Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
24 June – 2 July 2015

Martin McGuinness at packed Sinn Féin Westminster event:
`Tory austerity is biggest threat to political institutions’
On 2 July Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness addressed a packed Sinn Fein Summer reception, hosted by the party’s MPs.
Martin McGuinness, speaking to the gathering, said that `Tory recklessness’ and `their disastrous austerity agenda’ was endangering the political institutions `which have underpinned the peace process for almost two decades’.
The event in Portcullis House, was attended by a wide range of MPs and members of the House of Lords from across the political spectrum, by a host of Irish community organisations, trade union representatives, international guests, campaigning legal and human rights groups and social justice and anti-austerity campaigners.
Sinn Fein’s Spokesperson for the Diaspora Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh who was also in London met a number of Irish community and diaspora groups.
In his address Mr McGuinness highlighted how during the recent Westminster elections `Sinn Féin stood on an anti-austerity platform and we are absolutely determined to honour the mandate given to us.’
He said the role of deputy First Minister would not be `reduced to an implementer of Tory cuts.’
He concluded that `while these are challenging times we are living in, there is no one in this room who is afraid of a challenge and I greatly look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with you all as we face them together.’
Chairing the event, Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy said Sinn Fein looked forward to `continuing to work and campaign with other progressive forces across these islands over the weeks and months ahead’, adding Sinn Fein’s team of MPs and London office would be `at the forefront of that work.’
As part of the visit to London, Martin McGuinness also had a number of meetings, including with the trade unions and with the campaigning group the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, who organized the 250,000-strong demonstration in London in June.

Alliances needed to defeat austerity agenda
Earlier in the week Sinn Fein MP Mickey Brady spoke at a Labour Against Austerity rally in Westminster Hall, which heard the devastating effects of Welfare Cuts on those living in Britain. Earlier that day he had also joined protesters outside Westminster opposing the cut to Disability Living Fund. Mr Brady expressed his solidarity and said that their experience only reinforced the case that the Welfare Cuts should not be extended to the north of Ireland.
At the meeting he joined MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Cat Smith and Richard Burgon, alongside London Syriza representative Marina Prentoulis. He reiterated that Sinn Fein would `oppose the Thatcherite policies of the Tory millionaire cabinet which are designed to destroy the welfare state at the expense of ordinary, decent communities throughout these islands.’
He concluded `austerity has failed and we need to work together to advance the progressive alternative.’

Sinn Fein Westminster meeting:
`Uncomfortable Conversations – an initiative for dialogue towards reconciliation’On Tuesday 14 July, Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty will host a panel discussion titled, `Uncomfortable Conversations – an initiative for dialogue towards reconciliation’. Speakers will include Sinn Fein national chairperson Declan Kearney; former Labour Secretary of State for the north of Ireland Peter Hain; former Assembly Speaker Lord John Alderdice; David Porter, Archbishop of Canterbury’s Canon of Reconciliation, and Irish in Britain Chief executive Jennie McShannon.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, Pat Doherty said `reconciliation is the next phase of the peace process.’ He added, `by bringing this discussion to Westminster this event will put a spotlight on the need for reflection and healing between Ireland and Britain, and to assert a new framework to take forward new and improved relations.’
For further details or to RSVP email jayne.fisher@parliament.uk. All welcome.

A bad week for women in EU and in Ireland
Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan expressed her disappointment this week with the EU Commission as it today announced the withdrawal of the draft EU directive on maternity leave.
Lynn Boylan stated that the move was `nothing short of scandalous and adds to the backlash against women’s rights, especially here in Ireland where women have been repeatedly victimised by Labour cuts to child benefit, back to school clothing allowances and now lone parent payments.’
She added that in Ireland childcare provision remained `wholly inadequate’ and many women are still “working under precarious contract terms and continue to earn less which, in turn contributes to the EU’s gender and pension pay gap.”

Child poverty strategy must address need
Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has said the Executive’s child poverty strategy must be based on addressing objective need. Ms Fearon noted that reports published this week demonstrate that levels of child poverty in the North are increasing.
She said that the rise `coupled with the prospect of further cuts from the Tory government in Westminster, will see those rates increase event further… which was `totally unacceptable.’
Ms Fearon argued for a robust child poverty strategy `to combat these rising levels so that more children do not slip into poverty… based on objective need’.
She concluded by reiterating Sinn Féin’s commitment to `working towards eliminating child poverty and call on all parties to ensure any strategy to combat child poverty is based on objective need.’

Week in Review is circulated by Sinn Fein MPs. Email jayne.fisher@parliament.uk to join the list. For further information visit www.sinnfein.ie or follow us on twitter @sinnfeinireland