Sinn Féin Seanad group leader, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, has said GAA games should be accessible to everyone across Ireland.
Speaking in the Seanad, where he raised the issue in a Commencement Matter this morning, Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said:
“The fact that this Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final double-header between Kerry and Tyrone and between Armagh and Monaghan are only available through the paywall service GAAGO has caused great frustration among GAA fans right across the country.
“RTÉ is meant to be the public service broadcaster, and these are our national games.
“I accept that RTÉ cannot show every single game across its two stations but it would be appropriate for it to find other platforms, such as GAAGO, on which to broadcast the matches - but the paywall for games of this importance should be lifted so that they may be viewed and enjoyed by GAA fans across Ireland - supporters should not be discriminated against during a cost-of-living crisis when money is already tight because they cannot afford to pay for GAAGO.
“The GAA, which is meant to be community-led and rooted for its members, also has a responsibility in this regard.
“To have games of this importance behind a paywall, to me, goes against everything that the GAA should stand for.
“The Minister has a responsibility to raise the concerns expressed by audiences directly with the GAA and RTÉ."
MacManus commends work of Bridgeways Family Resource Centre in Ballymahon
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus has commended the team at Bridgeways Family Resource Centre in Ballymahon for their work in supporting the local community. The Midlands Northwest representative was speaking after a recent visit to Bridgeways FRC alongside his Sinn Féin colleague Lorcan Keown.
MEP MacManus said:
“I was pleased to visit Bridgeways FRC with my colleague Lorcan Keown recently. We had a very positive engagement with Emer and the team there and I want to commend them for their fantastic work in supporting the local community in Ballymahon."
“Bridgeways FRC provide a wide range of supports and services to local people such as counselling, family support and a number of support groups to name but a few.
“This work is vital for addressing social exclusion, poverty, assisting marginalised groups and providing equal opportunities to all. It underlines the need for Bridgeways FRC and other community sector organisations to be protected and adequately resourced so that they can continue to provide these invaluable services. Sinn Féin will continue to highlight the need to support family resource centres in Co Longford and across the State.” ENDS
See attached photo of Chris MacManus MEP and Lorcan Keown with staff and visitors at Bridgeways FRC
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley has welcomed news that a fresh inquest will be held into the murder of councillor Patsy Kelly.
Speaking after a ruling by the Attorney General today, the West Tyrone MP said:
“News that a fresh inquest will be held into the 1974 murder of independent nationalist councillor Patsy Kelly in Trillick is welcome.
“This is the right decision given the damning findings in the Police Ombudsman report on Patsy’s abduction, the levels of cover-up and collusion involved, and the RUC’s failure to properly investigate this brutal murder.
“Today’s decision is testament to the Kelly family who have campaigned for almost five decades with courage and determination to uncover the truth.
“I will continue to stand with Patsy Kelly’s family as they continue with their efforts to achieve truth and justice for their husband and father.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform has called on the government to rule out any move to bring in end-of-contract bonuses of the most senior civil servants.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said:
“It is highly concerning that the government this week were presented with a review into Senior Civil Servants' pay and recruitment that recommended an end-of-contract bonus of up to 255,000 euro.
“Paschal Donohue as the Minister for Public Expenditure needs to come out a categorically rule out end of contract bonuses being implemented by this government.
“We are living in a cost-of-living crisis. All energy should be directed to supporting ordinary workers.
“High earners in both the public and private sector are largely insulated from the hardship caused by the rising cost of living.
“We should be working to close the gap of ordinary workers’ wages and top earners rather than handing out bonuses.”
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said patients on lists for cancer treatment cannot wait for an Executive to be restored to help cut chronic waiting lists.
The party's health spokesperson was speaking on latest figures published by the Department of Health on cancer treatment waiting times.
Linda Dillon said:
“Today’s figures show a continuation of long waiting times for cancer patients being diagnosed and beginning treatment which is putting them at further risk.
