Latest news with #SinnFein
Al Jazeera
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
What's behind the EU's lack of action against Israel over Gaza?
European Union summit fails to act on trade agreement despite findings of human rights abuses. A European Union (EU) summit in Brussels called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but not for sanctions against Israel. Germany has led member states in blocking action throughout the war, as others express anger. So what's behind the EU's position on Israel and Gaza? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Claudio Francavilla – Associate EU director at Human Rights Watch in Brussels Lynn Boylan – Sinn Fein member of the European Parliament and chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Palestine Giorgia Gusciglio – Europe coordinator of campaigns for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement promoting economic pressure against Israel
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Londonderry: School evacuated due to security alert
A primary school has closed and its pupils evacuated due to a security received a report at about 10:15 BST on Wednesday that a suspicious device had been found on the Trench Road in the Waterside area of Heart Primary School has been evacuated as part of the ongoing police Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said a public safety operation is under way, with cordons in place at Knockwellan Park. "We understand the disruption and inconvenience this is causing, in particular for the school community and all parents and residents affected," Ch Insp Pearce said."We want to reassure everyone we are working our way through this situation as quickly as possible and appreciate the co-operation and patience from the school community and the public as we do so." 'Widespread disgust' Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said it was "appalling" that the school had been forced to evacuate staff and said pupils had been looked after in a nearby community centre, where parents were able to collect them."Those behind such reckless actions have caused a great deal of distress, disruption and concern to young children who should have been enjoying a day preparing for their summer break," Jackson said."There is widespread disgust within the community in Top of the Hill who want to see an end to this sort of mindless disruption and fear."
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Stormont Executive has failed A5 victims and cost of putting a wrong right is spiralling
The High Court judge ruled that the decision to give the go-ahead for the dual carriageway scheme was rendered 'irrational' by previous pledges on climate control. The Department for Infrastructure failed to convince the High Court that upgrading the road would not prevent Northern Ireland meeting the net-zero target by 2050, a pledge made in the 2022 Climate Change Act. Former Stormont Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd gave the go-ahead for the 53-mile development between Derry and Aughnacloy in October last year, he has since handed over to party colleague Liz Kimmins. Sinn Fein also voted in favour of the climate act that the High Court now states is incompatible with the current A5 build. The was a face-off in court between locals and landowners v politicians and bears a remarkable resemblance to the court cases mounted by residents that prevented the building of Casement Park back in 2014. The initial approval was quashed by a judge following a legal challenge from residents who were concerned about the stadium's size and potential impact on their area. As a result the build was delayed and costs spiralled, with a huge funding deficit still holding back the project. Earlier this year the Executive agreed a Programme for Government 2024-2027, which outlines its priorities and is a delivery plan for the remainder of this Assembly mandate. It included a pledge that: 'Actions will include progressing delivery of the A5 Western Transport Corridor and publishing an annual Action Plan to support the Road Safety Strategy'. Given the High Court judgment this week it would seem almost impossible to meet that commitment. Solicitor for Alternative A5 Alliance: Quashing of road upgrade is an "extraordinary accomplishment" Timing is key as was noted in the ruling , with the judge saying there was a 'failure to properly show consideration of human rights issues in not imposing a time limit for construction'. Time limits for any building works in Northern Ireland are notoriously difficult to pin down. Perhaps the most startling line of that ruling were the acknowledgement of potential fatalities. 'It is likely that delays in the progression of this scheme will coincide with the occurrence of further loss of life and serious injury on the existing road', said Mr Justice McAlinden. It is already too late for the 57 people who have died on the stretch of road since 2006. 'I am acutely aware that this decision will bring significant, fresh anguish to the doors of those who have been injured and maimed and those who have lost loved ones as a result of road traffic accidents on the existing A5 road,' the judge added. They include Marie O'Brien, whose daughter Caoimhe died in a crash on the A5 in 2016 — she described the ruling as a 'punch in the gut' — and the family of Tyrone Gaelic footballer John Rafferty, 21, killed in a crash in October 2022. The A5 Enough is Enough group set up after his death said the road is 'a death trap'. The judge in this case could only rule on the law in front of him and not the emotions of the case, this was clear in his judgment. The ruling leaves the upgrade of the road in limbo, with no clear path as to how the minister can deliver the pledge to upgrade the road. It will require a community to look inward and decide what they prioritise in terms of the future and if those who oppose the build now consider what they would accept in terms of a future upgrade. But it also raises questions about the ability of Stormont to deliver. The A5 is still a dangerous road, the cost of upgrading it — like the Casement build — will only increase with further delays, and yet as of now the Executive and minister are on a road to nowhere and will need to have a serious rethink about how to deliver on this key PfG pledge.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Chicken up €6 in three years: ‘Crazy' inflation outlined to Dáil
