and fight for a better society founded on equality, solidarity and universal rights.

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has condemned the arrests of prominent Catalan independence campaigners.

Martina Anderson said:

“The arrests of prominent Catalan independence referendum activists Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart was wrong and must be condemned.

“The world saw the oppression carried out by the Spanish police during the voting on the referendum and this is yet another attack on the democratic process and a further attempt to silence the will of the people.

“These activists should be released immediately and all charges dropped against others who were simply standing up for their democratic rights.

“The international community have a role to play in standing up for the interests of the Catalan people, condemning these arrests and ensuring the result of the referendum is respected.” Ends/Críoch

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has expressed her deep concern at the jailing of two Catalan civil society activists by the Spanish High Court.

The head of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Jordi Sánchez, and the head of Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, are on trial over sedition charges. They were jailed without bail on Monday night and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

She said:

“The ANC and Òmnium Cultural are the two main pro-independence civil society organisations in Catalonia. These popular organisations have been central to the massive peaceful demonstrations in favour of an independence referendum that we have seen emerge in Catalonia in recent years.

“They were arrested on sedition charges over their alleged role in peaceful protests in the build up to the 1 October independence referendum and on the day of the vote. Under Spanish criminal law, a sedition conviction can carry jail sentences of between 4 and 15 years.

“I am deeply concerned that the Spanish High Court has jailed these civil society activists and that they are being prosecuted for organising peaceful demonstrations. Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart should be released immediately.

“The Spanish State’s response to the Catalan referendum has been very worrying to date. The Spanish Government should urgently take up the Catalan Government’s offer of internationally mediated negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to their differences through dialogue.”

All schools in Ireland have been advised to close again tomorrow, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Karen Mullan has said.

The Foyle MLA commented: “Following a similar decision taken in the South, the Department of Education have confirmed to me that all schools in the North have now been issued with advice to remain closed again tomorrow.

“Although the weather is expected to have improved by then, there is a concern that power shortages and potential damage to buildings and transport networks could impact on accessibility and safety tomorrow.

“In those circumstances it is sensible to be cautious and to take the decision as early as possible to allow parents to make necessary arrangements.”

ENDS/CRIOCH

Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Karen Mullan MLA has urged schools which still use transfer tests to show leadership and end them altogether.

The Foyle MLA was speaking after one of the examination bodies which run the tests confirmed they could not accommodate all the children who have applied this year.

“School transfer tests continue to drive educational inequality and are a barrier to parental choice,” Karen Mullan commented.

“Schools should show leadership and end the use of transfer tests in favour of building a fully inclusive and non-selective education system for the betterment of all our young people.

“The late Martin McGuinness as Education Minister showed great leadership in abolishing the 11 plus to establish a transfer system based upon parental choice.

“Despite this, many schools continued to select and reject children based on an unregulated test system.

“That needs to end because the evidence is overwhelming that academic selection and rejection is damaging for children and damaging for the education system.

“This has been confirmed yet again in the latest Executive Office report Investigating Links in Achievement and Deprivation (ILiAD) which concluded that transfer tests exacerbate educational inequalities and damage the confidence and self-esteem of children.”

Sinn Féin leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill MLA, has spoken to the interim head of the civil service and Chair of the Civil Contingencies Group, David Sterling, regarding Hurricane Ophelia in order to be briefed on the levels of preparedness to keep people safe following severe weather warnings.

Ms O’Neill said:

“I have talked to the interim Head of the Civil Service regarding the impact that Hurricane Ophelia may have and on the measures and precautions needed to mitigate against the severe weather in the interests of public safety including school closures tomorrow which have now been announced by the Department for Education.

“People should keep informed about the weather and act to protect yourself and your home from the effects of flooding and high winds, and importantly to heed safety warnings.”

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has warmly welcomed the announcement this morning of an agreement between the two leading Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah who have been involved in reconciliation talks in Cairo.

Gerry Adams TD said:

“I want to extend my solidarity and congratulations to Hamas and Fatah on successfully reaching an historic agreement on a process to end the political divisions between them.

