Sinn Féin United Campaign against EirGrid/ NIE Pylons continues

The Sinn Féin “Working Group on the North South Inter-connector” is continuing to meet regular and is reporting that their campaign will build in the coming months as the planning processes both north and south move to a critical stage. A public hearing into the Armagh and Tyrone element of the proposal will take place in March 2012 while it is expected that EirGrid will re-submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála imminently.

On Saturday last a sub committee of the working group comprising of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, Cathal Boylan MLA (Armagh) along with Councillors Matt Carthy (Monaghan) and Gerard Paul White (Armagh) met to discuss upcoming priorities. The Sinn Féin group have also arranged to meet the Anti Monaghan Anti Pylon committee and SEAT (Safe Electricity in Armagh and Tyrone). It is expected that they will also meet with the Meath based NEPP in the coming weeks.

Sinn Féin have outlined as their immediate priorities:
- Placing pressure on Fine Gael to live up to the pre-election commitments to compensate local communities for their costs associated with the first An Bord Pleanála hearing.
- Trying to secure a united all-party front in opposition to the ‘over-grounding’ of the inter-connector at the public hearings in the six counties.
- Outlining the case for undergrounding to the Northern Minister for Environment, Alex Attwood, who will have ultimate say in the planning process in the six counties.
- Pressing the Fine Gael/ Labour government to follow the lead of other states who have determined that all future high-voltage power lines be under-grounded.

The working group have outlined that Sinn Féin remains the only party, North or South, that has adopted as official policy, the position that the North South Inter-connector can only proceed if it is under-grounded and they have called on other parties to follow suit.

Sinn Féin reps call on An Bord Pleanála to reject EirGrid application

In an impressive sign of party unity Sinn Féin elected representatives, from across the region impacted by the EirGrid proposals to erect massive 400kv power lines and pylons, submitted a joint submission to An Bord Pleanála last week.

In a submission that states clearly the party’s opposition to the EirGrid plans the Sinn Féin representatives also articulate their view that the project can and should proceed, but only via the alternative underground method favoured by local communities.

Prior to the submission being delivered to An Bord Pleanála Sinn Féin representatives from Counties Monaghan, Cavan and Meath came together and again reaffirmed the party’s determination to stand in full support of the community opposition to the current proposal. A similar submission has been made by the party to the planning authorities in the six counties. Among those at the meeting last week were Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD and Monaghan County Councillors Matt Carthy, Noel Keelan and Jackie Crowe.

In their submission the Sinn Féin representatives record their outright opposition “to the stated intent of Eirgrid to introduce an overhead pylon-supported 400kv interconnector through our countryside, across the lands of our neighbours and friends and dangerously close to homes, schools and other facilities frequently used by people and fields and facilities constantly in use by farm animals and those who tend to them”.

The submission contends that Eirgrid have continuously refused to consider the underground alternative stating that this “was best exemplified in their stated options, all three being overground pylon-supported routes. Their rigid dismissal of the validly-held concerns of citizens, and the wholly sustainable arguments against an overground approach, places their so-called consultation process outside the acceptable parameters of such an exercise”.

The Sinn Féin submission strongly objects to the proposals contained in Eirgrid’s application, now due for consideration by An Bord Pleanála, and it provides 6 key reasons for its refusal. They are:

1) There are real causes of concern for human and animal health arising from the nearby presence of overground cables.
• This is a view supported by several expert reports.
• Electromagnetic fields now have a reported danger level greater than has heretofore been realised.
• A significant body of research points to young children being most at risk.

2) The overwhelming number of affected landowners, most of whom are actively involved in farming, are opposed to what will prove to be a major intrusion, not just for those currently working the land but generationally into the future. Land will be closed to many activities and values will drop accordingly. The very presence of the pylons, and their load carriage, will be a turn-off for potential clients/investors in these farms in the future.

a. There will be significant curtailments of current farming practices by the presence of these pylons.
b. Livestock, and those who tend to them, will be placed at risk from emissions.

3) Residences, be they those of farmers or standalone rural dwellings of those not involved in agriculture, will face a downturn in value.

a. Sites, and possible sites, for domestic purposes will no longer attract the same interest.
b. Other attractions, business, social, leisure and cultural will be negatively affected.

