News Archives for November, 2008
28 November, 2008
Newry and Armagh MLA, Mickey Brady has announced that there is to be a public meeting to discuss the problems with the proposed boundary changes. The meeting which is to be held in the Savoy Suite of the Canal Court Hotel at 7.30pm on 10th December will allow members of the public to come and hear the Assembly member's views on the issue and also to see his proposition on how the urban identity of Newry can be maintained. Read full article
28 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Mayor of Armagh City and District Council, Noel Sheridan has condemned the shop break ins which took place in Armagh last night. Read full article
28 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Anthony Flynn has welcomed comments from Irish Government Minister, Micheál Martin TD, that the provision of a regional passport office in the North is "under ongoing and active review". The opening of such an office would deliver numerous benefits to those living in northern counties who are seeking an Irish passport. Read full article
28 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh, Mickey Brady has paid tribute to the work of R.I.S.E (Recovery in a Safe Environment) at an event in Stormont's Long Gallery on Tuesday 25th November. Read full article
27 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA's at Stormont have encouraged people to take the time to get regular check ups in order to keep in good health the combat the likelihood of suffering from the effects of one of the biggest killers in our society - cancer. Read full article
27 November, 2008
Sinn Féin group leader on Armagh City and District Council, Cathy Rafferty, has said the SDLP conduct when it came to a vote on the pricing policy for the newly refurbished Orchard Leisure Centre, showed a party divided, confused and being led by individuals for short term political point scoring. Read full article
27 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Mary Doyle has stated that there is concern among the Armaghbreague / Granemore community following the erection of a mast on the reservoir grounds, Armaghbreague. Read full article
27 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MP and Assembly member for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy has welcomed an announcement that the court hearing over the disputed land left by the late Betsy Doyle is to be held in the High Court on the 4th December Read full article
26 November, 2008
Last night's (25th November) Farmer's Forum in Tí Chulainn provided an ideal opportunity for all those in the farming community to come along and raise any issues they wished with their MEP, Bairbre de Brún. Those present could also raise issues or question the rest of the panel: Conor Heaney (Special advisor to the Minister of Agriculture), local councillor Terry Hearty, and Sinn Féin's rural policy makers, Seán McPeake and Damien McGenity. Read full article
26 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Anthony Flynn has welcomed an announcement that Gleby Park in Mullach Bán is to be restored. Read full article
26 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Councilor Cathy Rafferty has urged the people of Armagh to be on the lookout for fraudulent notes. Read full article
26 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Rafferty has welcomed the quick reaction of the Mall West shopping mall staff after removing strong Christmas lights that could potentially harm people with epilepsy. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Councillor Turlough Murphy has called on Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to reassure suffers of rheumatoid arthritis that they will be allowed to try alternative versions if the first drug they are being administered with stops working. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy has called for the harmonisation of taxation and pricing policies on the island of Ireland follows the recent drop in VAT and the higher prices customers in the south are paying for goods. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Cathal Boylan has welcomed the Assembly passing with all party support, the Sinn Féin motion calling for OFCOM to protect public service broadcasting and for UTV to suspend its restructuring and redundancy programme Read full article
25 November, 2008
Newry and Armagh Sinn Fein MLA and the party's spokesperson on Welfare Rights, Mickey Brady has welcomed the review of electricity prices by the Utility Regulator. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Packie McDonald has said that while he welcomes some of the budgetary announcements by Alistair Darling that unless we acquire sufficient fiscal autonomy he doesn't believe that we will see much benefit here. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Planning issues, Cathal Boylan MLA has welcomed the Ministerial statement today by Sammy Wilson on the Draft PPS 21 policy. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLAs today (Tuesday 25th) gathered on the steps of Stormont to mark International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women. Speaking from the steps of Stormont, Newry and Armagh MLA, Mickey Brady said,
