Latest news with #SinnFéin
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Wexford defends its Norman heritage following comments from Sinn Féin TD – ‘We're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity'
Many of those events will take place across Co Wexford as places like New Ross, Carrig-on-Bannow, and Wexford town mark the legacy of the Normans since their arrival to Ireland over 900 years ago. However, Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has criticised the decision to take part in the celebrations, asking if this will be a precursor to 'a Festival of Cromwell or a Famine Queen Jubilee?' 'William was a foreign king who never set foot in Ireland, and had nothing to do with Ireland, and yet his birth will be given a higher honour than bestowed by an Irish Government on any figure from Gaelic Irish history,' said the Sinn Féin TD. 'This is not a commemoration for Ireland. Marking the birth of a future English king is not for us, even if it was 1,000 years ago. 'Of course we should acknowledge, protect, take pride in the rich architectural, cultural, and literary heritage that stands testament to Anglo-Norman Ireland, which lives on today in surnames and songs, and celebrate those brave Irish heroes of Norman descent who rebelled against the imperial yoke of England, as early as the 1360s through to the Desmond Rebellion through to United Irishman Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in whose Leinster House our Dáil now meets, and beyond. 'We should make the most of Ireland's Norman heritage to boost tourism, to create jobs, to support communities, and reinforce links with families tracing their Norman Irish roots and with other places who share a Norman heritage, but celebrating England's William the Conqueror, however, is a step too far.' At the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), following confirmation that the council was in contact with Normandy regarding events for 2027, Deputy Ó Snodaigh's remarks were discussed in the chamber by Councillors Lisa McDonald and John Fleming. 'His comments were unpalatable and unfortunate,' said Cllr McDonald, 'we've proven that we're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity.' 'I've never heard such negative, dour comments, I can't understand it,' added Cllr Fleming. 'We're proud of New Ross and its Norman connections, Hook Head, Tintern Abbey, and we have the Norman Visitor Centre coming next year. Now we have some silly comments trying to put a stop to that. ' Director of services Eamonn Hore took time to clarify his feelings on the matter, admitting that it had taken him a while to 'calm down' when he'd first read the deputy's statement. 'If he wants to come down to Wexford we'll show him all that's good about the area and its heritage,' he said. 'And with regards to to Cromwell, Wexford people don't need any history lesson on that. I had a particular problem with him saying this wasn't well-prepared; since 2016 we've had the Norman Way in place and when we invited the president of Normandy to New Ross he was amazed at the influence of the Normans there. "This is a way for the two regions to celebrate their history and culture – I must say I was very disappointed in what he said.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Sinn Féin MEP calls on EU official to apologise over Irish comments
An Irish MEP has asked the EU's most senior foreign affairs official to apologise for suggesting Ireland's policy of neutrality is in part due to Ireland not having a modern-day understanding of "atrocities, mass deportations, suppression of culture and language". European Commission vice president and high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas, made the remarks during a debate on an upcoming NATO meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in France. Responding to a discussion which involved various views on NATO, conflicts including Russia's war in Ukraine and whether the EU needs to increase defence spending, Ms Kallas, who is from Estonia, said: "I do want to address our Irish colleagues. I mean, yes, peace doesn't mean that human suffering will stop. "If, you know, you surrender and you have the aggressor and you say okay take all that you want, it doesn't mean that the human suffering will stop. "Our experience behind the Iron Curtain [the de facto border between East and West during the cold war], after the Second World War countries like Ireland got to build up their prosperity, but for us it meant atrocities, mass deportations, suppression of culture and language. "This is what happens. It is also peace, but it's actually not freedom, freedom of choice for people, and that is what an EU is all about, and that is what we are fighting for." In a statement today, Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion said: "I was astonished by Leas-Uachtarán Kallas's remarks, which displayed a clear lack of understanding of Ireland's history. "In my speech, I underlined Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality, which was shaped by our own experience of colonialism and struggle for self-determination. "Vice President Kallas's suggestion that Ireland simply prospered in the post-war period without trauma or oppression is deeply inaccurate and dismissive of our island's experience. "Ireland too endured atrocities, from the Ballymurphy massacre to Bloody Sunday, where innocent civilians were shot and killed by British soldiers. "Our people suffered internment without trial, and widespread discrimination in housing and employment, particularly in the North. "Furthermore, the suppression of Irish language and culture has been an ongoing battle, as evidenced by the decades-long campaign for an Irish Language Act in the North. "Vice President Kallas's comments were ill-advised and deeply insensitive to the experiences of Irish communities still seeking justice to this day," she said. The Sinn Féin MEP continued that she has written to Ms Kallas's office "asking her to withdraw her remarks".