4) The threat to schoolchildren and teachers and to those in nearby employments has already sparked serious anxiety, threatening the very fabric and future of our communities.

a. Our potential for development, for new and innovative business and community initiatives will be seriously curtailed.

5) The visual impact is certainly off-putting and arguably prohibitive and dramatically alters the environment and the natural presentation of our, to date, unspoiled countryside.

a. A recent report highlighted Cavan and Monaghan as a tourist destination because these counties can boast an unspoilt landscape.
b. Our drumlin topography is rich in sites of interest with known and as yet unresearched archaeologically important sites atop many of our countless hills.

6) The cost to each of us, the consumer, will be greater over the lifetime of the interconnector if the overground approach is to proceed.

a. While the ‘on paper’ initial outlay would appear to favour the overground method on economic grounds, the length of time involved in its physical construction as against the acceptable underground approach, the anticipated difficulties that will present from landowners and threatened families and communities, the greater maintenance cost of overground systems and the known greater outage rates of same, all place the underground cabling approach well ahead in cost terms over an anticipated forty year lifecycle.


Ó Caoláin remarks:

Speaking following the presentation of the Sinn Féin submission to An Bord Pleanála Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin stated that he hoped that their would be united political opposition to this project. Outlining the reasons why his party presented a united and joint submission to the bord Deputy Ó Caoláin stated: “As an all-Ireland party with elected representatives in all five counties affected by both the EirGrid and NIE plans we wanted to state clearly our view that this project can only proceed on the basis of the underground alternative. We also wished the record to show that we are not only voices in opposition to Eirgrid’s plans. We are voices that support absolutely the objective of putting in place an interconnector north-south and the creation of an all-Ireland electricity market. And we are wholly convinced that that goal will be best achieved by the underground cable method and for the reasons we clearly articulated.

“We have appealed, in the strongest possible terms, to An Bord Pleanála to reject the Eirgrid application and to find in favour of the undergrounding alternative that is steadily proving to be not only the popular choice of communities but the first choice of better-informed, more community-aware and far-sighted companies and systems installers globally.

“Faoi thalamh an bealach is fearr” he concluded.

Monaghan Delegates make major contribution to Sinn Féin Ard Fheis

Dozens of Monaghan delegates made up part of the 2,000 plus in attendance at last weekends Sinn Féin Ard Fheis held in Dublin’s RDS.

In wide ranging debates dealing with social and economic matters, the crisis in our health services and the need to advance towards a United Ireland, County Monaghan delegates contributed throughout and argued their positions cogently.

Monaghan Motions

Monaghan delegates were particularly pleased that many motions submitted from the county, both by the governing Comhairle Ceanntair and by local Cumainn, were adopted by the Ard Fheis.

A motion proposed by the Comhairle Ceanntair in support of the local communities campaigning against EirGrid and NIE’s plans to impose high voltage power-lines through the North East was unanimously passed by the Ard Fheis.

The motion, which was officially proposed to the Ard Fheis by South Monaghan Councillor, Matt Carthy, read:

‘This Ard Fheis expresses its ongoing support for the communities in Counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath, Armagh and Tyrone who are campaigning against the plans of EirGrid and NIE to impose overhead high voltage power lines and associated pylons through these counties. We call on the Irish Government and Assembly Executive to instigate a policy of under-grounding high voltage power lines in the best interests of the environment and to minimise the impact of this type of infrastructure on communities affected. Pending the development of such policy we call on the planning authorities, North and South, to reject the applications for the North-South Interconnector, considering the large number of unanswered questions regarding the environmental and health implications of the current proposals’.

Cllr. Carthy reminded delegates that two years ago Sinn Féin became the first party with a specific policy calling for the undergrounding of high voltage power-lines. “Two years on we are still the ONLY party to have that policy” he said. Cllr. Carthy said that while local Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives were “talking a good game” unless their parties undertook to implement the same policy as Sinn Féin then local communities would fear that their concerns are being ignored by these politicians.