"International day for the eradication of violence against women is to highlight the ongoing and high levels of violence against women internationally and abroad. On average one in three women will experience violence against them at some point in their lifetime. This is a staggering figure Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Mickey Brady MLA, has called on Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, to act on her promise to build new affordable social housing as a matter of urgency to help the embattled Construction Industry. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Darren McNally has said that a footpath on Madden Row, Keady would be very beneficial for the whole community and would make that area of the town a lot safer for pedestrians. Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Darren McNally has called for the Clay Rd. Keady to be included in the winter schedule for gritting. Read full article
25 November, 2008
The availability of easy loans has been criticised by Local Sinn Féin Councillor Cathy Rafferty, who also advised people to be wary after being contacted by several local people who have fallen foul of this "easy loan promotion" Read full article
25 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Road Safety spokesperson in the North, Cathal Boylan, has expressed his shock and frustration on a disastrous weekend on the roads which has seen 10 people lose their lives throughout Ireland. Read full article
24 November, 2008
Mayor of Newry and Mourne Colman Burns has stated that news of further fatalities on our roads had caused great shock and sadness throughout the community. Read full article
23 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Council leader on Newry and Mourne Council, Brendan Curran has welcomed the decision by The Executive that there will be no water charges next year, saving the average household here around £160. Read full article
22 November, 2008
Following a meeting with Translink regarding recent attacks on buses, the Dromintee Safety Group, CRJ, members of the Jim Lochrie Cumann and local Councillor Packie McDonald, spoke to residents in Forest Park in order to raise awareness of the incidents. Read full article
21 November, 2008
Slieve Gullion area Sinn Fein Councillor has expressed his disappointment that the recent meeting involving SELB Transport Officials at St Patrick's Primary School in Crossmaglen to resolve issues of serious concern in relation to the safety and well being of the young children who use the school had failed to alleviate any concern that parents and school representatives had Read full article
21 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Planning, Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has welcomed the long awaited proposals on a new rural planning policy, stating that it is long overdue Read full article
20 November, 2008
For years Sinn Fein representatives have lobbied to have lighting erected outside Ballymmacnab chapel, unfortunately to date the campaign has not achieved the desired result. However, Sinn Fein's Cathal Boylan MLA and Armagh City and District Councillor Mary Doyle are continuing the campaign with new vigour. Read full article
19 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Anthony Flynn has said that the Minister of Employment and Learning needs to outline his strategy to ensure more 16-19 year olds take up education, employment or training opportunities Read full article
19 November, 2008
The European Fisheries Council today agreed unanimously to a revised cod recovery plan to protect cod stocks in EU waters.
Conor Murphy MP MLA, who represented Michelle Gildernew MP MLA at the discussions, expressed his real concern at the reductions in fishing effort which will affect the local fleet because of depleted cod Read full article
19 November, 2008
Crossmaglen Sinn Féin Councillor and the Party's agricultural spokesperson on Newry and Mourne District Council, Terry Hearty has called on all members of the farming community to come along to a Farmer's Forum in the Tí Chulainn Centre, Mullach Bán Read full article
19 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Agricultural Spokesperson on Newry and Mourne District Council, Terry Hearty has welcomed an announcement made by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development that 82% of 2008 Single Farm Payments will be paid in December. Read full article
19 November, 2008
The Department for Regional Development has won a top award as Best Local Authority/Passenger Transport Executive for their work in administering the Rural Transport Fund Read full article
18 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA and the party's spokesperson on Road Safety, Cathal Boylan has said that while the ten year target for reducing road deaths has been met early we cannot afford to become complacent Read full article