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘A load of bull' that Sinn Féin is on the side of working people, Tánaiste says
Tánaiste Simon Harris has defended the Government's rent pressure zone (RPZ) reforms in the wake of the Central Bank's finding they will be 'painful' for renters and rounded on Sinn Féin as the 'wealthiest party' and property owner in the Dáil. He claimed it was a 'load of bull' that they were on the side of 'working people'. He also reiterated his comments that the Government will be taking specific measures to support students and that 'we have their backs' as Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane accused the Government of 'spin and bluster'. Responding to Mr Cullinane, Mr Harris hit out at Sinn Féin as the 'biggest property owners in Dáil, the biggest property investors' with 40 to 50 properties, including seven in Belfast. READ MORE 'So don't give me this 'oh we're on the side of the working people'. This is a load of bull that people see right through,' Mr Harris said. Mr Cullinane, quoting the Central Bank, said the Government measures 'will hurt students and their families', would affect young people and their ability to save for their own homes and 'this will hurt ordinary working people'. He said rent controls will not apply to new builds and will not apply to existing homes after a renter moves out voluntarily. They would also not apply to off-campus student accommodation , Mr Cullinane said. The Waterford TD said the reforms 'will hurt tens of thousands of people' and 'there is absolutely no guarantee that these changes will increase supply'. He asked 'when are you going to stop punishing renters?' and called on the Tánaiste to accept that 'students will be one of the first to be affected'. [ Will rent reform hitting holiday lets irk Coalition's own Ministers? Opens in new window ] Government housing policy 'has always been about investors and giving vulture and cuckoo funds free rein to squeeze rents out of hardworking people', Mr Cullinane said. Mr Harris said Mr Cullinane was only quoting parts of what the Central Bank said. The bank 'also said that our rent pressure zone reforms will have a positive effect on supply', Mr Harris said. 'They themselves acknowledge that housing projections are subject to uncertainty, but they've said this morning that it's not impossible to reach the target,' the Tánaiste added. 'There's a number of steps that need to be taken and many of the steps that they've outlined are areas where the Government has a priority focus on.' He said an additional 11 counties would be included in the RPZs and protected. Mr Harris also insisted the Government 'will be taking specific measures to support students'. 'Do not worry because we have their back,' he said, adding that the Government would include additional measures in the budget to protect students. He added that Sinn Féin planned to abolish RPZs and was in favour of reference rents which he said were unworkable. Mr Harris also rejected claims by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín that the Government was underestimating the homeless population by almost 1,000 based on figures the party got through freedom of information requests to local councils. Mr Tóibín said the local authorities listed 16,472 people as homeless while the official figures are 15,580, some 892 fewer people. The Tánaiste said the monthly figures were official, impartial State statistics and not those of Government. He said in relation to figures compiled by Aontú that often those seeking housing are registered with more than one council creating duplication in the statistics. Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes Listen | 35:51
BreakingNews.ie
12 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
EU foreign affairs chief criticised over ‘clear lack of understanding of Ireland's history'
A vice-president of the European Commission has been criticised over a 'clear lack of understanding of Ireland's history', following a debate in the European Parliament. Kaja Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister who now serves as one of the vice-presidents of the Commission, singled out Ireland during a debate on the upcoming 2025 Nato summit in the Hague. Advertisement Ms Kallas said Ireland got to 'build up their prosperity' during peace after the second World War while countries behind the Iron Curtain experienced 'atrocities, mass deportations, suppressing your culture and language'. The remarks have been criticised as 'deeply inaccurate' by Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion, who said the vice-president was dismissive of the post-war experience of people on the island of Ireland. Ms Kallas address to the opening session focused on the 'direct threat to the European Union' posed by Russia, as she called for member states to act with Nato allies and increase defence spending. Ms Funchion noted the sovereign right of each member state to choose its own foreign policies and whether or not they participate in military alliances such as Nato – particularly emphasising Ireland's longstanding policy of military neutrality. Advertisement 'I hope each of you too recognises the sovereign right of my country, Ireland, to maintain its historical policy of neutrality. 