Social Media race hate ‘displacing sectarianism’
Conor Shiels, Irish News, June 16th, 2025
SOPHISTICATED social media campaigns are causing an upsurge in race hate incidents as sectarianism is being ‘displaced’, an academic has said.
The latest police figures show racist incidents and incidents of hate against religious minorities have reached record highs.
At the same time, sectarian crimes in Northern Ireland have dropped dramatically.
Professor Peter Shirlow, the director at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies, told The Irish News that the one form of hate is now being replaced with another.
It comes after a week of race riots in Ballymena and Portadown left 64 police officers injured, with 24 people arrested.
The latest PSNI statistics show that there were 1,807 race-motivated hate incidents in the north last year – an increase of 454.
Of these, 1,188 were severe enough to be recorded as crimes – up from 839.
Meanwhile, faith/religion-motivated incidents reached 87 last year – an increase of 10.
However, the number of incidents of sectarianism recorded by the PSNI fell last year, with 910 recorded – a drop of 181.
Of those sectarian incidents, 588 met the threshold to be recorded as a crime – the lowest number since records began in 2005.
Incidents of hate based on sexual orientation also fell by 22 to 362 recorded incidents for the year.
And incidents of hate against the trans community dropped slightly from 68 to 63.
Sectarian related crime down 60%
Professor Shirlow said since 2005-2006, when the PSNI started gathering such data, sectarianism has fallen by well over 60%.
“It’s a long-term trend. You get the odd year where it bounces up a bit, but generally the trend is very much downward, especially amongst young people,” he said.
“The biggest decline is amongst people aged 18 to 24.
“The biggest decline is actually amongst young men who would have been more likely to be sectarian or confronted about their background.
“There’s been this big shift that’s taken place in society. You’ve got this younger generation who just aren’t experiencing what my generation experienced during the Troubles. “What’s interesting is that this has been displaced into racism.”
Social media driven race hate ‘displacing sectarianism’
Professor Shirlow added that there’s been a strong decline in sectarian crime reported by young people. What you have had at the same time is continual growth in racist-based crime and violence, he said.
“There’s a replacement here – one type of violence has now moved into another form.
“As sectarianism has gone down, racism has gone up.
Hate crime targets change but occur in same communities
“When you look at that data, it’s basically in the same places where you’ve seen a decline in sectarianism that you’ve seen a rise in racism.”
Mr Shirlow blamed sophisticated social media campaigns for the spread of anti-immigrant sentiment and claims that governments are not doing enough to stop it.
“This is exactly the same as what you’re getting across Europe,” he said.
“There is now social media, a lot of which is sponsored by rogue states like Russia and Iran, investing time and energy in spreading myths about immigrants.
“That’s the same stuff they’re looking at in Ballymena, that’s the same stuff they’re looking at in Larne, that’s the same stuff they’re looking at in Dublin and Marseille.
“We’ve got to realise we’re living in a world now where these things are experienced locally, but the social media around racism is now massive. It’s sophisticated, it’s well-funded, and it spreads.
“One of the fundamental problems is that governments everywhere are just not doing enough to challenge these myths, to challenge the stuff that’s being said.”
Thugs in masks dress up racial hatred as 'legitimate concerns'
Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph, June 16th, 2025
Thugs in masks who dress up their racial hatred as 'legitimate concerns' need a serious lesson in facts
The violence seen over the last week, as anti-immigrant unrest gripped towns and men in balaclavas roamed the streets, is on a level similar to those long, hot summers of 10 or so years ago.
Only this isn't rioting at an interface, or linked to the once volatile marching season. This is racial hatred in its rawest form.
Racism is not exclusive to loyalist areas. That was evident by the arrival of the Coolock Says No mob who travelled to Belfast last August when an attack on little girls in England resulted in migrant-owned businesses being attacked in south Belfast.
But it's clear the recent trouble has been confined to unionist areas such as Ballymena, Larne and Portadown.
When calm is restored, we need to look at long-term ways to prevent such ugly scenes in the future.
That requires some serious myth-busting and a countering of the narratives spread online.
No illegal migrants among victims
Not that it matters, but none of the families targeted by thugs in recent days were illegal immigrants. They were all people who are legally in Northern Ireland, working and contributing to society.