18 November, 2008
Ministers from the different Fisheries Administrations have met with EU Commissioner Joe Borg in Brussels ahead of discussions on Fisheries at the November and December Council meetings. Read full article
18 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson on Newry and Mourne District Council, Turlough Murphy has welcomed a hard hitting statement from the MEP for the 6 counties, Bairbre de Brún to coincide with European Antibiotic Resistance Day today (Tuesday 18th November) in which she said people should be under no illusions about the dangers of over-reliance on antibiotics. Read full article
18 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Assembly member and MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy has described the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP on transfer of Powers and Policing and Justice as "significant". Read full article
18 November, 2008
Newry and Mourne Councillor Packie Mc Donald has said that the potential collapse of recycled waste markets would see the scenario of Newry and Mourne Council actually burying in landfill materials like newspapers and cardboards. Read full article
18 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Mayor of Armagh City and District Council, Noel Sheridan has condemned the attack on the cenotaph on the Mall in Armagh Read full article
17 November, 2008
Sinn Fein MLA and spokesperson for Older people, Mickey Brady, today addressed the 'Heat or Eat' on the steps of Stormont today. The rally in which three to four hundred attended, was held to highlight older peoples concerns regarding provision of services and financial aid in order to reduce the impact of the credit crunch. Read full article
17 November, 2008
Local Sinn Féin MLA, Cathal Boylan, has submitted a number of questions to Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, regarding the proposals for St. Luke's and Longstone hospital sites in Armagh City. Read full article
17 November, 2008
Newry and Mourne Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has appealed for vehicle drivers to make a conscious decision to slow down on the stretch of road along the A1 Bypass. He was speaking as the removal of Martins Lane Footbridge and the installation of temporary lights begins Read full article
17 November, 2008
The visitor from the USA, who recently was injured in a incident in Crossmaglen resulting in the man ending his vacation to the area prematurely has stated that he is deeply touched by the amount of concern he has received from "many kind people in the area" regarding as what he describes "his misfortune". The man from Florida contacted local Councillor Terry Hearty and explained that leaving the area after the incident which involved two young men was the last thing he wanted to do Read full article
17 November, 2008
At the commemoration on Sunday a huge crowd assembled at the Square in Cullyhanna and paraded through the village, past the monument and on to the Chapel for the anniversary Mass. There was a large number of banners from the local area, including the Michael McVerry Cullyhanna banner.
The main speaker at the commemoration was Sinn Féin's candidate for the upcoming European elections, Thomas Sharkey from Co. Louth.
Mr. Sharkey spoke very eloquently of the struggle and sacrifice made by people like Michael McVerry Read full article
17 November, 2008
Crossmore Sinn Féin Councillor, Mary Doyle has welcomed the news that the campaign to have the Granemore Road gritted throughout the winter months has been successful. Through Cllr Mary Doyle's has representations to the Roads service they have now intimated that the road will be added to the winter gritting schedule. Read full article
17 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MP & MLA for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy has condemned those who planted the hoax device discovered on the Warrenpoint Road. Read full article
17 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Cathal Boylan has said the recently announced cuts in the health system should not affect front line staff in Armagh. Read full article
17 November, 2008
Drumintee Sinn Féin Councillor, Packie McDonald has described a recent operation by the PSNI in Ballinamaddy Rd. Drumintee as 'Heavy Handed and Over the Top'. Read full article
14 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA and spokesperson on Older People and Welfare Rights, Mickey Brady has welcomed a meeting between Sinn Féin and representatives from NIE in order to raise concerns around the reality of fuel poverty affecting many people. Read full article
14 November, 2008
This was the Sinn Fein Minister's message to the All Ireland Public Consultation Conference in Dublin .
Addressing delegates alongside former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone and 26 County Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan TD, Minister Murphy said: "As Transport Minister for the North, I and indeed my Department, place a high level importance on public consultation.
