Seán Crowe
Dublin South-West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Tallaght and the wider south-west Dublin region have been among the fastest growing parts of the State for decades, yet transport investment has consistently failed to keep pace with the growth. Thousands of new homes planned and a rising population place even greater pressure on our roads and public transport networks.”
“There is a commitment in the programme for Government to enhance driver training but this has not been of much comfort to learner drivers who cannot get an appointment for a test. Numbers on the waiting lists for driving tests continue to climb and waiting times grow longer.”
“I have raised this on a number of occasions, including with different Governments. Could the Tánaiste give the people who rely on the Tallaght and Dún Laoghaire test centres assurances that a new test centre will be opened in south Dublin in 2026? This is something that needs to be tackled.”
“Economic growth means little if it fails to improve people’s lives. Climate action remains one of the defining challenges of our generation, but the transition to a greener economy must be a just one. Workers, families and rural communities cannot be expected to shoulder the cost while large polluters continue to profit.”
“Mar a dúirt an tAire, Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a defining moment for Ireland and Europe. Communities across the Continent are facing soaring living costs, deepening inequality, housing crises, climate change and growing international instability.”
“Ireland must be at the heart of drafting Europe’s new strategy for security and defence. We need to ensure that the core principles of European foreign policy include accountability for breaches of international law and meaningful international efforts to secure just and lasting peace in many conflicts just beyond our borders.”
The complete record
Every one of 271 lines we hold for Seán Crowe, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 6.
“It is not surprising that Deputy Danny Healy-Rae does not know about it because a lot of parents do not but they see these blue things at the side of the road. Deputy Mark Ward and I put our heads together then to try to decide how we would respond to it. One of the key things was that the children taking this thing should not be criminalised. That was the approach we wanted to take. I was also aware from the Garda of the challenges its members were facing. If they seized the drugs, technically, some of these people importing them could say it was for a legitimate use. One of the things I was told was that putting it on the drugs register would make it more difficult for them and they would actually have to prove it. As people said, the challenge nowadays is that there are so many young people doing this. It is really children.”
“A number of years ago, I was on a clean-up of one of the parks in my constituency. It was a beautiful day. I remember looking down to the stream and I could see all these little silver canisters. I was aware it was really young people, children, who were actually using them. I coined the phrase "silver bullets" on the basis that these kids were basically playing Russian roulette. I came up with legislation and its aim was that, like cigarettes, this would be banned. I went to the Minister for children at the time, who was putting forward legislation. I met his officials and so on. Anyway, it was not a fit. I got the impression the people I was talking to did not really get the challenge being faced. At that time, the canisters were a different size. As was said, the canisters are now bigger. We have all seen them.”
“The Taoiseach referred to the Horizon Europe research programme, which includes the continuation of the PEACEPLUS programme. What was the reaction on that? If the Minister of State does not have time to reply, he might send us a note on it.”
“Was the relative failure of the Cyprus-Gaza maritime aid corridor discussed? Was any alternative suggested to simply shipping aid to an Israeli port to join the other thousands of tonnes of aid that has not been allowed through to Palestinian people who are living in tents? Were sanctions against Israel discussed owing to the massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, the spike in forced displacement and the annexation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem?”
“Seán Kelly MEP is not saying which way he means to vote. He is waiting to see what way the wind blows, presumably. Importing 99,000 tonnes of beef and 180,000 tonnes of poultry into the EU will have a catastrophic impact on Irish and EU farmers, depressing prices and destabilising rural livelihoods. I made the point that when it comes to the consumers, it is the poorer people who will be impacted most negatively. Mercosur will only further incentivise deforestation, biodiversity loss and environmental destruction in Mercosur countries, particularly Brazil.”
“We are saying we are concerned about the environment but this will wipe out huge parts of the Amazon rainforest. Many of the cattle from that area will come to Ireland. The Government said it appreciates the concerns relating to Mercosur. While it voted against the trade deal, many believe this only came to pass because it was safe in the knowledge that the vote would pass as a result of Italy’s decision to support it. The Government waited until the eleventh hour to make sure it would not make waves in Europe. Maybe I am just an old cynic but that is not leadership. It is cynical play-acting and most Irish people will not be fooled by it. I am worried about the European Parliament’s role in this regard. Disappointingly, Barry Andrews MEP has stated clearly that he is going to vote in favour of the deal.”
