Fianna Fáil ignoring the will of people on Lisbon

Sinn Fein Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has today rejected Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin’s claim that that the Lisbon Treaty referendum “represents a new proposal and respects the will of Irish people”. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the decision to “put exactly the same Treaty to the people again proved that Fianna Fáil has little regard for the will of the people.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

“Almost 900,000 people said No to the Lisbon Treaty in June 2008. Since then the government has failed to secure a single change to the text of the Treaty. The so-called legally binding guarantees do not alter the text of the treaty or its implications for Ireland or the EU.

“The government’s decision to put exactly the same Treaty to the people again proves that they have little regard for the will of the people

“To suggest that the so called guarantees represent any kind of meaningful response to the concerns of the electorate is simply untrue.

“Contrary to Minister Martin’s claim the government has not secured a permanent Commissioner for every country including Ireland. Rather they have secured a temporary stay of execution. The Lisbon Treaty proposal to reduce the size of the Commission remains and if the Treaty is ratified it is my firm belief that this provision will be implemented in 2014.

“The concerns of the Irish electorate and the millions of Europeans who oppose this Treaty can only be addressed if the Lisbon Treaty is defeated and a new and better Treaty is negotiated.”

Protest Against Education Cuts

As part of the party's national Day of Action against the government's ongoing attacks on our children's education Sinn Féin in County Monaghan have organised a protest to highlight the impact that the cutbacks are having on local schools and on students from our county attending colleges and universities.

The protest will take place:

This Saturday, 29th August 2009.

Monaghan Town Courthouse. Assemble 2pm.

Please attend and inform everyone you know who may be interested in joining our protest and delivering our simple message to Fianna Fáil and the Green Party:

LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS ALONE!

Seán Conlon calls for Honest and mature debate on Lisbon Treaty

North Monaghan Councillor Seán Conlon has this week called for an “honest and mature debate” on the Lisbon Treaty in the coming weeks. The Sinn Féin representative also urged people to “read the treaty” before they decide which way to vote on October 2nd.
Cllr. Conlon said:

“It is vital that people are aware of the contents of the Lisbon Treaty so that they can then make an informed judgement. For example in the past week Fianna Fáil have claimed that the issue of neutrality is ‘settled’. This is simply not the case.
“Article 28 of the Lisbon Treaty contains a number of far reaching measures all of which affect our neutrality. It states for the first time that the EU ‘shall have a common defence’. It significantly expands the range of permissible military missions beyond peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks. It further strengthens the EU’s links with NATO. It provides for additional funding mechanisms and obligations for the European Defence Agency. It places a mutual defence obligation on all member states. And it enables small groups of member states to develop mini military alliances within the EU, which while not requiring the active participation of all member states, could no the less carry out military actions in the name of the EU, utilizing its resources.
“The so called legally binding guarantees on neutrality that some on the ‘yes’ side refer to simply tell us what we already knew, namely that Irish troops can only be sent abroad with the consent of the Government and Oireachtas. Sinn Fein never disputed this claim.
“However military neutrality is about much more than what a country does with its troops. The Lisbon Treaty if ratified will significantly advance the development of single foreign and defence policies for the EU, which in turn will have a profound affect on our neutrality. It is wrong to suggest otherwise.”

“This is just another example as to why people should inform themselves about the content of the treaty so that they cannot be duped by any side.
“Sinn Fein is calling on both the yes and no sides to engage in an open, honest and mature debate. Neither side is served by exaggerated or unfounded claims. Nor is either side served by scaremongering.
“What is needed is a serious debate about the content of the Treaty and its implications for Ireland and the EU.

“Sinn Fein is committed to such a debate. Our approach will be to shine a light on the Treaty text and attempt to explain its meaning and implications.
“I am also urging the electorate to read the Treaty for themselves before they decide how to vote on October 2. Despite being a complex legal document, many of its sections are perfectly understandable to the lay reader.
“This treaty will significantly alter the shape and direction of the EU for decades to come. It is vital that the general public are engaged in the debate and feel sufficiently informed to vote on October 2nd. All protagonists in the debate, politicians, civic society, the government and the media have a responsibility in this regard. An honest and mature debate will lead to a more informed public and an increased turnout.”

Sinn Féin launch campaign to fight education cutbacks

Clones Town and County Councillor Pat Treanor has called on the people of County Monaghan to support the Sinn Féin campaign against Government cutbacks in education spending. Speaking after his party launched the campaign entitled ‘Leave our Schools Alone’ Cllr. Treanor, who is a former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC, said the education budget should be exempt from Government cutbacks as it is crucial to our long term economic recovery.

He said the Government was slow to react to the recession and is now implementing short sighted measures which target our children and which are ultimately detrimental to our economic recovery.

Cllr. Treanor said “Sinn Féin will not tolerate any cutbacks in the education sector. We will not stand by while the Government foolishly destroys our education infrastructure.

