Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
21 – 28 October 2016

Taoiseach’s assertion on immigration controls at odds with British Secretary of State – Gerry Adams TD
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD, speaking following Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday afternoon, stated: “I questioned the Taoiseach today in relation to claims by the British Secretary of State James Brokenshire that, and I quote, the British government ‘have put in place a range of measures to further combat illegal migration working closely with the Irish government’.”
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, replied to the question saying: “Deputy Adams asked if we had an agreement with the British Government on the use of Irish ports. We do not have an agreement because we do not yet know whether the British Government is looking for a hard exit from the customs union and the Single Market and controls at its own borders or something else.”
However on the 9th October, James Brokenshire told The Guardian that: “We have put in place a range of measures to further combat illegal migration working closely with the Irish government. Our focus is to strengthen the external border of the Common Travel Area, building on the strong collaboration with our Irish partners.”
Mr Adams concluded, “The Taoiseach stated that no such measures have been agreed so the two positions of the respective governments are clearly are at odds with one another.”

Irish Government must step up to the mark and assist children at risk in Calais – Mary Lou McDonald TD
Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has called on the Taoiseach to intervene and ensure that Ireland “steps up to the mark” in helping unaccompanied children who have been put at even greater risk as a result of the demolition of the refugee camp in Calais.
Deputy McDonald said; “The Taoiseach must now intervene to ensure that this state steps up to mark in helping unaccompanied children who been put at greater risk following the dismantling of the refugee camp at Calais. The Irish government has pledged to take 4,000 refugees and to prioritise unaccompanied children. However, we have taken only one unaccompanied child to date. This is far from being good enough.”
She continued, “The bottomline is that children are at immediate risk and in danger. They need to be brought to safety today. The Taoiseach now has an opportunity to show leadership on this humanitarian crisis by following through on the calls of Irish NGOs, trade unions and concerned Irish citizens. It is absolutely essential that he instructs the authorities in Ireland to prepare to accept 200 of those children who are most exposed.”

Mickey Brady MP visits #IAmIrish Photography Exhibition at the London Irish Centre
Mickey Brady MP was in London on Thursday to meet with Lorraine Maher Faissal the creator of #IAmIrish, a series of projects and debates which seek to raise the profile of the mixed race and black Irish community. As part of the meeting, Mr Brady viewed the #IAmIrish photography exhibition currently on display in the London Irish Centre in Camden. The exhibition features images of mixed-race and black Irish people of all ages and backgrounds.
Mr Brady stated: “I wish to commend Lorraine for her work in highlighting and bringing focus to the experience of those who are mixed race or black within Irish society. ‘#IAmIrish’ brilliantly refutes the bigoted belief that if you are from a non-white community you cannot be Irish or must be an immigrant. Those of us from the north would especially be firm believers that no one should ever feel that they have to justify or explain the Irishness of their identity.”
Mr Brady also expressed concern over press reports of a rise in hate crimes following the Brexit Referendum. Mr Brady commented that, “it is clear that much of the rhetoric from the Leave Camp during the Referendum campaign has emboldened racists; the result of this for black and minority ethnic communities is very worrying. We in Sinn Féin are clear that racism has no place in society. As Republicans we believe Ireland is strengthened by its diversity.”
Mr Brady concluded, “I hope Lorraine is successful in her desire to bring the #IAmIrish exhibition back home to Ireland in the near future. The exhibition helps to stimulate a much needed conversation on the diversity of Irish identity.”

Sinn Féin Finance Minister Ó Muilleoir announces £30million stimulus package
Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has announced £30million funding for the Executive’s First Step Stimulus package. Addressing the Assembly on the outcome of the October Monitoring round, the Minister outlined details of the package which will include an additional £25million for infrastructure investment and £5million for community regeneration projects this year.
The Minister said: “We need long term economic stimulus and I envisage this will be delivered by the Executive in the near future. Today, we are sending an early signal of intent to our citizens through the First Step Stimulus package.”
Mr Ó Muilleoir continued: “The Executive has agreed £15million for roads structural maintenance and a further £10million will be made available for the purchase of new buses. This will provide a welcome boost to our construction and manufacturing sectors whilst delivering improvements in our transport infrastructure. The package also includes £5million for a Community Regeneration Fund. I believe that targeted regeneration will help to build upon the progress our society has made in recent years and act as a lever to stimulate economic growth in the communities where it is most needed.”
The First Step Stimulus package will be funded through borrowing flexibility made available under the Stormont House Agreement.
The Minister concluded: “I am pleased that despite the Westminster imposed austerity placing significant constraints on our Resource budget we have been able to honour a number of commitments in areas that represent high priorities for the Executive. This represents a visible example of real results being delivered by Ministers working together.”

The British Government need to start respecting their Human Rights obligations – Senator Paul Gavan
On Wednesday afternoon, at the International Parliamentary Union conference, Sinn Féin Senator Paul Gavan called on the British Government to respect the terms of the Good Friday agreement in regards to its commitments on human rights.
Speaking at the conference in Geneva – a gathering of 141 parliaments from around the world- Senator Gavan said; “The British Government needs to think again on its plans to revoke its commitment to the European Convention of Human Rights. This Convention is a cornerstone of the Good Friday agreement and I would urge the British government to respect their legal obligations with regard to this agreement.”
In a wide ranging address on the topic of human rights Senator Gavan also called on parliaments to pressurise the US government to end the blockade on Cuba, as well as concluding with an impassioned appeal to the world assembly of parliaments to support the cause of the Palestinian people.
The Limerick based Senator stated; “This summer, I visited Palestine on a delegation of representatives and I saw for myself the apartheid system that the Israeli Government has imposed on the Palestinian people. I witnessed Segregation, Inequality, Supremacism and Subjugation. We all need to do something about this onslaught of Israeli imperialism. Now is the time for all parliaments to endorse the international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, and break the Israeli stranglehold on Palestine”

Seán Crowe TD welcomes historic UN vote on US blockade of Cuba
Sinn Féin’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Seán Crowe TD, welcomed that 191 countries supported a UN resolution calling for an end to the USA’s blockade of Cuba and that the USA abstained from voting against the annual resolution for the very first time.
Deputy Crowe said: “The US Government first imposed economic, commercial, and financial restrictions on Cuba in October 1960 shortly after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The 56 year old blockade directly violates the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which reaffirms the freedom of trade and navigation. This unilateral measure imposed against Cuba has cost the island billions of dollars and its human impact is incalculable.”
The Deputy continued, “This is the 25th year in a row that the UN has voted to support a resolution calling for the lifting of the USA’s illegal blockade of Cuba. Last year only Israel and the USA voted against it, and I want to welcome that they abstained and adopted a different approach this year, and crucially no country voted against the resolution on 26 October.”
He concluded, “Sadly the resolution is non-binding, and despite the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and the progress in this area, the reality is that the US economic, commercial and financial blockade continues to operate on a daily basis against the Cuban people. Normal relations between two sovereign countries cannot exist while one is kept under an unfair and brutal blockade. The embargo against Cuba is illegal and inhumane, and it must be removed unilaterally and unconditionally.”

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