Acht na Gaeilge Anois

Local Armagh Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Rafferty pictured with MEP Bairbre de Brun and Irish language activists who attended these weekends Irish Language Rally in Belfast.

Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy is urging all residents and communities to support his Partys demand for adequate ambulance response times and fully resourced ambulance service for the south Armagh area. A petition calling for theses demands is now circulating the district.

Sinn Fein activists in counties Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath are working in a joint effort to highlight the concerns of all those affected by the proposed route of the Cavan – Tyrone Electricity Interconnector.

Newry and Armagh MLA, Cathal Boylan has been lobbying extensively to find out the cost of under grounding this project through direct contact with NIE and the Department of the Environment. Cathal is also bringing a motion to the Chamber of the Assembly that all parties accept the publics concerns about this project and requesting under grounding. Cathal has also Chaired a number of public meetings at which residents groups against the proposed route have been formed. Just this week he has tabled a question to Arlene Foster, the Environment Minister, calling on her to have the same sort of public enquiry into these types of overhead pylons which has been announced in the 26 counties. Cathal is also working with Sinn Fèin Councillor Paul Corrigan and his colleagues Mary Doyle and Darren McNally the recently co-opted Sinn Fèin Councillor for the Crossmore Ward both of whom are committed to achieving the best outcome for all those affected by the interconnector. In Brussels, MEP, Bairbre De Brun has tabled questions on regulations and guidelines for high voltage power lines, this information will then be made available to the local campaign groups.

MLAs attend major recruitment drive for Party

Newry and Armagh MLAs Cathal Boylan and Mickey Brady recently attended the launch of a major recruitment drive for Sinn Féin. In keeping with last weeks Valentine's Day spirit, the activists are urging a simple message, 'If you love Ireland, Join Sinn Féin.'

His words came as Ógra Shinn Féin activists distributed thousands of 'I ♥ Ireland' stickers across Ireland today.The recruitment drive will also include the distribution of tens of thousands of leaflets, special public talks aimed at gaining new members and the launch of a new recruitment video

Speaking on the major recruitment drive, Cathal Boylan said"Sinn Féin is a party committed to Irish unity and equality; we are committed to representing the most marginalised and empowering communities on a needs basis. We are also internationalists and have opposed the brutal occupation of Iraq and we are the only main political party who will be rejecting the upcoming Lisbon Treaty” and he continued "In the year ahead Sinn Féin will be aiming to at least double our activist base. We have launched a simple initiative today around Valentine's day, urging people, if you love Ireland, Join Sinn Féin”.

The MLA concluded by stating that Sinn Fein had produced a new 'Join Sinn Féin' broadcast, which had been uploaded to YouTube and Bebo, reaching out to the thousands of online users. “The message in all of this is, one determined person can make a significant difference, and a group of determined people can change the course of history. We are asking people to make a difference - join Sinn Féin!" he said

Slieve Gullion area Councillor Terry Hearty has requested Newry and Mourne Council to facilitate a Public Meeting in Crossmaglen to discuss the issue of the Social Day Care Centre. “There is a need for s public discussion about issues of concern both about long term and short term plans for provision” said the Sinn Fein Councillor who continued “I would expect that senior Officers from the Southern Health and Social Care trust will be present at the meeting”. Terry recently along with Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy met with senior management for the Trust to discuss issues of concern in relation to the planned new Day Care Centre and the provision of services and adequate resources for the Crossmaglen and surrounding areas. “It is essential that we ensure that full and proper provision is provided. These are the most vulnerable people in our society that we are talking about and they and their families need to feel that all that practically can  is being provided for them ” said Terry.

Sinn Fein Councillor for the Fews, Jimmy McCreesh, chaired a meeting with Roads Officials, local members of the Newtownhamilton Regeneration Committee and the PSNI on Wednesday past to discuss the reopening of Newry Street for two-way traffic. During the meeting it was discovered that there had been no previous engagement between Roads Service and PSNI on the matter. The reopening has been discussed and debated for over three years with the Regeneration committee lead to believe that the PSNI were halting the progress for ‘security issues.’

During the meeting on Wednesday, however, it was established that there had been no previous correspondence between the PSNI and Roads Service Officials on the subject while Roads, it seems, were content in allowing the committee to believe that the PSNI were stalling, when in fact they were not pressing the issue. Clr McCreesh said, ‘There appears to be little or no interest from both Roads Service and the PSNI to pursue the reopening of this street. I would like to stress that myself and the other members of the regeneration committee were unaware that Roads were so inactive on the matter and that we will continue to press the issue and scrutinize both agencies more closely in future until this issue has been resolved and the people of Newtown’s wishes granted.’

Clr McCreesh also called on Roads Service to repair the pedestrian footpaths on Dundalk Street upon hearing of an accident which occurred last week as a result of the deteriorated condition of the walkways. McCreesh said, ‘I have observed these footpaths for myself and it is obvious that they require immediate attention. It is unacceptable and intolerable for Roads Service continue to neglect areas like Newtown. All agencies including Roads must prioritise areas like Newtownhamilton which have suffered as a result of years on underinvestment and neglect.’

Sinn Fein moves to address concerns of Pontzpass residents.

Crossmore, Sinn Fein Councillor Darren McNally working with local Sinn Fein activists on the ground in Pontzpass has moved to highlight a number of issues of concern to residents of the village with the appropriate authorities.

Local residents are demanding that the local public toilets which have been allowed to fall into disrepair are refurbished. The village continues to expand and the lack of public toilets means that the increasing numbers of persons visiting the village and locals are without this necessary public amenity.

With the expanding population comes greater traffic flows and locals are becoming increasingly concerned with the speed of vehicles passing through the village. Councillor McNally on foot of numerous requests from local residents has contacted Road Service with a view to having improved signage and speed reduction measures introduced at both ends of the village.

Councillor McNally has also contacted the Council to discuss what steps the Council can take to improve the street cleansing and measures to eradicate dog fouling in the village.

Speaking following a meeting with local residents Councillor McNally said: “I am delighted to be able to assist the residents of Pontzpass in their endeavours to maintain and enhance the environment in the village. Pontzpass may be growing all the time but that is no reason for the character of the village to be compromised. “The issues that have been raised with me are the tip of an iceberg following years of under resourcing in the Pontzpass area. Now that private investors and NI Railways have been begun putting money into the area I and my party colleagues in partnership with the local community intend to ensure that the Council and the other statutory agencies meet their obligations to the local residents.