“This deal between Hamas and Fatah creates the potential for real progress in the efforts to rekindle the moribund Middle East peace process.

“I have travelled to the region several times in recent years and have met with both the leaders of Fatah and Hamas. I understand the challenges and difficulties they face and I wish them well in their efforts.

“I would urge the International Community to speedily grasp this opportunity and encourage all sides to open up a renewed dialogue to making progress in the peace process.”

Sinn Féin has welcomed a £50 million cash injection for the health and education services but added that it is confirmation of the ‘unnecessary and divisive’ nature of the cuts consultation carried out by the Health Trusts.

Locally it welcomed the news that William Street and Rectory Field residential homes will not be forced to merge.

“Sinn Féin has argued for some time that there were centrally-held resources available which could be released to address some of the pressures on health,” Foyle MLA Karen Mullan said

“We welcome the fact that this has now happened but it also again opens up the question as to why the consultation on proposed cuts of £70 million was carried out in the way that it was.

“It has always been our view that these cuts were unnecessary and the consultation was a cynical exercise which only succeeded in creating division and concern within the wider community.

“Locally the news that William Street and Rectory Field residential homes will not have to merge will be welcomed by the residents, staff and relatives of those who live at the two homes. There was great concern in the city that these homes would have been forced to merge.

“A further £10 million has been allocated to the Department of Education and, in light of that, Sinn Féin reiterates our call for the cut to the school’s sports development grant to be reversed immediately.”

Karen Mullan added: “Today’s announcement will go some way to redressing the immediate pressures on our public services but we are still facing huge longer-term shortfalls as a result of Tory/DUP austerity cuts to the Block Grant and Sinn Féin will continue to rigorously oppose this assault on public services and the most vulnerable in society.”

ENDS/CRÍOCH

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has welcomed the news that DCSDC has nominated a consultant team to undertake and manage the technical design and construction of Templemore & Strabane Leisure Facilities Projects.

Clr Caoimhe McKnight said

“Sinn Féin have been lobbying Council for a number of years now to have an extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the Templemore Sports Complex.

“I am delighted that Derry City and Strabane District Council has nominated a consultant team to undertake and manage the technical design and construction of Templemore & Strabane Leisure Facilities Projects.

“Currently the overall cost to complete the construction of the facilities is estimated to be in the region of £50m.

“Over the next few years I believe that we will see one of the most extensive developments at the Complex that has been witnessed in this City.

Sinn Féin Foyle MP Elisha McCallion and Karen Mullan MLA have held a meeting with officials from the Department of Infrastructure to get an update on the progression of the A6.

Speaking after the meeting Foyle MLA Karen Mullan said

“It was important to get the update from the Department of Infrastructure on the timeline of A6.This is a key infrastructural project linking the North West to Belfast and further afield and will significantly reduce the journey time when completed.

Anyone who travels regularly on this road will know that work is well underway on the section around Toome but we needed to get as much detail as possible right across such a large scale project. Officials from the Department told us that the first section from the Toome roundabout to Randalstown will be ready early 2019, and the second part by 2021.

The section from Derry to Dungiven,Dungiven Bypass is out to tender with the project starting in the spring of 2018, with completion in 2022.

We stressed the need for the inclusion of social clauses and that local contractors and sub-contractors are used in the construction of the A6 and we were pleased to learn that they have taken on a number of young apprentices.

We look forward to the completion of this project and its benefits for Derry and the wider North West.

The exams re-marking process should be made accessible to all families in order to restore confidence in the process, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Karen Mullan has said.

The Foyle MLA was speaking after a controversy over marking standards, prompted the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to reopen the re-marking process for AS and GCSE Level English literature.

“This is a welcome move from CCEA which will hopefully help restore confidence in the examinations process by enabling re-assessments for students who feel they were inaccurately marked,” she commented.

“I would also call on schools to work with CCEA to ensure there is no financial barrier to pupils from low-income families accessing this service.

“This is important because if the cost of a re-mark is beyond the means of a low-income family then it doesn’t matter how long the process is open for because they will never be able to access it.