“My party, Sinn Féin, has been consistent for decades now that Mercosur is a bad deal for Ireland. It threatens the viability of many family farms, undermines climate and food standards and opens the door to substandard imports that are negative for both Irish consumers and Irish producers. My concern also is that, in many cases, it is poor people who will be buying what I see as substandard food that is laced with all sorts of steroids, hormones and everything else. It is just not on. Ireland’s beef and dairy sectors are among the most export orientated in the EU but they also operate higher environmental, animal welfare and traceability standards. South American ranchers can buy all the steroids and antibiotics they want and pump them into their cattle. We had the Bolsonaro government cutting down the rainforest.”
“The frustrating thing about this post-Council meeting discussion is that, first, there is not enough time to discuss a lot of the issues and, second, for it to work, we need to really get a sense of the Irish position in relation to what happened. The Taoiseach in his opening statement outlined what Ireland's position was on some of the issues. If we are to continue with these things, it would be really useful if we had that approach going forward. It gives us a better sense of what was actually discussed and what the Irish position is on any of these huge issues. As the Taoiseach said, geo-economic issues were discussed at the European Council meetings. Food safety and security are clearly part of this. Mercosur was not a formal item, but I want to touch on that.”
“There is support in the community to try to track criminality but there are also concerns, as others said, about where this will end up being used. It has also been pointed out about community forums. People are reluctantly supporting this Bill but how it actually unfolds will be important. Amendments will either make or break this Bill in how we go forward.”
“We only have to look across the water to see many of those cases, for example the Jean Charles de Menezes case, a Brazilian who was mistakenly profiled and ended up losing his life. There was talk at that stage of a complete review of the situation, but the man was dead. There was no real recourse for his family in relation to an apology. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and fitted the profile. At the moment, in my constituency, we have CCTV run by the Garda. I have seen the operation. We also have council CCTV. I understand there are challenges in using that under, I think, the planning laws at that time were introduced and it can only be used for certain things. The question a lot of people who attend public meetings have is why that cannot be used or why that camera is broken.”
“The Minister said that the technology the Government intends to provide for this legislation will allow the Garda to process a vast amount of footage and imagery much more efficiently than is currently the case. I do not think any of us have a difficulty with that. The current situation is that if there is a serious crime, people are asked if they have dashcam footage and so on. A point made by Deputy Ó Snodaigh was that it seems strange Joe public is asked. It is a regular thing. If there is a crime on Grafton Street, they will go to the shops there and look at the bank and all places where there is footage. It seems odd that Garda vehicles do not have technology currently. It seems out of sorts. Perhaps that needs to be looked at. Many of my colleagues expressed concerns relating to where the technology has gone wrong.”
“I had not planned on speaking but I was listening to the debate. I would like to be associated with all the wishes of goodwill in relation to this time of year to staff and all our colleagues in the Houses. It has already been iterated that Sinn Féin's position is we are not opposing this Bill but the Minister has already indicated amendments will come. We are discussing a Bill tonight but I presume that Bill will change. I would like to think the Minister will take on board many of the concerns shared by the Opposition and people on the Government benches about this technology. We are opening a door regarding the use of this technology. The concern I have is that once we open this door, it will be very hard to close it. The big question we are asking tonight is where this technology is going to lead us. What will the end result be?”
“The Department of Health is famous for announcing that it is going to go ahead with something and that it has the agreement of doctors. Doctors might not know about it but the Department announces it in the media. Clearly, this situation seems to be the same. This was something the Government just pushed. It did not think it was an issue and now ordinary people will be left with the problem.”
“This is what people are telling us. The Minister asks where we are coming up with that number. These figures are coming to us from people. I do not know how much it is going to cost and clearly the Minister does not know, which is a problem for her and the Government. The Government's announcement that it was to withdraw blister pack supports from vulnerable people at the most expensive time of year for households and in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis reflects again how out of touch it is when it comes to real-life issues. The decision at the weekend is for a pause only. It goes back to the question of why this was not sorted out in negotiations with the IPU. That is the big question everyone is asking here tonight.”
“Most of us agree that blister packs are an essential and basic tool for improving medication management and safety. They can be the difference between taking medicines safely or risking missed doses, double dosing, or the all-too-familiar dangerous confusion for the recipient. We have all come across people who have been in that situation. I came across a case recently of a 94-year-old woman, where we did not know whether she had taken a double dose. The woman was distraught and upset and her family felt even worse. She ended up in hospital the next day. When one is caring for a loved one with dementia or other conditions that can cause cognitive or mobility issues, blister packs are not an optional extra but a necessity. Blister packs without subsidisation can cost an individual in the range of €20 to €40 a month.”
