Irish Church leaders discuss welfare reform with Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin with church leaders

Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian church leaders met with a Sinn Féin delegation on Friday 27 April, to discuss the implications of possible welfare reforms in Northern Ireland.

The meeting took place in Armagh and is part of 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, Church of Ireland Archbishop Alan Harper, Methodist President Rev Ian Henderson and Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson.

Sinn Féin was 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 about particularly 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."

Source: Irish Catholic Media Office