Health issues & Monaghan Hospital

As party spokesperson on Health & Children, Cavan/ Monaghan Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin received high praise from the Ard Fheis for his consistent position in support of patients and local health care provision.

In his own remarks during the health section of the Ard Fheis Deputy Ó Caoláin stated that within the past year the Fianna Fáil government has stepped up its attacks on our public health services. In clear and unambiguous language the Sinn Féin Dáil leader outlined clearly where his party stand on the issue of returning services to local hospitals which this government has removed.

He said: “As a result of the Health Service Executive Service Plan for 2010, recently approved by Mary Harney, a further 1,100 acute hospital beds will be taken out of our public hospital system this year. There will be 33,000 fewer hospital admissions in 2010.

“Contrary to the hype and spin of Health Minister Harney and HSE Chief Drumm this is not about making the system more efficient and better for patients; it is about further cost-cutting in a public health system that already has a shortage of hospital beds and staff.

“This year we have already seen a record-breaking 500 patients on trolleys and chairs in A&E departments on one day in January. Yet with fewer hospital beds and fewer staff the HSE Service Plan outlines ‘service levels’ with 100% of patients admitted or discharged from A&E within six hours of registration. It is totally unrealistic. It is not in the real world of the public health service. It is another false promise from the far-away planet inhabited by Mary Harney and Brendan Drumm.

“But let’s be very clear. This can’t all be pinned on Minister Harney; the entire Cabinet and the Fianna Fáil party and Green Party in the Oireachtas bear full responsibility for the desperate state of our health services.

“In Budget 2010 they imposed further cutbacks on public health services and they announced another great example of the Fianna Fáil/Green concept of fairness. For years Sinn Féin and others have stressed the need for action to reduce the exorbitant cost of medicines in the health system. Nothing was done about this during the Celtic Tiger years. Now guess who is being asked to pay? As in the case of NAMA and the bank bail-out, it is not the profiteers who are being forced to pay but the people.

“This Government is about to impose prescription charges of up to €10 per month on medical card holders. In a couple of weeks they will bring in legislation to provide for this. I challenge here today those Fianna Fáil backbenchers who staged a mock revolt over the public service pay talks last December. Will they now stand up for their constituents and refuse to support this charge? They know very well that once introduced the prescription charge will be increased year on year, undermining the medical card and hitting the least well off. Let them put up or shut up” he said.

Deputy Ó Caoláin reaffirmed Sinn Féin’s commitment to an all-Ireland, single-tier, universal health system with equal access for all based on need alone and funded from general progressive taxation. That is the only fair and efficient alternative to the chaos which reigns at present. “We reaffirm our commitment to the local hospital network, the restoration and retention of the maximum possible number of services and opposition to closures and downgrading such as imposed on the people of Monaghan” he concluded.

Delegates unanimously adopted a motion on the issue of Monaghan General Hospital proposed by Monaghan Town Councillor Padraigín Uí Mhurchadha. It read:

‘This Ard Fheis calls for the restoration of all acute services to Monaghan General Hospital and roundly condemns the action of this Fianna Fáil/Green Party government who have presided over the final removal, as and from 22nd July 2009, of the last acute services from this once proud General Hospital facility. We call on all political parties, without exception, to commit now, in advance of the next General Election, to the restoration of these essential services for the people of Co. Monaghan and the hospital’s natural hinterland, north and south of the border.

We urge all political coalition parties to pledge to restore, retain and develop the network of local hospital sites across the 26 Counties and to undertake a serious engagement with the counterparts north of the border leading to the development initially of better cross-border co-operation in healthcare delivery systems and ultimately towards a fully integrated single All-Ireland health system delivering a free at the point of access top class service to all across this island and on the basis of need and need alone’.

In moving the motion Cllr. Uí Mhurchadha stated that government representatives in this constituency “as they have failed the people of both Counties Cavan and Monaghan”. She said that it wasn’t simply good enough for the Fianna Fáil representatives to “wash their hands of the service cuts after service cuts that have reduced Monaghan General Hospital to its current position. They cannot simply state that on one hand they support our hospital and yet claim that they have no power to act. “Likewise, I am calling on Fine Gael to join Sinn Féin in adopting a very clear position of returning and developing services to our hospital if and when they are in a position to do so. It is disappointing that, thus far, they have failed to make that commitment.