“Patients on lists for life-saving cancer treatment cannot wait, urgent action is needed to support them now.
“It is unacceptable that the cancer strategy has been sitting on the shelf for a year while cancer patients continue to suffer on chronic waiting lists.
"After over a decade of Tory cuts to public services, they are imposing even more eye watering cuts while one party continues its cruel boycott of the institutions.
“We need the Executive restored now and parties working together to invest in the health service and address unacceptable waiting lists.
“People suffering with cancer cannot wait. Any more delays in progressing this work is compounding the trauma and worry of cancer patients and their families.”
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has welcomed a determination by the Parades Commission on a contentious loyalist parade in North Belfast.
The North Belfast MLA said:
“An Orange Lodge in Ligoniel had applied for a parade to go up the Crumlin Road on 12 July.
“I welcome a determination by the Parades Commission that the parade will not pass beyond the junction of Woodvale Parade and Woodvale Junction.
“This is the latest breach of an agreement in 2016 between the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association and the three Ligoniel lodges which has brought almost seven years of peace to the Crumlin Road and eased community tensions.
“Residents have had peace for seven years now and rightly raised concerns about this parade and lodged an objection with the support of Sinn Féin representatives in the area.
"Sinn Féin will continue to monitor all applications for parades which fall outside the 2016 Agreement.”
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy has paid tribute to the family of Daniel Hegarty for their determined campaign for truth and justice.
The Foyle MLA was speaking after the Court of Appeal quashed the decision not to prosecute the soldier who killed him.
Pádraig Delargy said:
“For over 50 years, the family of Daniel Hegarty have led a determined campaign for truth and justice.
“Daniel Hegarty was only 15-years-old when he was shot twice in the head by a soldier in 1972.
“The Hegarty family’s demand for truth and justice will not stop, and I want to offer our full support to them in whatever steps they take next.
“The British government should scrap its flawed legacy bill which is a cynical and cruel attempt to close the door on families who have a right to truth and justice.
“The legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House by the two governments and political parties in 2014 should be implemented in a human rights' compliant manner.”
Sinn Féin TD for Limerick City, Maurice Quinlivan, has sought assurances from the Taoiseach that funding for the Economic and Social Intervention Fund (ESIF) of the Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan will be continued into 2024 and beyond.
The Economic and Social Intervention Fund has financially supported 180 social, economic and community development projects across Limerick and in particular its’s four regeneration areas.
Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy Quinlivan stated:
“Whilst the Limerick Regeneration Plan has been a disappointment in many aspects since its launch in 2009, the Social Intervention Fund has had a positive impact on many people, families, and projects across the whole of Limerick City – it has changed and saved lives – that is how important it is.
“Some of the projects include the Bedford Row Family Project, Limerick Youth Service and Limerick Island Community Partners serving the King's Island area. It supports Our Lady of Lourdes Community centre and Moyross groups like Extern Ireland and the community enterprise centre. It has also benefited St Munchin's Community Enterprise Centre.”
The Limerick TD queried whether funding would continue to be allocated to the fund in 2024 and beyond.
Deputy Quinlivan warned:
“This important fund is due to end in 2023 and a failure to extend this funding will have a catastrophic impact within these communities and a failure to ensure continued funding will undo the years of good work that has been done in these Limerick communities.
“Many people are extremely worried and concerned that there is no clarity as to what happens in 2024 and beyond. The Government’s need to confirm its support to ensure this fund is extended into 2024 and beyond.”
Speaking afterwards, Deputy Quinlivan added:
“Unfortunately, following my question today neither the Taoiseach nor the Minister for Housing and Local Government were able to provide an immediate response to me. However, they have both confirmed that they will revert to me shortly and I have also been in contact with the Darragh O'Brien Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland to ensure this vital support is continued.
