The party’s communities spokesperson said:

“Many families in the North will be living in cold, damp homes, and they too will be struggling to find anyone that will listen and take action.

“A recent poll commissioned last year by NEA found that 43% of respondents had been affected by damp and mould, showing the scale of the problem. If that statistic doesn’t act as a wake-up call, then I’m not sure what would.

“Housing standards are long out of date and not fit for purpose while the housing needs to be more energy efficient particularly in older properties to tackle the issue of damp and mould.

“The Warm, Healthy Homes Fund aims to enable lower income families to make some adaptations to their homes in order to make them more energy efficient.

“However, families are struggling not only because of substandard homes, but because of low incomes, insecure work, rising costs and systemic inequality. That is why a fit for purpose anti-poverty strategy is essential to address the root causes.

“As public representatives we have a duty to ensure that there are no more cases like Awaab Ishtak, and that damp and mould never again becomes an issue of life or death.

“The Minister must outline what reforms he will introduce to address the issue of damp and mould.” 

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The West Belfast MLA said:

“I welcome the publication of the ADHD Needs Assessment. Earlier this week, I said ADHD services in the North are not fit for purpose. The publication of this Needs Assessment now provides clear, evidence-based confirmation of that reality.

“The report sets out demand modelling, workforce requirements, and detailed recommendations for how such a service could be delivered across health trusts.

“The report recognises the variability across Trusts, the pressure on CAMHS, the gaps in adult provision, the challenges around GP shared care and transition to adult services. It also highlights the significantly higher prevalence of ADHD within the prison population and the wider societal consequences when support is delayed or absent. 

“Importantly, the report does not suggest maintaining the status quo. It outlines the structures, workforce planning and funding requirements necessary to deliver a regionally consistent, stepped-care ADHD service. 

“The Minister has been clear that there are no cost-neutral options. That may be the case but continued inaction also carries a cost. When early support is not available, pressures inevitably increase elsewhere in our public services.

“Sinn Féin has consistently called for an end to the postcode lottery in ADHD care and for the establishment of a regional, uniform service that includes diagnosis, treatment and integrated mental health support.
“The evidence has now been gathered. The modelling has been done. Families have waited long enough. People living with ADHD deserve more than acknowledgement, they now deserve action.” 

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It follows news that, although the fund is set to continue, there is no guaranteed allocation from Brussels. The initiative is currently jointly funded by the Irish government, the British government and the European Union.

Speaking after a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, which heard from the Special European Union Programmes Body, the organisation that administers PEACEPLUS funding, the Newry and Armagh MP said:

“This fund has been a lifeline for communities across Ireland, particularly in the north and border counties like my own in County Armagh and Down.

“The potential European withdrawal of some of this funding is deeply concerning and something Sinn Féin MEPs have been pressing to resolve.

“Peace is not a destination, it is a journey, and we must continue working to build it. The removal of this funding would have the opposite effect.

“I am calling on the EU to maintain this funding beyond 2027 and ensure the positive role it has played in supporting communities across Ireland continues.”

Mr Hughes also secured the support of the Committee to write to the European Council, under the Cypriot Presidency, in support of continuing central EU funding for PEACEPLUS.

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Communications, Media and Sport, Joanna Byrne TD, has written to Coimisiún na Meán to request they fine X and enforce the Online Safety Framework.

Both the Irish Online Safety Media Regulation Act and the EU Digital Services Act are part of the Coimisiún na Meán Online Safety Framework.

Teachta Byrne said:

“In Irish Law right now, under the Online Safety Media Regulation Act, X should be facing a penalty or fine of €20m or 10% of turnover as they have failed to protect children and the public from harmful and illegal content.

“In EU law under the Digital Services Act, they could be fined 6% of annual global turnover. This is because they have failed to ensure a safe, predictable, and trusted online environment, protect users from illegal content online and to provide greater online safety while promoting innovation.

“The images that Grok AI users generated, that were shared on X, most certainly breached the online safety framework. That platform should feel the full force of the law, now.

“To not act now, with so much evidence, would be a disservice to the men, women and children that have been victims of the nudification app scandal.

“The Online Safety Framework is there to protect people from what we have seen over the last two months.

“If it is not used against X right now, then it is worthless legislation.”

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The Dublin MEP said:

“The regulator will have to go back to the drawing board on its legally untenable data centre policy in light of today’s Supreme Court ruling.