Many have been here for years and, until last week, considered themselves to be good neighbours, working in the caring or agrifood sectors. They took jobs that could not be filled locally — and it wasn't for the want of trying. Despite numerous appeals and job advertisements, there were no lines of locals queuing up to work in food production.
Migrants took on arduous jobs that many of those complaining about too many foreigners in their area would refuse to consider.
There have already been arrests linked to the riots and more will follow over the coming days and weeks.
Some of those charged will be young people. There has already been a 15-year-old charged, another was 17.
If found guilty, instead of detention, they should be sentenced to do community service in the same place of work as those whose homes were destroyed.
Youth workers on ground
As bad as it was, the spread of this violence could have been much worse were it not for the youth workers who have been on the streets at interfaces and flashpoints trying to keep young people out of harm's way. They are the unsung heroes.
So far 14 families have had their homes attacked. Some 50 households have presented themselves for emergency accommodation to the Housing Executive after being intimidated from their homes.
It's ironic that, while those who try and dress their racism up as 'legitimate concerns' complain about the housing shortage, they are setting fire to family homes. Migrant workers are not entitled to social housing and live in private rented accommodation. Back to that myth busting: If you're angry at a shortage of housing, blame the failure to build enough new homes. If — as one politician claimed last week — residents are angry that there are too many people sharing the same house, blame the landlords charging extortionate rent for basic accommodation.
The only way many people can afford to pay rent is to split the bill with other housemates.
Another myth is there has been an increase in attacks on women by migrant men. There have been more migrant women killed by British or Irish men in Northern Ireland since 2017 than there have been women killed by migrants. Those involved in the rioting have no concern for the treatment of women and girls.
The same online accounts that were defending Conor McGregor following the libel case that concluded he had raped a woman in a Dublin hotel were all of a sudden concerned for the safety of women and girls.
Women still at risk
Northern Ireland has never been a safe place for women.
While there are those who romanticise bygone times, they conveniently forget the Magdalene laundries, women and girls treated like a contagion. Often the victims of rape and incest, they were locked away and their babies taken from them.
It wasn't illegal for a man to rape his wife in Northern Ireland until 1992. The first conviction wasn't recorded until 2000.
Women here have had to fight every step of the way for equality in law. We were the last region to get stalking and coercive control legislation. But if you really want evidence of why this is all just racism dressed up as concerns, you've only to look at the tragic killing of Mary Ward.
The 22-year-old mother of one was found dead at her home in Melrose Street, south Belfast, on October 1. She had been stabbed days earlier.
There were no protests, no vigils, no riots, no calls for mass deportations, because Mary was an Irish Traveller woman. In the eyes of the misogynists and racists, she didn't deserve their 'legitimate concerns'.
28 arrests so far over riots across North - ‘more in coming days'
By Gemma Murray, Belfast News Letter, June 16th, 2025
PSNI continuing to make daily arrests relating to recent disorder – with the most recent five arrests include a man in his 20s detained in connection with the arson to Larne Leisure Centre.
The statement says that the ‘local sporting facility was set alight causing significant damage during the race-motivated disorder on Wednesday, 11th June.’
‘A man, aged 25, following a house search in Larne at the weekend has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in relation to the fire at Larne Leisure Centre.
‘He remains in custody at this time.
‘These arrests bring the total detained in relation to disorder across Northern Ireland in the past week to 28 - with more to come in the coming days and weeks.
‘It was the second night of reduced level of disorder on Sunday night, 15th June with officers dealing with sporadic disturbances in different locations.
‘Four have been charged to appear before court today, Monday 16th June.
‘This includes a girl aged 13 who has been charged with riot by officers investigating disorder in Ballymena on Wednesday, 11th June and a man aged 40, also charged with riot following the first night of the disorder in Ballymena on Monday, 9th June.
There is a Heavy police presence in Ballymena this evening.
‘A 33-year-old woman has been charged with child cruelty relating to the disorder.
32 year old man in court over online posts
‘Meanwhile, detectives investigating online posts relating to recent public disorder have charged a 32-year-old man to court.
‘He has been charged with sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network and with encouraging or assisting offences believing one or more will be committed.
‘He is further charged with possession of a class B controlled drug. He is due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court today, Monday, 16th June.
‘Graffiti in Bangor and on an unoccupied house in Chadwick Street in south Belfast are being investigated as race-motivated hate crimes.
‘In Brompton Park in Ardoyne, around 30 youths set a wheelie bin on fire, no damage was caused to shops and, following engagement, no serious disorder ensued’.
