CONOR MURPHY ATTENDS TRANSPORT NORTH/SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING IN MEATH

The fourth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in the Transport Sectoral format was held in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co Meath on 12 December 2007. The Irish Government was represented by Minister Noel Dempsey TD and the Executive was represented by Minister Conor Murphy MP, MLA, and Minister Arlene Foster MLA.

The Council noted and welcomed progress made since the last meeting in September 2007 and the opportunity to meet to further discuss opportunities for cross-border co-operation in relation to Strategic Transport Planning and Road Safety.

Speaking after the meeting Conor Murphy stated that it had been an informative and positive meeting. “We discussed and noted progress to date on the proposal for the construction of a bridge at Narrow Water linking County Louth with County Down. There was also a presentation from representatives of larnród Éireann and NI Railways. 

It noted the options for the future development of the cross border rail link between Dublin and Belfast especially in relation to increased service frequency, improvements to rolling stock and elimination of speed restrictions. We requested officials to assess the options and prepare a report for consideration at the next NSMC meeting in Transport Sectoral format.

There were also deliberations on continuing progress on proposals to reopen the Annaghroe and Knocknaginny bridges on the Tyrone/Monaghan border including the appointment of consultants by Monaghan County Council and we examined issues relating to Railway Safety, Cross-Border Community Based Rural Transport and Road Safety” stated Conor. 

He concluded by stating that he welcomed the continuing co-operation between the authorities on  a range of issues including advertising and publicity, the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications and penalty points and road safety in border areas.

Justice Group Political Agenda Doing Disservice

Speaking  after attending a meeting of the Paul Quinn Justice Group, in Crossmaglen, Sinn Féin Councillor Terry Hearty said that the political agenda behind the group, which had been exposed at the meeting, was doing a disservice to both the Quinn family and the search for justice

Cllr. Hearty said: “I attended the public meeting in Crossmaglen  to show my support for Stephen and Briege Quinn. The meeting also afforded me with an opportunity to challenge publicly false statements made by the so called Justice Group concerning myself and other local council colleagues.

 “I have to say revelations made at the meeting this evening are deeply disturbing. It emerged during the course of the proceedings that the SDLP have assumed control of the campaign, their motivation being electoral advantage rather than the truth or justice. This was very clearly the reason behind the false statements and personal attacks which have been issued by the group against individual Sinn Féin representatives. It also does a great disservice to the Quinn family.

“The community in Crossmaglen want to see those involved in this brutal murder put behind bars. That is the task of the Guards and the PSNI. They should be allowed to get on with their job. What people here will have no part of is a group with a clear political and anti-community agenda. This sort of motivation should have no place in a genuine justice campaign. Unfortunately this was precisely the agenda exposed very publicly at the  meeting.

Need for open and frank discussion about drugs

“Drugs are becoming more and more readily available on our streets and they present very real dangers to everyone but particularly to our young people” Deputy Mayor 

Sinn Féin Deputy Mayor of Newry and Mourne Councillor Charlie Casey has highlighted the growing concern around the availability of illegal drugs within local communities and the danger to our young people when they are exposed to them.

The Newry City Councillor has said that there needs to be an open and frank discussion about the issue and has pledged to ensure that Newry and Mourne Council will play its role in facilitating such a discussion.

“Recently Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionists hosted a joint seminar on drugs in Belfast and involving amongst others, The Forum for Action on Substance Abuse (FASA) based in the Shankill and the Falls Community Council based in West Belfast, PIPS (Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide & Self Harm) and the West Belfast Suicide Support & Awareness Group. There is a need for us as a Council to show the same civic leadership here” said the Deputy Mayor and he continued

“I would welcome such a discussion which would highlight the growing concern around the availability of illegal drugs within local communities. Drugs are becoming more and more readily available on our streets and they present very real dangers to everyone but particularly to our young people.  Drug dealers exploit and put our young people in danger and yet they appear to act with impunity. We need to send a clear message out to drug dealers operating within the community that they are not welcome there. They exploit our young people and their drugs bring devastation to their lives and heartbreak to their families”.  

The Sinn Féin Newry City Councillor concluded by stating that it was essential to raise not only  the awareness of the problem, but to get an insight into the type of community based programmes that were available to help young people overcome drug misuse.

“More Social Housing Needed‏ - Relax Housing Executive restrictions” –Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady has called on Social Development Minister Margaret Richie to relax the restrictions on the Housing Executive so that it can start to build new social housing. The MLA said that the area was now feeling the full effects of the decade long underinvestment in social and affordable housing by government.

"The housing crisis that exists means that in practice those paying £130 to £145 per week to private landlords for a home cannot afford to take jobs in call centres which pay a net wage of around £190 per week. Even with Working Family Tax Credit the percentage spend from their disposable income on housing far exceeds what is reasonable to expect a family to set aside for rent” explained Mickey and he continued

"The policy of selling off Housing Executive properties but not allowing the proceeds to be re-invested in the public estate had contributed directly to this crisis”. He said that action must be taken to relax the restrictions upon the Housing Executive and allow them to new build properties in high demand areas such as Newry and Armagh through the allocation of the proceeds from Housing Executive house sales.

"Along with this action work should begin to identify areas locally which can be developed quickly to address this situation, and if necessary, land vesting should be considered as an option where the public good is being frustrated by those land-banking to secure windfall profits” concluded the MLA.

