Wicklow TD Brady appointed as Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence
WICKLOW Sinn Fein TD John Brady has been appointed the party’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
He was re-appointed to the party’s frontbench team by Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday last.
Deputy Brady, who topped the poll in Wicklow in February’s general election, had previously been the party’s spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection
‘At a time when the country is beginning to emerge from restrictions imposed in order to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, we begin the task of addressing the economic impact which this has had; I will be demanding that this government starts to up its game in relation to the next generation EU package of €750 billion; a fund of which Ireland is set to receive only a fraction of 1 per cent.
‘There is an absolute failure to take into account the scale of challenges that Ireland continues to address. Not least of which is Brexit. We are currently hurtling down the road towards the Brexit deadline at the end of the year. Whilst negotiations continue between the EU and the British government, it is critical that we ensure the avoidance of an internal border on the island of Ireland. One of the key priorities will be to ensure that the Irish Protocol and the Good Friday Agreement are defended.
‘Sinn Féin has committed to holding a referendum in order to ensure that the principle of neutrality is enshrined in the Irish Constitution. I intend to do everything that I can, to prevent the government from further eroding Irish neutrality.
‘The record of the Irish army in the service of the United Nations is second to none. The Irish military has become synonymous with peace keeping missions throughout the world. It is the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence to ensure that our troops have resources to carry out this valuable work. The disgraceful disregard for our armed forces has to end; I will ensure that neither the minister, nor government, will be unable to hide from their responsibilities towards our military personnel.
‘At a time when Ireland enjoys the position of membership of the UN Security Council we must use this position to enhance our relationship and commitments to the UN. We must work to actively promote UN reform and capacity-building in order to create a revitalised UN which is capable of fulfilling the promise of the Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and of upholding international law.’
Deputy Brady said he also intends to lobby for an increased role for Ireland in addressing underlying economic and social conditions which may affect security concerns. He said he will also argue and campaign on behalf of the Irish diaspora.
He also called for Ireland to recognise the state of Palestine and ‘use its influence in the UN and in the wider international community to argue for sanctions against Israel in the same manner that it would so against the naked aggression of any other state which sought to overwhelm a smaller neighbour through the use of force.’
Deputy Brady also said that he would watch the performances of fellow Wicklow TDS and Government Ministers Stephen Donnelly and Simon Harris ‘to ensure that Wicklow was not left behind in the government’s plans.’
John Brady was re-elected in February on the first count with 17,297 votes exceeding the quota by almost 6,000 votes.