“It is a huge advantage to the area, the pupils in the school and the wider community. It is something that can be resolved. If an affidavit from the club stating that it would cover all the costs was given, that might be enough. The capitation grant is a problem but I might talk to the Minister of State afterwards. Perhaps we can put our heads together and, with the archdiocese, come up with a commonsense solution that will resolve this problem and provide an astro pitch for the kids in this area.”
“The archdiocese is saying that it might look at it at a later stage and that when a sports capital grant is established to cover the running costs of the project, this proposal can be revisited. What it is looking for is madness. At the end of the day, common sense should apply. It is an area of high deprivation and this decision will hugely affect the children. An astro pitch is already there but it is safer to play on the road than it is on the actual pitch, given the state it is in. I am really frustrated about this.”
“There are a lot of moving parts with regard to this. Everyone is in favour of it - the club, the school, the community, South Dublin County Council and political representatives. The challenge is that the archdiocese wants to know who will pay for the opening and closing of the premises after the school uses the facility and who will pay for insurance and cleaning. The club is going to do all that. I can get an affidavit. The archdiocese is saying the capitation grant does not cover it so it is looking for clarification from the Department regarding the archdiocese's demand for an increase in the capitation grant. Some of the things it is looking for are outside the scope of it. The ball is back in the court of the Department.”
“This question concerns St. Thomas National School in Jobstown. I do not know if the Minister of State is aware of the challenges it is facing. There are a lot of moving parts. The latest challenge is coming from the archdiocese in looking for clarification on an undertaking from the Department about it. It relates to Jobstown Celtic Football Club at St. Thomas National School and the building of a astro pitch. The money is sitting there in an account but we cannot get agreement from the archdiocese, which is looking for clarification from the Department.”
“At that time, the assessment was that the team was missing key personnel. Would it surprise the Minister of State to hear that there are still missing key personnel in the team? Parents are being forced to find spaces and go down the extremely expensive private services route. The Government has become so used to relying on private healthcare to pick up the slack that it has forgotten that not everyone can afford to go private and there is limited capacity in the private system. During the debate, Deputies have spoken about a broken system. It is a broken system that is contributing, in many cases, to broken families. Thousands of children in just one area are spending their childhoods waiting and waiting for assessments so that they can access speech and language or occupational therapies. This is wrong. The system is broken.”
“I want to say hello to Cara Darmody and her family. I begin by sending my solidarity to families waiting for an assessment for their child or children. At the start of October, there were more than 8,000 children waiting on assessments of need in the CHO 7 area. Almost 1,600 of those children have been waiting more than two years to be seen. There are almost twice as many children waiting in one area alone than there have been assessments carried out State-wide so far this year. There is a long wait to access support services once a child receives an assessment. The waiting list to access services in the CDNT in Chamber House in Tallaght is now more than 56 months, or almost five years. I met Katherine Zappone in 2016 while going into Chamber House to try to find out what was wrong.”
“Western powers also have the responsibility to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities fuelling the conflict, particularly those involved in war crimes or genocide.”
“The Sudanese people who have long suffered under authoritarian rule find themselves caught again in a vicious cycle of violence and instability, with little hope of a peaceful resolution in sight. The international community cannot afford to ignore the potential for further atrocities. The risk of ethnic cleansing and of the mass atrocities seen in Darfur in the early 2000s remains a haunting possibility. Western nations with their political and economic leverage must prioritise a robust, co-ordinated diplomatic response. This must include enforcing an immediate ceasefire, supporting Sudanese-led peace initiatives and pressuring external actors such as the UAE and Russia to halt their destabilising support for the warring factions.”
“This illicit trade has enriched UAE-linked companies, further entrenching the power of the warring factions and prolonging the conflict for the UAE's gain. Another malign influence in the country is Russia, through its private army, the Wagner group. This interference has further entrenched the power struggle between the rival factions as both vie for favour with Russia to gain military and economic advantage. It is plain to see that this is not just a civil war. It is a war that has opened the door for outside actors to interfere, influence and exploit events. This external involvement has not only prolonged the fighting but has made peace efforts even more challenging as western powers stay away because of Gulf state involvement.”