House break ins - Local councillor appeals for vigilance

Slieve Gullion area Councillor Anthony Flynn has appealed to residents in the Jonesborough, Forkhill and Mullaghbawn areas to be vigilant after a spate of recent house robberies. The Sinn Féin Councillor said that three homes had been entered and burgled.

“These incidents have caused great distress to the victims of the crimes. Those who are engaged in these activities care about noone but themselves. I would appeal for all to be vigilant and to watch out for suspicious activities” said Anthony.

He concluded by appealing for anyone with any information about the robberies to contact the PSNI.

Gritting for Granemore Road Call

Crossmore area Sinn Féin Councillor Mary Doyle has called for the Granemore Road to be included on the Roads gritting schedule after it was learnt that a bus which was due to collect pupils for Keady High School at the Bus Stop on the road, was unable to do so as the bus driver deemed the road unsafe to travel on.

“Worried parents have contacted me about the issue” stated Mary who went on to say “The problem lies in the gritting of this road, it isn't on the gritting schedule and I have asked for an assessment and traffic count on the road. The parents are very concerned that this is only the start of the winter and there is much more frost and snow to come. Some of the children were able to get alternative transport but were late to school, some children didn’t get to school. This is unacceptable”.

The Armagh City and District Councillor has asked that the road be reassessed as a matter of urgency and she concluded by saying “The safety and wellbeing of young schoolchildren has to be a major priority”

Education Minister urged to look at Glasdrumman Nursery Facilities provision

Slieve Gullion area Sinn Féin Councillor Terry Hearty has urged Minister of Education Caitriona Ruane to look at the lack of Nursery facilities in the Glassdrumman area. Terry was speaking after a visit by the Minister to the local St Brigids primary School where the issue was raised with her.

“The Minister was informed by those present of their concerns in relation to the fact that in this are approximately 15 / 20 children are being turned away per year from the School because there is a lack of Nursery facilities  Some of these children already have brothers and sisters at this school. The reality is that this is detrimental to both the school the community and the Parish. It is an unacceptable situation and we are asking that the Minister investigates the issue” said the Slieve Gullion Sinn Féin Councillor.

Ulster Unionist u-turn on Student Fees means an increase for our students

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan has said that the UUP decision to vote against a Employment and Learning Committee 'Prayer of Annulment' motion to block an increase in Student Fees proposed by Reg Empey represents a u-turn.

Cathal said that the Ulster Unionist stood on an election manifesto that included opposition to Student Fees, yet they had now voted, along with the DUP, to support an increase in Student Fees.

"Nothing can disguise this as a u-turn. The UUP and DUP are selling our students short. Voting through this increase is wrong and the argument that it would interfere in a future review is bogus” said the Sinn Fein MLA and he concluded by stating "Reg Empey may have pointed to some review in the future yet he provided no detail about how this review can deliver for our young people and no indication about how he will tackle the negative impact that Students Fees is having, particularly as a barrier to students from poorer backgrounds. He won't even admit it is a problem."

Fire Service Cuts Concerns

Newry and Armagh Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan has expressed his concerns at the effect that the draft Health budget will have on the Fire and Rescue Service across the north.

Cathal said:

"The Fire Service has stated clearly that if they do not receive adequate funding in the budget that they may have to remove fulltime firefighters from stations in Newry. This will mean that response times in Newry and in many towns across the six counties will not be met and will also mean that fire-stations that are on a waiting list to be replaced will be put on the long finger for years.

"Every department has budgetary pressures and every department needs more money. This is particularly true in areas such as health. However, Ministers need to not just prioritise their bids they also need to make sure that they can protect and deliver on core commitments. Lives will undoubtedly be put at risk if the Investment funding for the Fire and Rescue Service is cut over the next 3 years."

Undocumented Irish Issue need for cross party lobby

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss setting up a working group with the intention of gaining political support for the regularisation of residency qualifications for those Irish emigrants who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.

Speaking after the meeting Cathal Boylan MLA (Newry/Armagh) said: "Sinn Féin MLAs met  with, Councillor Mick Mc Mahon to map out ways in which we can continue to support those Irish emigrants in America who despite having made a positive contribution to American society find themselves in a limbo situation. Whatever the strict legal interpretation of how they entered the US, the fact is that there are tens of thousands of people who now find themselves in relationships, some with families who have never known any other society, who cannot return to Ireland for family celebrations or bereavements as they would not be allowed to re-enter America to rejoin their families if they did so.

Cathal said that his  colleague, Paul Maskey MLA (West Belfast) and himself intended to invite MLA's from other parties to join them in a cross party group to lobby on behalf of Undocumented Irish in America.

“We wish the Family and Friends of the Undocumented Irish in America group success in their efforts to gain all party support across the island of Ireland for this humanitarian campaign so that they can drive it forward to success”. Newry and Mourne Councillor Pat Mc Ginn who has highlighted the issue in the local area and has been involved in meetings with representatives of the ILIR,

THE Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform both in the USA and at home welcomed the initiative to bring political representatives from a wide range of Parties to encourage them to work collectively for the much needed reform..

“This is an issue which has to be resolved. As Christmas once again approaches the fact is that many  from this area will not be able to get home to see their loved ones because the system in the US has deemed them illegal. It is cruel and it is wrong and we all have a responsibility to continue to highlight the issue for our undocumented Irish.