Divisions within the DUP about the approach to MLA expenses claims – Ní Chuilín

Commenting after the DUP removed from the Assembly Commission Stephen Moutray the MLA who had negotiated and agreed with all the other parties a new transparent expenses regime in Stormont which would have seen cuts in the claims of individual MLAs before the rest of the DUP party blocked the new system, Sinn Féin Assembly member Carál Ní Chuilín said;

“In the wake of the DUP Assembly members failure to back a new expenses regime which would have seen a reduction in expenses for individual MLAs and greater transparency in the system, they have now removed their representative on the Assembly Commission Stephen Moutray, who had for the past six months been working on the new arrangements and replaced him with Peter Weir.

“It is clear that there are divisions within the DUP about the approach to MLA expenses claims. For months Mr Moutray worked with other parties and came to agreement on the new transparent system. His Assembly colleagues obviously felt unable to live with such an open system and Mr Moutray has now paid the price with his removal from the Assembly Commission.

“In these times of proposed financial cutbacks politicians need to be seen to take a lead. Unfortunately the DUP do not seem to have accepted this. They seem to think that things should simply proceed as before. This has been their approach to local government reform and the Educational Skills Authority.

“But given the controversy, particularly around individual DUP members claims, the rental of certain properties and the employment of relatives people would rightly have believed that on the issue of MLAs expenses that even the most out of touch DUP member would realise that continuing as before is not an option.”

Leonard welcomes Parades Commission determination on Coleraine march

Sinn Féin east Derry MLA Billy Leonard has welcomed the decision by the Parades Commission to prevent a Orange Parade from passing the spot where Kevin McDaid was murdered last year.


“I welcome this move by the Parades Commission; it will go some way to reducing tension and the potential for tension," said Leonard.

"I think it is wholly inappropriate to have an Orange parade past the spot where Kevin McDaid was brutally murdered.

"Much work is ongoing in the area to try and ease intercommunity tensions and I commend that work however we have to realise the hurt and offense that this parade could cause and it is only sheer common sense that the Parades Commission should take this appropriate decision."

Community united against attacks says Sinn Féin

Speaking today after the latest in a series of attacks on community workers in North Belfast Sinn Fein local MLA Gerry Kelly said:

“Firstly let me extend a message of solidarity from the community of North Belfast to Mary Kelly after this latest bomb attack on her home. This is one in a series of attacks on the homes of community leaders in this constituency and we are calling for the PSNI to act promptly to bring the culprits before the courts,” said Kelly.

"This attack was not just dangerous to Mary and her family but disrupted neighbours and put them out of their homes overnight. I wish to thank those who opened the local community centre to provide refuge during this incident.

"The leadership shown on the ground by community workers like Mary is hugely valued across the area. The previous attack resulted in a strong and united show of support by all political representatives and activists. These attacks have to be faced down and only serve to unify us all in that approach."

DUP simply not coming clean on Assembly Allowance Reform – Ní Chuilín

Sinn Féin Chief Whip Carál Ní Chuilín has today said that the arguments put forward by the DUP in relation to reforming MLA’s allowances simply aren’t true.

“This Bill came about after Sinn Féin refused to vote for MLA pay rises. Sinn Féin was the only political party against pay increases for MLA’s. The DUP are actually trying to ensure that MLA’s are in control of setting their own salaries,” said Ní Chuilín.

“The work to change current procedure has been ongoing in the Assembly Commission for months now and the DUP, represented by Stephen Mourtray, have been right in the heart of the discussions and work.

“The DUP agreed with the other parties on the way forward the Repeal Bill, which would change the current arrangements for salaries and has been on the order paper for 2 weeks. Yesterday the DUP assembly team meets and vetoes DUP support for the Bill. They need to explain their reasons for doing so.

“Let’s be clear on what this is about; an adoption of the new procedures. The DUP MLAs can be accused of looking after themselves at a time of economic cuts and hardship. Many people are now questioning the DUP’s motivation

Their position is disgraceful.”