“These countries have been engaged in an almost colonial, imperialist exploitation of the resources of Sudan, particularly its gold. Both the SAF and RSF have received financial support from these Gulf states at one time or another and the chaos of civil war has made it all the easier to extract the mineral wealth that belongs to the Sudanese people. The RSF in particular has benefited from UAE backing, largely because of its involvement in the war in Yemen, where it provided mercenary support for the UAE-led coalition. This one group has been instrumental in the brutal oppression of civilian populations on two separate continents. The UAE has been involved in facilitating the illegal export of gold, with the RSF controlling much of the mining operations.”
“The normalisation of violence on such a grand scale, coupled with the failure of international institutions to prevent, or effectively intervene in, atrocities has desensitised us to such an immense loss of human life. Instead of provoking widespread action, genocides are often met with brief condemnation, leaving victims to endure suffering while the world moves on, leaving justice and accountability lagging far behind. While the conflict in Sudan may have started off as a domestic affair, external powers have played a significant role in aggravating the situation. One of the most harmful external influences has been the intervention of the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This has made western powers reluctant to involve themselves in a peace-building effort for fear of offending their strategic regional allies.”
“An 18-month siege has seen a city of 250,000 inhabitants fall and a drawn-out bloodbath has ensued. At least 2,500 are dead but, with a communications blackout and a civilian population fleeing for their lives, it is impossible to tell how many are dead. Without urgent intervention Sudan could see even more widespread violence and genocide, leaving countless lives destroyed. The world seems increasingly unmoved by genocide, as tragic events unfold with growing frequency but often receive only fleeting outrage. The global community's response has been marked by political apathy, diplomatic powerlessness and a media cycle that quickly moves on to the next crisis.”
“Former allies in the 2021 coup are now at one another's throats and it is the civilian population of Sudan that is suffering. Deep-seated rivalries over power and control of resources triggered a full-scale civil war, leaving the country in a state of chaos. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced, both internally and to neighbouring countries. The Sudanese civil war has the potential to escalate into a genocide that would dwarf that of Rwanda. As violence intensifies, targeted killings, mass displacement and ethnic cleansing are beginning to ramp up in the most distressing manner. The very real threat of famine would devastate the internally displaced population. There has been an ongoing massacre in El Fasher since its takeover by the RSF last month.”
“There is going to be a lot of commonality in what we are saying here but the main message is that action is needed. I spoke at the OSCE conference in Istanbul recently about the ongoing global refugee crisis, with millions of displaced people fleeing conflict zones such as Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and Yemen. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of the developed world allowing, and even enabling, conflicts in its zones of influence. The global powers have not only failed to prevent the escalation of these crises but have actively facilitated, or ignored, the conditions that led to the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions. The conflict in Sudan has escalated dramatically since April 2023.”
“However, some elements can actually afford to do it but others cannot. That is the point we are making. One of the speakers here tonight was talking about some of the initiatives in certain communities in relation to what is happening. The approach taken by the Minister is disappointing. It seems we have not learned from the past number of years. It is really disappointing.”
“This particular time of the year is probably the worst time for families. With Christmas coming up, this is the time when they go to the money lenders. It also happens in July and August when their children are going back to school. The debate I had with Ruairí Quinn at that time was on the cost of education. The Minister of State has outlined certain reforms that have been initiated. I do not think he is trying to tell us that it is not expensive for families to put their children through the education system. I do not think he is trying to say that here tonight. However, what we are trying to do tonight with this reform is bring a bit of reality into the room. I accept that the cost of school uniforms does not affect everyone. One of the arguments made in 2011 was that there was no demand at the time from some elements.”
“The Minister has taken a disappointing approach. Back in 2011, I recall discussing the affordability of school uniforms in this House with Ruairi Quinn, the then Minister for Education and Skills. Unfortunately, at that time, we failed to convince him and probably more importantly, the officials at that time this was the way forward. If we cast our minds back to that period, we were in the middle of an economic crash. Families were finding it extremely difficult to try to pay for school uniforms. Despite the positive reforms that the Minister of State has outlined relating to school books etc., when I talk to them, families, and particularly poor families, are finding it almost impossible to try to pay for these school uniforms. We all know the stories of the debt collectors and money lenders.”
“They can be seen stuck in one corner of a shelf, but there will be a whole row of women's pads. We could ask the likes of Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes Stores and other stores to ensure that men are not treated any differently from women when it comes to accessing these products.”
