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Health Crisis: Sinn Féin's alternative

Next week Sinn Féin launches a campaign for Healthcare as a Right based on the comprehensive new party policy Healthcare in an Ireland of Equals, adopted by the Ard Fheis earlier this year. Focussing initially on the crisis in the health services in the 26 Counties, the campaign will see Sinn Féin presenting an alternative to the current system and proposing ways to bring practical improvements that will be of real benefit to patients. An Phoblacht spoke to Sinn Féin Dáil leader and spokesperson on Health and Children Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin TD.

Interview: Arthur Morgan TD Sinn Féin member of the BIPB

Sinn Féin member of the British-Irish Inter Parliamentary Body (BIIPB) Arthur Morgan TD spoke to An Phoblacht's ARAN FOLEY on Tuesday about the body and the DUP's presentation to it last weekend.

Photo: Arthur Morgan TD

Irish unity: Call for government to publish Green paper

Following the Government's revived Easter 1916 commemoration the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was challenged by Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin to implement the Proclamation by working for Irish reunification. As the Dáil resumed after the Easter break, Ó Caoláin called on Ahern to publish a Green Paper on Irish Unity and provide for Six-County representation in the Oireachtas.

Photo: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

Sinn Féin responds to IMC report

Responding on Wednesday to a report from the so-called Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness said: "The IMC were established outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. In our view it has no positive or constructive role to play in the peace process. They have provided the pretext for political discrimination against democratically elected politicians", McGuinness said.

Photo: Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness

Orange marches: Stabbings, shootings and threats

A nationalist family forced to flee in Derry and a gang knife attack in Ballymena are the most serious of a spate of sectarian incidents reported as this year's Orange marching season gets underway. Parades by the Apprentice Boys last week marked the beginning of the annual unionist marching season. Throughout the summer members of the Loyal Orders hold over 3,000 parades peaking in July with Orangemen marching throughout the Six Counties on the Twelfth.

Health crisis: Privatisation agenda slammed

Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin TD has described "bizarre and self-congratulatory" the motion on Accident and Emergency services tabled by the Government in the Dáil on Wednesday. Ó Caolain said the Government had "lost the plot". He called for the provision of the additional 3000 hospital beds needed in the public hospital system and slammed the privatisation agenda being pursued by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney.

Photo: Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin TD

1916-2006: Easter Commemorations

Hundreds of people gathered in Crossbarry, West Cork last weekend to mark the 85th anniversary of one of the biggest military engagements of the War of Independence between the British Army and Tom Barry's West Cork flying column. The proceedings were opened by the Chair of the Kilmichael/Crossbarry Committee Con O'Callaghan and the main speaker was North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly. Pearse Gunn read the Proclamation. Sinn Féin Councillors Donnacha O Sé and John Desmond were in attendance.

Belfast 1916 Volunteer honoured

Laura McAree, Mayor of Kerry Toireasa Ní Fhearaoisa, Liam McAree, Terry and Frank McKenna at the newly painted mural in memory of Charlie Monahan on Mountpottinger Road

Charlie Monahan, from Ballymacarret in East Belfast, was the first Volunteer from Ulster to die on active service in 1916. His name is the first name on the B company Roll of Honour which is sited in the Short Strand, East Belfast and it was in the small nationalist area on Sunday, 23 April that up to 1,000 republicans marched to commemorate Monahan.

Photo: Laura McAree, Mayor of Kerry Toireasa Ní Fhearaoisa, Liam McAree, Terry and Frank McKenna at the newly painted mural in memory of Charlie Monahan on Mountpottinger Road

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