“While we all know that we are in dire economic circumstances, we believe that our education budget must be exempt from Government cutbacks. In fact it makes no economic sense to be cutting the education budget as it is crucial to our long term economic recovery.

“We have launched the ‘Leave our Schools Alone’ campaign to fight these cutbacks and to highlight the harsh realities faced by families as a result of the Government’s reckless policy.

“We will be highlighting cuts faced by schools right across the state including County Monaghan and bringing to the people’s attention just what this incompetent government has done to our education system and to our children.

“We are demanding a first class education system that enables future generations reach their potential and that is properly funded through a fair and progressive taxation system rather than the current situation where under-resourced schools are increasingly dependent through parents’ contributions and fundraising efforts.

“As a member and former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC as well as a father I am utterly appalled at the cuts which will now come into affect as our children return to school.

“Class sizes are set to increase, resources will be slashed, book grants are abolished and children will continue to be educated in dilapidated, overcrowded buildings and prefabs even though building new schools would create employment.

“Parents and teachers have had enough. Our children did not cause this recession. They should not foot the bill for this government’s incompetence. Now is the time to fight back.
“I am urging all parents, teachers and all those who will not stand for attacks on our schools to join us in our campaign. Our message to the government is clear – LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS ALONE!”

“Rural Transport Programme must be retained and enhanced” - Carthy

Sinn Féin Councillor Matt Carthy has this week stated that rather than abolish the rural transport scheme, as proposed by the McCarthy report, the government should in fact be enhancing the scheme as the positive impact it has had cannot be quantified in solely financial terms. Cllr. Carthy has said that he is disappointed that not a single local Fianna Fáil councillor has come out against the proposed cuts at this stage.

Cllr. Carthy said: “It is over four weeks since details of the McCarthy Report were released and as the days go on it continues to cause increasing anger and frustration among community groups, voluntary organisations as well as ordinary families throughout County Monaghan.

“It is clear that while the government is intent on bailing out the bankers and massive speculators (just as they propped them up in the first place) they expect ordinary families, particularly in rural Ireland, to pay for their mistakes. The clearest example of this is the suggestion that Rural Transport schemes, such as that provided by BaltiBus in County Monaghan, be scraped.

“I am shocked that such a proposal has even been made but I am even more shocked that not a single Fianna Fáil representative in County Monaghan has stood up and ruled the prospect out. I welcome and commend the fact that BaltiBus, like other transport schemes across the state, have launched a campaign urging local politicians to get behind them and stop what will be a devastating blow to the elderly living in rural Monaghan. They can be assured of the full support of their Sinn Féin representatives. I hope the same will be true of all other parties.

“Tens of thousands of passenger trips are made across Monaghan towns and villages each year in vehicles provided by BaltiBus. In many cases the service provides the only means of maintaining contact with the outside world for elderly people living in rural communities.

“However, despite that, the governments’ Bord Snip Nua recommends that this programme should be cut.

“The prospect is a devastating one especially for those elderly people for whom the service provides the only way of getting their weekly shopping done, or who need the service to visit their doctor or who would not be able to travel to Carrickmacross once a week to meet their friends without the BaltiBus.

“The proposal should be knocked on the head immediately. It is simply incredible to suggest that this government would take from the most vulnerable elderly within our society their one transport link to the outside world, when the same Fianna Fáil decision makers are willing to stand over payments of almost €1,400 per day to chauffeur a Minister to and from Cheltenham for five days in 2007” Cllr. Carthy concluded.

Cuts based on McCarthy Report will destroy health services – Ó Caoláin

August 21, 2009
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has challenged Health Minister Mary Harney to put plans for up to €800 million in health service cuts before the Dáil on its resumption in September. He said that if such cuts are proceeded with and are based on the proposals in the McCarthy ('Bord Snip Nua') Report they "will destroy our public health services".
Deputy Ó Caoláin said:
"The confidential letter revealed this week from Minister Harney's Health Department to the HSE calls for up to €800 million in cuts to our public health services in 2010. It requires the HSE to bring forward cuts on the basis of the McCarthy ('Bord Snip Nua') Report. If implemented the savage cuts proposed by McCarthy would see thousands of people losing their medical cards, new charges for all prescriptions including those for medical card holders, higher costs to all patients for medicines, higher charges for hospital and nursing home care and means testing for home care for vulnerable older people. Such cuts, in addition to those already being imposed since the autumn of 2007, will destroy our public health services.
"I challenge Health Minister Harney to put any proposed package of cuts before the Dáil immediately on its resumption in September. This is about the future of our public health services and Minister Harney and her Fianna Fáil/Green Government colleagues must set out exactly what they are proposing. They must be accountable and cannot hide behind the HSE or hope to conceal from the people the real impact and the long-term implications of savage health cuts.
"We in Sinn Féin will continue to vigorously oppose the Government's attacks on our public health services."