“Hopefully we will get a positive response and the fund will be extended and projects that are supported will be able to continue to provide the vital services which are desperately necessary.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has said that the Ombudsman for Children’s report on the case of ‘Ivy’ has once again laid bare the painful reality of broken promises for children with scoliosis.
Teachta Cullinane said that the hurt and anguish caused to children with scoliosis is not only a result of a failure to treat their condition on time, but also of how the HSE has engaged and interacted with them and their families in times of distress.
The TD for Waterford also expressed concern at the latest delays with the new Children’s Hospital, which is essential for delivering additional protected capacity for surgeries for children such as ‘Ivy’.
Teachta Cullinane said:
“The Ombudsman for Children’s investigation of Ivy’s case has once again laid bare the painful reality of broken promises for children with scoliosis.
“Ivy was left waiting for five years for her scoliosis surgery, at a time when Ministers for Health were promising that no child would wait longer than four months.
“That promise was never followed through. Children are still waiting years for access to surgery.
“This is causing extreme distress, pain, hurt, and anguish to these children and to their families.
“This is made worse by cancellations and by how the HSE has engaged and interacted with them and their families in times of distress.
“There is no excuse for poor communication, which only adds to the devastation of a cancelled surgery. Children and their families need to be supported during that time, but time and again we hear stories of the exact opposite happening.
“All of this underlines the importance of the delivery of the new Children’s Hospital, which will substantially increase capacity for surgeries through its new operating theatres.
“But the new Children’s Hospital project has been plagued by delays, with shifting deadlines every few months. The latest indications are that the hospital will not be completed until May next year. This means it will not be open until at least November next year, or later if the May completion date is not met.
“This is all the more worrying given the urgent need for protected theatre capacity to deliver these life-changing surgeries for children.
“It is essential that the Government and Minister for Health take a more hands on approach to delivering this project.
“In the meantime, the priority must be delivering reductions in waiting times for scoliosis surgeries by supporting protected capacity and recovery facilities at locations such as Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital.”
Sinn Féin Seanad group leader, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, has called for important GAA Championship games to be made free to view for audiences right across Ireland.
In the Seanad tomorrow morning, Senator Ó Donnghaile will call on the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, to raise the issue of GAAGO paywalls directly with the GAA and RTÉ.
Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said:
“Tomorrow in the Seanad, I will be asking the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, whether she believes that, in the midst of an existing cost of living crisis, important GAA Championship fixtures should be free to view for audiences across Ireland.
“The fact that this Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final double-header between Kerry and Tyrone and between Armagh and Monaghan are only available through the paywall service GAAGO has caused great frustration among GAA fans right across the country.
“To have games of this importance behind a paywall, to me, goes against everything that the GAA should stand for.
“Our games should be accessible to everyone.
“I am asking that the paywall for games of this importance be lifted so that they may be viewed and enjoyed by GAA fans across Ireland - supporters should not be discriminated against because they cannot afford to pay for GAAGO.
“I am asking for the Minister to raise the concerns expressed by audiences directly with the GAA and RTÉ."
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has called on the Taoiseach to ensure the food retailer Iceland pays staff what they are owed in terms of wages and holiday pay.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Teachta O’Reilly said:
“Earlier this year the food retailer Iceland changed ownership.
“Since the takeover there has been sustained allegations of poor management, a lack of communication, and intimidation of workers.
“This situation culminated with the company entering examinership last week.
“Following that news, Sinn Féin stated that workers must be front and centre of the examinership process.
“However, the situation has deteriorated for the workers with staff across several stores being told they no longer have a job, with wages and holiday pay outstanding.
“The mistreatment of workers has been a hallmark of the new ownership and staff have not received any clarity on the future operations of the company or when they will receive monies owed.
“It is essential that the government do not allow the continued mistreatment of these workers and withholding of wages.
“The Taoiseach, through the Minister for Enterprise, must contact the management of the company and instruct that all monies owed to workers be paid without delay.