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: “Our heightened presence in our local communities and continued community engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night, thankfully, similar to Saturday, the situation was much calmer.
“I issued a public plea to parent/guardians and families of young people who have been driving the criminal activity in some areas to warn them of the serious consequences of their actions.
"I am asking for continued conversations amongst local families to deter young people from criminalising themselves.”
ACC Jones continued: “Our Chief Constable and other members of the senior team have been meeting with local community representatives of those affected over the weekend so we can support them as best we can and offer reassurance of our policing operation to restore calm.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets.
"So, just as we will seek justice for women and girls who report heinous crimes to us, we will also seek justice for local innocent families who are being targeted by criminality fuelled by hate.
“We will continue to robustly investigate the disorder over the last number of days but do not want to see any more young people criminalised by being caught up in this activity.
“Thankfully, none of our officers policing this disorder reported being injured on duty last night.
"We have 64 of our colleagues currently recovering from injury and I commend their bravery and unwavering efforts.
“As our investigation continues, we have already released images of a number of individuals we want to identify and interview in connection with our ongoing investigation.
"In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us.
"It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward.
“If you are able to identify any of the people shown in these images or can provide information about them you should contact us on 101 or on our major incident portal, which is accessible on our website.
“I would also like to reassure the communities that we serve that we will continue to maintain our presence and protect streets.
“We are grateful for the support of all who condemn this criminality and would, once more, repeat our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.”
A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Child (12) is arrested as police vow to work 'day and night' to hunt rioters
Andrew Madden, Belfast Telegraph, June 16th, 2025
PSNI HAS MADE 24 ARRESTS TO DATE IN RELATION TO THE DISORDER
The Chief Constable has been challenged to detail paramilitary involvement in riots which have flared across Northern Ireland.
Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole said he will be writing to Jon Boutcher and the Independent Reporting Commission, which monitors progress on tackling paramilitary activity, to request “public clarity on the involvement of loyalist paramilitaries” in the disorder.
It came as the PSNI vowed to work “day and night” to hunt down those causing the trouble.
A week of violence has caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage and left 64 police officers injured - including one engulfed by flames during trouble in Portadown on Friday night.
On Saturday, a United Against Racism rally heard warnings that Northern Ireland was potentially “one petrol bomb away” from a racist murder.
Violence which initially started in Ballymena has spread to other towns.
So far 24 people have been arrested — with police warning more will follow.
On Sunday police revealed that in Lurgan, two boys aged 12 and 14 had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following reports of bottles being thrown at properties in the town. The pair were subsequently street bailed.
A 32-year-old man was also arrested in the Larne area over online posts relating to the disorder. He was arrested on suspicion of encouraging or assisting offences and possession of a class B controlled drug and remains in custody.
It has also been confirmed that officers from Police Scotland arrived on Thursday to assist the PSNI.
Successive nights of violence broke out following a peaceful protest in Ballymena last Monday, after two teenagers appeared in court charged with an alleged attempted rape of a teenage girl in the town. Trouble later spread to other parts of Northern Ireland, including Larne, Belfast and Portadown.
On Wednesday night, Larne Leisure Centre was attacked by youths and set alight. The centre had been used earlier to shelter those forced to flee from their homes in Ballymena.
The PSNI said sporadic disturbances broke out in several areas on Saturday night, including an incident of attempted criminal damage to a vehicle in Carrickfergus that resulted in a 40-year-old man being charged to court.
Situation much calmer last night
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: “Our heightened presence in our local communities and continued community engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night, but thankfully, the situation was much calmer than we have seen in recent days.
“I issued a public plea to parent/guardians and families of young people who have been driving the criminal activity in some areas to warn them of the serious consequences of their actions. I am asking for continued conversations amongst local families to deter young people from criminalising themselves.”
Ms Jones continued: “Our public order enquiry team are working day and night to identify those who have been involved in the disorder over the last number of days.
“Our Chief Constable and other members of the senior team have been meeting with local community representatives of those affected over the weekend so we can support them as best we can and offer reassurance of our policing operation to restore calm.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets. So, just as we will seek justice for women and girls who report heinous crimes to us, we will also seek justice for local innocent families who are being targeted by criminality fuelled by hate.”
Liam Kelly, chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said an officer who was pictured engulfed in flames following a petrol bomb attack in Portadown on Friday suffered minor injuries.
