In Briefs

Students protest in Dublin

Several members of the Union of Students in Ireland occupied Fianna Fáil headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday as students took to the streets to protest grant levels that are below the standard of living and punitive registration fees. The third level students were also reminding the new Education Minister, Mary Hanafin, of their complete opposition to the reintroduction of tuition fees. Ógra Shinn Féin participated in the protests.

More maternity and paternity leave needed

Speaking on Tuesday during the second stage debate on the Adoptive Leave Bill, Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan called for increases in adoptive and maternity leave entitlements and the introduction of paternity leave. Morgan pointed out that statutory maternity benefit in Ireland remains low in comparison to other EU states, and called for the total period of leave to be increased to 26 weeks. He also slammed the government for the 26 Counties' notorious record on paternity leave - it currently lies bottom of the list in Europe, with no leave offered to either expectant or adoptive fathers. Morgan was also sharply critical of the government's failure to provide accessible and affordable childcare for new parents.

Budget '05 must end child poverty

The 'End Child Poverty Coalition' has called for Budget 2005 to fund the government's commitment to end poverty for young people in Ireland. At the launch on Wednesday of the document they will be submitting for the budget, the group outlined their recommendations and pointed out that at least 66,000 Irish children live in consistent poverty, and 237,000 live in households with incomes below the poverty line. John Mark McCafferty of the Society of St Vincent de Paul has called on new Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to ensure the budget makes provisions for previously promised Child Benefit increases, and provides for the first Child Dependant Allowance increase since the payment level was frozen in 1994. The group also called for money to be provided for more medical cards for children, as well as for education and making sure all children are housed.

Government not supporting UN

The Dublin Government has been called upon to make the development of the UN's own capacity to prevent genocide a priority by Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh. The Dublin TD described it as the "single most urgent matter facing the international community", after the new Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea confirmed on Tuesday that the government had not yet made their decision on whether Ireland will commit forces to the proposed new EU battle groups. Ó Snodaigh urged O'Dea to deliver a clear and unequivocal statement that he will at the very least clearly prioritise deployment of Irish Defence Forces on UN-led operations and not with regional military alliances such as the EU Rapid Reaction Force.

Wicklow's 'Keystone Councillors'

Wicklow Sinn Féin chair David Gahan has accused the county's local representatives of behaving like 'keystone councillors' in their attitude to planning in the county.

"They managed to ram through 17 amendments in a state of bedlam almost three months ago," Gahan said this week. "Now after they have had all this time to reflect, investigate and consult constituents, they cannot even handle half of them."

Gahan renewed his call for Environment Minister Dick Roche to launch an investigation into the council's antics, saying some of its proposed re-zoning is amateurish and hamfisted.

Loyalists attack Newington homes

Sinn Féin Councillor for North Belfast Carál Ní Chuilín has described as a worrying development the resumption of serious attacks by loyalists on nationalist homes in Newington.

At 3pm on Tuesday, a group of loyalists used derelict houses on Halliday's Road in Tigers Bay to gain access to the back roof of nationalist homes in Newington. They proceeded to smash residents' windows with hammers and cudgels. One house in particular had several windows smashed.

Ní Chuilín said the attack in broad daylight was a worrying resumption of serious attacks on nationalist homes.

Death threat for building worker

Sinn Féin Councillor for Ardoyne, Margaret McClenaghan, has slammed the loyalist death threat against an Ardoyne resident working in Carrickfergus.

The death threat, issued by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for the UDA, stated that if the man returned to work at a construction site in the Sunnylands Estate, he would be shot.

This follows previous intimidation attempts where loyalist band music was played at the workplace and the toolshed was targeted by arsonists.

The man was shaken and has not been able to return to work.