“I offer my continued support, and that of Sinn Féin, to the workers, their families, and their communities.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has welcomed today’s proposals from the European Commission to enhance consumer protections against the alarming rise in financial fraud and scams.
Deputy Doherty said the proposed amendments to the Payment Services Directive, including providing compensation to victims of authorised push payment fraud, should be implemented without delay.
Teachta Doherty said:
“Citizens are increasingly exposed to the criminal activities of fraudsters, with an alarming rise in the incidence of fraud and scams since 2019.
“For some time, I have called for additional measures to be introduced to better protect consumers from the criminal activities of fraudsters.
“Including a requirement for banks to cross-check the name of the person a victim thinks they are sending money to against the name on the actual account.
“And a requirement for banks to reimburse victims of this type of fraud.
“Today, the European Commission has proposed changes to the Directive that would require banks to implement this name check and to compensate victims of fraud where this name check was not carried out or the fraudster impersonated the victim’s bank.
“These are welcome proposals that would be effective in protecting consumers and tackling the criminal activity of fraudsters.
“It is imperative that these changes are implemented without delay.
“Indeed, Irish banks should get ahead of the curve and ensure these important measures are in place as soon as possible.
“The government has no strategy to tackle economic crime and fraud, despite it being a key recommendation of the Hamilton Review over two years ago.
“We also know the Department of Justice is frustrating the establishment of a Shared Information Database for banks and agencies to share the information needed to stop fraudsters.
“It is time this rising crime is addressed with the seriousness it demands.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has accused government of continuing to fail renters.
His comments were made as the Residential Tenancies Board released its Q4 2022 rent report showing a 7.6% increase in new rents across the state.
Teachta Ó Broin said:
“Today, the Residential Tenancies Board has released its Q4 2022 rent report. New rents are up 7.5% statewide to an average of €1507, and an average of €2063 in Dublin.
“Thirteen counties have experienced double digit rent increases with Longford seeing the highest increase of 18.5%.
“These increases will, in many cases, wipe out the impact of the government's poorly designed and insufficient renters tax credit.
“Given the level of notices-to-quit currently working their way through the system, particularly since the government ended the ban on no-fault evictions, these increases will make it even harder for many renters facing eviction from securing alternative tenancies.
“None of this will come as a surprise to anyone familiar with recent trends in the private rental sector. Indeed it is all wearily predictable.
“Despite this, all the government has to offer hard-pressed renters and those facing homelessness from the rental market is a review of the sector.
“This confirms once again the lack of any meaningful plan to address the urgent challenges of rising rents, insecure tenancies and a shrinking private rental sector.
“What is needed is a package of reforms to protect renters. This must include a three year ban on rent increases for existing and new tenancies; a refundable tax credit to put a full month's rent back into every private renter’s pocket; and a massive expansion of affordable cost-rental homes to deliver at least 4000 affordable rental homes per year."
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said the time for delays on forming an Executive are long past and called on the DUP to end its blockade of the political institutions.
Speaking after the DUP leader today told a Westminster Committee that he had collapsed the Executive ‘with great reluctance’ Conor Murphy said:
“It’s now almost 18 months since the DUP crashed the institutions, and four months on from the EU and British Government deal on the Protocol.
“It is simply not good enough and not acceptable that after all that time, one party is still blocking parties from working in the Executive and Assembly to deliver for the people.
“Families facing increased food, heating and housing costs, holiday hunger and uncertainty around their children’s education need to know that we as politicians have their back.
“They need locally elected ministers working together to fix the problems in our health service, and to offset the damage being caused to public services by savage and cruel Tory cuts.
“The time for excuses and delay is long past. What the public need to hear now from Jeffrey Donaldson and the DUP is that they are ending their blockade and going back to work.
“The onus is on Jeffrey Donaldson to act in the public interest and stop putting his party before the people who want and deserve government and the proper delivery of public services.
“Sinn Féin stands ready to form an Executive today, and to work together with all the parties to support public services and deliver for the people we collectively represent.”