“The cancer came back a number of years later and I had to undergo radiotherapy. I am still being monitored for cancer cells by means of PSA blood tests. Cancer can be life-changing but the longer you delay, the harder it is to treat. That is my message here today. By becoming more proactive, Irish men can enjoy a healthier quality of life and increase their chances of a healthier future. I have long advocated for a prostate screening cancer programme. Programmes like BreastCheck and BowelScreen have saved thousands of women's lives, but there is no similar programme for men. I appeal that such a programme be put in place. There is an expense to cancer. That impacts negatively on people who do not have money. One thing we could do is speak to the big shopping outlets that sell the likes of incontinence pads for men.”
“Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among Irish men. Research shows that the incidence rate has been steadily rising. Despite this, many Irish men remain hesitant to seek medical advice or undergo screenings. This is often due to a reluctance to address health concerns until the symptoms become too severe. This can steal precious weeks and months away. When prostate cancer is caught early, the survival rate is higher. Although, the idea that if you get cancer then prostate cancer is a good one to get is absolute nonsense. That really annoys those of us who have had it. Many men delay seeing a doctor until it is too late, which can reduce treatment options and outcomes. In February 2015, I was told, after years of getting biopsies, that I had cancer and that it had to be removed. It was an aggressive cancer.”
“I am probably not going to say anything that is much different from what many other Members said. As others stated, there is a lot of really good work being done around men's health. This month, we have seen it most publicly in sport, with Movember and the OddBalls Foundation becoming familiar to a lot of fans. As we all agree, men are still reluctant to go to the doctor and share personal information about their health. This could be the difference quite literally between life and death. We still have not cracked the old-fashioned mentality of "Ignore it and I don't have to deal with it." Irish men have to be more proactive about their health, particularly in the context of prostate cancer, as they face unique challenges relating to lifestyle factors and genetic predisposition.”
“If we are serious about this issue, we need to come together and work our way forward collectively. People do not want to wake up in the morning with the idea that we have made a decision. What did we make a decision on? Vote yes or vote no. We need have the conversation on what exactly they are voting for and agreeing to.”
“One of the parties calls itself “The Republican Party” and the other is the “United Ireland Party”, yet the impression from a lot of people who are having this discussion is that they do not want to talk about it. Certain Members do, former Members do, other individuals do and so on, but there is a reluctance coming from the Government benches. For a lot of people, they just do not understand what that is about. The Good Friday Agreement committee in the previous Dáil recommended that a designated Oireachtas committee and Government Department should be tasked with taking responsibility for planning and preparing for constitutional change. This was a recommendation from all parties, yet it seems that those parties involved in government did not take that up. It was a missed opportunity.”
“The reality of unity, an end to division and the possibility of a united Ireland is very much part of the political conversation on this island now more than ever. It has been a focus point of discussion during the ongoing presidential election, even more so than when Martin McGuinness was running in 2011. It has moved beyond the hypothetical and people are now discussing what kind of Ireland it could and should be. Unfortunately, we do not have that level of discussion at a political level. That is one of the main points we are making here tonight. The only people who do not realise that we need to have this conversation are the people sitting on the benches across from us.”
“The Sinn Féin proposal to provide more equitable solutions, such as increasing investment in social housing, improving public healthcare and reforming the tax system remain vital in the context of ensuring a fairer and more sustainable future for ordinary workers and their families. Under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, working families in Ireland will continue to bear the brunt of economic policies that disproportionately benefit a wealthy elite and leave the most vulnerable behind. What we have seen is an unfair budget for many people and it is ordinary people who are bearing the burden once again. The budget promised a lot but has not delivered for ordinary people.”
“For many, budget 2026 will be remembered as a failure and as an example of the Government speaking of both sides of its mouth, saying, on the one hand, that the economy is strong while, on the other, saying that there is no space to reduce the cost-of-living burden on families. The Government's failure to adequately address housing shortages, healthcare funding, the carers and the cost of a disability, regressive taxation and the high cost of energy and transport mean that many families will continue to face economic hardship. Who is the successful economy for?”
“Sinn Féin supports a just transition. Rising electricity and fuel prices are due in no small part to the Government's obsessive drive towards higher carbon taxes. Families will continue to struggle with transportation and energy costs. There is also a failure to address or reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in our primary schools. One school in my constituency of Dublin South-West will be down another teacher next year, having already lost one last year, meaning that more children are going to be grouped together in multigrade classrooms. This is far from the ideal learning environment and something that we are supposed to have long left in the past.”