“This is an obvious inequality in the system and I would urge all the examining boards operating here along with schools and the Education Authority to address it in the longer-term by ensuring the process is free of charge to pupils with free school meals entitlement.”

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Karen Mullan has warned that Brexit will damage the ability of universities to recruit suitably qualified technical staff, which will have major implications for vital research and development work.

The party’s Education spokesperson said:

“Analysis by the Russell Group of universities shows that 13 percent of the 9000 technicians working in their institutions are EU or non-EU nationals

“But under current immigration rules, universities cannot recruit technicians from outside the European Economic Area because the role does not meet the required visa threshold.

“The universities therefore fear that, if the current immigration system was applied to EU nationals post-Brexit, they will be unable to recruit relevantly skilled overseas technicians for these positions.

“Technicians who are highly trained and skilled, play a vital role in research teams. Those from overseas are needed to fill a significant skills gap, particularly in STEM subject areas.

“While measures are being put in place in terms of technical education and careers development, it will take several years to close the skills gap. In the meantime, any restriction on the ability to recruit skilled technicians from overseas would impact on the delivery of high quality research.

“This is just one more of the many implications of Brexit coming to light which will have a damaging impact on the university and research sector.

“The only way to guard against the many detrimental impacts on this sector is to secure designated special status for the north within the EU and ensure continued free movement of people and access to all funding streams.”

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has said the human rights of prisoners must be respected.

Speaking during a debate on prisoners rights in the European Parliament, Martina Anderson said:

“As someone who spent more than 13 years in jail as a political prisoner I have a interest in ensuring that prisoners rights are respected and upheld.

“Irish republicans spent thousands of years in prison as a result of the conflict, often in terrible conditions. Many were ill-treated and tortured and in 1981 Bobby Sands and nine comrades died on hunger strike for political status.

“The Good Friday Agreement saw the release of political prisoners to advance the peace process.

“But even today we have the case of Derry man Tony Taylor who continues to be detained by the British government without a trial and should be released immediately.

“And internationally, Palestine political prisoners still face injustice and unlawful detention while Basque prisoners are incarcerated hundreds of miles from their loved ones as a result of unfair dispersal policies.

“Prison systems must show that human rights are upheld consistently and should never be used as a weapon against prisoners.” Ends/Críoch

Pupils are paying the price for Tory-DUP austerity cuts to school budgets, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Karen Mullan has said.

The Foyle MLA was speaking ahead of the latest in a series of public meetings organised by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) union to discuss the schools budget crisis.

“Sinn Féin recognise that schools are experiencing significant financial pressures as a direct result of Tory-DUP austerity,” she commented.

“The root cause of the difficulties in our public services is the £1 billion in cuts to our block grant imposed by the Tories since 2010. Just this week we learned that any new Executive will face further shortfalls of up to £1 billion a year if this austerity does not end.

“It is children in our schools and the most vulnerable in our health service who are paying the price for this Tory austerity, now supported by the DUP.

“No party should be supporting the Tory approach. We should all be opposing these cuts and Sinn Féin will continue to do so.

“We ensured that Education had access to additional funding in July and successfully overturned the proposed cut to the uniform grant which would have pushed children into poverty.

“We also helped secure the protection of the Sure Start and Youth Service budgets and will continue to demand an end to the Tory-DUP attack on frontline services.”

There can be no tolerance of inequality against the LGBTQ community or anyone in our society, Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight said today.

She was speaking after party leader in the north Michelle O’Neill leader met with representatives of Love Equality.

She said:

“I very much welcome the meeting that Michelle O’Neill has had with representatives of Love Equality, a coalition of organisations campaigning for marriage equality and other basic rights for the LGBTQ sector.

“We will continue to pursue the protection of rights that are available to citizens everywhere else on these islands.

“Marriage equality is of course only one of a number of rights-based issues that we need to tackle.

“But it would be a step forward in recognising the needs still to be met for the LGBTQ community.

“This is a time for the progressive politics of inclusion and the delivery of rights for all.

“We want to end the discrimination and the denial of rights in our society. And to ensure equal access to public services and equal opportunities for us all.