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, and spokesperson on Older People, Patricia Ryan TD, have said that the Minister for Health and government must listen and respond to the fears of nursing home staff and the families of older people.
They added that government intervention is required to halt nursing home closures and build public capacity.
They were commenting following a demonstration by nursing home workers and the families of residents outside Leinster House this evening as Sinn Féin a motion, calling on the government to develop a plan to ensure the sustainability of nursing homes across the state, was debated in the Dáil and not opposed by government.
Teachta Cullinane said:
“Nursing home workers and the families of older people demonstrated outside Leinster House this evening and it is crucial that their fears are heard and addressed by government, and addressed before it is too late.
“The Dáil goes into recess next month and we simply cannot have a situation where the Minister for Health goes off on his holidays without putting in place a plan to address the crisis in our nursing home sector - to halt nursing home closures and build up capacity in the sector.
“The deeply worrying trend of nursing home closures is causing enormous concern for workers, older people and their families. Since 2020, we have seen 31 private and voluntary nursing home closures resulting in the loss of 915 beds.
“I welcome that, despite their extremely disingenuous and hostile contributions during the debate tonight, the government did not object to Sinn Féin’s motion to address this issue - now the Minister for Health needs to take his head out of the sand and follow that up with action.
“Without government intervention, the situation for workers and older people will worsen.
“In the medium- and long-term, we need a plan that builds up public capacity and that shifts the burden of reliance away from the private sector. But in the here and now, the government must take action that puts an end to the trend of nursing homes closing.”
Teachta Ryan said:
“Sinn Féin heard the voices of nursing home workers and the families of older people this evening loud and clear - now the government must act on their very real concerns.
“Sinn Féin TDs relayed the very real concerns of the workers and the families of older people, who packed the Dáil gallery for tonight’s debate.
“Our older people need love, support and security in their golden years but what is clear from speaking with affected workers and the families of nursing home residents again this evening is that an increasing number of our older people are being told that there is nowhere for them to go.
“This is causing incredible stress. As a society we can and must be so much better than this, and we need a government that is better than that.
“Sinn Féin in government would deliver and fund a collective pay agreement for workers in the nursing home and home care sectors to ensure a living wage and proper remuneration.
“We would also review public funding arrangements for long-term nursing home care to provide better pay and conditions for workers, quality of care for residents, and maintain viability in the sector.
“These are actions this government could take now if they had the will to fix this crisis.
“Failure to do so is not an option - the state cannot be allowed to fail our older people. The Minister for Health and his government must act now to address the rapidly decreasing capacity in our nursing homes.”
(Leagan Gaeilge thíos)
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has submitted 128 amendments to the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023 which is due to begin Committee Stage at the Dáil Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage this week.
The amendments are in the names of Aengus, Eoin Ó Broin TD, and Thomas Gould TD.
Teachta Ó Snodaigh, who previously chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and currently has a Bill of his own before the Dáil to protect the 1916 Battle Site at Moore Street, said:
“Sinn Féin welcomes the opportunity to amend the Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill. We have been waiting since 2009 for the changes to legislation recommended by the Expert Advisory Committee, and I commend the Minister of State for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, for delivering the Bill where previous Ministers failed to make progress.
“While we are supportive of much of the framework set out under the Bill, concerns remain in particular around the lack of accountability and oversight proposed. We know all too well from experience, whether with regard to the M3 being built through the ancient Tara Skryne valley, or from what happened at Woodquay back in the 1980s, that the protection of our shared heritage cannot be left to the Minister of the day alone.
“That is why Sinn Féin is proposing to reconstitute the National Monuments Advisory Council and give it stronger powers to overturn a Minister’s decision, calling for an examination on the need for a specific Culture and Heritage Ombudsman, and demanding a stronger role under the legislation for the National Museum of Ireland in particular, and for the Heritage Council, An Taisce, the Joint Oireachtas Committee, and elected members of local authorities.