“The December 2025 decision was widely seen as reopening the floodgates to data centres in a way that will drive up electricity demand, lock in fossil fuel generation, and make our legally binding climate targets harder to reach.

“The CRU refused to set a policy that would help keep the state within its climate limits. Its justification was that the Climate Act does not give it the legal powers to do so. [1]

“The implication is, if the CRU is to assess data centre demand in climate terms when setting connection policy, the Government must tell it to do so explicitly. In other words, the CRU says climate responsibility lies elsewhere.

“Instead, it claimed it could only focus on the climate implications of renewable energy generation, while remaining silent on the climate impact of rising electricity demand. [2] That is like trying to lose weight by eating more vegetables while refusing to cut back on cake.

“That position was never legally tenable and today’s ruling makes that clear.

“The Supreme Court reaffirmed that regulators like the CRU are bound by the Climate Act. The CRU has a legal duty to exercise its powers in a way that is consistent with our carbon budgets and climate action plans. Climate law is not optional and it is not somebody else’s job.

“That means the CRU has a legal duty to align its connection decisions with our carbon budgets and climate action plans. The Climate Act says so, and they don’t need an engraved letter from government.

“The CRU cannot hide behind narrow and flimsy interpretations of its role. Its decisions to allow data centres shape electricity demand and emissions for decades. That places it squarely inside the climate framework, whether it likes it or not.

“What goes unchallenged in the CRU’s approach is the assumption that it must meet the demands of Big Tech data centres regardless of the consequences for the public interest or for a liveable climate. [3]

“They could just say no to data centres which are not consistent with the climate obligations. But the possibility of saying no to big tech is never even entertained.

“Records I obtained via FOI showed the CRU’s proposed decision was based on logic from a pre-Coolglass era. [4] It seems the CRU was hoping the high court’s logic would be overturned by the Supreme Court. 

“But it wasn’t. Now the data centre policy should be withdrawn and rewritten from scratch, or litigation will force them to.

“We need a regulator that will apply the law, and not one that waves through energy-hungry multinationals.”

Ends

Notes to Editor

[1] The CRU claims it does not have the powers to make a connections policy consistent with the Climate Act. Page 29 of the December 2025 LEU connection policy says:

“The CRU notes that the criteria around connection policy are within the remit of CRU and the system operators. In Proposed Decision CRU202504 it described how the CRU considers that the current provisions under the Climate Action Act do not provide a sufficient legal basis to allow the CRU to explicitly mandate specific emissions reduction and offsetting measures.” 

[2] The CRU says it is bound by explicit statutory provisions to promote renewable electricity. Page 31 of connection policy:

“The CRU does not consider, therefore, that the Climate Action Act confers a statutory function on the CRU to set a connection policy other than in line with the CRU’s other existing statutory functions. The CRU has no existing statutory function in the 1999 Act or otherwise that allows it to set express requirements for emissions reduction and/or offsetting measures. In contrast, under section 9(1)(s) of the 1999 Act, the CRU has the statutory function of ensuring that grid connection policy takes account of renewable energy policy. Based on this statutory function the CRU intends to require new data centre connections to the electricity system to meet at least 80% of their annual demand with renewable electricity generated in the Republic of Ireland in line with current renewable energy policy and the associated renewable electricity targets. These provisions are described in more detail below in section “3.5 Renewable Electricity Requirement”.

 [3] The CRU says it lacks the power to set “to set express requirements for emissions reduction and/or offsetting measures” [p31 connection policy]. But this is a red herring. They don’t need to limit themselves to those options when they could just refuse plans which aren’t climate consistent. 

[4] See “Energy regulator ‘ignored’ High Court ruling that could boost powers to restrict data centres” – Caroline O’Doherty, June 2025 – Irish Independent

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Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has provided the additional funding to deliver a programme of works including resurfacing, street lighting, drainage works, road marking and signs.

The party’s transport spokesperson said: “Making our roads safe and fit for the future is essential for connecting communities and supporting our economy.

“This £30m including £4m specifically for rural roads will help to do this through resurfacing, drainage works, road markings and signs as well as improving street lighting.

“I want to commend Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins for securing the funding in December’s monitoring round. This again shows her commitment to making roads better and safer.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with others to maintain and improve our road network for workers, families and communities.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on finance, Pearse Doherty has criticised the Tánaiste, Simon Harris’s response to record number of people behind on their energy bills as ‘cold and callous’.