“Sinn Féin want to build a truly progressive, rights-based society and that’s something we can only do together.

“There simply cannot be any tolerance of inequality or disenfranchised citizenship for anyone in our society – including LGBTQ citizens.”

Speaking as they handed in the letters of protest Foyle MLA Karen Mullan said “There has been growing anger and opposition over the past number of weeks to the proposed £70m cuts to the health service. People in Derry are worried and concerned at any attempt to implement cuts and the impact that would have here.

During this time our activists and elected representatives have been out on the ground gauging public opinion and asking people to sign letters to the Western Trust objecting to proposals as outlined in the Western Trust Financial planning 2017/2018 savings plans.

Sinn Féin is totally opposed to these cuts, which we regard as a direct attack on those most in need in our society.

Instead of cuts, we need to see investment in our health service, just as former health minister Michelle O’Neill called for.

We will continue to oppose Tory/DUP cuts to our frontline services and will continue to demonstrate campaign and lobby against austerity.”

Ends/Críoch

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Karen Mullan has expressed her support for the launch of the HSE National Breastfeeding Week.

Speaking of health benefits, Mullan said much needed to be done to remove the stigma around breastfeeding:

“Breastfeeding has been shown by numerous studies to be the healthier option for both mother and baby.

“Breastfeeding protects babies and their mothers against a wide range of illnesses including respiratory and urinary tract infections, allergies, sudden infant death syndrome and childhood leukaemia.

“Ireland has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Europe. A week of awareness can help in changing this and breaking the stigma surrounding breastfeeding.

“We will continue to fight the stigma, and encourage people to talk openly this week to ensure that the true benefits of breastfeeding can be brought to light.”

Ends

Sinn Féin Councillor Caoimhe McKnight has today (Tuesday) proposed a motion at a meeting of the Strategic Governance Committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council in relation to Catalan Independence referendum, the brutality of the Spanish police and urging support of the local council.

Councillor McKnight said “On Sunday the world witnessed shocking scenes of police brutality in various parts of Catalonia. Peaceful citizens who were protecting the integrity of polling stations were struck down and savagely beaten. Reports are suggesting that nearly 900 people have been injured.

Children and adults were beaten off the streets and fired upon. This is unacceptable in any society. The disturbing images of frail elderly citizens being assaulted by heavily armed Spanish police will be impossible to forget. Solidarity rallies were held in Derry, Belfast and Dublin as local people wanted to show their outrage at what had gone on.

We brought forward this motion as we felt the local council needed to formally recognise the democratic outcome of the Catalan Independence referendum, condemn the brutality of the Spanish police, and to write to the Catalan and Spanish Governments to outline the Councils support for Catalan Independence.

The international community and the European Union in particular, must now support the people of Catalonia in forging their own independent political path in Europe.

Motion
That Derry and Strabane District Council formally recognises the democratic outcome of the Catalan Independence referendum, condemns the brutality of the Spanish police, and will write to the Catalan and Spanish Governments to outline the Councils support for Catalan Independence.

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has welcomed the passing of a joint resolution on Brexit in the European Parliament calling for the north to remain in the single market and customs union.

Speaking during a debate on a joint resolution on Brexit in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Martina Anderson said:

“It is crucially important that we protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts during the Brexit negotiations and I welcome today’s vote in the European Parliament reaffirming the commitment to the Agreement.

“It is a clear indication of the growing support for special status for the north within the EU across Europe.

“Protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts includes the part where the consent of the people of Ireland – north and south – is required to alter the constitutional position of the north.

“It also means being in the single market and the customs union.

“This can be achieved through the north of Ireland staying in the EU or Irish unity, as is provisioned for in the Good Friday Agreement. Otherwise, we are not upholding the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.

“This resolution is also balanced with regard to citizens rights and is an important step forward in recognising that the needs of the north of Ireland are different to those of Britain.