“No monument should be de-registered or destroyed solely at the whim of the Minister, and we are proposing a total ban on the destruction of archaeological objects and new powers for the State to intervene at auctions to acquire objects for the people.
“Sinn Féin’s amendments would protect outstanding historic landscapes as heritage for the first time, prohibit the continuation of works that damage or destroy a monument’s integrity – including within its surrounding context – or harm the environment, and would ensure the Minister has due regard for any Environmental Impact Assessment and to the Valletta Convention.
“Under the legislation as proposed, authorities “may” protect monuments. Our amendments would make that a requirement, and increase the maximum penalties for breaking the law to 7 years in prison and fines of up to €5 million per day. The proposed maximum fine of €50,000 a day won’t prove a disincentive for large corporations and developers, nor will the hands-off approach to enforcement that has seen only six prosecutions over the past ten years.
“We propose to expand on the definitions under the Bill in several ways, including to cover newly discovered burial grounds and sites of value to the community, with a mechanism by which members of the public can petition the Minister to register a specific monument.
“It should come as no surprise, given our commitment in successive alternative budgets to establishing a Culture Quarter at Moore Street, that Sinn Féin believes battle sites and locations that were central in the revolutionary period from 1916 to 1923 in particular be given automatic protection.
“Our amendments also include a greater role for local media, both print and radio, in alerting the public to notices under this Act, guidelines for land owners who have monuments in their care, and a commitment to decolonisation by obliging the State to both support the repatriation of heritage belonging to other countries and seek the return to Ireland of our heritage kept elsewhere as a result of colonial plunder and theft.
“At the root of our approach is a commitment to recognising a right to heritage, which Sinn Féin wishes to see enshrined in law to safeguard the inheritance of future generations, along with provisions ensuring access and equitable regional distribution of our ancient and cultural heritage. A Sinn Féin Government would take protecting our heritage seriously.”
Níos mó freagracht, píonóis níos déine, agus ceart oidhreachta: Os cionn 100 leasuithe curtha ag Sinn Féin ar an mBille Oidhreachta - Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD
Tá urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir Shinn Féin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, tar éis 128 leasuithe a chur ar Bhille na hOidhreachta Stairiúla agus Seandálaíochta 2023 atá ag teacht os comhair Céim an Choiste ag Roghchoiste Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta na Dála an tseachtain seo.
Seasann na leasuithe in ainm Aenguis, Eoin Ó Broin TD, agus Thomas Gould TD.
Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, a bhí ina Chathaoirleach tráth ar an gComhchoiste Oireachtais Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, agus Bille aige féin os comhair na Dála chun Láithreán Cogaidh 1916 ar Shráid an Mhúraigh a chosaint:
“Fáiltíonn Sinn Féin roimh an deis Bille na hOidhreachta Stairiúla agus Seandálaíochta a leasú. Táimid ag fanacht ó 2009 do na hathruithe reachtúla a mhol an Coiste Comhairleach Saineolach, agus tréaslaím an tAire Stáit Oidhreachta Malcolm Noonan as an mBille a sheoladh áit ar theip ar Airí eile dul chun cinn a bhaint amach.
“Cé go dtacaíonn muid le cuid mhór den chreatlach leagtha amach faoin mBille, tá ábhar imní ann i gcónaí go háirithe maidir leis an easpa freagrachta agus maoirseachta molta. Tuigeann muid go maith ónár dtaithí, i gcás tógáil an M3 trí ghleann ársa Teamhair nó sa méid a thit amach ag Cé an Adhmaid sna 1980idí, nach féidir cosaint ár n-oidhreacht comónta a fhágáil faoi chúram Aire an lae ann féin.
