In a statement on August 14, 2025 a spokesperson for Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, Ard Mhacha Thuaidh said: “Provisional finance minister, who is appointed to represent the British Stormont administration, is continuing to hold firm and refuses to stop the rates exemption handout to massive corporations benefiting from genocide.
“The so-called Republican vanguard is enabling big corporations like Caterpillar to profit from the rampant destruction of Gaza.
“According to the Belfast Telegraph, the office of finance is overseen by John O’Dowd who is responsible for Industrial derating. This is in the context of business rates set by the Provisionals in Occupied Ireland. It also refers to a 70% reduction to the normal rate for properties used for manufacturing. This means that these businesses benefit from a significantly lower property tax bill compared to those in other types of commercial or industrial buildings.
“Last month, Larne and Belfast-based company Caterpillar was named in UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s ‘From economy of occupation to economy of genocide’ report as one of 60 companies profiting from Israel’s military activity in Gaza.
“Sinn Féin Poblachtach says it is reprehensible to witness Provisional leaders and their party members stand in white-line pickets showing support to the people of Gaza. These people have no shame in speaking from both sides of their mouths.
PRO Cumann Tomás Ó hAirt, Ard Mhacha Thuaidh
CRÍOCH/END
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