Gerry McMonagle
Letterkenny Sinn Fein Councillor Gerry McMonagle speaking at Sinn Feins Ard Fheis in Castlebar has today renewed his call for proposed legislation on taxi regulation to be amended in order to prevent discrimination against former political prisoners.
Cllr Mc Monagle who works as an Outreach Worker at Abhaile Aris a Republican Ex Prisoner Project based in Letterkenny which service’s the needs of Political Ex Prisoners and their families throughout Donegal made his call on the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement which in part sought to help former prisoners of the conflict to get and hold on to employment opportunities.
Cllr Mc Monagle said: “Many former republican and loyalist prisoners covered under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement are currently taxi drivers. Most have never had any trouble in this job and are hard workers who provide an important service
“New legislation proposed by Minister Alan Kelly would mean these drivers would have their livelihood put at risk as they could potentially be barred or suspended from operating their taxi. These drivers are already struggling in the harsh economic climate to put food on the table and a roof over their families’ heads.
“These proposals are totally against the spirit of an international agreement this state signed up to, which was ratified by the people.
“Through my work with the political ex prisoner community I see on a daily basis the discrimination and inequalities that political ex prisoner’s and their families have to endure. These include discrimination in Employment, Travel, Insurance, acquiring a mortgage.
“Political ex prisoner groups have been raising these issues with both Governments since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement with limited success. Sinn Fein TDs have raised these issues also with Minister Kelly but he refuses to deal with the issue. Minister Kelly has a responsibility to legislate with the spirit of the agreement in mind. I call on him to reconsider and make the relevant amendments to his Taxi Regulation Bill.”
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