In a statement on May 17, 2025, a spokesperson for Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Ard Mhacha Thuaidh: “Public are set to experience a renewed focus on fraud detection, prevention and the intrusive recovery of overpayments to social security benefits.
“This latest effort to squeeze the public by the Tory-lite Labour government will see an introduction of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, or PAFER bill.
“As a result of this PAFER bill, the poorest in society are set to experience intrusive snooping. The British government will gain increased surveillance powers and without seeking permission, they will look over the bank accounts of vulnerable individuals, including those who are poor, elderly, sick, and disabled, who receive certain benefits. For example, persons with more than £16,000 in savings (capital) will not be eligible for Universal Credit (UC).
“According to Prem Sikka, a distinguished Emeritus Professor and Labour MP, who states that the PAFER bill assumes that recipients of benefits have criminal tendencies and must therefore be denied financial privacy. He also points out that it makes a mockery of British equality laws and is likely to fall foul of Articles 8 and 14 (of the European Convention on Human Rights).
“It is important to note, that British welfare policy in Occupied Ireland is a matter for the British administration in Stormont. However, it’s also worth mentioning that some other welfare areas remain solely reserved for the British government to tinker with at their discretion.
“As far back as October 2023 the Occupied Six Counties had seen its British-designed benefit system overhauled. This came about due the support of constitutional nationalist and Ulster unionist politicians. Six benefits become one causing tens of thousands of households being moved on to Universal Credit (UC) while the cost of that change was borne through Stormont’s paltry block grant from their British paymasters.
“The potential impact: if the PAFER bill affects Universal Credit in Britain, it’s possible that similar changes could be implemented in Occupied Ireland. However, without specific mention of this in the bill, its impact remains uncertain. This will vary, and some areas might be subject to shared or concurrent powers between Stormont and Westminster.
“Sinn Féin Poblachtach continues to highlight the extent of devolved powers associated with the British-designed Stormont Agreement. We call for full sovereignty and a 32-county Ireland federal socialist republic.
PRO Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt,
Sinn Féin Poblachtach,
Ard Mhacha Thuaidh
CRÍOCH/ENDS
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