Children’s Referendum

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin moved an Emergency Motion to the Ard Fheis on the proposed children’s referendum. He pointed out that this issue was especially relevant this week when the disgraceful neglect of children in State care has been highlighted. “Over 20 children have died in State care since 2000. None of the reports on their deaths have been published officially” he said.

“There needs to be concerted action to ensure the provision of the essential resources and services to protect children at risk. And there needs to be action to vindicate the rights of children in law and in the Constitution.

The final report of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children (of which Deputy Ó Caoláin is a member) was published last month and it presents an important opportunity to strengthen children’s rights in this State.

“It is time for a referendum to be held that will ensure children have constitutionally recognised rights as individuals, beyond those derived from their status as members of a family as defined in the 1937 Constitution.

“Sinn Féin believes that this report is an important step on the road to cherishing all children of the nation equally. It is now up to government to take the wording offered and hold a referendum that will afford children specific rights to care and well-being and their right to be heard in matters concerning them.

The amendment should also go some way to addressing the obstacles affecting child protection systems. If an amendment such as the one contained in the report was enshrined in the Constitution, the State would have sufficient power to intervene on behalf of all children at risk regardless of their parents’ marital status.

“Sinn Féin is calling on the Government to table legislation to hold a referendum on the issue of children’s rights as a matter of urgency. We also need to see a Referendum Commission established as soon as possible, one that will inform people in a clear and comprehensive way about all the issues involved”.

Coalition

The Ard Fheis also heard various speakers outline their views on the various prospects for the party in the aftermath of a General Election. Delegates endorsed the position articulated by their Dáil Leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD. In his remarks he said:

“We all know too well the appalling record in government of Fianna Fáil. We have no illusions about what they represent. We are and will remain independent.

“The issue for Sinn Féin is twofold: Firstly, whether any of the other parties could measure up to the policy commitments we require. Secondly, whether entering a coalition would enhance our political strength and advance our struggle for Irish unity and equality. We would have to satisfy ourselves that the answer to both of those questions would be ‘yes’ before coalition could even be considered. We would have to be satisfied, as the motion states, that any draft Programme for Government put before this Ard Fheis would be rooted in republican principles and would advance our policy platform. And we would have to be satisfied also that any such decision would maintain our unity and cohesion as a party.

“The bar is set very high and I see no party at present that comes anywhere near to meeting our requirements. Our job now is to build our party, to build alliances with people in communities across Ireland, to grow from the grassroots, to make our political project the catalyst for the empowerment of people. Our ultimate ambition is to be the vehicle through which the people take power away from those who have dominated and abused the people’s trust over successive decades”.

Catch & Release

The Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Town Council, Seán Conlon, achieved full support for a motion he proposed calling for the introduction of ‘catch and release’ legislation that will stem the continuing decline of pike and course fish stocks from our nation’s lakes and water courses.

He stated “anglers, who for generations had been abiding by the standard practice of returning fish after being landed, have ensured the protection of not only a treasured pastime for thousands of Irish anglers and tourists but importantly secured the future sustainability of a delicate natural resource. For our young people especially, this has enhanced their awareness of ecological and environmental education by participating in angling events and competitions.

“Complimentary to the societal benefits is the considerable factor of Ireland’s reputation as one of the worlds leading angling tourism destinations. The failure of government in enacting thorough and robust legislation will lead to a collapse in this valuable social and economic resource and ultimately an environmental disaster.

“With increased immigration to Ireland many new people, particularly from eastern European countries are enjoying the benefits of Irish angling facilities. Unfortunately some of these people do not share the traditional catch and release ethos that has always been the mainstay of this type of fishing in Ireland. This approach has contributed to a decimation of pike and course fish and the current vague and outdated bye-laws are useless in tackling the problem.

“Signage and occasional prosecution will not reverse this trend and integral to the implementation of future laws will be measures to build positive relations between indigenous anglers and those who are new to the concept of the ‘catch and release’ philosophy. A minor fish kill that occurred last week in Peter’s Lake in my own town of Monaghan is proof if needed that the eco-systems that many of these species habitat are extremely fragile. The passage of new legislation will go a considerable distance in ensuring future generations will still avail of this treasured pastime” he concluded.