“I would like to welcome the commitment from Guy Verhofstadt to exploring how to give legal protection to the Good Friday Agreement in the Withdrawal Agreement.” Ends/Críoch

Speaking at the CHAMP breakfast in Manchester this morning Sinn Féin Leader in the North Michelle O’Neill MLA told delegates attending the British Conservative Party conference that the people of the North want solutions that will protect them from austerity, cuts, Brexit and which delivers basic rights as envisaged in previous agreements.

She said: “A special status relationship outside of the EU would do little to deal with the massive political, social and economic challenges thrown up by Brexit.

“I do not believe that we can withstand exclusion from the single market, customs union, a return of borders of the past or the denial of access to the European courts.

“And on this basis Sinn Féin believes that the only credible approach is for the north to be designated a special status within the EU and for the whole island of Ireland to remain within the EU together.”

Speaking about the DUP ‘Confidence and Supply’ Agreement with the British Conservatives she said:

“Without doubt the DUP support for Brexit and for the Conservative Government poses real challenges. The DUP ignores the anti-Brexit vote back home and has signed up to support Tory legislation on Brexit in direct contradiction to the wishes of the Northern vote.”

Speaking in relation to the political talks at Stormont she said:

“The British Government should not think that they can cobble together a deal acceptable to the DUP and then shoe horn Sinn Féin into acqueising to it. That will not happen. The shape of a deal is very clear. The two governments know this. So do the DUP and the other parties.

“We remain committed to making the institutions to work.

“I want to lead Sinn Féin back into the Executive.

“That is what we are in talks to deliver

“Both Arlene Foster and I have been engaged in intensified dialogue over the past month to determine whether political progress is possible.

“I believe a political breakthrough is entirely possible, but only we can together grasp the opportunity to guarantee the right of every citizen to their democratic social, economic, civil and political rights. Rights that are realised and enjoyed in the rest of these islands.

“That includes an Irish Language Act that provides the right to use the Irish language for official purposes in interacting with the State. The right to access coroners inquests; equal marriage; a bill of rights; and a commitment to tackle sectarianism.” CRIOCH/ENDS

Remarks by Michelle O’Neill MLA to CHAMP event, Manchester Townhall

3rd October 2017

INTRODUCTION

Dia daoibh agus maidin mhaith.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I welcome the opportunity to address and engage with you this morning and thank the organisers for the invitation to speak.

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the people of Manchester who in May of this year faced a shocking and horrendous bomb attack at Manchester Arena which saw 22 people killed, including young children, and which left over 250 people injured.

At the time I reached out to extend my heartfelt sympathy, condolences and solidarity to Mayor Andy Burnham and the people of Manchester.

As a parent I can only try and imagine what those who lost loved ones in the attack, particularly those who lost children, are going through these past number of months.

I also want to wish those who were injured well and hope they are making as full and speedy a recovery as possible.

IRISH PEACE PROCESS

I am an Irish republican.

I believe in Irish unity.

Consequently, my politics are very different from many in this room.

But Sinn Féin wants to see progress in restoring the political institutions that are an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement and we will work with the British and Irish governments, and all of the parities in the North to achieve this goal.

It is 19 years on since the Good Friday Agreement.

I am thankful that after decades of conflict and division that many people, both in Ireland and Britain, worked tirelessly to develop and build the peace process that a new generation enjoy today.

The sense of loss, pain and grief of those bereaved in the conflict is felt equally across the community.

And while we have conflicting narratives, conflicting histories and conflicting allegiances there is a responsibility on all us all as political leaders to ensure that conflict is a thing of the past and to build the process of reconciliation,

We need to build bridges and heal the wounds of the past in order to move forward together as a society.

This is one of the reasons why I would like to get the political institutions – an Executive, Assembly, North/South Ministerial Council and British/Irish Council restored – on the basis of Rights, Equality and Respect.

I believe there is a special responsibility on the joint Heads of Government – the First and deputy First Ministers, and everyone within a power-sharing coalition to bridge the divide between us and those that we represent in order to work for everyone.

TACKLING SECTARIANISM

We need to challenge the causes, which segregate our cities, society and country – brought into stark focus this past week by Catholic families being forced out of a shared housing scheme in Belfast by Loyalist paramilitaries.

What does this say about our society in 2017?