"Over the next ten years my Department will be investing in excess of £6 billion in the North's infrastructure. Essentially this investment is about improving the quality of life for people in the North and this very aim, highlights how important public consultation is. Read full article
13 November, 2008
Sinn Féin in an tIúir agus Ard Mhacha (Newry/Armagh) recently held their annual Dáil Ceantair Conference in the Tí Chulainn Centre, Mullach Bán (Mullaghbawn). The conference was attended by over a hundred republicans from across the electoral area and gave all members the chance to decide how they feel their Party should be run. The local membership then elected the Dáil Ceantiar Chairperson at the end of the event. Read full article
13 November, 2008
Newry and Armagh MLA, Cathal Boylan, the party's spokesperson on Road Safety has welcomed the Environment Ministers pledge to investigate the possibility of reducing the alcohol limit for motorists. Read full article
13 November, 2008
Cathal Boylan, MLA for Newry and Armagh has reiterated Sinn Féin's call for an Independent Environmental Protection Agency during a debate on the issue in the Assembly in which a motion was passed that the Environment Minister Sammy Wilson establish such a body within the lifetime of the current Assembly Read full article
13 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MLA, Cathal Boylan, recently asked a question from DEL Minister, Reg Empey regarding the number of apprentices being released by construction firms before finishing their apprenticeships. Mr Boylan asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, 'What procedures his Department has put in place to ensure that apprentices can complete their training given the current down-turn in the construction trade.' Read full article
13 November, 2008
Sinn Féin has recently implemented a transformation of the party's structures in Universities across the six counties. This follows a summer long 'think tank' by young Sinn Féin members who had recently passed through the party's college structures. These meetings resulted in the formation of a new University Officer Board. Read full article
13 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Charlie Casey has called for clear signage to be placed at the new bus stop on Monaghan St. outside the Armaghdown Bar. Read full article
13 November, 2008
Keady Sinn Féin Councillor, Darren McNally and local Sinn Féin MLA, Cathal Boylan have welcomed the new signage which has been installed at Carnagh, Keady. Read full article
12 November, 2008
The 51st Annual Commemoration for the five republicans who lost their lives during the IRA's border campaign in 1957 was well attended by republicans from all over Ireland.
The theme of this year's march was 'women in struggle' with large photos of hundreds of female republicans who have died since 1798 being carried by young people from South Armagh. The main speaker at the commemoration was Bairbre de Brún.
Speaking after the event, Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Colman Burns said,
"Although the weather on the day was cold and wet it did not deter the large crowd from flocking to Edentubber. It is a testament to those men that, 51 years later over thousands of people still come out annually to remember their sacrifice." Read full article
12 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson on Newry & Mourne Council, Turlough Murphy today warned of the dangers of alcohol misuse and has called for more services to be put in place for those people suffering as a result of alcohol abuse. Read full article
11 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Mayor of Newry & Mourne District Council, Colman Burns has called for an attend to an attack on gritters in the area. Read full article
11 November, 2008
Newry and Mourne Councillor Charlie Casey has stated that he has grave concerns about the future of up to ninety jobs in the local Tax Office in Newry. The Councillor explained that in June of this year the Revenue & Customs Department published its proposals in relation to the location of offices outside of Belfast. Newry City was identified as a strategic location with the retention of two offices employing some 190 people by 2011. Read full article
10 November, 2008
Sinn Fein's Darren McNally has called for Quad users at Carnagh Forest to take into consideration walkers and other people who use the forest. Read full article
9 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Older People and Welfare Rights, Mickey Brady has said that he would support an investigation into the reasons why oil prices do not come down in line with with falling 'barrel prices' with the same urgency as they increase Read full article
8 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Assembly Member Cathal Boylan is calling on the Minister for Employment and Learning, Reg Empey to consider a back to education scheme for unemployed young people and those who have been made redundant as a result of the present economic climate - in particular those who have left school without any qualifications. Read full article
6 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Councillor Marian Mathers has welcomed the launch by the Health Promotion Agency of a new DVD to help support pregnant women with breastfeeding. Read full article
5 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MEP, Baibre de Brún and Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin MLAs Mickey Brady, Conor Murphy and Cathal Boylan welcomed the University of the Third Age (U3A) to Stormont on Monday (3rd November). The visit was part of ongoing work between the group and Sinn Féin's spokesperson on older people and welfare rights, Mickey Brady Read full article
5 November, 2008
With child obesity on the increase, Sinn Féin's Brendan Curran has called for Newry & Mourne District Council to introduce free swimming for kids in order to tackle the problem. Read full article
5 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Cathy Rafferty has urged caution to parents who are thinking of buying quad bikes for their children this Christmas. Read full article
5 November, 2008
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health for Newry and Mourne Council, Turlough Murphy has welcomed the fact that the Minister of Health, Michael McGimpsey, has stated that he will revisit the Minor Ailments Scheme. However Mr. Murphy stated that this should be treated as a matter of priority by the Minister Read full article
3 November, 2008
Newry and Armagh MLA, Cathal Boylan, is to write to Richard North, Chairman of the Woolworths Group, to personally receive assurances from him on his company's policy on Irish products. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP MLA speaking today during the debate on the motion in support of the families of the disappeared repeated his call on anyone with any information to bring that information forward.
