Families at risk of poverty above European average
On Wednesday April 18th the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill was debated in the Dáil. Mick addressed the dificulties encountered by of two single parents in county Wexford due to changes to the social welfare system. 62.7% of single parent families are at risk of poverty, showing the inequalities of the current system. He also points out that the percentage of irish people at risk of [...]
Medical Treatment Bill defeated in Dail
Mick reads the letter of an Irish woman whose child's medical condition was not compatible with life.
Following the failure of six successive Governments to legislate for the findings of the X case, Mick Wallace TD, Clare Daly TD and Joan Collins TD introduced the Medical Treatment Bill 2012 in the Dail on Wednesday April 18th. The Bill [...]
Mahon Tribunal recommendations need to be implemented
The Mahon Tribunal Report was released on March 22nd and was debated in the Dáil on Wednesday March 28th. The report confirmed what was more or less suspected over the past number of years with all deputies condemning its findings. In his address Mick looks at some of the findings of the report and how they [...]
We need to invest in employment to recover
Sinn Féin brought its Private Members’ Business Motion on the European Stability Mechanism in front of the Dáil on March 22nd. In supporting the motion Mick speaks about mass unemployment across Europe and the consequences of severe austerity measures. Investment has meant job growth in the American market for the past 23 months and Mick calls [...]
Justice needed for symphysiotomy survivors
The out-dated practice of symphysiotomy was debated in the Dáil on March 15th in front of a large gathering of survivors who watched from the public gallery. Symphysiotomy is a barbaric medical procedure which was used before the advent of caesarean section. This practice went on in Ireland from 1920 up until the early 1980s. [...]
Irish soldiers sent to Afghanistan
At present there are 526 Irish soldiers serving in 11 different countries around the world. Seven of these soldiers are currently based in Afghanistan where violence has flared over the past number of weeks with stories surfacing of American and British soldiers abusing Afghani civilians. Is there a need for our soldiers to be based in countries like [...]
Community Employment Schemes worth supporting
On March 1st, Sinn Féin Deputy Dessie Ellis submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton regarding the changes to the Community Employment Scheme. Following the Minister’s response Mick made reference to the situation of a number of groups in Wexford and cited the need for the retention of these schemes as they have massive social benefits for [...]
There’s a serious democratic deficit in Europe
The latest European Council meeting takes place on March 1st and 2nd in Brussels. On Wednesday, February 29th the Taoiseach addressed the Dáil on the forthcoming meeting. Following his briefing, deputies made statements encouraging the Taoiseach to raise certain issues. During Mick’s submission he asked that the latest Greek bailout be questioned as well as the [...]
Selling state assets is short sighted
Sinn Féin’s State Assets Motion was debated in the Dáil on Wednesday, February 29th. The motion calls on the Government to review its decision to privitise state assets and enterprises given the potential these bodies have to return profits to the state. In supporting the motion Mick insisted that retaining state assets was imperative as their [...]
Gilmore u-turns on Shannon and extraordinary rendition
Earlier this week, Mick questioned Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on the use of Shannon airport by US forces as a stopover point for extraordinary rendition; he asked if the Tánaiste accepted the evidence presented by Amnesty International and others in relation to this matter and called on the government to initiate an enquiry into the State’s participation in [...]