Fine Gael not trusted on National Question and the north

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP this afternoon led a leadership Sinn Féin delegation in a meeting with a visiting delegation from Fine Gael led by Party Leader Enda Kenny TD.

The Sinn Féin delegation included deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA; Michelle Gildernew MP MLA and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Caoimhghin O Caoláin TD and party leader in the Dáil; Michelle O Neill MLA and Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.

Speaking to the media Mr. Adams described the meeting as “frank but good”.

Mr. Adams rejected Enda Kenny’s position in respect of Sinn Féin:

“It is deeply offensive to those who elect me and other Sinn Féin representatives that a senior politician in Leinster House doesn’t uphold the democratic rights of those who vote republican across this island and their right to chose whoever they want to represent them.

This has nothing to do with the IRA. The IRA has long since left the stage. So quite frankly, and I told Enda this, most democrats, nationalists and republicans don’t trust Fine Gael on the national question or on the north.

We are pleased to have Fine Gael here. They’re not here often enough otherwise they wouldn’t make such silly statements.

For the Fine Gael leader to say such silly things on a visit to Parliament Buildings and at a meeting in which the only government Ministers present are Sinn Féin Ministers, only feeds into those on the unionist and on the fringes of the nationalist side who are opposed to the peace process.

We had a useful discussion covering many issues and I welcome the fact that on some of these we found agreement, for example, two years ago the Dáil passed an all-party motion supporting a full investigation Dublin Monaghan bombs and asking the Taoiseach to raise this issue with the British government.

To this day the Taoiseach has not raised that issue with the British PM.”

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhin O Caloain speaking to the media on this issue said:

“I raised with the Fine Gael delegation the fact that the Justice for All group which is the only victims group in the 26 counties arising out of the conflict, will see its funding end shortly. I asked for Fine Gael support in pressing for this to continue and I was pleased with the response I received from the Fine Gael leader.

Sinn Féin continue to raise concerns on Welfare Reform Bill

Sinn Féin Social Development Committee members Carál Ní Chuilín, Mickey Brady and Fra McCann has once again outlined the party’s deep reservations concerning the Welfare Reform Bill which is currently passing through the Assembly.

At last weeks initial debate Sinn Féin tabled a number of amendments to the Bill which were defeated following the other parties voted them down.

Speaking ahead of the Bill coming before the Assembly for further consideration stage tomorrow, Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady said;

“Sinn Féin has serious reservations about much of the proposals contained in this Bill; that is why we tabled a number of amendments in an aim to improve the legislation

Sinn Féin will not support sanctions against lone parents. We will not allow the passage of this Bill to proceed without opposition against these proposals and support for the most vulnerable in our society.

The other parties may be content with regulating sanctions, Sinn Féin are not.

Obviously there are aspects of the social security system here that need reformed; however we are not in favour of reform simply for the sake of it.

Fundamentally, we should not be punishing those who find themselves out of work for perfectly legitimate reasons.

The other parties, and the SDLP in particular, have very serious questions to answer about why they are bringing forward legislation that will attack the weakest within our society.”

“Implications of British Budget a cause for serious concern” –

Sinn Féin Economy Spokesperson, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (South Antrim) has voiced serious concern about the implications of the British Budget due to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd June).

Mitchel McLaughlin said:

“While we will have to take account of the implications of the British government’s budget on our spending, I don’t believe that the British chancellor takes consideration of the impact his decisions will have on the ability of the Executive to invest in economic recovery here.

“While the Chancellor will take measures to protect areas such as Health and Education in Britain, this protection will be of no assistance here. This is just another example of the fact that without the ability to raise finance through measures such as additional tax-varying or borrowing powers we have no choice but to manage the cuts to our steadily reducing budget, imposed by London.

“I have been encouraged by recent comments by economic analysts in support of the transfer of increased fiscal powers to the Executive. I would now call on those political parties who oppose such an approach for ideological reasons to examine in pragmatic and practical terms, the benefits that would flow from such powers. It’s no good lamenting the financial difficulties that we face in consequence to the negative impact tomorrows’ expected cuts will have if we are unwilling to seek adequate powers to better manage our finances.”