Mr. Adams said:
"I want to support the motion.
I want to commend and support all the families who have suffered a grievous injustice and who have campaigned with dignity for many years to locate the remains of their loved ones.
I also want to acknowledge once again the grave injustice inflicted upon these families and to express my deep regret about this.
I want to thank everyone who has worked to help the families, including the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains, An Garda Siochana and the experts and staff who have been brought in to assist in this work.
They deserve our full support. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy was hosted in Canada last week by Canada Friends of Sinn Fein. During the four day trip Mr. Murphy met with Canadian/Irish groups, representatives of the International Fund for Ireland, local media and was guest speaker at the annual Friends of Sinn Fein dinner in Toronto. Mr. Murphy also met with Mayor of Toronto, David Millar and the Chair of Toronto Transport. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry and Armagh, Mickey Brady has expressed his disappointment that Dominic Bradley is attempting to create political opportunism and point scoring rather than trying to protect local jobs. This follows a meeting between local elected representatives and NIW workers which was intended to protect local NIW jobs. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Darren McNally has condemned those who were involved in the stoning of a road gritter in Keady over the weekend. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Many Sinn Fein elected representatives and families of British State violence from the local area attended a rally this morning (Sunday) to show their opposition to the British Armys military parade through Belfast City. A rally was held in Dunville Park, Belfast, where Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly and Mark Thompson from Relatives for Justice spoke to the assembled crowd. Over 3,000 demonstrators marched down the Grosvenor Road to the protest line at Fisherwick Place. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Fews area Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has said that he shares the hope of residents living in the vicinity of the roundabout on the Camlough Road, that planned night works will cause as little inconvenience as practically possible Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Fein Group Leader on Armagh City and District Council [ACDC], Mrs. Cathy Rafferty has welcomed the Councils decision to approve the design for the new North South Ministerial Conference [NSMC] building in Armagh. Following a full debate at the recent Council meeting the proposal was passed by nine votes to four with a number of abstentions. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Terry Hearty has welcomed the support of the European Council of Agriculture Ministers for a School Fruit Scheme that will both provide free fruit and vegetables to schoolchildren and support the local farming industry. Read full article
3 November, 2008
Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MLA, Mickey Brady has said changes for new claimants of incapacity benefit launched today will hit the most vulnerable in society. Read full article
1 November, 2008
Armagh Sinn Féin Councillor for the Orchard Ward Paul Corrigan and his party colleague, Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Boylan, have welcomed the proposed Traffic Calming Scheme for Charlemont Village. Read full article
1 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Mary Doyle has described those responsible for breaking into a house in the Seaghan Rd area, outside Armagh City as Savages. Read full article
1 November, 2008
Chairperson of Newry and Mourne Councils A1 Beechill to Cloughoge Bypass Liaison Committee, Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has stated that the recent overnight vandalism on mechanical vehicles being used by contractors working along the A1 Bypass on the stretch of road from Cloughoge to Newry had actively disabled numerous mechanical vehicles such as Diggers and had caused unnecessary delays to the ongoing construction work. Read full article
1 November, 2008
Sinn Féin's Mickey Brady this week hosted the Institute for the International Education of Students in Stormont.
Mr. Brady answered questions on Irish politics and the workings of the Assembly.
Feedback from the students was very positive and they all agreed that the talk was very informative and enjoyable. Read full article
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