Oireachtas & Electoral Reform

On Saturday delegates endorsed a call from Cavan/ Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin to endorse a motion setting out a programme of democratic reforms which are sorely needed to make the Dáil and Seanad truly accountable to the people. Deputy Ó Caoláin spelt out his party’s position clearly: “We are for the abolition of the undemocratic and unrepresentative Seanad” he said. “We are proposing its replacement with a new democratically elected second chamber that would provide a new aspect to representative government”.

Deputy Ó Caoláin continued: “People are understandably and justifiably tired of the way democratic institutions have been misused by the establishment political parties in this State for decades. They have treated them as their personal fiefdoms, a place of perks and privileges. Instead of forums of the people they have become platforms for careerist politicians. That must change if we are to being about a real and meaningful transformation in politics in this country. And of course they must be part of a transition to an all-Ireland democracy, a truly national Dáil Éireann”.

Working towards Irish Unity

Clones Councillor, Pat Treanor, told delegates that there was a need to step up the campaign to deliver a United Ireland. He said that border communities in particular had suffered the everyday experience of partition, and had a special role to play in any such campaign.

Cllr. Treanor said: “The purpose of the actions arising from this campaign would be to demonstrate the nonsense of the border through real cases north and south, and the discrimination facing communities in this region. The border community is best placed to advocate and put forward the real life cases that they face on a daily basis, as it did in the 80s and early 90s in relation to the closure of border crossings.

“We have seen how issues such as social welfare entitlements, roaming charges for mobile phone users, additional charges and regulations for farmers, tax liabilities and many more are impacted negatively because of the border. Border businesses operate in a distorted economic environment, with price differences benefiting traders on one side to the detriment of those on the other. While the balance shifts from time to time, the distortion has led to a boom or bust scenario for many border towns. The only consistent beneficiaries have been smugglers who will seize on any opportunity to profit from the distortion in either direction, or both! Indeed, multinationals have become the new smugglers with their outlets north and south charging different prices for the same products – 30 to 50% difference in some cases.

“We need to build the debate in a positive way. It is timely, reasonable and rational to be talking about ending partition and moving towards a united Ireland. 20 years ago around this time the border roads campaign was in place. Local communities succeeded in getting rid of the dragon’s teeth and the permanent vehicle checkpoints. Its now time to remove the remaining barriers to progress” he concluded.

Speaking in the same section Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin spoke of the work of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement which was established in 2007. Outlining Sinn Fein’s approach to the committee Deputy Ó Caoláin said “We stated at the time that its establishment was welcome but short of what we in Sinn Féin believe is necessary. Since the Good Friday Agreement Sinn Féin has argued strongly for a much greater level of engagement on the Agreement by the Oireachtas. We have called for representation in the Dáil for citizens in the Six Counties. We maintain this call and we do not see the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a substitute for Six-County representation in the Dáil.

“For a long number of years partitionism has been actively fostered in this State and it is still a major problem, in spite of all the progress made in the Peace Process.

“Do we constantly have to remind journalists and broadcasters and State agencies and people in public life that Ireland does not stop at Dundalk or Monaghan or Lifford?

“The population of Ireland is 5.9 million, not 4.2 million.

“The United Ireland we seek is not a 32-County version of the State and the economy of the 26 Counties. It is not a cobbling together of the two existing jurisdictions. It is a new dispensation, a new political reality on this island.

“The question should not be ‘Can we afford a United Ireland’? The question should be ‘Can we afford not to unite Ireland?’ We have a small island with three governments in Dublin, Belfast and Westminster. As our proposed Mission Statement on Irish Unity states:

“Partition disrupts and distorts community, social and cultural life as well as trade and commerce, and entails waste and duplication in public services. The full social, economic, cultural and political potential of the island of Ireland and its people can best be realised in the context of an end to partition.”

“The historic mission of this party is to end Partition and build a New Ireland” the Sinn Féin Dáil leader concluded.

Highlights of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, including video coverage, can be accessed at the party’s website http://www.sinnfein.ie/