'We in Ireland have a proud history and tradition of UN peacekeeping, and long may that continue.' Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA She added: 'I feel it is important to reference the creeping militarisation into EU politics. 'This debate has been a combination of maddening and depressing for the past two hours, listening to the vast majority of speakers. Advertisement 'I would also remind people that, at its core, the EU is supposed to be a peace project and we should not move away from this.' In response, Ms Kallas warned that while Europe is a 'peace project', it 'only takes one to want war' 'We very clearly see right now the talks about the ceasefire that Russia doesn't want peace.' She added: 'I also want to address our Irish colleagues. Yes, peace doesn't mean that the human suffering will stop. Advertisement 'If you surrender, you have the aggressor, and you say, 'OK, take all what you want', then it doesn't mean that the human suffering will stop. 'Our experience behind the Iron Curtain after the Second World War, countries like Ireland got to build up their prosperity, but for us it meant atrocities, mass deportations, suppressing your culture and language. 'This is what happens. It is also peace, but it's actually not freedom. It's not freedom of choice for people, and that is what the European Union is all about, and that is what we are also fighting for.' In a statement, Ms Funchion said Ms Kallas' comments were 'ill-advised and deeply insensitive to the experiences of Irish communities still seeking justice to this day'. Advertisement 'Ireland too endured atrocities, from the Ballymurphy massacre to Bloody Sunday, where innocent civilians were shot and killed by British soldiers. 'Our people suffered internment without trial, and widespread discrimination in housing and employment, particularly in the North. 'Furthermore, the suppression of Irish language and culture has been an ongoing battle, as evidenced by the decades-long campaign for an Irish Language Act in the North. She added: 'I have written to the vice-president asking her to withdraw her remarks and to acknowledge the reality of Ireland's past. 'I would also like to welcome Leas-Uachtaran Kallas to Ireland to meet with campaigners, victims, and families affected by legacy issues. A visit like this would offer her a valuable insight into the historical injustices many are still fighting to address.' Ms Kallas' office has been contacted for comment.
Irish Post
13 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Post
Protest outside the Dáil over Ireland's housing crisis
LARGE demonstrations have taken place outside the Dáil Éireann over Ireland's escalating housing crisis. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions organised the "Raise the Roof" protest to coincide with a parliamentary debate on the issue. The union labelled the crisis "the greatest political failure of our time". Ethel Buckley, deputy general secretary of SIPTU, stated: 'Workers are being priced out of home ownership and can only access housing by taking on unsustainable financial burdens.' She went on to add: 'This has serious consequences, not just on a personal level, but across society. We're seeing vital jobs go unfilled and more young people emigrating.' 'What's urgently needed is a complete overhaul and long-term strategy to provide secure, affordable housing.' Ireland's housing crisis has forced the government to navigate the wide gap in priorities between renters, landlords and property developers. Homeownership is simply out of reach for many young people due to high demand and low supply. According to recent data from property site Daft, average monthly rent has now surpassed €2,000 nationwide. In response, the government has tried to introduce policies that both limit rent hikes and encourage construction by developers and investors. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that the government aims to considerably boost construction to meet national demand. However, Sinn Féin has repeatedly criticised the government for not taking enough action to resolve the crisis. The opposition described the situation as a severe emergency prior to the protest. Eoin Ó Broin TD, Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson, said: 'We're calling for measures that genuinely protect renters, not the weakening of rent pressure zones that we've seen so far, but a total freeze on rent increases and concrete support to bring costs down.' Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are areas where rent increases are legally limited to shield tenants from sharp price hikes. The Raise the Roof campaign has widespread public support, but it remains uncertain whether this will alleviate Ireland's housing woes any time soon.