But he said “it could have been a different story was it not for their personal protective equipment and quick actions by their colleagues”.
Mr Kelly confirmed that mutual aid officers from Police Scotland arrived on Thursday. “We are most grateful for their assistance,” he said.
“The violence we saw was sparked by hate - hate of people's race, colour or beliefs. These thugs are not who we are, and never will be.
“Further arrests will inevitably follow. I want rioters and all those engaged in criminality to be processed through the courts without delay and handed meaningful sentences for their lawless and feral actions. Wider society is appalled by what unfolded and, like this organisation, it's demanding the full weight of the law to be brought down on them.”
Ms Jones paid tribute to her injured colleagues.
“Sixty-four of our colleagues have been injured and I commend their bravery and determination,” she said.
“Their unwavering efforts over the last number of days have resulted in a reduction of disorder and I hope the local communities who have been targeted have felt the support of our frontline teams.
“To come under sustained attack when you are there to serve and protect all is disheartening to say the least. They have been steadfast in their commitment to restore peace and I am proud of them all.”
Meanwhile, the SDLP said it will be lobbying for increased PSNI resources and enhanced hate crime legislation, and will also be seeking clarity over the involvement of loyalist paramilitaries in the violence.
“The violence we have seen over the past week has shamed this society,” Matthew O'Toole MLA said.
He added: “Now the real test of our devolved institutions is whether they can act on the heinous events of the past week.”
On Saturday hundreds attended an anti-racism rally at City Hall in Belfast which heard calls for political leadership in opposing racism.
Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said: “We have come very close this week to the loss of life. We are just one petrol bomb away from racially motivated murder.”
Mr Corrigan added: “Too many political leaders have chosen to fan the flames of hate rather than put them out.”
Racism’s seeds sown in fertile ground of north’s sectarianism
Tom Kelly, Irish News, June 16th, 2025
LET’S not sugar coat what has happened in Ballymena and Larne. It was brutal, violent thuggery steeped in racism. There’s no surprise because sectarianism and racism are two sides of the same coin.
Purposeful violence is never mindless or recreational. The actions in both towns were intended to terrorise minority communities.
It’s clear the old adage about ‘keeping your head down like a Larne Catholic’ is still relevant, if one exchanges ‘Catholic’ for ‘non-white’.
But let’s get a few facts out there to neuter the misinformation about ethnic communities here.
Some 96.55% (1.8 million) of the north’s population is ethnically white, with 3.4% made up from a variety of ethnic communities. Northern Ireland is the least diverse part of the United Kingdom.
The responses to the mayhem by some unionist politicians have been nothing short of disgraceful.
Some attempted to spin that those protesting had legitimate concerns. Perhaps a few did but those who attacked the police, property and innocent migrant families weren’t expressing genuine concerns, they were intent on fuelling a hate-fest.
‘Peaceful protestors don’t wear masks’
Peaceful protesters don’t wear masks, throw petrol bombs, set fire to homes or shout racist chants.
Watching the video footage taken by the rioters themselves, it’s clear there was nothing but venom spilling out from hoods and hooligans.
A woman could be heard in one social media post encouraging someone attacking a migrant home to ‘get them out’ – even if it meant burning them out.
In Northern Ireland we are too tolerant of blatant thuggery and naked sectarianism practised by those who get off on creating orgies of violence. Sometimes it’s dressed up as an expression of culture.
In truth, it’s the same old ‘inbred’ bigotry which has blighted the north for the best part of a hundred years, or perhaps even longer.
Of course, loyalist communities have no monopoly on the violence witnessed in Ballymena. The nationalist community has its own fair share of intolerant, anti-immigrant, fascist-leaning bigots and haters.
‘Ireland for the Irish’ is their clarion call and there’s more than ample evidence as to how they find common cause with loyalist thugs against minorities. Hate is a powerful aphrodisiac to these moronic imbeciles.
Political unionism needs to wake up. After 30 years of tribally inspired violence, the public deserves better than exchanging a nakedly sectarian war for an unfounded race war.
Many within loyalism seem incapable of understanding or embracing the concept of shared space with anyone, not just migrants.
It is little wonder Belfast still has more peace walls than it had 25 years ago, now stretching for 21 miles. Intolerance is so ingrained, so normal, it has become part of identity.
