Latest news with #MaryLouMcDonald
Irish Times
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin moves to overhaul party structures after series of scandals
Sinn Féin has moved to overhaul its governance structures after the party was rocked by a series of scandals last year. In a message to the ard comhairle, Sinn Féin's governing body, party general secretary Sam Baker said the moves were initiated by party leader Mary Lou McDonald following separate incidents of 'inappropriate behaviour' by several now former elected representatives and staff. A former party press officer, Michael McMonagle, was last year jailed for child sexual offences . It also emerged that the former Sinn Féin leader in the Seanad, Niall Ó Donnghaile, resigned after sending inappropriate texts to a 16-year-old . The party did not disclose the reason for his resignation at the time. READ MORE Separately, Brian Stanley , the party's former Laois-Offaly TD, now an Independent deputy, resigned after a draft report by the party reached a provisional conclusion of gross misconduct against him, following a complaint by a woman of sexual harassment. Mr Stanley denied any wrongdoing and disputed the events in question, insisting the complaint was politically motivated. He contested how the inquiry was conducted. In his message, Mr Baker said a King's Counsel has been commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of Sinn Féin's disciplinary procedures. He said a full-time external human resource manager has been commissioned. An independent expert has also be appointed to undertake an audit and offer recommendations on how to improve the party's human resources handbook for employees. A social work and safeguarding consultant has completed a draft of a Sinn Féin child protection policy and the party has appointed a national corporate governance director, he added. 'Now that we can report significant progress, it is now essential that the party nationally urgently adopts the new policies and processes which have been developed with the assistance of independent expert advice,' Mr Baker wrote. Ms McDonald said: 'We are committed to ensuring the highest level of governance across Sinn Féin and that party management, staff and members are all aware of their responsibilities. Governance will be an ongoing part of our work and we will be reviewing all aspects of this annually.' A spokesman for the party said a report earlier on Wednesday, which suggested the review had resulted in its former MP and European Parliament candidate Michelle Gildernew losing her position with the party, was incorrect. The party said a 'number of totally unconnected processes within the party' had been 'mistakenly conflated'. 'A small number of staff who were on short-term temporary contracts finished their posts at different times over the last three months,' the spokesman said. 'One of them was Michelle Gildernew. I have no doubt that Michelle will continue to be at the heart of what we do, and I hope will be available for other posts.'
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Opposition stage protest in Dáil over sale of Israeli war bonds
The Dáil chamber was at almost full capacity on Wednesday night with a number of bills to be voted on. One of which was Sinn Féin's motion which looked to stop Ireland's involvement in the sale of Israeli war bonds. During a debate on the bill yesterday protests took place in the public gallery of the Dáil chamber. The Government had indicated prior to the vote that it would not support the bill for legal reasons. Throughout the day there has been a large protest in support of Palestine outside the gates of Leinster House. This evening the bill was defeated 87 votes to 75. After the defeat was declared by the Ceann Comhairle, Opposition TDs from parties including Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats and People Before Profit stood up and held signs that said 'stop financing genocide' and 'ban Israeli bonds'. One TD on the opposition benches could be heard from the government benches shouting 'they're at it again' and as government TDs filed out of the chamber, opposition TDs chanted 'shame'. 'Shame on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. They have just voted down Sinn Féin's Bill to stop the Irish Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds,' Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said after the protest. 'These bonds pay for the weapons used to slaughter men, women and children in their tens of thousands. ADVERTISEMENT 'This flies in the face of ordinary Irish people who stand for an end to the genocide, for an end to the occupation, for a free Palestine,' she added. Independent TDs, Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, voted with the Sinn Féin Israeli bonds bill - and against the Government, despite being Government-supporting TDs. Mr Heneghan said Ireland should not be facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds and said it is a "matter of conscience". "I'm voting for the bill because Ireland shouldn't facilitate the sale of bonds that help fund the devastation in Gaza.," he said in a statement afterwards. "This is about standing up for international law and basic human rights. I'm fully committed to the Programme for Government, but as an Independent TD, I reserve the right to act on matters of conscience. The situation is urgent, and Ireland must show leadership."
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Sinn Féin appoints new HR manager after McMonagle review
Sinn Féin has appointed a new HR manager after an overhaul of the party's internal governance procedures prompted by the Michael McMonagle - who was jailed last year for child sex offences - had worked as a party press officer and for several Sinn Féin elected party came under pressure last October after it emerged two Sinn Féin press officers had provided job references for McMonagle while he was under faced further criticism after it emerged one of its senators Niall O Donnaghaile had been suspended for sending inappropriate texts to a teenage boy. Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has now published a progress report into the review, which began following questions over the party's handling of child protection issues. The party said it had "consulted external professionals as part of this work" and has appointed a new HR Manager, who started on 6 May, alongside a new post of Director of National Corporate said the director would be responsible for driving forward corporate governance, statutory compliance, and management processes within the party."A Governance Hub has also been put in place, under the General Secretary which involves senior managers with responsibility for HR, safeguarding and child protection, discipline, training, financial regulation and data protection. It held its inaugural meeting earlier this month," she added."A number of other pieces of work, being produced by external professionals, are at an advanced stage."The party's Child Protection policy has been updated by an Independent Consultancy and Safeguarding Service. A single, comprehensive Employee Handbook is being finalised for use across the country in accordance with employment law and relevant statutory rights and obligations." 'Committed to ensuring the highest level of governance' Work looking at the party's disciplinary procedures to strengthen current procedures and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processing complaints will also be finalised in the coming weeks."We are committed to ensuring the highest level of governance across Sinn Féin and that party management, staff and members are all aware of their responsibilities," added McDonald."Governance will be an ongoing part of our work and we will be reviewing all aspects of this annually."
