Press Releases
Church Leaders meet Sinn Féin to discuss Welfare Reform
The four church leaders met with a Sinn Féin delegation today, Friday 27 April, to discuss the implications of possible welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.
Church leaders and representatives of Sinn Féin – (l–r) Alex Maskey MLA, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson, Archbishop Alan Harper, Mickey Brady MLA, Cardinal Seán Brady, Methodist President Rev Ian Henderson, Conor Murphy MP MLA
The meeting took place in Armagh and is part an ongoing involvement of the church leaders with this issue.
Before Christmas they travelled to London and met with Lord Freud and the Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland. Then in February they hosted a public debate in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, involving the Secretary of State Owen Paterson and Minister McCausland in front of an invited audience representative of interested community groups.
The church leaders who attended today’s meeting were Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Alan Harper, Methodist President Rev Ian Henderson and Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson.
Sinn Féin were represented by MLA’s Conor Murphy MP, Alex Maskey and Mickey Brady.
During the two hour meeting the current time frame for legislation was discussed together with ways in which the Northern Ireland Assembly could maximise positive benefits while at the same time mitigating the negative effects that any such reforms will bring aboutparticularly as it may effect children in poverty.
For the church leaders, Archbishop Harper, who chaired the meeting said, “We have already shown our concern over welfare reform and its potential impact on family life. Today’s meeting was part of our ongoing interest and engagement with this important issue.”
Alex Maskey for Sinn Féin said, “We very much appreciate the interest that the church leaders have taken in welfare reform. Today was an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern and encourage the church leaders to continue their involvement in speaking up for the most vulnerable people in our society.”
ISSUED BY STEPHEN LYNAS, PRESBYTERIAN INFORMATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH LEADERS
Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. BT1 6DW
Office: 028 9032 2284 Mobile: 078 0226 4354 Out of Office: 028 2827 7325
Email: [email protected]