“Seo an fáth go bhfuil Sinn Féin ag moladh an Chomhairle Comhairleach um Séadchómharthaí Náisiúnta a athbhunú agus cúramaí níos láidre a thabhairt dóibh cinneadh Aire a aisiompú, ag lorg imscrúdú ar an gá le hOmbudsman ar leith don Chultúr agus don Oidhreacht, agus ag éileamh ról níos treise faoin reachtaíocht don Ard Mhusaem ach go háirithe, agus freisin don Chomhairle Oidhreachta, don Taisce, don Chomhchoiste Oireachtais, agus do comhaltaí tofa ar údaráis áitiúil.
“Ní chóir go ndéanfar dí-chlárú nó scrios ar séadchomhartha ariamh díreach toisc gur bhuail spadhar an Aire, agus táimid ag moladh cosc iomlán ar ábhair seandálaíochta a scrio agus cumhachtaí nua don Stát a ladar a chur isteach i gcás ceant chun ábhair a fháil don phobal.
“Thabharfadh leasuithe Sinn Féin cosaint do sárthírdhreacha stairiúla mar oidhreacht don chéad uair, chuirfeadh siad cosc ar obair leanúint ar aghaidh a dhéanach dochar nó scrios do shláine an séadchomhartha – lena n-áirítear laistigh den chomhthéacs mórthimpeall – nó don timpeallacht, agus chinnteodh siad go dtabhartfadh an tAire aird cuí d’aon Measúnú Tionchair Timpeallachta agus do Choinbhinsiún Vaileite.
“Faoin reachtaíocht mar atá molta, “féadfaidh” údaráis séadchomharthaí a chosaint. Faoinár leasuithe, bheadh sé riachtanach, agus ardófar an uasphíonós do sáruithe ar an dlí go 7 mbliana sa phriosúin agus fíneálacha suas le €5 milliúin in aghaidh an lae. Ní dhéanfar comhlachtaí agus forbróirí móra a dhíspreagadh leis an uasfhíneál €50,000 in aghaidh an lae mar atá molta, nó leis an gcur chuige réchúiseach ó thaobh cur i bhfeidhm de ach oiread, gan ach 6 daoine cúisithe le deich mbliana anuas.
“Tá sé i gceist againn sainmhínithe a leathnú faoin mBille ar roinnt bhealaí, chun reilig nua-aimsithe agus láithreáin tábhachtacha don phobal a chlúdú mar shampla, agus le meicníocht chun deis a thabhairt don phobal achainí a chur ar an Aire chun séadchomhartha ar leith a chlárú.
“Ní haon ionadh é, toisc an tiomantas léirithe againn i roinnt mhaith buiséid malartacha chun Ceathrú Cultúir a bhunú ar Shráid an Mhúraigh, go bhfuil Sinn Féin den tuairim gur chóir go mbeadh cosaint uathoibreach ar leith ag láithreáin cogaidh agus a bhí lárnach sa tréimhse réabhlóideach ó 1916 go 1923.
“I measc na leasuithe eile, bheadh ról níos mó ag meáin áitiúil, clóite agus raidió, ag cur fógraí faoi bhráid an phobail de réir an Achta seo, bheadh treoirlínte d’úinéirí talún ag a bhfuil séadchomhartha faoina gcúram, agus bheadh tiomantas don díchoilíniú trí dhualgas a chur ar an Stát tacú le haisdúichiú ar oidhreacht ar le tíortha eile é agus abhaile go hÉireann i gcás ár n-oidhreacht atá thar lear de thairbhe slad agus goid coilíneach.
“Bun agus barr an cur chuige ag Sinn Féin ná aitheantas a thabhairt do cheart oidhreachta an duine, ceart ar mian linn a chosaint sa dlí ionas gur féidir é a sheachadadh do na glúnta inár ndiaidh, anuas ar forálacha chun rochtain agus dáileadh réigiúnach cothrom a chinntiú ar ár n-oidhreacht ársa agus cultúrtha. Bheadh Rialtas Shinn Féin dáiríre faoi chosaint ár n-oidhreacht.”