The attacks at the Catholic church at Harryville, the siege of Holy Cross Primary School, the murder of the young Quinn brothers and, more recently, the intimidation of Catholics in a housing development at Girdwood in north Belfast shows that, like the Bourbons, some loyalists have learned nothing and forgotten nothing.
26% of health workers
To his credit, there was no ambiguity from UUP leader and health minister, Mike Nesbitt.
He reminded loyalists that migrants are the cornerstone of our hospitals and care homes. The health and social care system would simply not survive without them.
In the NHS, minorities account for 26.4% of the total workforce. Unionism needs more leaders like Mike Nesbitt – not fence sitters or sneaking apologists.
The PSNI has an incredibly difficult job but operationally they should have had the Ballymena rioters under control much more quickly.
The claim by the PSNI that there has been no paramilitary involvement sounds as farcical as it is unbelievable.
“ Political unionism needs to wake up. After 30 years of tribally inspired violence, the public deserves better than exchanging a sectarian war for an unfounded race war
These communities are so under the cosh of loyalist mobsters, that to suggest this was a grassroots uprising without any coordination or orchestration is akin to believing the tooth fairy carries a wallet…
Anti-migrant sentiment is fuelled across the western world with bent political opportunists only too willing to build a base on chaos, fear and hate.
Unfortunately the racism of last week was not licked off the ground – its seeds were already sown in sectarianism.
'Shock' as Sinn Fein backs unionists in bid to stop plan to end Lough Neagh pollution
Garrett Hargan, Belfast Telegraph, June 16th, 2025
ALLIANCE'S DEPUTY LEADER HITS OUT AT PARTY OVER 'WEASEL WORDS' ON POLLUTION
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been accused of “weasel words” after appearing to U-turn on their pledge to protect Lough Neagh and other water bodies under threat from pollution.
It follows a motion tabled at the Assembly by DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen.
It expressed “alarm at plans to impose stricter phosphorus limits on over 3,500 local farms”, mandate low emission slurry spreading equipment and require compulsory uncultivated buffer strips in the arable and horticulture sectors.
She said such measures could “devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers, add cost and red tape and undermine food security”.
Ms McIlveen urged Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to “immediately withdraw the current public consultation” on the nutrients action programme 2026-29.
Experts have attributed water pollution in Northern Ireland to three main sources. They say agriculture is responsible for 62% of the problem, sewage discharges by NI Water cause over 24% and a further 12% is from septic tanks.
The Nutrient Action Plan (NAP), with a consultation launched in May, aims to reduce pollution in water bodies. At the Assembly last Tuesday, the TUV's Timothy Gaston claimed that previous NAP reviews consulted the agricultural industry, whereas, Mr Muir “has gone with his own ideological vision and enforced proposals on the farming community.”
He said pollution issues at Lough Neagh date back to the 1920s and slurry only became a liquid by-product on farms in the 1950s, adding that to suggest “it is a new phenomenon caused solely by modern farming is historically illiterate”.
Fishermen who work the lough have said the water quality has noticeably deteriorated since 2018.
In a meeting with the minister last July, fishermen said: “Last year (2023) the algae was so bad you couldn't get the boat through the water. Earnings reduced (by) around 70/80%. (It) will take many years to improve.”
Another readout referred specifically to eel fishing saying: “What happened on the Lough last year (2023) was unprecedented — (the) season went from six months to a few weeks which is no use when you're relying on fishing for your livelihood.
“Algae really bloomed round June/July last year — couldn't catch eels. The scientific advice was that they were lying on the bottom of the lake due to the poor water quality.”
SF support guarantees DUP motion passed
SDLP Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole said he was “not surprised that the DUP tabled the motion” but “I am genuinely shocked to hear Sinn Féin stand alongside the DUP.”
He spoke of the First Minister Michelle O'Neill going to the lough shore where she “promised action” while Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney talked about the “ecological catastrophe” engulfing the lough.
Minutes from a private meeting with Mr Muir and local fishermen from last July show that Mr Kearney concluded “by reiterating that the industry is in jeopardy and cannot be sustained without support”.
They report him saying: “The reality of what people are experiencing needs to be shared with the Executive.
“Sinn Fein (are) planning to go to Leinster House in the Autumn because it is a national issue. Eel fishermen cannot go through another season like last year and if something is not done, there may be no industry to fish in 2025.”
That prediction has come to pass as eel fishing on the lough is suspended this summer.