The community needs leadership from its politicians who must be prepared to lead from the front and by example.

POLITICAL TALKS

My late colleague and former Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness resigned in January not as a first choice, but a last resort because of the RHI scandal, the DUP’s denial of rights for all citizens, and the failure to fully implement previous political agreements.

Martin McGuinness did the right thing, at the right time.

Over the course of the last 9 months we have fought two elections. The people understood the importance of these elections and this was reflected in voter turnout – the largest since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

The support for the Sinn Féin party in both the Assembly and Westminster elections was an endorsement of a new way – a demand for absolute respect, integrity and common decency and rights for all – a demand for power-sharing as it was originally agreed.

We remain committed to making the institutions to work.

I want to lead Sinn Féin back into the Executive.

That is what we are in talks to deliver

Both Arlene Foster and I have been engaged in intensified dialogue over the past month to determine whether political progress is possible.

I believe a political breakthrough is entirely possible, but only we can together grasp the opportunity to guarantee the right of every citizen to their democratic social, economic, civil and political rights. – Rights that are realised and enjoyed in the rest of these islands.

That includes an Irish Language Act that provides the right to use the Irish language for official purposes in interacting with the State. The right to access coroner’s inquests; equal marriage; a bill of rights; and a commitment to tackle sectarianism.

The British Conservative government is denying families access to legacy inquest funding, some of which have been waiting up to 40 years. This is deepening the pain felt by those families who’ve lost loved ones during the troubles who need and deserve truth.

The Government need to stop hiding behind the guise of so-called ‘national security’ and make the funding available in line with the request from the Lord Chief Justice in the North.

James Brokenshire can do this and he should act without further delay.

There simply cannot be and won’t be any tolerance of inequality, disenfranchised citizenship for anyone in our society – LGBT, Irish speakers, ethnic minorities, victims and survivors – nobody.

For an Executive to work it must command the full confidence and trust of the people it is elected to serve.

That includes the exercise of the ‘rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people’ that the Good Friday Agreement requires from a British Secretary of State.

The calling of a snap General election in the middle of political talks and the subsequent DUP/Conservative deal has left many people suspicious that this British Government consider things back in Ireland as secondary to their own political survival at Westminster.

That is not acceptable.

Sinn Féin will put our electorate first. And I don’t mean just the Sinn Féin voters. I mean all the people of the north and the island of Ireland.

BREXIT

Brexit is the single biggest threat to the economies on the island of Ireland.

We believe that locally elected ministers are best placed to run local public services and prioritise our own political agenda.

This includes a continued fight back against the relentless austerity endured by the Assembly from the British Government in recent years, and the consequences of Brexit for our economy, our people and our public services over the next 5-10 years.

The main impact of austerity for the Executive has been on its everyday spending and our resource budget.

In real terms the Executive’s resource budget is £1bn down this year on 2010/11 levels.

Over the next two years resource spending is static in cash terms, resulting in a real term reduction of 3.1%.

Meanwhile the costs for our public services are due to increase dramatically.

The £1bn, which forms part of the Confidence and Supply agreement, will only in some part address these pressures.

I want the Executive to be the bulwark against this.

Without doubt the DUP support for Brexit and for the Conservative Government poses real challenges. The DUP ignores the anti Brexit vote back home and has signed up to support Tory legislation on Brexit in direct contradiction to the wishes of the Northern vote.

Our economy, just like our population, does not exist in splendid isolation. Our collective economic future lies with relationships north, south and east and west. The threat to the economy arising from Brexit cannot be over stated.

There is growing concern in the north and on the entire island of Ireland about the economic consequences of Brexit, the negative implications of which are already becoming clear.

A special status relationship outside of the EU would do little to deal with the massive political, social and economic challenges thrown up by Brexit.

I do not believe that we can withstand exclusion from the single market, customs union, a return of borders of the past or the denial of access to the European courts.

And on this basis Sinn Féin believes that the only credible approach is for the north to be designated a special status within the EU and for the whole island of Ireland to remain within the EU together.