“A total of €3 million has been snatched away. Many valuable diversion, residential or locally based programmes will simply not have the money to keep going. Local drug or alcohol task forces are still on lower funding than they were in 2008, despite more areas of work and a massive increase in the populations they serve. The problem is getting worse. Sinn Féin firmly believes that every person, family and community has the right to recover. Our alternative budget would have made this promise a reality. Despite Government promises to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions, budget 2026 does little to mitigate the high cost of energy and transport for many families. Sinn Féin has called for a more substantial investment in renewable energy and public transport in order to reduce the financial burden on families.”
“The Government has made promises of more funding for housing construction, but we have heard that before. Sadly, the scale of new builds remains inadequate to meet the demands. The housing waiting list continues to grow and the affordability crisis continues to worsen, especially for low- and middle-income families. Rising rents and house prices continue to push working-class families further away from home ownership. After almost 15 years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, the idea of owning your own home has become as remote a possibility for many young people as winning the lotto. I have served on my local drugs task force since it was established many years ago. Some 25% of the funding allocated last year appears to have been stripped away now that the Government has won the election.”
“It is my opinion, but it is shared by a lot of people out there, that budget 2026 failed to deliver any real hope or pathway for the families and individuals left behind by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments. Every week, new families or individuals who are homeless or facing homelessness turns up at my constituency office. That is fact. There is nothing in the budget that will bring any hope, comfort or change for those who are facing this awful future. Sinn Féin has consistently called for a radical overhaul of housing policy, arguing for an increased investment in affordable and social housing. However, budget 2026 is like every other opportunity this Government has let slip through its fingers. It fails to adequately address this problem in any meaningful way.”
“Any hope of a pre-1967 border seems to have been erased from this plan, nor is there any mention of the West Bank and East Jerusalem where settler homes are springing up by the thousands. There is no plan to address the apartheid system that leaves Palestinians second-class citizens in their own land. My fear is that any plan that fails to address the core conflict that has existed since 1948 will only be another false dawn. If there are to be guarantors of peace, it must be an international coalition, certainly not those who supplied weapons and gave the political and military cover, which enables the occupation and the ongoing genocide that continues to kill innocent men, women, and children in Gaza and across Palestine.”
“It was not forced upon a battered population with the promise of only more death and destruction should they refuse. Great strides have been made in recent months towards full and proper recognition of Palestinian statehood. To remove Palestinians now entirely from the peace process is a regressive step that returns Palestine to an occupied territory stripped of sovereignty and self-determination. The war criminal, Benjamin Netanyahu, has already said he will not remove troops from Gaza - that there will be no demilitarisation. He absolutely does not agree to Palestinian statehood. Statehood and self-determination is recognised in the plan as an "aspiration of the Palestinian people", but any movement is conditional on the redevelopment of Gaza and the reform of the Palestinian Authority. There is no agreement on borders.”
“Any plan that could end the wholesale slaughter of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza is to be welcomed. The world has watched a genocide as children starve and aid rots just miles away. I welcome that a core part of the 20-point plan is to end the weaponisation of aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and place it in the hands of the UN and the Red Crescent. However, for any peace deal to work, it must be constructed and agreed by all parties to the conflict. A unilateral deal is not the platform for a stable or lasting peace. The Good Friday Agreement worked because it was a constructive process that all parties built and signed up to. At its centre was parity of esteem, new political institutions, demilitarisation and consent. It was voted on and there was a peaceful pathway forward for those who desired independence.”
“They are elderly, but not exclusively so, and it impacts on families as well. We are asking that the Government take notice of this and start to act.”
“Far from holding the energy companies to account, the Government wants to strip away the one relief workers and families had in the energy credit. The Government has also committed to hiking the carbon tax over the next five budgets, making homes even more expensive to heat and denying people any chance of retrofitting their homes. The Government has rejected all calls to strengthen the regulator so it can finally hold the energy companies to account. Surely we have to reduce the cost to households of progressive PSO levies and network charges by making sure large companies pay their fair share by implementing a fairer model. That would be Sinn Féin's approach. We have heard the Government's approach. It is not working for a lot of people who are out there, the people who are sitting in those shopping centres.”