Donegal North East TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has been appointed Sinn
Féin Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence in a reshuffle of
TD portfolios announced today by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.
Responding to the news, Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “I am very excited to embark upon my new role.
“I take on this role as both our policing service and Defence Forces face serious cutbacks.
“Here in Donegal, Lifford and Rockhill barracks have been closed over
recent years and more is to follow. I have opposed these cutbacks and
I have spoken out on cutbacks to Garda stations, personnel and
resources in our county on numerous occasions over recent years and I
intend to now lead up opposition to these cutbacks at national level.
The partnership between the Gardaí and our local communities, both
urban and rural is vital in combatting crime and anti-social behaviour
and these cutbacks are undermining that important relationship”
“Another challenge is the long delays in our court systems from civil
law to family law right up to the High Court and the Supreme Court.
The additional stress and cost of these delays is growing all the time
for all involved and needs to be urgently addressed”.
He concluded: “The area of equality and human rights is also close to my heart and I look forward to working with a wide range of organisations from
disability rights groups to Penal Reform activists to domestic
violence centres in the time ahead.”