CONCLUSION

The British Government should not think that they can cobble together a deal acceptable to the DUP and then shoe horn Sinn Féin into acqueising to it. That will not happen. The shape of a deal is very clear. The two governments know this. So do the DUP and the other parties.

The British Government are co-equal guarantors of the Agreement, but they have failed the peace and political process.

The people of the North want solutions that will protect them from austerity, cuts, Brexit and which delivers basic rights as envisaged in previous Agreements.

It is time for new politics in a new rights based era – and time to turn a corner, together putting the best interests of all the people first.

Thank for your attention.

Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.

Sinn Féin held an emergency solidarity rally at Free Derry Wall on Sunday night following the attack on democracy against the independence referendum in Catalonia leaving hundreds of people injured. Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney spoke to the crowd and Barry Davey sang the international song .Something inside so strong.

From Barcelona Sinn Fein Foyle MEP Martina Anderson has said the international community has a responsibility to act to defend the democratic rights of the Catalan people.

Martina Anderson said;

“As an international observer to the Catalan independence referendum I have witnessed at first hand the attempts by the Spanish authorities to deny people the right to vote.

“This has included seizing ballot boxes, blocking access to polling stations and physical attacks on those queuing up to exercise their democratic right.

“There have also been reports of disruption to the online services required for voter validation.

“Let’s be clear; these are attacks on the democratic process and democracy itself.

“If this was happening anywhere else in the world there would be international outrage.

“There is an onus on the international community, and the EU in particular, to speak out and to act to defend the fundamental democratic rights of the people of Catalonia.”

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has welcomed the result of the independence referendum in Catalonia.

He said that “the Catalan people have spoken and their voice must be respected by the Spanish government and the international community.”

Mr Adams added;

“The people of Catalonia faced violent repression from the Spanish state over the last twenty-four hours.

“Despite this attack on the democratic process, Catalans have voted for their independence.

“The international community, especially the European Union, has an obligation to ensure that Catalonia can pursue the course of self-determination without fear. They must also hold the Spanish authorities to account for the violence that has been carried out against the Catalan people.

“The Irish government should be to the forefront in defending Catalans right to decide their own future.”

ENDS

Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson has said the international community has a responsibility to act to defend the democratic rights of the Catalan people.

Martina Anderson said;

“As an international observer to the Catalan independence referendum I have witnessed at first hand the attempts by the Spanish authorities to deny people the right to vote.

“This has included seizing ballot boxes, blocking access to polling stations and physical attacks on those queuing up to exercise their democratic right.

“There have also been reports of disruption to the online services required for voter validation.

“Let’s be clear; these are attacks on the democratic process and democracy itself.

“If this was happening anywhere else in the world there would be international outrage.

“There is an onus on the international community, and the EU in particular, to speak out and to act to defend the fundamental democratic rights of the people of Catalonia.”

Sinn Féin’s elected representatives in Derry, including the MP, MEP, MLAs and Councillors, have written to the head of the Spanish Government, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, to find a political solution to Catalonia’s legitimate claims and to stop threats to Mayors and democratically elected members of the Catalan Government.

Sinn Féin will hold a solidarity rally at Free Derry Wall this Saturday at 3.00pm

Karen Mullan MLA said:

“In recent days we have seen a gross infringement on the right of the Catalan people to self-determination.

“Myself and other Sinn Féin elected representatives today wrote to the head of the Spanish Government, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, expressing our concerns at events which have took place in recent days.

“In order to shut down the historic people’s referendum, the Spanish authorities have responded with raiding government offices, arresting officials, issuing massive fines, threats of legal action to hundreds of elected representatives, and the withdrawal of credit to the Government of Catalonia.

“For any resolution to be reached, the Spanish government must end this unjust interference and harassment immediately. Images of Guardia Civil seizing ballot boxes do not reflect well on any democratic state.

“This is coercion, plain and simple. It is also an attempt to subdue the passion for self-determination held by the people of Catalonia. The massive demonstrations organised in response to Spanish interference is evidence of this.

“We, as elected representatives, urge the Spanish government to respect the freedom of assembly and the right of the Catalan people to democratically determine their future.”