Meanwhile, Mr Muir said protecting the lough is a Programme for Government commitment, and “if we cannot take difficult decisions to address the crisis in Lough Neagh, frankly, our Programme for Government is not worth the paper it is written on.”
He said the nutrients action programme is “the legal framework for tackling water pollution from agricultural sources”.
Last week, however, 52 MLAs voted in favour of Ms McIlveen's motion including Sinn Fein, the DUP, UUP and TUV, while 23 voted against it including the SDLP, Alliance and People Before Profit.
Sinn Fein agriculture spokesperson Declan McAleer said: “Protecting Lough Neagh and tackling the pollution of our waterways remains a priority for Sinn Fein, with Finance Minister John O'Dowd having allocated £5 million in the recent budget to protect Lough Neagh.”
He added: “The current draft NAP proposals are not fit for purpose. The timelines currently set out are very difficult for many farmers to meet and, critically, the necessary supports are absent.
“Sinn Fein wants to work in cooperation with the Agriculture and Environment Minister and with the Loughshore communities and wider farming and rural sectors to ensure water pollution is properly addressed and vital natural resources like Lough Neagh are protected.”
Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said the First and deputy First Ministers stood with Mr Muir last year in stating that saving Lough Neagh would be a collective priority.
“Since then, it has become increasingly clear that those were weasel words,” he said.
“Sinn Fein and the DUP has opposed every tangible step needed to improve water quality; from blocking higher penalties for repeat polluters, to opposing plans to tackle nutrient run-off.”
DAERA pointed to the diverse range of groups it engages with under the Lough Neagh Stakeholder Forum including the Ulster Farmers Union, fishermen and the National Trust.
The DUP, UUP and TUV were contacted.
Sinn Féin blames UK government for NI poverty
Conor Shiels, Irish News, June 16th, 2025
SINN Féin has blamed the British government for child poverty as the crisis worsens in their heartlands.
Children in parts of Northern Ireland are now worse off than they were a decade ago, with child poverty rates hitting record highs, a report last month found.
Sinn Féin’s west Belfast stronghold is the worst affected, with 32.9% of children in poverty compared with 28.4% in the same area a decade earlier.
However, the party’s spokesperson for communities, Colm Gildernew, said Sinn Féin is not to blame despite currently holding the positions of first minister, minster of finance and economy minister.
“We are on the back of an extended period of austerity. We’ve seen extreme surges in the cost of living. And these are measures that the British government have overseen for a number of years,” he told The Irish News.
“I see the root cause of this as being austerity and the continued underfunding of the Executive here which has now in recent times been acknowledged.
“And actually, John O’Dowd is working vigorously with the British Treasury to ensure that that funding is brought up closer to the level of need.”
Speaking about what needs to happen to tackle child poverty, Mr Gildernew pointed to the Executive’s upcoming anti-poverty strategy.
The plan was originally due to be published this spring but has been pushed back until the autumn in order to align it with the next budget.
“The anti-poverty strategy which is being brought forward needs to address the root causes of poverty,” said Mr Gildernew.
“It needs targets, it needs to have resources, and it needs to have a line of governance that will ensure that wherever poverty arises, we are addressing it and that we are funded to address that.
“Sinn Féin are working with all of our partners in the government here to ensure that we address issues around poverty, issues around all of the areas that need to be addressed so badly for all of our people.”
Ministers enjoy ‘financial cushioning’ says PBP
However, West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll said Sinn Féin ministers are “detached” and no longer understand the needs of ordinary people in their heartland.
“Well, I think we’re starting to get a gap in terms of the experience of many ministers in Sinn Féin, their finances, their wage, and the wage of people in west Belfast and elsewhere,” he said. “I think there’s an element of financial cushioning and protection.
“When the price of basic groceries and fuel has gone up continually over the last five years, that has been felt acutely in west Belfast, but ministers and people in Sinn Féin and other parties are protected from those increases.
“I think there’s a question of being detached from the local experience.
“Sinn Féin, alongside others, are pursuing an economic policy that is ensuring that wealth trickles upwards and the working class people in west Belfast and beyond are left deprived and not enough money in their pockets and forced to go to food banks and elsewhere to get through the month.
Sinn Fein’s Colm Gildernew said his party is working hard to address poverty
“In a sense they’re kind of rubber-stamping most of Keir Starmer’s economic policies to the Executive.”