The 'crazy' increase in the cost of everyday food items has been raised in the Dáil, as the opposition accused the Government of being inactive on the issue. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said that in the past year, butter had become €1 more expensive, a kilo of Irish cheddar was up 57 cents, and two litres of milk was up 27 cents. Advertisement She cited figures in The Irish Times that indicated a kilo of chicken had cost €4.99 in 2022 and now costs €11. 'That's just crazy,' she said, telling the áail that prices were 'out of control'. 'Many households are now paying €3,000 extra a year in the supermarket than they were in 2021.' She accused the Government of having 'failed to exert any real pressure' on retailers, after a junior minister handling the issue was 'unceremoniously ignored'. Advertisement 'Your latest plan, it seems, is to do absolutely nothing, to stick your head in the sand, allow people to be ripped off week in and week out. 'Let me just give you some more CSO data – over five years, sugar is up 54 per cent. 'A filet of cod, up 55 per cent, pork sausages 21 per cent, lamb 48 per cent, spaghetti up 46 per cent. 'Nothing has changed, people are still to the pin of their collar,' she said. Advertisement Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan called for transparency on food prices. 'We all have suspicions that we're being ripped off in this country and being price gouged when it comes to food prices, but there's no way to prove it because we don't have full transparency when it comes to supermarket profits,' he said. 'People are handing over 10 billion euro a year to supermarkets to buy food for their families. Why is there not full transparency about profits here? 'Given that people have to buy food, there's no choice on this, why is this not a requirement for all supermarket retailers and chains?' Advertisement Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Government was 'very, very conscious' of price increases and the cost of living. Micheál Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA He said although inflation had fallen to 1.4 per cent in May, down from 2 per cent in the same month last year, food prices remained 'very high, and basic essentials, milk, butter, pasta and bread, cost more than ever. He added that support introduced across various budgets, including over the pandemic period, had prevented people from being at risk of poverty. Mr Martin also said HRT was made available free of charge from June, free school books will be extended to all students from September, and hot school meals will be available in every school. Advertisement Business Cost of living in Ireland: How quickly are prices... Read More He accused Mr O'Callaghan of having a 'tremendous habit of asserting what I said earlier which, of course, I didn't say at all'. He said Mr O'Callaghan had accused him of 'rattling off figures' in his earlier answer when he had not. 'We're looking, we're looking at every aspect of cost and price with a view to getting prices down.'
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Paediatric hospital to be known as National Children's Hospital Ireland under proposals to be considered by Cabinet
The new €2.4 billion paediatric hospital in Dublin will be officially known as the National Children's Hospital Ireland, under proposals to be considered by the Cabinet. Ministers will on Tuesday be asked to approve an application to trademark the name for the new hospital which is expected to open next year. There have been efforts in recent times to have the new hospital called after Kathleen Lynn , a doctor and political activist who was involved in both the 1913 lockout and the 1916 Easter Rising. Several months ago Sinn Féin proposed a Bill which would name the new hospital after Dr Lynn. READ MORE In April, Sinn Féin Dublin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said a campaign to name the new hospital after Dr Lynn had 'amassed almost 6,000 signatures and counts among its supporters leading historians, medics, trade unions and relatives of republican heroes'. 'It is a fitting homage to Dr Lynn and her fellow 1916 heroines', he said. 'The Mayo-born Church of Ireland woman, not content with setting up Ireland's first children's hospital which went on to lead efforts to eradicate TB, introduce the BCG vaccine, and pioneer Montessori education, took part in the 1913 Lockout, was both chief medical officer of the Irish Citizen Army and vice-president of Sinn Féin, and came through time incarcerated by the British.' 'Lynn became the most senior ranking woman in the 1916 Rising when she assumed command of republicans at Dublin city hall', Mr Ó Snodaigh said. [ Who was Kathleen Lynn?: Pioneering doctor, socialist and public-health campaigner Opens in new window ] In October 2017 the then minister for health Simon Harris announced the new facility, which is being developed on the campus of St James's Hospital, would be known as Phoenix Children's Hospital Ireland. However the move ran into serious difficulties after health authorities in the US State of Arizona, where a prestigious hospital for children in the city of Phoenix had existing for many years, raised objections. Health chiefs in Phoenix said it was anxious the Dublin hospital would 'refrain from leveraging our name, goodwill and earned reputation' and it would 'pursue all available legal remedies'. Mr Harris subsequently said there would be a rethink about the name of the new national children's hospital in Dublin.
