Campaigning for Ardoyne

Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McCabe has brought the Ardoyne community's campaign to the heart of government. Sport, evictions and youth services were raised by the delegation with the DSD Minister on Monday
"Ardoyne's voice needs heard at every opportunity and I raised threatened evictions, youth funding and sports facilities with the DSD Minister," said the Ardoyne councillor.
"Sinn Féin have been campaigning for local tenants under threat of eviction due to property companies going bust and I took this chance to put it on the minister’s table.
“The Bone Hills leisure proposal was also raised along with concerns about short term funding from the SDLP Minister for long term youth projects," said Gerry.
"While it is vital to continue to press home the concerns of Ardoyne people I'm not convinced we heard the answers we needed from Alex Attwood. However we will engage positively with government to advance every equality battle."

Praise for Newington residents

Sinn Fein's Mary Clarke has welcomed builders in Newington pledge to secure sites after hours.
"Children are climbing up scaffolding into building sites and are at risk of serious injury,” said Mary.
“This site in Newington needs secured after hours as children will naturally explore and aren't aware of the dangers involved.
“I fully support the work of the Newington Residents to have this site secured and am appealing to local parents to keep children away from building sites.
“These homes are much needed by this community and it’s essential building work is completed safely.
“Damage is also being caused to the site by vandalism and securing the area is in everyone's interest.
“The pledge to secure this site is welcome and praise must go to local people for ensuring children are kept safe," said the Sinn Féin spokesperson.

Leaders must lead – Lavery

After the latest attack on a Fire Crew in North Belfast. Sinn Féin's Danny Lavery said it is important we defend our workers.
“Yet again Fire Crews have been attacked as they came to the rescue of our community,” said Danny.
“Every single time this happens leaders must lead from the front. I'm publicly challenging those responsible that your reckless, mindless actions could cause someone’s death, it's as stark and as dangerous as that.
“This community is 100-per-cent behind our Fire Crews and we are showing that here today in the face of this latest disgusting attack.
“Be it workers injured or fire engines damaged, just stop and think, it could easily be your own family who's life is being put at risk." said the Sinn Féin Councillor.

Mental health services being under-resourced – Ní Chuilín

Local Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has questioned why the numbers of patients on waiting lists to see a mental health consultant are not being kept by area.

Ní Chuilín was speaking after she submitted a written question in the Assembly to health minister Michael McGimpsey asking for a breakdown of how many people are on the mental health waiting list by constituency area.

However the minister responded saying the information is not available in that format. The Health and Social Care Board keep waiting list figures by Trust area, but not by areas such as North or West Belfast.

The Sinn Féin MLA said in an area such as North Belfast where depression and mental health problems are widespread, figures for how many people are on the waiting list should be available.

“The fact that mental health statistics are not held to show how many and how long people are waiting to see a professional is just not acceptable,” said Ní Chuilín.
“It’s a further indication of mental health services being under-resourced and the Cinderella Service of the health department.

“In North Belfast with such high levels of suicide and self harm, how can the health service be held to account effectively if we can’t measure performance through factual data?

“We wouldn’t accept this in any other public body and given we are talking about our most vulnerable citizens with mental health needs, this revelation is completely outrageous.”

Councillor acts on sports pitch flooding

Local councillor Gerard McCabe said flooding at the multi sports facility in the Waterworks needs remedied after children turning up for soccer training recently were told the sessions could not go ahead because of health and safety reasons.

McCabe said the facility is one of the few sites for kids in the area and that it was resurfaced in August last year to the cost of £38,000.

"Obviously the job needs to be looked at again because of the flooding in vast areas of the pitch. The fact that young kids aren't able to use the facility makes this even more urgent,” said the Sinn Féin representative.
"It is used not only by young people but also for late night soccer and if it rains users run the risk of being hurt on the surface.

"Due to the fact that this facility is open late nights at weekends to give young people an alternative to standing on street corners, the problem needs to be address as a matter of urgency."
He also added that he will be looking into the lack of changing facilities at the site.

"The sports facility is used by approximately 70,000 visitors per year and there are no changing facilities for young people. I am aware that there was money available but because of difficulties over planning it was shelved. I will be taking up the issue with Belfast City Council's parks and leisure department," said Gerard.

Finucane anniversary remembered with artwork

A new piece of artwork in memory of Pat Finucane was unveiled on the eve of the 22nd anniversary of the solicitor’s murder, Pat’s brother Seamus Finucane represented the Finucane family at Relatives for Justice’s Falls Road office where the art was unveiled.

The glass mosaic is the work of local artist Paul McGivern who said he was “honoured” to have been able to create the work in memory of the North Belfast human rights solicitor who was gunned down by the UDA at his family home in Fortwilliam on February 12 1989.
Pat’s brother Seamus told those assembled that he hopes justice will prevail in his brother’s case.

“After 22 years we are still trying to achieve truth and justice,” he said. “In that struggle, the human dimension may have been lost. Twenty-two years ago today I met my wife, she never met Pat. Now I have a granddaughter who has never seen Pat. Sadly, there are many families like us. We now hope the British government will do the right thing and implement an independent inquiry into Pat’s death.

“I want to thank RFJ for organising this, it’s a real honour to be here. I want to thank Paul, who found the energy, time and inspiration to pay tribute to Pat. This is a very fitting site for the artwork.”

RFJ’s JJ Magee paid tribute to the Finucane family for their determination over the past 22 years.
“It has been 22 years since Pat was brutally murdered,” he said.
“Pat was a family man, a husband, a father, a brother, a colleague and an officer of the court who represented many of the families who work with RFJ in their quest for justice.Credit must go to the Finucane family who, despite every obstacle that has been placed before them, continue their search for justice. The determination to get the truth is still there.

“When we lift the lid on what happened to Pat, we lift the lid on the collusion that took place in other incidents.
“As a friend of Pat's I am very honoured to be here with Seamus Finucane to unveil the portrait. This mural is very much at home here at RFJ.”

Victory in education campaign

Speaking as it was announced in the Assembly that the UUP Minister wouldn't abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance, Sinn Féin Councillor Mary Ellen Campbell said the announcement is very welcome.

"Sinn Féin have campaigned for our young people to be supported through EMA and this announcement is very welcome.

“Our most disadvantaged students will continue to be funded to stay in education rather than be forced into a low waged and stagnant job market."

“Tory slash and burn policies have abolished this allowance in England at the stroke of a pen. This Assembly decision is a clear example of power in local people's hands being used to stop that right wing reactionary agenda.

“We will be holding the Minister to his word on this issue on behalf of our most disadvantaged young people.”