The Donegal TD raised concerns in the Dáil about the escalating crisis and called for the reintroduction of energy credits to avoid the situation deteriorating further.

Teachta Doherty said:

“The Tánaiste has today dismissed the energy arrears crisis. It was a cold and callous response that is totally out of touch with the reality people are facing as the cold weather takes hold.

“The decision to pull energy credits is completely unjustified. The only explanation for the government decision to scrap energy credits given the deteriorating situation is that there is no election this year.

“We now have record levels of people behind on their energy bill. More and more people are being pushed into arrears every month.

“Many more are barely able to keep up as they live in fear of getting another bill through the door.

“This is happening because the government has done nothing to tackle the rip off and get prices under control.

“Government’s refusal to accept the situation will not change the facts; bills are higher today than they were last year and are only going up. Households are at breaking point.

“The government is turning a blind eye to the hardship this is putting on workers and families.

“Unless the government comes to their senses and reintroduces energy credits, people are in for a long hard winter.”

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Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that the government’s new plan for renters will mean ever greater rip off rents and unworkable security of tenure rules for tenants. 

The comments were made following the first pre-legislative scrutiny hearing of the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“Pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2025 started this week. Following questions with the Department of Housing and Residential Tenancies Board, it is clear that the government’s plan for renters is ever greater rip off rents and unworkable security of tenure rules for tenants.

“The Bill will see the most significant change to the residential tenancies act since it was first introduced in 2004. It will effectively remove rent pressure zone protections for tens of thousands of tenants starting from March 2026. It will introduce three new rent setting rules, for existing tenants, new tenants in existing properties and new tenants in new build apartments.

“Significantly, the promised protection for existing tenants from economic evictions is much weaker than originally envisioned. While a landlord who issues a no-fault eviction cannot reset the rent for a new tenant to market rent at the start of that tenancy, they will be able to reset the rent to full market rent every six years after that new tenancy starts.

“The government is also introducing three separate sets of security of tenure provisions for existing tenants, new tenants in properties owned by small landlords and new tenants in properties owned by large landlords. This level of complexity will make it hard if not impossible for tenants and landlords to navigate and even more difficult for the Residential Tenancies Board to enforce.

“The idea of different tenants having different rights and protections for rent setting and security of tenure is the wrong approach. There should be one set of simple and clear rules governing all tenants, both for rents and tenure. To make matters worse, if a property moves from a large landlord to a small landlord during a tenancy the tenure rules will change, adding further complexity and confusion.

“At the heart of this draft legislation is the decision by government to make tenants pay the price for increased institutional investment, in terms of ever increasing rip-off rents and complex, confusing and utterly unworkable security of tenure rules.

“Sinn Féin will be making substantive recommendations to the Housing Committee during the pre-legislative scrutiny process and if necessary to the Bill itself. We will not support anything that forces renters to pay even higher rents. Nor will we support anything that treats different groups of renters differently in terms of vital security of tenure protections.”

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The West Belfast MLA and vice-chair of the Education committee said:

“This report is damning and it shows how poorly our school estate has been managed and funded.

“It also confirms that many pupils and staff are being forced to learn and work in unacceptable conditions.

“Successive DUP ministers have failed to deliver a long-term plan for the school estate, failed to address basic maintenance, and failed to demonstrate value for money.

“The Education Minister must act urgently on the PAC’s recommendations and get on with delivering a comprehensive estate strategy, tackling the maintenance backlog, and prioritising children with special educational needs.

“Our young people and our school staff deserve buildings that are safe, warm, and fit for purpose, this must be the priority.”

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Mr McAleer said “The public consultation on the NAP, which closed on 24th July attracted a huge 3,400 responses.

“This response rate reflects the importance of the need for action to improve water quality by reducing pollution from nutrients but for those actions to be workable.”  

“The purpose of this stakeholder group, which includes organisations such as the UFU, NIFDA and the Rivers Trust is to analyse the consultation responses and develop a revised NAP proposals.

“The revised NAP proposals will open for an eight-week consultation, followed by referral to the Executive.

“Sinn Féin want a NAP that is workable, deliverable, and based on just transition principles where farmers and others are supported to reduce pollution.

“The establishment of this stakeholder group by the department is welcome, and an important recognition of the need to engage meaningfully with farmers, fishermen and communities to develop a successful NAP.

“We look forward to constructively engaging with department on consultation and the revised proposals in the time ahead.”

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