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
'Let's call a spade a spade': Israeli government 'committing genocide in Gaza', Taoiseach says
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has told the Dáil that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza, in his strongest condemnation of Israel's actions to date. He made the comments during Leaders' Questions today in response to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who asked if the Government will take action to stop the Irish Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli bonds in the EU. The Government is not supporting a bill put forward by Sinn Féin on the matter. Defending that decision, the Taoiseach said: 'The focus must be relentlessly on the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli Government, which is made up of extreme far-right elements, who are committing genocide in Gaza right now. Let us call a spade a spade.' Later during the session, Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan pointed to the fact that the Taoiseach has 'recognised that what is happening in Gaza is genocide' and said Ireland has a legal obligation under the genocide convention to do 'everything we can' to stop genocide. The Taoiseach's comments today come as Israeli strikes on Gaza continue. Advertisement Yesterday, the health ministry in Gaza said that at least 3,822 people had been killed in the territory since Israel broke a ceasefire on 18 March. Asked again by reporters this afternoon about the Government's opposition to Sinn Féin's bill on the Israeli bonds, the Taoiseach said the war in Gaza is a 'genocide at this stage'. 'Particularly in terms of the attack on entire families. And we witnessed that recently with a family of nine children being massacred. It's a slaughter that must stop,' he said. The Taoiseach has previously said, in November last year, that Israel's actions in Gaza are 'genocidal' and more recently said that Israel is committing war crimes. He made the war crimes comment earlier this month in relation to Israel's siege of the Gaza strip. 'Israel's continuing humanitarian blockade is pushing Gaza closer to a hunger crisis,' Martin said at the time. 'This must be lifted immediately. It is simply wrong in principle and in law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population, whatever the circumstances. This behaviour clearly constitutes a war crime.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Clash in Dáil over bill to ban purchase of Israeli bonds
The Taoiseach and Sinn Féin leader have clashed over a bill which would ban the Central Bank from purchasing Israeli bonds. Sinn Féin had brought a bill to the Dáil on Tuesday, with the debate interrupted as one man was arrested during a protest in the Dáil visitors' gallery. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe had been speaking when the large group began to chant, wave signs and flags, and bang on the safety glass. Leinster House ushers were joined by gardaí as they attempted to clear the group who chanted "shame", "stop the genocide" and "free free Palestine". The disruption lasted several minutes with one man being arrested. The group continued their protest outside the gates of Leinster House. Speaking during Wednesday's Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Finance Minister's speech was "shameful" and "gave the water-weak mealy-mouthed and baseless excuses for the Government's opposition to the legislation". "The Minister stated that he is advised that the Bill might be judged inconsistent with EU law. That is bogus. We have over 20 pages of independent robust legal opinion clearly stating that the Bill is compliant with Irish law, European law and international law," she added. The Minister should know that Ireland is fully entitled under EU law to unilaterally restrict access to our financial services and that we are legally entitled to make that decision on public-policy grounds, including pursuing our international law obligations. So Government has no sound legal advice on these matters. "The Government's reasons for opposing the Bill are exposed as bluff. The emperor has no clothes. It is precisely the tactic the Taoiseach has used to delay and hollow out the Occupied Territories Bill." In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused Sinn Féin of "trying to drive a wedge" and of "bandying" words "such as facilitate and complicit in genocide which are false". "The latest now is this issue in terms of the Central Bank's role in issuing prospectuses. The Deputy and I know that the Central Bank does not approve and does not issue or sell, or oversee the sale of, Israeli bonds. The Deputy knows that, but the truth does not matter in the situation." The clashes followed a debate on a Labour motion calling for Ireland to push for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly and to establish a peacekeeping force in Gaza. In response to that motion, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he considered the request for a UN session "to be a constructive request". He said a mechanism called the Uniting For Peace resolution to which the Labour motion refers to, dates from the time of the Korean War in 1950. "The reality is that only once, in 70 years, back in 1956, has the resolution been used to establish a peacekeeping force. This was under very specific circumstances at the time, in which all the parties and the key members of the Security Council were in agreement. Sadly, similar circumstances do not exist today." Read More Tánaiste urges other countries to recognise Palestine as a state
