Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
26 August – 02 September 2016

British and Irish governments must explore ways to respect remain vote – Máirtín Ó Muilleoir
Sinn Féin MLA and Minister for Finance Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has said that the British and Irish governments must explore ways to respect the vote of the majority of people in the North of Ireland to remain in the EU if and when Britain decides to exit.
Speaking after a meeting with the British government’s Brexit Secretary and the British Secretary of State, Mr Ó Muilleoir said; “I met today with David Davis and James Brokenshire to discuss the impact of the recent EU referendum and made clear to him the fact that the majority of people in the North, unionist, nationalist and republican voted to remain in the EU. We expect the British government to recognise and respect that vote.”
Mr Ó Muilleoir continued; “I asked David Davis to underwrite Peace and Interreg applications post Autumn statement and to do so now and asked him to guarantee that EU citizens making their lives here would not be expelled under any circumstances. The economic, cultural and social damage an EU border – whether hard or soft – would have on the island of Ireland would be huge. And it would be most keenly felt in border areas.”
Mr Mr Ó Muilleoir concluded “In short both the British and Irish governments must explore ways in which the North can remain as part of the EU if and when Britain decides to exit.

Seanad must be recalled in light of Apple tax ruling – Senator Rose Conway-Walsh
Sinn Féin Seanad Leader Rose Conway-Walsh has submitted a formal request for a recall of the Seanad to discuss the EU Commission ruling on Apple’s Irish tax arrangements.
Speaking on Thursday the Mayo Senator said: “The ruling by the European Commission for Ireland to recoup taxes of €13 billion, plus interest, is of monumental import. What’s of even greater consequence is the view held by the government that we should appeal this decision. There are over thirty days within which to decide whether this decision should be appealed. The immediate priority for TDs and Senators and for the general public is to get access to the full version of the Commission decision which has not yet been published. It is vital that every member of the Oireachtas has an opportunity to debate this unprecedented ruling of the European Commission to declare the State’s tax arrangements with Apple illegal.”
Ms Conway-Walsh said that all elected representatives should have the opportunity to express their views on the ruling.
Sinn Féin party whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh has also written to the Ceann Comhairle to ask that the Dáil be recalled next week for a debate.

Martina Anderson MEP welcomes UN concerns over plans to scrap Human Rights Act
Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has said the United Nations is right to be concerned about implications for the North of the British government’s plans to scrap the Human Rights Act.
Speaking after the publication of a report by a United Nations Committee, Ms Anderson said; “The Human Rights Act gives effect to the European Convention on Human Rights, gives people direct access to the European Court of Human Rights and underpins the Good Friday Agreement. The Tories are on an ideological crusade to remove it.”
Ms Anderson continued; “Another important conclusion of the committee was their declared support for a Bill of Rights specifically for the north. This Bill of Rights was to supplement the Human Rights Act and enhance human rights provision in the north of Ireland.”
Ms Anderson noted that the introduction of a Bill of Rights for the North was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement and yet the British Government has still not made any progress. She stated, “Given that we now face a British Government with human rights safeguards firmly in their crosshairs, it is now essential we both protect the Human Rights Act and move towards the introduction of a Bill of Rights for people in the north of Ireland.”

Adams welcomes end of conflict in Colombia
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has “warmly welcomed” the commencement today of a ‘definitive ceasefire’ by FARC and the ending of military actions against it by the Colombian government.
Teachta Adams said: “This is an historic moment in the efforts to secure a lasting peace in Colombia. I want to commend the leaderships of FARC and of the Colombian government for their perseverance and courage.”
The Sinn Féin President stated, “Sinn Féin has sought to play a supportive role in the peace process. Last year, I met with the FARC negotiators while on a visit to Cuba and Sinn Féin representatives have met with both sides as part of our international commitment to promoting peaceful solutions to conflicts. Two years ago, Martin McGuinness travelled to Colombia and met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Conor Murphy MLA, Alex Maskey MLA, Jennifer McCann MLA and others have been involved in discussions with both sides. Finally, I want to thank Cuban President Raul Castro and the Cuban and Norwegian governments for their positive role in facilitating the Colombian peace process. Their patient engagement over many years has contributed significantly to this progress.”
Concluding, Gerry Adams said: “Agreements are only part of any resolution of conflict. As we know from the Irish peace process, the implementation and honouring of agreements is crucial to their success. There is an onus on all of the participants to the Colombian peace process, but especially the government, to ensure that the agreement reached is implemented in full.”

EVENTS…
* Liverpool Says: Time For Truth, Time For Justice, 3rd-4th September
Cairde na hEireann Liverpool. Mickey Brady MP will be in attendance.

March & Rally
Saturday 3rd September
Assemble 12 noon, Chinatown, Liverpool.
A Facebook Event Page can be found HERE.

Community Briefing by Relatives
Sunday 4th September
12.30pm, St Michaels Irish Centre 6 Boundary Lane Liverpool L6 5JG.
A special community briefing by members and relatives of the Loughlinisland Campaign for Truth and Justice.
Hear first hand the accounts of how the truth was finally revealed and how the search for truth and justice continues for hundreds of others killed by collusion between Loyalist paramilitaries and elements of Britain’s security services.
A Facebook Event Page can be found HERE.

* The Loughinisland Massacre: A Policy of Collusion
Wednesday 7th September, 7:00pm,
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA.
Westminster Tube, public entrance to Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment
Please allow at least 20 minutes to pass through the House of Commons security.
A public meeting with Niall Murphy; a human rights lawyer and solicitor representing the Loughinisland Massacre families and survivors, and Trevor Birney, an award-winning producer and director currently working on a feature length documentary film on the Massacre and Collusion across the north of Ireland during the conflict.
The evening will discuss the recent Police Ombudsman’s report into the massacre, which once again confirmed a shocking scale of collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries. The evening will also be screening a brief documentary feature, ‘Ceasefire Massacre’, produced by Trevor Birney for ESPN.
The evening will be chaired by Pat Doherty MP.
A Facebook Event Page can be found HERE.
RSVP by emailing: joseph.dwyer@parliament.uk or .

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