16 October 1997 Edition
Sinn Féin supports new services for addicts
A new community support service for drug addicts and their families proposed for the Donore area of Dublin was debated at public meetings in the area last week.
The meetings were organised by the Donore Community Drug Team as part of a comprehensive programme of consultation with the local community.
Meetings were attended by Sinn Féin activists Martina Kenna and Daithaí Doolin who strongly supported the provision of increased support services for local addicts.
Sinn Féin members staged a picket in Blanchardstown Village, Dublin on Saturday, 11 October calling for the release of all political prisoners. Blanchardstown Sinn Féin representative Paul Donnelly called for the release of Irish political prisoners. In particular he called for the release of local man Liam O'Duibhir from Castleknock who is serving 35 years in England for political offences. Paul Donnelly said: ``If it was not for the conflict in the nrthern part of our country, then people like Liam would not be incarcerated in jails in Britain. Not only the repatriation but the release of all political prisoners is one of the keys to a lasting peace in Ireland.''
A packed public meeting at the Clonsilla Inn in West Dublin heard local Sinn Féin representative Paul Donnelly pledge the party's continuing support for the campaign against water charges.
Paul Donnelly told the meeting, organised by the Federation of Anti Water Charges Campaigns, that only the prevoius week the controller and auditor general disclosed that they were prepared yet again to write off £1,141 of the £1,690 million that is owed in unpaid taxes, therefore estimating that they will only collect £549 million of taxes owed. ``Compare that to the hounding of ordinary, decent PAYE taxpayers who refused to pay taxes through the backdoor. If the government can write off hundreds of millions in back taxes, then they must also write of the arrears of those who refused to be intimidated'', he said.
Donnelly said Sinn Féin would continue to expose the double standards regarding taxation and said that the issue would be raised with the two local Fianna Fáil TDs.
Motion blocked
A debate on a motion calling for the release of political prisoners by Fermanagh District Council was prevented on Monday, 5 October. The Chief Executive put a Standing Order on the motion stating that it wasn't relevant to council business. A two thirds majority was needed to discuss the motion but vote resulted in nine votes to nine, preventing debate.
Relatives and friends of political prisoners from Fermanagh stood outside the council officesin support of the calkl for their release and also calling for the transfer of of prisoners in England as a first step in their release.
The meetings were organised by the Donore Community Drug Team as part of a comprehensive programme of consultation with the local community.
Meetings were attended by Sinn Féin activists Martina Kenna and Daithaí Doolin who strongly supported the provision of increased support services for local addicts.
Blanchardstown support for political prisoners
Sinn Féin members staged a picket in Blanchardstown Village, Dublin on Saturday, 11 October calling for the release of all political prisoners. Blanchardstown Sinn Féin representative Paul Donnelly called for the release of Irish political prisoners. In particular he called for the release of local man Liam O'Duibhir from Castleknock who is serving 35 years in England for political offences. Paul Donnelly said: ``If it was not for the conflict in the nrthern part of our country, then people like Liam would not be incarcerated in jails in Britain. Not only the repatriation but the release of all political prisoners is one of the keys to a lasting peace in Ireland.''
Sinn Féin support for anti-water charges campaign
A packed public meeting at the Clonsilla Inn in West Dublin heard local Sinn Féin representative Paul Donnelly pledge the party's continuing support for the campaign against water charges.
Paul Donnelly told the meeting, organised by the Federation of Anti Water Charges Campaigns, that only the prevoius week the controller and auditor general disclosed that they were prepared yet again to write off £1,141 of the £1,690 million that is owed in unpaid taxes, therefore estimating that they will only collect £549 million of taxes owed. ``Compare that to the hounding of ordinary, decent PAYE taxpayers who refused to pay taxes through the backdoor. If the government can write off hundreds of millions in back taxes, then they must also write of the arrears of those who refused to be intimidated'', he said.
Donnelly said Sinn Féin would continue to expose the double standards regarding taxation and said that the issue would be raised with the two local Fianna Fáil TDs.
Motion blocked
A debate on a motion calling for the release of political prisoners by Fermanagh District Council was prevented on Monday, 5 October. The Chief Executive put a Standing Order on the motion stating that it wasn't relevant to council business. A two thirds majority was needed to discuss the motion but vote resulted in nine votes to nine, preventing debate.
Relatives and friends of political prisoners from Fermanagh stood outside the council officesin support of the calkl for their release and also calling for the transfer of of prisoners in England as a first step in their release.